Call Support +91-85588-96644

Exam Categories

International Tests

View More

Defence & Para Military

Assessment-I

View More

Assessment-II

View More

Placement & IT Sector

Assessment-III

View More

Aptitude/GK/Vocational Skill Tests

View More
TCYonline

Login

Sign Up

Please enter a Username or Email ID
Please enter a password
Keep me logged in
Forgot Password?
Please enter your name
Please enter your mobile number
You can't leave Captcha Code empty
By submitting this form, you agree to the Terms & Privacy Policy.
Already Registered? Login Here
OR

Sign Up via Facebook

Sign Up via Google

Sign Up via Twitter

Download Software
Tests given

Download TCY App

App Image
Subscribe to Unlock Test Prep Material close
Choose Exam Category

Unlock All Services And Enjoy The Premium Benefits

1 Month Plan

US$ 10

Subscribe Now

Valid For 1 Month

2 Month Plan

US$ 13

Subscribe Now

Valid For 2 Months

3 Month Plan

US$ 15

Subscribe Now

Valid For 3 Months

4 Month Plan

US$ 17

Subscribe Now

Valid For 4 Months

5 Month Plan

US$ 19

Subscribe Now

Valid For 5 Months

6 Month Plan

US$ 20

Subscribe Now

Valid For 6 Months

7 Month Plan

US$ 21

Subscribe Now

Valid For 7 Months

8 Month Plan

US$ 22

Subscribe Now

Valid For 8 Months

9 Month Plan

US$ 23

Subscribe Now

Valid For 9 Months

10 Month Plan

US$ 24

Subscribe Now

Valid For 10 Months

11 Month Plan

US$ 25

Subscribe Now

Valid For 11 Months

12 Month Plan

US$ 26

Subscribe Now

Valid For 12 Months

  • Payment made in INR entitles you to use Test in INDIA only
  • Each test can be attempted only once
 
loading

General Awareness

googleplus facebook

Daily G.K. - Top Stories

07 Jul 2020

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India Ranks 117th in SDG Index 2020

  • In accordance with the "Sustainable Development Report 2020- The Sustainable Development Goals and Covid-19", comprising of SDG index 2020, there will be severe negative impacts on most of the United Nations (UN)-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) due to COVID-19 pandemic. India, which has ranked at 117th position with a score of 61.92 is also facing major challenges in 10 of the 17 SDGs including zero hunger, good health, gender inequality among others. The index has been topped by Sweden.
  • The report contains data on changes over time in 17 SDG indicators, the future of the SDGs amidst Covid-19, as well as calculations for trajectories until 2030.
  • The 2020 report reviewed the performance of 193 UN Member States out of which 166 were ranked under SDG index 2020. The top 3 countries are Sweden (84.72), Denmark (84.56) and Finland (83.77).
  • As per 2020 report COVID-19 had negatively affected several SDGs including:
  • SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and wellbeing), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities)
  • Meanwhile, the pandemic had brought "immediate relief" in following SDGs:
  • SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 15 (life on land)
  • Since its launch in 2016, this annual report provides the most up-to-date data to track and review the performance of all 193 UN member states on the 17 SDGs.

INFORM Risk Index 2020 for Humanitarian Crises and Disasters

  • In accordance with the "INFORM Report 2020:Shared evidence for managing crises and disasters" released in 2020 by research centre INFORM, operating under European Commission (EU), India was ranked at 31st place with an inform risk of 5.4, means risk of humanitarian crises and disasters . The report ranked the countries based on "INFORM Risk Index" which has been topped by Somalia with an inform risk of 8.9. The report has analyzed 191 countries.
  • Notably, this report is produced by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) on behalf of all INFORM Partners.
  • It is the first global, objective and transparent tool for understanding the risk of regions based upon crises and disasters. A higher figure means more exposure to risks. The report considers the following while framing the index:
  • Natural Factors: Tsunami, Earthquake, Drought, Flood, Epidemic and Tropical Cyclones
  • Human Factors: Human Conflicts and conflict risks
  • Socio-Economic factors: Inequality, vulnerable people, deprivation and aid dependency
  • Institutional: DRR, Governance
  • Infrastructure: Communication, Physical infrastructure, Access to health system
  • INFORM is a multi-stakeholder forum for developing shared, quantitative analysis relevant to humanitarian crises and disasters. INFORM is a collaboration of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and the European Commission.
  • The Joint Research Center of European Commission is the scientific and technical lead for INFORM.

Hong Kong Police Get Sweeping Powers

  • Hong Kong administration released additional details of China's sweeping new national security law.
  • Under China's new legislation, crimes of secession and sedition will be punishable by up to life in prison, stoking concerns of a much more authoritarian era in a city which has been racked by anti-China protests for the past year. Authorities will have the power to enter and search places for evidence. They can also restrict people under investigation from leaving Hong Kong.
  • It may also allow for confiscation of the proceeds related to any offence endangering national security. It will require foreign and Taiwan political organisations and agents to provide information on activities concerning Hong Kong.
  • Meanwhile, Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram said that they will deny law enforcement requests for user data in Hong Kong as they assess the impact of the new national security law enacted last week.
View Month Wise

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

SBM Bank India and Mastercard to Facilitate Cross Border Transactions and Remittances

  • Government of Mauritius-promoted SBM Bank India and global payments technology major Mastercard have joined hands to facilitate cross-border payments and remittances services.
  • The SBM Bank India customers will be able to make real-time domestic business-to-consumer transfers quickly and efficiently using 'Mastercard Send'.
  • Remittances and payments businesses have become the cornerstone of SBM Bank India's growth strategy.
  • Neeraj Sinha, Head-Retail & Consumer Banking, SBM Bank (India), said that Mastercard Send is a secured and innovative solution - crafted to modernize domestic and cross-border payments and remittances.
  • SBM Bank India is the first bank to receive universal banking licence from the RBI to set up and operate as a scheduled commercial bank through the wholly-owned subsidiary mode.
  • The bank has a network of six branches located in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Ramachandrapuram.

YES Bank Launches a Digital Solution, 'Loan in Seconds'

  • YES Bank launched a digital solution, 'Loan in Seconds' for instant disbursement of retail loans. It is available for the bank's pre-approved liability account holders. The algorithm evaluates the loan application in real-time and eliminates the need for documentation.
  • The solution aims to provide customers, hassle-free loans to help them meet their immediate financial needs.
  • All the eligible customers under the solution will receive communication from the bank with the link to apply for the loan.
  • Those customers have to verify and accept the final offer.

Payments Platform Paytm to Acquire Raheja QBE General Insurance

  • Indian e-commerce payment system Paytm & QorQl Pvt. Ltd, a Healthcare start-up company with majority shareholding of Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, is set to acquire Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based private sector general insurer Raheja QBE General Insurance Company Limited in a deal worth around $76 million (or Rs. 570 crore).
  • Raheja QBE is a joint venture of India's Prism Johnson (51%) and QBE Australia (49% ).
  • Following the acquisition, Sharma, who owns 51% stake in QorQI, will hold the same stake in Raheja QBE, with the remaining 49% owned by Paytm.
  • The acquisition will require further approvals other than the approval of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
View Month Wise

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Israel Successfully Launches New Spy Satellite 'Ofek 16'

  • The Space Administration in the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), of the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD), and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), have successfully launched a new spy satellite 'Ofek 16' into orbit by using a locally-developed Shavit rocket from a launchpad at Palmachim airbase in central Israel.
  • 'Oflek 16' It is an electro-optical reconnaissance satellite with advanced capabilities including breakthrough 'blue and white' technology and its payload was developed by defense firm Elbit Systems.
  • This is the first launch of an Israeli spy satellite into space since the 'Ofek-11' which entered orbit in September 2016.
View Month Wise

SPORTS

Akash Becomes India's 66th Grandmaster

  • Tamil Nadu's G. Akash became the country's 66th chess Grandmaster while his statemate M. Pranesh and Goa's Ameya Audi earned International Master titles.
  • Akash's GM title was confirmed at the second council meet of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) for the year 2020 held earlier.
  • Having won the national title in 2012 and earned the IM title subsequently, Akash took a break to pursue an engineering degree in 2014. He made a comeback in 2018 and worked hard to earn his coveted GM title.
View Month Wise

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

DRDO to Establish a Research Cell at IIT-H

  • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will establish a research cell at Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H), 'DRDO – IIT-H Research Cell' to meet the future defence technological requirements of the country. The research cell is established as an extension of the DRDO Research and Innovation Centre (RIC), Chennai.
  • An MoU was signed by the Director, Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM), DRDO, K.K. Pathak, Director General, MSS, DRDO M. S. R. Prasad and IITH Director Prof. B.S. Murty to establish the research cell.
  • The research cell will undertake basic and applied research programs in identified technology areas. It will ensure seamless execution of different projects between DRDO and IIT-H.
  • It is expected to become a Centre of Excellence for conducting scientific and applied research in advanced technologies for defence.
  • It will help to grasp resources of knowledge in the basic science and technology industries, which are interdisciplinary in nature and spread across multiple institutions.

Indian Railways Sets up Solar Plant in Bina

  • The Ministry of Railways has decided to install solar power plants on its vacant unused lands on mega scale and to utilise solar energy for meeting its traction power requirements to become a complete 'Green mode of transportation'.
  • The use of Solar Power will accelerate the mission of Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister of Railways to achieve 'Net Zero' Carbon Emission Railway.
  • The solar project will fulfill the present demand of the Indian Railways.
  • The Indian Railways will become the first transport organisation to be energy self-sufficient, which makes Indian railways green and 'Atma nirbhar'.
  • The Indian Railways has started energy Procurement from various solar Projects like 3 MWp solar plant set up at MCF Raebareilly (Uttar Pradesh).
  • About 100 MWp rooftop solar systems have already been installed in various stations and buildings of Indian Railways.
  • The 1.7 MWp project at Bina, Madhya Pradesh which is connected directly to the overhead Traction System has been installed and is in extensive testing. It eill be commissioned in 15 days.
  • The Indian Railways and the Bharat heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has commissioned the first of its kind project in the world.
  • The power plant has been established near the Bina Traction Sub System (TSS).
  • The project was undertaken by BHEL under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) scheme.
  • The project agreement was signed on 9th October 2019.

NHRC Constitutes 11-Member Committee to Assess Covid-19 Impact on Human Rights

  • The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has set up an 11-member expert committee headed by Dr. K. S. Reddy, president of Public Health Foundation of India to study impact of coronavirus (Covid-19) on human rights of individuals, particularly marginalised and vulnerable sections of the society, together with migrant labourers and will also study the future response of the government.
  • The panel would additionally suggest the future policy for the Centre and state governments.
  • The skilled panel would study intimately the migrant crisis that had unfolded at beginning of pandemic from the general public well being perspective and the way it was addressed by the states.
  • Other members of the panel include Dr. Nimesh G. Desai, director Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences; Dr Abhey Shukla, national convenor, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan; Maja Daruwala, special monitor (police and prison reforms) NHRC; Rajive Raturi, special monitor (rights of persons with disabilities) NHRC; HImanshu Rath, founder and chairman, Agewell Foundation; N. B. Sarojini, director SAMA; Enakshi Ganguly, co-founder HAQ; Dr. Dipa Sinha of Right to Food Campaign; Dr. Sandeep Chachra, executive director , Action Aid Association; Viraf Mehta business and human rights expert.
View Month Wise

DEFENCE

Boeing Ropes in HAL and Mahindra Defense for F-15EX Push in India

  • Strike optimised and latest variant of the F-15E Strike Eagle multirole fighter, F-15EX from Boeing has been offered to India which was confirmed earlier this year and now media reports confirm that state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Mahindra Defence have also been roped in as Partners if F-15EX is selected by Indian Air Force (IAF) for its requirement of 114 fighter jets in latest Tender.
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Mahindra Defence are also partners in F-18 E/F Block-III fighter jet which is also on offer to IAF by Boeing. F-15EX is from Heavyweight class Fighter like Sukhoi Su-30MKI but it was offered to India in response to Russia being allowed to offer India for the first time Sukhoi Su-35 which too belongs to the same class as F-15EX.

Indian Army to Buy 2000 Akash 1S Surface to Air Missiles Soon

  • According to Defence analyst, Saurav Jha, the Indian Army has plans to soon place orders for 2 Akash 1S regiments – approximately 2,000 missiles – worth over Rs. 14,000 crore ($3.1 billion). Akash-1S is a medium-range Surface to Air Missile with multitarget engagement capability and comes with an indigenously developed seeker for much more effective target engagement in kill zone.
  • Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) which is the Production house for manufacturing Akash surface-to-air missile system for Indian Army and Indian Air Force already has secured license & tech transfer agreements for the indigenous seeker from DRDO and the missile system already has completed its developmental trials where it has demonstrated its capabilities by successfully engaging various targets. BDL has production capabilities of 100 Akash Missiles per month and Akash 1S with Seeker has seen particular interests from Vietnam which is in talks with India for its export and local manufacturing in the country.
  • The Akash-1S is capable of striking down enemy fighter jets and drones very effectively and accurately. The Akash surface-to-air missile was designed to intercept enemy aircraft and missiles from a distance of 18 to 30 km. Akash-1S system has been designed and developed for the Indian Army based on their requirements and will replace the Vintage Soviet Era SA-6 surface-to-air missile system.
View Month Wise

PERSONS IN NEWS

Thierry Delaporte Takes Charge as Wipro CEO and MD

  • Thierry Delaporte took charge as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of IT services major Wipro.
  • In January this year, Wipro had said that its CEO and Managing Director Abidali Z Neemuchwala had decided to step down from the company. Abidali Neemuchwala relinquished his position as CEO and MD on June 1.
  • Rishad Premji was overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company until July 5.
  • Thierry Delaporte was the Chief Operating Officer of Capgemini Group and a member of its group executive board. During his 25 year career with Capgemini.

Injeti Srinivas New Chairman of IFSCA

  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Injeti Srinivas as chairman of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
  • The former corporate affairs secretary and 1983-batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre will head the IFSCA for a period of three years.
  • While at the helm of the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA), Srinivas was instrumental in pushing through significant reforms in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and the Companies Act.
  • The IFSCA was established by the finance ministry in April 2020 as the unified authority to regulate all financial services in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) in the country.
View Month Wise

GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION

IIT-Roorkee to Offer Artificial Intelligence in Banking Programme

  • The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee will soon launch what it claims to be the first-ever course in India on 'AI in the banking programme'. The course is being offered in collaboration with WileyNXT, a learning solution platform. The four-month programme will focus on training IT professionals and graduates to implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the banking sector.
  • Top business leaders from the industry will be taking the classes under the programme. The aim of the course is to make the learner understand the role of AI in banking and financial domains. On completion of the course, learners will be offered a joint certification from WileyNXT and IIT-Roorkee.
View Month Wise

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

"Getting Competitive: A Practitioner's Guide for India" authored by R. C. Bhargava

  • R. C. Bhargava, the Chairman of Maruti Suzuki authored the book "Getting Competitive: A Practitioner's Guide for India" from his experience of around 60 years as a policymaker and a leading industrialist. The book published by HarperCollins India, provides practical suggestions to make India a competitive industrialised country.
  • The book speaks about the necessities of building trust with the political system, governments, judiciary and industrial leaders.
  • The author suggests that the policies related to the socialistic industry should be replaced with the policies that promote competitive manufacturing and the westernmanagement culture should be replaced by the Eastern culture to build trust with the citizens and partnered industrialists and the government.
  • The book focuses on bringing out the national acceptance that manufacturing competitiveness as the first priority.
  • R. C. Bhargawa was the joint secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Government of India from 1974 to 77 and served as the joint secretary, Cabinet Secretariat from 1977 to 1978.
View Month Wise
Share on
Keep Yourself updated on Latest PTE Exam Pattern

Avail Free Topic-wise Tests and various other offers.

Later Allow