India-Thailand Conclude ‘Maitree’ Military Exercise

The Indian and Thailand’s armed forces concluded a two-week long platoon level military exercise called ‘Exercise Maitree 2018’ in Jammu & Kashmir’s Srinagar. The exercise was an annual event designed to strengthen the partnership between armies of the two countries.
The exercise began on August 6 and comprised of cross-training period, which included familiarization between the two armies to evolve drills and procedures that help in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in varied terrains under the United Nations (UN) mandate.
Source- idrw.org

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Thailand Capital: Bangkok, Currency: Thai baht. 

Mitchell Johnson Announces Retirement From All Forms of Cricket

Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson announced the retirement from all forms of cricket as his body was ‘starting to shut down’, almost three years after he stepped down from the international game. 
Johnson played 73 Tests in the Baggy Green, claiming 313 wickets, the fourth most for an Australian, and also 153 ODIs before retiring from international cricket in 2015. 
Source- BBC Sports 

SS Mundra Appointed Independent Director of Indiabulls Housing Finance

Subhash Sheoratan Mundra has been appointed as Independent Director on the Board of Indiabulls Housing Finance Ltd (IBHFL) for a period of three years. The former Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and senior banker is not replacing an existing member on the Board.
Mundra, a Post-Graduate from the University of Poona, used to be the Chairman of Bank of Baroda and an Executive Director at Union Bank of India. He left the RBI in July 2017. 
Source- Business Standard

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • IBHFL is India’s 2nd largest Housing Finance Company. 
  • Sameer Gehlaut is the Chairman of Indiabulls Group since inception. 
  • Indiabulls Real Estate Ltd (IBREL) started in the year 2005. 

General Dalbir Singh Suhag Awarded US ‘Legion of Merit’ 2018

The United States government has awarded the Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander) to General Dalbir Singh Suhag (Retired), of the Indian Army, for exceptionally meritorious service as chief of the Army staff, Indian Army. 
The award was presented to General Suhag at Pentagon, Washington DC, in the presence of his family members and the Indian Military Attache to the United States of America. 
Source- The Times of India

1st All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey By NABARD Released

NABARD All India Financial Inclusion Survey (NAFIS), conducted by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), was released by Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog in New Delhi. The report revealed that farm households register higher income than the families solely dependent on non-farm livelihood activities in rural areas.

The survey, with reference year of 2015-16, which covered 40,327 rural households, highlighted that the average annual income of an agricultural household is Rs 1,07,172 compared to Rs 87,228 for families engaged only in non-agricultural activities. The survey defined farm households as families having over Rs 5,000 as value of produce from agricultural operations in the year preceding the survey. For all rural households, the average annual income stood at Rs 96,708.

Highlights of NAFIS 2016-17: 
Income
1. Agricultural households, which accounted for 48% of rural households, earned Rs 107,172 during 2015-16 from cultivation, livestock, non-farm sector activities and wages/salaries. Thus, farmers’ income grew at a compounded growth rate of 12% per annum compared to Rs 77,112 per annum as per NSSO assessment in 2012-13. 
2. Agricultural households earned 34% of their income from cultivation. Wage earnings contributed the same proportion to the income followed by salaries (16%), livestock (8%) and non-farm sector (6%). Other sources accounted for the rest.
3. Non-agricultural households reported average annual income of Rs 87,228 majorly contributed by wages (54%), followed by salaries (32%) and non-farm sector activities (12%). 
Savings & Investment
1. 88.1% of the households reported having a bank account.
2. 33% of households reported more than one savings account.
3. 26% of HH have women with institutional (including SHG) savings account.
4. 55% of agricultural households reported any savings during the last year and of these 53 per cent saved with institutions like banks, post offices and SHGs. 
5. Average savings per annum per saver households was reportedly Rs 17,488, of which 95 per cent is with institutional agencies
6. 10.4% of agricultural households also reported investment with the average investment per investing agricultural households was reportedly Rs 62,734. 
Insurance and Pension
1. About 26% of agricultural households and 25% of non-agricultural households reported to have been covered under one or the other type of insurance
2. Among agricultural households who reported to have taken any loan for agricultural purposes in the last one year [2015-16] from institutional agencies, 6.9% reported being covered under crop insurance.
3. The coverage under any type of pension was reported to be about 18.9 % for non-agricultural households as against 20.1 % for agricultural households. 
Source- NABARD

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 

  • NABARD Chairman- Harsh Kumar Bhanwala, Headquarters- Mumbai, Established on- 12 July 1982. 

EAM Sushma Swaraj Inaugurate ‘Panini Language Laboratory’ in Mauritius

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated ‘Panini Language Laboratory’ at Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) at Port Louis in Mauritius. She called on Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jagnauth and discussed further deepening of the special ties between the two nations. 
The Lab has been gifted by the Government of India and it will help MGI in teaching of all Indian languages in Mauritius. 
Source- DD News

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Mauritius Capital: Port Louis, Currency: Mauritian rupee. 

India Successfully Tests Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’

India successfully flight tested the indigenously developed helicopter launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ from Pokhran in Rajasthan. The weapon system tested for its full range was released smoothly from the launch platform. The missile hit the target with high precision. 
The indigenously designed and developed guided bombs Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW) was also successfully flight tested from IAF aircraft at Chandan range in Jaisalmer. The weapon system was integrated with live warhead and has destroyed the targets with high precision. Senior officials from DRDO and the Indian Air Force participated and witnessed the flight tests.
Source- AIR World Service

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • General Bipin Rawat is 27th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army. 

Asian Games 2018: Wrestler Bajrang Punia Wins 1st Gold For India

It was a mixed day for India on Day two of the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia. A dominating Bajrang Punia opened India’s gold medal account by defeating Japan’s Daichi Takatani in the final of Men’s Freestyle 65 kg. category. 
India opened its medal account with a bronze by Apurvi Chandela and Ravi Kumar in rifle mixed team shooting event. 
Source- AIR World Service

Static/Current Takeaways Important for RRB PO/Clerk Exam 2018- 

  • The Host cities for Asian Games 2018 are Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia. 
  • Bhin Bhin, Kaka, and Atung are the mascots of the 2018 Asian Games. 

World Humanitarian Day: 19 August

The World Humanitarian Day is observed across the world on August 19 to pay tribute to workers who risk their lives in humanitarian services and to gather support for people affected by crises around the world. The campaign launched on World Humanitarian Day is “#NotATarget”. 
The day was designated by the UN General Assembly to commemorate the 19 August 2003 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq.

Source- The United Nations