Current Affairs 29 July, 2017 – Two new Institutes of Ayurveda established by the Government: AYUSH Minister

NATIONAL

Cabinet approves revision of guidelines of Sovereign Gold Bonds Scheme:

    The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given approval for revision of guidelines of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB) Scheme with a view to achieve its intended objectives.

Following specific changes in the scheme have been approved:

  1. The investment limit per fiscal year has been increased to 4 kg for individuals, 4 Kg for Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) and 20 Kg for Trusts and similar entities notified by the Government from time to time.
  2. The ceiling will be counted on financial year basis and will include the SGBs purchased during the trading in the secondary market.

iii. The ceiling on investment will not include the holdings as collateral by Banks and Financial institutions. SGBs will be available ‘on tap’.


Lok Sabha passes bill to amend Companies Act to boost corporate governance:

    The Lok Sabha passed a bill to amend the companies law seeking to strengthen corporate governance standards, initiate strict action against defaulting companies and help improve the ease of doing business in the country.


Rajya Sabha passes the Indian Institute of Information Technology Public Private Partnership Bill 2017:

    Rajya Sabha passed the Indian Institute of Information Technology Public Private Partnership (IIIT-PPP) Bill 2017.

    The bill has already been passed in Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of State (HRD) told that this bill is required to grant degrees to the students IIITs set up in PPP mode. It will also grant statutory status to the fifteen IIITs established in PPP mode and declare them Institutes of National Importance.


NITSER (National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research) Amendment Bill passed in Rajya Sabha:

    NITSER (National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research) Amendment Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha.  The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on 28th March, 2017. Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of State (HRD) in Rajya Sabha informed that the Bill proposes to introduce two new Institutions namely Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati and IISER Berhampur in the Second Schedule of the NITSER Act, 2007.


J&K approves creation of Law Commission

    The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved setting up of the maiden Law Commission in the state. The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, in Srinagar.

Jammu and Kashmir

    • Capital: Srinagar
    • Chief Minister: Mehbooba Mufti
    • Governor: Narinder Nath Vohra

CAC adopts Codex norms for three spices:

    In a significant move, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) adopted three Codex standards for black, white and green pepper, cumin and theme paving the way for an universal agreement on identifying quality spices in various countries. The CAC cleared these standards at its session held in Geneva recently.


Two new Institutes of Ayurveda established by the Government: AYUSH Minister

    The Central Government has established National Institute of Ayurveda at Jaipur which offers undergraduate and postgraduate and fellowship programme. Further, the Government has also established two new institutes namely (i) All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi for Post-graduate education and (ii) North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy, Shillong for Under-graduate education in Ayurveda & Homoeopathy.

    The criteria/procedures/guidelines to set up new Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medical college are prescribed under section 13A of Indian Medicine Central Council (IMCC) Act, 1970, for Homoeopathy College the details are at section 12A of Homoeopathy Central Council (HCC) Act, 1973.


INTERNATIONAL

Iran claims launch of satellite-carrying rocket into space:

    Iran successfully launched its most advanced satellite-carrying rocket into space. A confirmed launch of the “Simorgh” rocket would mark another step forward for the Islamic Republic’s young space program.

    “Simorgh” rocket, whose name translates to “phoenix” in Persian, as a copy of North Korea’s Unha rocket, which uses some of the same technology as a long-range ballistic missile, which took off from the Imam Khomeini National Space Station in the northern city of Semnan, was capable of carrying a 550-pound satellite.

Iran

  • Currency: Iranian rial
  • Capital: Tehran
  • President: Hassan Rouhani

BUSINESS & BANKING

Bengaluru ranks 40 among top 50 cities for women entrepreneurs: Dell

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    Bengaluru may be India’s Silicon Valley but ranks at the 40th spot among the top 50 global cities that foster high-potential women entrepreneurs, according to a report by tech giant Dell. The only other Indian city in the top 50 tally is Delhi, that at the 49th spot, just ahead of Jakarta.

    Dell, as part of its annual Women Entrepreneur (WE) Cities Index, ranks cities in terms of its ability to attract and foster growth of women-owned firms. New York ranked first in the list, followed by Bay Area, London, Boston and Stockholm. Singapore was at the 8th spot overall, the only city from Asia Pacific and Japan region.

Karnataka

  • Chief Minister: Siddaramaiah
  • Governor: Vajubhai Vala

NPCI gets RBI nod to operate Bharat Bill Payment System:

    National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the umbrella organization for all retail payment systems in the country, has received the final nod from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to function as the Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit and operate the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS).

    The total number of Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit (BBPOU) certified by NPCI now stands at 24. The certified units include three public sector banks – Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank – 10 private lenders, five cooperative banks and 6 non-bank biller aggregators. 


RBI sets up Supervisory Colleges for six Scheduled Commercial Banks which have sizeable international presence:

    Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has informed that Supervisory Colleges have been setup for the following six Scheduled Commercial Banks which have sizeable international presence:-

    State Bank of India, ICICI Bank Ltd., Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank Ltd. and Punjab National Bank.

    The objectives of the colleges are to enhance information exchange and cooperation among supervisors, to improve understanding of the risk profile of the banking group and thereby facilitate more effective supervision of internationally active banks.


IRDAI asks ICICI Prudential to take over Sahara insurance business:

    Insurance regulator IRDAI asked leading private sector life insurer ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (IPRU) to take over the business of beleaguered Sahara India Life Insurance (Sahara India Life), with effect from 31 July.

    ICICI Prudential shall ensure that systems are integrated within a period of one year from the appointed date.


APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS

Reince Priebus replaced as White House chief of staff:

    US President Donald Trump has replaced his White House Chief of staff Reince Priebus.

    A day after his new Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci accused Priebus of leaking information to reporters, President Trump in a tweet named General John Kelly as his next Chief of staff.

USA

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

Pakistan’s  PM Nawaz Sharif resigns over Panama Papers verdict:

    Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigned from his post, hours after the country’s Supreme Court disqualified him over corruption claims against his family. Nawaz Sharif’s brother Shehbaz Sharif to be next Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Pakistan

  • Currency: Rupee
  • Capital: Islamabad

SPORTS

HS Prannoy climbs to 17th spot in BWF rankings:

    US Open Grand Prix Gold title triumph, Indian Shuttler HS Prannoy has jumped six places to be at 17th position in the latest BWF world rankings. In women’s category, PV Sindhu remained 5th while Saina Nehwal dropped a spot to be world number 16.

    Parupalli Kashyap, who reached his first final at US Open in more than two years after recovering from multiple injuries, also gained 12 places to be at the 47th spot. Sameer Verma, who has qualified as the fourth Indian for the World Championship, jumped four spots to be 28th in the standings.


Lovepreet Singh wins bronze in Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting C’ships:

    India’s Lovepreet Singh has won bronze medal in Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships at Kathmandu. He got third place in 105 kg men junior category.

Nepal

    • Prime minister: Sher Bahadur Deuba
    • Currency: Nepalese rupee
    • Capital: Kathmandu

HISTORIC EVENTS OF THE DAY

International Tiger Day: JULY 29th

 

    International Tiger Day which is celebrated to raise awareness for tiger conservation.

    Union Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Harsh Vardhan will attend a Global Tiger Day event in New Delhi, with the slogan ‘Fresh Ecology For Tigers’ Protection’. 29th July was decided to be celebrated as Tiger day during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010.


   29, July, 2017 Quiz