22nd April 2016

A.RBL becomes first private sector bank to open dedicated branch for startups

1.The RBL Bank (formerly Ratnakar Bank) became the first private sector bank in India to open dedicated branch for startups. 

2.The dedicated branch was inaugurated at Koramangala, Bengaluru by Nandan Nilekani, noted entrepreneur and former chairman of UIDAI. 

Key facts 
1.The first exclusive bank branch for start-ups will offer a bouquet of banking products to service the end-to-end needs of the emerging entrepreneurial eco-system. 

2.The branch will assist entrepreneurs in setting up new enterprises or companies. It will offer them host of banking products including, foreign exchange services, remittances and cash management. 

3.The Branch will also provide a range of value added services including legal and tax formalities, registration etc. through its affiliates and partners. 

About RBL Bank 
1.The RBL Bank is a scheduled commercial bank headquartered in the Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Founded in August 1943, RBL is one of the oldest private sector banks in India. 

2.The Bank currently services approximately 1 million customers and has a total business size of over 20,000 Crore rupees.

B.BCCI appoints Rahul Johri as its first CEO 

1.Rahul Johri has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

2.Mr. Johri will report to the BCCI secretary and shall be given freedom to work independently in BCCI’s set-up that was traditionally controlled by honorary office-bearers. 

3.In his new role he will be responsible for the smooth functioning of operations, stakeholder management of BCCI and building robust strategies for further promoting the sport of cricket. 

4.Prior to this appointment, Mr. Johri had served as Discovery Networks Asia Pacific’s executive vice-president and general manager for South Asia. 

5.He has two decades of rich experience in the media industry. Background The appointment of CEO of BCCI was based on the lines of key recommendations of the three-member Justice RM Lodha Committee. 

6.The committee was appointed by the Supreme Court to suggest administrative reforms in Indian cricket i.e. to bring reform in BCCI, an apex governing body for cricket in India. 

7.It had recommended creation of the post of the CEO in order to separate BCCI’s governance and management duties with the CEO taking charge of the management side.

C.Union Cabinet gives nod to MoU on technical cooperation between India, Bhutan

1.The Union Cabinet has given its approval to Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Bhutan on Technical Cooperation in the field of benchmarking, capacity building and bilateral exchange in Infrastructure Engineering.

2. Decision in this regard was taken by the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. 

Key facts 

1.The MoU aims at taking forward India-Bhutan friendship treaty and provide an umbrella for scientific, educational and technical research and environment protection. 

2.It will also help Central Public Works Department (CPWD), a construction major under the Urban Development Ministry, to gain experience in construction of roads on hills. 

Background 

1.India and Bhutan have a long standing diplomatic, economic and cultural relation with each other. 

2.The India-Bhutan friendship treaty signed in New Delhi in February 2007 to further strengthen the mutual relations between two neighbouring countries. 

3.There are also ongoing Hydro Power Cooperation projects between the two countries which provide an exemplary template for mutual cooperation.

D.India, China agree for peaceful negotiations to settle border issue 

1.India and China have agreed to adhere to peaceful negotiations to settle the border issue and reach a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution. 

2.Decision in this regard was taken during the annual 19th round of boundary talks between National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi at Beijing. 

Key facts 

1.Both the sides have discussed the vexed border dispute. 

2.They also had an extensive, deep discussion on the 3,488 km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) which remains undemarcated resulting in tensions between the two sides. 

3.Besides the border issue, both sides also have a larger mandate to discuss all contentious bilateral, regional and international matters of mutual concern. 

4.The issue of China putting technical hold on India’s recent bid to bring about a UN ban on Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) chief Azhar for his involvement in the Pathankot terrorist attack was also discussed.