Current Affairs May 18-19, 2015

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Current Affairs May 19, 2015

1. SBI extends overdraft facility against FD for online customers: The Chief General Manager (personal banking) Anuradha Rao said. “We have launched an online facility for overdraft against fixed deposit. This will help them to use the facility at their own convenience,” As an introductory offer, SBI is charging an interest rate of only 0.5 per cent more than the linked fixed deposit for its online customers.
2. IAF jet crashes in Assam: A frontline Sukhoi SU-30MKI combat jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Assam’s Nagaon district at 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday.
3. USTAAD. (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development), a scheme introduced by Union Ministry of Minority Affairs for Traditional Artisans: The goal of the plan is to protect rich legacy of customary expressions and specialties of minorities and enhance manufacturing capability of conventional artisans and specialists. It will be managed by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs all over the nation.
4. Civil services PT 2015 Exam: C SAT will remain 33% minimum qualifying marks. Till such time the govt. takes a decision on the recommendation of the committee set up for this purpose, the general studies Paper-II (Civil Services aptitude test or CSAT) in the civil services exam will stay a qualifying paper with a minimum qualifying marks fixed at thirty three per cent, by Department of Personnel and training (DoPT) said.
5. G-Sec rises on RBI rate cut hope: The benchmark 8.40 per cent-2024 bond closed at Rs.103.2175 or at a yield of 7.8981 per cent on Monday. “Market is looking at a rate cut in June after the Finance Minister said he expects RBI to cut rate,” said a dealer with a state-owned bank. The Reserve Bank of India has cut repo rate, currently 7.5 per cent, twice in 2015 so far.

Current Affairs May 18, 2015

1. HDFC Bank, Apollo Hospitals join hands: . HDFC Bank, in association with Apollo Hospitals, has launched a co-branded pre-paid card called HDFC Bank Apollo Medical Benefits Card. “This card offers an easy and convenient way for corporates to save costs and eliminate administrative issues while disbursing medical allowances.”
2. New website of NITI Aayog launched: The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog replaced the Planning Commission on January 1, 2015. The beta version of the website, which can be accessed on http://www.niti.gov.in. “The website has a unique feature of NITI Blogs, which will incorporate articles, field reports, work in progress and opinions by NITI officials,” it said.
3. United India posts Rs.301 crore net: United India Insurance Company (UIIC) has seen a dent in its bottom line for the year 2014-15 due to huge claims on account of Jammu & Kashmir floods. “During 2014-15, the company had to set aside about Rs.760 crore (Rs.400 crore in 2013-14) for gratuity and other retirement benefits and for wage revision.”
4. India and South Korea sign 7 agreements to enhance bilateral relations: Agreements signed with South Korea cover the areas of Avoidance of Double Taxation , Prevention of Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, Cooperation in Audio-Visual Co-Production, etc. Besides MOUs were also singed covering the areas of Cooperation between the India’s National Security Council and Korea’s Office of National Security, Cooperation in the field of Electric Power Development and New Energy Industries, Youth Matters, Road Transport and Highways, Maritime Transport and Logistics etc.
5. India assumes presidency of 68th World Health Assembly: India assumed the presidency of the 68th World Health Assembly (WHA) held in Geneva after a gap of 19 years. The 68th WHA session began on 18 May 2015 and it will conclude on 27 May 2015.