NABARD celebrates 35th foundation day
- National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) ,the apex banking body of micro-financing and funding is celebrating its 35th foundation day today.
- NABARD was established on the recommendations of Shivaraman Committee, (by Act 61, 1981 of Parliament) on 12 July 1982 to implement the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act 1981.
- It is the most important institution in the country which looks after the development of the cottage industry, small industry and village industry, and other rural industries.
- NABARD also reaches out to allied economies and supports and promotes integrated development.
- Its headquarters in Mumbai (Maharashtra)and other branches areall over the country.
Postal payment bank to revitalize postmen
- Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has announced to launch the postal payment bank from September this year.
- Postmen across the country will be provided 1.30 lakh hand-held devices and will function more like mobile ATMs in the rural belt of the country.
- The Postal Payments Bank will provide banking services, insurance,third party delivery and collection of EMIs in rural pockets.
UP creates world record by planting over 5 cr saplings in ten hours
- Uttar Pradesh has created a world record by planting more thanfive crore saplings in just ten hours.
- The forest department of the state started the largest statewide plantation drive in 24 hours from 10 AM.
- The state claimed it had achieved the target and planted 5.01 croresaplings across the state till 9 PM.
- UP’s official entry into the Guinness Book of World Records, however, will only be announced once the record keeping team verifies the claims, a process that is expected to take up to two months.
- This was the biggest plantation exercise undertaken anywhere in the world.
- Earlier, Madhya Pradesh had held the Guinness record of planting 1.43 crore saplings in 24 hours in August last year.
Delhi govt approves proposal to continue 50 pc subsidy on electricity bills
- Delhi govt has approved a proposal to continue 50% subsidy onelectricity bills in national capital.
- The decision was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
- The Finance Department advised it to approve the subsidy proposalin the Cabinet following which it would “legally” be able to release the amount to be incurred on subsidy to the discoms in the current financial year.
- The Cabinet approved the proposal to shell out about Rs 1,600 crore on the power subsidy to be given to discoms in the current financial year.
Air India lowers last-minute ticket fares at AC 2-Tier Rajdhani Fare
- Air India has decided to lower its last minute ticket fares to the level of 2-tier AC of Rajdhani trains.
- Air India will drop fares on four key routes–Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Kolkata and Delhi-Bengaluru–four hours before thedeparture of flights to these destinations.
- The move is aimed at providing relief to the passengers from last minute sky-rocketing fares and also to fill the vacant seats.
- Under the ‘Super Saver‘ scheme, which started from June 26 and end on September 30, passengers of the Rajdhani Express trains who have wait-listed ticket could book four hours prior to the flight departure at a fare which match with the ticket price of Ist ACRajdhani trains.
First woman Chief Justice of Nepal Sushila Karki takes oath
- Sushila Karki has become the first woman Chief Justice of Nepalafter taking oath of office and secrecy at a special programmeorganised at the Presidential Residence, Sheetal Niwas.
- She will head the judiciary till June 6, 2017.
- The oath was administered by President Bidya Devi Bhandari.
- President Bhandari has also administered oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav.
- Karki has done her Masters in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi.
Govt launches Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight
- The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J. P. Nadda has launched a nationwide Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight(IDCF) to check child diarrhoeal deaths in New Delhi.
- It will be observed from 11th to 23rd July, 2016 across the country.
- The IDCF drive is a very cost -effective intervention to curb the risk of spread of diarrhoea which scales up during monsoon season.
- Under this initiative, government aims at covering over 80% of children affected by diarrhoea across the country.
- Diarrhoea is caused by various virus, bacteria and protozoa like rota virus, E.coli etc.
Note:-
- The importance of this drive is that to make ORS available in the household when needed at the time of diarrhoea.
- ASHAs will visit all households with children below 5 years of age for pre-positioning the ORS.
Swachh survey will be extended to 500 cities: Naidu
- According to Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu Swachh survey will be extended to 500 cities, which have population over one lakh.
- States, cities, panchayats should give awards so that it becomes a movement.
- It is the political will and administrative skill which is required for clean India.
- The first-ever cleanliness ranking of cities under Swachh Bharat Mission was released in February this year.
Note:-
- Mysuru has emerged as the cleanest city among all million plus and capital cities while Dhanbad in Jharkhand has been ranked the worst.
India hockey squad announced for Rio Olympics
- Indian Hockey Mens’ & Womens‘ squads for Rio Olympics have been announced.
- Goalkeeper P R Sreejesh will captain the Men’s team and the experienced Sushila Chanu will lead the Women’s squad.
- Sreejesh was also the captain of the Indian team that won a historicsilver medal at the recently-held Champions Trophy.
- The women’s team is currently ranked 13th in FIH world rankings, the Men’s team is placed 5th.
