FAME II can save 5.4 mt oil: NITI Aayog report

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Vehicles eligible under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles II (FAME II) scheme can cumulatively save 5.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent over their lifetime, worth ₹17,200 crore, a study said on Friday.

Under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles II (FAME II) scheme, the NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) have released a report titled ‘India’s Electric Mobility Transformation: Progress to Date and Future Opportunities’. The report is based on opportunities for the automobile sector and government.

In February 2019, the FAME II scheme was notified by the Union Cabinet. The objective of the scheme is to enhance the government’s commitment to a clean mobility future with a major focus on electric automobiles.

World War II: US warplane wreckage found in Arunachal Pradesh

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A 12-member Indian Army patrol along with a police representative recovered wreckage of a World War II vintage US Air Force aircraft in Roing district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Monthly Forecast April 2019: Synergies Between Global Agendas, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity

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The first global multi-stakeholder conference on synergies is summoned by (UN DESA) the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the (UN FCCC) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change, was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate.

Karnataka Bank TIEs up with Bharti Axa Life Insurance Company Limited for Life Insurance Business

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Karnataka Bank has signed a pact with Bharti Axa Life Insurance Company Ltd to distribute the insuranc eof Bharati AXa Life Insurance Ltd to the customers of Karnataka Bank.

This is the third such tie-up by the Bank after PNB MetLife Life Insurance Co. Ltd. and LIC of India Source:karnatakabank.com

BSE, India INX become first Indian exchanges to sign MoU with Moscow Exchange

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BSE (earlier known as Bombay Stock Exchange) and India International Exchange (India INX) have signed a memorandum of understanding with Moscow Exchange (MOEX) to connect investor community and companies in both countries besides allowing a capital formation platform.Thus making thse two stock exchamges(BSE and INX)

BSNL Gets In-Flight Connectivity Licence, On-Air Services to Commence Soon

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Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has received a licence from the Department of Telecommunications to provide Internet and mobile services on flights. Till now, flight to, from, over and within India are not able to provide onboard Wi-Fi as the same was not permitted in Indian airspace.

BSNL and its satellite partner, Inmarsat, will be able to offer in-flight connectivity to airlines later this year. Source:Google

BSNL and its satellite partner, Inmarsat, will be able to offer in-flight connectivity to airlines later this year.

With this a user could use the internet when the Airplane is at a minimum of 3000 meters from the ground.

London's Law University honours Shah Rukh Khan with a doctorate degree

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Shah Rukh Khan, on Thursday, was conferred an honorary doctorate in Philanthropy by The University of Law, London.

Shah Rukh Khan was awarded Honorary Doctorate in Philantrophy by University of Law,London Source:The Livemirror

Earlier, the actor was also conferred with honorary doctorates from the University of Bedfordshire and the University of Edinburgh.

To counter growing Chinese footprint in Indian ocean region, Indian Navy to get lethal submarines under Project-75I

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Project75I, the Indian Navy’s Rs. 50,000-crore venture to build 6 lethal submarines

INS Kalvari Source:Financial Express

The submarines, which are being planned, would have more firepower than the Scorpene(50% massive in size than the Scorpene class submarines which are under-construction at the Mazagon Dockyards Limited.).

Currently, the Indian Navy possesses over 100 submarines and surface warships. Though India has a clear upper hand over Pakistan Navy, it has been building assets to check Chinese challenge.

US dismisses South Korea’s launch of world-first 5G network as ‘stunt’

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South Korea has unveiled the world’s first nationwide 5G mobile networks.

South Korea has unveiled the world’s first nationwide 5G mobile networks. Source:irishtimes

Three South Korean carriers – SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus – launched 5G services at 11pm local time on Wednesday, according to media reports, but only for a handful of celebrities in what their US rival dismissed as a publicity stunt.

This service is important for the future development as it is expected to bring about $565 billion in global economic benefits by 2034.

Phayeng Village of Manipur tagged as India’s first carbon-positive settlement

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it has been revived from the dry and denuded village through the sheer determination of its residents and funding under National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), which is a central scheme launched in 2015-16 to support adaptation for climate change impact in various states.

Phayeng Village of Manipur tagged as India’s first carbon-positive settlement Source:Affairs Cloud

Lok Sabha Election 2019: EC launches 'Sahulat' app to facilitate elderly voters ahead of polling in Jammu, Baramulla seats on 11 April

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On 3rd April 2019,District Election Officer of Rajouri, Mohammad Aijaz Asad launched an Android-based application named “Sahulat” to facilitate and to encourage the elder voters for participating in the elections in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.

The app has been developed by the district unit of the National Informatics Centre.

Miss India contestant Sana Dua volunteers to be J&K poll dept's brand ambassador

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The 2017 Femina MIss Inida Runner Up Sana Dua appointed as the brand ambassador of Jammu and Kashmir election department for general polls.

Sana Dua appointed as the brand ambassador of Jammu and Kashmir election department for general polls. Source:Nevanta

A lawyer by profession and an enthusiastic social activist, Dua would encourage the eligible youth to register themselves as voters.

RBI to issue revised circular on stressed assets, says Shaktikanta Das

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RBI have decreased/cut the Repo and Reverse Repo Rates by 25 Basic Points from 6.25% to 6% and 6% to 5.75% respectively.

RBI have decreased/cut the Repo and Reverse Repo Rates by 25 Basic Points from 6.25% to 6% and 6% to 5.75% respectively. Source:Google

RBI projected the GDP growth forecast of India for the current fiscal to 7.2% from the earlier estimate of 7.4 per cent.

RBI has estimated the retail inflation forecast between 3.2% and 3.4% for the H1FY20.

The mian objective of this amendment is to achieve the medium-term target for the inflation of the Consumer Price Index(CPI) by 4%.

Fitch keeps India rating at 'BBB-' with stable outlook

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The global ratings agency Fitch Ratings on Thursday kept India’s sovereign rating unchanged at the lowest investment grade of ‘BBB-’ with a stable outlook.

This's the 13th year in a row where Fitch is giving 'BBB-' to India, they gave India a 'BB+' Back in August 1st 2006.

In a boost for Indian Navy, US clears  sale of Seahawk choppers

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At an estimated cost of $2.6 billion, the United States has approved the sale of 24 multi-mission Lockheed Martin-built MH-60 “Romeo'”Seahawk helicopters to India.

India will buy 24 multi-role MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters for an estimated $2.6 billion. Reuters Source:Livemint

These choppers designed for targeting ships, hunting submarines and conducting search-and-rescue operations at sea, would replenish the age-old fleet of British-made Sea King helicopters, used by India.

India, Ukraine discuss ways to boost bilateral trade, investments

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India and Ukraine have discussed bilateral trade featuring the importance of Exports and Imports between the two nations.

During April-February 2018-19, India’s exports stood at $305.73 million, while imports were at $1.92 billion,The two countries decided to increase cooperation in areas such as leather, tobacco, gems and jewellery and tea.

Both the sides expressed interest in cooperation in exporting agricultural items such as apples, bananas, cake of soyabeans, cotton, coffee, cucumber and gherkins, flour of wheat, grapes, groundnuts, and maize.

Indian Army Sets Record by Building Longest Bridge on Indus River in Leh Within 40 Days, Twitter Cheers

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The 260 feet long cable-suspension bridge, named 'Maitri Bridge' bridge was constructed by the Indian Army in a short span of 40 days,about 500 tonnes of construction material were required for building it.

'Maitri Bridge' Source:India Today

According to the news agency, the bridge was inaugurated by war veterans who have been part of operations in 1947-48, 1962, 1971 and 1999 in Jammu and Kashmir. Naik Phunchok Angdus & Naik Shezwan Stobdan, two senior Ladakhi war veterans, were at the helm of the inauguration. The name of the bridge, "Maitri", is meant to symbolise the amity and solidarity between soldiers and locals.

India and Africa to jointly set up agricultural institute in Malawi

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Ministry of External Affairs in India has signed an MoU agreement with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Consultancy Service (NABCONS) to set up India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development (IAIARD) in Malawi,East Africa.

The move is to enhance India's agro-financial as well as entrepreneurship development for Africa.

Paytm Money receives Sebi approval to start stock broking services

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PayTm which had applied for the licence in October 2018 have been given the approval to trade stocks on it's online trading platform PayTm Money by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Paytm Money receives Sebi approval to start stock broking services Source:The Livemirror

Paytm Money has also received membership of NSE(National Stock Exchange) and BSE(Bombay Stock Exchange) to let users buy shares through PayTm money app.

The broking services will allow investors to trade in the cash segment, derivatives, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), among other listed entities.

ADB lowers India’s growth forecast on eve of RBI policy

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cut India’s growth forecast to 7.2% for 2019-20 because of a slower-than-expected pickup in investment demand.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) had forcasted India's GDP growth at 7.6% in December 2019 before slashing it to 7.2% on April 2019.

India still remains as the fastest growing major economy while china's following in the 2nd position with 6.3%.

First secure link between India, US navies set up

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India and the US have set up the first ever secure communication link between the naval headquarters here and the US Central as well as Pacific Naval Commands under the landmark Indo-US COMCASA pact reached last year.

Communications, Compatibility & Security Agreement Source:Economic Times

COMCASA (Communications, Compatibility & Security Agreement) link was set up by a US team who visited India recently.

COMCASA:It is one of the three foundational defence pacts required to be signed by a country willing to acquire high-tech military hardware from the US.The other 2 pacts are- a) LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement), b) BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement)

HMAS ship, submarine arrive in Vizag to participate in AUSINDEX

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The Third edition of India-Australia bilateral exercise, AUSINDEX 19 from 2nd April 2019-16th April 2019 at Vishakapatnam.

The Main focus is anti-submarine warfare,this will be largest defence deployment with Austrailia since Austrailia will deploy over 1000 defence personals from it's Army,Navy and Airforce

Austrailian ships HMAS Success and HMAS Parramatta arrivide in Chennai on March 28th,2019 will also be participating in this excersice at Vishakapatnam

Japan Says the Name of Its New Imperial Era(Reiwa) Means 'Beautiful Harmony' Not 'Command'

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Following the 1400 years old tradition, Japan’s government has unveiled an New Imperial Era named “Reiwa” a.w.a 'Beautiful Harmony' for soon-to-be Emperor Naruhito.

#REIWA! That’ll be the name of Japan’s new era Source:Yahoo News

There have been four eras in Japan’s modern history,they are Meiji era (1868-1912), Taisho era (1912-1926), Heisei era (1989-2019) and now Reiwa era.

On Foundation Day, Odisha receives GI tag for 'Kandhamal Haldi'

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'Kandhamal Haldi', a variety of turmeric indigenous to southern Odisha, has earned the Geographical indication (GI) tag from Intellectual Property India

The recognition coincide with the foundation day of Odisha(April 1st),Odisha was seperated from Bristish India on April 1st 1936

The GI tag was primarily developed with the purpose of recognising the unique identity connecting different products and places

Over 113 mn across 53 countries experienced acute hunger in 2018, finds UN; Yemen, Afghanistan among worst-hit countries

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More than 113 million people across 53 countries experienced acute hunger last year, with conflict, climate-related disasters and economic turbulence mainly driving the food insecurity crisis, according to a new joint UN and European Union (EU) report.

It's a decrease from the 2017 report which had over 124 Million.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and EU ‘Global Report on Food Crises 2019', shows that the number going chronically-hungry has remained well over 100 million over the past three years, with the number of countries affected, rising.

Shanghai Becomes World’s First District With 5G Coverage

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Shangai,China have claimed to be the very first district in the world to enable 5G coverage,this came in the backdrop where US,India and other contries are trying to be leader in Mobile Tech

Shanghai Becomes World’s First District With 5G Coverage

Trial runs of the 5G network were backed by the state-run telecom carrier China Mobile, officially started the service in Shanghai’s Hongkou on Saturday,where in the 5G base statios were deplayed before 3 months to ensure a full coverage.

The inagruation wa sdone by Shanghai vice-mayor Wu Qing by makig the very first 5G video call of the network on a Huawei Mate X, the world’s first 5G foldable, AI phone.

Huawei's been trying hard to expand their 5G operation across the globe and mainly in China by even expanding to Tibet.

Kotak Mahindra Bank first lender to charge for UPI use

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Taking affect from May 1st,2019 Kotak Mahindra Bank will become the first lender to charge on it's peer-to-peer(P2P) UPI(Unified Payment Interface)'s availed platforms like Paytm,GooglePay

For every Kotak Mahindra's customers this would be free for their first 30/month UPI transactions.After 30 transactions the will be charging Rs 2.50 for every amount less than or equal to Rs 1000 and Rs 5 + 18% GST for transactions over Rs 1000.

This step's been implemented to curb abuse of the UPI system

Isro launches EMISAT and 28 other satellites from US, Spain

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The mission would witness the Isro placing payloads in three orbits and conducting space experiments for the first time.

ISRO's EMISAT launch from Sriharikota. (Image: ANI)

Isro's 3rd generation Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) was used in the launch. This was PSLV's 47th flight.

Batman Will Be First Inductee Into Comic-Con Museum's Character Hall of Fame

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Batman got an unexpected birthday gift as he turned 80 years old Saturday at WonderCon in Anaheim, with the character being announced as the inaugural inductee to the Comic-Con Museum's Character Hall of Fame later this year.

Greg Capullo/DC Source:wp.com

The ceremony will take place at the Federal Building in San Diego’s Balboa Park, the future site of the Comic-Con Museum, on July 17, the opening night of this year’s Comic-Con. Tickets for the events will be available from June 3rd 2019.

Air Marshal NJS Dhillon takes charge as Commander-in-Chief of SFC

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Air Marshal NJS Dhillon has taken charge as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which looks after nuclear arsenal of the country, officials said Monday.

He succeeds Air Marshal J S Walia from April 1.Prior to taking over as Commander-in-Chief of SFC, he was Senior Air Staff Officer, Headquarter, Western Air Command.

He's been serving for four decades since joining the Inidan Airforce as a fighter pilot on December 11, 1981, he's been awarded with 'Ati Vishisht Seva Medal' by the President in 2013.

Bank of Baroda Becomes 3rd Largest Lender as Dena, Vijaya Bank Merger Takes Effect

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had on Saturday said branches of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank would function as BoB outlets from April following the amalgamation

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had on Saturday said branches of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank would function as BoB outlets from April following the amalgamation

The merger forced by the goverment was anounced in September 2018, which made Bank of Baroda the 3rd biggest bank in India after SBI and HDFC Bank.

The bank will have a business mix of Rs 15 lakh crore of balance sheet, with deposits and advances of Rs 8.75 lakh crore and Rs 6.25 lakh crore, respectively.

Reliance Mutual Fund partnering with Google, becomes the first Indian company to launch voice-based financial transactions

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Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management (RNAM) lead by Anil Ambani has joined hands with Google to enable the customers of Reliance Mutual Fund to carry out voice-based financial transactions.

With this, RNAM becomes the first company in India, to provide conversational interface that would help customers regarding funds transactions.

In the first phase, the functionality would be launched in Reliance Simply Save app for the customers.

Manu Sawhney takes charge as ICC Chief Executive

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Media professional Manu Sawhney on Monday took charge as Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council and will work alongside Dave Richardson, who will step down after the World Cup in July.

Sawhney was with ESPN Star Sports for 17 years and was responsible for scaling the business and doubling annual revenues.

India Imposes Anti-dumping Duty on Import of Solar EVA Sheets from 4 Countries

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The government of India has notified the imposition of anti-dumping duty on the ‘Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)’ sheets for solar modules imported from China PR, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand for five years.

Source:CBIC

The move is to protect domestic players.

China launches new data relay satellite

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China on Sunday successfully launched a new-generation tracking and data relay satellite, which experts say marks one step closer to real-time communication between low and middle orbiting satellites and the ground,launched by a Long March-3B carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan Province

Source:Global Times

Video calls between sky and ground possible in the future: expert

GRSE becomes 'first' Indian shipyard to deliver 100 warships

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Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd becomes the very frist Shipyard to build and deliver 100 Warships by the managing director Rear Admiral (Retd) V K Saxena formally handing over "IN LCU L-56" to the Indian Navy.

The 100th Warship is a Landing Craft Utility(LCU) is the sith of the 8 orders given by the Indian Navy,it had perviously handed over it's 99th Warship 'ICGS Priyadarshini' on March 27th to the Indian Cost Guard.

Zuzana Caputova Is Elected Slovakia’s First Female President

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A 45-year-old lawyer, activist and political newcomer Zuzana Caputova have become the country's first female President.

Zuzana Caputova in Bratislava, Slovakia, this month. As a presidential candidate, she vowed to return a sense of decency to the country’s often toxic political climate.CreditCreditJoe Klamar/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

She won by securing 58% of the total polls while surpassing her opponent by a margin of 16% where as her opponent Maros Sefcovic secured only 42% of the total polls.

Rear Admiral Suraj Berry takes over command of Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam ceremony

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Rear Admiral Suraj Berry, NM, VSM, on Saturday took over as the Command of the Eastern Fleet, the Sword Arm of the Eastern Naval Command, from Rear Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM, NM, at a ceremony at the Naval Base in Visakhapatnam.

Rear Admiral Suraj Berry takes over command of the Eastern Fleet. ANI

Joined the Navy on 1 January, 1987 Rear Admiral Berry is a specialist in gunnery and missile warfare.His sea commands include the missile vessel INS Nirbhik, missile corvette INS Karmuk, stealth frigate INS Talwar and aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, of which he was the commissioning commanding officer.

Vijay Chandok to head ICICI Securities

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Vijay Chandok a present executive director of ICICI Bank will be the MD and CEO of ICICI Securities, a subsidy of ICICI Bank,with effect from May 7, 2019.

Korea captain Lee scores incredible goal in Azlan Shah final shootout against India

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South Korea won the 28th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2019 in Ipoh,Malaysia after defeating India in the finals

South Korea beats India 4-2 on penalties to lift Sultan Azlan Shah Cupkorea-beat-india-4-2-on-penalties Source:The Star

They were on a tie during the regualr time at 1-1,South Korea beat India in penalty shoot with 4 goals against Inida's 2.