DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: JULY 15&16, 2018

Daily Current Affairs (July 15&16, 2018) like many other sections is inevitable and this also helps to score in the Banking awareness , Static GK and Financial Awareness sections. Remember, Banking Awareness and Static Awareness Questions are asked from the General Awareness section. This will also help you to ride your preparations for the forthcoming exams.

NATIONAL

PM Modi Dedicates Bansagar Canal Project To Nation

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated the Bansagar Canal Project to the Nation in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. It is the joint venture of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar and the canal is 171 km long.

This project will provide a big boost to irrigation in the region, and will be greatly beneficial for the farmers of Mirzapur and Allahabad districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Shri Narendra Modi also laid the Foundation Stone of the Mirzapur Medical College. He inaugurated 100 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in the State.

He also dedicated a bridge over the River Ganga at Balughat, Chunar, which will facilitate connectivity between Mirzapur and Varanasi.

Ravi Shankar Prasad unveils Goa IT Policy 2018

Union minister for electronics and IT and law and justice Ravi Shankar Prasad unveiled the Goa IT Policy 2018 at the Inox complex in Panaji on the final day of Goa IT Day celebrations. Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar was also present on the occasion.

The Information Technology policy 2018 focuses on reverse migration and creation of around 10,000 jobs in the next five years.

The policy also envisages establishment of centres of excellence in collaboration with industry to promote skill development amongst faculty and staff of technical institutes.

Mr Prasad also announced that Goa will soon have a National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology centre.

10-member committee to review the offences under the ‘Companies Act’

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has set up a 10 Member Committee, headed by the Secretary of Ministry of Corporate Affairs Injeti Srinivas. It is to review the penal provisions in the Companies Act, 2013.

It has been decided that the existing compoundable offences in the Companies Act – 2013 which are punishable with fine only or punishable with fine or imprisonment or both, may be examined.

The Committee headed by the Secretary Ministry of Corporate Affairs has 10 members which includes Uday Kotak, MD, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Sidharth Birla, Former President, FICCI as Members.

Modi launches 340-km long Purvanchal Expressway

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the 340-km six-lane project Purvanchal highway. The highway is expandable to eight lanes and it will be built at the cost of Rs 23,000 crore.

The expressway will begin from Chand Sarai village on Lucknow-Sultanpur road (NH 731) and end at Haidariya village in Ghazipur district, about 18 km from the UP-Bihar order.

On the occasion, PM Modi reiterated his vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”, and spoke about development initiatives such as PM Awas Yojana and PM Gram Sadak Yojana.

Haryana Top State In Per Capita Revenue Collection Under GST

Haryana has topped other states in per capita revenue collection under GST, and is also the fourth highest generator of e-way bills in the country.

Haryana has widened the tax base by 82.22 percent and recorded 19 per cent hike in revenue collections.

About 1.12 crore e-way bills were generated in Haryana between April 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018, catapulting the state to the position of 4th highest generator of e-way bills in the country.

The compliance percentage of assessees in the state is 5-7 percent higher than the national average and revenue collection under commercial taxes has registered double-digit growth.

ISRO successfully tested the high thrust version of the Vikas Engine

ISRO has successfully conducted a ground test of its high thrust version of the Vikas Engine that would improve the payload capability of the space agency’s launch vehicles.

The test for a duration of 195 seconds was conducted by scientists at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

The Vikas Engine is the workhorse liquid rocket engine used to power the second stage of the ISRO’s trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

It is also used in the second stage and also at the four strap on stages of Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and in the twin engine core liquid stage (L110) of GSLV Mk-III.

INTERNATIONAL

India, Bangladesh Sign Revised Travel Agreement

India has signed a revised travel agreement with Bangladesh, easing visa restrictions for citizens of Bangladesh.

The agreement was signed between the two countries in Dhaka in presence of Bangladesh’s Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who is the neighbouring country on a three-day visit. Singh and Khan also held the 6th Home Minister Level Talks between India and Bangladesh.

Under the Revised Travel Arrangement (RTA)-2018, freedom fighters and elderly Bangladeshi nationals will get five year multiple visa from India.

World’s largest state-of-the-art visa centre: Dhaka

The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan Kama has inaugurated the world’s largest integrated Indian Visa Application Center at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka.

The state-of-the-art IVAC will have 48 counters and can cater to around 700 applicants simultaneously.

Bangladeshis constitute one of the largest numbers of visitors from a single country to India. Last year 1.4 million visas were issued to Bangladeshi nationals. There are 12 visa centres in Bangladesh, the highest number India has in any country in the world.

Iceland Fills US-Vacated Seat on UN Human Rights Council

The United Nations General Assembly has elected Iceland to serve on the Geneva-based global rights body effective immediately, through to the end of next year.

Iceland has for the first time been elected to the Human Rights Council, filling the seat vacated by the United States, which withdrew from the body last month.

On 19 June, the US announced its decision to leave the Council. US accused the Council of displaying bias against Israel.

UNSC Adopts Resolution 2428 to impose arms embargo on South Sudan

The Security Council has adopted a resolution to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan in addition to current sanctions, till May 31, 2019.

The resolution was drafted by United States and it has won minimum nine votes needed in favor to none against with 6 abstentions.

The Resolution calls upon all UN member states to prevent supply, sale or transfer to South Sudan, from or through their territories till 31 May 2019.

The embargo means an official ban on trade or other commercial activity with a particular country.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

India to take over as head of Asia Pacific region of WCO

India will take over as head of the Asia Pacific region of the World Customs Organisation (WCO).

An event has been organised in New Delhi to mark India’s assumption as Vice Chair for a period of two years.

WCO represents 182 customs administrations across the world that collectively process approximately 98 percent of world trade.

WCO

Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

Secretary General: Kunio Mikuriya

APPOINTMENTS

Amitabh Malhotra appointed as HSBC India Head – Investment Banking

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited has appointed Amitabh Malhotra as the Head of Investment Banking for HSBC India.

In his role, Amitabh will lead the Investment Banking and Equity Capital Markets (ECM) business.

Prior to HSBC, Amitabh worked at Rothschild India, where he was the co-head and managing director of the Global Investment Bank, based in Mumbai. He has also worked with KPMG and J P Morgan.

HSBC

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

AWARDS AND HONOURS

FIFA World Cup 2018 Awards

Luka Modric, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Thibaut Courtois all received awards for their respective achievements at the 2018 World Cup during the presentation ceremony following the final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia.

FIFA Golden Boot: Harry Kane (6 goals)- England Captain

FIFA Golden Ball: Luka Modric – Croatia

FIFA Golden Glove: Thibaut Courtois – Belgium

FIFA Fair Play Award: Spain

FIFA Young Player Award: Kylian Mbappe – France

SPORTS

France wins FIFA World Cup 2018

The 2018 World Cup ended after a 32 days of wild and unforgettable moments.

France was crowned champion after beating Cinderella Croatia 4-2 in the final in Moscow. France have clinched their second World Cup Football title(1998). The third place was got by Belgium after defeating England.

The tournament featured 169 goals scored and it came within two of tying the highest scoring World Cup ever.

This was the first time that Croatia made it to the final. France manager Didier Deschamps became only the third man to have won the World Cup as a captain and as a manager.

The official mascot of FIFA 2018 is Zabivaka and the official song is ‘Live it up’ by Nicky Jam. The campaign of FIFA 2018 is ‘Say No to Racism’.

Wimbledon 2018 results

It’s a 13th Grand Slam title for Djokovic and a first since 2016.

For Angelique Kerber its a third Grand Slam title after having won the Australian Open and US Open in 2016. The event was held at London, UK.

Wrestler Vinesh clinches gold at Spanish Grand Prix

India’s Vinesh Phogat clinched the gold medal at the Spanish Grand Prix wrestling tournament.

She thrashed Natasha Fox of Canada 10-0 in the final of the women’s 50 kilogram freestyle category. The event was held at Madrid, Spain.

Dhoni becomes 4th Indian batsman to score 10,000 runs in ODIs

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has became the fourth Indian to reach the milestone of 10,000 runs in ODIs during the second match of the three-game series against England.

The other India’s greatest batsmen in the list are Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.

Dhoni is currently placed 12th in the list of all-time highest run-getters in ODIs.

Dhoni also became the fourth wicket-keeper to complete 300 ODI catches after Adam Gilchrist (417), Mark Boucher (403) and Kumar Sangakkara (402).

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Youth Skills Day – July 15

The World Youth Skills Day was observed across the world on July 15, 2018.

The day is observed to raise awareness on the importance of investing in youth skills development.

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