26th March Current Affairs for Bank Exam

• Goldman Sachs report says that in FY20 food inflation likely to go up to 2 percent

• Goldman Sachs report said that food inflation in the country is likely to go up to 2% in the fiscal year 2019-20 from the 0.7% estimated for FY19. 

• It can be noted that low food prices had been one of the prime factors which had aided the RBI to be more accommodative in its rate-setting recently. It also attributed that the low food prices in the last few months to the prices of cereals and vegetables which had remained low for some time.

• Deregulation of markets, which saw delisting of vegetables from the Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee Act in 14 States, had helped keep vegetable prices low.

• Delhi Development Authority launched the housing scheme

• The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) launched the housing scheme for 2019, under which it will offer 18,000 flats spread across Narela and Vasant Kunj. With the online portal now open, interested buyers can get registered, following which a draw will be conducted to allot flats. 

• The portal for online registration will be available until May 10. All the flats on offer under this scheme are newly constructed. Approximately 450 HIG [high-income group] flats and 1,550 MIG [middle-income group] are being offered. Additionally, 8,300 LIG [low-income group] and 7,700 EWS [economically weaker section] flats are being offered under the scheme. 

• Those registering for the housing scheme will have to deposit an application fee ranging from Rs. 25,000 for EWS category to Rs. 2 lakh for three bedroom flats.

• Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal resigned his position

• Jet Airways Founders Naresh Goyal and wife Anita Goyal have stepped down from the board of the cash-strapped airline. With this, Naresh Goyal ceases to be Chairman. Director Kevin Knight has also resigned. 

• The board has accepted their resignations. The board also approved the issue of 11.4 crore equity shares to the lenders upon conversion of Re 1 of the outstanding debt. Lenders will infuse up to Rs 1,500 crore via debt instruments.

• AIBA President Gafur Rahimov resigns

• The Amateur International Boxing Federation (AIBA) President Gafur Rahimov announced his resignation. He cited the reason as the political based discussions were harming the organizations progress. 

• Rahimov will be replaced by an interim president.  Rahimov was elected in November 2018 despite being on the U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions list “for providing material support” to a criminal organization.

• Number of Ebola cases in eastern DR Congo exceeded thousand

• The number of cases Ebola in eastern DR Congo now exceeds 1,000, almost two-thirds of whom have died. The outbreak was first recorded in North Kivu province on August 1 and then spread to neighbouring Ituri province.  

• According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Congo's toll is the second deadliest in the history of Ebola, after an epidemic in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in 2014-16 that claimed 11,308 lives.

• Paralympics high jumper Girish Gowda named as Ambassador of Karnataka LS Elections

• Silver Medalist in Paralympic high jump, Girish Gowda has been appointed as the ambassador of Karnataka Lok Sabha Elections 2019. 

• He represented India in men’s high jump F-42 category during 2012 Summer Paralympics games held in London, where he clinched the silver medal. With this, he became the first Indian to win medal in this category. ♦ Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka – Sanjiv Kumar ♦ Chief Election Commissioner of India – Sunil Arora

Pentagon approves USD 1 billion to build 92 km of Trump border wall

• Acting US defence (Pentagon) secretary Patrick Shanahan authorised $1 billion to build part of the wall sought by President Donald Trump along the US-Mexico border. 
• The amount will go towards building 92 km of 18-foot fencing, improving roads and other measures along the border. Earlier, Trump had declared national emergency over the border wall demand. Trump had sought $5.7 billion for the wall. He believes the wall will help curb crime and drug trade in the US. The wall was one of the main promises of the Trump election campaign in 2016.

• IAF formally inducted four heavy-lift Chinook helicopters

• On the lines of Indo-US deal inked in September 2015 for the purchase of 15 Chinooks by India, the first four heavy lift CH-47F (I) Chinook helicopters were inducted in the Indian Air Force, at Air Force Station, Chandigarh, in Squadron No 126 Helicopter Flight. These multi-role helicopters will act as life-saver during HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) missions. 

• Regarded as one of the most modern heavy lift chopper, the payload capacity of Chinook is about 10 tonne, as it is able to lift artillery, vehicles, road construction and engineer equipment as well as troops and supplies to mountainous sectors. 

• It can also lift M-777 ultra-light howitzers of the Indian armed forces. India has purchased 15 Chinooks for $1.5 billion. The delivery of remaining helicopters is expected to be completed by 2023.

• Chandrayaan 2 to carry NASAs laser retroreflector arrays

• India’s lunar mission Chandrayaan 2 will carry NASA’s laser instruments. The U.S. space agency said that the laser instrument will help scientists to make precise measurements of the distance to the Moon. Chandrayaan 2 is scheduled to be launched in the month of April. NASA has confirmed that Chandrayaan 2 and Israeli lander Beresheet, due to touch down on April 11, will each carry NASA-owned laser retroreflector arrays. 

• Chandrayaan 2: ♦ Chandrayaan-2 will be India's second mission to the Moon  ♦ It will include an orbiter and lander-rover module ♦ Chandrayaan-2 will be launched on India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-MkIII)  ♦ It is expected to be launched in April 2019 ♦ The science goals of the mission are to further improve the understanding of the origin and evolution of the Moon

• HAL rolled out 16th Tejas fighter for IAF fleet

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) ordered 40 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter from the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL).  The State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has rolled out its 16th Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fighter in the initial operational clearance (IOC) configuration to be inducted into the fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF). 

• Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL): ♦ Industry type: Aerospace and Defence ♦ Founded in: 1940 (as Hindustan Aircraft), (Renamed Hindustan Aeronautics in 1964) ♦ Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka, India ♦ Managed by: Indian Ministry of Defence ♦ Chairman and MD: R.Madhavan ♦ Products: Transport aircraft, Fighter aircraft, Helicopters

• India extends Rs 35 million financial grant to Nepal

• India has extended a financial grant of 35.5 million Nepalese rupees for the construction of an educational campus in Nepal under the Development Partnership Programme. The building was constructed at Siddheshwar Education Public Campus in Ramechhap district. 

• It consists of 12 class rooms, meeting hall, laboratory room and a library. It will enhance the poor, needy and the marginalized students’ access to education in the district and the nearby areas. 

• Development Partnership Programme is administered by the Development Administration Partnership division of the Ministry of External Affairs. About Nepal: ♦ Capital: Kathmandu ♦ Currency: Nepalese rupee ♦ President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari

• NBCTF was inaugurated at INS Shivaji

• The Indian Navy’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Training Facility (NBCTF) was inaugurated at INS Shivaji by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba in Lonavala, Maharashtra. The NBCTF, christened ‘Abhedya’, Sanskrit for impenetrable, will help train personnel of naval ships fitted with nuclear, biological and chemical detection and protection systems.  

• Admiral Lanba also launched the INS Shivaji’s website on the Indian Navy portal and released the platinum jubilee logo, with the theme ‘Propelling the Indian Navy since 1945’. INS Shivaji is celebrating its platinum jubilee in 2019-20. INS Shivaji: ♦ Type: Naval Station, Technical Training Establishment ♦ Located in: Lonavala, Maharashtra     ♦ Owner: Government of India ♦ Operator: Indian Navy ♦ Built in: 15 February 1945 ♦ In use: 1945 – present ♦ Commander: Commodore K Srinivas

• Govindaraj re-elected as BFI President

• K. Govindaraj has been unanimously re-elected as president of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) at its annual general body meeting. 

• Govindaraj announced that a new six-team women’s league will be held in the next three months. About Basket Ball Federation Of India (BFI) Founded: 1950; 69 years ago Headquarters: New Delhi President: K. Govindraj Vice president(s): Teja Singh Dhaliwal Secretary: Chander Mukhi Sharma Coach:  Philip John Weber  

• Peter Tabichi won Global Teacher Prize 2019

• Peter Tabichi, a science teacher from rural Kenya, who gives away most of his salary to support poorer pupils, has won a $1m prize (£760,000) for the world's best teacher. 

• The award, in a competition run by the Varkey Foundation, has seen him beating 10,000 other nominations from 179 countries. Last year's winner was an art teacher from north London, Andria Zafirakou.

• E bay company joined hands with google to allow its users to pay via Google Pay

• US-based e-commerce platform eBay has partnered with Google to offer Google Pay as a form of payment option in its new “managed payments” plan.  The collaboration will enhance customer experience tailored to their personal preferences. 

• The partnership will enable customers with Google Pay accounts to check out without leaving the platform.  But it will only be available on products sold by sellers who are participating in the managed payments programme.  

• India ranks 76th on WEF global Energy Transition index

• India has moved up two places to rank 76th on a global energy transition index, compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF). This annual list has ranked 115 economies on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability. 

• Sweden remains on the top and is followed by Switzerland and Norway in the top three. India is amongst the countries with high pollution levels and has a relatively high CO2 intensity in its energy system. Within Asia, Malaysia is ranked highest at 31st.

• Lalit Kala Academy Announces 60th National Academy Awards Winners

• The winners of the 60th National Academy Awards which were conferred by Lalit Kala Akademi are as follows Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA) announced 15 winners of the 60th Annual Academy Awards. 

• All the awardees will be honoured with a plaque, a shawl and prize money of Rs 1 lakh at the 60th National Exhibition of Art, scheduled from March 25 to April 8 at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) and Sir JJ School of Art.

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed a five-member committee under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani to strengthen digital payments

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed 5-member committee under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani to strengthen digital payments as well as to boost financial inclusion through Financial Technology. This announcement made by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das at the first event of Financial Technology (Fintech) Conclave, which was organized by NITI Aayog in New Delhi. 
• The purpose of the event is to shape India’s predominance in FinTech, build the future strategy and policy to uplift the financial inclusion. About Reserve Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Established : 1 April 1935; 83 years ago Governor: Shaktikanta Das Currency: Indian rupee (₹) Reserves: ₹2,751,400 crore (US$380 billion)  

• FinTech Conclave commenced in New Delhi

• NITI (National Institution for Transforming India)Aayog organized a FinTech Conclave at Dr. Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi.  The Conclave was inaugurated by RBI Governor, Shaktikanta Das. 

• The motive of the conference is to shape India’s continued ascendancy in FinTech, build the narrative for future procedure and policy efforts, and to deliberate steps for complete financial inclusion. About NITI Aayog Formed: 1 January 2015; 4 years ago Headquarters: Delhi Agency executives: Narendra Damodardas Modi, (Chairman) Rajiv Kumar, (Vice Chairman) Amitabh Kant, (CEO)

Suresh Raina becomes first cricketer to score 5000 runs in IPL history

• Chennai Super Kings' Suresh Raina has become the first ever cricketer to reach 5,000 runs in Indian Premier League (IPL). He reached the landmark in the opening match of the 12th edition of the IPL against RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore). RCB captain Virat Kohli is the second highest run-scorer in IPL, with 4,954 runs in 156 IPL innings. 
• ABOUT IPL 2019: ♦ 2019 season of the Indian Premier League is the twelfth edition. ♦ It is a professional Twenty20 cricket league established by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2007. ♦ Dates: 23 March–12 May 2019 ♦ Participants: 8 ♦ IPL 2018 Champions: Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

• Indira Gandhi International Airport 12th busiest in the world

• According to the preliminary world airport traffic rankings for 2018 released by the Airports Council International (ACI), Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has now become the world's 12th busiest airport, moving up four places from the 16th spot in 2017. 

• It over took mega-hubs like Frankfurt, Dallas Forth Worth, Guangzhou and Istanbul Ataturk airports. India became the world's third-largest aviation market in terms of passenger throughput, behind the US and China, in 2018. The ACI-- Founded in 1991-- is the trade association of the world's airports, currently serving 641 members operating from 1,953 airports across 176 countries.

• Hinduja family tops Asian Rich List 2019

• Leading London-based NRI industrial tycoons, the Hinduja family has topped the Asian Rich List 2019 for the sixth successive year with £25.2 billion (over ₹2.3 lakh crore) wealth. Steel magnates Lakshmi Mittal and his son Aditya Mittal were ranked second with £11.2 billion (over ₹1 lakh crore) wealth. 

• Petrochemicals billionaire SP Lohia was ranked third with £5.8 billion (over ₹53,000 crore) wealth.

• Two American astronauts successfully replaced ageing batteries on ISS

• NASA’s Anne McClain and Nick Hague took a spacewalk on 22nd March to replace ageing batteries on the International Space Station. Two American astronauts worked for several hours to swap three nickel-hydrogen batteries with more powerful lithium-ion ones.  The duo overcame minor struggles in their first task, which involved attaching a tool bag on one of the station’s trusses for possible future use. 

• The space station uses solar panels to generate power but the batteries are used when it is in the dark and not getting power from the sun.