(DAILY NEWS INDIA)
1.
ODISHA LAUNCHES GRID CONNECTED ROOF TOP SOLAR PROJECTS
i. CM of Odisha Naveen
Patnaik has inaugurated grid connected roof top solar programme to encourage
the public participation to harness renewable energy.
ii. Under this programme,
the consumers can introduce small solar plants on their rooftops and consume
the generated solar power during day time. Excess power can be exported to the
grid through their service cable.
iii. These decentralized
systems also have the ability to strengthen the grid. It will reduce power
loses .Grid connected roof top solar systems are best options for adding
renewable solar capacity.
iv. A web platform www.rtsodisha.gov.in
was also launched to help project stakeholders interact with consumers and
provide services. This website was made by Odisha Renewable Energy Development
Agency.
v. It will be useful in
making the Rooftop Solar Program easily accessible to the common citizens.
2.
CABINET APPROVES MOU BETWEEN INDIA & NEPAL ON DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION AND PREVENTION OF ILLICIT TRAFFICKING IN
NARCOTIC DRUGS AND PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE
i. The Union Cabinet has
approved for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Nepal
on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and precursor chemicals and related matters.
ii. It indicates the
mechanism of information exchange and the competent authorities in the 2
countries who are responsible for the implementation of the MoU and exchange of
any information.
iii. Cooperation on drug
matters is expected to curb the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs, psychotropic
substances and precursor chemicals in the two countries. It helps to cooperate
in drug demand reduction through prevention, awareness, education and community
based programmes, treatment and rehabilitation.
iv. Under this MoU
exchange information of operational, technical and general nature in drug
matters, and exchange literature on their existing laws, rules, procedures and
any further amendments to the existing legislation.
v. In accordance with the
spirit of UN Conventions on Narcotic Drugs, effort is made to enter into
Bilateral Agreements or MoUs with neighbouring countries and the countries
which have a direct bearing on the drug situation prevailing in our country.
3.
EPFO ORGANIZES TIRANGA YATRA TO COMMEMORATE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUIT INDIA
MOVEMENT IN MUMBAI
i. Quit India Movement
that began on 9th August 1942 which finally culminated into freedom of India.
The nation is observing the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement. The
Tiranga Yatra is an opportunity to achieve ‘Sankalp’ to ‘Siddhi’ towards a ‘New
India’.
ii. Employees’ Provident
Fund Organisation, is participating in the celebrations of 75th anniversary of
Quit India Movement by organizing Tiranga Yatra.
iii. All the workers from
different industries, including EPFO participated in the Tiranga Yatra
organized in Mumbai. The Tiranga Yatra was flagged off by the Minister of State
(I/C) for Labour and Employment, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, near Indian Oil
Office, Bandra (E), Mumbai and culminated at EPFO Regional Office at Bandra
Mumbai.
iv. Government is
committed for providing housing to all by 2022 and EPFO has launched Housing
Scheme where 90% of the EPF money can be withdrawn in addition to monthly
payment of EMI out of the future accumulations in their provident fund.
4.
DR. V. KAMAKOTI, HEADED TASK FORCE ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR INDIA’S
ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION
i. Commerce and Industry
Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has constituted a Task Force on Artificial
Intelligence for India’s Economic Transformation.
ii. The task force will
have the Chairperson Dr. V. Kamakoti, IIT Madras. The panel will comprise of
experts, academics, researchers and industry leaders and will explore
possibilities to leverage AI for development across various fields.
iii. As per the Nirmala
Sitharaman driven by the power of big data, high computing capacity, artificial
intelligence and analytics Industry 4.0 aims is to digitize the manufacturing
sector.
iv. Official
participation from the following organizations shall also be requested: NITI
Aayog, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, UIDAI, Department of
Science & Technology and DRDO.
5.
RBI TO ISSUE RS 200 NOTES: FINANCE MINISTRYNEW-NOTE-200
i. According to a
notification in the Gazette of India the Modi government has notified
introduction of new Rs 200 notes. The Reserve Bank of India has announced that
it will start issuing the Rs 200 notes from 25th August from select RBI offices
and some banks.
ii. The move is widely
expected to ease the shortage of lower-denomination currency bills. The notes
will be in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, bearing signature of Governor Urjit
Patel.
6.
DHANLAXMI BANK, DHFL PRAMERICA TIE UP FOR BANCASSURANCE
i. DHFL Pramerica Life
Insurance Company has signed on Kerala-based Dhanlaxmi Bank as its
bancassurance partner.
ii. Under which the
Kerala-based Dhanlaxmi Bank will distribute retail and group life insurance
products to its customers across 260 branches in India. The bank anticipates an
annual incremental income of ₹20-30 cr from this distribution business.
iii. With this tie-up,
the company is in a strong position to consolidate its presence in Kerala,
Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
iv. The company will work
to increase penetration of life insurance by offering segmented products
through digital and Customer Relationship Management capabilities as well as by
making insurance more accessible.
7.
NANDAN NILEKANI APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF INFOSYS BOARD
i. Nandan Nilekani
co-founder of India’s 2nd-largest software services exporter has appointed as
non-executive chairman of the board.
ii. R. Seshasayee,
chairman of the board, along with former CEO and MD Vishal Sikka, Jeffrey
Lehman and John Etchemendy had stepped down from the board.
iii. Nandan Nilekani has
done electrical engineer from IIT Bombay. Nilekani was the CEO at Infosys from
2002 to 2007 and also served as co-chairman of the board before his departure
in 2009 to head the Aadhaar project.
8.
LONDON TO HOST 2018 TABLE TENNIS TEAM WORLD CUP
i. According to the World
Table Tennis governing body announced the 2018 ITTF Team World Cup will be held
in London.
ii. The International
Table Tennis Federation has awarded the hosting rights for the event. It is the
2nd most prestigious team tournament after the World Championships.
iii. The Team World Cup,
last held in Dubai in 2015, comprises 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams.
9.
RAGHURAM RAJAN PENS BOOK ‘I DO WHAT I DO’
i. Former RBI Governor
Raghuram Rajan has penned a book titled ‘I Do What I Do: On Reform, Rhetoric
and Resolve’.
ii. The book will launch
on 4th of September. According to publisher Harper Collins besides Rajan’s
commentary, it will also include speeches that convey what it was like to head
the central bank during his time.
iii. About the book Rajan
explains economic concepts in a readily accessible way. He addresses key issues
that are not in any banking manual but essential to growth: the need for
tolerance and respect to assure India’s economic progress, for instance, or the
connection between political freedom and prosperity.
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS BASED
ON TODAY’S NEWS
Q1.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES RECENTLY ORGANISED TIRANGA YATRA TO COMMEMORATE
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT?
a) Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation
b) Central Information Commission
c) Quality Council of India
d) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Q2.
WHO WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED AS THE NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE INFOSYS BOARD?
a) Ravi Venkatesan
b) Nandan Nilekani
c) R Seshasayee
d) UB Pravin Rao
Q3.
WHICH TASK FORCE HAS BEEN CONSTITUTED BY THE UNION GOVERNMENT ON ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE FOR INDIA’S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION?
a) Vijay Kumar Sankarapu task force
b) Gautam Shroff task force
c) V. Kamakoti task force
d) Shantanu Chaudhary task force
Q4.
WHICH FORMER RBI GOVERNOR HAS AUTHORED THE BOOK “I DO WHAT I DO”?
a) Manmohan Singh
b) Duvvuri Subbarao
c) Amitav Ghosh
d) Rahguram Rajan
Q5.
2018 TABLE TENNIS TEAM WORLD CUP TO BE HELD IN WHICH COUNTRY?
a) England
b) Germany
c) India
d) Australia
ANSWERS:
1 - A 2 - B 3 - C 4
- D 5 - A
