Monthly Current Affairs Quiz - August, 2018

Notes:
The Central Government has approved 122 new research projects of Rs 112 crore under its Impacting Research Innovation and Technology ‘IMPRINT-2’ scheme. The aim of the initiative is to advance research in energy, security, and healthcare domains in the high education institutions. IMPRINT is the first of its kind government supported initiative to address the major science and engineering challenges that India must address and champion to enable, empower and embolden the nation for inclusive growth and self-reliance. The proposals were approved at the IMPRINT 2 Apex Committee meeting held in New Delhi on August 4, 2018..

Notes:
NITI Aayog’s International Conference on “Sustainable Growth through Material Recycling: Policy Prescriptions”was held at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi on August 6, 2018. It was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways & Ganga Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari. The day long conference brought together a host of experts for identifying policy prescriptions for the development and growth of material recycling in India towards creating more jobs, reduce dependence on exports, protect the environment and take steps towards adopting circular economy concepts.

Notes:
Muthuvel Karunanidhi (94), the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK patriarch, was the author of the Tamil historical novel “Thenpandi Singam”. The novel was based on a legendary story of Valukku Veli, a Petty chief ruling Paganeri Nadu. Karunanidhi, who passed away in Chennai on 7th August 2018, became the chief minister in 1971, 1989, 1996 and 2006. He was a legislator for six decades since 1957, when he won for the first time from Kulithalai constituency, till 2016, when he emerged victorious from Tiruvarur as a 92-year-old, barring the period between 1986 and 1989. Apart from politics, Karunanidhi penned screenplays and dialogues for over 50 movies. He also wrote the stories of some of them like Marudanattu Ilavarasi (1950) Mandiri Kumari (1950), Tirumbipar (1953) and Arasilangkumari (1961).

Notes:
Italian motorcycle-maker Benelli has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Telangana government to set up a manufacturing facility at Medichal, Pochampally, Hyderabad. Under the agreement with Adishwar Auto Ride India (AARI), a subsidiary of Mahavir Group, the assembly plant on 3 acres in Kompally is expected to become operational by October 2018. It will have a capacity to assemble 10,000 bikes and begin with around 100 employees. The partnership entitles AARI to assemble, manufacture bikes and import exclusive range of Benelli bikes from Italy and South East Asia regions. Established in 1911, Benelli is one of the oldest Italian motorcycle-manufacturer and has a presence in over 60 countries such as America, Africa, Europe and Asia Pacific regions.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the transfer of surplus amounting to Rs 500 billion (Rs 50,000 crore) to the Government of India (GoI) for FY18. The decision was taken at its Central Board of Directors meeting on August 8, 2018. The RBI follows July-June accounting year. In the Union Budget for 2018-19, the government had budgeted Rs 54,817 crore to come from the payment of dividend or surplus from the RBI, nationalized banks and financial institutions. Thus, the surplus transfer should come as a huge relief to the Centre which would otherwise have been forced to look at other means of revenue to bridge the gap. Under the RBI Act, 1934, the central bank is required to pay the government its surplus after making provisions for bad and doubtful debts, depreciation in assets and, contribution to staff and superannuation fund among others.

Notes:
The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the ‘One District One Product (ODOP)’ Summit in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on August 10, 2018. The summit has been organised by the Uttar Pradesh government to promote traditional industries and spur local trade. During the summit, with a tagline of ‘Nayi Udaan, Nayi Pehchan’, the President distributed loan sanction papers to some artisans. The summit is stated to be the first of its kind in the country and is expected to give a big boost to the MSME and handicraft in the state. Uttar Pradesh is uniquely famous for product-specific traditional industrial hubs across 75 districts, including Varanasi (Banarasi silk sari), Bhadohi (carpet), Lucknow (chikan), Kanpur (leather goods), Agra (leather footwear), Aligarh (locks), Moradabad (brassware), Meerut (sports goods) and Saharanpur (wooden products).

Notes:
R Madhavan has been appointed chairman and managing director of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for a period of 5 years. He will succeed T Suvarna Raju, who will retire on August 31, 2018. Currently, he is an executive director of the HAL. The HAL is governed under the management of the Ministry of Defence and is headquartered at Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Notes:
On August 10, 2018, the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR) of Sikkim has been included in the UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserve (WHBR). With this, number of biosphere reserves from the country included in World Network of Biosphere Reserves has increased to 11. KBR is the highest biosphere reserve in the country that includes the third highest mountain peak in the world, Kanchenjunga (8,586 m).

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Nobel prize winning scientist Marie Curie was the most influential woman in this poll. The magazine ranked Polish born Curie at the top of a list of 100 women who changed the world, for her role in treating cancer.

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Annie Zaidi, an Indian author, has won the 2018 Hindu Playwright Award 2018 for her play ‘Untitled’ at the 14th edition of The Hindu Theatre Fest at the Taj Coromandel. The award was presented by Ratna Pathak Shah, actor and director. The award, instituted in 2008, carries a prize of Rs 2 lakh for the best original, unpublished and unperformed play script in English.