Dear Friends,
We are giving the Current Affairs updates of the day in a single post. Some of the below updates are explained in detail in our Current Affairs Section. Kindly read those to know more GK. Practice our CA Quiz repeatedly. Always Keep Yourself updated to the Latest.
Current Affairs – September 08/2015
September 09 – International Literacy Day
International Literacy Day is observed across the world on 8 September. The Theme for 2015 is “literacy and sustainable societies”. The day was designated as such by UNESCO and first observed in 1966. The day is observed to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.
India and Thailand to strengthen bilateral defence ties
India and Thailand have pledged to take bilateral defence ties to greater heights, calling for cooperation in several areas including disaster management, information exchange and “sea migration”. The air chief is on a four-day visit to Thailand and Vietnam to further boost bilateral relations with the armed forces of the two southeast Asian countries (Thailand and Vietnam).
BSNL to offer 2 Mbps minimum broadband speed from October 1
Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched a new BSNL Scheme. As per the scheme, BSNL will offer a minimum broadband speed of 2 mega bit per second (Mbps) from October 1 onwards to its customers, at no extra cost. The company currently offers a minimum speed of 512 Kbps and the move is part of its efforts for revival.
South Korea and United States launch joint drills against biological threats
South Korea and United States have launched a joint anti-biological exercise to step up their combined response to potential biological attacks. The three-day Able Response 15 exercise will involve the defence departments of both the countries as well as the local health ministry and dozens of other institutions. The countries have been conducting the anti-bio exercise every year since 2011 amid increasing potential threats from North Korea’s biochemical weapons.
India ranks low on inclusive growth, development ranking: World Economic Forum
A new study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has ranked India very low globally on most of the parameters for inclusive growth and development.
India’s Ranking
- Fiscal Transfers – 37th out of 38.
- Tax Code – 32nd Rank
- Social protection – 36th Rank
- Small business ownership – 38th Rank.
- Corruption and Rents – 8th Rank.
- Business and Political ethics – 12th Rank
- Financial intermediation of real economy investment pillar – 11th Rank.
NPCI to launch RuPay credit card in one year
The National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) will roll out three cards within next one year. The company will launch a ‘Mudra’ card, a credit card and an international card. NPCI, which had launched the RuPay payment scheme earlier, is in talks with Japanese and Chinese bank card associations to enable Indians avail of international services wherever the two firms are operating.
Telangana government seeks Rs 25,000 crore World Bank aid for new projects
India’s new state, Telangana, has sought over Rs 25,000 crore of loans from the World Bank for development projects. This is the state’s first request for such a large external debt. The projects includes reviving rural water bodies, enhancing electricity generation capacity and increasing potable water supply.
India to see hi-tech ATM machines in the next 2-3 years
India will be having world class hi-tech ATMs in a couple of years. Since the life span of the ATMs is 5-7 years, most banks would replace old machines with high end machines that meet the international standards. There are close to 1.80 lakh ATM machines installed in India. ATM installation are growing at 25 per cent per annum.
Anirban Lahiri becomes first Indian to qualify for President’s Cup team
Ace golfer Anirban Lahiri has become the first Indian to qualify for the prestigious President’s Cup. Lahiri, World No.40, came through as one of the automatic qualifications for the International Team, which will take on United States in the biennial Presidents Cup in Korea.
Indian Air Force is organizing an Ultra Marathon
Indian Air Force is organizing an Ultra Marathon from Air Force Station Pathankot to Air Force Station Hindon covering a distance of around 574 Km in 11 days on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of 1965 Indo-Pak war. A total of Seven air warriors will be participating in this unique endeavour, covering on an average 60 Km per day.
Agriculture Expert Ramesh Chand appointed as new full time member of NITI Aayog
Government of India has appointed Agriculture expert Prof Ramesh Chand as the full-time member of NITI Aayog. Professor Chand has been a member of the task force on agriculture development under NITI Aayog. He has also headed a government panel on minimum support price and has been working as the Director of National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research (NIAP) in New Delhi since 2010.
Doha Bank tied up with Reliance ADA Group to generate business opportunities
Doha Bank has has signed as MoU with Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group to generate business opportunities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations and India. The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
First-ever Census on India’s Leopard presented
India’s first leopard report releases and it makes the environment happier. It did not surveyed the entire country. It was restricted to the tiger states, except West Bengal and the North-East states. Non-tiger states — such as Himachal, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana or Punjab — were not covered. Based on numbers, estimate of India’s total leopard population was in the range of 12,000 to 14,000. Still, leopards need protection.
WHO: Tobacco kills 1.3 million every year
According to the WHO Report, Tobacco kills more than 1.3 million people every year in the South-East Asian region. Concerned at the high consumption, health ministers from 11 countries signed a declaration pledging to accelerate hard-hitting measures to reduce tobacco use. The region consists of 250 million smokers and nearly the same number of smokeless tobacco users.
Weightlifter Deepak Lather wins gold in fifth Youth Commonwealth Games
Indian weightlifters continued to make their presence felt on Day 2 of the fifth Youth Commonwealth Games after Deepak Lather won a gold in the 62 kg category. He has created a new CYG record and 138 kg in clean and jerk. It is second gold medal India has won in in weightlifting at this edition of CYG. Earlier, Jamjang Deru had won the gold medal in the 56 kg weight category on the opening day of the event.
World loses South Africa-sized forest area in 25 years: FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization’s 2015 Global Forest Resources Assessment, the world’s forested area declined from 31.6 to 30.6 percent of the Earth’s land surface. This represented a loss of 129 million hectares of forest — equivalent to nearly 500,000 square miles. According to the United Nations, that’s “an area almost equivalent in size to South Africa.”It’s also nearly two Texases.
Delhi High Court Allows Permanent Commission For Women In Navy
The Delhi High Court has said that women naval officers should be offered permanent commission in the Navy. Thus, women can now have full term service in the Indian Navy and can enjoy retirement benefits as well.
