Daily Current affairs - June 9th, 2017 for all competitive exams
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is adding a
Digital experience for Air Travellers through DigiYatra Platform.
- The ‘DigiYatra’ is an industry-led
initiative co-ordinated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation aimed at transforming the nation into a digitally empowered
society.
- ‘DigiYatra’
initiative aims to bring together entire industry to develop a digital
ecosystem that will deliver Indian customers a seamless, consistent and
paperless service experience at every touch point of their journey.
Skill for Life, Save a Life initiative to promote
skill development in the health sector
Shri J P Nadda has launched 'Skill for Life, Save
a Life' initiative to promote skill development in the health sector. The
Initiative aims to upscale the quantity and quality of trained professionals in
the healthcare system.
- Under this initiative,
various courses are planned to be initiated targeting specific
competencies for healthcare professionals as well as for the general
public.
Water Quality Index set to be announced soon
A certain and easy way to find out pollution
levels in water will be introduced in the coming weeks.
- Based on the proposal
of the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB), the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is working on coming up
with a Water Quality Index, on the lines of Air Quality Index (AQI).
- A committee has been
formed with senior environment scientists from Telangana, Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and other States to formulate models to
assess the water quality.
- The committee members
also want to classify the lakes, groundwater and the coastal waters across
the country based on the Water Quality Index.
Ministry of AYUSH inaugurates 2nd National Health
Editors' Conference on Yoga
The second National Health Editors’ Conference on
Yoga has begun in New Delhi. The conference aimed at giving insight
to the journalists about the scientific aspects of yoga and its benefits for
health.
- The theme of the
conference is 'Yoga for Health and
Harmony'. The event was inaugurated by Minister of State for
AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik.
UDAAN scheme: Tamil Nadu govt signs MoU with
Aviation Ministry
The Government of Tamil Nadu has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Civil Aviation
Ministry for the implementation of the UDAAN scheme in the state.
- Under the Regional Air
Connectivity scheme UDAAN, three of the tier-two industrial towns such as
Hosur, Salem and Neyveli are to be developed in the first phase where
airstrips are available, though not in use.
Kerala Assembly passes motion to repeal cattle
rules
The Kerala Assembly overwhelmingly voted in
favour of repealing the Centre’s new rules regulating livestock markets under
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
- The Chief Minister was
unsparing in his criticism of the Centre. The notification promulgated on
May 27 was violative of the federal spirit of the Constitution.
- It was an abuse of the
Centre’s powers to frame rules and a trespass on the legislative authority
of States.
$1 mn fund to bolster BRICS media
Chinas state-run news agency Xinhua has announced
a USD one million fund to institutionalise media cooperation among the BRICS
countries including awards for journalists from the five member states. This
was announced at the recently held BRICS media forum.
- The
plan will promote six objectives, including “balanced reporting”— a view
shared by several speakers at the forum, who called for alternative media
narrative, which did not take the cue from Washington or London.
- The
proposal would also focus on joint development of BRICS digital media,
financial information services and promoting people- to-people contacts.
World’s oldest fossil mushroom discovered:
The world’s oldest fossil mushroom – dating back
to about 115 million years – has been discovered in Brazil.
- The
mushroom has been named Gondwanagaricites magnificus and belongs to the
Agaricales order.
Facebook launches disaster maps to help aid workers
save lives
Facebook has launched disaster maps - an
initiative aimed at helping humanitarian organisations save lives in
emergencies.
Facebook said it would provide three types of maps:
1. Location density maps will show
people's location before, during and after a disaster.
2. Movement maps will illustrate
flight between neighbourhoods or cities over several hours.
3. Safety check maps will show when
users let their family and friends know they are out of harm's way.
Nanoparticles to treat eye infection
Scientists at the Hyderabad-based CSIR-Centre for
Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB) have developed a novel way to treat
fungal keratitis.
- Treating
keratitis infection is currently a challenge because it is difficult to
maintain a therapeutic dose at the corneal surface for long periods as
blinking and tear formation washes off the drug. To address this
challenge, scientists have developed protein-based nanoparticles that
encapsulate the drug.
DGFT may come under Revenue dept.
The Centre is considering a proposal to shift the
entire Directorate General of Foreign
Trade (DGFT) office to the Department of Revenue
(DoR) from the Department of Commerce (DoC) — as part of measures to simplify
processes relating to export and import.
- The
suggestion — billed as a major trade facilitation measure and in line with
the Centre’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ initiative — was mooted recently by
the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) in the DoR within the
Finance Ministry.
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) notifies new
Safe Harbour Regime
In order to reduce transfer pricing disputes, to
provide certainty to taxpayers, to align safe harbour margins with industry
standards and to enlarge the scope of safe harbour transactions, the Central
Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified a new safe harbour regime based on
the report of the Committee set up in this regard. It has come into effect from
1st of April, 2017. The safe harbour regime is optional to
taxpayers.
- Assessees
eligible under the present safe harbour regime up to AY 2017-18 shall also
have the right to choose the safe harbour option most beneficial to them.
- A
new category of transactions being “Receipt of Low Value-Adding
Intra-Group Services” has been introduced.
- The
Central Board of Direct Taxes is a statutory authority functioning under
the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963.
HDFC Life, Max to rework merger deal
HDFC Life and Max Life are evaluating various options to merge and
both the companies are committed to the deal despite reservations expressed by
the insurance regulator, according to a statement issued by the former.
- In November 2016, the
Insurance Regulatory Authority of India (IRDAI) had expressed reservations
on the proposed amalgamation of Max Life and HDFC Life into a single
entity citing concerns over compliance with Section 35 of the Insurance
Act, 1938.
- Section 35 of the
Insurance Act, 1938 does not allow the merger of an insurance firm with a
non-insurance firm.
Lakshmi Vilas Bank appoints B K Manjunath as
part-time chairman for 3 years
Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) has appointed B K
Manjunath as a part-time chairman for three years.
- Manjunath is a member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and a practicing charted accountant for the last 25 years.
Muttiah Muralidaran becomes first Sri Lankan to be
inducted into ICC Hall of Fame
Muttiah Muralidaran, the most
successful bowler in Tests and One-Day Internationals, was inducted into the
ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in London.
- The Sri Lankan spin
great was honored during the innings break of the India versus Sri Lanka
Champions Trophy match at The Oval.
- He became the first player from Sri Lanka and the 83rd overall to be inducted into the Hall of Fame when ICC CEO Dave Richardson presented him with a commemorative framed cap.
Lalpekhlua bags AIFF’s top award
India and Mohun Bagan striker Jeje Lalpekhlua
received the All India Football Federation’s inaugural player of the year 2016
award.
- Sasmita Malik was adjudged the AIFF Women’s Player-of-the-Year.
Ramkumar Ramanathan lifts ITF men’s Futures tennis
title
India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan lifted
the ITF (International Tennis Federation) men’s Futures tennis
title after outplaying Raymond Sarmiento of the USA in straight sets in
Singapore.
- The top-seeded Indian
beat the second seeded player 6-2, 6-2 in the final of the event. It was
the first title of the season for Ramkumar.
Noted social activist, author Mehrunnisa Dalwai no
more
Mehrunnisa Dalwai, noted social activist and
author, and the wife of one of modern Maharashtra’s most remarkable and
formidable social reformers, Hamid Dalwai, passed away.
- Hamid, the author of the classic, Indhan(published 1965), worked tirelessly to uplift the status of women within the Islamic religion.
