29 July 2016

International Tiger Day: July 29th

·        International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, is an annual celebration to raise awareness for tiger conservation, held annually on 29 July.

·        We have lost 97% of all wild tigers in a bit over 100 years.

·        Instead of 100,000, as few as 3000 live in the wild today, last year it was 3200.A number of Tiger species have already been extinct.

·        Tigers are most vulnerable to extinction.

Indo-Bangla meet: Delhi, Dhaka talk anti-terror cooperation, border management

·        Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his Bangladesh counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan Thursday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation on anti-terror efforts.

·        Both leaders concurred on the need to immediately operationalise the Agreement on Combating Terrorism and Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking between the two countries.

·        During the Home Minister-level bilateral talks between India and Bangladesh in New Delhi Thursday, the ministers also agreed on the need to sign a Repatriation Treaty to simplify and expedite the process of repatriation of each other’s nationals. Both sides also agreed to undertake urgent action for the repatriation of released prisoners and victims of human trafficking.

Noted Tabla maestro Lachu Maharaj passes away

Noted Tabla maestro Pandit Lachu Maharaj passed away in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh due to cardiac arrest. He was 73 years old. Lacchu Maharaj was renowned internationally and his table performance had drawn attention of the connoisseur of performing arts from across the country and world.

 About Lachu Maharaj 

• His real name was Lakshmi Narayan Singh. He belonged to Banaras gharana of classical music.
•  He had started playing tabla at tender age of 10 under guidance of his father Vasudev Singh. 
• He was famous for his pure Banarasi style. His unique style of playing table coupled with perfection had earned him fame as Lachu Maharaj. 
• He had developed spiritual and philosophical table tunes which he had used to play often during his practice sessions (riyaaj).
•  He had lived a simple life and stayed out of publicity and even refused awards. Bollywood actor Govinda is his nephew. 
• Union Government had decided to give him Padma Shri award but he refused saying that no award was bigger than laurels from the audience.

Haryana Government launches Pashudhan Bima Yojana

Haryana Government has launched Pashudhan Bima Yojana, an insurance cover scheme for cattle breeders in the state. It was launched by Haryana Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister, O. P. Dhankar in Jhajjar.

 Key Facts

•  Pashudhan Bima Yojana will provide insurance cover to cattle breeders in the state at different premium rates for different animals
•  Insurance cover will be provided at a premium of Rs 100 for cows, buffaloes, bulls, camels and at Rs 25 for sheep, goat and pig for a period of three years. 
• Under it, the insurance companies would give compensation in case of death of animal (cattle). The scheme is free of cost for cattle breeders from the scheduled castes. 
• The state Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department has set a target to cover one lakh cattle under Pashudhan Bima Yojana.

 

Syed Nayeemuddin conferred Mohun Bagan Ratna

The Mohun Bagan FC has conferred club’s highest decoration Mohun Bagan Ratna (jewel) on legendary Indian Footballer Syed Nayeemuddin. With this, he became 16th recipient of the prestigious award which is bestowed upon person for making seminal contribution to the success of the club.

 Abiut Syed Nayeemuddin 

• Syed Nayeemuddin is former football player and Indian football team coach. 

• He had captained the Indian national football team which had won the bronze medal at the 1970 Asian Games. 

• He was appointed coach of India football team in 1997. Under his guidance India had won South Asian Football Federation Cup

•  He is the only sports-person awarded with the prestigious Arjuna and Dronacharya Awards for football.

New Chief Justice of Patna High Court sworn in

·        Justice Iqbal Ahmed Ansari was on Monday sworn in as the Chief Justice of Patna High Court by Bihar Governor RamnathKovind at a function herein Raj Bhawan.


·        Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his Deputy Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Sushil Kumar Modi, Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Council Chairman AwadheshNarain Singh and others were present at the occasion.

28 July 2016

World Nature Conservation Day

·     World Nature Conservation day is celebrated on July 28 across the world in order to raise awareness about protecting nature and conserving our natural resources.

    ·         With problems like deforestation and illegal wildlife trade on the rise, nature conservation       has gone up on the list of priorities for a lot of countries.

    ·         In India, the increased urbanisation has led to issues like lack of wildlife habitat, loss of forest cover and pollution. The government has recognised this as a problem and taken initiative to reverse it.

World Hepatitis Day 2016 is Observed on 28th July, Raise Awareness to Combat Hepatitis B and C

·  On 28 July World Hepatitis Day (WHD)brings the world together to raiseawareness of the huge burden ofviral hepatitis and to influence realchange in disease prevention andaccess to testing, treatment and care.

·        One of just four disease-specific globalawareness days officially recognised bythe World Health Organization (WHO),WHD unites patient organisations,governments and the general public toboost the global profile of hepatitis.

·        WHD2016 signals the start ofsomething big - the launch ofNOhep, a global movementto eliminate viral hepatitis by2030.

·        The theme for this year’s globalcampaign is ELIMINATION.2016 is a pivotal year for viralhepatitis. At the World HealthAssembly in May, WHO MemberStates are set to adopt the firstever Elimination Strategy forViral Hepatitis

Union Cabinet approves Bilateral Investment Treaty between India and Cambodia

The Union Cabinet has approved Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between India and Cambodia to boost trade and business. Decision in this regard was taken during the Union Cabinet Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

 Key Facts 

• The Treaty seeks to promote and protect investments in either country with the objective of increasing bilateral investment flows. 
• It also seeks to encourage each country to create favourable conditions (climate) for investors of the other country to make investments in its territory and also to admit investments in accordance with its laws. 
• This Treaty is the first Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) signed between both countries in accordance with the text of the Indian Model BIT which was approved by the Union Cabinet in December, 2015.

Union Cabinet approves key changes to GST Constitutional Amendment Bill

The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to the GST (goods & services tax) constitutional amendment Bill in order to incorporate suggestions made by states. This decision follows a crucial meeting of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on GST with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Cabinet has approved 

• Removal of 1% additional tax on inter-state sales as proposed in the Constitutional Bill. Removal of 1% additional manufacturing levy tax by manufacturing States from the Bill. 

• Inclusion of five years compensation clause for state governments for any loss that they may incur.
•  Adjudication of dispute between states and the Union Government by the GST Council, which will have representation from both the Centre and states.

Union Cabinet increases limit for foreign investment in Stock Exchanges from 5% to 15%

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for raising foreign shareholding limit from current 5% to 15% in Indian Stock Exchanges. The decision brings the investment limit of foreign entities at par with that of domestic institutions. This enhanced limit is for a stock exchange, depository, banking company, insurance company and commodity derivative exchange. Additionally, the Union Cabinet also gave its approval for foreign portfolio investors to acquire shares through initial allotment, besides secondary market, in the stock exchanges. 

Implications 

• Enhance global competitiveness of Indian stock exchanges. 
• Enable Indian stock exchanges to acquire and adopt latest technology and global best practices.
• Pave way for better overall growth and development of the Indian capital marke

    IRCTC to launch travel insurance facility at Re 1

·         The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has set to launch the facility of travel insurance for passengers who book tickets on its website.

·     The service, scheduled to come into effect from September, can be availed at a premium of Re 1.

·         The scheme offers passengers or their families’ compensation of up to Rs 10 lakh in the event of death or permanent total disability, Rs 7.5 lakh for permanent partial disability, up to Rs 2 lakh for hospitalisation expenses.

·         The scheme is being implemented by the IRCTC in partnership with ICICI Lombard General Insurance, Royal Sundaram and Shriram General.

Andhra Pradesh seeks Rs 7,269 crore central sales tax dues

·        Andhra Pradesh government has requested the Centre to release Rs 7,269.46 crore central sales tax compensation to the state pending since 2012-13.

·        State Finance Minister YanamalaRamakrishnudu made this plea to Union Finance Minister ArunJaitley at the Empowered Committee meeting of Finance Ministers in New Delhi, a press release from the state's Information and Public Relations Department said.

·        Andhra Pradesh is scheduled to get Rs 935.74 crore for 2012-13 fiscal yearRs 2,247.98 crore for 2013-14 and Rs 618.19 crore till June in 2014-15 fiscal before the bifurcation of the state.

Canara Bank gets shareholders nod to raise capital

·        Canara Bank has got shareholders’ approval to raise its capital by up to Rs 2,000 crores.

·        RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 2 crores on it for violation of anti-money laundering norms.

·        The capital adequacy ratio of the bank, as on March 31, 2016, stood at 11.08 per cent, and was well above the 9 per cent stipulated (demand or specify (a requirement), typically as part of an agreement) by the Reserve Bank.