Latest Current Affairs – February 25 2018

1. Kovind to inaugurate museum dedicated to Biju Patnaik

President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate a museum dedicated to former Odisha chief minister Biju Patnaik. The Museum and Learning Centre has been set up at Anand Bhawan, the ancestral house of Biju Patnaik in Cuttack.

The ancestral house of Biju Patnaik, which has been converted to a museum in memory of the late leader, houses rare articles belonging to him and will give visitors a comprehensive insight into the life of the legendary personality.

2. Haryana govt to prepare integrated development plan for Panchkula

Haryana government has decided to prepare an integrated economic development plan for Panchkula region.

A consultant is being appointed to prepare the plan, Khattar told a gathering after inaugurating three projects worth more than Rs 83 crore in Panchkula.Panchkula, being close to Chandigarh, has the advantage of location.

3. India Gas Solutions signs MoU with AP to create marketing infra for natural gas

India Gas Solutions Pvt Ltd, the equal joint venture between Reliance Industries and UK’s BP plc, have signed an agreement with Andhra Pradesh government to invest in creating marketing infrastructure for natural gas from KG basin.

The joint venture is now actively marketing natural gas produced from eastern offshore KG-D6 block on behalf of both RIL and BP.

India Gas Solutions is a 50:50 joint venture company of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and BP International Limited (BP) in the business of marketing gas and LNG in India.

4. DRDO Successfully Tests Flight Rustom-2

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flew its Rustom 2, the first flight in user configuration with higher power engine, at its Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga’s Chalakere in Karnataka. The step is being seen as a major push to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ plan.

• Rustom-2 comes approximately seven years after Rustom-1.
• It is on par with US drones in its category.
• Rustom-2 is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle.
• It is comparable to the American made Predator drone and can fly for 24 hours at stretch.
• Rustom-2 can conduct sustained surveillance and can carry weapons along with surveillance equipment.
• It is the first flight in user configuration with higher power engine.

5. Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank starts operations

Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank Ltd (ABIPBL) started operations, making it the fifth payments bank to roll out operations after the central bank gave its in-principle approval to 11 applicants in August 2015.

Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank Limited has commenced operations as a payments bank with effect from 22 February, 2018. The Reserve Bank has issued a licence to the bank under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to carry on the business of payments bank in India.

6. RBI sets April 30 deadline for banks to link CBS with SWIFT

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked banks to integrate SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) with its core banking solutions (CBS) by April 30.

The central bank’s direction comes in the view of the Rs 11,400 crore fraud that was detected by the Punjab National Bank (PNB) at one of its branches in Mumbai.

Indian Banks Association (IBA) chairperson Usha Ananthasubramanian stated that there is an urgency to fast-track SWIFT-CBS linkage.

7. NSD to host ‘Theatre Olympics’ in Kolkata

Theatre productions in India and abroad will be seen at the ‘8th Theatre Olympics’, organised by the National School of Drama, from February 27, as part of its 17-city tour of the country.

The Kolkata leg of the festival, organised for the first time in India, will end on March 13 after staging 21 theatre productions including English and other foreign and regional languages in both verbal and non-verbal forms in three venues.

8. Mary Kom, Seema settle for silver at Strandja Memorial boxing

Five-time world champion M C Mary Kom had to be content with a silver medal after going down in the final of the 69th Strandja Memorial boxing tournament for men and women.

Mary Kom (48kg), who came into the event in pursuit of a third consecutive gold medal after the Asian championships and the India Open, lost to Bulgaria’s Sevda Asenova.

Also settling for a silver was Seema Poonia (+81kg), who went down to Russia’s Anna Ivanova, done in by her rival’s sheer power.

9. Kashyap wins Austrian Open

Reigning Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap overcame Malaysia s June Wei Cheam in straight games in the men’s singles final to clinch the Austrian Open International Challenge, his first international title in over three years.

10. Veteran actress Sridevi passes away at 55

Veteran Bollywood actress Sridevi, who had an illustrious career spanning over four decades, passed away in Dubai. She was 55. A versatile actor, Sridevi made her Bollywood debut in 1978 with “Solva Sawan”.

11. Actor Emma Chambers dies at 53

English actor Emma Chambers, popular for her roles in “The Vicar of Dibley” and “Notting Hill”, has passed away at the age of 53.

Best known for playing Alice Tinker in “The Vicar of Dibley”, the actor also worked in the 1999 film “Notting Hill”, in which she played Hugh Grant’s eccentric younger sister, Honey.