Daily Current Affairs 15th September, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 15 September 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Railways ministry inks MoU with CII to foster green initiatives

In a move aimed at facilitation of green initiatives, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Railways and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

• Energy efficiency in manufacturing facilities, greening of the railway properties, demonstrative pilots of net-zero energy buildings, development of green procurement policy, waste management policy, solid waste disposal, carbon neutrality and phytoremediation stood among the major objectives of the MoU.

Prasad launches maritime communication services in India

Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad launched maritime communication services. He also launched a web portal for reporting stolen mobiles to help trace them.

• He said maritime connectivity will enable high-end support to those travelling on sailing vessels, cruise liners and ships in India by use of satellite technology and provide access to voice, data and video services.
• Nelco, India’s leading VSAT solutions provider is the first Indian company that will now provide quality broadband services to the maritime sector.

HRD minister presents CBSE teacher awards

Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ presented CBSE Teacher Awards – 2018 to 34 teachers.

• The minister also launched CBSE’s portal ‘Vidyadhan’ on Diksha App, a digital infrastructure for knowledge sharing and released CBSE’s annual activity calendar.

‘Mukhyamantri Dal Poshit Yojana’ launched in Uttarakhand

With an objective to provide low priced pulses, the chief minister of Uttarakhand, Trivendra Singh Rawat launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Dal Poshit Yojana’. Under the scheme, two kilograms of pulses per month would be made available to 23.32 lakh ration card holders. On the day, the CM distributed packets of pulses to selected beneficiaries.

Madhya Pradesh govt to allow people to adopt cows

The Madhya Pradesh government is going to launch an online service for those wanting to adopt a cow and provide sheds to them at gaushalas (cow shelters) across the State.

• Through the service, donors would be able to pick a gaushala from the 626 in the State, and pay the amount to fulfil a cow’s diet.

Jammu & Kashmir ranks highest in coverage of iodised salt

Jammu & Kashmir has the highest consumption of iodised salt in the country, according to a first-of-its-kind national survey to measure the coverage of iodised salt.

• Tamil Nadu has the lowest consumption of iodised salt despite being the third biggest producer of salt in the country.
• The survey was conducted by Nutrition International in collaboration with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Indian Coalition for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD).

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Eritrea tops CPJ list of worst countries for press censorship

Eritrea is the world’s most censored country, according to a new report by a media watchdog which also cites extreme measures taken by authorities in nine other countries, including North Korea, China and Saudi Arabia.

• The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said that the worst three countries for press censorship – Eritrea, North Korea and Turkmenistan – use the media “as a mouthpiece of the state, and independent journalism is conducted from exile”.

Exercise TSENTR 2019 starts off in Russia’s DONGUZ Ranges

The opening ceremony of Exercise TSENTR 2019, which aims at countering the threat of international terrorism, was conducted at the DONGUZ Ranges near Orenburg in Russia’s Central Military District.

• This massive exercise involves 8 countries spread around 17 locations and spanning 4 countries. It was concluded with a march past by the contingents in unison.
• India is also taking part in the exercise along with armies from Pakistan and China among others.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI reduces risk weight for consumer credit, including personal loans, to 100%

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said it has reduced the risk weight requirement for consumer loans to 100% from 125%, a move that will reduce cost of such loans.

• The relaxed requirement would not be applicable to credit cards.
• Risk weight refers to the capital banks keep aside as provisioning to cover any loan defaults.

Small finance banks need minimum ₹200 crore capital in on-tap licence regime

The Reserve Bank of India allowed payments banks to apply for small finance bank (SFB) licences, provided they meet the criteria.

• According to the new draft guidelines for on-tap licencing of private sector SFBs, the promoter of a payments bank is eligible to set up an SFB, provided both banks come under the non-operating financial holding company (NOFHC) structure.
• The central bank also revised the minimum paid-up capital requirement for SFBs to ₹200 crore instead of ₹100 crore earlier.
• It said the promoter should hold a minimum of 40% of the paid-up voting equity capital for five years. If the initial promoter shareholding is above 40%, it should be brought down to 40% within a period of five years, 30% within 10 years, and 15% in 15 years.
• The central bank maintained that SFBs should be listed within three years of reaching a net worth of ₹500 crore.
• The RBI also allowed primary urban cooperative banks to convert into SFBs, provided they comply with the on-tap licencing guidelines. The minimum net worth of such SFBs will be ₹100 crore and has to be increased to ₹200 crore within five years from commencement of business.

SPORTS

Kapil Dev appointed chancellor of Rai Sports University in Sonepat

The Haryana Government has appointed cricket legend Kapil Dev, who traces his roots to Haryana, as the first Chancellor of Sports University, Rai (Sonepat).

• Kapil will be the first Chancellor of the university, sources said, adding that the other staff, including the vice-chancellor, would be appointed soon.

Steve Smith 1st batsman to score 8 successive 50+ scores in Ashes

Steve Smith registered his 26th Test fifty against England in the 4th Ashes Test on in Manchester. This was Smith’s 8th consecutive 50+ score in Ashes. With this fifty, Smith became the first batsman to score eight successive 50+ scores in Ashes.

AWARDS

CSS Corp wins NASSCOM’s Customer Service Excellence Award 2019

CSS Corp, a new-age IT services and technology support company, has won NASSCOM’s prestigious Customer Service Excellence Award 2019 in the ‘Transformation’ category.

• The company was chosen for its innovative approach to transform customer experience operations and create new revenue streams.

OBITUARIES

Sivaraman Cheriyanad passes away

Renowned writer from Kerela Writer Sivaraman Cheriyanad has passed away. He was 78.

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