12th June 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

12th June is observed as World Day Against Child Labour.
- This day was first launched in the year 2002 by International Labour Organization (ILO) aiming to raise awareness and activism to prevent child labour.
- This year's (2015) Theme : 'No to Child Labour, Yes to Quality Education'
Bangladesh has come out strongly in India’s support and slammed Pakistan for its statement that India interfered during the 1971 political crisis in East Pakistan.
- The assertion came a day after Pakistan's foreign ministry issued a statement referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks during his Dhaka trip that India had supported Bangladesh's freedom movement.
- - The ministry criticised Modi's "acknowledgement" of India's "involvement" in the 1971 war and said his statement confirmed India's negative role in the affairs of a sovereign neighbouring state.
- Bangladesh Information Minister : Hasanal Haq Inu

National Affairs

Delhi Government has launched a higher education and skill education guarantee scheme to provide a Rs.10 lakh bank loan to students from Delhi.
- Under this scheme, regardless of the student's financial condition, they would be provided Rs.10 lakh as loan without any collateral or third-party guarantee or margin money. There would be no processing charges for the loan.
Three day long tourism promotional Ladakh Singhey Khababs Sindhu (also known as Sindhu Darshan) Festival has begun in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region.
- Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir : Mufti Mohammad Sayeed
The Bombay High Court today refused to lift the ban on Nestle's popular product, Maggi noodles.
- Note : Many states, including Maharashtra, have banned Maggi noddles, terming it to be hazardous to health.

Banking & Economy

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that the Utility bills (Bills for postpaid mobile service, piped gas and water supply) can now be submitted as proof of address for opening account with banks or other financial institutions.
- Note : Government has amended the Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005 providing additional relaxations for the purpose of proof of address.
- Utility bill which is not more than two months old of any service provider (electricity, telephone, postpaid mobile phone, piped gas, water bill)” for the limited purpose of proof of address are deemed to be Officially Valid Documents (OVDs) under ‘simplified measures’, RBI said in a notification.
The US Government opens an investigation against two of the biggest Indian outsourcing companies TCS and Infosys for possible violations of H1-B visa rules.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed non-resident Indians (NRIs) to invest in chit funds on non-repatriation basis without any ceiling, a move that will encourage flow of capital into the country.
- However, the subscription to the chit funds should be brought in through normal banking channel, including through an account maintained with a bank in India.
- Note : Earlier in May 2000, non-residents were barred from investing in a company or firms engaged in the business of chit fund.

Science & Technology

China carried out the fourth test of Wu-14, an ultra high-speed nuclear delivery vehicle.
- It was the fourth successful test of the Wu-14 in the past 18 months and the frequency of tests is being viewed by U.S. intelligence analysts as an indicator of the high priority placed on developing the weapon by the Chinese.
- The new strike vehicle is considered a high-technology strategic weapon capable of delivering nuclear or conventional warheads while traveling on the edge of space.
- One of its key features is the ability to maneuver to avoid U.S. missile defenses.
India has scrapped customs import duties for drugs and test kits used to treat AIDS in an effort to cut prices across the country, as it struggles to cope with an ongoing shortage in its national program to fight the disease.
- Note : More than a third of India's 2.1 million HIV/AIDS patients depend on getting their daily antiretrovirals for free from state-run distribution centres, but many of them have been facing shortages or stock outs for months.
Google has launched a new lite mode of Google search engine for India and Brazil.
- The feature will be rolled out in India in two weeks and expected to open pages much faster, yet consume 80% less data than the traditional search engine.
- The new lite mode has been developed by keeping the 2G network speed in mind.

Nek Chand, the creator of iconic Rock Gardens of Chandigarh passes away.
Veteran actor Sir Christopher Lee, known as the master of horror, has passed away.
- He was best known for his roles including Count Dracula in Hammer Horror films, Scaramanga in James Bond, Evil Wizard Saruman in The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.