Current Affairs : September 25,2017
Current Affairs : September 25,2017
NATIONAL
PM to launch 17 infrastructure projects, Mahamana Express, Utkarsh Bank:
Prime Minister inaugurated nearly 17 infrastructure projects, including the Ramnagar-Samne Ghat bridge and the Balua Ghat bridge, and lay the foundation of nearly six projects including Ramna Sewage Treatment Plant.
- The Prime Minister dedicated the nation, the Deendayal Hastkala Sankul – a trade facilitation centre for handicrafts – at Bada Lalpur,”.
- The Prime Minister flagged off the Mahamana Express through a video link. This train will connect Varanasi with Surat and Vadodara in Gujarat.
- Prime Minister Modi inaugurated banking services of the Utkarsh Bank, and will also unveil a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of the headquarters building of the Bank. The Utkarsh Bank specializes in micro-finance.
- The Prime Minister dedicated a Jal Ambulance service, and a Jal Shav Vahan service to the people of Varanasi, through a video link.
- The Prime Minister will briefly participate in a sanitation related activity in the village of Shahanshahpur. He will then visit a Pashudhan Arogya Mela.
PM Narendra Modi to launch ‘power for all’ scheme:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch ‘power for all’ scheme to mark the birth anniversary of RSS ideologue Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. The scheme will aim at providing 24X7 electricity to all and the development was confirmed by power minister RK Singh.
Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi inaugurates Hunar Haat” in Pondicherry:
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said here that Ministry of Minority Affairs is working to establish “Hunar Hub” across the country to provide a platform to master artisans and craftsmen to display as well sell their products.
Shri Naqvi and Pondicherry Chief Minister Shri V. Narayanasamy inaugurated Hunar Haat“, being organised by Ministry of Minority Affairs at Pondicherry.
Shri Kiren Rijiju addresses at two-day exercise “Pralay Sahayam”- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise in Secunderabad:
The Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju addressed at the seminar “Pralay Sahayam”- “Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief” held at College of Defence Management in Secunderabad Cantonment. The exercise is for all agencies involved in search, rescue and relief operations during natural disasters, to interact and evolve a seamless and optimized Disaster Management Strategy.
Telangana
- Capital: Hyderabad
- Chief Minister: Chandrasekhar rao
- Governor: S. L. Narasimhan
Govt’s housing scheme subsidy for middle class extended till March 2019:
The Centre decided to extend interest subsidy of Rs2.60 lakh on home loans for the Middle Income Group (MIG) up to March 2019 under the NDA government’s flagship ‘Housing for All’ programme.
Under the new scheme, those with an annual income of up to Rs12 lakh can avail a 4% interest subsidy on a loan of Rs9 lakh while those with an income up to Rs18 lakh will get an interest subsidy of 3% on a loan of Rs18 lakh.
The announcement was made by Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra at the Real Estate and Infrastructure Investors Summit organised by NAREDCO in Mumbai.
PM Modi releases postage stamp on Lord Ram in Varanasi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a postage stamp on different aspects of Lord Ram’s life at the historic Tulsi Manas Mandir, and said he was a source of inspiration for every individual.
Uttar Pradesh
- Capital: Lucknow
- Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
- Governor: Shri Ram Naik
- Narendra Modi constituency: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
INTERNATIONAL
7th ASEM Economic Ministers Meeting held in Seoul, South Korea:
The 7th ASEM (Asia–Europe Meeting) Economic Ministers’ Meeting was held in Seoul, South Korea. Theme for this year’s meeting was ‘Innovative Partnership for Inclusive Prosperity’.
The meeting was conducted under the Chairmanship of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea. 51 member countries signed a Joint Statement on Supporting the Multilateral Trade System.
Additional information on ASEM:
The ASEM was established in 1996 as an economic cooperation council of 53 Asian and European countries. The organization is evaluated as an important regional cooperation body that accounts for more than 60% of global trade as of 2015.
South Korea
- Currency: South Korean won
- Capital: Seoul
- President: MOON Jae-in
China and Australia joint military training exercise called Panda Kangaroo 2017 held in Kunming:
China and Australia joint military training exercise called “Panda-Kangaroo 2017” concluded in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
China
- Currency: Renminbi
- Capital: Beijing
- Prime minister: Li Keqiang
- President: Xi Jinping
Australia
- Capital: Canberra
- Currency: Australian dollar
- Prime minister: Malcolm Turnbull
BANKING & BUSINESS
Masala bonds to be treated as ECBs from Oct 3:
The Reserve Bank relaxed norms for issuance of rupee-denominated overseas bonds, popularly known as masala bonds, saying they will be treated as external commercial borrowings from October 3, thereby freeing up more investments by FPIs.
After a review, the RBI said that from October 3, masala bonds will no longer form part of the limit for FPI investments in corporate bonds.
SBI launches Indian bond index series in London:
State Bank of India (SBI) has launched the FTSE SBI Bond Index series in partnership with global index provider FTSE 100, which it is hoped will give tools to investors from India, the UK and globally to analyse India’s government bond market, and drive growth in this market.
“With the launch of this index along with FTSE Russell, our intention is to give people a benchmark on which they can make investment calls,” said Arundhati Bhattacharya, State Bank of India Chairman, at the launch at the London Stock Exchange.
SBI
- Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Chairman: Arundhati Bhattacharya
SEBI imposes 9 lakh fine on former ING Vysya Bank official:
Markets regulator SEBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 9 lakh on ING Vysya Bank former official for violating insider trading regulations.
The fine was levied on Vinay Agrawal, who was regional head of business banking in ING from August 2011 till June 20, 2012. Later, he held the position of zonal head of cluster business banking till October 10, 2013.
SEBI
- Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Chairman: Ajay Tyagi
APPOINTMENTS
Woman elected to Mizoram council of ministers for first time in 30 years:
Lalawmpuii Chawngthu became the second woman in Mizoram to be inducted in the state’s council of ministers after a gap of 30 years.
Mizoram
- Capital: Aizawl
- Chief Minister: Lal Thanhawla
- Governor: Nirbhay Sharma
AWARDS
CNR Rao selected for 2017 Von Hippel Award:
Eminent Scientist and Bharat Ratna Prof C.N.R. Rao awarded as 2017 Von Hippel Award, the highest international prize in materials research.
The award will be presented to Prof Rao for his interdisciplinary contributions to the development of novel functional materials, including nanomaterials graphene, superconductivity, 2D materials and colossal magnetoresistance at Boston.
Indian economist wins prestigious Balzan Prize:
Indian economist Bina Agarwal, a professor at the University of Manchester, is among the winners of this year’s Balzan Prize.
Other winners of Balzan Prize:
James Allison of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Robert Schreiber of the Washington University School of Medicine were cited for their work on antibody treatments.
Belgian astrophysicist Michael Gillon was awarded for his work that has helped map new solar systems from the comfort of planet Earth, using robotic telescopes instead of much more costly satellites.
Germans Aleida and Jan Assmann, a married couple was recognised for their work presenting collective memory “as a requirement for the formation of the identity of religious and political communities.”
Additional information on Balzan Prize:
The International Balzan Prize Foundation awards four annual monetary prizes to people or organizations who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of humanities, natural sciences, culture, as well as for endeavours for peace and the brotherhood of man.
S S Rajamouli receives ANR award:
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu felicitated film-maker S S Rajamouli with the prestigious ANR National Award for his contribution to the Telugu film industry.
SPORTS
India bags 4 more medals in 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan:
India grabbed the 11th spot in the 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan after winning four more medals.
India’s medal tally now stands at 5 gold, 7 silver and 7 bronze. Sajan Prakash of India finished second with a silver medal in the Men’s 100-metre butterfly event.
Divya Gurling Shilwant and Pratiksha Chandrakant Parhar managed to win a bronze medal each in women’s Alysh classic in 70 kg and 75 kg categories in the Belt Wrestling Discipline.
Wrestler Keduovilie Zumu from Nagaland won the Bronze medal in Kazakh Kuresh style belt wrestling in 90 kg weight category.
Turkmenistan
- Currency: Turkmenistan manat
- Capital: Ashgabat
India become World No. 1 in both ODIs and Tests:
India beat Australia by 5 wickets in the third ODI played between the two sides at Indore.
Now India is the no. 1 spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) One-Day International (ODI) rankings.
The three Top three teams in ODI are India, South Africa, and Australia.
Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar nominated for 2017 FIFA Best Mens Player award:
Famous Football players Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar Jr are the final three players in contention for FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year 2017 award.
The final three nominees for the Best FIFA Men’s Coach of the Year 2017 award are Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane, Juventus’ Massimiliano Allegri, and Chelsea’s Antonio Conte.
