CURRENT AFFAIRS 12th JULY, 2014

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1. World's tallest bridge is coming up over Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir. It is expected to be 359metres when completed surpassing world's current tallest bridge in China. The 1315 metre long bridge will be 35 metres taller than Effiel tower, when completed by 2016.

2. Delhi is the world's second most populous city with 25 million people following Tokyo. According to UN world urbanisation prospects report, Delhi would continue to grow rapidly to 36 million by 2030 and Mumbai is in top six along with São Paulo and Mexico City behind Shanghai.

3. Following the budget speech in which the government proposed to raise capital for banks by sale of shares, State Bank of India and Delhi-based Punjab National Bank will soon hit the markets to meet their capital requirements. The government currently holds 58.60% stake in SBI and 58.87% in PNB.

4. NABARD launched Rupay Kisan card and Rupay Debit card in Haryana today. It will help cooperative banks to improve their customer service for farmers. Haryana State government is planning to set up Kisan clubs which will act as bridge between NGOs, farmer groups and civil society.

5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Brazil to attend BRICS summit on July 14 and 15. Setting up of a development bank and seeking reforms of the United Nations and international financial organisations is on the summit's agenda. It will provide PM his first opportunity at multilateral engagement. BRICS accounts for more than a quarter of the world's land mass, 40 per cent of its population and a combined GDP of $24 trillion.