Current Affairs February 2018 PDF

Dear Friends,
We are happy to announce that our

Android APP has reached 10,000
Join DayTodayGK’s Official
Downloads in Google Play store.
Facebook Page at
Thanks for your support.
www.facebook.com/DayTodayGK
Make Your Preparation easier with
Join our Telegram Channel via
our Free Android APP. Study Anytime @DayTodayGK
& Anywhere.
CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF –FEBRUARY 2018
AWARDS AND HONOURS

NAME OF THE AWARD AWARD WINNER KEY POINTS TO NOTE
lifetime achievement Shyam Benegal For Documentary, Short and
award at MIFF Animation Films.
Times Power Woman 2017 Shabnam Asthan
Award
ASSOCHAM Medical Alcon Laboratories For Best Technology Solution in
Technology Excellence Surgical and Best Technology
Award Solution in Ophthalmology
World’s Best Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati She is Minister of Finance of
Award Indonesia
Oscars 2018 Scientific and Brad Hurndell, John For Shotover K1 Camera System
Technical Awards Coyle Shane Buckham
and Vikas Sathaye
Mo Ibrahim Prize Ellen Johnson Sirleaf She is former president of Africa
Indian Entrepreneur of the Ajay Singh He is Chairman and Managing
Year 2017 Director of SpiceJet
Best Product of the Year’ Bitdefender one of the leading computer
2017 security system manufacturers
Yash Chopra Memorial Asha Bhosle She is a Legendary singer
Award
Best Film un Jio Filmfare Bishorjon, Mayurakshi -
Awards East 2018.
Top emerging technologies Rajiv Joshi Recognition of his work in
award memory chips and integrated
circuits
Virginia scientist award Arun J Sanyal and STEM stands for science,
2018 Outstanding STEM Parthik Naidu technology, engineering and
Awards mathematics
Best (Oral) Presentation Ankur Mehta International Conference on
Certificate Clean and Green Energy
(ICCGE-2018) in Paris
Aegis Graham Bell Award Parallel Wireless For Innovation in Telecom
2108 Infrastructure
APPOINTMENTS
NAME DEPT/FIELD
Neelam Kapoor Director general of the Sports Authority of India (SAI)
John Hennessy Chairman of Alphabet Inc
Thanglura Darlong Ambassador of India to Romania
Syed Mahmud Chief Justice of Bangladesh
2|P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Hossain
Nicos Anastasiades President of Cyprus
Hardayal Prasad MD & CEO of SBI Card
Vinod Tahiliani CEO of RIL-BP JV India Gas Solutions
Dr. Himadri Das Management Development Institute, Gurugram
Biswamohan
Non-executive chairman NPCI
Mahapatra
Indra Nooyi 1st independent female director of ICC
Rakesh Singh Head of HDFC Bank’s Private banking
Chandrashekar
President of the Sahitya Akademi
Kambar
Ashok Das Indian envoy to Brazil
Cyril Ramaphosa President of South Africa
Hailemariam
Prime Minister of Ethiopia(Resigned)
Desalegn
Umang Bedi President of Daily Hunt
Arvind P. Jamkhedkar Chairman of the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)
Haruhiko kuroda Chief of Bank of Japan
Shoaib Akhtar Brand ambassador of Pak Cricket Board
Debashish Mukherjee Executive director of Canara Bank
Murali Ramaswami Executive director of Vijaya Bank
Rajesh Kakkar ONGC’s offshore director
Ranjan Kumar Director (Human Resources) of state-owned Indian Oil
Mohapatra Corporation (IOC)
A K Pradhan Group Chief Risk Officer of PNB bank
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Haryana, UP Govts Sign Reciprocal Transport Agreement
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have signed a Reciprocal Transport Agreement. The
agreement, signed in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will facilitate buses of both the states to
operate over 1.16 lakh km daily in each other’s territories.
The agreement was signed during the inauguration ceremony of the 32nd Surajkund
International Crafts Mela in Faridabad, adjoining Delhi.
3|P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Govt makes PAN mandatory for transactions over ₹5 lakh
The Budget for 2018-19 has provided for making PAN mandatory for any entity
entering into a financial transaction of Rs 2.5 lakh or more with effect from April 1.
The 10-digit Permanent Account Number (PAN) would be used as Unique Entity
Number for non-individuals.
India to have world’s largest govt-funded health programme
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced a few path-breaking healthcare initiatives and
gave healthcare a significant push by giving major allocations to the sector.
FM Jaitley announced one of the world’s largest health protection programmes for the
country, which will provide INR 5 lakh insurance cover per family per year for
secondary & tertiary needs under the National Health Protection Scheme. This will
benefit around 50 cr people in India.
Exam Warriors’ – book authored by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched
Students now will be able to refer to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s advice on
how to tackle exam challenges in his book, ‘Exam Warriors’. It seeks to help spread
smiles during examinations, viewing them as occasions to celebrate learning with
festive joy.
Environment Ministry launches ‘Green Good Deeds’ campaign
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr Harsh Vardhan has
appealed to the teaching community to join the “Green Good Deeds” campaign,
launched by the Ministry to sensitise the peopleand students, in particular, about
climate change and global warming.
The Minister reminded the teachers of their “Green Social Responsibility” (GSR),
similar to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
CBEC to be renamed CBIC by April
Rechristening of the apex indirect tax policy making body CBEC to Central Board of
Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is likely to happen by April after the budgetary
exercise gets Parliament nod.
4|P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
With excise duty, service tax, alongside nearly a dozen other central and state levies
being subsumed in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rolled out from July 1, the ambit
of the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has widened.
National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change
“The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) is a Central Sector
Scheme which was set up in the year 2015-16. The overall aim of NAFCC is to support
concrete adaptation activities which mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
The activities under this scheme are implemented in a project mode. The projects
related to adaptation in sectors such as agriculture, animal husbandry, water, forestry,
tourism etc. are eligible for funding under NAFCC.
14 Coastal Economic Zones being developed under Sagarmala
For promoting port-led industrialization, 14 Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) covering

all the Maritime States and Union Territories have been identified as part of the
National Perspective Plan under the Sagarmala Programme.
The Perspective Plans for all 14 CEZs have been prepared in consultation with relevant
State Governments and Central Ministries.
Gadkari launches campaign to connect people with Mahayagya
Union minister Nitin Gadkari has launched a campaign to connect people with the
“Rashtra Raksha Mahayagya” to be held at the Red Fort Grounds next month.
Gadkari unveiled a mobile phone number, issued by the organisers, where people can
give a missed call to connect with the Mahayagya and get details about the event.
Rk singh launches ASH TRACK mobile app for better management of fly ash
Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri R.K Singh,
launched a Web based monitoring System and a Fly Ash mobile application named
ASH TRACK.
These platforms will enable better management of the ash produced by thermal power
plants by providing an interface between fly ash producers (Thermal Power Plants) and
potential ash users such as – road contractors, cement plants etc.
5|P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
SCR becomes 1st rail zone with 100% LED lighting at stations
The South Central Railway (SCR) has become the first railway zone in the country to
complete 100 per cent LED lighting at all the stations under its jurisdiction.
The SCR has been on the forefront of adopting energy conservation measures. It has
attained the status of becoming the first zone in the Indian Railways to complete 100 per
cent LED lighting in all the 733 stations under its jurisdiction.
Govt to observe National Productivity week till Feb 18
The commerce and industry ministry has stated that national productivity week will be
observed till February 18.
The National Productivity Council, under the ministry, has selected ‘Industry 4.0
Leapfrog Opportunity for India’ as the theme for the week.
This will result in the ‘Smart Factory’ which is characterised by versatility, resource
efficiency, ergonomic design and direct integration with business partners
PM to inaugurate WSDS 2018
The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2018 will be inaugurated by

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 16.
The event being organised by TERI aims to bring together global leaders on the issue of
sustainable development, energy and environment.
Themed ‘Partnerships for a Resilient Planet’, WSDS 2018 aims to create action
frameworks to resolve some of the most urgent challenges facing developing economies
in the backdrop of climate change.
Cabinet clears direct admission to PhD in IITs and IISc
The Union cabinet has approved the Prime Minister Research Fellowship scheme for
students of higher education institutions such as IITs, NITs and IISERs. The move was
also aimed at preserving the country’s talent pool.
Under the scheme, graduates or final-year students of B Tech, integrated M Tech or M

Sc in the science and technology streams at the IISc, IITs, NITs, IISERs and IIITs will be
offered direct admissions to PhD programmes at IITs and the IISc.
6|P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
SAIL joins hands with IIT-K to promote ‘Science of Happiness
Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has joined hands with Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT), Kharagpur to promote ‘Science of Happiness’.
This initiative is aimed at embracing ‘Science of Happiness’ for enhancing wellbeing

and effectiveness of its employees and to enable them to contribute in a meaningful way
towards the vision of the organisation.
K. Singh inaugurates ‘Indian Power Stations 2018’
Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New and Renewable Energy, Shri R.K. Singh
inaugurated the ‘Indian Power Stations 2018’ – three-day International Conference on
Operations and Maintenance.
The Minister exhorted the NTPC to become India’s power sector multinational by
setting up power plants in other Nations and become world’s largest power producer.
President Kovind hosts LPG Panchayat at Rashtrapati Bhavan
President Ram Nath Kovind has hosted the LPG Panchayat at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The
LPG Panchayat was organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with an
aim to provide a platform for LPG consumers to interact with each other, promote
mutual learning and share experiences.
‘India Pharma & India Medical Device 2018’: Affordable and Quality Healthcare
India’s biggest Global Conference on Pharma Industry and Medical Devices to begin in
Bengaluru on 15th February With the theme, ‘Driving NextGen Pharmaceuticals’.
The event would be a positive step towards the development of Future Drugs:
Ananthkumar to hold Roundtable of Pharma and Medical Devices CEOs to discuss
Government policy and Challenges facing the Industry World Health Organization to
hold workshop on ‘Regulatory System Strengthening and Prequalification’
PM to launch DD Arun Prabha on Feb 15
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch DD Arun Prabha, a new 24×7 satellite
television channel of Doordarshan for the north-eastern region on February 15. DD
Arun Prabha will showcase programmes on the diverse culture of the north eastern
states. This will be Doordarshan s second channel for the north-eastern region.
7|P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The state-owned broadcaster already runs DD North-East, which telecasts

entertainment and information- based programmes in Assamese, Bengali, English and
other languages of the region.
LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to inaugurate C’wealth meet
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will inaugurate the two-day 6th conference of
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region, which is likely to be
attended by about 100 delegates from across the country and abroad.
The conference will feature discussions on Parliament’s role in development agenda

and legislature and judiciary – two important pillars of democracy.
UN names India as Global Host for the World Environment Day 2018
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan announced that
his ministry’s headquarters at Indira Paryavaran Bhavan will now be plastic-free.
The decision was announced during a function, where India and United Nations signed
a document declaring India as the Global Host of World Environment Day, 2018.
Centre to appoint tribunal to settle Mahanadi water dispute
The union cabinet has approved setting up of a tribunal to resolve the dispute between
Odisha and Chhattisgarh over Mahanadi river waters.
The tribunal has been constituted under the Inter-State River Disputes Act, 1956 on the
request of Odisha which has repeatedly sought its formation stating that negotiations
have failed to resolve the matter.
India gives $1 mn for rehabilitation work in cyclone-hit Tonga
India has contributed USD one million for the rehabilitation efforts in Tonga after the
Tropical Cyclone Gita caused massive destruction in the Pacific island nation.
India has allocated USD 500,000 in the India-UN Development Partnership Fund for the
rehabilitation efforts while USD 500,000 will be provided for immediate relief
assistance.
8|P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) for

NER
An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) has

been set up for the North Eastern Region (NER). This was decided after a meeting
between Secretaries of DoNER and AYUSH.
The IMC is to create synergy in various programmes of the Union Government to

enable medicinal and aromatic plants sector become vibrant and develop the resources
to its potential.
India International Textiles Expo Begins In Colombo
A three –day India International Textiles Expo (IITExpo) of India began in Sri Lankan
capital of Colombo.
It is being organized by Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council

(PDEXCIL) with the support of Union Ministry of Textiles & Ministry of Commerce &
Industry.
Assocham, EPCES ink pact for info sharing on SEZs
Assocham and Export Promotion Council for EOUs & SEZs (EPCES) have signed an
agreement for sharing information relating to special economic zones and export
oriented units and jointly organising events in India and abroad.
As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Assocham and EPCES would

collaborate to actualise a shared agenda consisting of wide ranging activities of mutual
benefits.
UIDAI announces blue-colored ‘Baal Aadhaar’ for kids below five
Aadhaar is increasingly becoming mandatory for Indian citizens, and even newborns
are eligible to be enrolled.
The UIDAI has now announced that children under five years of age will get a special
blue-colored Aadhaar called ‘Baal Aadhaar.’
Kovind to inaugurate museum dedicated to Biju Patnaik
President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate a museum dedicated to former Odisha
chief minister Biju Patnaik. The Museum and Learning Centre has been set up at Anand
Bhawan, the ancestral house of Biju Patnaik in Cuttack.
9|P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The ancestral house of Biju Patnaik, which has been converted to a museum in memory
of the late leader, houses rare articles belonging to him and will give visitors a
comprehensive insight into the life of the legendary personality.
RInfra wins Rs 292 cr arbitration award against Goa govt
Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra) has won an arbitration award of Rs 292 crore
against the Goa government for non-payment of electricity dues.
RInfra has won an arbitration award of Rs 292 crore against Government of Goa. The
Arbitration Tribunal, in its award on February 16, 2018, has ordered Government of
Goa to pay Rs 292 crore to Reliance Infrastructure Limited by April 15, 2018.
Nadda launches initiative for free viral load test for people living with HIV/AIDS
Union Health Minister J P Nadda has launched an initiative under which free viral load
test would be provided at least once a year to the 12 lakh people undergoing treatment
for HIV/AIDS in the country.
A viral load test measures the number of HIV viral particles in the blood to find out if
the treatment is effective. A high viral load in a person on treatment indicates either that
the medication is not being taken properly or that the virus is becoming resistant to the
medication.
CSIR signs MoU with IORA: CSIR-CIMAP to host coordinating center on medicinal
plants
Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has entered into a MoU with the
Regional Center for Science and Technology Transfer (RCSTT) of Indian Ocean Rim
Association (IORA) for designating Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants,
Lucknow (CSIR-CIMAP) as Coordinating Center on Medicinal Plants.
e-com Website and Mobile app for fishermen
The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has developed a multivendor
e-commerce website and mobile app to help fishermen earn better income for their
catch without depending on middlemen.
The CMFRI has developed the technology to help fish farmers and fishermen selling
their farmed fish and marine catch directly to the customers online.
Env minister Harsh Vardhan launches app
10 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Union Environment and Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan has launched
a mobile application that enables people to better connect with him and provides
information about his work.
The mobile application gives out the detailed work done by Vardhan as a minister. The
app also focuses on green good deeds that prescribes involvement of citizens in acts like
saving energy, conserving water, planting trees, reuse and recycle, promoting car-pool
and use of public transport.
India’s 2018 GDP growth estimate unchanged at 7.6%: Moody’s
Moody’s Investors Service has estimated that India will grow 7.6% in calendar year
2018 and 7.5% in 2019, amid signs of economic recovery from impact of demonetisation
and goods and services tax (GST).
The budget for 2018-19 includes some measures that could stabilise the rural economy
that was disproportionately hit by the demonetisation policy and is yet to recover.
The bank recapitalisation plan should also help credit growth over time, thereby
supporting growth
NEWS IN STATES
NEW DELHI
Mehrauli Archaeological Park to get a museum
The state archaeology department has planned a major revamp of Mehrauli

Archaeological Park (MAP) to put it on the tourist map. The task to prepare a detailed
concept was assigned to Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage
(INTACH).
Prominent structures located at the site are tombs of Ghiyasuddin Balban, Jamali
Kamali, Quli Khan and Adham Khan. Other attractions are Rajon Ki Baoli, Jamali
Kamali Mosque and Metcalfe’s Folly.
Launch of Startup India Ranking Framework
Three new tools for States and Union Territories for ranking of startups in the country
were launched by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry at a function in New
Delhi.
11 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The tools are: the State and Union Territory Startup Ranking Framework, the
Compendium of Good Practices for Promoting Startups in India and the Startup India
Kit.
“Swachh Bharat Sanitation Park” inaugurated in Delhi
The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, in collaboration with the Environmental
Sanitation Institute and Tata Trusts, has developed a Sanitation Park which was
inaugurated in the Capital by Union Minister, Ministry of Drinking Water and
Sanitation, Uma Bharti.
The Sanitation Park was developed at CGO Complex in New Delhi with an objective to
create awareness on various safe technological options. The Park demonstrates various
options pertaining to toilet technologies and solid and liquid waste management
technologies, with a brief description of these technologies.
Union Home Minister to inaugurate “Hunar Haat”
Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh will formally inaugurate “Hunar Haat”, on
February 11, 2018 at Baba Khadak Singh Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi.
The theme of “Hunar Haat” being organized by the Ministry of Minority Affairs is
“Development with Dignity”.
International Conference on Unani Medicine to be inaugurated
The Minister of State (IC) for Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, MoS
PMO, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic
Energy and Space Dr. Jitendra Singh has inaugurated the two-day International
conference on Unani Medicine on 10th February, 2018 at New Delhi.
The theme of the conference is Integration of Unani System of Medicine in main stream
healthcare.
Venkaiah Naidu to inaugurate the Global Theatre Olympics
The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate the 8th Global Theatre
Olympics on 17th February, 2018 at the majestic Red Fort in New Delhi. This Global
Theatre Festival is being held in India for the first time.
The Theatre Olympics was established in 1993 at Delphi, Greece. Being an international
theatre festival, the Theatre Olympics presents some of the greatest theatre practitioners
from around the world.
12 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Kejriwal inaugurates water pipeline project in Narela
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has inaugurated the Delhi Jal Board’s (DJB) project of
laying a water pipeline in Narela resettlement colonies which is likely to benefit 1.2 lakh
residents.
The project will add 12 resettlement colonies of the Narela assembly constituency to the
supply network.
International Conference on Sustainable Biofuels 2018
The two day international conference on Sustainable Biofuels is jointly being organized
by Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and Biofuture platform.
The event is bringing experts and delegates from 19 countries together in Sustainable
Biofuels sector to take stock of current knowledge, share information and best practices,
and build consensus on the actions most needed to move forward.
TAMIL NADU
Second edition of TN Global Investors Meet to be held in Jan 2019
The Tamil Nadu government has to host the second edition of the Global Investors
Meet (GIM) will be held on January 24 next year. Chief Minister K Palaniswami has
allocated a sum of Rs 75 crore towards the conduct of the two-day meet.
An amount of Rs 100 crore was allotted then. The 2015 edition of GIM attracted Rs 2.42
lakh crore of investment from domestic and international investors.
PM Modi launches subsidised ‘Amma’ two-wheeler scheme in TN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the subsidised scooter scheme for
working women on the 70th birth anniversary celebrations of late leader Jayalalithaa.
The scheme, with a subsidy component of 50 per cent upto Rs 25,000 for working
women, was launched by Modi, who handed over the keys and registration certificate
copies to five women beneficiaries.
Tamil Nadu, Microsoft Tie-Up To Accelerate Cloud Technology Adoption
The government of Tamil Nadu has announced signing an agreement with IT Major
Microsoft to improve the integration of technology in teaching and learning in the state.
13 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The partnership aims to reform education sector, build tech capacity and enhance
digital literacy across all levels.
As a part of the agreement, Microsoft will adopt seven schools identified by the
government and train their teachers and students around building 21st century skills
which includes critical thinking, creative coding and gaming, app development,
robotics, and entrepreneurship.
PUDHUCHERRY
ICRISAT to set up soil fertility development centre in Karaikal
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has stated that the International Crops
Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) will soon be setting up a soil
fertility development centre at Karaikal.
Puducherry Government would be entering into a MoU with ICRISAT, an international

organisation engaged in agricultural research for rural development with headquarters
at Hyderabad.
ANDHRA PRADESH
Andhra signs 77 MoUs at Partnership Summit
The Andhra Pradesh government has signed a total of 77 MoUs worth Rs.31,546 crore
investment with various companies at the CII Partnership Summit.
On the first day of the summit, the state government signed the MoUs which were
expected to generate employment for 98,291 people.
India Gas Solutions signs MoU with AP to create marketing infra for natural gas
India Gas Solutions Pvt Ltd, the equal joint venture between Reliance Industries and
UK’s BP plc, have signed an agreement with Andhra Pradesh government to invest in
creating marketing infrastructure for natural gas from KG basin.
The joint venture is now actively marketing natural gas produced from eastern offshore
KG-D6 block on behalf of both RIL and BP.
HARYANA
J P Nadda launches National Deworming initiative
14 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched the National
Deworming Day at a function at Gurugram.
Government of India is committed to ensuring high quality healthcare, accessible to

every child and upto the last mile. One of the interventions, the National Deworming
Day, is one of the largest public health initiatives in the world.
Haryana govt to prepare integrated development plan for Panchkula
Haryana government has decided to prepare an integrated economic development plan

for Panchkula region.
A consultant is being appointed to prepare the plan, Khattar told a gathering after
inaugurating three projects worth more than Rs 83 crore in Panchkula.Panchkula, being
close to Chandigarh, has the advantage of location.
Parivartan scheme launched in Haryana
The Haryana government has launched Parivartan, a scheme designed to address 10

issues, including cleanliness and pollution, in 46 developmental blocks of the state.
The scheme was launched by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and 46 top officials of
the state, including those from the IAS, IFS and IPS cadres, have been allotted one block
each.
GOA
Goa CM Parrikar to launch bike ambulances in the state
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is set to launch 20 bike ambulances to deal with
casualties in the tourism belt and other hot-spots.
The two-wheeler ambulances, equipped with basic life-saving equipment and two
oxygen cylinders will serve as rapid service at places where 108 ambulances (four-
wheeler) cannot reach.
Google holds 1st-ever Developer Students Club Summit in Goa
Google has commenced its first ever Developer Students Club (DSC) Summit in India.
The three-day summit, from February 23 to 25, is being held in Goa and aims at creating
a pool of a highly-skilled workforce in the country.
15 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
It will provide Indian students with a head-start on current technologies like machine
learning, artificial intelligence (AI) and mobile and web development.
TELANGANA
Telangana to set up clean authority on the lines of Tokyo
Telangana would set up a body to address issues of environment and it would function
on the lines of a similar agency in Tokyo. Clean Authority of Telangana’, to be set up on
the lines of one existing in Tokyo, will address issues of environment.
Telangana will be the first state in India to be creating its own clean authority. We
recently entered (into) an MoU in Tokyo.
Floating ‘island’ to clean up Neknampur Lake
On the occasion of World Wetland Day, city-based NGO Dhruvansh has introduced
biggest floating island of India at Neknampur Lake.
The water body is affected due to sewage. The floating island introduced close to the
inlet ensures filtration of inflows passing through its different layers. Since the lake is
known for aquatic life and for attracting the avians, the hope is that once cleaned it
would again attract the fish and the birds.
Telangana govt appoints task force on urban mobility
The Telangana government has issued orders to constitute a task force on urban
mobility to study the monorail model in the IT corridor of the city.
Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao underlined the need to integrate and
synergise various modes of mass transportation systems such as metro rail, buses,
monorail, MMTS, tram, e-vehicles and other models, keeping in view the present traffic
density and emerging traffic requirement for the next five decades.
Nasscom inks pact with Telangana to set up CoE
The Telangana government has signed an agreement with Nasscom to establish a

Centre of Excellence for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.
To be established on a public-private partnership model, the CoE is the most recent

addition to Nasscom’s ‘hub-and-spoke’ network of CoEs across major locations in the
country, aimed at evangelising new and emerging technologies.
16 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Telangana, Taiwan Sign MoU For Better Technology Partnership
The Telangana Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with

Taoyuan City of Taiwan for better technology partnership in the state.
The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) 2018, concluded earlier with
Telangana, India handing over the baton to Armenia for the 2019 edition.
21st National Conference on e-Governance to begin in Hyderabad
Government of Telangana is organizing the 21st National Conference on e-Governance

on February 26- 27, 2018 in Hyderabad, Telangana.
The theme of the Conference this year is, ‘Technology for accelerating Development’.
The Inaugural Session will be followed by 3 Plenary Sessions on Day1 based on themes:
Building User Experience, Universalization and Replication and Governing e-
Governance while on Day2 the two Plenary Sessions will be based on e-Governance
Good/ Best Practices, Emerging Technologies.
ASSAM
IUIH to invest Rs 1,600 crore to set up medicity in Assam
Indo-UK Institute of Health will pump in Rs 1,600 crore to set up a medicity with a
1,000-bedded hospital in Assam, taking the total investment in India to Rs 19,200 crore.
The Indo-UK Institute of Health (IUIH) shall be signing a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) with the Assam government during the two day-long
‘Advantage Assam – Global Investors Summit 2018 beginning on 03 February 2018.
Assam to host its first global investors summit
Assam will host its first global investors summit beginning on 03 February 2018 to
showcase its manufacturing opportunities and geostrategic advantages to foreign and
Indomestic investors.
The ‘Advantage Assam: Global Investors Summit 2018’, which will be inaugurated by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims at highlighting Assam’s geostrategic advantages
and core competencies in different sectors along with the policy initiatives taken by the
state government.
Guwahati to be the hub for Centre’s UDAN project
17 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati will be the centre
for project UDAN in the North East region and ASEAN.
Small airports will be developed in towns such as Jorhat and Tezpur in Assam under
the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) project.
Ola signs MoU with Assam govt to bring app-based river taxis in city
Taxi aggregator Ola has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Government of Assam to pilot a one-of-its-kind app-based river taxi service in
Guwahati.
Assam has a very unique transportation landscape where water transport plays an
important role in cities such as Guwahati. Ola has played a key role in streamlining
road transport over the last few years in the state.
Assam govt signs MoU to set up university
The Assam Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding worth Rs 300

crore with the AISECT Group of Universities for setting up a university in the state.
The university, the location of which was not yet finalised, would be named after
physicist Dr C V Raman.
Brahmaputra Literary Festival 2nd edition inaugurated
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the second edition of

Brahmaputra Literary Festival at the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra.
The three-day literary event, which kick-started, has been jointly organised by the
National Book Trust and Assam Publication Board saw a huge assembly of young
literary enthusiasts and authors from across the globe.
KERALA
Kerala to Launch E-Network Of Ambulances Modelling Uber
Kerala will soon launch an e-network of ambulances on the lines of app-based global
taxi operator Uber.
An app-based facility would be launched for people to seek the service of the nearest
ambulance from the accident spot and rush the victim to appropriate hospitals. A state-
wide e-network of ambulance services on the lines of uber taxi will be formulated.
18 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Kerala govt announces amnesty for vehicle tax evaders
The Kerala government has announced an amnesty scheme for those who had
registered their vehicles in the Union Territory of Puducherry to evade tax in the home
state.
The government would re-examine the legal proceedings against them under the
special amnesty scheme which would be valid till April 30 this year.
Kerala’s first ever global IT summit in Kochi
Nearly 2,000 professionals, entrepreneurs, academicians, key influencers and other

stakeholders from across the globe will attend Kerala’s first ever global IT summit to be
held in Kochi by the third week of next month.
The summit, #Future, will set in motion the process to locate high quality and
experienced people from the knowledge sector who can contribute to the future of the
state, M Sivasankar, IT Secretary to the Government of Kerala.
Co-operative society for transgenders in Kerala to be set up
The Kerala government has plans to set up co-operative societies for transgenders. Such
societies were the first of their kind in the country. Kerala was the first state to come out
with a Transgender Policy, envisaging ending societal stigma towards them and ensure
non-discriminatory treatment.
The state government has introduced a pension scheme for transgenders aged above 60-
years. It is estimated that there are about 25,000 transgenders in Kerala.
UTTAR PRADESH
Kanpur gets its first butterfly park
The Uttar Pradesh government has inaugurated the state’s first ever butterfly park in
Kanpur to preserve the ecosystem.
According to the Kanpur Zoo authority, the butterfly park was constructed at an
estimated cost of Rs 1 crore. A total of 100 species of flowers have been planted in order
to attract the butterflies. By now, more than 50 species of butterflies have already been
observed in the park.
UP govt fined ₹10 lakh over e-waste on Ramganga river bank
19 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The National Green Tribunal has imposed an environment compensation of Rs 10 lakh

on the Uttar Pradesh government for failing to take action on disposing e- waste from
the banks of the Ramganga river in Moradabad.
A bench, headed by Acting NGT Chairperson Justice U D Salvi, took exception over the
state government’s inaction in the matter and observed that nothing has been done till
date.
Grand Spiritual Expo inaugurated in Noida
Union Culture and Environment Minister Mahesh Sharma has inaugurated the 16-day
Grand Spiritual Expo, 2018 in Noida. Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa
Vidyalaya organised the Spiritual Exposition at India Expo Mart in Noida to highlight
the importance of ‘Raj Yoga’ among the civilians.
The purpose of this 16-day long fair is to spread the importance of Raj yoga meditation
and spiritual education among the entire country.
National Youth Festival organised by Indian Red Cross Society begins
A three-day National Youth Festival organised by the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS)
began in Noida to help the youth understand their potential and encourage them to
contribute to the society in a more effective manner.
Around 400 Red Cross volunteers from across the country participated in the festival
which aims to give the volunteers direction towards self-sufficiency and sustainability.
President of India in Kanpur; inaugurates international conference ‘Agricon 2018’

and ‘Agriexpo 2018’
The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the international conference
‘Agricon 2018’ and ‘Agriexpo 2018’ at Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture
& Technology (CSAUT), Kanpur on February 14, 2018.
The Government has promoted the concept of “per drop, more crop” and this message
should reach every farmer in the country.
PM Modi inaugurates UP Investors’ Summit 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the two-day Uttar Pradesh Investors
Summit 2018 along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow.
20 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The Prime Minister visited an exhibition at UP Investors’ Summit in Lucknow. The

Summit is being attended by at least 5,000 people including industry heads from India
and abroad, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, policy makers and academics.
ITC plans new integrated consumer goods plant in UP
Diversified firm ITC has plans to set up an integrated consumer goods manufacturing
facility in Uttar Pradesh besides exploring investment possibilities in green energy and
a logistics hub in the state in coming years.
The company has implemented significant interventions in agriculture sector in the

state strengthening agri and food value chains making a meaningful contribution to the
prime minister’s vision of doubling farmers’ income.
PM announces Rs 20K cr defence production corridor in Budelkhand
Prime Minister has announced a Rs 20,000-crore defence industrial corridor in

Bundelkhand region to bring development in one of the most backward regions of Uttar
Pradesh and said the Yogi government has pulled the state out of prevailing negativity.
Of one of the two defence industrial corridors mentioned in the budget, one is proposed
in the Bundelkhand region of the state which will bring an investment of Rs 20,000
crore and generate employment avenues for 2.5 lakh people.
MAHARASHTRA
2018 Kala Ghoda Arts festival organised in Mumbai
The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is one of the most significant cultural events of Mumbai,
organised by the Kala Ghoda Association. The festival celebrates art in its diverse forms
that encompass music, dance, theatre, fine art, photography, seminars, workshops, and
a lot more.
This nine-day festival is an attraction for tourists and has thousands of visitors coming
not just from the city or country, but from across the world.
Maha to set up transgender welfare board
The Transgender Welfare Board (TWB) would finally see light of the day with the
Maharashtra government making a provision of Rs 5 crore for welfare of the
community. Maharashtra will be the first such state to have such a Board. The
21 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Transgender Welfare Board was first conceptualised in 2014 by the previous

government.
Maharashtra to organise its first wine festival
The state government has organised its first wine festival — ‘India Grape Harvest, Wine
Festival 2018’. This festival is an initiative of the Maharashtra Tourism Development
Corporation (MTDC), a government subsidiary that works for tourism development in
the state.
The festival will be organised in and around Nashik with the help of various vineyards.
It consists of an exhibition of the best wines at various vineyards, social and cultural
events and a carnival.
Maharashtra govt to develop app for auto rickshaws in Pune
The government of Maharashtra is throwing its collective virtual weight behind

autorickshaw drivers in Pune by committing to start a mobile app for them.
The app is expected to make autorickshaw services in Pune completely transparent and
more efficient. Four private companies are already running apps that offer
autorickshaw services.
Mumbai to host TiE Global Summit
The TiE Global Summit (TGS) will be held in Mumbai on February 21 and 22. The
summit is being held in association with leading government agencies and over 20 TiE
chapters across India, USA, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and Dubai,with
the aim of setting the tone for the next wave of business and innovation.
Skill development centre set up at gems & jewellery institute
The Gem Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has opened a development
centre to train students in latest technology and upgrade skills of artisans who are
already part of the industry.
The ‘Skill Development Centre’ has come up at the Indian Institute of Gems and
Jewellery (IIGJ) in suburban Andheri in Mumbai.
Govt to set up ₹600-crore metro coach factory in Maharashtra
22 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The Indian Railways has signed a memorandum of understanding with the

Maharashtra government to set up a coach factory in Latur with an investment of Rs600
crore.
The railways will be manufacturing Metro coaches with a potential of exporting them to
the other countries and generation of 15,000 direct jobs in backward region of
Marathwada.
JHARKHAND
Jharkhand to organise Global Agriculture Summit
Jharkhand state government would organise Global Agriculture Summit this year on
the pattern of Momentum Jharkhand Investors Summit. The Global Agriculture Summit
would involve scientists, processing experts, innovators and agro-entrepreneur.
The three-day ‘Agrotech 2018 Farmers Fair’ at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), Das
said 72 food processing plants were set up during the last three years in Jharkhand,
providing jobs to 2,350 youths.
KARNATAKA
President of India to inaugurate the Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsav 2018
The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind to inaugurate the Mahamastakabhisheka

Mahotsav 2018 of Gommateshwara Bhagwan Sri Bahubali Swami at Shravanabelagola
on February 7, 2018.
The Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsav is celebrated once every 12 years. It has been

celebrated for about a 1,000 years.
Woman to lead mega Jain festival in Karnataka for first time
The 88th Mahamastakabhisheka is set to begin at Shravanabelegola in Hassan on 07

February 2018 with Sarita Jain becoming the first woman at the helm in the history of
the Jain festival.
The mega Jain festival, held once in twelve years, will begin from February 17 and
continue till February 25 and has drawn thousands of Jain seers and devotees from
across the country.
12th International Conference on corporate social responsibility held in Bengaluru
23 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
After organising the largely-attended Indo-Global Business Meet at the House of Lords,
UK and the IOD Global Convention on Corporate Governance and Sustainability at
London in October, 2017, and Global Convention on Risk Management and Business
Meet at Singapore in December, 2017, the Institute Of Directors organised it’s 12th
International Conference on corporate social responsibility (CSR) on February 9 and 10
at Hotel Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru (India).
MADHYA PRADESH
MP govt launches app to spread awareness against pollution
The Madhya Pradesh government has launched a mobile application to spread

awareness against pollution in the western part of the state. The mobile app “pollution
metre” was available on ‘Google Play Store’.
It has been developed with the help of a private firm and the Madhya Pradesh Pollution
Control Board. With the help of the app, anybody can check the status of air, water and
noise pollution in their respective areas.
Khajuraho Dance Festival to begin from February 20
Myriad forms of classical dance in India will be on dispaly at a festival beginning in

Khajuraho from February 20.
The week-long Khajuraho Dance Festival at the temple town in Chhatarpur district is
being organised by the culture department of the Madhya Pradesh government.
GUJARAT
Rajnath inaugurates first of its kind spoken Sanskrit centre
Gujarat University has announced a course on spoken Sanskrit in order to popularise

the ancient language, making it possibly the first course of its kind in the country.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched the university’s Centre for Spoken
Sanskrit which will offer a six-month course for people on how to speak the language.
WEST BENGAL
Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates PNG Supply in BSF Campus, Chhawla
24 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas; Skill Development & Entrepreneurship,
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated the PNG supply to kitchens in the Campus
of Border Security Force (BSF), located in Chhwala in South West Delhi.
All houses inside BSF Chhawla camp have been provided PNG connections. The
connections would subsequently also be provided to the flats under final stages of
construction and renovation.
Bengal becomes first state to opt out of ‘Modicare’
Bengal became the first state to opt out of the National Health Protection Scheme
unveiled in the Union Budget, with CM Mamata Banerjee announcing that the state will
not “waste” its hard-earned resources to contribute its share to the programme.
The CM also referred to the “paltry” allocation for PM Modi’s Beti Bachao project. “The
Centre has floated Beti Bachao with a paltry allocation of Rs 100 crore for the entire
country; Bengal has provided for Rs 5,000 crore for its own Kanyashree project.
Language Movement Day observed across West Bengal
A number of programmes were held in different parts of West Bengal on 21 February

2018, the Language Movement Day, which commemorates the beginning of a
movement to protect Bengali language in erstwhile East Pakistan.
The day is termed simply as ‘Ekush-e’ (21st) in both Bangladesh and West Bengal,
which share the same linguistic and cultural heritage.
NSD to host ‘Theatre Olympics’ in Kolkata
Theatre productions in India and abroad will be seen at the ‘8th Theatre Olympics’,
organised by the National School of Drama, from February 27, as part of its 17-city tour
of the country.
The Kolkata leg of the festival, organised for the first time in India, will end on March
13 after staging 21 theatre productions including English and other foreign and regional
languages in both verbal and non-verbal forms in three venues.
PUNJAB
CCTNS project rolled out in Punjab
25 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has launched the Crime and Criminal Tracking
Network and Systems (CCTNS), a project to keep digitised records of FIRs and
information on crimes and criminals.
FIRs and General Diaries can now be updated online by police officials on CCTNS ‘Go-
Live’. The basic objectives of the project includes improving quality of investigation and
prosecution, linking crimes with criminals and vice versa.
RAJASTHAN
Rajasthan to distribute free sanitary pads in rural areas
A new scheme promoting menstrual hygiene, under which sanitary pads will be
provided to girls and women in rural areas of Rajasthan, will be launched in Rajasthan.
Raje, who also holds the financial portfolio, allotted Rs 76 crore for the scheme which
she announced during her budget speech in the assembly.
Rajasthan to get international educational institution for minorities
Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has to set up an international educational

institution for minorities in Rajasthan’s Alwar city as part of the Centre’s ambitious
plan to set up five such institutes across the country.
The plan for building these institutes was initially prepared in 2016 and an 11-member
committee was formed under former bureaucrat Afzal Amanullah to oversee it.
Uma Bharti launches second Swajal Yojna project in Rajasthan
To ensure availability of clean drinking water to every household, Union Minister Uma
Bharti today launched the second project under the ‘Swajal Yojna’ at Bhikampura
village in Rajasthan.
Under the scheme, 90 per cent of the project cost will borne by the government and the
remaining 10 per cent will be contributed by the community.
BIHAR
Nitish Kumar inaugurates ambitious pump canal project
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has inaugurated an ambitious pump canal project at
Kahalgaon town in the district which would cater to a vast strech of land within the
state and neighbouring Jharkhand.
26 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The Bateshwar Nath Pump Canal Project, which has involved a cost of Rs 389 crore. The
project would cater to a total area of 27,603 hectares of which 22,716 hectares are in
Bihar and the remaining in Jharkhand.
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
PM inaugurates Convention Centre in Itanagar
The Prime Minister has inaugurated the DorjeeKhandu State Convention Centre. This
Convention Centre has an auditorium, conference halls and an exhibition hall.
The Prime Minister also dedicated the State Civil Secretariat Building to the nation, and
laid the Foundation Stone of the Academic Block of the TomoRiba Institute of Health
and Medical Science.
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
J-K to have Law University on lines of NLSIU Bangalore
Jammu and Kashmir would have a law varsity on the lines of the Bangalore-based
National Law School of India University (NLSIU) and the process to establish it will
begin this year.
The state legislature had passed a Bill to establish a national law university in Jammu
and Kashmir. The process to establish it would be started this year to improve the
quality of professional legal education in the state.
ODISHA
Niti Aayog offers Odisha to select districts for TAD scheme
The Niti Aayog suggested that Odisha government could select districts for inclusion in
a central scheme for better development of the tribal dominated and backward region of
the state.
Besides Kerala and West Bengal, Odisha is the third opposition ruled states which
opted out of the Centre’s Transformation of Aspirational Districts (TAD) scheme.
Rupani inaugurates Air Odisha’s first flight under UDAN scheme
Air Odisha has launched its maiden flight under the Centre’s UDAN scheme, linking
Mundra with Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani launched the
inaugural flight of the Bhubaneswar-based airline.
27 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Air Odisha, which started services as a non-scheduled operator in November 2012, was
granted the flying permit by the DGCA to launch flights under the Ude Desh Ka Aam
Nagrik (UDAN), the Centre’s regional connectivity scheme (RCS).
Odisha to set up integrated unit for utilising DMF funds
With the collection of about Rs 4,000 crore under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF)
Trusts till January this year, the Odisha government has decided to set up an Integrated
Project Monitoring Unit for its proper utilisation.
The DMF was constituted to utilise the penalty collected from miners for excess mining
on the improvement of social infrastructure in mineral-bearing districts of the state.
MIZORAM
Mizoram celebrates 31st state day
Mizoram celebrated its 31st state day with all the government offices and educational
institutions remaining closed on the occasion.
Mizoram was elevated to a full-fledged state and was inaugurated at Aizawl by the
then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on February 20, 1987.
Mizoram became a state after the erstwhile underground Mizo National Front (MNF)
and the centre signed the historic Mizo peace accord on June 30, 1986.
Agri centre with Israeli collaboration to come up in Mizoram
A first of its kind regional centre for agriculture for the Northeast with Israeli
collaboration will be inaugurated in Mizoram on March 7. Set up with a cost of Rs 8-10
crore, the centre will exclusively process citrus fruits.
The project has come up with the tripartite collaboration of the Union ministry of
agriculture and farmers, the government of Israel and the Mizoram government.
LAKSHADWEEP
Lakshadweep joins UDAY scheme
The Union territory of Lakshadweep has joined UDAY scheme, which is meant for
revival of debt stressed power distribution companies (discoms) in the country.
28 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The Government of India and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep signed a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Scheme Ujwal DISCOM Assurance
Yojana (UDAY).
The MoU paves way for improving operational efficiency of the Electricity Department
of the Union Territory (UT).
CABINET APPROVALS
Cabinet approves agreement between railways and Morocco rail
The Union Cabinet has approved an agreement between India and the Moroccan
National Railways Office (ONCF) for developing long-term cooperation and
partnership in the rail sector. The Cooperation Agreement was signed on December 14,
2017.
The agreement will enable technical cooperation in training and staff development,
expert missions, exchange of experience, experts and personnel and mutual technical
assistance.
Cabinet approves creation of Rs 60,000 cr fund for urban housing scheme
The Union Cabinet has approved creation of a fund of Rs 60,000 crore to finance the
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), a move Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said
would “add momentum to the pace of the implementation” of the government’s
flagship scheme.
The National Urban Housing Fund (NUHF) will have provisioning of funds to the tune
of Rs 60,000 crore over the next four years.
Cabinet approves six rail projects in 4 states
The government has approved six projects at a cost of Rs 11,661 crore for new lines as
well as doubling and electrification of tracks, which would generate more than 200 lakh
person days of employment in Uttar Pradesh and three other states.
The projects would cover 881 km of lines in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and
Odisha.
BANKING AND FINANCE
CRISIL, SIDBI Launch India’s First MSE Sentiment Index
29 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Shri Arun Jaitley launched
CriSidEx , India’s first sentiment index for micro and small enterprises ( MSEs)
developed jointly by CRISIL & SIDBI.
CriSidEx is a composite index based on a diffusion index of 8 parameters and measures

MSE business sentiment on a scale of 0 (extremely negative) to 200 ( extremely positive)
. The parametric feedback was captured through a survey of 1100 MSEs in November –
December.
Mumbai Dabbawalas partner with Paytm Payments Bank
Paytm Payments Bank, a digital bank which provides zero balance accounts and zero
charges on digital transactions, partnered with the Mumbai Dabbawala Association, the
pioneers of home-cooked food delivery.
As part of this association, around 5000 dabbawalas will now be able to collect instant
payments for their Dabba service through Paytm QR.
RBI projects inflation for FY19 at around 4.5%
The Reserve Bank of India’s projections indicate inflation for 2018/19 to be at around
4.5 percent stated by Governor Urjit Patel that meant there was no need to change the
monetary policy stance based on the existing data.
The central bank has kept its main repo rate at 6.00 percent. Its statement projected
inflation to reach 5.1 to 5.6 percent in April to September and then 4.5 to 4.6 percent in
October to March.
Bank of Baroda launches ‘Baroda DigiNext’
Bank of Baroda has launched ‘Baroda DigiNext’, a product for digitising cash
management of corporate and government customers.
Baroda DigiNext aims at bringing the benefits of the new digital landscape to its
corporate and government customers by seamlessly connecting them with their
customers, suppliers, employees and revenue departments.
RBI to set up ombudsman for NBSCs
The Reserve Bank of India wants to further tighten the regulations around the Non
Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) by setting up an ombudsman for these entities.
30 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The ombudsman scheme, which will be operationalised by end of this month, will be
addressing the customer grievances in the NBFC segment.
India Post Payments Bank to enable digital payment by April
With the nationwide rollout of the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) Expansion
Programme scheduled to begin in April this year, digital payments in post offices are
expected to be enabled around the same time.
IPPB would be providing the largest financial inclusion network in the country,
covering both urban as well as rural hinterland with the ability to provide digital
payment services at the doorstep with the help of Postmen and Gramin Dak Sewaks
(GDS).
RBI to have additional instrument for liquidity management
The Reserve Bank will soon have greater flexibility in terms of managing its liquidity
operations with the addition of one more tool ‘Standing Deposit Facility Scheme’ to its
kit.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget has proposed to amend the RBI Act to
empower the central bank to come up with an additional instrument for liquidity
management.
ICICI Lombard General Insurance, RBL Bank tie up for non-life insurance products
ICICI Lombard General Insurance and RBL Bank have entered into a corporate agency
tie-up agreement for the distribution of non-life insurance products.
The agreement has been signed for the distribution of ICICI Lombard’s non-life
insurance products at RBL Bank branches all over the country as part of the insurer’s
Bancassurance channel focus.
Bank of Baroda will no longer operate in South Africa
The Bank of Baroda (BoB), which is embroiled in controversial banking transactions

involving the embattled Gupta family, will no longer operate in South Africa, the
country’s central bank stated.
The Bank of Baroda has notified the Office of the Registrar of Banks of its exit from
South Africa.
ADB pledges USD 100 million to upgrade rural roads in Nepal
31 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The ADB would provide USD 100 million to Nepal government for upgrading nearly
400 km of rural roads to all-weather standards.
The Rural Connectivity Improvement Project will also serve the agriculture sector and
bring access to 7.5 million people in 16 districts, according to a press release issued by
the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Nepal.
PNB signs pact with National e-Gov Services
Punjab National Bank has signed an agreement for information utility with National e-
Governance Services Limited (NeSL).
The objective of the agreement is to augment the information infrastructure in India.

The agreement will enable storing of financial information that will help substantiate
defaults and verify claims expeditiously.
Zoho ties up with ICICI Bank for integrated platform
Software company Zoho has tied up with private lender ICICI Bank to provide
accounting and banking on an integrated platform.
Claiming to be the industry-first integration of accounting and any bank, the

partnership will deliver a streamlined digital banking experience to customers using
Zoho’s cloud accounting software, ‘Zoho Books’.
This integration enables MSMEs to bring in the efficiency of automation by connecting

seamless banking transactions and book-keeping on a single platform.
Equitas Small Finance launches interactive digital savings a/c
City-based Equitas Small Finance Bank has launched an interactive digital savings
account – selfeSavings. Through the web-based interactive video from the bank’s
website www.equitasbank.com a selfeSavings account can be opened.
Customers by using details of Aadhaar, PAN card, can also set up a mobile banking
facility and start operating the acount in five minutes.
Yes Bank makes India INX debut with USD 600 mn MTN bond
Yes Bank has listed USD 600 million bond issued under its maiden USD 1 billion MTN
programme, on Global Securities Market (GSM) of India INX. India INX is the country’s
first international exchange, located at International Financial Services Centre, GIFT
City in Gujarat.
32 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The MTN (medium term note) bonds issuance received an overwhelming response
from international investors and saw a final order book, at a spread of 130 basis points,
being oversubscribed by over 1.83 times from over 90 accounts.
India Signs Second Loan Agreement with New Development Bank for USD 100
Million
The Loan Agreement for financing of Rajasthan Water Sector Restructuring Project for
the Desert Areas was signed between Government of India and the New Development
Bank (NDB) on 13th February 2018 at New Delhi.
This is the first tranche loan of USD 100 million approved by the NDB under the Multi
Tranche Financing Facility of USD 345 million for this project.
WhatsApp gets NPCI nod for BHIM UPI launch
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has accorded its consent to roll out
WhatsApp BHIM UPI beta launch with limited user base of one million and low per
transaction limit.
Four banks will join the multi-bank BHIM UPI model in the coming weeks and full
feature product shall be released after the beta test is successful.
SBI launches Global NRI Center to enhance customer experience
The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched its Global NRI (GNC) center, a one-stop
customer service solution for all NRI banking related services, in Kochi.
Leveraging its strong NRI customer base of over 33 lakh as on January 31, the bank,
through its GNC aims to centralize operations which are currently spread across 16
circles, 92 NRI branches in 66 different locations and several NRI intensive branches.
Amazon launches its first food retail service in India
Amazon has rolled out its own food retailing business in India with a pilot in Pune,
becoming the first foreign ecommerce firm to stock and sell food items directly to
consumers.
Amazon is now a vendor on Amazon.in and is currently operating in Pune. It is the

only global entity to have applied for the food-only retailing business, an area where
the government allowed 100% overseas investment in 2016 to help producers and
generate employment.
33 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
BSE gets Sebi nod to launch cross-currency derivatives
SEBI has given approval to the stock exchange to launch cross-currency derivatives and
has also allowed trading in such contracts for a longer period between 9:00 AM and 7:30
PM.
The exchange will introduce cross-currency derivatives (future and options) on pairs
such as Euro (EUR)-US Dollar (USD), Pound Sterling (GBP)-USD and USD-Japanese
Yen (JPY).
Capital First gets NHB nod for merger with IDFC Bank
National Housing Bank (NHB) has approved the merger of the company along with
Capital Home Finance and Capital First Securities Limited with IDFC Bank.
Earlier in January, the company had informed the decision of the board of directors
approving amalgamation of the company, Capital First Home Finance Limited, and
Capital First Securities Limited (collectively, the ‘Amalgamating Companies’) with
IDFC Bank Limited.
Paytm launches two insurance companies
Started as a digital payments startup, Paytm in the last two years has forayed into
multiple segments integrating multiple platforms in the process.
Paytm has now incorporated two Insurance companies: Paytm Life Insurance
Corporation Ltd and Paytm General Insurance Corporation Ltd.
With an initial paid-up capital / authorised capital of $15,390 (INR 1 Mn), both the
companies have been classified as public companies, limited by shares.
RBI introduces Ombudsman Scheme for NBFCs
India’s central bank, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has launched the Ombudsman
Scheme for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
The scheme will provide a cost-free and expeditious complaint redressal mechanism
relating to deficiency in the services by NBFCs.
ADB to give USD 84 mn for improving Bihar water supply
The Finance Ministry will get a loan of USD 84 million from the Asian Development
Bank (ADB) to improve water supply in the Bhagalpur and Gaya districts of Bihar.
34 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The Tranche 2 loan is part of the USD 200 million Multi-Tranche Financing Facility
(MFF) for Bihar Urban Development Investment Program that was approved by ADB in
2012, to provide sustainable urban infrastructure and services in four towns –
Bhagalpur, Gaya, Darbhanga, and Muzaffarpur.
RBI sets April 30 deadline for banks to link CBS with SWIFT
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked banks to integrate SWIFT (Society for
Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) with its core banking solutions
(CBS) by April 30.
The central bank’s direction comes in the view of the Rs 11,400 crore fraud that was
detected by the Punjab National Bank (PNB) at one of its branches in Mumbai.
Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank starts operations
Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank Ltd (ABIPBL) started operations, making it the fifth
payments bank to roll out operations after the central bank gave its in-principle
approval to 11 applicants in August 2015.
Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank Limited has commenced operations as a payments
bank with effect from 22 February, 2018.
Google integrates its mobile payment app with SBI
Global search engine giant Google today integrated its mobile payment app, Tez with
the nation’s largest lender State Bank under which its cusomters can create an SBI UPI
Id–@oksbi and get access to exclusive SBI offers.
SBI and Google’s will work towards a wider adoption of digital payments and focus on
building unique propositions for users and merchants including specially curated
offers.
Now link Aadhaar with PF account via UMANG app
Retirement fund body EPFO has launched the facility of linking Aadhaar with universal
account number, through UMANG mobile app.
The new facility is in addition to the existing one on the EPFO website. The facility on e-
KYC portal has added a new feature to link UAN with Aadhaar online using biometric
credentials.
Bajaj Allianz Life launches online-only ULIP product
35 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Ltd today launched a value-packed and goal-
based ULIP product, available exclusively through the online channel.
Bajaj Allianz Life Goal Assure is an online-only product to keep the charges drastically
low. The product offers to even return the mortality charge if policy matures.
EPFO makes online claims must for PF withdrawals above Rs 10 lakh
Retirement fund body EPFO has made it mandatory to file online claims for provident
fund withdrawals above Rs 10 lakh, taking another step towards becoming a paperless
organisation.
The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has also made it mandatory to file
online claims for withdrawals of above Rs 5 lakh under the Employees Pension Scheme
1995.
CABINET APPROVALS
Cabinet approves signing of a host of pacts with Jordan
The Union Cabinet has given its nod to sign a host of pacts with Jordan, including
cooperation in the field of health, manpower, customs and mining.
It approved signing an MoU with Jordan on cooperation and mutual administrative

assistance in customs matters.
The pact aims at enhancing collaboration between the two sides in promoting best
practices in administration of contractual employment, reflect the latest reforms in
recruitment processes and enhance protection and welfare of Indian workers in Jordan.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Vietnam on Economic and Trade
Cooperation
The Union Cabinet chaired has approved thesigning of a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) between India and Vietnam on Economic and Trade
Cooperation.
The MoU would expand more bilateral trade and economic cooperation between India
and Vietnam.
Cabinet apprised of an MoU between India and Fiji on Cooperation in Renewable

Energy
36 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
The Union Cabinet has been apprised of aMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) on

Cooperation in Renewable Energy between India and Fiji. The MoU was signed on 24th
May, 201 7at Suva, Fiji.
The MoU envisages establishing a Joint Working Committee to review, monitor and
discuss matters relation to areas of cooperation. It provides for exchange of expertise
and networking of information.
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Macedonia on cooperation in the field of
Health
The Union Cabinet has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

between India and Macedonia on cooperation in the field of Health. A Working Group
will be set up to further elaborate the details of cooperation and to oversee the
implementation.
Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and Jordan on Cooperation in

Health Sector
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the
proposal for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and
Jordan on cooperation in the field of Health & Medical Science.
Cabinet approves signing of MoU between India and Jordan on Cooperation in the
Field of Manpower
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between India and Jordan on Cooperation in the Field of
Manpower.
The MoU aims at enhancing collaboration between the two sides in promoting best
practices in the administration of contractual employment, reflects the latest reforms in
recruitment processes and enhances the protection and welfare of Indian workers in
Jordan.
Cabinet approves Action Plan for Champion Sectors in Services
The Union Cabinet chaired approved the proposal of the Department of Commerce to
give focused attention to 12 identified Champion Services Sectors for promoting their
development, and realizing their potential.
37 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
These include Information Technology & Information Technology enabled Services (IT
& ITeS), Tourism and Hospitality Services, Medical Value Travel, Transport and
Logistics Services, Accounting and Finance Services, Audio Visual Services, Legal
Services, Communication Services, Construction and Related Engineering Services,
Environmental Services, Financial Services and Education Services.
Cabinet approves Agreement between India and Jordan on Cooperation and Mutual
Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters
The Union Cabinet has approved the signing and ratifying an Agreement between India
and Jordan on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters.
The Agreement will help in the availability of relevant information for the prevention
and investigation of Customs offences. The Agreement is also expected to facilitate
trade and ensure efficient clearance of goods traded between the countries.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Brisbane Airport to be world’s 1st to accept cryptocurrency
Australia’s Brisbane Airport has announced that that it will soon allow travelers to pay
with crypto coins at its terminal shopping areas.
To a deal struck with cryptocurrency travel firm TravelbyBit, which will equip the
airport’s retail stores with technology to accept the likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin,
Dash and Steem.
UAE Launches World’s Longest Zip Line
Guinness World Records officials certified the zip line in Ras al-Khaimah. The Jebel Jais
Flight takes thrill-seekers atop the country’s largest mountain peak, from a launch pad
1,680 meters (5,512 feet) above sea level.
Dubai launches world’s first floating drive-thru
Dubai has revealed the Aqua Pod concept, the world’s first sustainable floating drive-
thru, serving a range of burgers. Sea-goers will be able to satisfy their hunger while at
sea and pull up to enjoy food and beverages as they would from a traditional food
truck.
38 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
This unique floating drive-through concept comes from 27-year-young, award-winning

architect Ahmed Youssef, founder of Aquatic Architects Design Studio (AADS) and
creator of the Aqua Pod.
Sweden commits record $370m of aid to UN World Food Programme
World Food Programme has signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement committing an

unprecedented $370 million dollars to WFP over the next four years, hailing the
Scandinavian nation as a global leader in aid.
The contribution for the period 2018-2021 is the biggest ever made by a donor within a
WFP Strategic Partnership Agreement.
Tanzania withdraws from UN refugee programme
Tanzanian President John Magufuli has announced his country will pull out of the UN’s
“comprehensive refugee response framework”, which provides lasting solutions for
refugees, including integration into host communities.
Tanzania informed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in
January that it was suspending the granting of citizenship to some Burundian refugees
and that it would discourage new asylum applications.
Mauritius plans to set up sovereign fund
Mauritius plans to establish a sovereign fund to provide seed capital for the
development of financial technology or Fintech activities in the island nation. It is also
planning to give incentives to attract Fintech operations in the country.
Besides, it is looking at promoting the use of latest technology that will prevent hacking
and other kinds of frauds, while regulating blockchain-related activities.
SCO summit will be held in Qingdao in June 2018
The upcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is scheduled to

be held in the coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province of China in June 2018.
The SCO includes Pakistan, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan,

Uzbekistan and India.
Indonesia inks $1.1 bn deal with Russia to buy 11 jets
39 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Indonesia has inked a billion-dollar deal to buy 11 Sukhoi Su-35 jets from Russia. The
contract, signed by both countries representatives in Jakarta, is worth a total $1.14
billion.
The EU and US have targeted Russia with sanctions for alleged meddling in the US
presidential election and its annexation of Crimea.
Singapore to impose carbon tax from 2019
Singapore would impose a carbon tax from next year to cut its greenhouse gas
emissions and make companies more competitive as global agreements on climate
change take effect.
Finance minister Heng Swee Keat said the tax would be levied on all facilities
producing 25,000 tonnes or more of greenhouse gas emissions a year.
Russia appoints honorary consul in Pak border province
Russia has named an honorary consul in a Pakistani province on the Afghan border,
signalling closer ties with Islamabad at a time when US-Pakistani relations are
spiralling downward.
The appointment of Arsala Khan as honorary consul general in the northwestern

Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province was announced at a ceremony.
Saudi Arabia holds its first-ever jazz festival
Saudi Arabia’s first-ever jazz festival, the second of a three-day outdoor event that
showcases the Kingdom’s recent efforts of shedding its conservative image.
The entertainment plans are largely motivated by economics, part of a reform

programme to diversify the economy away from oil and create jobs for young Saudis.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
India Joins Ashgabat Agreement
India has joined the Ashgabat agreement, which envisages setting up of an international
transport and transit corridor linking central Asia with the Persian Gulf to significantly
ramp up trade and investment.
Accession to the Agreement would diversify India’s connectivity options with central
Asia and have a positive influence on India’s trade and commercial ties with the region.
40 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Nuclear Energy Collaboration with Canada
An agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Canada for
Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy was signed on 27.06.2010. Government
of India entered into an agreement with M/s CAMECO Inc., Canada for supply of
Uranium Ore Concentrate during the period 2015-2020.
Nuclear technologies are being developed and applied in the areas of health, including
cancer care; agriculture; food preservation; waste management apart from generation of
power.
China to reopen Nathu La pass for Mansarovar yatris in India
China has confirmed “resumption” of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Nathu La
route. Kailash Mansarovar yatra via Nathu La was not undertaken last year after the
Chinese government cited “unfavourable conditions” to ensure the safe and smooth
conduct of the yatra on this route.
India to invest $50 mn to boost capacity building in Palestine
India has set up an institute for diplomacy in Palestine and double the number of
scholarships to Palestinians to study in India among several measures to help it in
capacity building and infrastructure development with an investment of USD 50
million.
India, Palestine sign 6 MoUs
India and Palestine have signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)s worth
USD 40 million.
Six MoUs were signed between India and Palestine worth USD 40 million. This was
welcomed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his team.
India-Russia Agriculture Business Summit in New Delhi
An India-Russia Agriculture Business Summit held in New Delhi and celebration of 70

years of Agricultural Relationship to be held in Suratgarh, Rajasthan on 14th February
2018. This will strengthen exchange of expertise to further business ties between the two
countries.
Access to Omani port to help India check China at Gwadar
41 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
An agreement to give Indian Navy access to the Duqm port in Oman will have far-
reaching consequences for India’s strategic reach westwards and in the Indian Ocean.
Seen together with the agreement with the UAE for joint naval exercises in the Persian
Gulf in March, India is making slow but sure progress in pitching its presence in the
area.
India, Iran sign 9 agreements during bilateral talks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held “substantive” talks with Iranian President Hassan
Rouhani to boost cooperation in key areas of security, trade and energy, after which the
two sides inked nine pacts, including one on double taxation avoidance.
Apart from tax pact, the two sides also exchanged instrument to ratify the extradition
treaty as well as to simplify visa process.
India, Canada sign bilateral agreement to support startups
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s India visit, India and Canada have signed a
bilateral agreement to provide market access for startups from both countries.
The programme has been sanctioned by both the governments and will be launched in
India in partnership with Zone Startups India (ZSI), a private accelerator.
Indian, UK scientists discover origami-like farming solutions
Scientists from the UK and India have discovered a disposable diagnostic technology
that uses paper folding, akin to origami, to process complex biochemical tests that can
help farmers develop very low-cost diagnostics to improve the health of livestock.
In a paper published in the journal ACS Sensors, biomedical engineers, veterinary

scientists and bacteriologists from Britain and India describe how the procedure helped
farmers in India identify three separate reproductive infections in cattle.
India, Canada ink six pacts
India and Canada have signed six agreements, including in the area of nuclear science,
energy cooperation and information communication technology.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between India’s Department of

Atomic Energy and the Department of Natural Resources of Canada for co-operation in
the fields of science, technology and innovation.
42 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
India, Sri Lanka to exchange information to check smuggling
India and Sri lanka have decided to regularly exchange information to check smuggling
between the two countries.
They have resolved to strengthen cooperation in preventing the smuggling of gold,

drugs, fake Indian currency notes (FICN), wildlife, and other contraband across the
India-Sri Lanka route, and to address trade-related issues such as country of origin
frauds that impact the revenue of both the countries
India, Uzbek region ink pharma pact
The Andijan Region of Uzbekistan and India have inked an agreement for cooperation
in the pharmaceutical industry.
Both sides have agreed to work together in principle on the issue of creating an Uzbek-
Indian free pharmaceutical zone in the Andijan region and start joint development of a
business plan for this project.
7th meeting of EPG on Nepal-India relations concludes
The seventh meeting of Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations has
concluded in Kathmandu.
Various bilateral issues including 1950 Peace and Friendship treaty, trade, environment,
border and hydropower were discussed during two-day meeting.
It was set up in February 2016 to provide suggestions for updating all existing bilateral
treaties and agreements between both the countries.
Second India-Korea Business Summit
Second India-Korea Business Summit organized by the Department of Industrial Policy

and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, in partnership with
ChosunILbo, KOTRA, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Invest India, was
held in New Delhi.
Aim of the summit is to strengthen the economic relationship, boost trade relations and
increase investments between India and Republic of Korea.
43 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Infosys Co-founder launches startup incubator EduMentum
Infosys co-founder SD Shibulal has launched a startup incubator EduMentum. The

incubator will work for early-stage startups in offline education transformation space.
The platform has been launched in partnership with Shibulal’s Advaith Foundation and
Mantra4Change.
SpaceX launches satellite into orbit on used Falcon 9 rocket
SpaceX has launched a Falcon 9 rocket loaded with a geocommunications satellite

commissioned by the Government of Luxembourg.
The satellite, created by Orbital STK and to be operated by SES, will support
humanitarian and military operations for Luxembourg, among other communications
functions.
Japan launches world’s smallest rocket to carry a satellite
Japan has set a new spaceflight record the country’s Aerospace Exploration Agency
(JAXA) has successfully launched the smallest-ever rocket to carry a satellite into orbit,
a modest SS-520 sounding rocket modified with a third stage inside its nose cone to get
its payload into orbit.
US researchers develop AI system to train robots for army
Researchers at the US Army Research Laboratory and the University of Texas at Austin
have developed new algorithms for robots to learn to perform tasks effectively by
interacting with a human instructor.
The findings of the study were presented at the Association for the Advancement of
Artificial Intelligence Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.
SpaceX to Launch ‘World’s Most Powerful Rocket’ Falcon Heavy
SpaceX is set to launch “World’s most powerful rocket” called Falcon Heavy from
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Falcon Heavy rocket aims for touching
red planet Mars and moon, someday. During the launch, David Bowie’s hit “Space
Oddity” would play in the vehicle.
Falcon Heavy, the ‘World’s Most Powerful Rocket’, has three first-stage boosters which
are strapped together with 27 engines.
44 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Google to introduce ‘digital citizenship’ lessons in Indian classrooms
To commemorate Safer Internet Day 2018 and reiterate its commitment to make the web
a safer place for everyone, tech giant Google announced its collaboration with NCERT
to integrate a course on digital citizenship and safety in the information and
communication technology (ICT) curriculum.
Students from class I to class XII across 1.4 million schools in India will now learn how
to become good and responsible digital citizens, through structured classroom modules
on the social, ethical and legal aspects of internet safety.
IIT alumnus launches accelerator to help IIT startups in US
An Indian Institute of Technology Madras alumnus has launched a non-profit

accelerator at the Bay Area in San Francisco, America.
The initiative is to provide mentorship, incubation and other necessary support to the
budding entrepreneurs and to connect the IIT alumni at the Silicon Valley in America.
ISRO sets up 473 Village Resource Centres for rural development through satellite
technology
To demonstrate the potential of satellite technology for development of rural areas,

ISRO established Village Resource Centres (VRCs) on a pilot scale, in association with
selected NGOs, Trusts and State Government Departments.
VRCs have provided various space technology enabled services such as tele-healthcare,
tele-education, natural resources information, advisories related to agriculture, career
guidance to rural students, skill development and vocational training etc. About Rs 18
crores was spent for establishing 473 VRCs.
Scientists to celebrate Darwin Week to prove human evolution from apes
To remove the “doubts being planted in the minds of the common people” about the
theory of evolution, and demonstrate with evidence how humans evolved from apes,
scientists from across the country are celebrating ‘Darwin Week’.
The February 12 to 18 ‘Darwin Week’ is being organised by The India March for Science
Organising Committee and the Breakthrough Science Society.
45 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Indian scientists develop next generation technology loop to generate clean energy
Indian scientists have developed a super critical carbon di oxide Brayton test loop
facility that would help generate clean energy from future power plants including solar
thermal. This next generation technology loop was developed indigenously by Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore.
This is India’s first test-bed for next generation, efficient, compact, waterless super
critical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle test loop for power generation. The technology is
perhaps the first test loop coupled with solar heat source in the world.
SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket carrying internet satellites
SpaceX has successfully launched a Falcon 9 from SLC-4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base,
its first launch since its successful Falcon Heavy test earlier this month.
This launch had a secondary purpose, however, and one that might ultimately be more
important to SpaceX’s long-term goals.
SpaceX packed two demonstration micro satellites for its planned internet broadband
service (which Elon Musk confided via tweet it will call ‘Starlink’).
Axio Bio gets USFDA nod for first aid product Axiostat
Med-tech startup Axio Biosolutions today said it has received US health regulator’s
approval for its first aid dressing product Axiostat that stops bleeding within 2-3
minutes of its application.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) clearance allows Axiostat to
be marketed in the US as over-the-counter (OTC) product.
DEFENCE NEWS
India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-1 missile
India successfully test-fired indigenously developed short-range nuclear-capable Agni-I

ballistic missile from Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. It was 18th version of
Agni-I, which could achieve all parameters within the stipulated time period. The
missile was inducted into service in 2004.
46 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile successfully test-fired
India has successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II
missile as part of a user trial by the Army from a test range in Odisha.
The surface-to-surface missile has a strike range of 350 km. It was launched from launch
complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near Balasore.
Defence ministry appoints panel to expedite capital acquisition for armed forces
modernisation
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has constituted a 13-member advisory committee

to monitor and expedite capital acquisition projects for the modernisation of the armed
forces.
The defence ministry stated that under the terms of reference of the committee, it has to
undertake an independent review and check the status of ongoing critical projects
worth more than Rs 500 crore. The committee would suggest measures to improve the
capital acquisition process.
Inauguration of Integrated Automatic Aviation Meteorological Systems (IAAMS) At

INS Garuda
Rear Admiral RJ Nadkarni, VSM, Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Southern Naval

Command inaugurated the ‘Integrated Automatic Aviation Meteorological System
(IAAMS)’ at INS Garuda on 09 February 2018.
INS Garuda is the fourth air station to have been installed with this integrated system.
IAAMS is an ambitious project of the Indian Navy to modernise the Meteorological
infrastructure of the nine Naval Air Stations.
Govt sanctions Rs 1,487 cr to Army to boost perimeter security
The Defence Ministry has sanctioned Rs 1,487 crore to the Army to fortify its bases in
Jammu and Kashmir, North East and several other places to plug their security gaps
and protect them from any terror attacks.
The sanction to the project comes amid heightened hostilities between Indian and
Pakistani armies along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and several terror
attack targeting military installations.
47 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
India Successfully Conducts First Night Trial of Prithvi-II Missile
India has successfully conducted the first night trial of nuclear-capable surface-to-
surface short-range ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a defence facility off Odisha coast.
The missile was test fired from a mobile launcher positioned at the launching complex
III (LC-III) of the Integrated Test Range (ITR).
First Indian woman fighter pilot Avani Chaturvedi goes solo
Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi has created history by becoming the first Indian
woman fighter pilot to fly solo. Chaturvedi flew a MiG-21 bison in her first training solo
sortie, in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
She is one of the three in the first batch of female pilots, besides Bhawana Kanth and
Mohana Singh, who were inducted in Indian Air Force fighter squadron on June 18,
2016.
Dhanush’ ballistic missile successfully test-fired
India has successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable ‘Dhanush’ ballistic missile with a
strike range of 350 kms from a naval ship off Odisha coast
The surface-to-surface missile, a naval variant of the indigenously-developed ‘Prithvi’

missile, was test-fired from the ship positioned near Paradip in the Bay of Bengal.
‘Dhanush’ missile is capable of carrying a payload of 500 kg and hitting both land and
sea-based targets.
DRDO Successfully Tests Flight Rustom-2
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flew its
Rustom 2, the first flight in user configuration with higher power engine, at its
Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga’s Chalakere in Karnataka.
The step is being seen as a major push to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in
India’ plan. Rustom-2 is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle.
“Andaman & Nicobar Command to Host Milan 2018”
MILAN is a congregation of littoral navies conducted biennially by Indian Navy at the

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar
Command.
48 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
MILAN 2018 is being held at Port Blair from 06 March to 13 March 2018. With the
underlying theme of ‘Friendship Across the Seas’, MILAN 2018 will witness a diverse
mix of professional exercises and seminars, social events and sporting fixtures.
India, Nepal to hold joint exercise in Pithoragarh
India and Nepal would hold a joint exercise in Uttarakhand that will include training
on jungle warfare, anti-terrorism combat as well as disaster response activities.
The 13th edition of the Nepal-India joint military exercise will be held in Pithoragarh in
a couple of months. This is a regular military exercise being organised annually
between the two armies. Last year, the 12th edition of Surya Kiran Military exercise was
held in Kathmandu.
INDEX AND RANKING
Dubai airport retains top international spot in 2017
Dubai airport was the world’s busiest for international passengers in 2017 for the fourth
year running, with 88.2 million travellers, the United Arab Emirates’ state news agency
WAM said.
A major transit hub situated on transcontinental air routes, Dubai is one of several Gulf-
based airports to have experienced prodigious growth in recent years.
CSE ranked top environment policy think tanks in India
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has been ranked the top environment
policy think tanks in India while it has secured the 16th position in global rankings,
climbing up two positions from the last year.
The rank was given by The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the
Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.
Bumrah, Harmanpreet named in Forbes India 30 Under 30 list
Indian cricketers Jasprit Bumrah and Harmanpreet Kaur as well India women’s hockey
team goalkeeper Savita Punia and shooter Heena Sidhu are among Forbes India 30
Under 30, a list that celebrates ‘twenty-somethings who are shaping the new India’.
Having made his ODI and T20I debuts during India’s tour of Australia 2016, Bumrah
was awarded his Test debut last month during the Test series in South Africa.
49 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Forbes releases its first-ever cryptocurrency rich list
Forbes, known for its “World’s Billionaires List”, published a lAist of the richest people
in cryptocurrency for the first time. Many business people invest in crypto currencies to
make profits. And Forbes for first time released rich people in crypto currency list.
This is nothing but Digital currency In which funds are generates according to value
and can be transferred as like normal currency.Many business people invest in crypto
currencies to make profits.
Kerala tops Health Index, Uttar Pradesh worst performer
Kerala has topped the Health Index report prepared by NITI Aayog while Uttar
Pradesh appeared at the bottom among larger states, though it has shown improvement
in the recent past.
As per the index report for large states, Kerala was followed by Punjab, Tamil Nadu
and Gujarat. Besides Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Odisha are among the states
that performed poorly in the health index.
India ranks 44 of 50 nations in intellectual property index
India has increased “substantially” its score in the International Intellectual Property
(IP) Index, ranking 44th among 50 nations, but it needs to take additional and
meaningful reforms to complement its policy, the US Chambers of Commerce stated in
a report.
Last year, India ranked 43rd out of 45 countries in the Index. The US tops the list with
37.98 points, followed by United Kingdom (37.97) and Sweden (37.03).
Mumbai world’s 12th richest city with $950 bn wealth: Report
India’s financial capital Mumbai, with a total wealth of $950 billion, is among the top 15
wealthiest cities globally, while New York tops the list.
According to a report by New World Wealth, the economic hub of India is the 12th
wealthiest city, followed by Toronto with a total wealth of $944 billion, Frankfurt ($912
billion) and Paris ($860 billion).
London ranked second in the list with $2.7 trillion, followed by Tokyo ($2.5 trillion),
and San Francisco Bay area ($2.3 trillion).
India Ranks 81st In Global Corruption Perception Index
50 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
India’s ranking in the annual corruption index, released by Berlin-based non-

government organisation Transparency International (TI), slid to 81 among a group of
180 countries. The Corruption Perception Index 2017 also singled out India as one of the
“worst offenders” in the Asia-Pacific region.
New Zealand and Singapore scored the highest scores with 89 and 84 out of 100,
respectively. Somalia was found to be the most corrupt country in the world.
India ranks 47th on Inclusive Internet Index: Facebook
India is ranked 47th out of 86 countries when it comes to inclusive internet and
connectivity for all, a Facebook report.
Facebook, which commissioned the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) to create a

comprehensive “Inclusive Internet Index,” found India in the middle of Asian countries
(12th out of 23) when it comes to connectivity.
SPORTS
WINNER TITLE NOTE
India
ICC Under-19 World Cup By defeating Australia
Final 2018
Lai Jia Yi International Young Chef Indian student chef Surya

Olympiad 2018 Sekhar Roy Choudhury
claiming the second position
Shubhankar Sharma Maybank Championship in This is his second European

Malaysia Tour title
Redmond Gerard 1st Gold Medal in 2018 He is an American

Winter Olympics
Haryana Khelo India School Games ─
Tamil Nadu Senior Women’s National Held at cuttack in Odisha

Football Championship
Manavaditya Singh Qatar Open Shotgun meet Held in Lusail, Qatar

Rathore
Brijesh Damani CCI All India Open Snooker

Championship
Roger Federer ABN Amro World Tennis Become Twenty-time Grand
51 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Tournament Slam champion
India cadet Girls Czech shooting tourney Won Silver medal
Aruna Budda Reddy 1st individual medal at Held in Melbourne

Gymnastics World Cup
Parupalli Kashyap Austrian Open International

Challenge
M C Mary Kom 69th Strandja Memorial Won a silver medal

boxing tournament
Roger Federer Laureus World Sports

Awards
Saurav Ghosal becomes the highest-ranked Indian squash player
India’s leading squash player, Saurav Ghosal jumped five places to No 14 to become the
highest ranked Indian in the latest Professional Squash Association (PSA) rankings
released.
India wins 7 golds at India Open Int’l Boxing Tournament
Not just Mary Kom, six other Indian boxers’ cliched gold medals in the India Open
International Boxing Tournament.
Apart from the inimitable Mary Kom, Sanjeet, Manish Kaushik, Pwilao Basumatar,
Lovlina Borgohain and Pinki Rani and Manisha emerged victorious at the Thyagaraj
Stadium.
India wins three straight ODIs against SA in SA for 1st time
India registered three consecutive ODI victories against South Africa in South Africa for
the first time after beating them by 124 runs in the third ODI.
Kohli, who struck 160 off 159 with 12 fours and two sixes, recorded his 34th ODI
century.
Jhulan Goswami 1st woman in the world to take 200 ODI wickets
India’s veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami has added another feather to her illustrious cap
by becoming the first female cricketer to take 200 ODI wickets.
52 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Goswami achieved the feat during the second ODI between India and South Africa. The
35-year-old, playing her 166th ODI, dismissed opener Laura Wolvaardt for her 200th
scalp.
Jio bags digital rights to broadcast Winter Olympics in India
Reliance Jio’s live television app Jio TV has bagged digital rights to broadcast the
Winter Olympic Games PyeongChang 2018 across India.
JioTV will work with IOC (International Olympic Committee) to provide

comprehensive coverage of the Games in India, thus enabling millions to access live and
catch-up content on their mobile devices, on the move.
Pune swimmer world’s youngest to complete Ocean 7 Challenge
Pune-based swimmer, Rohan More became the first Asian as well as the first Indian to
swim across the Ocean Seven. Rohan is the youngest person in the world to swim
across the Ocean Seven.
The Ocean’s Seven marathon consists of seven long-distance open-water swims, which
includes the North Channel, the Cook Strait, the Molokai Channel, the English Channel,
the Catalina Channel, the Tsugaru Strait and the Strait of Gibraltar.
Luger Shiva Keshavan retires with 34th place finish at Pyeongchang Olympics
India’s winter sports poster boy Shiva Keshavan has brought the curtains down on his
over two-decade international career with a 34th-place finish in the men’s luge singles
event of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
Aditi shoots 69 to finish creditable tied 7th in Australia
Indian woman golfer Aditi Ashok carded a impressive three-under 69 in the final round
to finish a creditable tied 7th at the ActewAGL Canberra Classic.
Aditi, who is dividing her time between her main Tour, the Ladies PGA and the Ladies
European Tour, where she won twice in her rookie year in 2016, shot rounds of 71-70-
60.
Shane Warne appointed Rajasthan Royals’ mentor for IPL 2018
Shane Warne will be associated with the Indian Premier League in 2018 as he was
appointed the mentor of the Rajasthan Royals franchise for the 11th edition of the
tournament.
53 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Gangolli claims 5th straight national chess title for blind
Karnataka’s Kishan Gangolli has won the National ‘A’ Chess Championship for Blind
for the fifth consecutive time, while Ashvin Makwana of Gujarat and Odisha’s
Soundarya Kumar Pradhan finished second and third respectively.
Virat Kohli becomes fastest to 17,000 international runs
Indian skipper Virat Kohli has achieved the feat during the sixth and final ODI of the
series against South Africa.
In the process, Kohli also broke several records as he became fastest to 17000
international runs. Kohli also overtook South African batsman AB de Villiers to reach
9500 runs in ODI cricket in fewer innings (200). De Villiers had taken 215 innings to
reach the landmark.
Dhoni becomes 3rd keeper to take 600 international catches
Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has became the third wicketkeeper to take
600 catches in international cricket.
Dhoni achieved the feat by taking the catch of Hashim Amla off pacer Shardul Thakur’s
bowling during the sixth India-South Africa ODI.
Para-athlete Sakina Khatun awarded conditional slot for CWG 2018
Indian para-powerlifter Sakina Khatun, who was initially snubbed for the
Commonwealth Games 2018 in the Gold Coast, Australia, has been awarded
conditional slot in women’s lightweight Para Powerlifting event of the prestigious
games.
Srikanth, Sindhu to lead India’s badminton charge in CWG 2018
India’s highest ranked men’s singles player Kidambi Srikanth and Olympic medallists
PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal will spearhead the country’s challenge in the 2018
Commonwealth Games, which is slated to be held in Gold Coast, Australia from April
4.
Norway’s Bjoergen becomes most successful Winter Olympian
Norway’s Marit Bjoergen became the most successful athlete in Winter Olympics
history as she took bronze behind a stunning win for USA in cross country skiing’s
women’s team sprint free.
54 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
Mascot chosen by children for Tokyo 2020 Olympics unveiled
Two futuristic figures, inspired by anime, have been chosen as mascots for the Tokyo
2020 Olympic Games after voting in thousands of schools in Japan.
The winning designs represent the “tradition and innovation” of Japan according to the
organisers, reports Efe.
OBITUARY
NAME OF THE PERSON FIELD
Hukum Singh Politician
Ajit Singh Kohar Politician
Frida Topno Politician
Chandrasekhar Rath Odia litterateur
John Mahoney British actor
Asma Jahangi Pakistan’s Human Rights Activists and Lawyer
Qazi Wajid Pakistan’s TV actor
Johann Johannsson Icelandic composer; Musician
Parbati Ghosh Odia cine actress
Bolla Bulliramaiah Politician; Andhra pradesh
Ruud Lubbers Longest-serving Dutch PM
Jayadeva Yogendra Yoga guru
Gunda Hanumantha Rao Telugu film comedian
K Kunjiraman Panoor Renowned writer
Dr B K Goyal Eminent cardiologist
Kalyan Singh Rajasthan Politician
Kunwar Bai 106-year-old icon for Swachh Bharat campaign
Neelabh Mishra Journalist
Emma Chambers English actress
Sridevi Bollywood actress
T.S.R. Subramanian Former Cabinet Secretary
Penny Vincenzi Best-selling British novelist
Kanchi Shankaracharya Spiritual leader
Jayendra Saraswathi
IMPORTANT DAYS
DATE DAY OBSERVED THEME
February 01 Indian Coast Guard Day
February 02 World Wetland day Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future
February 04 World Cancer Day We Can. I can
February 4 International Development
to 10 Week (IDW)
55 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com
February 05 Kashmir Solidarity Day

February 06 International Day of Zero
Tolerance to Female Genital
Mutilation
February 10 National Deworming Day Worm free children are healthy children
February 11 World Day of Sick
February 12 Darwin Day 209th birthday of the famous naturalist
February 13 World Radio Day Radio and Sports
February 14 Saint Valentine’s Day
February 20 World Day of Social Justice
February 21 International Mother Language linguistic diversity and multilingualism for
Day sustainable development
February 23 World Rotary Day
February 24 Central Excise Day
February 24 World Sustainable Energy Day
February 28 National Science Day Science and Technology for a Sustainable
Future
Last Day of Rare Disease Day
February
OUR TEAM COVERS ALL THE NEWS IN THESE TOPICS
NATIONAL NEWS
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
APPOINTMENTS
AWARDS AND HONOURS
BANKING AND ECONOMY
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
SPORTS
OBITUARIES
REFER THIS LINK TO GET MORE MARKS IN GK SECTION
QUICK GYAN | DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ
CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ PDF
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE TOPICS
CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF FREE DOWNLOAD
SIX MONTHS CURRENT AFFAIRS 2017 PDF – JULY TO DECEMBER CAPSULE
56 | P a g e
www.DayTodayGK.com

Current Affairs February 2018 PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

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

Current Affairs February 2018 PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dear Friends,

We are happy to announce that our

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Haryana, UP Govts Sign Reciprocal Transport Agreement

Govt makes PAN mandatory for transactions over ₹5 lakh

India to have world’s largest govt-funded health programme

Environment Ministry launches ‘Green Good Deeds’ campaign

CBEC to be renamed CBIC by April

National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change

14 Coastal Economic Zones being developed under Sagarmala

For promoting port-led industrialization, 14 Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) covering

Gadkari launches campaign to connect people with Mahayagya

Govt to observe National Productivity week till Feb 18

PM to inaugurate WSDS 2018

The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2018 will be inaugurated by

Cabinet clears direct admission to PhD in IITs and IISc

Under the scheme, graduates or final-year students of B Tech, integrated M Tech or M

SAIL joins hands with IIT-K to promote ‘Science of Happiness

This initiative is aimed at embracing ‘Science of Happiness’ for enhancing wellbeing

K. Singh inaugurates ‘Indian Power Stations 2018’

President Kovind hosts LPG Panchayat at Rashtrapati Bhavan

PM to launch DD Arun Prabha on Feb 15

The state-owned broadcaster already runs DD North-East, which telecasts

LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to inaugurate C’wealth meet

The conference will feature discussions on Parliament’s role in development agenda

Centre to appoint tribunal to settle Mahanadi water dispute

India gives $1 mn for rehabilitation work in cyclone-hit Tonga

Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) for

An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) has

The IMC is to create synergy in various programmes of the Union Government to

India International Textiles Expo Begins In Colombo

It is being organized by Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council

Assocham, EPCES ink pact for info sharing on SEZs

As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Assocham and EPCES would

UIDAI announces blue-colored ‘Baal Aadhaar’ for kids below five

Kovind to inaugurate museum dedicated to Biju Patnaik

RInfra wins Rs 292 cr arbitration award against Goa govt

e-com Website and Mobile app for fishermen

Env minister Harsh Vardhan launches app

India’s 2018 GDP growth estimate unchanged at 7.6%: Moody’s

Mehrauli Archaeological Park to get a museum

The state archaeology department has planned a major revamp of Mehrauli

Launch of Startup India Ranking Framework

“Swachh Bharat Sanitation Park” inaugurated in Delhi

Union Home Minister to inaugurate “Hunar Haat”

International Conference on Unani Medicine to be inaugurated

Venkaiah Naidu to inaugurate the Global Theatre Olympics

Kejriwal inaugurates water pipeline project in Narela

International Conference on Sustainable Biofuels 2018

Second edition of TN Global Investors Meet to be held in Jan 2019

PM Modi launches subsidised ‘Amma’ two-wheeler scheme in TN

Tamil Nadu, Microsoft Tie-Up To Accelerate Cloud Technology Adoption

ICRISAT to set up soil fertility development centre in Karaikal

Puducherry Government would be entering into a MoU with ICRISAT, an international

Andhra signs 77 MoUs at Partnership Summit

Government of India is committed to ensuring high quality healthcare, accessible to

Haryana govt to prepare integrated development plan for Panchkula

Haryana government has decided to prepare an integrated economic development plan

Parivartan scheme launched in Haryana

The Haryana government has launched Parivartan, a scheme designed to address 10

Goa CM Parrikar to launch bike ambulances in the state

Google holds 1st-ever Developer Students Club Summit in Goa

Telangana to set up clean authority on the lines of Tokyo

Floating ‘island’ to clean up Neknampur Lake