Current Affairs December 27, 2017

NATIONAL

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates Yoga Institute in Mumbai

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has inaugurated the Centenary celebrations of the Yoga Institute in Mumbai.The institute was founded by Shree Yogendraji Mani Haribhai Desai, the disciple of Paramahans Madhavadasji in 1918.

The word Yoga is derived from two roots – One signifying “connection” and the second signifying “concentration”. National Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21.

‘Blue Flag’ : Environment Ministry Launches for Beach Clean-up

The Environment ministry has launched a pilot project for beach clean-up and development. It also aims for the ‘Blue Flag’ certification for such identified beaches.

The ‘Blue Flag’ is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach, Marina or sustainable boating tourism operator, meets its stringent standards.

Each state or union territory has been asked to nominate a beach which will be funded through the ongoing Integrated Coastal Management Programme.

Environment Ministry

Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change: Dr. Harsh Vardhan

Constituency: Chandni Chowk, Delhi

Mumbai Gets India’s First Ever AC Local Train

The country’s first air-conditioned (AC) suburban train commenced its services. The first service of the 12-coach EMU will commence between Borivali and Churchgate.

This will be the first train with automatic doors in the suburban system. The services of AC local train will replace existing 12 Non AC services.

Out of 12 services of AC Local train, 8 will run fast and will only halt at major stations.

Railway Ministry

Railway Minister of India: Piyush Goyal

Constituency: Maharashtra

Narendra Modi To Be First PM To Attend World Economic Forum In 20 Years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend World Economic Forum, where the world’s top CEOs and a large number of heads of government gather for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in January. The meeting will be held in Davos town of Switzerland.

Top Indian CEOs will attend the meeting including Mukesh Ambani, Chanda Kochhar and Uday Kotak. In the past only two PMs – PV Narasimha Rao and HD Deve Gowda – have gone to Davos.

Switzerland

Capital: Bern

Currency: Swiss franc

President: Johann Schneider-Amman

‘Prakash hai to Vikas hai’: UP govt Launches free household power connection scheme

The Uttar Pradesh Govt. has launched a free household power connection scheme ‘Prakash hai to vikas hai’ for the poor to mark former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary. Initially, the two villages Lohban and Gausana of Mathura district have been covered for 100% electrification.

Under the scheme, the government will cover 16 million households by the end of 2018.

The government has also introduced Kisan Uday Yojana, a scheme for farmers, in that existing 5 HP/7.5 HP submersible and coupling sets of farmers will be replaced free of cost.

INTERNATIONAL

Loan Agreement of $318 Million Signed with World Bank for Farmers in Tamil Nadu

The governments of India and Tamil Nadu signed an agreement with the World Bank for the multilateral lender to provide $318 million loan. It is for modernisation of irrigation projects in Tamil Nadu, improve market opportunities for small and marginal farmers and their adoption of climate resilient techniques.

Under the Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation project, about 4,800 irrigation tanks and 477 check dams across 66 sub-basins will be rehabilitated and modernised to deliver bulk water to irrigation systems in the state.

The $318 million loan from the IBRD has a 5-year grace period and a maturity of 19 years. About 5 Lakh farmers are expected to benefit from improved and modernized tank irrigation systems.

World Bank

Headquarters: Washington DC, USA

World Bank President: Jim Yong Kim

World’s Longest Glass Bridge Opens in China

The world’s longest glass bridge has been opened in China. It is located in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province near Beijing, the capital of China.

The bridge stretches 488 meters long and two meters wide. It stands at 218 meters above the valley with two dragon statues on top that could produce smoke.

Hebei Group, the local tourism company built the bridge and it is designed in a such a way that it swings a little when visitors walk to its center.

China

Capital: Beijing

Currency: Renminbi

President: Xi Jinping

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

State-Run Banks’ NPAs reached Rs 7.34 Lakh Crore: RBI Data

Bad loans of Public sector banks (PSBs) stood at Rs 7.34 lakh crore by the end of second quarter this fiscal, a bulk of which came from corporate defaulters, private sector banks’ NPAs were considerably low.

Moreover, for the recovery of the bad loans, the network of Debt Recovery Tribunals have been expanded to 39 at present, according to data furnished by the RBI and the government.

Among the major government-owned banks, State Bank of India had the highest level of NPAs at over Rs 1.86 lakh crore, followed by Punjab National Bank (Rs 57,630 crore), Bank of India (Rs 49,307 crore).

Up to end-September, among private banks, ICICI Bank had the most amount of NPAs at Rs 44,237 crore, followed by Axis Bank (Rs 22,136 crore), HDFC Bank (Rs 7,644 crore).

Samsung Ties up with Axis Bank to Offer ‘Bill Payments’ on Samsung Pay

Smartphone manufacturer Samsung launched its ‘Bill Payments’ on its flagship payments service, Samsung Pay in partnership with Axis Bank. The new feature launched by the company will enable users to pay their utility bills seamlessly via Samsung Pay.

Currently, users can pay their mobile, landline phone, electricity, gas, water and DTH bills using ‘Bill Payments’ on Samsung Pay. Bill Payments’ is another ‘Make for India’ innovation that we believe will greatly benefit the consumers.

Axis Bank

Headquarters: Mumbai

Axis Bank CEO: Shikha Sharma

Tagline: Badhti ka naam zindagi

SLCM Ties up with HDFC, IndusInd bank for Post Harvest Credit

Agri service solutions provider Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM) and Myanmar ties up with HDFC Bank and IndusInd Bank to provide collateral management services.

This tie-up will not only help improve the farmers’ access to post-harvest credits at affordable interest rates, it will also provide easy access to scientific storage facilities leading to a fair price discovery of their products in the market.

SLCM will also leverage its proprietary (patent pending) technology ‘Agri Reach’.

SLCM CEO:     Sandeep Sabharwal.

HDFC Bank

Headquarters: Mumbai

CEO: Aditya Puri

Tagline: We Understand Your World

IndusInd Bank

Headquarter: Mumbai

Chairman: R. Seshasayee

Tagline: We care dil se, We make u feel richer

APPOINTMENTS

BCCI Appoints Saba Karim as General Manager

Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim has appointed as General Manager (Cricket Operations) of the BCCI. Karim will assume office from 01st January and he will report to CEO Rahul Johri. He will assist Johri in meeting the Board’s vision and strategy.

He replaces Sridhar who passed away recently.

He was appointed a national selector from the East Zone in 2012 and after completing his term, he took over as a television commentator. Karim also has a corporate background having worked in the Corporate Communications Division of TISCO.

SPORTS

Sushil Becomes PWL’s Most Expensive Wrestler at Rs.55 lakh

Delhi Sultans buy Double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar for Rs 55 lakh, the highest bid in the history of the tournament during the Pro Wrestling League auctions in New Delhi. Sushil is now the most expensive player in the history of the tournament.

PWL 3 is set to begin from January 9, 2018. Sakshi Malik, India’s 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, was bought by the Mumbai Maharathi side for Rs.39 lakh. World Championship gold medalist Helen Maroulis was bought for Rs.44 lakh by Haryana Hammers.

Indian football team ends year at 105th in FIFA rankings

The Indian men’s football ended the year at 105th spot in the FIFA rankings. India began the year at 129th spot and in July, broke into top 100 by occupying 96th – the second best ever after the 94th of February 1996.

Iran (32) are the highest ranked Asian team and are followed by Australia and Japan. Among Asian countries, the Indian team is in the 15th spot.

Among Asian countries, the Indian team is in the 15th spot, just below Qatar, but ahead of the likes of Jordan, Bahrain and North Korea. World champions Germany ended on top to be FIFA’s ‘Team of the Year’, followed by Brazil, Portugal, Argentina.

OBITUARY

Bengali Film Actor Partha Mukhopadhyay Passes Away

Bengali film actor Partha Mukhopadhyay had passed away.

The state government had conferred Mukhopadhyay with a special award for his contribution to Bengali films. Balika Bodhu , Dhonyi Meye, Agnishwar, Amar Prithivi, Baag Bandi Khela are some of his popular movies.