14 December 2017 - Daily Current Affairs
India's submarine ‘INS Kalvari’ inducted in Indian Navy
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commissioned India's modern conventional submarine ‘INS Kalvari’ into Navy's fleet in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Kalvari is the first of the six Scorpene-class submarines handed over by shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) with assistance and technology transfer from France’s DCNS.
- The length of INS Kalvari is 67.5 meters and height of 12.3 meters and weighs 1,565-tonnes and displacement capacity of 1,600 tonnes.
- It is powered by two 1250 kW MAN extremely silent diesel-electric diesel engines making it very difficult to detect underwater.
- Earlier (in July 2000), the Indian Navy has inducted a conventional diesel-electric submarine ‘INS Sindhushastra’ procured from Russia.
President Ram Nath Kovind presents National Energy Conservation Awards
- Today, President Ram Nath Kovind has presented the National Energy Conservation Awards at the occasion of National Energy Conservation day in New Delhi.
- Industries that have demonstrated measurable reductions in their energy use has been awarded during the event.
- Mr. Kovind also presented the National Painting Competition Prizes.
- This year, over 1 crore 22 lakh children across India between 4th and 9th standards participated in the National Painting Competition.
Note: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under Ministry of Power organizes the Energy Conservation Day with an aim to demonstrate India’s achievements in energy efficiency and conservation and nation’s effort towards climate change mitigation.
MHA releases Rs 174 crore to six states for border development
- The Home Ministry has released Rs 174 crore to six states having an international border for development of infrastructure in forwarding areas under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP).
- The fully centrally funded BADP programme covers all villages which are located within 10 km of the international border in 17 states.
- The schemes permissible under BADP include activities relating to Swachhta Abhiyan, skill development programmes, promotion of sports activities, promotion of rural tourism, border tourism and protection of heritage sites.
Indian Railways introduces Online Bill tracking system for Vendors & Contractors
- The Union Ministry of Railways has introduced an online bill tracking system “Indian Railways E-Procurement System (IREPS)” for vendors and contractors.
- The objective IREPS is to enhance transparency in the processing and settlement of bills by increasing use of information technology.
- The vendor or contractor need to register with online IT platform and all bills will be settled within 30 days of its receipt using this platform.
Rajasthan becomes the first state to offer e-mail IDs in Hindi
- Rajasthan has become the first Indian state to launch free email addresses in Hindi (in Devanagari script) for its residents.
- The objective of this initiative aims to ensure maximum participation of people towards e-governance and ensure those maximum government facilities in vernacular language.
- Soon Rajasthan’s state personnel will have an email id in Hindi too.
- The project is being implemented by state IT department with a partnership in form of in-sourcing with private IT companies.
Nagaland: CM Zeliang sacks four key Cabinet ministers
- The Chief Minister of Nagaland ‘TR Zeliang’ has removed four key players in his ministry.
- The Ministers who were dropped are Tokheho Yepthomi (Minister for School Education and Parliamentary Affairs,), Y Patton (Home Minister), Dr. Neikiesalie Kire (Minister for Roads and Bridges) and Neiba Kronu(Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change).
Actor and filmmaker Neeraj Vora passes away
- Actor and filmmaker ‘Neeraj Vora’ passed away at Criti Care Hospital, Mumbai.
- Mr. Vora acted in films like 'Mann' and 'Badshah', and directed films like 'Khiladi 420' and 'Phir Hera Pheri'.
- He had also written dialogues for films such as 'Rangila', 'Akele Hum Akele Tum', 'Taal', 'Josh', 'Badmaash', 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke', 'Awara Paagal Deewana'.
OBOPAY secures pre-paid instrument (PPI) license from RBI
- The global mobile payment solutions company ‘OBOPAY’ has announced that the company has secured a license for Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) from the Reserve Bank of India to operate a semi-closed loop wallet in the country.
- The company would also be using the license to increase business in its B2B (business-to-business) operations by co-branding the prepaid instrument with a partner brand.
- OBOPAY will solve various payment-related problems for their partner clients, bringing efficiency and transparency to the payments process, improving reporting and reducing turnaround times for funds transfers.
Note: The PPI license combined with technology expertise can be leveraged by organizations like financial institutions, who want to launch a mobile wallet.
Retail inflation rises to 4.88% in November
- Retail inflation has risen to 4.88% in November this year due to costlier fuel, vegetables, and eggs.
- According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the inflation, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI), was at 3.58% in October. It was 3.63% in November last year.
- Inflation in eggs shot to 7.95% in November on annual basis, as against 0.69% in the previous month.
- In the fuel and light segment, it was 7.92%, as against 6.36% in October.
- On an overall basis, the inflation in the food segment increased to 4.42% in November as compared to 1.9% in the preceding month.
BCCI lifts ban on Rajasthan Cricket Association
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to lift the ban on the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) in its Special General Meeting (SGM).
- In May 2014, the RCA was suspended by the Indian cricket board when ex-Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Modi was re-elected its president.
Note:
- Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) selects the cricket team of the state of Rajasthan to play in Indian first-class cricket namely Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy.
- C. P. Joshi is the President of the RCA.