Current Affairs 2019

French development agency, AFD gave €700,000 to French Railways, SNCF to provide technical know-how to the Indian Railway Station Development. This agency to provide finance up to €7,00,000, through French National Railways (SNCF)-Hubs and Connexions to support the Railway Station Development Programme in India. IRSDC entered into a tripartite agreement with SNCF and AFD. The […]

The Union Cabinet Wednesday approved extension of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir for six more months beginning July 3, Union minister Prakash Javedkar said.  A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided that central rule, which has been continuing in Jammu and Kashmir since June 20, 2018, will remain for six months.  “Yes, it

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)-owned IDBI Bank reduced its Marginal Cost of funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) by5-10 basis points to 8.95% across various tenors with immediate effect on June 12. Against one-year MCLR most of the customer loans such as auto, personal and home loans are priced. Other Banks: The state-run Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) reduced its one year MCLR

According to the 3rd End of Childhood Index Global Childhood Report 2019, India ranked 113 in 176 countries with 769 scores out of 1000.  The Index released on May 28, 2019, by ‘Save the Children’, a United Kingdom (13K) based non-profit organization which works for child rights. The countries are decided on 8 parameters namely

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up a high-level six-member committee under IBA Chief Executive V G Kannan. The committee will examine ATM charges and fees by banks amid demands for reviewing the levies. There have been persistent demands to change automated teller machines (ATM) charges and fees as its uses are growing significantly. Panel

The Union Cabinet approved the two Medical Bills, Indian Medical Council (Amendment Bill), 2019, and the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment Bill), 2019. Both the bills had lapsed in the 16th Lok Sabha session.  The Bills are to be reintroduced in the upcoming Parliament session.  Indian Medical Council (Amendment Bill), 2019: The Bill is aimed at bringing in accountability, transparency, and quality in the

Shri Arjun Munda Tribal Affairs launched the “e-governance initiatives for ST Welfare schemes”  It is organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Smt. Renuka Singh Saruta, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs These e-governance initiatives serve their purpose of the betterment of tribal communities across the nation. Ministry of Tribal Affairs officials to prepare a

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden test of an indigenously developed Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) along with several technologies on 12 June.  The HSTDV missile was successfully launched from Dr Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. The missile was tracked by various radars, telemetry stations and electro optical tracking sensors through its course. It HSTDV being developed

The Government of Japan planned to invest an amount of 205.784 billion Yenequal to Rs 13000 crores to complete new projects in different states of India’s North- Eastern region.  This decision is disclosed after a meeting held with Minister Jitendra Singh with Japanese delegation led by Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu. The important topics where Japan collaborates include Guwahati

GST Council decided to introduce a new GST return system to facilitate taxpayers. The new plan is worked out to ease the transition to the new return system.  A prototype of the offline tool has already been shared on the common portal to give the look and feel of the tool to the users. The tool