Current Affairs Updates - 13 October 2017

Current Affairs Updates - 13 October 2017

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Flipkart invests 500 million dollar in its payments arm PhonePe

• E-commerce giant Flipkart on Thursday said it is investing 500 million dollar in its payments arm, PhonePe. Flipkart added that the investment, which is in addition to the 75 million dollar it infused in 2015, is one of the largest single investment in the Indian fintech payments space. PhonePe CEO Sameer Nigam said the investment will help scale up PhonePe's technology platforms.

Brand Ambassador

Yuvraj Singh named Laureus foundation's first Indian ambassador 

• Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh was announced as the first Indian ambassador of the Laureus sports foundation. As a part of the Laureus Sport for Good initiative, Yuvraj will help the foundation support disadvantaged children through sport. The cricketer will join Laureus Indian Academy members Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Kapil Dev as a part of the Laureus Family.

Banking/Economic Affairs

Direct tax revenue rises 15.8% to 3.86 lakh cr for Apr-Sep

• The Centre's net direct tax collections stood at 3.86 lakh crore for April-September, witnessing a growth of 15.8% compared to collections for the corresponding period of last year. This is buoyed by a growth in advance tax mop-up, and represents 39.4% of the total budget estimate of direct taxes at 9.8 lakh crore for the financial year 2017-18.

SBI to set up country's largest innovation centre at Mumbai

• The nation's largest lender State Bank of India is creating a 15,000-sqft innovation centre in Navi Mumbai investing around Rs 100 crore, a senior official said here today.
• The centre, to be built at its Global IT Centre in Belapur in Navi Mumbai, will be the largest innovation centre by any financial services company in the country, the official claimed.

India’s digital payments to grow three-fold in 2017

• The infrastructure of digital payments in India is expected to increase three-fold by the end of 2017 with almost five million electronic point of sale (PoS) machines, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) said.

Rankings

India ranks as second-largest market for LinkedIn

• The professional social network, LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, said India ranked as the second largest market for the company in terms of users after the U.S.

In a first, Himachal to have 136 women-managed poll booths

• The Election Commission on Thursday said that Himachal Pradesh will have 136 fully women-managed poll booths in the upcoming Assembly polls for the first time. The poll panel added that the height of voting compartments will be increased to 30 inches in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. Further, Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will be used in the Himachal elections.

India ranked 100 out of 119 countries on Global Hunger Index

• India has a “serious” hunger problem and ranks 100th out of 119 countries, according to the Global Hunger Index. The report added that more than one-fifth of Indian children under five weigh too little for their height and over a third are too short for their age. India fell three places from last year and ranked below Iraq and Bangladesh.

UK's Oxford plans to have world's first zero-emissions zone

• The UK city of Oxford has announced plans to create the world's first zero-emissions zone by banning all petrol and diesel cars from its centre to curb pollution. The ban would be introduced in phases starting from 2020, including the blocking of non-zero-emitting taxis, cars, light commercial vehicles and buses from using some streets.

India’s first Sewage Treatment Plant under Hybrid Annuity Mode to come up in Haridwar and Varanasi

• Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Road Transport & Highways and Shipping  Shri Nitin Gadkari has said that Nirmal Ganga is the biggest priority of his Ministry, and all efforts will be made to ensure that the Namami Gange Programme shows good progress by the end of next year.

National Affairs

Bihar cabinet approves reservation for ‘Divyangs’ in govt jobs

• Bihar cabinet approves reservations for persons with disabilities in government jobs and educational institutions under the Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016
• The cabinet gave its approval during a meeting presided by chief minister Nitish Kumar, Cabinet Secretariat Department special secretary Upendra Nath Pandey told reporters. The provision has been brought in accordance with the Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016, he said.

Gujarat government to set up 16 new GIDC townships to encourage SMEs

• Gujarat Government will set up 16 new Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) townships in 2400 hectare area to encourage the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has announced this in a press conference at Gandhinagar early today. He said that this township will attract 15,000 industrial units.

Chandrababu Naidu introduces Solid Waste Management vehicles to maintain cleanliness

• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today flagged off thirty Solid Waste Management vehicles, a unique initiative of the state government in order to achieve the goal of Swach Andhra. Speaking at the function Naidu stated that the state government has set up new greenery and landscaping corporation for the clean and transparent environment.

Maharashtra uses paper trail machines for 1st time in polls

• The State Election Commission on Wednesday used Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machines for the first time in Maharashtra during municipal elections in Nanded. The machines, which are connected to EVMs, leave paper trails of votes cast allowing voters to verify if their votes have gone to intended candidates. Notably, around 25% machines developed technical snags during elections at Nanded.

Andhra to give 30,000 to newlyweds from backward classes

• The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved a new scheme providing financial aid of 30,000 for newly-married couples belonging to backward classes. To be eligible to avail the benefit, the couples must either be below the poverty line or have a white ration card. The Andhra government is expected to spend 120 crore on the estimated 40,000 marriages in 2017-18.

Maharashtra government gets ready to cope with climate change

• The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday cleared an adaptation policy to help the state cope with changing climatic conditions and its adverse impact.
• Prepared by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the policy suggested strict norms to reduce pollution through vehicles in cities, conservation of mangroves, plantation of trees on both the sides of the roads and constructing shelters at specific distances (in case of natural calamities), a policy for treatment of sewage water to reduce demand of drinking water, revival of lakes and reservoirs and proper planning to reduce the carbon footprint in new cities.

International Affairs

US withdraws from UNESCO for second time in 33 years 

• The US on Thursday announced its withdrawal from UNESCO, for the second time in 33 years. The US State Department cited the UNESCO's "anti-Israel bias" and a need for its "fundamental reform" as reasons for the withdrawal. However, the US will maintain its status as a non-member observer state at UNESCO.

Schemes / Programme

Cabinet approves SANKALP & STRIVE Schemes to boost Skill India Mission

• The Union cabinet approved seventh pay commission award for teachers, a Diwali gift that will benefit nearly 8 lakh teachers employed in central government educational institutions. The two schemes include the Rs 4,455 crore Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) and Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) of Rs 2,200 crore. 

Agreements (MoU)

Bajaj Finserv, LG India launch co-branded EMI card

• Bajaj Finance, the lending arm of Bajaj Finserv, on Wednesday launched an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) co-branded card -- LG Bajaj Finserv EMI card -- in a tie-up with consumer and electronics company LG Electronics India.

Cabinet clears pact with Japan for setting up flexible, global LNG market

• The Cabinet on Wednesday gave clearance for signing of agreement with Japan for setting up of flexible and global Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) market.
• The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan on establishing a liquid, flexible and global LNG market, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said here.

Govt nod to India-Belarus MoU on vocational education,training

• The Cabinet today approved an agreement for cooperation between India and Belarus in the field of vocational education and training, paving the way for transfer of Belarusian expertise and knowhow in skilling manpower, especially in the manufacturing sector.

Cabinet approves MoU between SEBI and FSC

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Financial Services Commission (FSC), Gibraltar for mutual co-operation and technical assistance. 

Awards & Honours

India boxing coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu gets National award for senior citizens

• Long-serving Indian boxing coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu has been honoured with the National Awards for senior citizens by President Ramnath Kovind.

22-yr-old girl Rudrali Patil becomes British envoy to India for a day

• Rudrali Patil, a student of Amity Law School, got the opportunity to become British High Commissioner to India for a day after winning a video-making competition on girls' rights conducted by the Commission. Mentored by High Commissioner Dominic Asquith, Patil took charge on Monday when she chaired a meeting with Commission officials to become acquainted with the department operations.

Sports: Awards & Honours

Indian football team beats Macau to qualify for 2019 AFC Asian Cup

• Sleeping giant' India woke up on Wednesday, securing their passage into the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates with a rousing 4-1 win against minnows Macau at the Sree Kanteerava stadium here on Wednesday.

Gurusaidutt wins Bulgarian International

• Commonwealth Games bronze medallist RMV Gurusaidutt on Sunday clinched the men's singles title at the Bulgarian International Future Series tournament.