Current affairs : March 1st, 2017 for all competitive exams
The government has shifted the responsibility of
promoting digital transactions in the country to the Ministry of IT and
Electronics (MEITY) from NITI Aayog.
- MEITY
is responsible for promotion of e-governance for empowering citizens as
well as promoting inclusive and sustainable growth of electronics and IT
in the country.
The report of
the Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS), conducted by Janaagraha
Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, was recently released.
- This
is the fourth edition. The survey evaluated 21 major cities from the
country’s 18 states. The survey highlighted inadequacies in urban
governance that could affect public service delivery and quality of life.
- Thiruvananthapuram
is at the first place. Pune is ranked second, up two ranks from 2015,
while Kolkata retains its third slot.
- Delhi
slips two places to rank ninth. The biggest gainer in the 2016 survey is
Bhubaneswar, which has jumped eight places from 2015 to land at the 10th
spot.
A Financing
Agreement for IDA credit of US$ 63 million (equivalent) for the “Tejaswini”
Socio-Economic Empowerment of Adolescent Girls and Young Women Project” was
recently signed between India and the World Bank.
- The
development objective of Tejaswini, for Socioeconomic Empowerment of
Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) Project in India is to improve
completion of market-driven skills training and secondary education for
adolescent girls and young women in select districts of Jharkhand.
The First
Integrated Heliport was recently dedicated to the Nation by Ministry of Civil
Aviation in association with Pawan Hans at Rohini Heliport, Delhi.
- The
heliport is an excellent infrastructure but helicopter services in India
are still at a nascent stage. National Aviation Policy proposes to have
four heliports, one in each region and Rohini’s heliport is the first
step.
The Madurai
bench of the Madras high court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to enact
a law with prohibitory and penal clauses within two months to eradicate seemai
karuvelam trees (prosopis juliflora).
- It
also directed the government to release perennial funds to the district
collectors in the state for removing of the seemai karuvelam trees.
- The
seemai karuvelam tree that sucks a lot of water has invaded into water
bodies and dry lands of government and private people. Since such trees
ultimately affect the agricultural activities, a batch of cases for their
eradication was filed before the high court bench.
The armies of
India and Oman are scheduled to conduct their second bilateral exercise, Al
Nagah-II 2017, in March with a focus on counter-terrorism.
- The
aim of the exercise is to build and promote bilateral Army-to-Army
relations and enhance interoperability while exchanging skills and
experiences between the Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman.
European Union member states approved visa-free
travel for Georgia, after agreeing safeguards to prevent any upsurge in
arrivals from the former Soviet satellite.
- Under
the accord, Georgian citizens will be able to travel visa-free for 90 days
in the EU during any 180-day period.
- The
accord does not apply to the United Kingdom or Ireland.
Paris based think tank Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) has cut India's growth
forecast for this fiscal year (2016-2017) to 7% from 7.4% earlier (2015-2016)
because of demonetization.
- The
pace will accelerate to 7.3% next fiscal (2017-2018) and higher in
Financial Year 2019. According to OECD India is already in the process of
implementing a gradual reduction in corporate income tax to 25% from
30%.
American Express, a global leader in payment
solutions has launched an electronic payment platform linked to corporate card, Buyer
Initiated Payments (BIP) to eliminate payment through cheques or
drafts.
- The
BIP card will help organizations and their vendors by reducing the
processing cost and offer extended payment terms compared to traditional
invoice payments.
- BIP
enables companies to increase the Days Payable Outstanding (DPO)
while still paying vendors on time management firm for such services.
Canara, HSBC and Oriental Bank of Commerce Life
Insurance launched iSelect term plan to expand its online
product suit with the meant for family protection.
- iSelect
term plan provides enhanced protection cover for the family at an
affordable premium.
- It
is a pure protection online term plan that provides life insurance cover
along with the option to cover against accidental death/ disability.
Senior tribal
leader from Chhattisgarh and ex parliamentarian Shri Nand Kuamr Sai recently
assumed charge as the chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
(NCST).
- NCST
was established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A
in the Constitution through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
The author Neil Gaiman has been appointed as a
global Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Refugee Agency,UNHCR by Filippo Grandi,
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
- He
has appointed to raise awareness about the plight of forcibly displaced
people and to generate much needed funds.
Popular Gujarati writer and noted play writer
Tarak Mehta passed away. He was 87 and suffering from age related illness since
long.
- The
famous humorist was best known for his column 'Duniya Ne Undha Chasma' in
Mumbai based Gujarati news weekly 'Chitralekha'.
- He
was awarded Padma Shri in 2015.The popular comic television serial ‘Taarak
Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' is a television adaptation of Padma Shri Taarak
Mehta's column 'Duniya Ne Undha Chasma'.
To recongnize the contribution of women
cricketers, the BCCI for the first time, has introduced the Lifetime
Achievement Award for Women.
- Former
captain, Ms. Shanta
Rangaswamy has been nominated for the award.
- She
led India in 12 Test matches and in 16 ODIs. Apart from Mr. Vaman
Viswanath Kumar and late Ramakant Desai have been nominated for the BCCI
Special Award in recognition of their yeoman services to Indian Cricket.
Jitu Rai won the gold medal in men’s 50 meter
free pistol event of the ISSF World Cup, with a world record score of
230.1.
- India’s Amanpreet Singh wins silver with a score of 226.9.
