Daily Current Affairs 16 March 2018 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NATIONAL NEWS
India attracts USD 209 bn FDI during Apr 2014 to Dec 2017
Foreign direct investment has increased “steadily” in the country with total capital inflows reaching USD 208.99 billion during April 2014 to December 2017 period.
PM opens Science Congress in Manipur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the five-day Indian Science Congress at the Manipur University in Imphal. This was the second Science Congress in the northeast in the last 100 years. Over 5,000 invitees are taking part, including 2,000 research scholars and scientists.
Three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela begins in Delhi
The three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela began in New Delhi with a focus on doubling the farmers’ income. The objective of the fair is to create awareness among farmers about the latest agriculture-related technological developments.
- During the mela, latest agriculture and allied sector technologies will be displayed at more than 800 stalls.
Asia Pacific Regional Conference of IACP held in New Delhi
Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the two-day Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, IACP in New Delhi.
- The theme of the conference is “Challenges to Policing in 2020 – How is Cyber Space shaping our approach to Cybercrime and Terrorism, how do we perform within it and take advantage of it”.
India’s first coastal policing academy set up in Gujarat
India’s first national coastal policing academy, National Academy of Coastal Policing (NACP) to train police forces in effectively safeguarding country’s shoreline will start functioning from April 2018. It will be launched from campus of Gujarat’s Fisheries Research Centre located in coastal Okha town in Devbhumi Dwarka district of Gujarat.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
World Ocean Summit 2018 concluded in Mexico
The fifth World Ocean Summit was held at Riviera Maya, Mexico. It’s a chance for business, government and environmental leaders to talk about the problems facing the world’s seas and to come up with solutions to protect the planet’s vast ocean resources.
Bolivia unfurls ‘world’s biggest flag’ stretching 200 km
Bolivia claimed to have unfurled the world’s biggest flag that stretched nearly 200 kilometres. Tens of thousands of Bolivians held the flag in a show of support for the country amid a maritime dispute with Chile. Bolivia has been demanding access to the Pacific Ocean, which it lost to Chile during a war in the 19th Century.
GST one of the most complex, and second highest tax rate in world: World Bank
India’s new unified Goods and Services Tax, which subsumed a web of central and state levies to make life easier for businesses, is one of the most complex and has the second highest rate in the world.
- There are only five countries in the world including India which have four or more tax rates of GST, according to the World Bank’s bi-annual India Development Update. Most countries have either a one or two rates. Other countries with four or more rates are Italy, Luxemborg, Pakistan and Ghana.
BANKING & FINANCE
ADB to lend $120 mn for improving Indian rail infrastructure
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $120 million loan agreement with India to improve operational efficiency of Indian railways by double-tracking and electrification of tracks along high-density corridors.
- The loan is part of the $500 million multi-tranche financing facility for railway sector investment programme approved by the ADB board in 2011.
- The loan amount will be used to complete the ongoing works commenced under earlier tranches.
Muthoot Finance ties up with global IME bank for money transfer service to Nepal
Muthoot Finance Ltd., the flagship company of Muthoot Group tied up with Global IME Bank to expand its money remittance services between Indo Nepal Corridor.
- Muthoot Finance is the only Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) to extend the money transfer services from India to Nepal.
SPORTS
Odisha to host Senior Nationals Table Tennis after 12 years
Odisha will host the 80th Senior National Table Tennis Championships, most probably at Cuttack, after a gap of 12
years. The state had hosted the event in 2001 and in 2006.
Sri Lanka Cricket releases book on Jagmohan Dalmiya
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on the occasion of the 70th independence of the island nation, paid a glowing tribute to former BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya by releasing a book, titled ‘A Tribute to Jagu’.
- SLC President Thilanga termed Dalmiya as a ‘hero’ who had the guts to stand up for what was right and carry on in the face of unmatched adversity. They felicitated him posthumously as the greatest non-Sri Lankan contributor to their country’s cricket.
AWARDS
Veteran actress Simi Garewal wins UK film festival award
Veteran actress and talk show host Simi Garewal has been felicitated with a “UK Golden Flame Award” for her contribution to Indian cinema at the opening ceremony of the annual Tongues of Fire UK Asian Film Festival in London.
ICMR wins the 2017 Kochon Prize for TB research
The 2017 Kochon Prize was awarded to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) today in New Delhi for building a tradition of excellence in TB research and development. The $65,000 Prize is awarded annually by Stop TB Partnership to individuals and/or organizations that have made a significant contribution to combating TB.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Sleep Day: 16 March 2018
World Sleep Day is an annual event, intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep, including medicine, education, social aspects and driving. World Sleep Day is held the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox of each year.
- The theme of World Sleep Day 2018 is ‘Join the Sleep World, Preserve Your Rhythms to Enjoy Life’.
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