Daily Current affairs - October 14th, 2017 for all competitive exams
In a bid to provide affordable life insurance services to people, particularly those living in rural areas of the country, the government has launched Sampoorna Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana and expanded the coverage of Postal Life Insurance (PLI).
- With this, apart from government employees, PLI will now cover professionals also. The decision has been taken to enlarge the cover of social security and bring the maximum number of people under the protection of Postal Life Insurance (PLI).
- Under the Sampoorna Bima Gram (SBG) Yojana, at least one village (having a minimum of 100 households) will be identified in each of the revenue districts of the country, wherein endeavour will be made to cover all households of that identified village with a minimum of one RPLI (Rural Postal Life Insurance) policy each. Coverage of all households in the identified Sampoorna Bima Gram village is the primary objective of this scheme.
Tea board proposes Rs 100 crore package for Darjeeling estates
The Tea Board has proposed a Rs 100-crore relief package for tea estates in the Darjeeling hills, where production has resumed after nearly three months of shutdown due to an agitation for a separate state.
- The relief package, however, has failed to bring cheer to the industry.
- The strike, the first time in the history of Darjeeling tea industry, has wiped out almost 70% of the annual tea production.
IWAI raises Rs660 crore through bonds
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has raised Rs660 crore through a bond sale to finance the development of national waterways.
- It is the second time that the authority has raised money through a bond sale. Last year, it was allowed to issue infrastructure bonds worth Rs1,000 crore but the authority raised only Rs340 crore.
- The money raised from the bonds is intended to be used by IWAI for the development of national waterways.
APY subscribers to touch 1 crore by March 2018
According to the estimates by Finance Ministry, the subscriber base of Atal Pension Yojana (APY), a guaranteed pension scheme for unorganised sector, is expected to increase to 1 crore by March next year.
- APY is being used as an important instrument for inclusion. Within three years, the scheme has been able to mobilise nearly 69 lakh accounts. Given the huge population, there is a long way to go as the pension coverage is very low in the country.
- The Atal Pension Yojana became operational from June 1, 2015 and is available to all the citizens of India in the age group of 18-40 years.
SC asks Centre to strike a balance on Rohingya issue
The Supreme Court has asked the government to strike a balance between humanitarian concern for Rohingya community staying in India and the country’s national security and economic interests. With this, the status quo continues even though the court gave the community the liberty to approach it in case of “any contingency.”
- A plea was filed in the supreme court by Rohingyas for protection of the life and liberty of their community.
World’s Largest Combustion Research Centre Inaugurated at IIT Madras
The world’s largest combustion research center was inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) in Tamil Nadu. The National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) was inaugurated by NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat.
- The establishment of the center will give a major boost to the Indian scientific community and will provide an impetus to research in ‘Alternative Energy and Environmental Protection’.
Odisha Government Department Signs MOU with SBI
The Odisha government's Directorate of Treasuries and Inspection and the State Bank of India have signed an MOU for integration of SBI e-Pay with the cyber treasury.
- The MoU is a landmark initiative by the state government to facilitate revenue collection from citizens through digital banking platform. The SBI e-Pay is the payment aggregator service wing of the bank.
Mitra Shakti 2017
The fifth India-Sri Lanka Joint Training Exercise MITRA SHAKTI 2017 is being held in Pune.
- The exercise is based on Counter Terrorist Operations and an Infantry company from both the countries is participating in the same.
- The aim of the joint training is to exchange the best of military practices of the two countries and build a strong military-to-military relation between the two armies.
Medals of 3 policemen withdrawn
According to the Home Ministry official, Gallantry medals given to three policemen have been withdrawn after they were found to be involved in corruption and other cases.
- The three are former Madhya Pradesh additional superintendent of police Dharmendra Choudhary, Punjab Police sub-inspector Gurmeet Singh and Jharkhand Police sub-inspector Lalit Kumar.
- Dharmendra Choudhary allegedly orchestrated a fake encounter in Jabua in 2002, the official said. Gurmeet Singh was sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case in 2006, while Lalit Kumar was found to be involved in corruption cases
India to build more roads on China border
The Ministry of Defence has decided to significantly enhance infrastructure along the Sino-Indian border including near Doklam, where the militaries of both sides were engaged in a two-month standoff.
- The decision was taken at the Army’s commanders conference from October 9 to 15 which extensively deliberated on the recent face-off with China, besides analysing all possible security challenges on the northern border
Law Ministry hails SC verdict on Section 375
According to the Law Ministry official, The Law Ministry will not challenge the Supreme Court verdict that having sex with a minor wife is rape
- The court order will act as a deterrent against child marriage, as the punishment will now be much stricter than the violation of the child marriage law.
- Sexual intercourse by a man with his minor wife now attracts a jail term of 10 years under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or a life term under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Idea shareholders okay merger with Vodafone
Shareholders of telecom operator Idea Cellular have approved the scheme relating to the merger of its mobile business with Vodafone India, a regulatory filing showed.
- More than 99% of Idea shareholders voted in favour of the merger at the shareholders’ meeting on October 12, 2017.
France’s Audrey Azoulay to be Next UNESCO Chief
UNESCO’s executive board chose former French Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay to be the UN cultural agency’s next leader.
- Azoulay succeeds outgoing Director-General Irina Bokova of Bulgaria. She was in the post since the last eight-years.
M K Sanu Chosen for Mathrubhumi Literary Award
Eminent critic, biographer and orator M K Sanu has been chosen for the Mathrubhumi Literary Award for 2016 in recognition of his rich contribution to the Malayalam literature.
- The award carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, a citation, and a statuette.
Jackson Singh Scored India's First World Cup Goal
Jackson Singh Thounaojam created history at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium by scoring India’s first goal in a FIFA U-17 World Cup during India’s match against Colombia.
- The moment for which the entire country was waiting with baited breath, came in the 82nd minute of the match when Jackson headed home from a corner and the 48000 odd-crowd erupted in sheer joy.
Historian Satish Chandra Passes Away
Veteran and one of India’s eminent historian Satish Chandra passed away the age of 95. Satish’s important works include Mughal Empire and its downfall. He was also the author of NCERT’s leading history book ‘History of Medieval India’.
- Chandra has founded JNU’s Centre for Historical Studies. He was also the chairman and vice chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India during the 1970s.
