Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 2nd and 3rd July 2017

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Madhya Pradesh sets record with plantation of 6 crores saplings in day

i. In Madhya Pradesh, a massive plantation campaign was undertaken to save the environment and conservation of the Narmada river. According to official sources over six crores, saplings were planted in 24 districts of Narmada basin in just 12 hours. 

ii. Arrangements were made to record the whole event for the Guinness World Record. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the plantation drive at Amarkantak of Anooppur district. Later he also took part in plantation drives in Jabalpur and Omkareshwar. 

Important Takeaways from above News-

IGNOU announces course fee waiver for transgender students

i. The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has announced exemption of fees for its transgender students of all programmes. Vice Chancellor Ravindra Kumar announced the initiative during the 22nd Prof G Ram Reddy Lecture.

ii. The university holds the lecture on July 2 every year in the memory of the founding Vice Chancellor of the university Prof. G Ram Reddy. It invites eminent educationists and scholars to deliver lecture on higher education, especially in the open and distance learning domain.

Important Takeaways from above News-

FINO becomes payments bank

i. FINO Payments Bank has commenced operations as a payments bank with effect from 30th June 2017 according to the Reserve Bank of India. FINO PayTech Ltd, Navi Mumbai, was one of the 11 applicants which were issued the in-principle approval for setting up a payments bank. 

ii. Besides FINO, the other applicants which have launched payment bank operations are Airtel M Commerce Services, Department of Posts and Paytm Payments Bank.

Important Takeaways from above News-

Serbia lawmakers elect first gay woman Prime Minister Ana Brnabic

i. The Serbian parliament voted in Ana Brnabic, an openly gay woman,  as the country’s prime minister in a landmark move for the patriarchal conservative country and the entire Balkans region. The 41-year old Brnabic and her cabinet were backed by 157 MPs in the 250-seat parliament after being proposed by President Aleksandar Vucic.

ii. Brnabic becomes Serbia’s first female prime minister and the first openly gay premier in the Balkans, where homophobia remains widespread. Serbia is home to about seven million people, most of them Orthodox Christians.

Important Takeaways from above News-

Rajeev Pratap Rudy & Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid foundation stone of country’s biggest Global Skill Park

i. Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajeev Pratap Rudy and MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has laid the foundation stone of the country’s biggest Global Skill Park in Bhopal. 

ii. The 37-acre land has been allotted in Narela Shankari area of Bhopal for the Global Skill Park. The park will be constructed at a cost of 645 crore rupees. Training will be imparted to 1000 students every year by trainers of international standard. The park will function on the spirit of ‘With Industry -For Industry’.

Important Takeaways from above News-

PM releases photo book titled “President Pranab Mukherjee – A Statesman”

i. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released a photo book titled “President Pranab Mukherjee – A Statesman”, at an event in Rashtrapati Bhawan. He presented the first copy of the book to the President. 

ii. The book is a comprehensive photographic record of India’s 13th president. It covers Mukherjee’s presidency and documents his various roles, the statement said. Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Prakash Javadekar and Vijay Goel besides BJP veteran L K Advani were also present on the occasion.

Union Bank of India and Syndicate Bank get new Chiefs

i. Rajkiran Rai G has been assumed charge as Managing Director & CEO of Union Bank of India. Prior to his elevation as MD & CEO of Union Bank of India, Rai was Executive Director of Oriental Bank of Commerce. He started his career in 1986 as an Agricultural Finance Officer in Central Bank of India. Rai has been appointed by the government to head Union Bank of India for a period of three years from the date of his taking over charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier, according to a finance ministry notification.

ii. Melwyn Rego has been assumed charge as Managing Director & CEO of Syndicate Bank. Prior to joining Syndicate Bank, Rego was MD & CEO of Bank of India. He started his career with IDBI Bank Ltd in 1984 and rose to the position of Deputy Managing Director. Rego will be at the helm of the bank till the remainder of the term up to August 13, 2018, according to a finance ministry notification.

Important Takeaways from above News-

RBI report sees India’s economic growth rate at 7.3% in 2017-18

i. The Reserve Bank stated the ongoing accelerated reform initiatives like Goods and Sevice Tax and continuing political stability will push the economic growth scale to 7.3 per cent in terms of Gross Value Added -GVA in the current fiscal year (2017-18). 

ii. The Financial Stability Report 2017 released, going forward, reforms in FDI and real estate sector, implementation of GST, and revival in external demand are likely to contribute to a better growth outlook. According to the RBI report, GVA growth is expected to be higher at 7.3 per cent in 2017-18. 

Germany win Maiden Confederations Cup

i. Germany has lifted their maiden Confederation Cup Football title. In the final played at St Petersburg, the four-time World Cup winners defeated Chile by a solitary goal. Lars Stindl put Germany ahead in the first half against the run of play, and Germany then held on to the lead.

ii. Earlier, in the third-place play-off match in Moscow, Portugal defeated Mexico 2-1. The match was held at the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Important Takeaways from above News-

• The capital of Germany is Berlin.
• The Confederation Cup originally organised by and held in Saudi Arabia and called the King Fahd Cup.