Current Affairs 12th July 2016

India's first smart grid to come up in Gurgaon

• The Union government has set in motion the process of rewarding performing states under Uday, the flagship programme in power sector and It would extend support to the country’s first smart grid project to be set up at Gurgaon in Haryana, which has been a performing state under the debt restructuring programme for state-owned power distribution companies.
• For the first phase of smart grid project, the Union government would extend a grant of Rs 273 crore to the state. The assistance to Haryana would be given from the Power System Development Fund (PSDF) for Rs 7,000-crore project, the first phase of which would cost Rs 1,382 crore
• The smart grid project would ensure 24X7 quality power supply to the city which depends on diesel gensets due to irregular power cuts

Important Question for Competitive Exam from this Current Affairs:

1. India's first smart grid to come up in which state: a)Haryana b)Kerala c)Maharashtra d)Tamil Nadu

source: business standard

Bihar signs MoU with Bangkok firm for disaster risk reduction

• Bihar signed an MoU with Bangkok-based Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) for implementation of Bihar Disaster Risk Reduction roadmap. It will help reduce disaster risk management in the state
• As per provisions of the MoU, the ADPC will provide technical assistance to the state government to implement the Roadmap for Disaster Risk Reduction in Bihar
• The MoU was signed by the ADPC Executive Director Jingjai Hanchanlash and state Disaster Management Department Principal Secretary Vyasji
• One of the targets of the roadmap is bring down the loss of human lives in natural disasters by 75 per cent within 2030 in comparison to the current data

About Bihar:

• CM of Bihar: Nitish Kumar
• Governor of Bihar: Ram Nath Kovind
• Capital of Bihar: Patna

Important Question for Competitive Exam from this Current Affairs:

1. Which Sate Government signed a MOU with Bangkok-based Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) for implementation of disaster risk reduction: a)Maharashtra b)Karnataka c)Andhra Pradesh d)Bihar  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the African continent covered Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya

Period: Between 7 to 11th July

India-Mozambique (7th July)

Three agreement have been signed

• MoU on cooperation in the field of youth affairs and sports. 
• MoU on long-term agreement for the purchase of pulses. MoU on cooperation in the field of youth affairs and sports. MoU on the reduction of drug trafficking and psychotropic substances and related materials.
• MoU on reduction of drug trafficking and psychotropic substances and related materials.

South Africa and India (8th - 9th July)

Four agreement have been signed

•  MoU on Information and Communication technology (ICT).
•  Signed Programme of Cooperation in Arts and Culture.
• MoU on Tourism.
• MoU on Grass root innovation (Science and Technology)

10th July PM Modi receives ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

• MoU on Cooperation in the field of water resource management and development between the two countries.
• MoU on Visa waiver agreement for Diplomatic/Official passport holders between the two countries.
• Agreement on Joint Action Plan (JAP) between National Small Industries Corporation of India (NSIC) and Small Industries Development Organization Tanzania (SIDO).
• MoU for Establishment of Vocational Training Centre at Zanzibar.
• LOC of 92 million US dollar for rehabilitation and improvement of water supply system in Zanzibar.

India and Kenya (11th July)

Seven agreement have been signed

• MoU on Cooperation in the field of standardisation, expertise sharing and mutual trade between Bureau of Indian Standards and Bureau of Kenya Standards.
• MoU on Cooperation in the field of National Housing Policy Development and Management.
• The line of Credit Agreement for US $15 million (first tranche of US $30 million) to IDB Capital Limited, Kenya, for the development of various small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya.
• The line of Credit Agreement for the US $29.95 million to the Government of Kenya for the upgrade of Rift Valley Textiles Factory [RIVATEX East Africa Limited], Kenya.
• Revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
• A bilateral agreement on the exemption of Visa for holders of Diplomatic passports.
• MoU on Defence Cooperation.

Important Question for Competitive Exam from this Current Affairs:

1. PM Narendra Modi visit four country, point out from this option which state Modi did not visit: a)Kenya b)Zanzibar c)South Africa d)South Sudan 

HDFC to become first issuer of masala bonds, raise Rs 3,000 cr

• Mortgage lender Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) plans to raise up to Rs 3,000 crore through masala bonds
• HDFC appointed Axis Bank, Credit Suisse and Nomura as joint bookrunners and lead managers to the issue
• The lender said it plans to raise Rs 2,000 crore with an option to retain over-subscription of up to Rs 1,000 crore
• The bonds will bear a fixed coupon and will have a tenure of 3 years and 1 month
• It will be the first Indian public issuer of synthetic rupee notes or masala bonds since the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed companies to issue rupee-denominated bond overseas in September last year.

About HDFC Bank:

• Headquarter of HDFC Bank: Mumbai
• Tag line of HDFC Bank: We Understand Your World
• CEO and MD of HDFC Bank: Aditya Puri

Important Question for Competitive Exam from this Current Affairs:

1. Which Bank to become first issuer of masala bonds to rise Rs 3000 cr: a)Axis Bank b)Dena Bank c)HDFC Bank d)ICICI Bank

source: financial express

BRICS bank to issue $448 million of yuan green bonds

• The New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS countries, including India announced plans to issue green bonds in Chinese yuan to raise funds for clean energy and infrastructure projects
• The bank plans to issue 3 billion yuan worth of five-year bonds denominated in Chinese currency on July 18 also bond proceeds will be used to finance green projects in BRICS Nations

Important Question for Competitive Exam from this Current Affairs:

1. BRICS bank to issue $_______ million of yuan green bonds: a)448 b)450 c)625 d)525

UP creates world record by planting over 5crore trees

• The forest department of Uttar Pradesh has set a world record for orchestrating the largest state-wide plantation drive in 24 hours mission to plant 5 crore saplings
• This was the biggest plantation exercise carried out globally. Earlier, Madhya Pradesh forest department held the Guinness record of planting 1.43 crore saplings in 24 hours in August 2015

Important Question for Competitive Exam from this Current Affairs:

1. The forest department of which state create record of maximum tree planting in a single day: a)Uttar Pradesh b)West Bengal c)Madhya Pradesh d)None of these

President confers the 51st Jnanpith Award on Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari

• The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee conferred the 51st Jnanpith Award on renowned  writer, Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari  at a function held at Parliament Library Building, New Delhi.
• Dr. Chaudhari represents the fluid brilliance that characterizes India’s pluralistic literary genius. It is indeed an example of his brilliant fluidity that an author, who strove to master Hindi academically, expressed himself in Gujarati in his literary pursuit.

Important Question for Competitive Exam from this Current Affairs:

1. President confers the 51th Jnanpith Award on: a)Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari b)Chandrakant Bakshi c)Harshad Trivedi d)None of these

Tathagata Roy sworn-in as acting Governor of Arunachal Pradesh

 

• Tathagata Roy sworn-in as acting Governor of Arunachal Pradesh
• He gets the additional charge during Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa's leave of absence
• Tathagata Roy is veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from West Bengal and was president of the state unit of the party from 2002 till 2006

Important Question for Competitive Exam from this Current Affairs:

1. Who sworn-in as acting Governor of Arunachal Pradesh: a)Bhisma Narain Singh b)Tathagata Roy c)Prasad Rajkhowa d)Gopal Singh

Malala Day – July 12

Malala Day celebrated on July 12 to raise awareness and to help girls get their right to malalaeducation. Malala Yousafzai is a global symbol of every girl’s right to an education.

Upon her recognition for bravery and in honour of her heroic stand to ensure education for all, the United Nations in 2013 declared that the day will be annually observed as Malala Day worldwide

Important Question for Competitive Exam from this Current Affairs:

1. Malala Day Celbrated on: a)July 12 b)July 16 c)July 11 d)July 10