One Stop GK Guide - Current Affairs - Politics - Highlights 2017 - Part 2

If you are planning to give any of these exams, here we have compiled some of the most talked about or important happenings all over the world. Divided into 5 broad categories viz. politics & government, sports, top awards, business/commerce, and trivia + entertainment, these highlights will help you focus your preparation. They have been divided month wise, for easy reference.

Politics & Government

April 2017

800 MW Supercritical Thermal Power Plant in Karnataka commissioned by BHEL
Signing of new Air Services Agreement between India and Serbia approved by the Union Cabinet
Terror attack at the metro system of Russia
Ban on polyethene manufactured below 50 microns by J&K Govt
Malala Yousafzai became the youngest person to address Canadian Parliament
Foundation stone of Multi-modal terminal on River Ganga in Jharkhand was laid by PMNarendra Modi
First Air services agreement between India and Georgia approved by the Union Cabinet
Five agreements with Bangladesh including Audio Visual Co-Production approved by the Union Cabinet
Over USD 2 billion defence deals were signed between India and Israel
Uttar Pradesh (North India ) will get a DNA bank for wildlife
Six agreements including cooperation in civil aviation security were signed between India-Australia
PAN and TAN issuance within 1 day by CBDT
Age limit for UPPSC exams for those who appeared in 2013 increased by UP Government
MoU between India and Russia for cooperation in Science & Technology notified by the Union Cabinet
President Pranab Mukherjee gives approval to four GST related legislation
Mother of all bombs dropped by the US on ISIS Caves in Afghanistan
BHIM-Aadhaar Pay app launched by PM Narendra Modi
India inked MoU with South Korea for defence shipbuilding
Ghana, Kenya and Malawi taking part in the WHO malaria vaccine pilot programme
Cuba and Morocco re-established diplomatic ties after 37 years
NASA launches Super Pressure Balloon from New Zealand
China's first home-built aircraft carrier hit the water on 26th April 2017
The Union Government takes 10 new Swachh Iconic Places under Swachh Bharat Mission
India and Sri Lanka sign MoU on Economic Cooperation
MSEFC Portal and MyMSME Mobile App launched by the Union Government
ISRO launching 5 satellites to improve - India’s communication system

May 2017

IBBI constitutes Technical Committee to lay down Technical Standards for the performance of core services
National Steel Policy 2017 was approved by the Union Cabinet
Central Sector Scheme SAMPADA approved by CCEA
Cooperation between India and Japan on Railway Safety approved by the Union Cabinet
The Highway Saga & SRISHTI exhibitions inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari
South Asia Satellite successfully launched by ISRO
Express Wi- Fi in India launched by Facebook
Deal signed by Russia, Iran and Turkey to on the Syrian crisis
Assam was declared as Disturbed Area under AFSPA for 3 more months
Two Indian warships visited Egyptian port cities on 5th May 2017
Every house in Haryana to get a smart ID
The Union Government sets up a task force to compute reliable and timely employment data
29th edition of CORPAT between India and Indonesia begins at Port Blair
India, US exchange views on maritime developments in Asia-Pacific & IOR
Light Combat Aircraft Tejas successfully test-fired air-to-air missile
India and UK to sign MoU to increase efficiency of urban transport system
Union Government revises Base Year of WPI to 2011-2012 from 2004-05 on 12th May 2017
Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill, 2017 passed by the UP Assembly
India, Palestine sign five agreements for cooperation in different sectors on 16th May 2017
MoU for cooperation signed between Indian Navy and Space Application Centre
State of emergency over cholera outbreak declared by Yemen
Indian Railways to install CCTV cameras at over 900 stations under Nirbhaya fund
GST Rates of 1211 items announced by GST Council
19 killed in suspected terror attack following a pop concert in Manchester, UK
Petroleum Minister co-chairs India OPEC Institutional Dialogue at Vienna
US, six Gulf countries sign MoU to curb financing terror organisations
Hindi Advisory Committee recommends state encouragement to teach Hindi voluntarily
Series of projects in Gujarat inaugurated by PM Modi
Two Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers signed by CBDT
India became the second largest steel producer in the world
Free Wi-Fi facility at 28 Railway Stations inaugurated by Railway Minister
High-speed Tejas Express launched by Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu
US President calls for complete isolation of Iran
PM Narendra Modi calls for creation of Asia-Africa growth corridor for the development of Africa
ISRO and NASA collaborate to build Earth-imaging satellite NISAR
World's smallest nation Nauru ratifies the International Solar Alliance Pact
Environment Ministry and OzonAction organised the “Ozone2Climate” Technology Roadshow in Agra
Reader with guidelines for raising happy children released by the WCD Ministry
Test flight completed by World's largest aircraft Airlander 10
Abolition of Foreign Investment Promotion Board approved by the Union Cabinet
India’s first underwater rail tunnel completed on 23rd May 2017
Sale of cattle for slaughter banned by the Union Environment Ministry
Construction begins on world's largest telescope in Chile
8 MoUs signed at India-Pacific Islands Sustainable Development Conference
Order against Abu Salem in 1993 Mumbai blasts case likely to be announced by TADA Court
India’s first Electric Mass Transport Project launched in Nagpur
ISRO set to launch India’s heaviest rocket - Fat Boy
Four agreements signed between Mauritius - India
India's own global positioning system NavIC to be operational from 2018
MoU signed between Amul and ISRO for fodder acreage estimation
MoU signed between India and Fiji on - Defense Cooperation
India and Spain signed seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on - 31st May 2017

June 2017

Loan Agreement for HP Public Financial Management Capacity Building signed by India and the World Bank
Deep Ocean Mission will be launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences
12 agreements signed between India and Germany
Ties to Qatar cut by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain
India's heaviest satellite using launch vehicle GSLV Mark III D1 launched by ISRO
Loan agreement between World Bank and India signed for - Assam Citizen Centric Service Delivery project
Union government to implement India’s first Rural LED Street Lighting Project in AP
MoU for construction of Budhigandaki Hydro-power Project signed between China and Nepal
Habibganj Railway Station will be India’s first private railway station
India's Presidential Election 2017 to be held on 17th July
MoU between India and Korea for export credit of USD 9 billion approved by the Union Cabinet
Telangana became the first Indian state to launch pension for single women
$318 million line of credit to Sri Lanka will be provided by India
May’s future as British PM uncertain as Conservatives lose majority
Kambala Bill cleared by - Union Ministry of Law and Justice
Tele Law to provide legal aid in rural areas via video conferencing launched by the Union Government
18 Sectoral Groups for smooth implementation of GST constituted by the GST Council
GST Rates of 66 items reduced by - GST Council
The government launched the MHA Panel to examine rules on people's movement near Indo-Myanmar border
India became the 7th largest exporter of agri-products across the Globe
Separate time zone demanded by Arunachal Pradesh
New batch of Rs 500 notes with inset letter A issued by the RBI
Two ILO Conventions on elimination of child labor ratified by India
Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight launched by the Union Health Ministry
The World Bank granted $520 Million to Afghanistan in order to boost their economy
Anti-tank Nag missile successfully test-fired by DRDO
Interest Subvention to banks on short-term crop loan to farmers by the Union Cabinet
Proposal to introduce Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill 2017 approved by the Union Cabinet
PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Kochi Metro on 17th June 2017
Narmada Control Authority cleared the final raising of Sardar Sarovar Dam
12 percent reservation for poor Muslim communities by Telangana state
‘National Mission on Cultural Mapping of India’ launched by the Ministry of Culture
India became the 71st country to ratify UN TIR Convention
'Celebrating Yoga' mobile app launched by the Union Government
Sweden Pledges to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045
Historical agreement signed between India and Portugal to promote cooperation in field of archives
Uttarakhand became the 4th state to be open defecation free
India to become the most populated country in the world by 2024 as per UN Report
TB patients have to submit Aadhaar details to avail cash benefits announced by the Health Ministry
Portal on weather information launched by Power Minister Piyush Goyal
‘My Plant’ app to create database on tree plantation to be launched by the Maharashtra Government
Another 30 cities under Smart City Mission announced by the Union Government
Amendment of Social Security Agreement between India and the Netherlands approved by Union Cabinet on 22nd June 2017
VAJRA scheme to attract Indian scientists abroad launched by the Union Government
Haryana became the 5th Open Defecation Free state
Cartosat-2 along with 30 nano-satellites launched by ISRO
Prosperity through Partnership statement released by India and the United States on 26th June 2017
Pakistan-based Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin as global terrorist declared by US
11 agreements signed during PM Modi’s visit between India-Portugal
Visa applicants from these 6 Muslim nations require close family ties in the US - Trump’s travel ban
New bidding mechanism for mega oil and gas auctions launched by the Union Government
India's communication satellite GSAT-17 successfully launched on 29th June 2017
USD 35 million agreement signed between India and the World Bank
First batch of modern bullet-proof helmets given to the Indian Army
Joint Communique issued between India-Netherlands
Proposal to break up Coal India into 7 firms by India's policy panel
Union Government launched the National Biopharma Mission on 30th June 2017