Current Affairs : 15 July, 2017-World Youth Skills Day 

NATIONAL:

Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inducts First DEMU Train with Solar powered Coaches into service of the Nation:

Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu dedicated to the nation the first 1600 HP DEMU train with Solar Powered Coaches with a unique facility of Battery Bank.

While this train has been manufactured by the Coach Factory of Indian Railways namely Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, its Solar panels and Solar systems have been developed and fitted by Indian Railways Organisation of Alternative Fuel (IROAF) Delhi.

The train was launched at the Safdarjung railway station and the first rake will be put in commercial service over the suburban railway system of Delhi division shortly.

 Delhi police to receive the “super cop belt” now:

Delhi police will now be the first state police who will be given the ‘super cop belt,’ a specially designed belt already used by police in UK, USA, Russia and para-military forces like CRPF, CISF, NSG etc.

Delhi Police has recently come out with a tender for 10,000 belts for its officers who are on ground duties. This belt will facilitate cops to keep things like Gun, Mobile Pouch, Security Batten, Wireless Set Pouch & ammunition pouch in one place.

 Directorate formed to flag high-risk areas in Customs, GST:

The Union Government has set up Directorate General of Analytics and Risk Management (DGARM), a new wing to provide intelligence inputs taking action against tax evaders. It will be under the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).

The data analytics and processing coupled with intelligence inputs by DGRAM will provide the CBEC with the national and sub-national perspective for policy formulation.

 

Defence Minister Releases a Book on Historic 2800 Kms Expedition – ‘Ganga Avahan’:

The Defence Minister Shri Arun Jaitley released a Coffee Table Book titled ‘Ganga Avahan – The Epic Tale of a Historic Swim’. The ‘Ganga Avahan’ was a pioneering and historic exploratory open-water swim expedition on the Ganga River. This was the first ever human effort to swim down the entire stretch of the river and also the longest ever social campaign undertaken through an adventure sporting activity for the Swachh Bharat National Mission, Clean Ganga project and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative.

Varanasi Nagar Nigam building to be redeveloped as iconic building:

Varanasi Nagar Nigam building will be redeveloped as an iconic tower to provide office and commercial space. This was decided in the review meeting which was chaired by Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Minister Suresh Khanna.

Under Varanasi Smart City Plan, 8 locations for developing multi-level car parking will be identified by September this year. A Museum-cum-Culture Centre on the contributions of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya to freedom movement and to the city of Varanasi will be developed.

Uttar Pradesh

  • Capital: Lucknow
  • Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
  • Governor: Shri Ram Naik

Raipur Airport Ranked First in Customer Satisfaction Index Survey:

Raipur’s Swami Vivekananda Airport was once again ranked first in Customer Satisfaction among 49 airports in the country.

Raipur Airport achieved 4.84 score on a five point scale index in the latest CSI survey conducted by an independent agency for the period of January-June 2017.

Chhattisgarh

  • Capital: Raipur
  • Chief Minister: Raman Singh
  • Governor: Balram Das Tandon

Centre releases advance grant-in-aid of Rs.51.30 crore to Arunachal Pradesh for rescue and relief operations on account of flash floods:

The Centre has released in advance two installments of grant-in-aid to the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh towards Central share of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

Due to heavy rains and floods in North East, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India has released Rupees 51 crore and 30 lakh as grant-in-aid to the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh on the basis of recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission for relief necessitated by natural calamities to the State.

Arunachal Pradesh

  • Capital: Itanagar
  • Chief Minister: Pema Khandu
  • Governor: Padmanabha Acharya

 President of India Inaugurates 7th Edition of KKM Memorial Gold Cup – Rural Football Tournament:

          The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the 7th Edition of Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee Rural Football Tournament at Mackenzie Park Football Ground in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.

Railways launches integrated mobile app:

The Railways launched an integrated mobile application to cater to various passenger requirements, including ticket booking, inquiry, on-board cleaning and ordering meal on a single platform.

The app Rail SAARTHI was launched by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. The Rail SAARTHI (Synergised Advanced Application Rail Travel Help and Information) such as safety for women, complaint facility and suggestion for improvement.

INTERNATIONAL:

China gets largest BMW R&D centre outside of Germany:

German luxury carmaker BMW opened a new research and development (R&D) centre in northeast China’s Liaoning province, the company said. China gets largest BMW R&D centre outside of Germany. The new R&D centre, covering an area of over 40,000 square metres, is by far the BMW group’s largest auto R&D hub outside Germany.

China

  • Currency: Renminbi
  • CapitalBeijing
  • Prime minister: Li Keqiang
  • President: Xi Jinping

US House passes bill on defence co-operation with India:

          The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that proposes to advance defence cooperation with India.

An amendment in this regard, moved by Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera, was adopted by a voice vote by the House as part of the National Defense Authorisation Act, NDAA, 2018 October 1 this year. NDAA-2018 was passed by the House 344-81.

The amendment passed by the House requires the Secretary of Defence, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to develop a strategy for advancing defence cooperation between the United States and India.

BANKING & BUSINESS:

WPI inflation slows to 11-month low of 0.9% in June:

Wholesale price inflation slowed to a 11-month low of 0.90% in June due to subdued food inflation and weak manufacturing prices, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce.

Growth in the Wholesale Price Index slowed for the fourth consecutive month in June from the 5.51% registered in February. The last time it was below 1% was in July 2016, when it was at 0.63%.

 Centre to grant NIIF 20,000 cr:

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley reviewed the performance of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) during the third meeting of its governing council where he was informed that the Department of Economic Affairs had signed an agreement with the NIIF for a 20,000 crore contribution to the Fund.

 NRIs’ foreign bank accounts under income tax lens:

For decades, many Indians have escaped tax and legitimised their money stashed abroad by staying 182 days out of the country every year and declaring themselves as ‘non-resident’.

The status of a non-resident Indian, or NRI, allowed them to claim such funds lying in offshore bank accounts as lawful income earned abroad. From now on, this won’t be easy. Income-tax authorities have added a new provision in the tax return form (ITR2) which will require all non-residents to disclose details of their bank accounts outside India.

 

YES Bank gets another $150 mn from OPIC to fund SME lending:

Private sector YES Bank has received another round of $150 million funding from US government and Wells Fargo to fund SME lending.

This is the third round of funding as part of arrangement between the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) – US government development finance institution — and Wells Fargo, with the objective to increase lending to small and medium enterprises in India.

OPIC will provide $75 million in financing to YES Bank and up to $75 million as a syndicated financing from Wells Fargo Bank, a part of financial services provider Wells Fargo and Company.

YES Bank

Headquarters: Mumbai

CEO: Rana Kapoor

 India has second highest number of adults planning to migrate:

India has the second highest number of adults planning to migrate to other countries with the US and the UK among the most favoured destinations, according to a report by the UN migration agency, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in its report ‘Measuring Global Migration Potential 2010-2015’.

 

India ranks 116 out of 157 nations on SDG index:

          India is ranked 116 out of 157 nations on a global index that assesses the performance of countries towards achieving the ambitious sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Top three places of SDG index                            

  1. Sweden
  2. Denmark
  3. Finland

APPOINTMENTS:

India’s Pride: IIT Madras Distinguished Alumnus, Professor Subra Suresh, named President of NTU Singapore:

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Professor Subra Suresh, a distinguished alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology Madras and a native of Chennai, has been chosen as the fourth President of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He will begin his presidency on 1 January 2018, when the current President Prof. Anderson retires.

ABOUT NTU:

NTU Singapore is one of the world’s leading universities. In its QS World University Rankings this year, the Quacquarelli Symonds group placed NTU 11th in the world and the best in Asia.

 

Minister to take over as DSIIDC chairman:

In a departure from the norm, Industries Minister Satyendar Jain will be the new chairperson-cum-managing director of the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (DSIIDC). Mr. Jain would be replacing K.R. Meena, an IAS officer of the 1993 batch.

Mukesh Kumar Jain appointed MD & CEO of Oriental Bank:

Mukesh Kumar Jain was appointed as the managing director and chief executive officer of Oriental Bank of Commerce. He is at present the executive director in Punjab and Sind Bank.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Jain’s appointment to the post for a period of three years, an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.

Oriental Bank of Commerce

  • Headquarters: Gurugram

4 new members appointed in CBEC:

Senior bureaucrat John Joseph and three other officials have been appointed as members in the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved appointment of Sushant Kumar Panda, Ameeta Suri, Pranab Kumar Das and Joseph as the new members, an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

AWARDS:

‘Baahubali’, ISRO stand out at NRI Awards:

ICICI Bank hosted the fourth edition of ‘NRI of the Year Awards’ – powered by Global Indian International School in Mumbai and attended by a host of luminaries from the corporate world and the entertainment industry including Baahubali actress Tamannaah Bhatia and Femina Miss India Manushi Chhillar.

 

BOOK & AUTHOR

President of India receives first copy of book “President’s Lady”:

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee received the first copy of the book “President’s Lady” (Pranaber Preyosi) on his wife Late Smt. Suvra Mukherjee from Vice President of India, Mohd. Hamid Ansari who formally released it at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The book has been written by Sangeeta Ghosh.

 SPORTS:

Para swimmer had a harrowing time in Berlin:

The visually challenged 26-year-old Kanchanmala Pandey went on to win a silver medal in Berlin earlier this month and became the only Indian woman to qualify for the World Para Swimming Championship to be held later this year in Mexico.

          Kanchanmala Pandey, a resident of Nagpur and an employee of the Reserve Bank of India, swims in the S11 category. She won the medal in the 200-metre Individual Medley in the Para Swimming Championship.

 Sundar Singh wins gold at World Para Athletics Championships:

India’s Sundar Singh Gurjar has won gold on opening night of 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London. He triumphed in the men’s javelin throw with a personal best of 60.36 metre.

 HISTORIC EVENTS OF THE DAY:

JULY 15 -WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY:

World Youth Skills Day will be celebrated to raise awareness about growing need of employment for youth and issues of their learning.

Education and training are key elements of success in the labour market and provision of skills and jobs are prominent features of Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

 Trump in Paris: France Celebrates Bastille Day With American Twist

The streets around the Champs Élysées Avenue in western Paris were brimming with French citizens and tourists watching the Bastille Day parade. The president attended the event as French President Emmanuel Macron’s & Trump is Guest of Honor.

USA

  • President of the United States: Donald Trump
  • Currency: United States Dollar
  • Capital: Washington, D.C.

FRANCE

  • France President: Emmanuel Macron
  • Currencies: Euro, CFP franc
  • Capital: Paris

 

To check the previous day’s Current affairs and Quiz, click the below links:

CURRENT AFFAIRS : 14 JULY, 2017

CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ : 14 JULY, 2017

CURRENT AFFAIRS  : 13 JULY, 2017

CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ : 13 JULY, 2017

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