Current Affairs May 25, 2017 –   India ranks 3rd in internal displacement numbers

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Jammu & Kashmir launch E-clinic for farmers:

The Jammu & Kashmir government launched an e-clinics service for farmers with the aim to double farmers’ income by 2022. The Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), has set up 15 plant clinics in Samba, Kathua and Jammu.

Government abolished the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB):

The Union Cabinet approved phasing out of the 25-year-old Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The FIPB is the inter-ministerial body — or a single window clearance mechanism for applications on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India in sectors under the government approval route.

The move to phase out the FIPB is aimed at making India a more attractive FDI destination and increasing FDI inflows by providing greater ease of doing business and promoting the ‘Maximum Governance and Minimum Government’ principle.

Government maternity benefit scheme renamed as PMMVY:

The government has renamed the “Matritva Sahyog Yojana” a scheme to give Rs 6,000 to pregnant and lactating mothers for the first live birth as Pradhan Mantri Matritva Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).

Scheme was launched way back in 2010 it was called the “Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana”. After coming to power in 2014, the NDA government dropped “Indira Gandhi” from the scheme. Now, change as PMMVY.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh releases the book ‘India 2017 Year book’:

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has released the book ‘India 2017 Yearbook’ authored by the Union Home Secretary, Shri Rajiv Mehrishi. The book was published by the McGraw Hill Education India.

Harsh Malhotra Committee Submit report to Goel:

The 7-member high-level committee on Scouts and Guides under the chairmanship of Harsh Malhotra has submitted its final report to Minister for State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports, Vijay Goel.

Committee Recommendations:

• The Committee has suggested mandatory revamp of the Bharat Scout and Guides and Hindustan Scouts and Guides.
• It has found a number of irregularities and anomalies in the management and financial management.
• It has further recommended for a permanent monitoring Committee to periodically assess the activities of both the organizations.
• The committee has also recommended that there should be government nominees on the Boards of both the organizations.

Union Government launch SEVA mobile app:

Coal Minister Piyush Goyal launched the Saral Eindhan Vitaran Application (SEVA) for monitoring coal movement. The mobile app and the online dashboard monitor the movement of coal from mines allocated to the power sector. Consumer specific data would be password protected on the SEVA Dashboard.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda resigns:

Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda announced his resignation so that the leader of his coalition partner party can succeed him, in line with an agreement between the two parties.

Dr. Sher Bahadur Deuba (President of Nepali Congress Party) might be next Prime minister of Nepal, expect to assume office soon.

Nepal:

• Capital: Kathmandu
• Currency: Nepalese rupee

Taiwan will become first country in Asia to legalise gay marriage:

Taiwan’s top court ruled in favour of gay marriage to make a landmark decision that paves the way for the island to become the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex unions. It gave the government two years to implement the ruling.

Taiwan:

• Capital: Taipei
• Currency: Dollar (TWD)
• President: Tsai Ing-wen (first women president in Taiwan)

Israel signs $630 million missile deal with India:

The Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has signed a $630 million Barak-8 long range surface to air Missile deal with the Indian state-owned aerospace and defense company Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

IAI contract is for supplying Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) systems.

• Israel Capital: Jerusalem
• Israel President: Reuven Rivlin
• Israel Prime Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
• BEL Headquarter: Bangalore
• BEL CEO: S K Sharma

Japan to build a war museum in Manipur:

Japanese ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu announced that Japanese World War 2 Museum would be built at the Maiba Lokpa Ching in Bishanpur district, Manipur.

Maiba Lokpa Ching is a historical place where the British and the Japanese fought during the Second World War.

Japan:

• Capital: Tokya

• Currency: Japan Yen
• Prime Minister: Shizo Abe

Manipur:

Capital: Imphal

CM: Nongthombam Biren Singh

Govrnor: Najma Heptullah

Banking & Business

Karnataka Bank ties up with HDFC Asset Management:

    Karnataka Bank Ltd has signed an agreement with HDFC Asset Management Ltd (HDFCAML) to sell the mutual fund products of HDFCAML.

• HDFCAML is a Subsidiary of HDFC.
• HDFC Headquarter: Mumbai
• Karnataka Bank MD: Mahabaleshwara MS
• Karnataka Bank HQ: Mangalore

Federal Bank launches new trading platform ‘Selfie’:

    Federal Bank, in association with Geojit has launched a new trading platform called ‘Selfie’ for customers.

The trading platform will give its users absolute control over their investments with timely research inputs to make sound investment decisions.

Federal Bank:

• CEO: Shyam Srinivasan
• Headquarters: Kochi

India ranks 3rd in internal displacement numbers:

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council released a new report of India ranked third among countries most affected by displacement related to disasters followed by China (1st) and Philippines (2nd). Nearly 2.4 million people in India were internally displaced due to conflict, violence and disasters in 2016.

AWARDS

Young Indian cartoonist wins top conservation award:

    Rohan Chakravarty, a wildlife and environment cartoonist from India has won this year’s WWF International President’s Award for his efforts to change attitudes towards nature.

The 2017 WWF International President’s Award is presented in Manado, Indonesia.

OBITUARY

Media Mogul Jerry Perenchio passes away:

Jerry Perenchio, a billionaire media mogul from U.S who helped produce hit TV shows and sporting events and turned Univision Network into a major Spanish-language network, has died at 86.

SPORTS

ICC ties up with Hublot:

The International Cricket Council announced a long-term deal with luxury brand Hublot, which will include all ICC events to 2020. The agreement will mean Hublot supply watches for the player-of-the-Match in semi-finals and finals at all ICC major events.

Ashwin bags the CEAT Award:

India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin won the coveted International Cricketer of the Year award at the CEAT Cricket Rating (CCR) International awards 2017.

The award was presented to Ashwin by former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar and Harsh Goenka, Chairman of RPG Enterprises, at a function held at the Cricket Club of India.

Manchester United won Europa League title:

Manchester United defeated Ajax Amsterdam in Stockholm, Sweden to win the first Europa League title (Football), thus confirming their qualification for the UEFA Champions League next season.

Sweden won the Ice Hockey World title:

Sweden beat Canada to win the Ice Hockey World Championship title for the 10th time. The tournament was held in Cologne, Germany.