3rd January 2016 - Important Current Affairs updates

sponsored links

International Affairs

China has created three new military bodies as part of reforms to modernize its military and improve its fighting capacity.
- They are,
- - General command for the People's Liberation Army,
  - Missile force
  - Strategic support force
- Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that the three new units had been created as part of a modernization reform and "to realize the Chinese dream of a strong military."
According to the Press Information Bureau's recent report, India moved 13 positions ahead from 65th to 52nd rank in Tourism & Travel competitive index.
- Top 10 in the list are,
- - Spain
  - France
  - Germany
  - US
  - UK
  - Switzerland
  - Australia
  - Italy
  - Japan
  - Canada

National Affairs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 103rd session of the Indian Science Congress at Mysuru today.
- In his speech Modi gave a new mantra comprising five Es for scientists. They are Economy, Environment, Energy, Empathy and Equity.
Implementing an announcement made in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 2014 for farmers welfare, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has launched the scheme Amma Seeds.
- This new scheme is aimed at providing quality seeds, the state government said today.
- The Tamil Nadu State Seeds Development Agency will act as the nodal body to coordinate seed farms, production units and the farmers.
President Pranab Mukherjee today gave his assent to the five legislations which have been passed by Parliament in the recently concluding winter session.
- These legislations are,
- - The Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act,
  - The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act,
  - The Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts Act,
  - The Atomic Energy (Amendment) Act,
  - The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2015.
Finance Ministry has asked Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to strengthen written examination for recruitment of Clerical and sub-staff posts as there will be no interviews for such appointments.

Deaths

Lt Col Niranjan, a member of the NSG's Bomb Disposal Squad, was martyred while he was defusing the grenade at the Pathankot air base during combing operations.

Awards & Honors

Corporation Bank has bagged three awards at the ‘National Payments Excellence Awards 2015’ event recently.
- Important Points to Note :
- - Corporation Bank received the winner award jointly with Indian Bank for ‘Cheque Truncation System’ under the mid-sized category.
  - The bank also received two runner-up awards for National Financial Switch for its performance in acquirer transactions and Immediate Payment Service (IMPS).
  - This function was organised by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
Music maestro Ilaiyaraja has been selected for Kerala Tourism’s Nishagandhi Puraskaram 2016 for his artistic excellence and contribution to the Indian film music industry.
- The award carries a purse of Rs.1, 50,000, citation and a statuette.

MOUs

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) for web-based monitoring of watershed projects.
- Important Points to Note :
- The web-based monitoring of Indo-German Watershed Development (IGWDP) projects will happen in three states, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Telangana, Nabard said in a statement.
- Under the MoU, Hyderabad-based NRSC, will create a separate page for Nabard on Bhuvan web-portal, develop customised software tool and mobile application for real time monitoring, online comparison and visualisation with respect to activities implemented in the projects sanctioned by Nabard.

Business & Economy

Popular online streaming service Netflix is likely to launch in India next week during the trade show CES 2016.
- The website was planning to enter the Asian nations soon with Singapore and Hong Kong.
State-owned Punjab National Bank has announced that it has launched host of digital banking solutions including green PIN and enhancement of its mobile app.
- The bank launched mobile apps enabling the customer to locate PNB ATM with PNB ATM Assist.
- PNB MD : Usha Ananthasubramanian
- The bank also launched another Android app to undertake basic banking.
State-run lender, IDBI Bank, is planning to raise Rs.3,771 crore by way of Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) which could see government stake reduce by 25 per cent.

New Appointments

Atul Sobti today assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of state-owned power equipment maker BHEL.
- In September last year, the government had approved the appointment of Sobti as CMD, Bhel for a period of 5 years.
- Prior to this, Sobti was Director on the Board of Bhel, heading two crucial portfolios of Power and Finance. Earlier, he also held additional charge of the post of Director (Engineering, R&D).

Sports

Mumbai Rockets beat Awadhe Warriors 2-1 in opening match of Premier Badminton League in Mumbai.