NATIONAL

NABARD projects Rs 1.72 lakh crore credit potential for Rajasthan:

     

NABARD has projected an exploitable credit potential of Rs 1.72 lakh crore towards the priority sector lending by the banks in Rajasthan for the year 2017-18. This is 14 percent higher than the credit projection made for the year 2016-17 by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

The State Credit Plan was prepared with an aim to double farmers income by 2022 as envisaged by the Prime Minister. Three new chapters on Doubling of farmers’ income by 2022, Skill Development and Climate Change were included in the State Focus Paper for 2017-18, Sarita Arora, said by the Chief General Manager, NABARD.


Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill, Aadhaar now mandatory for filing tax returns:

 

The Lok Sabha passed the Finance Bill after finance minister Arun Jaitley justified making Aadhaar mandatory for tax returns and getting a permanent account number (PAN). For 2017-18, the target for tax collection is set at Rs 19.25 lakh crore.


TN’s Water Security Mission Restarts:

The ‘Sustainable Water Security Mission’ which was launched by Former CM J.Jayalalithaa is set to restart in Chennai for the next financial year reported by Pharindra Reddy, principal secretary Municipal Administration. The first phase Pilot projects were initiated for 15 water bodies.


Ninth Gorkhas celebrated 200 years of its raising in Secunderabad:

The first battalion of the Ninth Gorkhas was raised by the British government in 1817 as the ‘Fatehgarh Levy’. The Ninth Gorkhas celebrated 200-years of its raising in secunderabad, Telangana.


Banking & Business

India ranks 87th on energy architecture performance: World Economic Forum

India has marginally improved its position to 87th place on a global energy architecture performance index, but ranks among the worst for pollution. Switzerland topped the annual list released by Geneva- based World Economic Forum (WEF) and was followed by Norway, Sweden, Denmark and France in the top five. India’s rank improved three places from 90th last year.


India GDP growth to slow to 6.7 per cent in January-March 2017: Nomura

   

India’s GDP growth is expected to slow to 6.7 per cent in the January-March quarter of this fiscal year as overall activity is yet to bounce back to levels seen prior to demonetisation, says a Nomura report. We expect growth to bounce back to an average of 7.3 per cent in the second half of 2017 and 7.7 per cent in 2018.


Government approves Rs.1,100 Cr capital infusion in IOB

Indian Overseas Bank will get Rs.1100 crore as ‘turnaround linked capital’ infusion from the government. The government has approved the second tranche of capital infusion in public sector banks to enhance their capital base. Rs.22915 crore will be infused out of Rs.25000 crore are marked for 13 PSBs for the current fiscal.


Bank of Baroda to raise Rs.1000 Cr via bonds:

Bank of Baroda has raised Rs.1000 crore by issuing Basel III compliant additional tier I bonds. The bonds will bear a coupon rate of 9.14 percent. The bank issued 10000 bonds of face value of Rs.10 lakh each.


HDFC to raise Rs.1498 crore:

HDFC plans to raise Rs.1498 crore by issuing debentures with a view to augment its long term resources of the capital of the Corporation. The tenor of the bonds is three years. HDFC said only those persons who are specifically addressed through communication are eligible for the debentures and no other persons can apply.


OoKla says Airtel is the fastest network:

Broadband speed testing firm Ookla says Airtel as India’s fastest network. Ookla’s findings are based on rigorous and extensive testing across millions of devices and employ the best of data analytics.  


SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Doctor reconstructs jaw with 3D printer:

 

An Indian-origin surgeon in the U.K., with the help of a 3D printer, has successfully reconstructed a 53-year-old cancer patient’s jaw using bone from one of his legs. Dr. Daya Gahir of the Royal Stoke University Hospital in the West Midlands region of England specialises in facial, head and neck surgery and conducts as many as 40 reconstructions a year.


ISRO’s Cryogenic Stage sets to flag off on March 27:

    

The fully indigenous cryogenic upper stage is ready and likely to be flagged off from the ISRO Propulsion Complex, on March 27th for integration I Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota.

India is only the sixth nation to have mastered the complex cryogenic technology. The cryogenic stage is capable of producing a thrust of 20 tonnes, using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellants in the first Indian turbo pump engines developed indigenously.


‘Futuristic’ Atomic Clock In Space – NASA:

NASA will send its next generation atomic clock into space later this year, a key advance for safely navigating future human exploration of the solar system. The clock will be smaller, lighter with magnitudes more precise than any such clock flown in space before, NASA.


APPOINTMENTS

Full Time Interim General for ISA is appointed:

Mr. Upendra Tripathy is appointed as the Interim Director General of the International Solar Alliance on a full time basis. Mr. Upendra Tripathy was the Former Scecretary Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for power, coal New and Renewable Energy and Mines, Government of India and Ms. Segolene Royal, minister for environment energy and Marine affairs Government of France jointly decided to appoint Mr. Upendra.  


New Whole Time member of SEBI:

Government has announced Madhabi Puri Buch as new whole time member of Securities and Exchange Board of India for a period of 3 years. She is currently serving in the New Development Bank, Shanghai.


HISTORICAL EVENTS OF THE DAY

World Meteorological Day

World Meteorological Day is observed on March 22nd every year. Theme of World Meteorological Day 2017 – “Understanding Clouds”


SPORTS

Indians win eight medals:

Indian para athletes bagged eight medals, including three gold, at the ninth Fazza International IPC Athletics GP in Dubai. With three gold, one silver and four bronze medals on the second day of competitions, India is currently seventh out of 48 participating countries.


Ravindra Jadeja grabs top spot in bowling, Cheteshwar Pujara second in batting list:

India’s ace bowler Ravindra Jadeja in 3rd week of March 2017 grabbed the top spot in the list of the Test Bowlers while Cheteshwar Pujara reached a career-high second rank among batsmen.