Current affairs : September 1, 2016
Goa Assembly ratifies GST Bill
The Goa Legislative Assembly today unanimously passed a
resolution ratifying the amendments to the Constitution to pave way for the
presidential assent to the Goods and Services (GST) Bill, 2016.
- Goa is the 15th State Assembly to ratify the Bill. With this, 50% of States have passed the Bill paving way for the presidential assent.
Project Development Fund
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to create a Project Development Fund (PDF) for catalysing Indian economic presence in the Cambodia, Laos Myanmar and Vietnam.
- The fund will be established with a corpus of Rs 500 Crore.
- It shall be housed in Department of Commerce and operated through the EXIM Bank.
- It shall be governed by an Inter-Ministerial Committee under the chairpersonship of the Commerce Secretary.
Permanent Residency Status to Foreign Investors
The Union Cabinet has approved the scheme for grant of Permanent Residency Status (PRS) to foreign investors subject to the relevant conditions as specified in the FDI Policy notified by the Government from time to time.
- The scheme is expected to encourage foreign investment in India and facilitate Make in India Programme.
Dissolution of Central Inland Water Transport Corporation Limited
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to proposal for dissolution of Central Inland Water Transport Corporation Limited (CIWTC).
Cabinet apprised of MoU between CERT-In India and CERT-UK
The Union Cabinet was recently apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in May, 2016 between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and Ministry of Cabinet Office, UK.
World bank announced Logistics Performance Index-2016
The World Bank has recently released a Logistics Performance Index (LPI) 2016 report titled “Connecting to Complete 2016“.
- India has now been ranked 35 amongst 160 countries.
- In terms of the six-components of the LPI i.e. Customs, Infrastructure, International Shipments, Logistics Quality and Competence, Tracking and Tracing, and Timeliness, India’s ranking is 38, 36, 39, 32, 33 and 42 respectively.
Canada to apply to join China-backed AIIB
Canada is all set to join the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. In this regard, Canada will submit its application by the end of September 2016.
Jains have highest percentage of literates: Census 2011
Census 2011 data on ‘education level by religious community for age 7 and above’ was recently released.
- Jains have the highest percentage of literates above 7 years of age among India’s religious communities, with 86.73% of them as literate and only 13.57% as illiterate.
- Muslims have the highest percentage of illiterates aged beyond 7 years at 42.72%, as compared to 36.40% among Hindus, 32.49% among Sikhs, 28.17% among Buddhists and 25.66% among Christians.
Union Minister JP Nadda unveiled Mera Aspatal – My Hospital initiative
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda launched the ‘Mera Aspataal’ (my hospital) initiative.
- This move seeks to empower the patients by seeking their views on the quality of experience in a public healthcare facility.
Goa govt signs MoU with Google India
The Goa government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Google India to promote digital literacy and drive the digital transformation in the state.
- Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Vice President, Google South East Asia and India Rajan Anandan signed the MoU.
Jharkhand becomes first state to implement PFMS
Jharkhand is the first state in the country to have implemented Public Fund Management System (PFMS).
- Development Commissioner Amit Khare said Union Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa appreciated the implementation of Jharkhand's public fund management system.
NPCI launches Bharat Bill Payment
System pilot project
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has
launched a pilot project for Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) with 26 Bharat
Bill Payment Operating Units (BBPOUs).
- In the first phase, BBPS will cover repetitive payments for everyday utility services such as electricity, water, gas, telephone and Direct-to-Home (DTH).
Bhutan set to host Asian Tennis Tour
event next month
Land of the thunder dragon’s Nation Bhutan is set to
become the fourth Asian country to host a tournament on the Asian Tennis
Tour.
- India, Thailand and Iran have already hosted a series of tournaments, both men and women, on ATT and Bhutan is scheduled to host its maiden event from September 16 to 18.
First military heritage website
launched
India's first military heritage website,
coloursofglory.org was launched by Glory Foundation at Chennai.
- A veteran of the 1971 Indo-Pak war, city based Captain D.P.Ramachandran who is also the executive trustee of the foundation declared the war heroes of South India held great significance to the history of India.
Govt panel clears 16 highway projects
across 11 states
The Government has approved 16 highway projects in 11
states to be executed at a cost of 7,457 crore rupees.
- The projects are in Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Sikkim.
PTC fin arm ties up with banks for
clean energy project loans
Ptc India Financial Services (PFS) has tied up with banks
that will provide loans to companies engaged in renewable energy (RE)
production.
- Upon this collaboration these banks set to letter of credit (LC) based on the issue letter of comfort (LOC) issued by PFS, to project companies in the renewable space with diligence on certain parameters.
Mobikwik joins hand with 12 state
electricity boards
India's largest digital payment company in India,
MobiKwik has announced coalition with 12 state electricity boards.
- The MobiKwik took this initiative ahead of its expansion plan to set up a national base for utility payments.
HADR exercise:
It is an Annual Joint
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise.
- It was recently organized by the Armed Forces in collaboration with Central Armed Police Forces and civil administration in different places of the country.
Kerala to form JV with Railways for infrastructure projects
Kerala has decided to enter into joint venture agreement with Railways for rail projects in the state under the 51:49 equity partnership arrangement.
- The state government has prepared a priority list of rail projects for consideration under the joint venture.
Sudarsan Pattnaik wins prize in Moscow
sand art show
India's Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has won the
people's choice prize for his sand sculpture titled "Mahatma Gandhi -
World Peace" at the ninth Moscow Sand Sculpture Championship 2016.
- Sudarsan has already won a gold medal for the 15-foot-high sculpture.
Anuradha Rao appointed as MD, CEO of
SBI Mutual Fund
SBI Mutual Fund has appointed Anuradha Rao as its
Managing Director and chief executive. Prior to this, Rao was Deputy Managing
Director at Sbihandling New Business Portfolio.
- She has also worked as the Chief General Manager of personal Bankingat the bank.
Ashok Chawla is new Chancellor at TERI university
The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) has
officially appointed former Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla as the new
Chancellor of Teri university.
- With this, Teri ended its last association with former Chancellor and Head R.K. Pachauri, who was accused of sexually harassing a female colleague in 2015.
100-year-old athlete from India, wins Gold Medal at Masters Games
India’s 100-year-old athlete, Man Kaur has won Gold medal at the American Masters Games in the 100-meter dash. She took a minute-and-a-half to cross the finish line in Vancouver.
- Kaur from Chandigarh was the only female competitor in her age category at the competition for older athletes.
