Current Affairs September 16, 2017

Dear Readers,

INTERNATIONAL

1. World's most and least stressful cities 2017

Based on a new study by Zipjet, Stuttgart Germany is the least stressful city in the world.

• The study has revealed the world's most and least stressful cities of 2017, and ranked cities globally based on factors that cause stress, such as unemployment, physical and mental health, public transport, security, and even the lack of sunshine hours per year.
• Baghdad, Iraq is the most stressful city in the world while Delhi is the 9th most stressful city.

2. International Day of Democracy: 15 September

In 2007 the United Nations General Assembly resolved to observe 15 September as the International Day of Democracy.

• The purpose of International Day of Democracy is to promote and uphold the principles of democracy.
• This year's theme is ‘Democracy and Conflict prevention’.
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NATIONAL

3. India's first centre for Animal Law opens in Hyderabad

Nalsar University of Law in Hyderabad has established India’s first Centre for Animal law.

• Union minister for Women and Child development Maneka Gandhi inaugurated the centre at the Shamirpet campus.
• Humane Society International will also play an important role in the functioning of the centre by steering and coordinate its activities.

4. Assam govt passes PRANAM Bill 

Assam Assembly has passed a first of its kind Bill that has made it mandatory for Assam government employees to look after their aged and dependent parent/s and physically challenged siblings, if any, who don’t have their own source of income.

• The Assam Employees Parental Responsibility And Norms for Accountability and Monitoring (PRANAM) Bill was passed unanimously, with almost all the ruling and opposition MLAs backing it.
• The parents or needy siblings who feel neglected can lodge complaints with the head of the department of the person who, after hearing both sides, may deduct 10-15 percent of the salary of the employee and give it to the parents for their survival.

5. Indigenous Development of Trawl System by DRDO

R&DE (Engrs), a premier system engineering laboratory under Armament & Combat Engineering (ACE) cluster of Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has recently undertaken the design and development of Trawl System for the minefield area in the battle zone to meet the operational requirements of Indian Army.

• The Trawl System developed by DRDO is capable of breaching a variety of land mines including passive and active influence mines.

6. Devendra Fadnavis launches 'Maharashtra Mission 1 Million'

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has launched the 'Maharashtra Mission 1 Million' initiative under which over 10 lakh students across the state will play football.

• According to Fadnavis, the Mission will not only create football players and lovers of the game, but will also help in overall development of the state.
• Under the initiative, the state government aims to ensure that children come out in open spaces and play.

BUSINESS 

7. India Signs 76 Million US Dollar Loan Deal with JICA

The Government of India signed a loan deal worth $76 million with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), for a project to upgrade the environment management plan at Alang-Sosiya ship recycling yards.

• The total cost of the project will be $ 111 million, out of which $76 million will be provided as soft loan from JICA.
• Out of the remaining amount, $25 million as taxes and fees will be borne by Government of Gujarat and the balance $10 million will be shared by Ministry of Shipping & Government of Gujarat.
• The project will be executed by Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) and is likely to be completed by 2022.

8. Amazon India ties up with Bank of Baroda for micro lending 

E-commerce giant Amazon India has tied up with Bank of Baroda to offer unsecured micro loans as small as Rs 1 lakh up to Rs 25 lakh in a short span of three-five days.

• The interest rates would be competitive and would help small and medium businesses or sellers on the Amazon platform get access to easy loans, which will help boost their working capital and also help in the growth of their business.

Points To Remember

• Bank of Baroda (BoB) is an Indian state-owned International banking and financial services company headquartered in Vadodara (earlier known as Baroda) in Gujarat.
• It was founded in 1908.
• Ravi Venkatesan is its chairman while PS Jayakumar is the MD and CEO.
• ‘India’s international bank’ is the tagline of Bank of Baroda.

9. IndusInd Bank secures $200 mn loan from ADB for microlending 

IndusInd Bank has secured up to $200 million (about Rs 1,282 crore) loan from Asian Development Bank (ADB) to serve low-income women borrowers in rural areas.

• The seven-year senior loan will go towards IndusInd Bank’s micro-finance activities, the private players said in a statement.
• As per the loan agreement, about 95 per cent of the ADB funding will go towards credit for women borrowers.
• At least 70 per cent of the number of loans will be deployed to less developed states.

Points to Remember

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966,  which is headquartered  in Mandaluyong, Manila, Philippines.
• It has 67 member countries,
• Takehiko Nakao is the president of  Asian Development Bank.

AWARDS

10. Indian economist Bina Agarwal wins Balzan Prize

Two U.S. scientists, whose work has contributed to creating immunological treatments for cancer, and an Indian economist are among the winners of this year’s Balzan Prizes by International Balzan Prize Foundation.

• Indian economist Bina Agarwal, a professor at the University of Manchester, is recognised in the gender studies category for her “heroic” work studying women’s contributions to agriculture in India.

SPORTS

11. TOP athletes to get monthly stipend of Rs 50,000

Elite athletes preparing for Tokyo Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games will receive a stipend of Rs 50,000 per month to meet their pocket expenses, sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore announced.

• Rathore's announcement meant that the sports ministry has accepted the recommendation of the Olympic Task Force, headed by Abhinav Bindra, in this regard.
• The government has selected 152 elite athletes under the Target Olympic Podium scheme. The stipend will be paid with effect from September 1.

BOOKS

12. Unstoppable: My Life So Far': Maria Sharapova’s autobiography 

The book titled 'Unstoppable: My Life So Far' authored by tennis star Maria Sharapova was released recently.

• In this gripping autobiography, the five-time Grand Slam winner recounts the story of her phenomenal rise to success.
• Unstoppable is an inspiring tale of persistence, pulsing with fearlessness and candor.