NATIONAL NEWS
RBI exempts BoI, BoM, OBC from PCAF
The Reserve Bank of India has exempted Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra and Oriental Bank of Commerce from PCAF (Prompt Corrective Action Framework) following improvements in their capital position and asset quality in the December 2018 quarter.
- These banks have provided a written commitment that they would comply with the norms of minimum regulatory capital, Net NPA and leverage ratio on an ongoing basis. RBI will continuously monitor the performance of these banks under various parameters.
Govt renames DIPP as Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has been renamed as the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade with a mandate to deal with matters related to start-ups, facilitating ease of doing business among others.
- The newly-named department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will look into matters related to promotion of internal trade, including retail trade, welfare of traders and their employees, facilitating ease of doing business and start-ups.
- The matters related to internal trade were earlier under the domain of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
Punjab Government Approves ‘Smart Village Campaign’ Worth Of Rs 385 Crores
The Punjab government approved a rural development scheme worth Rs 384.40 crore to supplement the ongoing works to build village infrastructure and provide essential amenities.
- Named 'Smart Village Campaign', the scheme would be financed with funds from the 14th Financial Commission and MGNREGA works. The scheme was approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
2019 announced as The International Year of The Periodic Table
The International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements will be launched at UNESCO's Headquarters, Paris. According to a statement from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), events and activities will be held throughout the year to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the organisation of the periodic table by Russian scientist Dmitri Mendeleev, one of the fathers of modern chemistry.
- At the launch, UNESCO will present its educational initiative, 1001 Inventions: Journeys from Alchemy to Chemistry.
BANKING & FINANCE
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank launches KisanSuvidha loan product for small and marginal farmers
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank (SFB) has announced the launch of ‘KisanSuvidha loan’ for small and marginal farmers. The collateral-free loans can be used by farmers for both agriculture and allied activities.
- Ujjivan has launched the product in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Karnataka and Odisha. It provides loans to individuals with an amount ranging from Rs 60,000- Rs 2 lakh.
- Extra info.:
Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Headquarters: Bengaluru
CEO: Samit Ghosh
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
GST collections for January expected at Rs 103,000 cr
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for January have crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark and is expected to be Rs 103,000 crore, acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal said. The Rs 1 lakh crore barrier in average monthly collections seen over the past two years had finally been broken this January with the collection for last month expected to be at around Rs 103,000 crore.
- There has been a significant improvement over collection of Rs 94,725 crore last month (December) and Rs 89,825 crore during the same month last year.
Paytm enters hotel booking business, buys NightStay
Paytm has launched hotel bookings on its platform and acquired NightStay, which offers deals on last-minute bookings at luxury hotels. Paytm said it plans to invest Rs 500 crore in scaling up its travel operations and has partnered with more than 5,000 hotels across the budget, luxury and business segments.
- Nightstay founder Nasr Khan will lead the hotel-booking services at Paytm.
India's unemployment rate hit 45-year high in 2017-18
India’s unemployment rate rose to a 45-year high during 2017-2018. The assessment by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducted between July 2017-June 2018, showed the unemployment rate stood at 6.1 per cent, the highest since 1972-73.
- The report showed that joblessness stood at 7.8 per cent in urban areas compared with 5.3 parts in the countryside.
SPORTS
ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 to be played in India
International Cricket Council CEO and former South Africa cricketer David Richardson announced that the 13th edition of Men's Cricket World Cup will be played in India in 2023.
- In forthcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 scheduled in England and Wales, ten best teams in the world will fight in a very competitive tournament. The much-awaited ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019 is scheduled from May 30 to July 14.
- Extra info.:
ICC Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
ICC ropes in Coca-Cola as official sponsor
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced a five-year global partnership deal with beverage manufacturer Coca-Cola Company. The partnership will see Coca-Cola’s brands becoming exclusive non-alcoholic beverage partners of the ICC until 2023.
- The five-year agreement includes all ICC events around the world including the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales, the ICC men’s and women’s T20 World Cups in Australia in 2020, the ICC Women’s World Cup 2021 in New Zealand and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India in 2023 amongst other global tournaments.
Mithali Raj becomes first woman cricketer to play 200 ODIs
Mithali Raj became the first-ever women cricketer to play 200 one-day internationals. The ongoing third ODI against New Zealand marks the 200th appearance of the Indian women's ODI team skipper. Indian women have played a total of 263 ODIs in their history and Mithali has been a part of 200 of them.
- The 36-year-old, who made her ODI debut in June 1999, is serving the game for 19 years and 219 days, now. This is fourth-highest among the men cricketers too as Mithali is just behind Sachin Tendulkar (463), Sanath Jayasuriya (445) and Javed Miandad (233).
Haryana beat defending champions Punjab Royals to lift PWL 4 title
Haryana Hammers won the fourth edition of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) as they outclassed Punjab Royals 6-3 in the summit clash at the Gautam Buddha University indoor stadium in Greater Noida.
- Haryana Hammers, turned the tables on the defending champions Punjab Royals winning all the first five bouts of the evening to clinch the title.
APPOINTMENTS
BARC India elects Punit Goenka as chairman
The MD and CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), Punit Goenka has been elected as the new chairman of Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC). He will be taking over from Nakul Chopra, a senior advisor at Publicis.
- Goenka was the founder Chairman of BARC India and played an instrumental role in setting up of the TV Viewership measurement company.
Senior bureaucrat Ramesh Abhishek given additional charge as Civil Aviation Secretary
The government gave senior bureaucrat Ramesh Abhishek additional charge as Secretary of Civil Aviation Ministry. Abhishek holds the position of Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Abhishek takes over from R.N. Choubey who retired recently. He will join the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as a member.
OBITUARIES
Former Test umpire Dara Dotiwalla passes away
Former umpire Dara Dotiwalla, who officiated in the famous tied Test match between India and Australia in 1986 at Chennai, passed away. He was 85. Dotiwalla had also officiated in eight One Day Internationals (ODIs) from 1982 to 1988.
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