CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR IBPS PO & RRB: 31ST AUGUST 2017

NATIONAL

Jammu gets Rs 206 crore funds under AMRUT mission:

Under AMRUT, Rs206.15 crore funds have been allocated for Jammu, covering the sectors like urban transport, green spaces, drainage and sewerageUnder the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said. He said several major towns of the state would also be covered under the AMRUT programme so that they are replete with all modern facilities of urban living.The minister was speaking at a high-level meeting convened to review the status of projects in Jammu city funded under AMRUT and being executed by theUrban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED).

Jammu and Kashmir

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

C-DOT celebrates its 34th Foundation Day:

The Minister of Communications Shri Manoj Sinha has called upon C-DOT,Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) to innovate and develop Telecom products at reasonable costs for exporting to SAARC countries and other developing regions of the world. On the occasion for 34th Foundation Day celebrations of C-DOT, he said that the premier Telecom R&D center of the Government of India, can develop products having far reaching impact in the areas of Agriculture, Education and Health care.

Panel on National Mineral Policy to submit report by Oct-end:

The panel mandated to review the National Mineral Policy, 2008, and suggest a new framework will submit its report by October-end.

The 29-member panel, under the chairmanship of Mines Additional Secretary K Rajeswara Rao—consisting of joint secretaries from ministries like coal, steel, shipping, road, transport and highways and finance etc.

The panel will also make recommendations on conservation and mineral development and protection of environment and steps to assess the carrying capacity of mining in states.

The committee would also suggest measures for improvement of survey and exploration of minerals, database of mineral resources and tenements, scientific methods of mining, manpower development, infrastructure development, financial support for mining and research in mining.

INTERNATIONAL

After Kalpana Chawla, Jalseen Kaur Josan becomes 2nd Indian woman to fly for NASA’s Mars Mission:

After Kalpana Chawla, Jasleen Kaur Josan has become the 2nd Indian Women and first Sikh women to be selected by NASA for the Mars Expedition happening in 2030. The mission called the Orion Mission will be the first man mission to the red planet and candidates were selected from around the world.

Canada introduces gender-neutral passport option:

In a move to promote acceptance and equality, Canada has introduced a third sex category option on passports and other government documents.

Beginning August 31, people can select “X” as an “unspecified” gender designation, which will be available on any federal document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).Canada becomes the first country in the Americas to allow its citizens to use an “X” category, joining those in Australia, Denmark, Germany, Malta, New Zealand and Pakistan. India, Ireland and Nepal are among the countries that provide various third-options.

Canada

• Currency: Canadian dollar
• Capital: Ottawa

Cabinet approves MoU between India, Israel on IRD & Technological Innovation Fund:

Union Cabinet has approved a MoU between India and Israel on India-Israel Industrial Research and Development and Technological Innovation Fund. The two countries will make an contribution of four million dollars each for the fund annually for five years.

The MoU envisages promotion of bilateral Industrial R&D and Innovation cooperation in the fields of science and technology by extending support to joint projects for innovative or technology-driven products, services and processes.The Cabinet also approved a MoU between India and Brazil for cooperation in the fields of Zebu Cattle Genomics and Assisted Reproductive Technologies.

It will strengthen the existing friendly relations between the two countries and promote development of Genomics and Assistant Reproductive Technologies in Cattle through joint activities.

Israel

• Currency: Israeli new shekel
• Capital: Jerusalem

India, UAE discuss environment, clean energy:

          India and UAE held discussion on possibilities of co-operation in sustainable clean energy and the issues relating to environment and climate change.

Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Harsh Vardhan held talks with his UAE counterpart, Dr Thani Alzyoudi in New Delhi.UAE is expected to invest US$163 billion in clean energy by 2050 which makes the country a great potential partner for India.

United Arab Emirates

• Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham
• Capital: Abu Dhabi

M.J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs to Ghana and Equatorial Guinea:

Minister of State Shri MJ Akbar paid official visits to Ghana and Equatorial Guinea from 14-18 August, 2017. During an official visit to Ghana from 14-16 August 2017 to launch the Freedom@70 celebrations and to inaugurate FICCI’s ‘Namaskar Africa’ trade show. It was the first bilateral Ministerial visit from India after the new government assumed office in January 2017.

MOS reiterated to President Akufo-Addo, the standing invitation to visit India and urged Ghana to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a founding member. MOS also handed over a symbolic cheque of US$1 million as grant assistance towards rehabilitation of the Presidential residence of Flagstaff House built earlier with a GOI concessional Line of Credit.

Ghana extended support to our ICJ candidature and MOS reiterated India’s interest in reviving the US $1.2 billion JV fertilizer project as Ghana would soon have surplus availability of gas.

The following bilateral agreements were signed:

1. Agreement on Establishment of a Joint Commission.
2. Protocol for Consultations between Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and Ministry of External Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

iii. Agreement on Exemption from Visa requirement for holders of Diplomatic and Official/Service Passports.

Ghana

• Currency: Ghanaian cedi
• Capital: Accra

US gives $225m worth of conditional military assistance to Pakistan:

The Trump administration notified Congress that it was putting USD 255 million in military assistance to Pakistan into the equivalent of an escrow account that Islamabad can only access if it does more to crack down on internal terror networks launching attacks on neighbouring Afghanistan.

An escrow account is an account of conditional deposition where the funds are kept blocked until the pre-agreed conditions are met.

USA

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

10th India-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue:

The 10th India-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue was held at New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary for Counter Terrorism at the Ministry of External Affairs of India, while the European Union’s delegation was led by Mr. Pawel Herczynski, Director for Security Policy, European External Action Service.

Both sides agreed to strengthen institutional linkages between Indian agencies and their European Union counterparts including Europol for closer interaction and cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism. They also agreed to identify relevant training programmes for capacity building of individuals on both sides working in the sphere of countering terrorism and violent extremism. Prospects for deepening counter-terrorism cooperation under the UN and FATF were also emphasised. 

The next India-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue will take place in Brussels in 2018 on a mutually convenient date.

Fourth Session of the India-Tanzania Joint Trade Committee (JTC):

The Fourth Session of the India-Tanzania Joint Trade Committee meeting was held in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Hon’ble Minister for State for Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge) Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman. The Tanzanian delegation was led by the Hon’ble, Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment Mr.Charles John Mwijage.

It was mentioned that Tanzania is one of the most important countries in Africa in so far as India’s bilateral co-operation in various sectors is concerned. With an investment of US $ 2.2 billion, Tanzania is among the top5 investmentdestinations for India. The Indian side conveyed to the Tanzanian side that the potential areas for Tanzania in India include Light oils and petroleum or bituminous minerals, motor cars and vehicles, medicaments etc.

Tanzania

• Currency: Tanzanian shilling
• Capital: Dodoma

BANKING & BUSINESS

Tata Power synchronises its 186 MW hydro project in Georgia:

           Tata Power, through Adjaristsqali Georgia LLC (AGL), its joint venture with Norway’s Clean Energy Invest AS Norway (Clean Energy) and IFC InfraVentures (IFC), a member of the World Bank group, have synchronised its 186 MW Shuakhevi Hydro Power Project (HPP) in Georgia.    

The power generated by the project, which entailed an investment of over $420 million, will be exclusively sold within Georgia throughout the winter, which is a period of energy deficit.

NTPC signs Rs. 3,000-cr term loan agreement with ICICI Bank:

          State-owned NTPC has signed a term loan agreement for Rs. 3,000 crore with ICICI Bank for partially funding its capital expenditure.

The loan which has a door-to-door tenure of 15 years will be utilised to part finance the capital expenditure of NTPC, the company said.NTPC commissioned 3,845 mw capacity and added 2,190 mw to its commercial capacity during 2016-17.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS

RK Raghavan Indian High Commissioner to Cyprus:

Former CBI director R K Raghavan, who headed the Special Investigation Team that probed the Gujarat riots, has been appointed as Indian High Commissioner to Cyprus, the Ministry of External Affairs announced. Earlier, the BJP-led government had appointed another police officer, Ahmad Javed, as India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Nachiket Mor appointed as a member of RBI central board:

 Nachiket Madhusudan Mor was re-appointed as a member of the Eastern local board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).Mor’s appointment is effective fromAugust, 2017, and is for a period of four years. 

AWARDS

Maneka Gandhi to confer national awards to Anganwadi workers:

          Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi will confer national awards to Anganwadi workers for their exceptional achievements.

The annual awards aim to recognize the exemplary service by the Anganwadi workers in the field of child development and related areas under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.A total of 51 Anganwadi workers from different States and union territories will be conferred award for 2016-17.

The Award comprises of 25 thousand rupees cash and a citation. The scheme for awarding Angawadi Workers was formulated by the government during the year 2000-2001.

SPORTS

Duleep Trophy from Sept 7, Raina to captain India Blue:

Suresh Raina has been named captain of the India Blue team for the Duleep Trophy, which will be held in Kanpur and Lucknow from September 7 to 29, providing him a platform to make a return to the Indian team.

Murali Vijay, who was also ruled out of the Sri Lanka Tests, will turn up for India Green, which will be captained by Parthiv Patel. Abhinav Mukund, who played the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, will lead India Red.

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