DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 26 AUG 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 26 AUG 2017
(DAILY NEWS INDIA)
SHARED BY: WWW.DAILYGK.IN

1. ODISHA LAUNCHES GRID CONNECTED ROOF TOP SOLAR PROJECTS
i. CM of Odisha Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated grid connected roof top solar programme to encourage the public participation to harness renewable energy.
ii. Under this programme, the consumers can introduce small solar plants on their rooftops and consume the generated solar power during day time. Excess power can be exported to the grid through their service cable.
iii. These decentralized systems also have the ability to strengthen the grid. It will reduce power loses .Grid connected roof top solar systems are best options for adding renewable solar capacity.
iv. A web platform www.rtsodisha.gov.in was also launched to help project stakeholders interact with consumers and provide services. This website was made by Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency.
v. It will be useful in making the Rooftop Solar Program easily accessible to the common citizens.


2. CABINET APPROVES MOU BETWEEN INDIA & NEPAL ON DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION AND PREVENTION OF ILLICIT TRAFFICKING IN NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE
i. The Union Cabinet has approved for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Nepal on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and precursor chemicals and related matters.
ii. It indicates the mechanism of information exchange and the competent authorities in the 2 countries who are responsible for the implementation of the MoU and exchange of any information.
iii. Cooperation on drug matters is expected to curb the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals in the two countries. It helps to cooperate in drug demand reduction through prevention, awareness, education and community based programmes, treatment and rehabilitation.
iv. Under this MoU exchange information of operational, technical and general nature in drug matters, and exchange literature on their existing laws, rules, procedures and any further amendments to the existing legislation.
v. In accordance with the spirit of UN Conventions on Narcotic Drugs, effort is made to enter into Bilateral Agreements or MoUs with neighbouring countries and the countries which have a direct bearing on the drug situation prevailing in our country.

3. EPFO ORGANIZES TIRANGA YATRA TO COMMEMORATE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT IN MUMBAI
i. Quit India Movement that began on 9th August 1942 which finally culminated into freedom of India. The nation is observing the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement. The Tiranga Yatra is an opportunity to achieve ‘Sankalp’ to ‘Siddhi’ towards a ‘New India’.
ii. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, is participating in the celebrations of 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement by organizing Tiranga Yatra.
iii. All the workers from different industries, including EPFO participated in the Tiranga Yatra organized in Mumbai. The Tiranga Yatra was flagged off by the Minister of State (I/C) for Labour and Employment, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, near Indian Oil Office, Bandra (E), Mumbai and culminated at EPFO Regional Office at Bandra Mumbai.
iv. Government is committed for providing housing to all by 2022 and EPFO has launched Housing Scheme where 90% of the EPF money can be withdrawn in addition to monthly payment of EMI out of the future accumulations in their provident fund.

4. DR. V. KAMAKOTI, HEADED TASK FORCE ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR INDIA’S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION
i. Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has constituted a Task Force on Artificial Intelligence for India’s Economic Transformation.
ii. The task force will have the Chairperson Dr. V. Kamakoti, IIT Madras. The panel will comprise of experts, academics, researchers and industry leaders and will explore possibilities to leverage AI for development across various fields.
iii. As per the Nirmala Sitharaman driven by the power of big data, high computing capacity, artificial intelligence and analytics Industry 4.0 aims is to digitize the manufacturing sector.
iv. Official participation from the following organizations shall also be requested: NITI Aayog, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, UIDAI, Department of Science & Technology and DRDO.

5. RBI TO ISSUE RS 200 NOTES: FINANCE MINISTRYNEW-NOTE-200
i. According to a notification in the Gazette of India the Modi government has notified introduction of new Rs 200 notes. The Reserve Bank of India has announced that it will start issuing the Rs 200 notes from 25th August from select RBI offices and some banks.
ii. The move is widely expected to ease the shortage of lower-denomination currency bills. The notes will be in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, bearing signature of Governor Urjit Patel.

6. DHANLAXMI BANK, DHFL PRAMERICA TIE UP FOR BANCASSURANCE
i. DHFL Pramerica Life Insurance Company has signed on Kerala-based Dhanlaxmi Bank as its bancassurance partner.
ii. Under which the Kerala-based Dhanlaxmi Bank will distribute retail and group life insurance products to its customers across 260 branches in India. The bank anticipates an annual incremental income of ₹20-30 cr from this distribution business.
iii. With this tie-up, the company is in a strong position to consolidate its presence in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
iv. The company will work to increase penetration of life insurance by offering segmented products through digital and Customer Relationship Management capabilities as well as by making insurance more accessible.

7. NANDAN NILEKANI APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF INFOSYS BOARD
i. Nandan Nilekani co-founder of India’s 2nd-largest software services exporter has appointed as non-executive chairman of the board.
ii. R. Seshasayee, chairman of the board, along with former CEO and MD Vishal Sikka, Jeffrey Lehman and John Etchemendy had stepped down from the board.
iii. Nandan Nilekani has done electrical engineer from IIT Bombay. Nilekani was the CEO at Infosys from 2002 to 2007 and also served as co-chairman of the board before his departure in 2009 to head the Aadhaar project.

8. LONDON TO HOST 2018 TABLE TENNIS TEAM WORLD CUP
i. According to the World Table Tennis governing body announced the 2018 ITTF Team World Cup will be held in London.
ii. The International Table Tennis Federation has awarded the hosting rights for the event. It is the 2nd most prestigious team tournament after the World Championships.
iii. The Team World Cup, last held in Dubai in 2015, comprises 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams.

9. RAGHURAM RAJAN PENS BOOK ‘I DO WHAT I DO’
i. Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has penned a book titled ‘I Do What I Do: On Reform, Rhetoric and Resolve’.
ii. The book will launch on 4th of September. According to publisher Harper Collins besides Rajan’s commentary, it will also include speeches that convey what it was like to head the central bank during his time.
iii. About the book Rajan explains economic concepts in a readily accessible way. He addresses key issues that are not in any banking manual but essential to growth: the need for tolerance and respect to assure India’s economic progress, for instance, or the connection between political freedom and prosperity.




OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS BASED ON TODAY’S NEWS

Q1. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES RECENTLY ORGANISED TIRANGA YATRA TO COMMEMORATE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT?
a)  Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation
b)  Central Information Commission
c)  Quality Council of India
d)  Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Q2. WHO WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED AS THE NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE INFOSYS BOARD?
a)  Ravi Venkatesan
b)  Nandan Nilekani
c)  R Seshasayee
d)  UB Pravin Rao
Q3. WHICH TASK FORCE HAS BEEN CONSTITUTED BY THE UNION GOVERNMENT ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR INDIA’S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION?
a)  Vijay Kumar Sankarapu task force
b)  Gautam Shroff task force
c)  V. Kamakoti task force
d)  Shantanu Chaudhary task force
Q4. WHICH FORMER RBI GOVERNOR HAS AUTHORED THE BOOK “I DO WHAT I DO”?
a)  Manmohan Singh
b)  Duvvuri Subbarao
c)  Amitav Ghosh
d)  Rahguram Rajan
Q5. 2018 TABLE TENNIS TEAM WORLD CUP TO BE HELD IN WHICH COUNTRY?
a)  England
b)  Germany
c)  India
d)  Australia

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