1. BRICS bank
launched in China as alternative to World Bank, IMF
i. A new
USD 100 billion bank floated by BRICS nations, including India, as an
alternative to the World Bank and IMF to boost infrastructure funding in the
emerging economies and offer them tailor-made services was launched here today.
ii. The opening
ceremony of the New Development Bank (NDB) was held here in China’s financial
capital. Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei, Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong and the
bank’s President K V Kamath attended the opening ceremony.
iii.
Kamath, 67, who will be the bank’s President for the first five years, said he
was confident to deliver people’s expectation of the new bank.
iv. BRICS
economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa launched the
multi-billion dollar development bank at the 7th BRICS summit held in the
Russian city of UFA on July 8 amid efforts to finance infrastructure projects,
mainly in member countries.
2. Union Government
launches National Career Counselling portal
i. Union
Government has launched National Career Counselling Portal in a bid to
modernize all government-run employment exchanges.
ii. It
was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the aegis of National Career
Service (NCS) project of Union Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship.
iii. The
web portal will be a one-stop platform for both job providers and job seekers
where registration can be done online. It will provide basic platform for
searching and applying for jobs on the portal.
iv. It
will also provide candidates career-related counseling either by its helpline
numbers or visiting these centres along with other facilities like job posting,
aptitude assessment, job matching, training providers, skill courses and
guidance on self-employment and entrepreneurship.
3. Bhanu Pratap
Sharma appointed as Chairperson of FSSAI
i. Union
Government has appointed Bhanu Pratap Sharma as Chairperson Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
ii.
Presently, he is Health and Family Welfare Secretary was given additional
charge of FSSAI for three months. Sharma is an IAS officer of 1981 batch from
Bihar cadre.
iii.
FSSAI is a nodal statutory agency responsible for protecting and promoting
public health in India through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
FSSAI was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and
operates under aegis of Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
iv. FSSAI
has been established to lay down science based standards for various food
products in order ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human
consumption. It also regulates the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and
import of food products for human consumption.
4. Indian Railways
and Odisha Government signed MoU for Dasappla-Bolangir Railway Line
i. The
Union Railways Ministry and the Odisha Government on 20 July 2015 signed
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for implementation of Dasapalla-Bolangir
segment of Khurda Road-Bolangir New Broad Gauge Railway Line on cost sharing
basis.
ii. The
agreement was signed by Ved Parkash Dudeja, Executive Director (Works) Ministry
of Railways and Sanjay Rastogi, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Commerce &
Transport Department, Odisha Government.
iii. The
project will be completed in three years of time after handing over of the land
by the state. This Railway line running across the state from east to west will
usher the six districts- Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Boudh, Subarnapur and Bolangir
into a new era of development.
iv. The
signing of MoU by Odisha Government will help in accelerating the development
in the districts falling on Khurda-Bolangir line and will help create job
opportunities in this naxal-affected state.
5. VICE PRESIDENT
RELEASES THE BOOK 'LOCALE, EVERYDAY ISLAM AND MODERNITY'
i. The
Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari released a book entitled Locale,
Everyday Islam and Modernity authored by Shri M. Raisur Rahman at a function
here today.
ii.
Dissolving the distinctions between centre and periphery, this book presents
the Qasbahs of colonial India as vital and vibrant centres of intense
intellectual and cultural activity.
iii. The
book demonstrates that the emergence of modernity among Muslims was a process
during their colonial encounter in which Qasbah residents were active agents,
and the Islam that emerged was that of everyday living.
6. Now an exclusive
mobile app for Vat, GST and Service Tax
i. The
rapidly changing indirect taxation system in India has made it essential for
every businessman or professional to be conversant in the basics of the
indirect taxation. In the current high tech era, everyone is a tech savvy so it
is more convenient to use a smart phone and browse the information rather than
searching the information from the pile of books.
ii.
Keeping in mind the above, CA Atul Kumar Gupta along with his team has made an
endeavor to acquaint the common man apart from the professionals, regarding the
dynamic indirect taxation system, through mobile application TAXO.
iii. The
idea behind TAXO is to update and educate not just the taxation professionals
but every one on ongoing basis by providing prompt and live access to the
changing business environment in India.
iv. TAXO
is a platform where the general public can get an insight into the basic
fundamentals of Indirect Taxation.
7. At 50,
model-actor Milind Soman wins Ironman title in ‘‘toughest’ triathlon in Zurich
i.
Model-actor Milind Soman, who turns 50 in November this year, has won the
Ironman title at a triathlon held in Zurich in Switzerland on July 19 in which
over 2,000 participants this year included seven Indians.
ii. The
triathlon, organised by World Triathalon Corporation, includes a 3.8-km swim,
180.2-km cycle ride and 42.2-km run and is widely regarded as the world’s
toughest race, which has to be completed in 16 hours by participants for an
Ironman title.
iii. Of
the seven Indians who participated in the race this year, five completed the
race. Successfully leading the contingent was 11-time winner of Ironman title,
Pune’s Dr Kaustubh Radkar, who completed the race in 12 hours and 32 minutes.
This is Dr Radkar’s 12th Ironman title which now qualifies him for the Hawaii
Ironman World Championship to be held in 2017.
iv. The
event saw seven-time reigning champion Ronnie Schildknect taking his eighth title
and declared the overall winner.