Daily Current Affairs 2 July 2018 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NATIONAL NEWS
Stainless steel charkha unveiled at Sabarmati riverfront
BJP president Amit Shah has unveiled a stainless steel Charkha at the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The charkha, which is 21 feet in length, 11 feet in height,and 6.5 feet in breadth, is made of chromium-nickel stainless steel and is installed on the Sabarmati Riverfront near the Riverfront Park, right across the Sabarmati Ashram.
Instant e-PAN based on Aadhaar launched
The Income Tax Department has introduced an ‘instant’ Aadhaar-based PAN allotment service for individuals seeking to file taxes for the first time. The facility is free of cost and instant allotment of e-PAN is available only for a limited period on a first-come-first-serve basis for valid Aadhaar holders. The facility is only for resident individuals and not for Hindu Undivided Family, trusts, firms and companies.
- The new PAN will have the same name, date of birth, gender, mobile number and address as in the Aadhaar.
Government forms panel to upgrade norms for Computation Of Economic Data
The government has set up a 13-member committee to upgrade the norms for computation of economic data at states and districts level in the backdrop of plans to revise the base year for National Accounts or GDP calculation. The Committee for Sub-National Accounts will be headed by Ravindra H Dholakia, a retired professor of IIM Ahmedabad.
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) will change the base year to 2017-18 for the calculation of GDP and IIP numbers from the current 2011-12 with an aim to capture changes in the economy
India is home to more than 19,500 mother tongues
More than 19,500 languages or dialects are spoken in India as mother tongues, according to the latest analysis of a census released this week.
- There are 121 languages which are spoken by 10,000 or more people in India, which has a population of 121 crore, it said.
- The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, said since a household may consist of persons related by blood or of unrelated persons or a mix of both, it is absolutely necessary to ask every person about her or his mother tongue.
Bhitarkanika National Park Becomes Largest Habitat Of Endangered Estuarine Crocodiles
The Bhitarkanika National Park (Odisha) has become the largest habitat of the endangered estuarine crocodiles in the country with a record number of their nesting sites spotted in it. Altogether 101 nesting sites of estuarine crocodiles were found this time by enumerators.
- The nesting spots had registered 25% rise this year. At least 1698 crocodiles, including albino species, were counted this year along the water-bodies of Mahanadi delta region, while the figure recorded last year stood at 1682.
BSE, BME Tie-Up to develop Commodity Derivatives Markets
Premier stock exchange Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has entered into an agreement with the Bombay Metal Exchange (BME) for the growth and systematic development of commodity derivatives markets in the non-ferrous metals complex.
- Through this MoU, the BSE and the BME will coordinate and work jointly on initiatives to deepen the understanding of commodity market among stakeholders.
Rabies is India’s most fatal infection
According to data from National Health Profile 2018, Rabies is the only disease that had a 100% death rate in India in 2017.
- The vaccine-preventable viral disease spreads to people through bites or scratches of animals, mostly infected dogs. There were 4,370 rabies deaths in India in 2016, which accounted for 1 in 3 of the world’s 13,340 rabies deaths.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
China’s Mount Fanjingshan added to Unesco List
Mount Fanjingshan, situated in China’s southwestern province of Guizhou, was inscribed to the World Heritage List at the 42nd World Heritage Committee meeting in Bahrain. A total of five natural sites were nominated to the World Heritage List in 2018.
2018 Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction
India will be participating in the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 03-06 July 2018.
- The theme of the meet is ‘Preventing Disaster Risk: Protecting Sustainable Development’.
- The disaster risk reduction is a key instrument to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, as highlighted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
BUSINESS
NABARD sanctions over Rs 735 cr for Bengal for rural infra projects
NABARD has sanctioned Rs 735.53 crore in the first quarter of the current fiscal under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for West Bengal for facilitating the execution of 86 projects.
- They include six solar power, one medium irrigation, five minor irrigation and 12 flood protection projects, besides 57 projects for the widening and strengthening of roads and five rural bridges.
IRDAI gives nod to LIC to buy stake in IDBI Bank
Life Insurance Corporation of India is all set to become a knight in shining armour for the ailing IDBI Bank. In a first-of-its-kind transaction, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has approved a proposal allowing the former to acquire a majority stake in the bank.
ECONOMY
FDI growth hits 5-year low in 2017-18
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India seems to be petering out with the inflows growth rate recording a five-year low of 3 per cent at USD 44.85 billion in 2017-18.
- According to the latest data of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), FDI in 2017-18 grew by only 3 per cent to USD 44.85 billion.
SPORTS
India clinch inaugural Kabaddi Masters title
India beat Iran 44-26 in the Kabaddi Masters final in Dubai to reassert their supremacy in the sport. Led by skipper Ajay Thakur, who scored nine points, India were in top from the first minute to the last.
APPOINTMENTS
Journalist Rajat Sharma elected DDCA president
The ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ anchor and senior journalist Rajat Sharma has been elected as the new President of Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). Sharma defeated former World Cup winning Indian cricketer Madan Lal by 517 votes to win the elections.
Vishwas Patel appointed Chairman of Payments Council of India
The Payments Council of India announced the appointment of Vishwas Patel as its new Chairman. Patel is the Director of Infibeam Avenues and succeeds Naveen Surya, who has been elevated to the post of Chairman Emeritus.
Vijay Srinivas appointed Director & GM of United India Insurance
Chennai-based United India Insurance Company announced the appointment of K B Vijay Srinivas as its Director and General Manager.
- Prior to taking up the new role, he was serving National Insurance Company Ltd as its Chief Marketing Officer and General Manager.
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