Source: Cick Here

• 7th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Intersessional Ministerial Meeting was organized in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was headed by Chutima Bunyapraphasara, Acting Minister of Commerce of Thailand and saw participation of ministers from the 16 RCEP Participating Countries (RPCs). It was also attended by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation- Suresh Prabhu.


• Developments that have taken place since the 2nd RCEP Summit on 14 November 2018 in Singapore, especially the ones involving the 2nd Special TNC Meeting held on 25-26 January 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the 25th RCEP Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC) Meeting and Related Meetings held on 19-28 February 2019 in Bali, Indonesia were discussed.

Source: Cick Here

• French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has said the country plans to levy 3% digital tax on about 30 Internet giants including Google to ensure "fiscal justice".


• The decision will help France raise about $570 million. The tax will apply to companies with global revenue of over $850 million and French sales above $28 million.

Source: Cick Here

• President Ram Nath Kovind has given his approval for an Ordinance which allows voluntary use of Aadhaar as ID proof for opening bank accounts and obtaining mobile SIM. The ordinance gives effect to the changes in the Aadhaar Act such as giving a child an option to exit from the biometric ID programme on attaining 18 years of age.


• Rajya Sabha could not approve the Bill eventhough Lok Sabha has given its assent. In such a situation an ordinance is necessary as per the law.


• The cabinet has approved it with effect to an Ordinance to give changes proposed in Aadhaar and two other legislations. The amendment include stiff penalties for violation of norms which are set for the use of Aadhaar and violation of privacy.


• It also bans storing the core biometric information including Aadhaar number by service providers in case where an individual has offered the national ID for authentication. The amendment also stated that anyone not offering Aadhaar cannot be denied any service.

Source: Cick Here

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Amethi in Uttar Pradesh to address a public meeting and lay the foundation stone of an Ordnance factory unit in Amethi.


• This is the first visit by PM Modi since 2014 to Amethi. Modi addressed a public meeting in Kauhar area of Gauriganj.


• He also launched various development projects related to power generation, health, education and manufacturing sector which will benefit Amethi.


• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated an Indo-Russian joint venture (JV) Indo-Russian Rifles Pvt Ltd, that will manufacture the new Kalashnikov AK-203 rifle in Korwa, near Amethi (UP) to take a step to equip army soldiers with modern rifles.

Source: Cick Here

• A water conservation scheme ‘Jal Amrutha’ was launched by Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, in Bengaluru. For the purpose of inauguration of the scheme, a function was organized by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department at Dr B R Ambedkar Bhavan in Bengaluru.


• The scheme plans to make people aware about the importance of conserving water and to prompt them to come up with ways to avoid wastage of water.

Source: Cick Here

• Government decided to extend the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) which involved in various terror acts in the country for a period of 5 years.


• The Government arrived in the decision as the organization continues to indulge in trouble making activities. The notification stating the ban termed the SIMI as an unlawful association.


• Union Home Ministry has issued the notification for the extension of ban under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.


• SIMI was banned for the first time in 2001 immediately, following the September II attacks. It was again banned on 2003 and 2005 for its Unlawful Activities.

Source: Cick Here

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a loan agreement of USD 926 Million in order to operationalize two lines for the Mumbai Metro Rail System. It is the Single Largest Infrastructure Project Loan in ADB history.


• It will fund 63 six-car trains, signalling and safety systems, and help establish a new dedicated metro operations organization to manage the entire metro network in Mumbai.


• The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will implement the project and will be operational by the end of 2022.


• The Project is also ADB’s first co-financing with the Shanghai-based New Development Bank, which will provide USD 260 million for the metro systems project.

Source: Cick Here

• Reserve Bank of India has constituted a task force which will be headed by its former deputy governor, Usha Thorat to examine issues related to offshore rupee markets and recommend policy measures.


• The 8-member task force will aim to ensure stability of the external value of the domestic currency.


• The motive behind this is to develop deep and liquid on-shore financial markets that will act as a price setter of the Rupee globally.

Source: Cick Here

• India’s Shashank Shekhar won the 10 kilometre race of Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Open Marathon and Run for Fun held in Kathmandu. Shekhar of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Contingent at Embassy of India in Kathmandu secured first position.


• RD Murgan also from CISF got third place. A total nine CISF personnel participated in 10 KM race category. The remaining seven personnel also successfully completed run and received Certificate of Achievement.

Source: Cick Here

• Star Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia outclassed Jordan Oliver of the US to win gold in the men’s 65 kilogram freestyle category at the Dan Kolov-Nikol Petrov Ranking Series here.


• Before Punia’s feat, Rio Olympics bronze medalist Sakshi clinched silver medal in the women’s 65kg category and Pooja Dhanda won gold in the women’s 59kg.

Source: Cick Here

• Steel Minister of India, Chaudhary Birender Singh has presented the 25th Prime Minister’s Trophy and Steel Minister’s trophy along with other awards for the best performing integrated steel plants for the year 2016-17.


• Prime Minister’s Trophy for the Best Overall Performance along with a cash prize of 2 Crore rupees was conferred upon Tata Steel Limited, Jamshedpur Works.


• The Steel Minister’s Trophy along with a cash prize of 1 Crore rupees was conferred upon JSW Steel Limited – Vijayanagar Works.

Source: Cick Here

• Kavya Kopparapu, an Indian-American teenager has been conferred with the 2019 National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education Award for her ground-breaking invention designed to improve treatments for glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer.


• The $10,000 award given by STEM Education US, recognises Kavya Kopparapu of Herndon, Virginia, as an “extraordinarily talented and accomplished” individual “who has meaningfully promoted STEM education”.

Source: Cick Here

• Ministry of External Affairs has appointed Pranay Kumar Verma as the India’s Ambassador to Socialist Republic of Vietnam.


• Pranay Kumar Verma is an 1994 cadre Indian Foreign Services(IFS) Officer and presently working as the Joint secretary at Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Source: Cick Here

• Former Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court Ajit Singh is appointed as the first Lokayukta of Odisha. Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal has approved his name following the recommendation of selection committee headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.


• Singh held the post of Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court till his retirement last year.

Source: Cick Here

• Former New Zealand batsman Bill Payle passed away in New South Wales, Australia at the age of 80. Born [latex]1^{st}[/latex] December 1938 in Manawatu, New Zealand.


• Payle represented his country in 8 Tests between 1958 and 1963. In addition, he also played 85 First-Class games.

A. Abu Dhabi B. Bishkek C. Paris D. Rome Answer: A

A. Mumbai B. Delhi C. Surat D. Pune Answer: B

A. Sri Lanka B. Russia C. Nep D. Bangladesh Answer: D

A. USD 450 million B. USD 455 million C. USD 200 million D. USD 500 million Answer: B

A. Russia B. Nepal C. Bangladesh D. Sri Lanka Answer: C

A. Telangana B. Gujarat C. Sikkim D. Odisha Answer: B

A. HCL B. TCS C. Adobe D. IBM Answer: C

A. Federal Bank B. ICICI Bank C. PNB D. DCB Bank Answer: D

A. Citi Bank B. HSBC Bank C. DBS Bank D. Barclays Bank Answer: C

A. Odisha B. Sikkim C. Tripura D. Assam Answer: D

A. IFFCO Tokio General Insurance Company B. ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company C. NICL D. IDBI Federal General Insurance Company Answer: A

A. $945 million B. $926 million C. $850 million D. $900 million Answer: B

A. Mahesh Kumar Jain B. Viral Acharya C. Subramanian Swamy D. Usha Thorat Answer: D

A. Shashank Shekhar B. Vikas Chaturvedi C. Manohar Lal D. Anurag Kishore Answer: A

A. Mukesh Kumar Jain B. Dinesh Mahajan C. PS Jayakumar D. Hasmukh Adhia Answer: D

A. Shyam Srinivasan B. Rana Kapoor C. Ravneet Gill D. Jayarama Bhat Answer: C

A. Journalist B. Writer C. Actor D. Scientist Answer: D

A. Stand Out B. Make Some Noise for Zero Discrimination C. Act to Change Laws that Discriminate D. Open Up,Reach Out Answer: C

A. Tehran B. Bishkek C. Abu Dhabi D. Jeddah Answer: D

A. Rome B. Tokyo C. Beijing D. New York Answer: C

A. Maharashtra B. Odisha C. West Bengal D. Gujarat Answer: A

A. Japan B. India C. Malaysia D. Singapore Answer: D