IPCI Info

6 July

06 Jul

International News Affairs

  • Today (6th July) is World Zoonosis (also spelled zoönosis and zoonoses) Day.
    • Zoonosis is derived from the Greek words zoon (animal) and nosos (ailment).
    • Zoonosis is an ailment that is transmitted from animals to human beings.
    • Approximately 150 zoonotic diseases are known to exist.
    • This day is observed every year to emphasize and bring the problem awareness amongst people, and teach them to take right action.
  • Vietnamese capital Hanoi today approved a proposal to ban motorbikes, the city’s most popular mode of transport, from its central streets by 2030.

 

National News Affairs

  • The Uttar Pradesh government is going to launch a scheme on World Population Day (July 11), under which it will give a kit comprising condoms and oral contraceptive pills as ‘shagun’ to newly-weds.
    • The kit, aimed at stabilising population, will also contain a letter from the health department explaining the nuances of family planning and importance of minimum time between two children.
  • Hyderabad is planning to establish India’s first university only for Dalit students by 2018. The University is going to be a part of the government’s policy to provide free education to students from weaker sections from kindergarten to post-graduation level. TSWREIS, a social welfare society of Telangana, running 268 residential institutions for Dalit students, proposed the plan to the government.
  • The Supreme Court on Thursday held that a person obtaining jobs and admissions under the reserved category by producing fake caste certificates will lose the job/admission as well as the certificate. The Court dismissed Bombay High Court’s verdict that if a person has been in the job for a long time, and the certificate is found later, he/she can continue.
  • The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has received the approval to create a 12-km ‘missing link’ between Khopoli and Kusgaon, which will allow motorists to drive at 100 kmph. The project, which will reportedly begin by November, will allow motorists to avoid the sections which witness landslides during monsoon season.

 

Banking, Business & Economic News

  • Jammu and Kashmir became the last state to implement GST, passing the resolution during a special session of the legislative assembly on Wednesday. The assembly passed the tax reform amid protests by opposition members National Conference and Congress, and a statewide anti-GST shutdown by businesses. BJP’s state unit claimed revenues would go up by ₹10,000 crore annually after GST.
  • China-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on Wednesday approved a $329-million (over ₹3,100 crore) loan to build access roads across 4,000 villages in Gujarat. The project entails construction and upgradation of district and farm-to-market roads. AIIB officials said this will contribute to improved agricultural productivity, non-farm employment opportunities and rural income.
  • Restrictions on cash dealings of ₹2 lakh or more will not apply to credit card bill payments, the Revenue Department has clarified on Monday. Earlier, the government banned cash transaction of ₹2 lakh or above with effect from April 1, 2017. The move was aimed at curbing black money by discouraging cash transactions and promoting digital economy.
  • The European Union has approved a $6.1-billion (over ₹39,000 crore) state bailout for Italy’s fourth largest lender, Monte dei Paschi di Siena. This came after the bank agreed to a drastic overhaul including a salary cap for senior managers. Monte dei Paschi, the world’s oldest bank, earlier failed to raise $5.68 billion in the market to expand its capital.
  • The Income Tax Department has released a list of people who are exempted from linking their Aadhaar card with the PAN for now.
    • This list includes :
      • Residents of Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu & Kashmir,
      • All Non-Residential Indians (NRIs),
      • Citizens of Foreign Nations,
      • Individuals aged 80 years or more.

MOUs & Agreements

  • During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historical visit, India and Israel signed a total of 7 agreements in various areas like agriculture, space cooperation.
    • Note: Three of the seven MoUs were regarding space cooperation.
    • The Signed Agreements are :
      • MoU for conservation of water in India
      • MoU for setting up of India-Israel Industrial R&D & Technological Innovation Fund (I4F)
      • MoU on State Water Utility Reform in India
      • MoU on India-Israel Development Cooperation- 3-year work program in Agriculture (2018-2020)
      • MoU on cooperation in electric propulsion for small satellites
      • MoU on cooperation regarding cooperation in atomic clocks
      • MoU on cooperation in GEO-LEO optical link
    • The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)has inked an agreement with 4  Private Sector Banks (ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank) and one Public Sector Bank (Bank of Baroda) for the purpose of collection of provident fund dues from the employers and payments to its subscribers.
      • Important Points to Note :
        • This is the first time the EPFO has roped in private banks.
        • Already the EPFO had tied up with five banks, namely, State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank, Allahabad Bank, Indian Bank and Union Bank of India.
        • This latest agreement will now authorise 10 banks to collect provident fund contribution and make payment to the employees.

People in News

  • PM Narendra Modi met Moshe Holtzberg, the now 11-year-old survivor of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, in Jerusalem today.
    • Note : Moshe, then two, was the youngest survivor of the attack at Nariman House, being rescued by his nanny while his parents were killed.
    • Modi told Moshe he could visit India anytime and his family would be provided with a long-term visa.

 

Current Sports Affairs

  • Former Russian chess champion Garry Kasparov is set to come out of retirement to play in a US tournament next month.
    • Kasparov, who retired from professional chess in 2005, will compete against nine top players at the Sinquefield Cup in Missouri.
  • The Pankaj Advani-led Indian snooker team defeated Pakistan in the final of the Asian Team Snooker Championship 
    • Important Points to Note :
      • Advani remained the only player to not lose a single individual match in the team event.
      • This title brings up Advani’s second Asian title this season and the 8th overall, while it was the first title for Advani’s teammate Laxman Rawat.
    • Indian National Football has managed to secure 96th spot at the latest FIFA world football rankings.
      • This is the best ranking secured by India in 21 years.
        • Top 10 in the List
        • Germany
        • Brazil
        • Argentina
        • Portugal
        • Switzerland
        • Poland
        • Chile
        • Colombia
        • France
        • Belgium