18 August 2017 Current Affairs is available now for the users to read.

18 August 2017 Current Affairs

www.newsarkarijobs.com

Government to conduct world’s largest sample survey for students of class 3,5 and 8

ii. So far, during several rounds of the survey, a total of 4.45 lakh students have been tested for various learning outcomes.

Five Indian-Origin Persons in Fortune’s Annual ‘40 Under 40’ List

I.Five Indian-origin persons featured in Fortune’s annual list of 40 young and influential people in the field of business.

ii.The list has been topped by 39-year-old French President Emmanuel Macron.

iii.The Indian-origin persons who are included in the list are 26-year-old Divya Nag, Rishi Shah, Shradha Agarwal and Leila Janah.
     

Government bans export of gold items above 22k purity

i.The Union Government banned exports of Gold jewellery, medallions and other articles above 22- carat purity in a bid to check round-tripping of the precious metal.

ii.According to the Directorate-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), certain provisions of the foreign trade policy (2015-20) are amended to allow export of gold jewellery and articles containing gold of 8 carats and above up to a maximum limit of 22 carats only from domestic tariff area and export-oriented units, electronics hardware technology parks, software technology parks and bio technology parks.

                       

ii. MyFASTag is a consumer App that can be downloaded from the App Store for both Android and iOS systems. FASTag Partner is a merchant App. Agencies like Common Services Centre, banking partners, and vehicle dealers can sell and enroll  FASTag through this App.

 

BSNL launches Digital Wallet Powered by MobiKwik

i.Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) went digital by launching a mobile wallet (mobile payment App) that would enable its existing 100 million customers to make Bill payments.

ii.This digital wallet was launched at an event by Manoj Sinha, Minister for Telecommunications in the capital.

iii.The wallet has been developed and issued by MobiKwik on behalf of BSNL.

GST relief for industrial units in Himalayan and NE region till 2027

i.Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval to the Scheme of providing Budgetary Support under Goods and Service Tax (GST) Regime.

ii.The eligible industrial units located in State of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and the North Eastern States including Sikkim.

Emma Stone named as 2017’s Highest-Paid Female Actor

i. Emma Stone has been named Hollywood’s best-paid female actor in Forbes annual list of top earners.

ii. The 28-year-old made $26m in the last 12 months, the majority of which was earned from her Oscar-winning performance in the musical romance La La Land. The film made over $445m worldwide.

 

Sohail Mahmood -Pakistan’s high commissioner to India

i. Sohail Mahmood has assumed the charge of Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India in New Delhi.

ii. Mahmood, who joined foreign service in 1985, was earlier deputed in Turkey as Ambassador of Pakistan. He replaced Abdul Basit after his premature retirement.

 

Infosys CEO and MD Vishal Sikka resigns

i. Vishal Sikka of Infosys Ltd has resigned as Managing Director and Chief Executive of the company with immediate effect.

ii. U.B. Pravin Rao has been appointed as interim-managing director and chief executive. Mr. Sikka has now been appointed as executive vice-chairman of the company.

 

HDFC bank revises interest rates on saving accounts

i. HDFC Bank Ltd has announced a revision in its savings bank interest rate effective August 19, 2017. Post revision, customers maintaining savings bank account balance of Rs 50 lakh and above will continue to earn interest at 4 per cent per annum.

ii. Customers maintaining account balance of below Rs 50 lakh will earn interest at 3.5 per cent per annum from earlier 4 per cent.

World bank pledges 24$ million to enhance India’s forest ecosystem services

i. The Finance Ministry and the World Bank signed a grant agreement of $24.64 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the World Bank for ecosystem service improvement project.

ii. The project would be financed entirely by the World Bank out of its GEF Trust Fund. The project’s duration is five years.