National Handloom Day: 7 August

The National Handloom Day is being observed every year on 7 August to honour the handloom weavers in the country and also carter an impetus to India’s handloom industry. This year it was the 4th edition of the National Handloom Day after it was instituted in 2015.
The celebration of the day seeks to highlight the contribution of handloom to the socioeconomic development of the country and promote handlooms to increase the income of weavers and also enhance their pride.
Source- The Hindu

Google Releases ‘Android 9 Pie’

Google’s latest Android operating system update, Android 9 Pie, was officially released to customers following a beta testing period that started earlier this year. 
Android Pie introduces a new gesture-based system interface that’s similar to the interface of the iPhone X, with iPhone-like swipes for navigating through the operating system. Android Pie also includes an Adaptive Battery feature that maximizes battery power by prioritizing the apps you’re most likely to use next. 
Source- BBC News

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Google CEO- Sundar Pichai, Parent organization- Alphabet Inc., Headquarters- the USA. 

India Women Win Blitz Gold in Asian Nations Cup Chess Tourney

The Indian women chess team at the Asian Nations Cup 2018 clinched the gold in the Blitz event held in Iran. It’s India’s first gold-medal finish at the event since 2014. They also won silver and bronze in the Rapid and Classical categories, respectively. The tournament began in the Iranian city of Hamadan. 
The Indian team comprising Harika Dronavalli, Eesha Karavade, Padmini Rout, Vaishali R and Aakanksha Hagawane left the teams from Vietnam and China behind to clinch gold in Blitz. While India (1st) finished with 21.5 points, Vietnam (2nd) settled for silver with 18.5 and China  (3rd) bagged bronze with 17.5. 
Source- The Times of India

Ajay Data, 1st Indian To Become Member in ICANN

The nominating committee of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has selected Ajay Data, Founder & CEO of Data XGen Plus and a global leader in email linguistic services, as a new council member of Country Code Supporting Organisation (ccNSO). 
Ajay Data is the first Indian to have been selected as a member of ccNSO and will be representing India at a global level. He will be the custodian of Asia, Australia and Pacific Islands as a member of ccNSO. Data has got a two-year term and will take up the position during ICANN 63 Meet in Spain in October 2018. 
Source- The Indian Express

Parliament Passes Bill To Grant Constitutional Status To NCBC

The 123rd Constitutional Amendment Bill giving constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has got Parliamentary assent. It will give the institution all powers to safeguard the rights of the socially and educationally backward classes and fulfils a long pending commitment of the central govt to the OBCs. 
123rd Constitutional Amendment Bill Explained: 
1. It seeks to establish the NCBC under the constitution with authority to examine complaints and welfare measures regarding OBCs,
2. NCBC will have a Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and 3 other members of which at least one will be a woman,
3. The provision for mandatory woman member will be made during framing of rules,
4. NCBC will work as an autonomous institution with powers of a civil court,
5. It will investigate & monitor how safeguards provided to OBCs under Constitution and other laws are being implemented,
6. It will inquire into specific complaints regarding violation of rights of OBCs,
7. It will also advise and make recommendations on the socio-economic development of such classes,
8. Central and state governments will have to consult NCBC on all major policy matters affecting OBCs. 
Source- DD News 

Pacific Endeavor-2018 Under MCIP Starts in Kathmandu

Pacific Endeavor-2018, a communication exercise under the Multinational Communications Interoperability Program (MCIP) started in Kathmandu, Nepal. The basic objective of 12 day exercise is to develop common communications operating procedures to enable military forces in the Asia Pacific region to collectively work in the wake of disaster. 
Around 270 personnel from 20 Asia-Pacific Countries are participating in the exercise, which is jointly organised by the Nepali Army and United States Pacific Command. 
Source- DD News

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli is the current Prime Minister of Nepal.
  • Bidhya Devi Bhandari is the current President of Nepal and commander in chief of Nepalese Army. 
  • The Nepalese Rupee is the currency of Nepal. 

World’s 1st Thermal Battery Plant Inaugurated In Andhra Pradesh

The world’s first-ever thermal battery plant was unveiled in Andhra Pradesh by the state’s Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Manufactured by the Bharat Energy Storage Technology Private Limited (BEST), the first-of-its-kind batteries will aim to boost renewable sources of energy production and reduce the dependence on non-renewable fossil fuel-based energy generation. 
The technology, which will help in mitigating carbon emissions, is best suited for grid balancing and stabilisations. It will also be used to store energy for telecommunication, commercial establishments, electric vehicles and highway charging stations. 

Source- The Indian Express

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Indian Bank PO Exam 2018- 
  • Andhra Pradesh CM- Chandrababu Naidu, Governor- ESL Narasimhan. 

Government Sets Up GoM To Decide On RCEP Talks

The Union Government constituted a four-member Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu. The GoM has been constituted to advise Prime Minister Narendra Modi on whether to continue with or withdraw from the 16-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations. 

The GoM also includes Finance and Power Minister Piyush Goyal, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Puri. 

Source- The Hindu