DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 16TH APR 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 16^TH APR 2017

(DAILY NEWS INDIA)

SHARED BY: WWW.DAILYGK.IN

1. PM LAUNCHES GNFC’S CASHLESS/LESS CASH TOWNSHIP MODEL ACROSS 12 STATES

i. During his Nagpur visit, PM Narendra Modi launched a less – cash township model, developed by Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd across 81 townships in 12 States.

ii. The less-cash model across the States has been facilitated by GNFC under the auspices of NITI Aayog. It is to be noted that GNFC’s township at Bharuch in Gujarat became India’s first 100% cashless township.

iii. 56 out of 81 selected townships are in Gujarat, whereas 25 townships are located in other 11 states including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, and Bihar.

2. HIMACHAL PRADESH CELEBRATING 70TH HIMACHAL DAY

i. Himachal Pradesh celebrated its 70th Foundation Day. It came into existence in year 1948 post merger of 30 odd princely states.

ii. On the occasion of the 70th foundation day of Himachal Pradesh, CM Virbhadra Singh launched an ‘Unemployment Allowance Scheme’ at a state level function in Chamba.

iii. Under the scheme Himachal Pradesh State Government will provide unemployment allowance of Rs 1,000 per month to youth having intermediate or above qualification whereas the unemployed youth with disability would be provided allowance of Rs 1,500 per month.

3. AP CM LAYS FOUNDATION STONE FOR RS 100-CR AMBEDKAR MEMORIAL PARK IN AMARAVATI

i. Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation-stone for Dr B R Ambedkar Smriti Vanamn in state’s de facto capital Amaravati.

ii. Dr. B R Ambedkar Memorial will have following amenities: A Memorial Park with aesthetic and landscaped gardens, A Buddhist Dhyana Kendram (Meditation Hall), A multi-purpose convention Hall with a seating capacity of 3,000 persons, An Open Air Theatre with a seating capacity of 2,000 people with facilities for conducting multi-media shows and Dr. B R Ambedkar Memorial Library with his collected works and thoughts.

iii. Andhra Pradesh Govt. has allocated nearly Rs. 100 cr for this project. The construction will be completed within 24 months.

4. UP GOVT, CENTER SIGN MOU FOR POWER FOR ALL SCHEME

i. Uttar Pradesh government has been signed an MOU with Centre for the “Power for All” scheme in the state.

ii. The main purpose of this scheme is to provide 24-hour quality power supply in the state by October 2018 and to provide electric connection to every house and agriculture field by 2019.

iii. Government has also introduced UJALA scheme in which LED bulbs of energy saving, tubelights and fans were provided at economical rate.

iv. The decision was taken on the occasion of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar’s 126th birth anniversary.

v. UP government has also announced 1912 helpline for the power related complains. Smart meter will also be installed to stop electricity theft.

5. RBI TIGHTENS SCREWS ON BANKS TO EASE BAD DEBT

i. The RBI has come out with a revised Prompt Corrective Action framework for banks which will be effective from April 1. This framework is based on certain risk thresholds, the breach of which could result into serious consequences such as merger with another bank or even closure of the bank.

ii. Financial reports of banks as on March 31 will be considered as reference to evaluate banks’ condition vis-a-vis the thresholds.

iii. This new framework will be reviewed after 3 years.

6. BANK BOARDS BUREAU EVOLVES GRAF FOR PSB’S

i. The Bank Board Bureau has developed a Governance Reward and Accountability framework for the public sector banks.

ii. GRAF is framed so that PSB’s can compete efficiently with small finance banks, Private sector banks, foreign banks and NBFC.

iii. It is based on the advanced global benchmark on governance practices. It is provided by BASEL Committee on banking supervision guidelines.

iv. Under this bureau it is mentioned that few directors on PSU bank board’s should be permitted to serve more than one bank’s board.

7. SHEELA PATEL NAMED BY THE UN CHIEF TO PANEL ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT

i. Sheela Patel is a director of SPARC and a global expert of Urban Poverty Alleviation for Slum dwellers has been named by the UN chief to panel on urban development.

ii. Sheela is a Padma shree Awardee. She founded the SPARC in 1984 a Mumbai based NGO.

iii. She will address a high level independent panel on Urban Poverty alleviation for Slum Dwellers It focuses on housing and infrastructure rights for the urban poor.

iv. It is an international network of poor people’s organization and also supports NGO’s in Asia’s and Africa.

8. MANIPUR CM LAUNCHES WEB APPLICATIONS TO CHECK CORRUPTION: DARPAN

i. Manipur CM Nongthombam Biren Singh launched 2 web applications to check corruption and keep track of government activities. These web applications would monitor all government funded projects and ensure transparency and accountability.

ii. Digital Application for Review by Public and Nation web application would upload details of projects right from the initial stage till sanction of fund and photos of work-in-progress from sites. As per CM Biren Singh, it will stop the corrupt culture of non-completion of developmental projects after release of funds.

iii. The CM said that recently launched Anti-Corruption Cell has received a series of complaints of corruption. This web application would augment in the government’s efforts to end corruption in the state. Cases have been registered based on genuine complaints received through a dedicated telephone number.

9. PANKAJ ADVANI BEATS SOURAV KOTHARI TO WIN ASIAN BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

i. Pankaj Advani has won his 7th Title by defeating Sourav Kothari in the Asian Billiads Championship. It was held in Chandigarh.

ii. Pankaj Advani is the 16th time world champion. He is now going to Doha to compete in the Asian Snooker Championship that begins on 22nd of April.

10. FORMER J&K GOVERNOR GIRISH ‘GARY’ SAXENA DIES

i. Former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Girish Chandra Saxena passed away after a brief illness.

ii. GIrish was an IPS officer of the 1950-batch of the Uttar Pradesh cadre and the Director of Research & Analysis Wing between1983-86.

iii. After his retirement from the RAW in 1986, Saxena served as an advisor to the PM Rajiv Gandhi till January 1988.

iv. He took charge as the Jammu and Kashmir Governor for the 1st time on May 26, 1990 and continued in the post till March 13, 1993. He was re-appointed in 1998.

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS BASED ON TODAY’S NEWS

Q1. WHICH STATE CELEBRATED ITS 70TH FOUNDATION DAY ON APRIL 15?

a)  Bihar

b)  Karnataka

c)  Uttarakhand

d)  Himachal Pradesh

Q2. WHICH STATE GOVT. HAS SIGNED MOU WITH CENTRAL GOVT. FOR “POWER FOR ALL” SCHEME IN THE STATE?

a)  Goa

b)  Uttar Pradesh

c)  Tamil Nadu

d)  Kerala

Q3. TO EASE BAD DEBT, RBI HAS COME OUT WITH A REVISED PCA FRAMEWORK FOR BANKS WHICH WILL BE EFFECTIVE FROM APRIL 1. WHAT DOES ABBREVIATION PCA STAND FOR?

a)  Prompt Corrective Action

b)  Punitive Corrective Action

c)  Punitive Consolidation Action

d)  Prompt Consolidation Action

Q4. WHICH ENTITY HAS DEVELOPED A GOVERNANCE, REWARD AND ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS?

a)  Union Finance Ministry

b)  Reserve Bank of India

c)  Bank Boards Bureau

d)  NITI Aayog

Q5. WHICH WEB APPLICATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED BY MANIPUR CHIEF MINISTER NONGTHOMBAM BIREN SINGH, TO MONITOR ALL GOVERNMENT FUNDED PROJECTS AND ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY?

a)  SHEESHA

b)  DARPAN

c)  PRAMAAN

d)  MIRROR

ANSWERS:

  1 - D  2 - B    3 - A    4 - C    5 - B