ONE LINER OF THE DAY 31st MAY 2019

1.Every year, on 31 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) and global partners celebrate World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). It raises awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure.The focus for 2019 is "tobacco and lung health."

2.Global investment banking firm Jefferies Group , appointed Christopher Wood as global head of equity Strategy. Wood, one of the top-ranked market strategist, joined Jefferies from Asian securities house CLSA, where he spent around two decades.Jefferies Group LLC headquarters:New York.CEO: Richard Handler

3.According to a survey by FICCI, the country's median GDP is forecast at 7.1% for FY20 and 7.2% for FY 21.Inflation is expected to remain moderate and the WPI based inflation rate is projected at 3.1% in FY19-20.FICCI-Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry

4.Indian playwright & journalist Annie Zaidi was announced the winner of the 2019 Nine Dots Prize for her essay Bread, Cement, Cactus. The winner writes a short book expanding on the essay’s idea. The question of 2019 was “Is there still no place like home?”The Nine Dots Prize is worth $100,000

5.Papua New Guinea has appointed James Marape as its new PM.He succeeds Peter O’Neill. Marape, the member for Tari-Pori in New Hela province was a key minister in O’Neill’s government . He was elected by MPs who voted 101 to 8, to make him the next leader.Capital of Papua New Guinea-Port Moresby

6.YSR Congress chief Yeduguri Sandinti Jaganmohan Reddy has taken oath as the 2nd CM of Andhra Pradesh post its bifurcation.He defeated N Chandrababu Naidu, who became the first CM of the state after it was bifurcated to carve out Telangana .Capital of A.P.-Amravati.Governor-E.S.L. Narsimhan

7.Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain,assumed charge as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command,recently.He has commanded INS Nirghat (Missile Boat), INS Khukri (Missile Corvette), INS Rajput (Destroyer) and INS Mysore.He has been awarded VSM in 2009 and AVSM in 2015.

8.PM Narendra Modi, along with 57 Ministers, took oath of office at a grand swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Women accounted for 6 out of the 58 berths, with three Cabinet nods for Nirmala Sitharaman, Harsimrat Badal and Smriti Irani.The new government formed is for 17th Lok Sabha

9.The first Rafale combat aircraft would be inducted into the IAF's 'Golden Arrows' 17 Squadron which was commanded by Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa during the Kargil war in 1999. The first unit to receive the Rafale combat aircraft would be the 17 Squadron.The 17 Squadron used to operate the MiG-21s earlier 

10.Carmine Caridi, who played Carmine Rosato in The Godfather: Part II and Albert Volpe in The Godfather: Part III, died recently. He was known for big-screen turns in The Gambler, Prince of the City,The Money Pit and Brewster’s Millions & Bugsy.Francis Ford Coppola was the director of Godfather.

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 30th MAY 2019

1.3 women IAF officers were part of the country's 1st all-women crew to fly a medium lift helicopter Mi-17 V5.Flight.Lt. Parul Bhardwaj (Capt.), Flying Officer Aman Nidhi and Flight Lt. Hina Jaiswal flew the chopper, which took off from SW air command.Hina Jaiswal is the first woman flight engineer of the IAF.

2.Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari took the reins of leadership for another term against a tense backdrop of insecurity and economic uncertainty.Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country.Nigeria’s Capital: Abuja.

3.To develop the housing finance securitisation market in India, the RBI formed a committee to review the existing state of mortgage securitisation & suggest ways to develop the market under the chairmanship of Harsh Vardhan, senior advisor, Bain & Co.Reserve Bank of India Act, was enacted in 1934.

4.Flipkart announced the launch of Adrenex, its in-house sports and fitness private label brand aimed at sports and fitness aspirants.Adrenex will be designed to cater to lifestyle of fitness enthusiasts in India.Flipkart CEO:Kalyan Krishnamurthy.

5.NB is looking to raise ₹10,000 crore in 2019-20 from sale of non-core assets, rights issue & expected write-backs . The lender is expecting a write-back of ₹4,000 crore from Essar Steel & Bhushan Power & Steel which are undergoing resolution under the IBC.IBC: Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code

6.N Kumar, VC of TNAU, has been conferred the lifetime recognition award by the Confederation of Horticulture Association of India,for his outstanding contribution in the field of horticulture & academic leadership focussed on HRD in agriculture.TNAU- Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

7.Mr. Morrison became Australia’s 30th Prime Minister. Along with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Mr. Morrison was sworn in by Queen Elizabeth’s official representative in Australia, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.Capital of Australia: Canberra.

8.Banks can now accept the Aadhaar no. as part of a customer’s original document for completing KYC guidelines.In an amendment to the KYC norms,the RBI said banks can carry out Aadhaar authentication, or offline verification, for individuals who opt for it.DBT stands for Direct Benefit Transfer.

9.Acc. to IMD World Competitiveness Rankings,Singapore has ranked as the world’s most competitive economy for the first time since 2010, as the United States slipped from the top spot. India has improved its rank to one place to rank 43rd.Saudi Arabia advanced 13 places to No. 26.

10.Assam’s noted artist & former senior art adviser & deputy director of state Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Benu Mishra passed away in Guwahati. Mishra was the founder president of Guwahati Artists’ Guild .Capital of Assam:Dispur

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 29th MAY 2019

1.Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has launched ‘Bank on Wheels’ facility in 14 of its lead districts in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, besides Vijayawada. The mobile van facility will enable the public, conveniently get door-step banking facility .IOB Headquarters:Chennai.

2.Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pema Khandu will take oath as the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the 2nd term, after his party won 41 seats in the 60-member Assembly in the recently concluded elections.Capital of Arunachal Pradesh:Itanagar.

3.The DRDO successfully test-fired the new version of the Akash surface-to-air defence missile system with a new indigenously-developed seeker in Balasore off the Odisha coast.It has a range of around 25 km and up to the altitude of 18,000 metres.IGMDP: Integrated Guided-Missile Development Programme.

4.Walmart announced that,it has hired former Google, Microsoft and Amazon veteran Suresh Kumar as CTO and CDO — a role that will report directly to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon. The CTO position was previously held by Jeremy King.CTO: Chief Technology Officer.CDO: Chief Development Officer

5.The FIFA Appeal Committee has confirmed the decision taken by the independent Ethics Committee to ban Mr Marco Polo Del Nero for life from all football-related activities at national & international level & to order him to pay a fine of CHF 1 million.He was a former President of the Brazilian Football Association

6.Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company, launched its WhatsApp transaction platform for new as well as existing investors.It is the first of its kind initiative by any fund house in India to do mutual fund transactions through Whatsapp.MD and CEO at Motilal Oswal AMC: Aashish Somaiya.

7.Ola Electric Mobility Private Ltd., appointed Arun Sarin as an independent director.Sarin also serves on the boards of Cisco Systems, Accenture, Charles Schwab and Ola’s parent company, ANI Technologies.Arun Sarin was the former CEO of Vodafone Group Plc.

8.SBI is preparing to raise₹15k cr.-₹18k cr. through India’s largest (QIP)(expected) in the next few weeks. Recently, SBI’s board of directors approved a plan to raise up to ₹20k crore through various equity and equity-linked instruments, including a QIP.SBI Tagline: With you all the way, The Nation's banks on us.

9.No-frills airline SpiceJet announced the induction of a Boeing 737, taking its fleet size to 100 aircraft. SpiceJet is the 4th domestic airline to achieve the feat after national carrier Air India, now defunct Jet Airways and IndiGo.SpiceJet chairman and managing director : Ajay Singh

10.West Bengal CM , appointed Alapan Bandopadhyay as the new home secretary.Recently,the Election Commission (EC) had relieved the then home secretary Atri Bhattacharya of his duties and asked the state chief secretary to handle the additional responsibility.West Bengal CM: Mamta Banerjee.Capital :Kolkata

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 28th MAY 2019

1.Acc. to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, India has been elected to the Exec. Board of the 1st UN-Habitat Assembly being held in Nairobi, Kenya.The theme for the UN-Habitat Assembly -"Innovation for Better Quality of Life in Cities and Communities".UN-Habitat, is the United Nations agency for human settlements.

2.Patanjali Ayurved Limited's Managing Director, Acharya Balkrishna received the 'UNSDG 10 Most Influential People in Healthcare Award' on behalf of Patanjali Group of Institutions in Geneva. Yoga guru Baba Ramdev co-founded the company along with him.UNSDG: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

3.Senior officials of the 16-member RCEP group held meetings in Bangkok to solve issues pertaining to the goods and services sector. It was an inter-sessional meeting, where senior officials held detailed discussions on issues of the proposed RCEP agreement.RCEP: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

4.Rahi Sarnobat won the gold medal in 25m- Air Pistol Category at the ISSF World Cup 2019, going on in Munich, Germany.Saurabh Chaudhary, the 17-year-old shooter, made the country proud once again as he bagged a gold in the 10 m Air Pistol category.Capital of Germany: Berlin

5.Lt Governor of Delhi Shri Anil Baijal inaugurated the Sahara Naval Hostel for the ‘Veer Naris’ in New Delhi. The project has been built in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnership with National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC).Indian Naval Chief- Sunil Lanba.

6.NASA unveiled the calendar for the "Artemis" programme that will return astronauts to the Moon for the 1st time in half a century, including 8 scheduled launches and a mini-station in lunar orbit by 2024.NASA Headquarters- Washington DC

7.A unique 'Tree Ambulance' service - an initiative to provide care to trees beside the spread green cover, was launched by VP M. Venkaiah Naidu in Chennai. It was proposed by the Green Man of India, Dr. K Abdul Ghani & is sponsored by the SASA group.Capital of Tamil Nadu – Chennai

8.Acc. to a SBI report,India’s GDP will expand by 5.9-6.1 percent in January-March 2019, pulling down growth for the entire 2018-19 fiscal year to below 7 percent. FY19 GDP growth will be at 6.9 percent.Headquarters of SBI- Mumbai.Chairman- Rajnish Kumar

9.Bollywood's famous action director Veeru Devgan, father of actor Ajay Devgan, passed away. He was 85. His work includes Mr. Natwarlal (1979), Kranti (1981), Himmatwala (1983), Shahenshah (1988) and Tridev (1989) and Phool Aur Kaante (1991), among others.

10.Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton won the Monaco Grand Prix after close competition with Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel came second while his teammate, Valtteri Bottas came third.Lewis Hamilton hails from Britain.

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 27th MAY 2019

1.In the Central American country of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele has been sworn-in as the nation's President. Delegations from 83 countries attended the ceremony. Bukele was elected to succeed Salvador Sanchez Ceren.Capital of El Salvador- San Salvador.

2.The United Nations General Assembly declared 3rd June as World Bicycle Day to recognise the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which are affordable, environmentally friendly fit sustainable means of transportation.#June3WorldBicycleDay logo was designed by Isaac Feld.

3.As per Fourth Schedule of the Income-tax Act, the accumulated PF balance due and payable to an employee is exempt from tax, if the employee has rendered continuous service with his employer for a period of 5 years or more.PF:Provident Fund.

4.BoB plans to raise Rs 11,900 crore during the current fiscal through share sale, including Employee Share Purchase Scheme to shore up capital for meeting business expansion requirement. The bank expects to garner Rs 1,500 crore from Bank of Baroda ESPS.Headquarters of BoB:Vadodara, Gujarat.

5.WHO has selected the Rajasthan government’s Medical & Health Department for its award this year in recognition of its achievements in the field of tobacco control. It is the only govt. body in India which will be awarded for its tobacco-free initiatives.Director General of WHO: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

6.SpiceJet's Chairman and MD Ajay Singh was elected to the board of the IATA, after the airline joined the global grouping.The new board of the global airlines' grouping would be chaired by Lufthansa Group Chief Executive Officer Carsten Spohr.IATA- International Air Transport Association

7.Former ISRO chief Dr. Kasturirangan led Committee submitted the draft National Educational Policy (NEP) to the HRD Minister.It recommends incorporation of Indian knowledge systems in the curriculum, constituting a National Education Commission.HRD minister:Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.

8.The BAI president Himanta Biswa Sarma has been elected as the vice-president of Badminton Asia Council. BAC president Anton Subowo also appointed BAI secretary (tournaments) Omar Rashid as the deputy chairman of Badminton Asia's development committee.BAI- Badminton Association of India.

9.Heat wave conditions continued unabated in Delhi even as the MeT department issued a "red-colour" warning to it. Red colour warning denotes extreme weather situations.The MeT department recorded a high of 46.8 degree Celsius, the highest in five years.IMD- Indian Meteorological Department.

10.Industrialist Brij Mohan Khaitan, who acquired the Indian business of Union Carbide in the 1990s, passed away recently.Mr. Khaitan, 92, was the patriarch of the Williamson Magor Group that deals in dry-cell battery, tea and engineering services.Khaitan got the Lifetime Achievement Award from the ICC in 2013.

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 26th MAY 2019

1.Corporation Bank has launched ‘Corp SME Suvidha’ for GST-registered MSMEs. The product has been designed as part of the bank's efforts to provide the best products to the MSME sector.MD and CEO of Corporation Bank – PV Bharathi.

2.Defence Research and Development Organisation has test-fired an indigenously developed 500 kg class guided bomb from a Sukhoi combat jet at Pokhran, Rajasthan. The guided bomb achieved the desired range and hit the target with high precision.DRDO is headquartered in New Delhi.

3.In Odisha, Biju Janata Dal Legislature Party has elected Naveen Patnaik its leader. He will take oath as Chief Minister for the fifth consecutive term. BJD has bagged 112 of the 146 assembly seats.Ganeshi Lal is the governor of Odisha.

4.Indian contemporary artist Nalini Malani has won the seventh edition of Joan Miro Prize 2019 for her impressive body of work that gave a voice to ‘the silenced and the dispossessed all over the world, most particularly women’.Joan Miro - An influential artists in 20th century.

5.NSIL was inaugurated K Kasturirangan (ISRO’s honorary adviser). It is responsible for manufacturing & production of Small Satellite Launch Vehicle & Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle via technology transfer mechanisms.NSIL was incorporated on March 6, 2019.

6.National Health Authority and National Cancer Grid have signed an MoU under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to bring in uniform standards of patient care to battle cancer.Indu Bhushan - Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ayushman Bharat PM.

7.International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup will begin at Munich, Germany. A total of 919 athletes from 98 countries will be competing for the 17 Tokyo Olympics quota places available. India has 5 quota places in Rifle & Pistol competitions.President of ISSF - Vladimir Lisin.

8.The Telangana government has released a draft block-chain policy under the overall IT policy, focussing on attracting firms and encouraging start-ups working in block-chain and using the technology in government processes.Telangana recorded 15% of GSDP growth in FY 19.

9.Germany’s Alexander Zverev has defeated Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in the finals of the Geneva Open title. He clinched his first ATP Tour title this season by winning his third consecutive three-setter against Jarry.Zverev is a former world No. 1 junior.

10.The commandant of the Indian Army Infantry School, Shailesh Tinaikar has been appointed as the commander of the UN Mission in South Sudan. He is the recipient of the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal for Distinguished Service.The mission was created in 2011.

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 25th MAY 2019

1.In an international competition ‘Elsevier Foundation-ISC3 Green and Sustainable Chemistry Challenge’, a project idea by Ankur Patwardhan from Pune has bagged the second prize. His project is named ‘Butterfly attractant for pollination and ecosystem health’The project is about the relation b/w chemistry and ecosystem.

2.Indra Nooyi, the long-time chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters at Yale. Under her, PepsiCo launched the Performance with Purpose initiative, incorporating impact on health, society,etc into its strategy.Yale University is located in Connecticut, USA.

3.4 new judges of the Supreme Court were, administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. Justices B.R. Gavai, Surya Kant, Aniruddha Bose and A.S. Bopanna were administered the oath of office by the CJI.Justice Gavai will become the CJI in 2025.

4.Bengaluru-based doctor Hema Divakar was honoured with the 'Global Asian of the Year 2018-19' award in Dubai recently for her yeomen services and contributions to the women's healthcare ecosystem, in India.She got the award at the Asian Business & Social Forum 2019.

5.Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank of Nepal, banned the use of Chinese digital wallets WeChat Pay and Alipay, in Nepal, stating that the country was losing foreign income due to illegal use of those payment applications by Chinese tourists.President of Nepal: Bidya Devi Bhandari.Capital: Kathmandu

6.External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will attend a 2-day meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) in Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek, during which several issues including the threat of terrorism are expected to be discussed.SCO Hqs - Beijing, China.Founded:2001

7.RBI will allow large modern currency chests to increase the service charges on cash deposited by non-chest bank branches from the existing rate of ₹5 per packet of 100 pieces to a higher rate subject to a maximum of ₹8 per packet.RBI Headquarters-Mumbai.RBI Governor- Dr. Shaktikanta Das.

8.British Prime Minister, Theresa May announced her resignation after a 3-year tenure. She has set the date as 7th of June. She was a Conservative leader. Her leadership had been turbulent.Britain’s Capital: London.Currency: Pound sterling.

9.RBI released draft guidelines on liquidity risk management framework for NBFCs and CICs, due to rating downgrades and debt defaults in the NBFC sector and the need for a stronger asset liability management (ALM) framework.NBFCs-Non-Banking Financial Companies.CICs-Core Investment Comp.

10.In the doubles final of the ITF men’s Futures in Uganda, Anirudh Chandrasekar & Niki Poonacha defeated Simon Carr & Ryan James Storrie. While it was the 5th doubles title for Poonacha, it was the 1st title in the international circuit for Anirudh.ITF-International Tennis Federation

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 24th MAY 2019

1.The Day is observed by Commonwealth countries in Africa, Asia, Caribbean & Americas, the Pacific & Europe. 2019 Theme is ‘A Connected Commonwealth’, which offers opportunities to connect & work together via deep-rooted networks of friendship & goodwill.2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of Commonwealth.

2.Asian Development Bank has signed an agreement to provide $750 mn equivalent in INR long-term financing to electrify railway tracks in India. It is the largest single non-sovereign loan committed by India to Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC).IRFC founded in 1987. HQ – New Delhi.

3.In Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy will be sworn in as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh on May 30 at Vijayawada. He will be the second chief minister of divided Andhra Pradesh.Governor of AP – ESL. Narasimhan.

4.Elon Musk's SpaceX company launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida on a mission to carry the first batch of 5 dozen small satellites into low-Earth orbit for Starlink internet service. It aimed at generating cash for Musk's larger ambitions in space.SpaceX is headquartered at Hawthorne, California.

5.BJP led NDA is all set to form a new government at the Centre. BJP alone has won an absolute majority and heading for a landslide victory. It has secured 303 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won from Varanasi by over 4 lakh 79 thousand votes.President will give an oath to the PM of India.

6.Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development projected India’s Gross Domestic Product to 7.25% in FY19 & 7.5% in FY20. The report suggested that the collection of GST & personal income tax will help reduce the high public debt-to-GDP ratio.OECD.Jose Angel Gurria – Secretary General.HQ – Paris, France.

7.Sethu FC from Madurai emerged champions of the third edition of the Indian Women’s League in Ludhiana. Sethu FC defeated Manipur Police SC 3-1 in the final. The title cements Tamil Nadu’s position as the leading force in women’s football in India.Sabitra finished as the second-highest scorer in the tournament.

8.South African lawmakers have re-elected Cyril Ramaphosa as the president of the country. He will serve his first full five-year term. He is a trade unionist who played a prominent part in the struggle against white minority rule.South Africa:Legislative Capital – Cape Town.

9.India has ended all imports of oil from Iran and becomes the latest country to comply with the US sanctions. India has also ended all imports from Venezuela because it considered itself a partner of the United States.Iran: 

President – Hassan Rouhani.Currency – Rial

10.Malaysia's seventh King and football veteran Sultan Ahmad Shah passed away. He was 88. He was also the fifth Sultan of Malaysia's central Pahang state. He was the President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) from 1994 to 2002.Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy with nine sultans.

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 23rd MAY 2019

1.WHO declared Algeria and Argentina as malaria-free.Efforts such as improved surveillance, allowed for every last case of malaria to be rapidly identified and treated.WHO director-general--Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

2.Former Indian foreign secretary Shyam Saran will be conferred with Japan's 2nd highest national award, 'the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star', for strengthening the strategic ties and enhancing mutual understanding between India and Japan.Japan’s Prime Minister: Shinzo Abe.Japan’s Capital:Tokyo

3.Tech Mahindra announced a defence order worth over Rs 300 crore with the Indian Navy. As part of the ‘Armed Forces Secure Access Card’ (AFSAC) Project, Tech Mahindra will implement RFID based Access Control System across all naval bases and ships.RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

4.Acc. to , Quick Heal Security Labs, Mumbai is the most vulnerable city to cyberattacks in 2019, followed by Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata.The 'Annual Threat Report 2019' put Maharashtra, Delhi and West Bengal as the top 3 states at most risk.Maharashtra CM-Devendra Fadnavis.Governor- C. Vidyasagar Rao

5.Scripting history, Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth, became the first woman pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to qualify to undertake combat missions on a fighter jet.She is from the 1st batch of women fighter pilots of the IAF.

6.India has test-fired the Indo-Russian joint venture Brahmos supersonic cruise missile from a test range along the Odisha coast.The trial was conducted to validate its life extension technologies developed for the 1st time in India by DRDO and team.DRDO Chairman-G. Satheesh Reddy

7.The HDFC Group has emerged as the country’s most valuable brand by way of market capitalization , displacing the Tata Group.5 listed companies of HDFC have a combined market value of Rs 11.66 lakh crore.HDFC bank Headquarters:Mumbai

8.U.S. Navy ships conducted joint drills with warships from Japan, Australia and South Korea in their first combined exercise in the Western Pacific.3,000 sailors will participate in this 6 day exercise.Capitals:

Japan-Tokyo.Australia-Canberra.South Korea-Seoul

9.Bharti AXA Life Insurance, a private life insurer, has been conferred with the FICCI Claims Excellence Award. The recognition comes for its customer-friendly claims services in the life insurance sector.Vikas Seth(MD and CEO): Bharti AXA Life Insurance.

10.Bharti AXA Life Insurance, a private life insurer, has been conferred with the FICCI Claims Excellence Award. The recognition comes for its customer-friendly claims services in the life insurance sector.Vikas Seth(MD and CEO): Bharti AXA Life Insurance

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 22nd MAY 2019

1.Jokha Alharthi, became the 1st Arabic author to win the Man Booker International prize, for her novel “Celestial Bodies” which reveals her Omani homeland's post-colonial transformation.This prize is given for original novels written in English.

2.Acc. to UN, India's economy is projected to grow at 7.1% in FY 2020 due to strong domestic consumption and investment .Acc. to WESP 2019 Mid-year Update, the Indian economy, which generates two-thirds regional output in South Asia, grew by 7.2% in 2018.WESP- World Economic Situation and Prospects.

3.NITI Aayog has circulated a cabinet note to provide Rs 7,500 crore for the establishment of AIRAWAT, a cloud computing platform along with research institutes. This is to create an institutional framework for AI in the country.NITI Aayog CEO:Amitabh Kant.

4.The board of directors of RBI has decided to create a specialized supervisory and regulatory cadre within the RBI to strengthen the supervision and regulation of commercial banks, urban cooperative banks and non-banking financial companies.RBI was established on April 1, 1935

5.Helo, India’s social media platform, has announced its partnership with the Indian Wheelchair Cricket Association as the team sponsor for Team India during the Asia Cup 2019, which is to be held in Nepal.Helo’s Head of Content Operations: Shyamanga Barooah.

6.RISAT 2B Satellite has been launched successfully from the Sriharikota's, Satish Dhawan Space Centre.PSLV-C46 lifted-off from the First Launch Pad and injected RISAT-2B into a orbit of 556 km.It is a radar imaging earth observation satellite.PSLV- Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle; ISRO Chairman- K. Sivan.

7.Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline meeting was held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.The ADB is acting as the facilitator for the TAPI project.The project is expected to be completed by 2022 in Pakistan.ADB – Asian Development Bank;ADB Hqs- Manila, Philippines.

8.Adidas India has appointed Neelendra Singh as the general manager of the company. He will report to Dave Thomas, managing director of Emerging Markets at Adidas. He first joined Adidas in India in 2005.Adolf Dassler founded the German sportswear company Adidas.

9.Ola has launched Ola Money SBI Credit Card in alliance with SBI Card. Ola aims to provide a flexible and convenient payment system to its customers. Its users will be able to apply, view and manage their credit card directly on the app.Bhavish Aggarwal :co-founder and CEO of Ola.

10.Singapore and Canada are set to join consultations in a case filed by Japan in the WTO's dispute settlement body against India's import duties on certain information and communication technology products, including mobile phones.World Trade Organisation (WTO)-Geneva, Switzerland.

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 21st MAY 2019

1.May 21, is chosen as Anti-terrorism day in India to commemorate the death Anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi died in a terrorist attack.On this day Anti Terrorism pledge is taken in all the government offices and other public institutions.Mr. Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest Prime Minister of India.

2.May 21, is chosen as Anti-terrorism day in India to commemorate the death Anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi died in a terrorist attack.On this day Anti Terrorism pledge is taken in all the government offices and other public institutions.Mr. Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest Prime Minister of India.

3.The Meghalaya govt. approved setting up of a commission to look into the problems faced by farmers.The 'farmers' parliament', for the 1st time, was organised here previously & attended by many, to discuss issues related to the agri situation in the state.Meghalaya CM-Conrad Sangma.Capital of Meghalaya- Shillong.

4.The 2nd India Open International Boxing tournament began in Guwahati, Assam.In men's category, Ankit and Manjeet Panghal will play in 60 and 75 kilogram category respectively. In women’s category,Mary Kom will play in 51 kilogram bracket.Assam CM-Sarbananda Sonowal.Governor-Jagdish Mukhi

5.World’s scientific and technical community, in a historic decision taken in the the CGPM at BIPM has decided to redefine 4 of the 7 base units, the Kg (weight), Kelvin ( temperature), mole (amount of substance), and ampere (current).CGPM-General Conference on Weights and Measures.

6.Myanmar Navy Ships have arrived at Port Blair for the 8th Indo-Myanmar coordinated patrol (IMCOR), at Andaman & Nicobar. The CORPAT initiative between the two navies is meant to address issues of terrorism & other illegal activities hamful to both nations.CORPAT---Co-ordinated Patrol

7.Joko Widodo has been elected as Indonesia’s president for a second term, defeating former general Prabowo Subianto.The capital of Indonesia is Jakarta.Its currency is Indonesian Rupiah.Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.

8.Brooks Koepka returned to the top of the world golf rankings, after his US PGA Championship victory at Bethpage Black.He has now won 4 major titles in his last 8 starts and is the 1st man to ever hold back-to-back titles in two majors at the same time.Dustin Johnson & Justin Rose: at 2nd & 3rd ranks respectively.

9.Indian peacekeeper, Police Officer Jitender Kumar made the supreme sacrifice while serving in the UNO Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.He will be honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal on the Int. Day of UN Peacekeepers.May 29 : International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

10.Niki Lauda, an Austrian & one of the best-known figures in motor racing, took the title for Ferrari in 1975 and 1977 and McLaren in 1984.He will be remembered for his remarkable recovery and return to racing after an accident in the 1976 German Grand Prix.Capital of Austria- Vienna

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 20th MAY 2019

1.Kerala became the first state to tap into masala bond market by listing the KIIFB masala bond amounting USD 312 million in London Stock Exchange (LSE)’s International Securities Market (ISM). The masala bond has tenor of 5-year .KIIFB- Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board.

2.US has launched a merit-based immigration system from which foreigners, waiting to get Green Cards or permanent legal residency stand to benefit. The reform proposals significantly increase the quota for skilled workers from existing nearly 12% to 57%.This proposal was launched by US President, Donald Trump.

3.IBRD (World Bank) and Commonwealth Bank have enabled secondary market trading recorded on the blockchain for bond-i (blockchain operated new debt instrument), making it the first bond whose issuance and trading are recorded using distributed ledger tech.International Bank for Reconstruction and Development -IBRD.

4.State-run telecom major BSNL has partnered with Google to increase access to its WiFi footprint in India. Henceforth, Indians can use BSNL's free WiFi services. This initiative will allow customers to use BSNL's high-speed internet services on WiFi.BSNL Director: Vivek Bansal.

5.NSG commandos created history as they scaled the Mount Everest, the world's highest peak(8848 m), in their maiden attempt.

The 7 member team was led by Lt Col J P Kumar.The team took the southeastern approach via South Col in Solukhumbhu region of Nepal.NSG Director General: Sudeep Lakhtakia.

6.Ms. Radha Venkataraman, presently Director in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Kingdom of Eswatini. She succeeds Rudra Gaurav Shresth.Capital of Eswatini- Mbabane.Currency: Lilangeni.

7.Rafael Nadal defeated world’s number 1 ranked player, Novak Djokovic to win a ninth Italian Open title and a record 34th Masters crown. World number two, Nadal, claimed the 81st title of his career.Rafael Nadal is from Spain, while Novak Djokovic is from Serbia.

8.The navies of India and Singapore conducted their bilateral naval drill SIMBEX in the South China Sea. Indian Navy ships Kolkata and Shakti took part in the exercise with Singapore, along with long-range maritime patrol aircraft Poseidon-8I (P8I).SIMBEX -Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise

9.Germany’s Double Olympic biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier retires at the age of 25 owing to health issues. In the Winter Olympics 2018, she became the first female biathlete to win sprint as well as the pursuit at the same Olympics.She took the overall biathlon World Cup in 2017.

10.The world-famous architect IM Pei, best known for his remarkable work, the Louvre pyramid in Paris, passed away at the age of 102. He was also the mastermind behind the landmark 72-story Bank of China tower in Hong Kong and Athens' Museum of Modern Art.Pei won most awards in his field including the Pritzker Prize.

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 19th MAY 2019

1.Amazon has partnered with Cleartrip to launch the flight booking service. Amazon would not levy any additional charges in case customers cancel the ticket. They would only have to pay the airline cancellation penalty.CEO of Amazon – Jeff Bezos.

2.Acc to the RBI data, in Mar 2019, the total number of financial transactions done by people using their debit cards increased by 15%. Also, the financial transactions done by the debit cards at POS terminals increased by 27% compared to Mar 2018.RBI aims for 34% rise in PoS terminals in the next 2 years.

3.IBM and HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company announced a collaboration to co-create new Artificial Intelligence based solutions on IBM Cloud, that will redefine customer experience in India. It would help to better address customer queries.IBM is a New York based Multi-national company.

4.Anil Kapoor was felicitated by the Council of European Chambers of Commerce in India for his continuous support in promoting the cause of children's rights. He has been working in collaboration with Plan India for promoting girls’ rights.Tomasz Kozlowski is the EU Ambassador to India.

5.Anil Kapoor was felicitated by the Council of European Chambers of Commerce in India for his continuous support in promoting the cause of children's rights. He has been working in collaboration with Plan India for promoting girls’ rights.Tomasz Kozlowski is the EU Ambassador to India.

6.Anil Kapoor was felicitated by the Council of European Chambers of Commerce in India for his continuous support in promoting the cause of children's rights. He has been working in collaboration with Plan India for promoting girls’ rights.Tomasz Kozlowski is the EU Ambassador to India.

7.The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) has offered India an ‘Observer‘ status & access to the International Monitoring System (IMS) data. IMS monitors the planet for nuclear explosions & shares findings with its member states.CTBTO is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

8.HDFC Capital Advisors launched an initiative called 'HDFC Affordable Real Estate & Technology Program. It aims to mentor, partner & invest in real estate technology companies that drive innovation & efficiencies within the affordable housing ecosystem.Chairman of HDFC Ltd - Deepak Parekh.

9.Former South Asian Games swimming gold medallist MB Balakrishnan died in a road accident. He won a gold in the National Games in Guwahati in 2007 & rewrote the 50m backstroke national record in July 2010 at the Senior National Championships in New Delhi.He won the 100m & 200m backstroke events at South Asian Games.

10.Acc to the RBI's weekly statistical supplement, the overall forex reserves rose to $420.055 billion from $418.687 billion. India's forex reserves comprise FCA, gold reserves, SDRs & India's reserve position with the International Monetary Fund.FCA - Foreign Currency Assets .SDR - Special Drawing Rights

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 18th MAY 2019

1.Ujjivan Small Finance Bank has appointed Nitin Chugh as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer from Dec 1, 2019. He will replace the current MD Samit Ghosh. He will join the bank by Aug 2019 as President & will takeover as MD after retirement of Ghosh.The HQ of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank – Bengaluru.

2.UNDRR has conferred Pramod Kumar Mishra with the Sasakawa Award 2019 in recognition of his long-term dedication to improve the resilience of communities most exposed to disaster & his commitment to social inclusion to reduce inequality & poverty.PK Mishra is an Additional Principal Secretary to Prime Minister.

3.Israel proposed India to be the focus country in Jerusalem Film Festival, 2020. Israel also proposed the idea of making concept-based films in India, with a focus on regional and small budget films.49th International Film Festival of India was held in Goa.

4.ICGS Vigraha has decommissioned after 29 years of service. It was the seventh offshore patrol vessel built by the Mazagaon Dock Limited, Mumbai. The ship was later based at Visakhapatnam and has been instrumental in protecting the east coast.The ship was commissioned on April 12, 1990.

5.Bombay Stock Exchange launched its mobile app BSE StAR MF. The app would help distributors execute transactions, create a mandate for SIPs, and track & analyze the business. It will help the distributor & IFA to register clients on a real-time basis.MD & CEO of BSE - Ashishkumar Chauhan.

6.Taiwan’s legislature legalizes same-sex marriage. It makes Taiwan the first place in Asia with a comprehensive law both allowing and laying out the terms of same-sex marriage. Thailand is also exploring the legalization of same-sex civil partnerships.Taiwan: Capital-Taipei; President-Tsai Ing-Wen.

7.China will host Asian Cup Football Tournament in 2023 after South Korea has withdrawn its bid to stage football’s Asian Cup. Korea Football Association stated that it had pulled out to focus on joint bid with North Korea to host Women's World Cup in 2023.Ki Sung-Yeung is a South Korean footballer.

8.India has expressed its full support for economic development and stability in Afghanistan. Both sides discussed India’s role in Regional Peace Consensus with regards to Afghanistan, progress in peace talks and bilateral relations.President of Afghanistan - Ashraf Ghani.

9.Indian Navy test-fired a Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) to enhance its anti-air warfare capability. It was undertaken on the western seaboard by INS Kochi & Chennai. DRDO has developed the missile in alliance with Israel Aerospace Industries.Govt has appointed Karambir Singh as next chief of naval staff.

10.Veteran Telugu actor Rallapalli Venkata Narasimha Rao passed away. He was 74. He had worked as a staff artiste in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. His well-known films includingThoorpu Velle Railu, Srivariki Prema Lekha & Rendu Rellu Aaru.He was 5-time winner of Nandi award in undivided Andhra Pradesh

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 17th MAY 2019

1.RBI notifies Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) with asset size of more than Rs 50,000 cr should appoint a chief risk officer in a move to tighten regulation after a series of defaults at top lender Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services' (IL&FS).Minimum paid up capital requirement of small banks is Rs 100 cr.

2.17 May marks the anniversary of signing of the 1st International Telegraph Convention & the creation of the International Telecommunication Union. Purpose is to help raise awareness of the possibilities of use of the Internet & other information services.2019 Theme: Bridging the standardization gap.

3.India handed over a pair of Mi-24 helicopters to Afghanistan with the aim of strengthening the Afghan air force for battling the Taliban insurgency against the backdrop of the US looking to exit the war-torn country after a 17-year stay.Afghanistan Currency: Afghan afghani; President: Ashraf Ghani

4.Saudi government has approved for the first time a scheme- “Privileged Iqama” which would give permanent residency to certain expatriates, allowing them to own real estate in the kingdom and reside with their families without a Saudi sponsor.Saudi Arabia Currency: Saudi riyal; King: Salman of Saudi Arabia.

5.Insurance regulator IRDAI recently notified that genetic disorders, menopause, mental illnesses among several such health issues are not to be excluded from health insurance coverage. All existing health insurance products need to comply by April 1, 2020.IRDAI Chairperson: Subhash Chandra Khuntia.

6.The Website http://lokpal.gov.in has been developed by NIC, it provides the basic information with respect to the working & functioning of the Lokpal. It is mandated to inquire & investigate into allegations of the corruption against public functionaries.Lokpal established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013

7.L&T recently crossed the critical stake holding mark of 26% in Mindtree, making it the single-largest shareholder in the Bengaluru-headquartered IT services firm. L&T purchased more than 0.88 million shares worth around Rs 87 cr through OMO.L&T was estd.(1946) by 2 Danish engineers taking refuge in India.

8.Billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos unveiled recently a mock-up of a lunar lander being built by his Blue Origin rocket company and touted his moon goals in a strategy aimed at establishing a lunar outpost in next 5 years.Jeff Bezos is currently Amazon.com Inc’s Chief Executive.

9.MG Motor recently unveiled its hybrid SUV Hector which has been dubbed as India's first Internet enabled car. According to the company, the 48V hybrid SUV comes with 19 'exclusive features' that make it the new benchmark in its segment.Passenger vehicle sales recorded 5.32% growth at 33 lakh+ units.

10.United States Senate voted to confirm Jeffrey Rosen as the new Deputy attorney general, the second-ranking official at the Justice Department. Rosen is a long-time litigator who served as deputy transportation secretary in the Trump administration.US Constitution was ratified in June 21, 1788

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 16th MAY 2019

1.The country's largest cigarette maker ITC, informed exchanges that its board of directors has appointed MD Sanjiv Puri as its Chairman with immediate effect following the death of YC Deveshwar, who was the former chairman.ITC- Indian Tobacco Company.ITC HQs - Kolkata, West Bengal

2.Former Supreme Court Judge Justice A. K. Sikri has been appointed as the Chairperson of the NBSA. He will succeed Justice R. V. Raveendran. NBSA, stands for News Broadcasting Standards Authority.Supreme Court of India—New Delhi

3.An MoU was signed between NMCG, HCL Foundation and INTACH for the project, ‘Plantation of Rudraksh Trees in Uttarakhand’ under the ‘Namami Gange’ Programme. The project aims at planting 10,000 Rudraksh trees in the catchment area of Ganga in Uttarakhand.NMCG-National Mission for Clean Ganga

Namami Gange-launched : 2014.

4.HDFC has partnered with IMGC for a mortgage guarantee-backed home loan.With this partnership, HDFC will be able to access an enlarged customer base.This will help customers to avail loans beyond their retirement period.IMGC-India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation.CEO- Mahesh Misra 

5.The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction was first held in 2007. It is a biennial event. Its sixth session will take place in Geneva, Switzerland.The theme for 2019 is, “Resilience Dividend: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Societies.”UNISDR-UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

6.Captain Aarohi Pandit, a 23-year-old pilot from Mumbai, India became the world's 1st woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean solo in a Light Sports Aircraft (LSA), thrilling her family, friends and aviation circles.She took off from Scotland and landed in Canada.

7.Sherpa climber Kami Rita reached the top of Mount Everest, for a 23rd time, thus breaking his own record for the most successful climbs of the world’s highest summit. He climbed Everest from the Nepal side.Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay were the 1st to conquer Everest.

8.Shri Kumar Tuhin, IFS-batch1991, currently Ambassador of India to the Republic of Hungary, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Bosnia & Herzegovina.Budapest-Capital of Hungary.

9.RBI released a vision document, 'Payment and Settlement Systems in India: Vision 2019 - 2021', for ensuring a safe & affordable e-payment system as it expects the number of digital transactions to increase more than 4 times to 8,707 crore in future.RBI was established on 1st April, 1935 in Kolkata.

10.Admiral Sunil Lanba, the Chief of Naval Staff inaugurated Indian Navy’s first full-fledged SSB at Diamond Harbour, near Kolkata. It will boost the induction of officers, both men and women, into the Indian Navy.India’s Defence Minister-Nirmala Sitharaman

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 15th MAY 2019

1.Dinesh Pangtey has been appointed as CEO of LIC Mutual Fund. Earlier, he was Director and CEO at LIC HFL AMC. He has served as Regional Manager Marketing channel in Western Zone spanning the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa.LIC Headquarters: Mumbai

2.Former Indian women cricketer GS Lakshmi, became the 1st female to be appointed to the ICC International Panel of Match Referees. Laxmi's appointment follows Claire Polosak, who became the 1st ever woman umpire to stand in a men's ODI.India’s Women Cricket Team Captain-Mithali Raj.

3.RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs.1 crore on Nainital Bank for its failure to fully automate the NPA identification process, despite specific directions issued.This penalty has been imposed under the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.NPA-Non Performing Assets.RBI Governor-Dr. Shaktikanta Das

4.Bharti Airtel and HDFC Life Insurance have tied up to offer life cover for customers who get a prepaid recharge done.It will be available to all customers aged between 18-54, and requires no paperwork or medical examination.It requires a declaration of good health from the customer.

5.Paytm First Card to offer unlimited 1% cash-back on purchases.To target new credit customers and expand its monthly active user base, digital wallet major, Paytm, has launched a credit card in partnership with Citi Bank.Paytm MD & CEO – Satish Kumar Gupta.

6.RBI has appointed former deputy governor Rama Subramaniam Gandhi as an additional director on the board of Yes Bank for two years.The appointment has been made under sub-section (1) of Section 36 AB of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.Yes Bank Headquarters – Mumbai.Tagline-Experience our Expertise

7.Merchant service and UPI payments app BharatPe, announced Bollywood actor Salman Khan as its brand ambassador.The fintech startup has also tied-up with the actor for outdoor campaigns, radio, social media and in-app education initiatives.BharatPe- business utility app for small and medium businesses.

8.All 3 Indian armed forces, took part in the joint exercise, off the Campbell Bay coast, in Andaman & Nicobar. The Marine Commando (MARCO) unit of the Indian Navy and specialist platoon (GHATAK) of the Indian Army displayed their operational capabilities.India’s Defence Minister- Nirmala Sitharaman

9.The singer turned actress, Doris Day worked in films such as Calamity Jane and Pillow Talk.She had a hit in 1956 with Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be).She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a lifetime achievement Grammy as awards.Her last release was the compilation album My Heart. 

10.Kohli has been named as the International Cricketer of the year in the CEAT ICA 2019, while Smriti Mandhana got the International women cricketer of the year award. 1983 World Cup-winner Mohinder Amarnath got the lifetime achievement award at the ceremony.Jasprit Bumrah was named International bowler of the year

ONE LINER OF THE DAY 14th MAY 2019

1.DRDO conducted successful flight test of ABHYAS -HEAT at Chandipur in Odisha. The test was tracked by RADARS & Electro Optic Systems.It demonstrated the capability of ABHYAS to meet the mission requirement for a cost effective HEAT.HEAT-High-speed Expendable Aerial Target

2.China has commissioned two more guided missile destroyers.2 Type 052D guided missile destroyers were launched recently.Destroyers are fast, highly manoeuvrable long distance warships which are also used to accompany the aircraft carriers.China’s Currency – Renminbi.President – Xi Jinping

3.Yuvika2019’ was inaugurated by ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan, via video mode in Bengaluru.

This residential summer vacation programme spread over 4 ISRO centres in Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad and Shillong is attended by 110 students.Satish Dhawan Space Centre is located in Shriharikota.

4.NABARD announced a Rs 700-cr venture capital fund for equity investments in agri. & rural-focused startups.This is the 1st time that NABARD has launched a fund of its own.It has been launched by Nabventures, a subsidiary of NABARD.NABARD chairman - Harsh Kumar Bhanwala.

5.Croatia’s Igor Stimac will be appointed as the Indian men’s team coach after the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) technical committee recommended him for the post.President of AIFF- Mr. Praful Patel

6.The IAAF World Relays 2019 was held in Yokohama, Japan. 43 nations participated in it. The top 10 finishers in men’s and women’s 4×400 m relays event & top 12 finishers in mixed 4×400 m relays event have qualified for the IAAF World Athletics Championship.IAAF World Athletics Championship to be held in Doha, Qatar.

7.SEBI has issued show cause notices to HDFC AMC Ltd and Kotak Mutual Fund over the FMP woes. The FMPs of these asset management companies were impacted due to their investment in Essel Group papers.HQ-Mumbai.Chairman-Ajay Tyagi

8.Japan has begun testing its latest and fastest bullet train. The Shinkansen ALFA-X is capable of reaching 400 kph(249 mph), and is expected to enter operation around 2030.The train is built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi.

9.India and China,signed a protocol for the export of Indian chilli meal to China. This is the 4th protocol signed between the two nations over the past year allowing the export of farm commodities from India.India’s Commerce Secretary - Anup Wadhawan

10.Clement von Franckenstein, the British actor who played the part of President of France opposite Michael Douglas and Annette Bening in The American President, has died. He was 74. He also performed in Lionheart , Death Becomes Her, The Evening ,etc.His other works:Take Me Home Tonight & The 5-Year Engagement