Source: Cick Here

• Saudi Arabia denounced U.S. President Donald Trump's recognition of Israel's 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights.


• Attempts to impose fait accompli do not change the facts”. It said the Golan Heights was an “occupied Syrian Arab land in accordance with the relevant international resolutions”.


• “It will have significant negative effects on the peace process in the Middle East and the security and stability of the region”.

Source: Cick Here

• Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has authorised the Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning and building 57 miles of 18-foot-high fencing in Yuma, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas, along the U.S. border with Mexico.


• The Pentagon says it will divert up to $1 billion to support the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection. The funding would also go toward installing lighting and constructing roads in those areas.

Source: Cick Here

• The British government suffered a further political defeat, as MPs voted to wrest control of the Brexit timetable from the government on [latex]27^{th}[/latex] March, to hold a series of indicative votes to attempt to determine what course of action could command a majority in Parliament.


• The MPs voted by 329 to 302 in favour of an amendment to a motion – introduced by Conservative MP Oliver Letwin – to enable the series of unspecified votes to take place on [latex]27^{th}[/latex] March, despite the government’s assurance that it would be willing to hold such votes.

Source: Cick Here

• China pumped-in $2.2 billion to cash-strapped Pakistan to shore up its close ally's foreign currency reserves and help avert a possible default on external debt payments.


• With the generous Chinese assistance, Pakistan has so far received a total of $9.1 billion in financial assistance packages from friendly countries during the current fiscal year.


• While China has pumped-in $4.1 billion, Pakistan has got $3 billion from Saudi Arabia and $2 billion from United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Source: Cick Here

• NITI Aayog has organized a day-long FinTech Conclave at Dr. Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi. The Conclave was inaugurated by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das.


• The objective of the conference is to shape India’s continued ascendancy in FinTech, build the narrative for future strategy and policy efforts, and to deliberate steps for comprehensive financial inclusion.

Source: Cick Here

• India ranks 76th (among 115 countries) on a global energy transition index which was compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF), based on their energy system performance and affordability.


• The top three performers are Sweden, followed by Switzerland and Norway.


• In the second edition of the Energy Transition Index, India improved its rank by two points from last year (2018) higher than China (82nd).


• Despite the fact that India has high pollution levels and high CO2 intensity amongst these 115 countries, it has made a significant improvement in its energy access and regulations in recent years.


• In the BRICS block of emerging economies, After Brazil (rank 46th) India ranked second best. Among the major economies, UK ranked 7th, Singapore ranked 13th, Germany ranked 17th, Japan ranked 18th and the US ranked 27th in this index.


• India scored low in terms of system performance (ranking 97 and 86, respectively), but it ranks considerably higher in terms of readiness to adapt to future energy needs (45 and 61 respectively).

Source: Cick Here

• The first batch of four Boeing heavy-lift Chinook Helicopters, CH-47F (I) was inducted in Indian Air Force (IAF) on [latex]25^{th}[/latex] March, 2019 at Air Force Station, Chandigarh, in Squadron No 126 Helicopter Flight (Featherweights).


• The Chinook helicopters arrived at the Mundra airport in Gujarat from the United States on February 10, 2019. These multirole helicopters will be used in life-saving role during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions. They will operate alongside the Russian machines. The Indian Air Force is currently using Mi-17 and Mi-26 helicopters, which were manufactured by Russia.


• The remaining eleven Chinook helicopters are expected to be delivered by 2023.

Source: Cick Here

• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested a defence agent from Delhi in the Rs 3,600-crore VVIP choppers deal case.


• They said Sushen Mohan Gupta was arrested by agency sleuths under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Source: Cick Here

• Union minister Giriraj Singh's "reluctance" to contest Lok Sabha polls from Begusarai was comparable to a kids refusal to attend school in the event of failing to complete his homework.


• Watched the news on TV and learnt that the BJP minister known for sending off people to free of cost Pakistan tours is not ready to come to Begusarai for contesting the polls".

Source: Cick Here

• India will provide adequate carve-outs to protect domestic interests in the cross border insolvency regime which is under consideration by the government.


• Such provisions may mean that a portion of the debtor’s assets may be kept aside to pay domestic creditors, according to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

Source: Cick Here

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has 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.


• With the revolution in the FinTech sector India’s aim is to emerge as a 10 trillion dollar economy.


• Financial technology, popularly known as FinTech, is the new technology and innovation to make financial services more accessible for the common people. Mobile banking, internet banking, digital payment are examples of Financial technologies.

Source: Cick Here

• Chris Gayle became the fastest to score 4,000 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and joined the elite list of batsmen that includes Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner and MS Dhoni.


• The Windies star achieved the feat in his 112th innings and the fourth match of the IPL 2019 between Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Before the start of the match in Jaipur, Chris Gayle needed just six runs to reach the milestone.

Source: Cick Here

• Ravichandran Ashwin, Kings XI Punjab skipper, 'mankaded' Jos Buttler to inflicting a massive blow on Rajasthan Royals in their chase of 185 runs at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.


• Jos Buttler had given Rajasthan Royals a flying start in their run-chase and looked unstoppable after scoring his seventh half-century in the Indian Premier League (IPL).


• However, spinner Ravinchandran Ashwin put an end to Buttler's stay at the crease with one of the most controversial dismissals ever seen in the history of the IPL.

Source: Cick Here

• Peter Tabichi, a member of the Franciscan religious order has been conferred with the prestigious Global Teacher Prize for 2019 at a ceremony in Dubai hosted by Hollywood actor, Hugh Jackman.


• Peter Tabichi gives away 80 per cent of his monthly income to the poor.


• The award recognises the “exceptional” teacher’s commitment to pupils in a remote part of Kenya’s Rift Valley.

Source: Cick Here

• 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. Another director Kevin Knight has also resigned.


• 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.

Source: Cick Here

• 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 next three months.


• He has declared to give its proposal in the next 45 days and intend to have a zone-wise competition before the final round.

Source: Cick Here

• Oslo, the capital city of Norway will become the world’s first city to install wireless, induction-based charging stations for its fleet of electric taxis with an aim to have a zero-emission cab system by the year 2023 according to a report by Reuters.


• Finland’s utility company ‘Fortum’ will collaborate with U.S. company Momentum Dynamics and the government of Oslo to install induction charging plates in the roads that allow for charging up to 75 kilowatts.


• Norway wants all new cars to be zero emission by 2025 whereas other nations, like Britain and France have similar goals for 2040.

Source: Cick Here

• Kala Prapoorna awardee, Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi passed away at the age of 99 due to illness at Houston, USA. She was an eminent folk artist, radio commentator, harmonium player, music composer and author.


• Originally hailed from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, she got her first gramophone record at the age of 8 years.


• Her two books, Bava Geetalu, a compilation of Folk Songs was released in 2018.


• In 1977, she was honored with a Doctorate by Andhra University. She was also an awardee of lifetime achievement award in America and ‘Queen of Folk’ award in Paris.

Source: Cick Here

• Renowned South Asian singer, Shahnaz Rahmatullah Popularly known as Shahnaz Begum (aged 67 years), passed away at her Baridhara residence Dhaka, Bangladesh after suffering a heart attack.


• She was born on [latex]2^{nd}[/latex] January , 1952, in Dhaka, Bangladesh.


• She was awarded with National Film Awards (best female singer) in 1990 and Ekushey Padak in 1992.

A. INS Kalvari,Mumbai B. INS Shivaji,Lonavla C. INS Vikrant,Visakhapatnam D. INS Vagir,Mumbai Answer: B

A. Mt Makalu B. Mt Kangchenjunga C. Mt Nanda Devi D. Mt Kamet Answer: A

A. Yudh Abhyas VII B. Sudarshan Shakti C. Ajeya Warrior IV D. Mitrashakti – VI Answer: D

A. Kuala Lumpur Industrial Park, Malaysia B. London Industrial Park, London C. Dubai Industrial Park, Dubai D. Bengaluru Industrial Park, India Answer: C

A. Sharada Peeth Corridor B. Siliguri Corridor C. India Pakistan Economic Corridor D. IT Corridor Answer: A

A. Abu Dhabi,UAE B. Langkawi,Malaysia C. New Delhi,India D. Washington D.C.,U.S. Answer: B

A. Mikoyan MiG-27 B. Sukhoi Su-30MKI C. Mirage-2000 D. Tejas Answer: D

A. Indian Bank B. Union Bank of India D. Punjab National Bank D. Yes Bank Answer: C

A. HSBC B. Mastercard C. Deutsche Bank D. Standard Chartered Answer: B

A. Mauritius B. Malaysia C. Singapore D. Both 1 and 3 Answer: D

A. Kingdom of Morocco B. Spain C. Western Sahara D. Algeria Answer: A

A. Atul Kumar Goel B. P.S. Jayakumar C. N.S. Srinath D. Padmaja Chunduru Answer: C

A. RACRRA Institute of Fundamental Research, Coimbatore B. Cosmic Ray Laboratory, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research,Ooty C. Radio Astronomy Centre, Ooty D. GRAPES-3 muon telescope facility, Ooty Answer: D

A. Kepler Space Telescope B. Hubble Space Telescope C. Hale Telescope D. Galileo National Telescope Answer: B

A. Tokyo,Japan B. Beijing,China C. Shanghai,China D. Osaka,Japan Answer: A

A. Soumyajit Ghosh B. Sathiyan Gnanasekaran C. G.Sathyan D. Sharath Kamal Answer: C

A. Boxing B. Weight lifting C. Wrestling D. Mixed Martial Art Answer: B

A. Acharya Rajendrasuri B. Acharya Ramchandrasurishwarji C. Acharya Ratnasundarsuri D. Acharya Vijayanandsuri Answer: A

A. Ghulam Nabi Rathar B. Sunitha Krishnan C. Vandana Shiva D. Shaheen Mistri Answer: A

A. 24th March B. 25th March C. 26th March D. 23rd March Answer: C