Current Affairs May 27, 2017 –  Agro-marine processing scheme “SAMPADA”

NATIONAL

Agro-marine processing scheme “SAMPADA”:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched agro-marine processing scheme SAMPADA to promote food processing and create job opportunities for the youth.

• Initial Investment: Rs.6000 Crore

SAMPADA: Scheme for Agro- Marine Processing And Development of Agro-Processing.

Nagpur becomes India’s first city to have electric mass mobility system:

Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, inaugurated India’s first multi-modal electric vehicle project at the Nagpur Airport Complex in Nagpur.

The Orange City has become India’s first city to have electric mass mobility system. It will have a fleet of 200 electric vehicles including taxis, buses, e-rickshaw and auto rickshaws, all of fully owned by cab aggregator Ola.

Rijiju unveils world’s first philosophical novel on God:

The book was unveiled by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in presence of David Syiemlieth, Chairman of UPSC, gathering at Civil Services Officers’ Institute in New Delhi.

A young Indian IAS officer, Haulianlal Guite from Manipur state has authored and published a book titled “Confessions of a Dying Mind: the Blind Faith of Atheism”.

Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow in Delhi:

The Environment ministry along with the UN Environment OzonAction’s Compliance Assistance Programme organised a ‘Ozone2Climate’ Technology Roadshow on the sidelines of South Asia National Ozone Officers Annual Network Meeting in New Delhi.

The Roadshow took place to post the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. Environment secretary Ajay Narayan Jha represents the behalf of Indian government in the meeting.

INTERNATIONAL

Sushma Swaraj met Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth:

Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in various areas including trade and investment at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

About Mauritius:

• Currency: Mauritian rupee
• Capital: Port Louis
• President: Ameenah Gurib

India announces $500 mn assistance to Mauritius:

    India announced a $500 million line of credit to Mauritius as the two countries resolved to deepen ties in a range of areas including the maritime domain.

The two countries also signed a maritime security agreement after extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth.

World’s Largest Aircraft Completes Successful Test Flight:

    “Hybrid Air Vehicles HAV 304/Airlander 10” is the world largest aircraft successfully completed a test flight in Cardington, UK. It flew for a total of 180 minutes to test the aircraft’s handling and improved landing technology. Airlander 10 has a length of 92 metres largest in the world.

Dubai has recruited the world’s first robot police officer “Robocop”:

The world’s first operational robot police officer named as “Robocop” was officially inducted into the Dubai police force at the 4th Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference at Dubai.

The robocop is around 5-foot tall and weighs a 100kg. It can not only identify hand gestures from a distance of up to 1.5 metres, but can also detect people’s emotions and facial expressions.

About Dubai:

• Capital: Abu Dhabi
• Currency: Dirham
• President: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Vietnam hosts 3rd inter-sessional ministerial meeting of RCEP:

The 3rd Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Inter-sessional Ministerial Meeting 2017 was held in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The meeting was attended by 16 economic and trade ministers from the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its six partners including China, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, as well as representatives of relevant international organizations.

About Vietnam:

•  President: Tran Dại Quang
• Currency: Vietnamese dong
• Capital: Hanoi

Banking & Business

RBI allows co-operative banks to issue mobile wallets:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed co-operative banks are permitted to install ATMs and issue debit cards, to also issue prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) like mobile wallets.

Co-operative banks are permitting to issue wallets for utility bill payments and other activities up to a limit of Rs 10,000.

RBI Criteria to follow by Co-ops bank:

• The apex bank also laid down various criteria like banks should be core banking or CBS compliant, with net non-performing assets being less than 3 per cent and also being profitable in the previous financial year.
• A Comprehensive Customer grievance redressal mechanism should be setup and should be no monetary penalty.
• The bank should have internal and audit inspection processes both for branches as well as head office.

RBI to observe financial literacy week from June 5-9:

The main objective of observing the financial literacy week is to emphasize the importance of financial literacy. It will focus on four broad themes—know your customer (KYC), Exercising Credit Discipline, Grievance Redressal and Going Digital (UPI and *99#).

IFFCO, Bank of Baroda launch co-branded debit card:

Largest fertiliser cooperative IFFCO signed MoU with Bank of Baroda to launch its co-branded debit card for farmers at a card distribution ceremony organized at their corporate office in New Delhi.

The co-branded debit cards, with inbuilt overdraft of Rs. 2,500 in special savings bank account. This is aimed at enabling them to buy agri-inputs through a convenient cashless transaction mechanism and providing further thrust to PM Narendra Modi’s Digital India programme.

About Bank of Baroda:

President: P.S.Jaya Kumar

Headquarters: Vadodara

Bank Tagline: India’s International Bank

About IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited):

Chairman: Balvinder Singh Nakai

Headquarter: New Delhi

HDFC 7th rank among top 10 consumers financial services companies:

Mortgage lender HDFC Ltd is the only Indian company to be named among the top 10 consumer financial services companies in the world. American Express claiming the first position in the list released by the Forbes Global List 2017. HDFC was 7th in the list.

About HDFC:

• Headquarters: Mumbai
• CEO: Keki M. Mistry

APPOINTMENTS

Amul Thapar becomes second Indian-American judge in US:

Amul Thapar became only the second Indian-American judge of an appeals court with the United States senate confirming his appointment to the Cincinnati-based Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Shri Srinivasan was the first Indian American Judge in US appointed by Former President Barak Obama.

SoftBank nominates Rajeev Misra as new CEO of Vision Fund:

Tokyo based telecom-to-technology giant SoftBank Group has nominated India-born Rajeev Misra, the chief executive of its mega $100-billion technology-focused Vision Fund.

• SoftBank Headquarters: Minato, Tokyo, Japan
• President: Nikesh Arora

Najam Sethi elects as next chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board:

Najam Sethi was approved as the unanimous choice to be the next Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman at its Annual General Meeting. Sethi would succeed Shaharyar Khan as the PCB chief.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

Book -“Winning like Virat: Think & Succeed like Kohli”:

A new book -“Winning like Virat: Think & Succeed like Kohli” authored by Abhirup Bhattacharya. The book reveals the secrets of the cricketer’s consistent form, while attempting to decode his philosophy towards life.

SPORTS

Mangalore to host World Surfing League:

    Naveen Raj Singh, Secretary of the Karnataka Tourism Department announced that Karnataka will make all arrangements to host World Surfing League at Sasihithlu beach near Mangalore in May next year.

P V Sindhu elected to Badminton World Federation Athletics Commission:

Badminton Player P.V. Sindhu became the second Indian after her compatriot Saina Nehwal to be inducted in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Athletes’ Commission.

Sindhu emerged the highest voted player in the BWF Athletes’ Commission election that took place on the sidelines of the Sudirman Cup. She will be joined by Marc Zweibler of Germany and Kristy Gilmour of Scotland for a four-year term.

About Badminton World Federation:

• Headquarter: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• President: Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen

OBITUARY

Supercop KPS Gill passes away:

Former Punjab DGP K P S Gill, the Supercop credited with rooting out terrorism in Punjab with an iron hand, passed away due to a kidney ailment at the age of 82.