Current Affairs

Fund transfer through RTGS, NEFT set to get cheaper from today

Fund transfer through Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) systems is set to become cheaper after the Reserve Bank of India decided it will not impose any charges on such transactions. 

After announcing its decision to waive all charges on fund transfer through RTGS and NEFT systems from today, RBI has also asked banks to pass on the benefits to customers from the same day. 

The transaction cost comprises two components-RBI’s charges plus banks’ services charges based on the infrastructure cost they incur. 



Non-subsidised LPG price cut by Rs 100 per cylinder

The price of non-subsidised LPG has been reduced by one hundred rupees and 50 paise per cylinder on the back of softening of international market rates. 

Indian Oil Corporation in a release said that the new rate will be effective from today. 

Now the non-subsidised cooking gas in Delhi will be priced at  637 rupees per cylinder. Subsidised cooking gas price will be  494 rupees 35 paise per cylinder.



Govt cuts interest rate on small savings schemes by 10 bps

The Finance Ministry on Friday said that interest rates for small savings schemes will be reduced by 10 basis points for July-September quarter of the ongoing financial year. Schemes that will fetch lower interest are Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), Public Providend Fund (PPF), among others, barring interest on savings deposits that has been retained at 4%.

“On the basis of the decision of the government, interest rates for small savings schemes are to be notified on a quarterly basis," the Finance Ministry said in a statement.

The government’s decision to reduce interest rates on small savings scheme comes at a when the banking regulator has slashed benchmark rates thrice by cumulative 75 basis points since January.

PPF and National Savings Certificate (NSC) will yield 7.9% annual interest from the earlier 8%. KVP will fetch 7.6% with maturity of 113 months as compared with 7.7% with maturity of 112 months.



India’s acting High Commissioner to Bangladesh pays respects to Padmashree Awardee Jharna Dhara Chowdhury

India’s acting High Commissioner to Bangladesh Bishwadip Dey today paid his respects to the eminent Gandhian and Padmashree Awardee Jharna Dhara Chowdhury who passed away yesterday in Dhaka at the age of 80. 

He laid a flower wreath and wrote a condolence message for the departed soul. 

Jharna Dhara Chowdhury devoted her whole life to promoting peace, communal harmony and social justice in Bangladesh. 

She was honoured with Padma Shri in 2013. She was awarded Jamnalal Bajaj award in 1998 and other awards like Begum Rokeya Padak, Gandhi Seva Puraskar and Ekushey Padak for her social work.



HRD Ministry releases 5-year vision plan on Quality Education

The Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Human Resource Development has finalized and released a five-year vision plan named Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP). 

This is in accordance with the Prime Minister's direction for finalizing a five-year vision plan for each Ministry. According to an official release, the report has been prepared after a detailed exercise done by the experts from various areas, including promoting excellence, employability and entrepreneurship among others. 

The Expert Groups drawn from senior academicians, administrators and industrialists, have suggested more than 50 initiatives that would transform the higher education sector completely. 



Telangana, Andhra Pradesh CMs ask officials to make strategy to divert Godavari water into Srisailam project on Krishna River

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy have resolved to work together and to provide water to every nook and corner of both the states for agriculture, industrial and drinking purposes. 

They asked officials to prepare strategies to divert water from River Godavari to Srisailam Project, on Krishna River. They asked them to submit report by July 15th. 

Both the Chief Ministers held a high level meeting in Hyderabad yesterday to resolve all pending issues amicably across the table. The meeting will continue today. 



PM Modi outlines his 5 I vision in G-20 meet at Osaka to maximize digital technology for social benefit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined his 5 I vision to maximize digital technology for social benefit. In his intervention at the G-20 summit on digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI) at Osaka yesterday, he put thrust on inclusiveness, indigenization, innovation, investment and infrastructure and international cooperation. 

During his meeting with BRICS leaders, Mr Modi said fast changing technologies like digitalization and climate change pose a challenge to the current as well as future generations. Before the leaders of the G-20 Prime Minister emphatically put his point that development is worthwhile only when it reduces inequality and contributes in empowerment.



Virat Kohli becomes fastest batsman to score 20,000 runs

India captain Virat Kohli today became the fastest batsman to reach 20,000 international runs, eclipsing batting greats Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara.

Kohli reached the milestone in only his 417th international innings. Prior to today's match, Kohli was 37 runs short of the milestone and reached the feat with a single off in the 25th over of the India innings.  

Kohli, thus, became the 12th batsman and third Indian after Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid to reach 20,000 international runs. 



Indigenously developed nuclear-capable missile Prithvi-II test fired successfully

India successfully test-fired indigenously developed nuclear-capable missile Prithvi-II as part of a user trial by the Army from a test range off the Odisha coast.

The trial of the surface-to-surface missile, which has a strike range of 350 km, was carried out from a mobile launcher from Launch Complex-III of the Integrated Test Range, ITR at Chandipur.

The missile is capable of carrying 500 to 1000 kg of warheads and is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines.

Prithvi-II was also successfully test-fired on 21st February, last year from the ITR at Chandipur. 



G-20 summit begins today in Osaka

G20 Summit begins in Osaka, Japan today. The theme of the summit is Human-centred future society.

Several state heads including Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the two-day summit.

19 countries, the European Union and several special invitees are participating at the Osaka Summit which will see discussions on Global Economy- Trade & Investment, Innovation in Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence, Addressing Inequalities, Realizing an Inclusive & Sustainable World and Climate Change Energy and Environment in four different sessions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a trilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump and Japanese premier Shinzo Abe in Osaka ahead of the formal opening of the G-20 Summit.