April 18-19th, 2018
1. World heritage day: 18 April.
- Every year, 18th April is celebrated Worldwide as World Heritage Day to create awareness about Heritage among communities.
- This year the theme is “Heritage for Generations” emphasizing on the inter-generational transfer of knowledge.
- Static Part: UNESCO- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|It established 18 April as the International Day for Monuments and Sites in 1983|Director General (11th)- France’s Audrey Azoulay|Headquarters- Paris, France.
2. World Liver day: 19 April
- World Liver day is observed on the 19 April every year to spread awareness about the second largest organ in the body.
- It is also the second most complex organ in the body, after brain. The liver performs many vital functions related to digestion, immunity, metabolism and the storage of nutrients within the body.
- World Liver Day aims to spread awareness about liver-related diseases and how they can be managed effectively.
- This year, the theme of World Liver Day is ‘Riding New Waves in Liver Diagnosis, Staging & Treatment’.
3. Actor Aditi Rao Hydari to Receive Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award for Bhoomi.
- Aditi Rao Hydari will receive Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award 2018 for the Best Leading Lady (Critics Award) for her memorable performance in Bhoomi.
- The award ceremony to be held at Mumbai and will be attended by producers, directors, distributors, and exhibitors among others from the film fraternity.
4. Former US First Lady Barbara Bush Passes Away.
- Former first lady Barbara Bush, the wife, and mother of presidents, died at age 92 after discontinuing medical treatment for ‘failing health.’
- BARBARA Bush, wife of the 41st US President George HW Bush and among her six children are George W. Bush, the 43rd President, and Jeb Bush, the 43rd Governor of Florida.
- Static Part: The USA:- 45th President- Donald Trump|Currency- US Dollar|Capital- Washington DC.
5. Indian animation expert Bhimsain Khurana Passes Away.
- Indian animation pioneer and multiple National Award winner Bhimsain Khurana is dead. He was 82.
- Khurana obtained his diploma in Fine Arts and Classical Music from Lucknow University. In 1970, he made his debut with his first animation short The Climb, which earned him the Silver Hugo Award at the Chicago Film Festival.
- Khurana, known for films like “Gharaonda” (1977) & “Dooriyaan” (1979) and many TV series.
6. India to grow at 7.4 percent in 2018 and World’s 6th Largest Economy at $2.6 trillion: IMF.
- The International Monetary Fund, IMF has said that India is expected to grow at 7.4 percent in 2018 and 7.8 percent in 2019 and would re-emerge as one of the fastest growing major economies in the period.
- The world agency said India will leave its nearest rival China which will grow at 6.6 in 2018 and 6.4 percent in 2019.
- IMF said, two major economic reforms, demonetization, and GST resulted in a slightly lower growth rate of 6.7 percent in 2017. It said that India’s projected growth provide some offset to China’s gradual slowdown.
- According to the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook (WEO) for April 2018, India has become the 6th largest growing economy in the world, out economy clocked in at $2.6 trillion.
- We oust France to become the 6th largest. United States, China, Japan, Germany and United Kingdom are ahead of India.
- Static Part: IMF:- Managing Director- Christine Lagarde|Headquarters- Washington DC, USA.
7. Bisket Jatra Being Celebrated in Nepal.
- The Jatra begins in Nepal. It is believed that the festival started during Malla dynasty. In Nepal, the famous Bisket Jatra is being celebrated in Bhaktapur and other parts of Kathmandu valley.
- The nine-day annual festival marks beginning of Nepali new year. The Jatra begins four days before the start of new year.
- Static Part: Nepal:- Capital- Kathmandu|Currency- Nepalese rupee|President- Bidhya Devi Bhandari|Prime Minister- Khadga Prasad Oli.
8. Nordic countries support India’s candidature for a permanent seat in reformed UN Security Council.
- The Nordic countries have supported India’s candidature for a permanent seat, in a reformed UN Security Council expanded with both permanent and non-permanent members.
- A joint statement issued after the Indo-Nordic Summit at Stockholm said the Nordic countries agree that India is a strong candidate for a permanent seat in a reform security council.
- The Nordic countries also welcomed India’s application for membership of the Nuclear Supplier’s Group.
- The Summit hosted by the Indian and the Swedish Prime Minister was attended by Prime Ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
- The Summit emphasized the Indian Government’s strong commitment to innovation and digital initiatives as key to prosperity and sustainable development, with national flagship programmes such as Make in India, Startup India, Digital India and Clean India.
- Static Part: 1. Finland:- Capital- Helsinki|Currency- Euro|Prime minister- Juha Sipila|President- Sauli Niinisto.
2. Norway:- Capital- Oslo|Currency- Norwegian krone|Prime minister- Erna Solberg.
9. India signs 6 MOUs/Agreements with Sweden, Denmark, Iceland as PM Modi visits Stockholm.
- In the first bilateral visit by an Indian premier to the Nordic nation in 30 years, PM Modi is on a five-day visit to three European countries – Sweden, United Kingdom, and Germany.
- MOUs/Agreements between India and Sweden:-
- Joint Declaration on India-Sweden Innovation Partnership for a Sustainable Future between Ministry of Science and Technology of India and the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation.
- MOUs/Agreements between India and Denmark:-
- MOU on Cooperation in the field of Sustainable and Smart Urban Development between the Ministry for Housing and Urban Affairs of India and the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs of Denmark.
- MOU on Cooperation in the fields of Animal Husbandry and Dairying between Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare of India and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Ministry of Environment and Food of Denmark.
- MOU on Food Safety Cooperation between the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.
- MOU on Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Education between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science, Denmark.
- MOUs/Agreements between India and Iceland:-
- MOU on the Establishment of the ICCR Chair for the Hindi Language between Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the University of Iceland.
- Static Part: 1. Sweden:- Capital- Stockholm|Currency- Swedish krona|Prime minister- Stefan Lofven.
2. Denmark:- Capital- Copenhagen|Currency- Danish krone|Prime minister: Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
3. Iceland:- Capital- Reykjavik|Currency- Icelandic krona|President: Guoni Thorlacius Johannesson.
10. PM Modi participates in Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached London, the United Kingdom on the second leg of his two Nation European tour.
- Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting – CHOGM underway in London; Leaders of 53 member countries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking part.
- The theme of the summit is –“Towards a Common Future”.
- The summit’s focus is on addressing common challenges across the Commonwealth for a more prosperous, secure and sustainable future.
- Static Part: The UK:- Capital- London|Currency- Pound sterling|Prime minister- Theresa May|UK Foreign Secretary- Boris Johnson|Queen- Elizabeth II.
11. India and UK signed 10 agreements in several areas, including cyber-relationship, Ganga rejuvenation, and skill development.
- Mr. Modi held talks with his British counterpart Theresa May, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. Prime Minister also took part in ‘Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath’, a unique programme in which he answered questions concerning India.
- India and the UK have signed 10 agreements in several sectors including cyber-relationship, Ganga rejuvenation, and skill development.
- The two countries have agreed to an overarching cyber-relationship framework that among others enables the development of a common and shared understanding of the international cyber activity.
- On rejuvenation of the River Ganga, the National Mission for Clean Ganga and the UK-based Natural Environmental Research Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
- Both nations also signed a MoU on Skill Development, Vocational education and Training and seek to promote greater collaboration in domains such as strengthening skill delivery in high demand sectors where the UK has technical and skilling expertise.
- In the area of regulation of safe nuclear energy use for peaceful purposes, an arrangement has been arrived at between the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India and the Office for Nuclear Regulation of Great Britain.
12. Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu launches digital platform FIEO Global linker for MSME Exporters in New Delhi.
- Suresh Prabhu launched Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Global linker, which is a digital platform for Mirco Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME exporters to digitize their businesses and join a global community of growing businesses.
- Mr. Prabhu said FIEO Global linker addresses a number of elements which are part of the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- He invited all exporters, those seeking to enter into exports and those supporting the efforts of exporters to create their free accounts and enhance India’s premier position in global markets.
- Static Part: Ministry (State, Independent Charge) of MSME – Shri Giriraj Singh.
13. Saudi Arabia unveils first new cinema.
- Saudi Arabia has unveiled its first cinema in over 35 years. The invitation-only gala event came after the conservative kingdom lifted the ban on cinemas last year as part of a far-reaching liberalization drive.
- The first cinema in Saudi Arabia opens in Riyadh with the screening of the film ‘Black Panther’ following the lifting of a three-decades-long cinema ban.
- US giant AMC Entertainment granted the first license to operate movie theatres. AMC Chief Executive Adam Aron said the ticket sales will commence for the first public shows.
- The social reforms undertaken by the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman are part of his so-called Vision 2030, a blueprint for Saudi Arabia that aims to boost local spending and create jobs amid sustained lower oil prices.
- Static Part: Saudi Arabia:- Capital- Riyadh|Currency- Saudi Riyal.
14. NABARD Approves Rs 14,690 cr Funding to Rajasthan.
- National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has extended total credit support of Rs 14,690 crore to Rajasthan for 2017-18.
- Rajasthan has been one of the biggest beneficiaries under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) of NABARD, under which NABARD disbursed concessional loan of Rs 1,851.29 crore to the state government during 2017-18.
- Static Part: NABARD:- It came into existence on 12 July 1982|Chairman- Harsh Kumar Bhanwala|Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra.
15. UIDAI launches updated QR code for offline Aadhaar verification.
- To provide an extra layer of privacy to Aadhaar, the UIDAI has introduced an updated ‘QR code’ that holds non-sensitive details like name, address, photo, and date of birth, and can be used for offline user verification without the 12-digit ID number.
- UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said the QR code is a form of barcode label which contains machine-readable information. Mr.Pandey said the offline QR code is a landmark development which will allow everyone to establish their identity through offline verification without giving out the Aadhaar number.
16. Madhya Pradesh has been announced as the Most Film Friendly State.
- The award will be presented by President Ram Nath Kovind on the 3rd of next month during the presentation of the National Film Awards.
- Among the sixteen states that participated, Madhya Pradesh has conferred the award for its efforts towards easing filming in the state by creating a well-structured website, film-friendly infrastructure, offering incentives, maintaining databases, undertaking marketing and promotional initiatives.
- Uttarakhand has been chosen for the Special Mention Certificate to recognize the efforts made by it towards creating a film-friendly environment.
- Static Part: Madhya Pradesh:- CM- Shivraj Singh Chauhan|Governor- Anandiben Patel|Kanha National Park (famous for Tiger Reserve) is situated in Madhya Pradesh.
17. NASA launches its newest planet-hunting spacecraft, Transit Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
- NASA has launched its newest planet-hunting spacecraft, Transit Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) from Cape Canaveral in Florida on a mission to find thousands of new worlds beyond our Solar System.
- TESS mission will survey a great swathe of stars, hoping to catch the dips in brightness that occur when orbiting planets traverse their faces.
- TESS’s goal is to compile a catalog that other telescopes can then focus in on for more detailed analysis.
- TESS is equipped with four very sensitive cameras that will enable it to monitor nearly the entire sky.
18. Two tigers found dead at Ranthambore National Park.
- In Rajasthan, two tigers were found dead at the Ranthambore National Park, with forest officials suspecting that they were killed in a territorial fight with another tiger.
- Territorial disputes have been rising in the park due to increase in tiger population. The population of tigers is nearly 70, including cubs and sub-adults. Forest officials said the population is almost double the capacity of a national park.
- Static Part: Rajasthan:- Governor- Kalyan Singh|CM- Vasundhara Raje.
19. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launches Assam govt’s cashless health scheme.
- Mr. Naidu launched the cashless health scheme the “Atal Amrit Abhiyan” of the Assam government that offers free medical care of up to two lakh rupees for every individual from both Below Poverty Line and Above Poverty Line families.
- The Scheme will cover 92 percent of the state’s population with annual income below five lakh rupees.
- The Assam government has earmarked 400 crore rupees for the scheme in the financial year 2018-19.
- Static Part: Assam:- CM- Sarbananda Sonowal|Governor- Jagdish Mukhi.
12. Daniel Ricciardo Wins Chinese Grand Prix 2018.
- The 2018 Chinese Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race that took place at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo won the race ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen.
- The race was the third round of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship and marked the fifteenth time that the Chinese Grand Prix has been run as a round of the Formula One World Championship.
Aimbig 