CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR IBPS RRB-15TH AUGUST 2017:Independence Day: 112 Gallantry Awards to be given on I-Day

NATIONAL

Nation celebrates 71st Independence Day with patriotic fervour:

The nation is celebrating its 71st Independence Day today and the main function was held at the Red Fort in the national capital where Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the National Flag synchronized with 21-Gun Salute.

Mr Modi said call for the Quit India Movement was “Bharat Chhodo,” but today, the call is “Bharat Jodo.” The Prime Minister called for an end to the “chalta hai” attitude of complacency, and its replacement with an attitude of “badal sakta hai” for positive change.

Maharashtra Government Launches ‘Namo Yuva Rojgar Kendra’:

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched “Namo Yuva Rojgar Kendra” an initiative providing job opportunities to unemployed youth in Mumbai. There are various schemes like farmers weekly market, farmers mobile market and mother’s tiffin, under this Yuva Rojgar Kendra and they can get fresh and healthy food, as well as farm, produce procured directly from farmers.

These products will be made available with the help of mobile vans all over Mumbai and the information about the location of the vans is made available through an app. This app was also launched by the Chief Minister.

India’s first online course on Infusion Therapy launched:

Infusion Nurses Society (INS) – a global authority in infusion therapy launched India’s first online course on Infusion Therapy for nurses, under which it aims to train over 3,000 nurses in the vital medical procedure.

Announcing the initiative, which will boost nurses even in rural parts of India, INS said that utilising the reach and ease of the digital platform, the course will enable members to access the various infusion therapy modules and presentations through its website.  

Independence Day: 112 Gallantry Awards to be given on I-Day

          President Ram Nath Kovind has approved 112 Gallantry Awards to armed forces and paramilitary personnel on the occasion of the 71st Independence Day. The Awards includes 5 Kirti Chakras, 17 Shaurya Chakras, 85 Sena Medals (Gallantry), three Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). Of all 112, 19 are posthumous.

Those awarded the Kirti Chakra include Major Preetam Singh Kunwar of the Garhwal Rifles; Havildar Giris Gurung (Posthumous) from the First Gorkha Rifles; Major David Manlun (Posthumous), of the Naga Regiment; Pramod Kumar (Posthumous), Commandant, 49 Batallion, Central Reserve Police Force and Chetan Kumar Cheeta, Commandant, CRPF.

He also paid homage to Martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi on the occasion of 71st Independence Day. 

INTERNATIONAL

India, Turkmenistan hold talks on crucial transit corridor via Iran, Oman:

India and Turkmenistan discussed joining the Ashgabat Agreement that envisages establishment of International Transport and Transit Corridor between Iran, Oman and Turkmenistan.

Arun Jaitley Finance Minister, Minister of Defence and Minister of Corporate Affairs met Rashid Meredov, Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister of Turkmenistan. They also discussed ways to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation.

BANKING & BUSINESS

Govt asks Google, Facebook, Whatsapp and others to remove Blue Whale links:

Government has directed internet majors – Google, Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Microsoft and Yahoo – to immediately remove the links of dangerous online game “Blue Whale Challenge”, which has led to suicide of children in India and other countries. Mumbai and West Midnapore district have reported deaths linked to this game.

Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) instructed the internet majors in a letter to ensure that any such link of this deadly game in its own name or similar game is immediately removed from their platform. The letter was issued following instructions from Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The Blue Whale challenge is reportedly a suicide game in which the player is given certain tasks to complete for a period of 50 days and the final task leads to suicide. The player is also asked to share photos after finishing the challenge. 

Retail inflation rises to 2.36% in July:

Retail inflation rose to 2.36 per cent in July this year, chiefly driven by hardening prices in sugar and confectionery items, pan, tobacco, and intoxicants. Retail inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, had stood at 1.46 per cent in June.

Data released by the Central Statistics Office showed that retail inflation in sugar and confectionery items rose to 8.27 per cent in July, while inflation in pan, tobacco and intoxicants was 6.39 per cent.  But food inflation saw deflationary pressure, or a fall in prices, at minus 0.29 per cent in July. Retail inflation in pulses and products was minus 24.75 per cent in July, and in vegetables it was minus 3.57 per cent. 

Wholesale inflation jumps to 1.88% in July:

Wholesale inflation rose to 1.88 per cent in July this year, year-on-year, as the prices of some commodities increased. Inflation based on the wholesale price index had stood at 0.9 per cent in June this year, and 0.63 per cent in July last year.

Government data released showed that wholesale inflation in food items rose to 2.15 per cent in July. In June, food prices had contracted 3.47 per cent. Inflation in vegetables climbed to 21.95 per cent in July. In the fuel and power segment, inflation fell to 4.37 per cent in July, from 5.28 per cent in June. 

Indian export grows 4 percent in July:

The country’s exports grew 3.9 percent in July this year, on a yearly basis, to 22.5 billion dollars. Exports rose due to an increase in shipments of petroleum, chemicals and marine products. Official data showed that imports rose 15.4 per cent in July, to 34 billion dollars, due to a rise in inward shipments of crude oil and gold.

AWARDS:

NABARD awards for Corporation Bank:

Corporation Bank has bagged the best performance awards for SHG-bank linkage programme for 2015-16 and 2016-17 among commercial banks operating in Karnataka from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).The bank has formed more than 1.32 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) till date.

APPOINTMENT

Sankara Rao to be IFCI Chief Executive:

          IFCI Ltd, a government company, is set to have a new Managing Director & CEO in E Sankara Rao, who is currently Chief General Manager at India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL). Rao’s appointment will be valid for three years. 

 SPORTS:

Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid forward suspended for five games:

          Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for five games after he was sent off in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup first leg. He was given a one-match ban for being shown two yellow cards and a further four for pushing the referee in the back after he had been sent off. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) banned Ronaldo for one match for drawing the red card and the other four for pushing the official. 

Indian boxers clinch 10 medals at Serbian tournament:

          India won 10 medals, including two gold, in the 6th Golden In all, India won two gold, four silver and four bronze medals.

The gold-medallists were Jyoti (51kg) and Vanlalharitpuii (60kg). The silver medals were clinched by Anjali (48kg), Sakshi (54kg), Ashtha (69kg) and Anupama (81kg). Mandeep (57kg), Nisha (64kg), Shruti (75kg) and Neha (81+kg) settled for bronze medals after losing in the semi-finals. Glove women’s Boxing Tournament at Vojvodina, Serbia. 

Indian men’s hockey team beat Netherlands 2–1, win series:

Gurjant Singh and Mandeep Singh scored a goal apiece as a resolute Indian men’s hockey team overcome world No. 4 Netherlands with an exciting encounter.   Led by Manpreet Singh, the team last night featured nine players from the junior team, but still beat an experienced Netherlands squad through goals from Gurjant (4th minute) and Mandeep (51). India, thus, won the three-match series.