NATIONAL NEWS
Finance Ministry ratifies 8.65% interest on EPF for 2018-19
The Finance Ministry has approved 8.65 per cent rate of interest on Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) for 2018-19 as decided by retirement fund body EPFO, benefitting more than 6 crore formal sector workers.
- The interest rate on EPF was hiked to 8.65 per cent for the last fiscal from 8.55 per cent provided in 2017-18. The EPFO had earlier reduced the interest rate in 2016-17 to 8.65 per cent from 8.8 per cent in 2015-16.
- Extra info.:
Employees' Provident Fund Organisation Headquarters: New Delhi
IEPF Authority recovers Rs 1514 Cr of Depositors Money
The Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) Authority has successfully forced the Peerless General Finance and Investment Company Limited to transfer deposits worth about Rs 1,514 crore to IEPF, a statutory body under the ministry of Corporate Affairs. "Depositors' money was pending with the company for the last 15 years.
- Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) was established by the central government under Section 125 of Companies Act 2013.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
UAE based Etihad Airways becomes first major airline to operate plastic-free flight
The UAE's flag carrier Etihad Airways has become the first airline in the Gulf region to operate a flight without any single-use plastics on board, in a bid to raise awareness about pollution on Earth Day. According to the Abu Dhabi-based national airline of the UAE, the flight EY484 landed in Brisbane on April 22, Earth Day.
- The milestone flight is part of Etihad's pledge to reduce single-use plastic usage by 80 per cent not just in-flight, but across the entire organisation by the end of 2022.
BANKING & FINANCE
State Bank of India Launched India’s First ‘Green Car Loan’
State Bank of India announced the country’s first ‘Green Car Loan’ (Electric Vehicle) to encourage customers to buy electric vehicles. The new scheme will offer loan at 20 basis points lesser than the interest rate on the existing car loan schemes.
- The EMI per Rs. 1 lakh will be lower at Rs. 1,468 for 96 months against Rs. 1,622 for 84 months, based on the maximum tenor, in line with the existing scheme.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
RBI sells entire stake in NHB, Nabard to govt for Rs. 1,470 crore
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that it has divested its entire stake in Nabard and National Housing Bank (NHB) for Rs. 20 crore and Rs. 1,450 crore. The divestment, RBI said, was based on the recommendations of the Narasimham Committee-II.
- With this, the government of India now holds 100% stake in both the financial institutions.
Wirecard partners RBL Bank to drive financial inclusion
Wirecard, the global innovation leader in digital financial technology, announced an expanded partnership with RBL Bank to promote financial inclusion in India. This partnership will make digital payment and banking transactions more readily accessible to all Indian citizens, including those living in remote areas.
- In partnership with RBL, Wirecard will empower its retail agents, who serve as customer service representatives in various areas across the country, to enable the financially under-served to access basic payment and banking services.
SPORTS
Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary win India's 2nd gold at ISSF
Young Indian shooters Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary shot gold in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the ISSF World Cup in Beijing. Bhaker and Chaudhary outclassed Jiang Ranxin and Pang Wei of China 16-6 in the final, which was held in the new format wherein top two teams battled for the gold medal.
- The pair of Bhaker and Chaudhary had won the gold in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the ISSF World Cup held in February in New Delhi.
USA secure ODI status for first time
The United States of America sealed One-Day International status for the very first time with a third straight victory at the World Cricket League Division Two event in Namibia.
- The Americans, whose only previous experience of ODI cricket was at the 2004 Champions Trophy, thrashed Hong Kong by 84 runs to wrap up a top-four place in the six-team competition. The United States will now be able to play 36 ODIs in the next two and a half years.
- Oman have also secured their ODI status, leaving Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Canada and Hong Kong to fight it out for the remaining two places.
APPOINTMENTS
Gen.(Retd.) Dalbir Singh Suhag Appointed India High Commissioner To Seychelles
The government announced the appointment of former army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag as India’s next high commissioner to Seychelles. Suhag was the chief of army staff when India conducted surgical raids across the Line of Control into Pakistan-administered Kashmir in 2016 after the terrorist attack on an Indian army camp in Uri.
- Extra info.:
Seychelles Capital: Victoria
Currency: Seychellois rupee
AWARDS
Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2019
The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize 2019 was awarded to author Rana Dasgupta for his 2010 novel “Solo” which is a tale of estrangement and the ultimate failure of material existence. It is the second edition of the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize.
- Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize aims to revive poetry and books that can change lives. Indian Poets, novelists and Playwrights writing in officially recognized languages or dialects of the Indian subcontinent, including English.
Bhandarkar, Helen get Deenanath Mangeshkar Award
National Award-winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, popular scriptwriter Salim Khan and yesteryears dancing diva Helen were honoured with the prestigious Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award at a ceremony in Mumbai.
- Directorate General of CRPF Vijay Kumar presided over the function and the awards were given away by Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. This year, the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award for music and art has been given to classical dancer Sucheta Bhide-Chapekar.
Pakistan's Cyril Almeida Named IPI's World Press Freedom Hero
The International Press Institute (IPI) named Cyril Almeida, an assistant editor and columnist at Pakistani daily ‘Dawn’ who is currently facing sedition charges in the country, as the recipient of its 71st World Press Freedom Hero award.
- The IPI statement lauded Almeida, a former Rhodes scholar at Oxford University, for his “tenacious coverage of the Pakistani state’s patronage of militant groups”, following which he was charged with sedition.
Benny Antony Conferred With The National IP Award 2019
Benny Antony, Joint Managing Director, the Kochi-based Arjuna Natural Ltd, has been conferred with the National Intellectual Property Award for 2019 in the category of Top Individual for Patents and Commercialization.
- Along with the National IP Award, the Intellectual Property Office India and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) have jointly conferred the ‘WIPO Medal for Inventors’ also to Antony.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Intellectual Property Day
World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on 26 April. The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to "raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life" and "to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe".
- The theme of this year is "Reach for Gold: IP and Sports."
- Extra info.:
WIPO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
World Malaria Day
World Malaria Day 2019 was on April 25th, this annual event was a worldwide effort, to raise awareness of Malaria and funds for the treatment and prevention of malaria. The day also marked the continuing great achievements in the fight against Malaria.
- This year’s theme for World Malaria Day was ‘End Malaria for Good’ and the day is hosted by the World Health Organization.
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