Current Affairs Current Affairs: `24^(th)` June 2017

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Current Affairs: `24^(th)` June 2017

PM Modi leaves for Portugal on the first leg of his 3-nation tour

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today embarked on a three-nation visit. In the first leg of his tour, he will reach Portuguese capital, Lisbon. After Portugal, the Prime Minister will depart for the US capital, Washington DC.

ii. During his two-day US visit, the Prime Minister will meet its President, Donald Trump. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders. In the last leg of his tour, Mr. Modi will visit The Netherlands for bilateral talks with his counterpart, Mr. Mark Rutte.

Static Takeaways-

● Lisbon is the capital of Portugal.

● The Prime Minister of Portugal is Antonio Costa.

● Washington DC is the capital of the USA.

● Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands

● The Netherlands is the 6th largest trading partner of India in the EU and 5th largest investment partner globally.

RBI widens scope of Banking Ombudsman Scheme

i. The central bank has extended the scope of Banking Ombudsman Scheme. As per RBI, under the amended scheme, a customer would also be able to lodge a complaint against the bank for its non-adherence to RBI instructions with regard to mobile banking/ electronic banking services in India.

ii. As per the amendment, the pecuniary jurisdiction of the Banking Ombudsman to pass an award has been doubled to 20 lakh rupees.

Banking Takeaways-

● The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935, in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

● RBI was nationalized in 1949.

● Urjit Patel is the 24th Governor of RBI.

● Banking Ombudsman is a quasi-judicial authority functioning under the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006.

EPFO, HUDCO inked pact for housing subsidy under PMAY

i. Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has signed an MoU with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) to enable members of its housing scheme to avail subsidy and interest subvention under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

ii. Under the housing scheme, the EPFO allows its subscribers for withdrawing up to 90 per cent of their EPF accumulations to buy homes. The MoU was signed in New Delhi.

iii. Now, EPFO members can avail interest subsidy upto two lakh twenty thousand rupees in Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme through HUDCO and National Housing Bank for those members whose annual income is less that the amount specified in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna.

Important Takeaways-

● Union Labour and Employment Minister is Bandaru Dattatreya.

Bengal's Kanyashree initiative wins United Nations Public Service Award

i. The West Bengal Government's Kanyashree Prakalpa was awarded the first prize in United Nations Public Service Award for Asia Pacific. Out of 552 initiatives from 62 different countries, West Bengal Government's initiative was chosen the best.

ii. The award was presented at The Hague, Netherlands. Kanyashree Prakalpa is a targeted conditional cash transfer scheme aimed at retaining girls in schools and other educational and skill development institutions and preventing child marriage.

Static Takeaways-

● Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is in Kolkata, West Bengal

● Sunderban is the famous Tiger Reserve of West Bengal.

● Motijhil Lake is in West Bengal.

India, Russia agree to roadmap for development of defense co-operation

i. India and Russia have agreed to a roadmap for the development of bilateral defense cooperation. The roadmap includes specific activities to be concluded by both sides, and aims to enhance cooperation in the field of political and military dialogue, exercises, exchange of visits, military cooperation and training of military personnel.

ii. The agreement was reached at the 17th meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation held in Moscow. The meeting took place was held under the Co-Chairmanship of the Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and the Defence Minister of Russia Sergei Shoigu.

Important Takeaways-

● The Capital of Russia is Moscow and its Currency is Russian ruble.

● The President of Russia is Vladimir Putin.

MeitY launches Web Portal for smooth GST implementation

i. In order to ensure smooth GST implementation from 1st July, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched a dedicated Webpage for facilitating taxpayers with regard to addressing issues related to Information Technology Services and Electronics goods.

ii. The webpage can be accessed through Ministry’s Web Portal www.meity.gov.in. Individuals, Companies, and Entrepreneurs in IT and Electronics sector can visit the webpage for sector-specific information. It also enables filing of grievances in relation to the implementation of GST.

Important Takeaway from Above News-

● Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad is the Cabinet Minister of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity).