Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Quick Gyan (QG) Section of D2G. QG is just a glimpse of what happened today all over the world.
Only For Serious Candidates : We strongly recommend you to read the Current Affairs in detail. For your convenience, we have provided quick links under the updates. Make use of it.
Always Keep Yourself Updated!!!
AWARDS & HONOURS
EPFO wins National Award on e-Governance for UAN
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation has won the National Award on e-Governance 2015-16 for launching the Universal Account Number (UAN). The UAN facility enables workers to transfer their provident fund deposits while switching jobs anywhere in India easily. The EPFO won the gold award in the ‘innovative use of technology in e-governance’ category and the retirement body will get a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh.
Quick Link – EPFO wins National Award
APPOINTMENTS
Capgemini appoints Srinivas Kandula as CEO of India operations
French IT services firm Capgemini has appointed Srinivas Kandula as the chief executive officer of its India operations. Kandula played a key role in the acquisition of Patni by iGate in 2011, and of iGate by Capgemini in 2015. Capgemini had bought iGate in a $4-billion cash deal. He replaces Aruna Jayanthi, who has moved to a global role in the group. Kandula has also joined the Capgemini Group Executive Committee.
Quick Link – Srinivas Kandula as CEO for Capgemini – India
DHL Express appoints new Asia Pacific CEO
Global logistics provider DHL Express has named a new Chief Executive Officer for Asia Pacific region that includes India. Ken Lee, who has an experience of over 20 years in the logistics industry, including 18 years at DHL will succeed Jerry Hsu, who is retiring after an illustrious career with DHL Express since 2001. Lee will be responsible for a region that includes India, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Oceania, South Asia, South East Asia and Taiwan. Lee’s focus will be on driving further operational efficiencies and service innovations, particularly through greater investment in training and technology, to consolidate DHL’s market leadership throughout the region.
Quick Link – New Asia Pacific CEO by DHL
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Cabinet approves India joining IEA-OES
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for India becoming a member country of the International Energy Agency – Ocean Energy Systems (IEA-OES) by signing the Implementing Agreement (IA). The nodal agency for the membership would be Earth System Science Organisation – National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Quick Link – Cabinet approves IEA-OES
President gives assent to The Sugar Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2015
President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the Sugar Cess (Amendment) Bill, 2015, raising the ceiling of the impost from Rs 25 to Rs 200 per quintal, a measure that will help sugarcane growers and cash-starved mills. Presidential assent to the bill, which will help the government meet its expenditure on interventions to ensure payment of dues to the sugarcane farmers, was granted on January 8.
Quick Link – Sugar Cess Bill
IMD changes language in weather forecasting and redefines terms
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has changed the languages and also redefined many of its terms to make the interface more audience friendly and fill the communication with civil administration. An official notification has been issued by the India Meteorological Department which lists out some new terms and redefined others, thus, doing away with the outdated language. The changes have been made in order to understand the upcoming weather events and reports of the department more appropriately.
Quick Link – IMD changes language for terms
GOI constitutes Arvind Panagariya committee to fast-track bullet train project
Fast-tracking implementation of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, the Centre has set up a high-level panel headed by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya to sort out bilateral issues with a similar committee set up by Japan. The panel comprises the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary, the Foreign Secretary, the Economic Affairs Secretary and the Railway Board Chairman. This panel will discuss all types of bilateral issues related to the first bullet train project of the country, including funding and regulatory matters for removing all hindrances to ensure smooth implementation. Earlier, the project was examined by a committee on innovative collaborations head by Panagariya, whose mandate is to vet projects worth Rs 2,000 crore and above.
Quick Link – Fast-Track bullet train project by Arvind Panagariya
BSNL starts 4G service with soft launch in Chandigarh
State-owned BSNL has started 4G services on non-commercial basis in Chandigarh promising broadband speed of up to 100 megabit per second (Mbps). The company’s local ads are promising broadband speed of up to 100 mbps on its Long Term Evolution (LTE) based 4G mobile service. BSNL has 4G spectrum across India except in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kolkata. The company selected through request for proposal will manage the networks while BSNL would share its revenue the successful bidder. It has been expanding its footprint on this model wherein it provides only bandwidth and the infrastructure is set up by its partner. Mr. Shrivastava said that company is in discussions with Reliance Jio to offer 4G to its customers using their network. He said that some technical issues regarding inter-operability between two networks is pending that are expected to be sorted out very soon.
Quick Link – 4G in Chandigarh by BSNL
Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi today has approved the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana – a path breaking scheme for farmers’ welfare. There will be a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all Rabi crops. In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium to be paid by farmers will be only 5The premium rates to be paid by farmers are very low and balance premium will be paid by the Government to provide full insured amount to the farmers against crop loss on account of natural calamities.
Quick Link – Pradhan Mantri Fasal – Scheme
Tendulkar launches 2 Mumbai Rail Police safety initiatives
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar launched two initiatives by Mumbai Railway Police — SAMEEP (Safety Alert Messages Exclusively For Passengers) and B-Safe. SAMEEP is an effort towards instant communication with railway passengers in case of any eventuality. Under this scheme, the Railways Dept invite commuters to give Missed Call on 7208015207 or SMS MH RLY COP to 166 to get registered. Those who get registered will be sent an SMS when required about important developments/disruptions, safety advisories, women security updates, correct information to dispel any rumours.
Quick Link – Tendulkar launches RLY COP- SAMEEP
NE state capitals to be linked by rail by 2020: MoS Railways
Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha has announced that the capitals of all north-eastern states would be connected by rail by 2020 and Agartala would be brought onto the map of broad gauge network by March. Sinha today received the first broad gauge trial train in Agartala in the presence of state PWD Minister Badal Chowdhury and Transport Minister Manik Dey. He said the construction of 15 km-long railway track to connect Agartala with Akhaura in Bangladesh “is a top priority”.
Quick Link – NE linked rail by 2020
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Narendra Modi is World’s Seventh Most Popular Leader
Based on the recent ‘International World Leader Index’ survey, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been voted as the seventh most popular leader in the world. In the survey, people from across 65 countries across the world were asked to vote and Modi got a favourable view from 24 percent of people. However, 20 percent people did not vote in favour of him. US President Barack Obama has topped the list with a score of +30 percent with a massive 59 per cent in his favour and 29 per cent unfavourable.
Quick Link – Modi is 7th Popular leader
South Korea appoints Yoo Il-ho as finance minister
South Korea appointed Yoo Il-ho as its new finance minister, the presidential Blue House putting him in charge of Asia’s fourth-largest economy amid slow growth and low inflation. Yoo, a scholar-turned-politician and former land minister, replaces Choi Kyung-hwan, who will be running in parliamentary elections in April. In speeches and a parliamentary hearing, Yoo said South Korea’s biggest problem was slowing potential growth brought on by delayed structural reforms, and vowed to continue Choi’s efforts for change.
Quick Link – S korea’s new Finance Minister
Israel gets fifth German-made nuclear-capable submarine ‘INS Rahav’
Israel has took delivery of its fifth German-built submarine, an advanced Dolphin-class vessel said to be capable of remaining submerged for up to a week. Speaking at an official welcome ceremony, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the undersea fleet allows Israel “to deter enemies who seek to destroy us.” The new arrival is named “Rahav” after a biblical sea monster. Israel is the Middle East’s sole of undeclared nuclear power, refusing to confirm or deny it has such weapons. Its five German-made submarines will be used to protect its shores and carry out spying missions against its arch-foe Iran. A sixth submarine is to be delivered in two to three years although defence analyst Yossi Melman, writing in Maariv newspaper, has said it is likely to be cancelled for budgetary reasons.
Quick Link – Nuclear-capable submarine ‘INS Rahav’
FOREIGN RELATIONS
MoU between India and Maldives for Health
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the MoU between India and Maldives which was signed in January, 2014 on cooperation in the field of Health. The MoU covers cooperation in the area of exchange and training of medical doctors, officials, other health professionals and experts, assistance in development of human resources and setting up of healthcare facilities and medical and health research development.
Quick Link – MoU in India and Maldives Health
Loan Agreement signed between GOI and JICA
The Government of India has signed a loan agreement with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for pollution abatement of River Mula-Mutha in Pune. The Government of Japan has committed to provide a soft loan of 19.064 billion Yen (about Rs. 1000 crore) to Government of India for the project at an interest rate of 0.30% per annum. The loan assistance for the project has been approved by the Union Finance Ministry at an estimated cost of Rs. 990.26 crore.
Quick Link – Loan Agreement with GOI and JICA
OBITUARY
Lt Gen JFR Jacob, 1971 India-Pakistan war hero passes away
Lt Gen JFR Jacob (retd), who played a key role in the 1971 war which broke up Pakistan and created Bangladesh, died in New Delhi. The 93-year-old passed away due to pneumonia. He had been admitted on 1 January. Born in the Bengal Presidency under British India, Jacob joined the army at the age of 19 and also fought in World War II and the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 before he retired in 1978. Jacob was the Chief of Staff of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command during the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to Pakistan’s eastern wing seceding and becoming an independent Bangladesh.
Quick Link – Gen JFR Jacob Passes away
Thank you 🙂 🙂 🙂
