Current Affairs 13th March 2018: Daily GK Update |

Dear Aspirants,

The General Awareness Section of Banking Exams covers numerous sections in it like Banking Awareness, Static GK, and Current Affairs. But the most important thing that you might have noticed is that both the Banking Awareness and Static Awareness questions asked in the General Awareness Section are based on Current Affairs only. The questions on Static and Banking Awareness are related to the countries, events or anything that has been in news for a while. Here is the Daily GK Update to get you acquainted with the top events that made the headlines today!!

Current Affairs 13th March 2018: Daily GK Update

National News

1. PM Launches Campaign To Eradicate TB By 2025

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i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a campaign to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) from India by 2025, five years ahead of the globally-set deadline. After inaugurating the Delhi End-TB Summit Modi launched the TB-free India Campaign to take the activities under the National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination forward in a mission mode for ending the epidemic by 2025.

ii. A target has been set to end TB globally by 2030. Mr. Modi stated that India has targeted to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025.

2. PM Modi Launches Number Of Schemes For Poor In Varanasi

Current Affairs 13th March 2018: Daily GK Update |_4.1

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a number of schemes for the poor in Varanasi and emphasized on harnessing solar energy for cooking. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of various development projects worth over Rs. 800 crores in Varanasi.

ii. He also flagged off a new train- Kanshi-Patna Jan Shatabdi Express – between Varanasi and Patna. The Prime Minister also announced Ayushman Bharat scheme to ensure better healthcare facilities for the poor.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Exams-

Ayushman Bharat Programme/Scheme will generate lakhs of jobs, particularly for women.
Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency is the constituency of PM Narendra Modi.

3. Centre Forms Tribunal To Solve Mahanadi Water Dispute Between Odisha & Chhattisgarh

Current Affairs 13th March 2018: Daily GK Update |_5.1

i. The Centre has constituted a three-member Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal to adjudicate the dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over sharing the river’s water. Supreme Court Judge AM Khanwilkar will be the Chairman of the tribunal, with Justice Ravi Ranjan of the Patna High Court and Justice Indermeet Kaur Kochhar of the Delhi High Court being the other two members.

ii. The apex court had sought to refer the dispute to a Tribunal for adjudication under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

4. Govt To Institute Award For Best Investigators Of Crime

Current Affairs 13th March 2018: Daily GK Update |_6.1

i. The government has decided to institute an award for carrying out best investigation of crime for promoting high professional standards among police forces. The award – Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation – will be given to the best investigators of police forces of States, Union Territories and central investigating agencies.

ii. Based on the average crime data for the last three years, a total of 162 medals will be awarded every year. Out of these, 137 will be for the states and Union territories and 25 for the central investigating agencies – National Investigation Agency, CBI and Narcotics Control Bureau.

5. Karnataka’s Belgaum Is Now Home To India’s Tallest Flag

Current Affairs 13th March 2018: Daily GK Update |_7.1

i. India’s tallest national flag was unfurled in Belagavi (also known as Belgaum) in Karnataka. The event was attended by leaders, schoolchildren, and leaders of Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Sikh institutions at the Kote Kere front. Where size is concerned, this flag in Belgaum beats the one at the India-Pakistan border at Attari in Punjab.

i. Belagavi District Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi unfurled the 9,600 sq ft wide flag on a 110-metre-tall flagpole.

Banking/Finance/Economy

6. BHEL Secures Order Worth Rs 736 Crore From NPCIL

Current Affairs 13th March 2018: Daily GK Update |_8.1

i. The public sector Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has secured significant orders worth 736 crores Rs., after competitive bidding, for supplying Steam Generators for the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).

ii. The generators will be manufactured at the Tiruchirappalli plant of BHEL and will be installed at the Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), Gorakhpur, Haryana.

7. ICICI Bank Launches Online Overdraft Facility For MSME Customers

Current Affairs 13th March 2018: Daily GK Update |_9.1

i. ICICI Bank has launched instant overdraft ‘InstaOD’ facility for MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) customers in a completely online and paperless manner. Customers can get overdraft facility up to Rs 15 lakh for a year anytime, anywhere using the bank’s Internet and mobile banking app.

ii. The new facility will enable a few lakh of pre-qualified current account customers of the bank to instantly avail of the facility without visiting a branch and submitting physical documents. ICICI Bank will also offer the facility for instant online sanction of the overdraft facility to MSME customers of other banks shortly.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Exams-

An overdraft allows the individual to continue withdrawing money even if the account has no funds in it or not enough to cover the withdrawal.
ICICI Bank stands for Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India.

8. SBI Reduces Charges On Non-Maintenance Of Minimum Balance

Current Affairs 13th March 2018: Daily GK Update |_10.1

i. The country’s largest lender, SBI has slashed charges for non-maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) in savings accounts by nearly 75 percent. The revised charges will be effective from April 01, 2018 and will benefit over 25 crore customers.

ii. The charges for non-maintenance of AMB for customers in Metro and Urban centers have been reduced from a maximum of Rs 50 per month to Rs 15 per month. Similarly, for Semi-Urban and Rural centers, the charges have been reduced from Rs 40 every month to Rs 12 and Rs 10 GST charges will be applicable over and above the rates specified above.

International News

9. India Announces USD 100 Ml LoC For Mauritius

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i. India has announced a new Line of Credit of USD 100 million for defense procurement by Mauritius as the two sides signed many agreements on the second day of President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit.

ii. The agreements were signed after President Kovind held delegation-level talks with Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and members of his Cabinet.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Exams-

President of Mauritius- Ameenah Gurib-Fakim
The currency of Mauritius- Mauritian rupee
The capital city of Mauritian- Port Louis

10. Maldives Parliament Approved Anti-Defection Bill

Current Affairs 13th March 2018: Daily GK Update |_12.1

i. The Maldives Parliament has approved the anti-defection bill with retrospective effect amidst the boycott by opposition MPs. According to the bill, MPs elected on political party tickets will lose their seat if they leave their party, get expelled, or switch parties.

ii. The bill would take effect from 13th July 2017, meaning that the 12 MPs that switched to the Opposition last year would lose their seats. The bill was passed with 35 votes as opposition MPs continued to boycott the settings.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for Exams-