Daily GK Updates - 12th June, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Safer train rides for women with Vahini : Women can now look forward to safer journeys, with the Waltair division of ECoR deploying the Subhadra Vahini at the railway station.Vahini is a first-of-its-kind all-female group of 32 railway personnel comprising 16 from the RPF and an equal number from the commercial wing of the division.It has a Facebook page at https://subhadravahiniteamwaltair, while the WhatsApp number is 8978080777.

2. Ministry to study marine litter issue : The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences will begin work on gauging marine litter and their sources along the country’s coastline.The country had joined the United Nations’ ‘Clean Seas’ programme.India and the US had signed a MoU in 2008 to have scientific and technical cooperation in Earth observations and Earth sciences.

3. Punjab to install dust collectors : Punjab is set to counter dust pollution in grain markets across the state with the installation of dust collectors on nearly 50,000-grain cleaning machines.It will provide relief to 3,00,000 directly-affected workers.The pollution is the main cause of respiratory and lung diseases among labourers, farmers, and commission agents, as well as those living in the vicinity of the grain markets.

4. CM inaugurates Green Mizoram Day : Green Mizoram Day was observed on 11 June across the Mizoram state.CM Lal Thanhawla inaugurated the Green Mizoram Day, 2018 at a function attended by his cabinet colleagues, legislators and senior government officials where they undertook ceremonial planting of trees along the river Chite in Aizawl.It is being organised every year on June 11 since 1999.

5. Railways launch ‘Menu On Rails’ App : The Ministry of Railways launched a new app called ‘Menu On Rails’ through which passengers can see meals on offer onboard trains.The ‘Menu on Rails’ is developed by IRCTC for creating awareness about the food items served to passengers on their rail journey.At present, for mail and express trains, food items are covered in four categories namely beverages, breakfast, meals and a-la-carte.

6. National Awards on Best Performing SHGs : Shri Narendra Singh conferred the National Awards on Best Performing Self Help Groups under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM).It will provide public recognition to the outstanding performance of the community institutions.As part of the Award, each SHG received a cash award of Rs. 1,00,000 along with a commemoration and a certificate of appreciation.

7. PM’s maternity scheme benefits 23.6 lakh : Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), the government has provided cash incentives to nearly 23.6 lakh beneficiaries out of an estimated 51.6 lakh a year.The scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet in May 2017.Under the scheme, pregnant women and lactating mothers are offered a cash incentive of Rs. 6,000 on the birth of their first child.

8. India to host first BIMSTEC war games : India will host the first military exercise of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) group focussing on counter-terrorism in September.The aim of the exercise is to promote strategic alignment among the member-states and to share best practices in the area of counter-terrorism.The exercise is scheduled to be held in Pune.

9. Indian Railways launched ‘Rail MADAD’ App : In a bid to ease the travelling experience of the passengers Ministry of Railways launched Rail MADAD mobile app. Rail MADAD (Mobile Application for Desired Assistance During travel) registers a complaint with minimum inputs from passenger and issues unique ID instantly. Rail MADAD also displays various helpline numbers (eg. Security, Child helpline etc) and provides direct calling facility.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. U.S. extradites Panama ex-President Martinelli : Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli returned home to face political espionage and embezzlement charges after being extradited from the United States.He had been jailed in Miami since his arrest at his home in June 2017.The 66-year-old Martinelli, who was Panama’s president from 2009 to 2014, is accused of embezzlement and illegally monitoring phone calls and other communications.

2. India gives Rs 99 mn to Nepal : India extended a financial aid of Rs 99 mn to Nepal for the construction of 2,700 shallow tube well irrigation systems in 12 districts of the country.The assistance has been extended as part of the final payment for the Nepal-Bharat Maitri Irrigation Project, which was launched to boost growth to the Himalayan nation’s agricultural sector.Manjeev Singh Puri is India’s Ambassador to Nepal.

3. World Day against Child Labour 2018 : ILO launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it.Each year on 12 June, the people from around the world come togather to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.The theme for World Day against Child Labour 2018 is Generation Safe & Healthy.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Petrol, diesel sales hit record high in May : India’s domestic sales for diesel and petrol rose to record highs in May, pushing the country’s overall fuel consumption for the month higher year-on-year, data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the Oil Ministry showed.Fuel consumption, a proxy for oil demand, totalled 18.72 million tonnes last month.Diesel consumption in 2018 may more than double from 2017.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Guidelines to enhance loan for large borrowers : In a move to enhance credit discipline among larger borrowers, the RBI proposed a “minimum level of loan component” of 40 percent for borrowers having an aggregate fund-based working capital limit of Rs. 150 crores and above from the banking system.It will be proposed to be effective from October 1, 2018.The 40 percent loan component will be revised to 60 percent from April 1, 2019.