DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: FEBRUARY 23, 2018

NATIONAL

Uttar Pradesh becomes 1st Indian state to clear projects digitally:

Uttar Pradesh (UP) has become the first state in India where business and investment projects can now be cleared digitally, without any human interface. This has become possible with launch of ‘Nivesh Mitra’, a digital platform which will serve as a single-window clearance system. This Mitra was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the inauguration session of the UP Investors’ Summit in Lucknow.

Nivesh Mitra replaces Udyog Bandhu. Under Udyog Bandhu processes were eased significantly but one would still need to go through at least one government officer.

UTTAR PRADESH

Capital: Lucknow
Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
Governor: Shri Ram Naik

Parivartan scheme launched in Haryana:

The Haryana government launched “Parivartan”, a scheme designed to address 10 issues, including cleanliness and pollution, in 46 developmental blocks of the state. The scheme was launched by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

The 10 issues include facilitation of financing, making agriculture profitable and sustainable, improving health services, implementing Swachh Bharat, decongesting market areas, engaging the youth, checking air pollution, ensuring availability of identity-related services, effective policing, and ensuring road order and conduct. The 46 officers (top officials of the state, including those from the IAS, IFS and IPS cadres) will undertake works in the 10 selected common fields and one field of their choice.

HARYANA

Capital: Chandigarh
Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
Governor: Kaptan Singh Solanki

NER’s first regional Centre for Agriculture with Israeli collaboration to be inaugurated in Mizoram on 7th March:

A delegation led by Israeli Ambassador to India, Mr Daniel Carmon met the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh. Israeli Ambassador informed that a First Centre for Agriculture in North East region of India, with collaboration of Israeli expertise, is going to be inaugurated in Mizoram on 7th March this year. Set up with a cost of Rs 8-10 crore, this centre is exclusively for processing of citrus fruits.

MIZORAM

Capital: Aizawl
Chief Minister: Lal Thanhawla
Governor: Nirbhay Sharma
Constituency of Dr Jitendra Singh: Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir

PM Modi announces Rs 20,000 crore defence corridor for Bundelkhand:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a Rs 20,000-crore for defence industrial corridor in Bundelkhand for development of one of the most backward regions of Uttar Pradesh. This corridor will connect Agra, Aligarh, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi and Chitrakoot.

The government early this month announced the first corridor between Chennai and Bengaluru which would also pass through Coimbatore and several other industrial clusters. It will link Kattupalli port, Chennai, Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore and Hosur.

Odisha approves long-term linkage policy for bauxite:

The Odisha government approved a Long-Term Linkage (LTL) policy for bauxite, similar to the one it framed for iron ore. It would help Vedanta’s Lanjigarh alumina refinery to source bauxite from government-owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC). Due to raw material crunch, Vedanta had set a target to produce only 1.25 million tonnes in 2017-18. As per Odisha State Cabinet’s decision, 70 per cent of the total production by OMC will now be available for long-term linkage.

ODISHA

Capital: Bhubaneswar
Chief Minister: Naveen patnaik
Governor: C. Jamir

INTERNATIONAL

Telangana, Taiwan signs agreement for better technology partnership:

The Telangana Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Taoyuan City of Taiwan for better technology partnership in the state. The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) 2018, concluded earlier today with Telangana, India handing over the baton to Armenia for the 2019 edition.

IT Minister K T Rama Rao and principal secretary Jayesh Ranjan signed the agreement with Robert Huang, Director of the Board of Taiwan company at World IT Congress 2018 at HICC in Hyderabad.

TAIWAN

Capital:Taipei
Currency:New Taiwan dollar
President: Tsai Ing-wen

TELANGANA

Capital: Hyderabad
Chief Minister: Chandrasekhar Rao
Governor: S. L. Narasimhan

India inks pact with Canada’s IDRC:

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India and Canada’s IDRC to usher the ‘Programme Based Research Support’ in addressing current and future global and local developmental challenges was signed. During the last five years (2012-17), 96 research projects worth CAD 51 million were funded by the IDRC in India.

A MoU signed between Shri S. Selvakumar, Joint Secretary (Bilateral Cooperation), Department of Economic Affairs and Dr.Jean Lebel, the President of IDRC, Canada.

CANADA

Currency: Canadian dollar
Capital: Ottawa

India gives $1 mn for rehabilitation work in cyclone-hit Tonga:

India has contributed USD one million for the rehabilitation efforts in Tonga after the Tropical Cyclone Gita caused massive destruction in the Pacific island nation.

India has allocated USD 500,000 in the India-UN Development Partnership Fund for rehabilitation purpose and USD 500,000 will be given for immediate relief assistance. The India-UN Development Partnership Fund is led and supported by Indian Government. It is managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation.

TONGA

Capital:Nukuʻalofa
Currency:Tongan paʻanga

India notifies revised tax treaty with Kenya:

The government has notified revised tax treaty between India and Kenya which provides for lower withholding tax rate and mutual assistance in collection of tax revenue claims a finance ministry statement said. In order to promote cross border flow of investments and technology, the revised DTAA provides for reduction in withholding tax rate on dividend and interest to 10 per cent from 15 per cent.

KENYA

Capital:Nairobi
Currency:Kenyan shilling
President : Uhuru Kenyatta

BANKING & BUSINESS

India ranks 81st in global corruption index, Pakistan 117^th:

A report released by Transparency International (TI) has placed India on the 81st spot on the Global Corruption Perception (GCP) Index 2018, in terms of graft and press freedom in the Asia-Pacific region. India was ranked 79th on the Global Corruption Perception Index in 2017. Its observation was based on a report submitted by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

In the latest ranking, New Zealand and Denmark occupied the first two spots at the top of the index, with scores of 89 and 88 respectively. Among other South Asian countries, Bhutan fared the best with a ranking of 26th. Other countries include Pakistan (117th), Afghanistan (177th), Nepal (122th), Myanmar (130th), Bangladesh (143rd), the Maldives (112th) and Sri Lanka (91st).

ICAI issues show-cause notices to Punjab National Bank, Gitanjali Gems auditors:

Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, ICAI has issued show-cause notices to the auditors of Punjab National Bank and Gitanjali Gems in connection with the 11,400 crore rupees fraud. ICAI has said that it has summoned a deputy general manager of PNB seeking details about the fraud at the public sector lender.

Malegam to head RBI panel to review frauds:

The Rs.11,500-crore fraud at the Punjab National Bank has prompted the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to set up a committee under former board member Y.H. Malegam to look into the reasons and suggest steps to prevent such occurrences.

The committee will also look into the issue of huge non-performing asset divergences between what banks classify and what is detected in RBI inspection and recommend steps to address the issue. The other members of the committee are Bharat Doshi, S. Raman and Nandkumar Saravade. A.K. Misra, Executive Director, RBI, will be the Member-Secretary of the committee.

PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK

Headquarters:New Delhi
CEO:Sunil Mehta
Tagline: The name you can bank upon

Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India Sign $ 84 Million Loan for Improvement and Expansion of Water Supply in the State of Bihar:

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $84 million loan for improvement and expansion of water supply in Bhagalpur and Gaya towns in Bihar. The tranche 2 loan is part of the $200 million Multi-Tranche Financing Facility (MFF) for the Bihar Urban Development Investment Program that was approved by ADB in 2012 to provide sustainable urban infrastructure and services in four towns in Bihar – Bhagalpur, Gaya, Darbhanga and Muzaffarpur.

It will also promote better water management practices that will result in a citywide coverage with 24-hour uninterrupted supply of treated water of 135 liters per capita per day in both cities. The loan agreement was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare (Joint Secretary (Multilateral Institutions), Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance) and ADB India’s Resident Mission Country Director, Kenichi Yokoyama.

Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Headquarters:Mandaluyong, Philippines
President:Takehiko Nakao
Motto:Fighting poverty in Asia and the Pacific

AWARDS

Bafta Film Awards 2018: The winners in full

This year’s Bafta Film Awards have been handed out in London. Here are the winners in full:

Best film: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Outstanding British film: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Leading actress: Frances McDormand – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Leading actor: Gary Oldman – Darkest Hour
Director: The Shape Of Water – Guillermo Del Toro
EE Rising Star Award: Daniel Kaluuya
Film not in the English language: The Handmaiden
Documentary: I Am Not Your Negro
Animated film: Coco
Editing: Baby Driver – Jonathan Amos, Paul Machliss
Cinematography: Blade Runner 2049 – Roger Deakins
Original music: The Shape Of Water – Alexandre Desplat
Original screenplay: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

SPORTS

India bag gold medal at 5th Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championship:

Indian “A” team won gold at the 5th Commonwealth Nations Bridge Championship held in Gold Coast, Australia, between 14 and 18 February 2018. The Indian “A” team was headed by Kiran Nadar. The Indian “A” team defeated the Australian team.

AUSTRALIA

Currency: Australian dollar
Capital: Canberra

OBITUARY

Renowned violinist M.S. Anantharaman passes away:

Noted violinist M.S. Anantharaman, an exponent of Parur style of violin playing, died. He was 94 years old. He familiarised the Parur bani along with his brother.

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