Daily GK Update 01st March, 2017
Author Neil Gaiman Named U.N. Goodwill Ambassador
i. The author Neil Gaiman has been appointed as a global Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Refugee Agency,UNHCR by Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. ii. He has appointed to raise awareness about the plight of forcibly displaced people and to generate much needed funds.
i. Built by Pawan Hans Limited, a Public Sector Undertaking of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, India’s first heliport has been inaugurated in north Delhi’s Rohini. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju inaugurated the heliport.
ii. Pawan Hans Ltd Chairman and Managing Director B P Sharma stated that The heliport has come up at an investment of Rs 100 crore.The heliport has a terminal building having capacity of 150 passengers, four hangars with parking capacity of 16 helicopters and nine parking bays.
SIDBI, CSFB pact to help MSMEs avail loans at cheaper rate
i. SIDBI signed an agreement with the Capital Small Finance Bank (CSFB) to enable it to provide loans at a concessional rate to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through a multi-pronged strategy comprising of concessional funding at MCLR of CSFB (presently 9.60%) under refinance from SIDBI.
ii. The MoU also envisages joint financing/co-financing of MSMEs for capital expenditure under ‘SIDBI Make in India Soft Loan Fund for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises’, popularly known as SMILE, at a concessional rate of 9.60% by SIDBI
OECD cuts India's growth forcast to 7%
i. Paris based think tank Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has cut India's growth forecast for this fiscal year (2016-2017) to 7% from 7.4% earlier (2015-2016) because of demonetization.
ii. But stated that the pace will accelerate to 7.3% next fiscal (2017-2018) and higher in Financial Year 2019. According to OECD India is already in the process of implementing a gradual reduction in corporate income tax to 25% from 30%.
IAS officer Sumit Mullick appointed as Chief Secretary of Maharashtra
i. Senior IAS officer Sumit Mullick appointed as the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra. Mullick will succeed Swadheen Kshatriya, who was due for retirement on 31st of January,2017 but was given a month's extension.
ii. He had earlier served as the Divisional Commissioner of Amravati and worked as Secretary of School Education. He was also Secretary to the Governor.
Lakshmi Vilas Bank ties with Centrum for its wealthy clients
i. South-based Lakshmi Vilas Bank has tied up with Centrum Group in which the bank will refer its High Net Worth Individuals (HNI) to Centrum for wealth management and family office services.
ii. Centrum will conduct the business through its wealth management arm, Centrum Wealth Management and will offer its existing portfolio of wealth management services to the bank’s HNI clients.
iii. This is the first time in the country that a private bank has given the charge to an independent professional wealth.
American Express launches 'Buyer Initiated Payments' to eliminate cheque, draft payments
i. American Express, a global leader in payment solutions has launched an electronic payment platform linked to corporate card, Buyer Initiated Payments (BIP) to eliminate payment through cheques or drafts.
ii. The BIP card will help organizations and their vendors by reducing the processing cost and offer extended payment terms compared to traditional invoice payments. BIP enables companies to increase the Days Payable Outstanding (DPO) while still paying vendors on time management firm for such services.
Canara, HSBC and OBC Banks launched iSelect Term Plan
i. Canara, HSBC and Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance launched iSelect term plan to expand its online product suit with the meant for family protection.
ii. iSelect term plan provides enhanced protection cover for the family at an affordable premium.
iii. It is a pure protection online term plan that provides life insurance cover along with the option to cover against accidental death/ disability.
DIFC, GIFT City join hands for mutual co-operation
i. Gujarat International Finance Tec City (GIFT) City has signed a pact with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) for exchanging views and expertise in the fields of banking and financial services as well as regulatory practices.
ii. The agreement was signed by Arif Amiri, chief executive officer of DIFC Authority and Ajay Pandey, director and group CEO of GIFT SEZ.
Cisco, Reliance Jio to build largest all-IP services platform
i. LTE mobile network operator Reliance Jio has announced a collaboration with the networking giant Cisco to expand Jio’s existing multi-terabit capacity with the first All-IP converged network in India.
ii. With this Jio can offer a combination of high-speed data, mobile video, VoLTE, digital commerce, media, cloud and payment services.
MEITY to promote digital transactions in place of NITI Aayog
i. The government has shifted the responsibility of promoting digital transactions in the country to the Ministry of IT and Electronics (MEITY) from NITI Aayog.
ii. MEITY is responsible for promotion of e-governance for empowering citizens as well as promoting inclusive and sustainable growth of electronics and IT in the country.
iii. Now NITI Aayog will focus on monitoring and suggesting ways to improve various government schemes rather than getting involved with implementation.
EU member states approve visa-free travel for Georgia
i. European Union member states approved visa-free travel for Georgia, after agreeing safeguards to prevent any upsurge in arrivals from the former Soviet satellite.
ii. Under the accord, Georgian citizens will be able to travel visa-free for 90 days in the EU during any 180-day period.
iii. The accord does not apply to the United Kingdom or Ireland.
Popular Gujarati Writer Tarak Mehta Passes Away at 87
i. Popular Gujarati writer and noted play writer Tarak Mehta passed away. He was 87 and suffering from age related illness since long. The famous humorist was best known for his column 'Duniya Ne Undha Chasma' in Mumbai based Gujarati news weekly 'Chitralekha'.
ii. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2015.The popular comic television serial ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' is a television adaptation of Padma Shri Taarak Mehta's column 'Duniya Ne Undha Chasma'.
Rangaswamy Becomes First Woman to Be Honored BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award
i. To recongnize the contribution of women cricketers, the BCCI for the first time, has introduced the Lifetime Achievement Award for Women. Former captain, Ms. Shanta Rangaswamy has been nominated for the award.
ii. She led India in 12 Test matches and in 16 ODIs. Apart from Mr. Vaman Viswanath Kumar and late Ramakant Desai have been nominated for the BCCI Special Award in recognition of their yeoman services to Indian Cricket.
Jitu Rai wins bronze in 10m shooting ISSF World Cup
i. Ace pistol shooter Jitu Rai staged a remarkable comeback to clinch the bronze medal in the 10m air pistol event for India’s fourth podium finish in the ongoing ISSF World Cup.
ii. He shot a total of 216.7 points in the eight man final to finish third on the podium.The gold went to Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsuda with a world record total of 240.1 points, while Vietnam’s Xuan Vinh Hoang claimed silver with 236.6 points.
Jitu Rai wins gold at ISSF World Cup in 50m free pistol, Amanpreet Singh silver
i. Jitu Rai won the gold medal in men’s 50 meter free pistol event of the ISSF World Cup, with a world record score of 230.1.
ii. India’s Amanpreet Singh wins silver with a score of 226.9.
Indian Badminton Duo Tarun Kona and Alwin Francis Wins Uganda International Series Doubles Title
i. Top seeded Indian shuttler duo Tarun Kona and Alwin Francis won the Men’s Double title at the 2017 Uganda International Series by defeating Aatish Lubah and Georges Julien Paul of Mauritius, 21-8, 21-14 at MTN Arena Lugogo, Kampala.
ii. The Uganda International Badminton Tournament 2017, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation, was held from 23rd to 26th of February 2017.
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