LIC to invest Rs 1.5-L cr in Indian Railways over next 5 years

1. LIC to invest Rs 1.5-L cr in Indian Railways over next 5 years

i. State-run insurance major LIC committed Rs 1.5 lakh crore to the Indian Railways for development of various commercially viable projects. 

ii. The investment would be done in bonds issued by various railway entities such Indian Railways Finance Corporation (IRFC), beginning next fiscal.

US dollar hits 12-year peak, emerging markets spooked

1. US dollar hits 12-year peak, emerging markets spooked

i. The US dollar climbed to multi-year peaks against the euro and yen in Asia amid starkly diverging outlooks for interest rates globally.

ii. Currencies from emerging markets came under mounting pressure from risk aversion.

iii. The skittish mood spread to Asian stocks as MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.6 per cent.

'Aapki Beti Humari Beti' scheme launched in Haryana

1. 'Aapki Beti Humari Beti' scheme launched in Haryana

i. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday launched a scheme for girl child - 'Aapki Beti Humari Beti' - with an aim to combat the problem of declining child sex ratio in the state. 

ii. 'Aapki Beti Humari Beti' will be implemented in both rural and urban areas of the state covering first-born girl child of

Walmart India appoints Ashwin Mittal as CFO

1. Walmart India appoints Ashwin Mittal as CFO 

i. Walmart India today announced two executive appointments with Ashwin Mittal as the new Chief Financial Officer and Javier Rojo as head of Real Estate and Business Development. 

ii. Mittal will replace Jill Anderson, currently the CFO of Walmart India, who will soon repatriate back to Walmart in US.

Dalmiya becomes BCCI president

1. Dalmiya becomes BCCI president

i. Jagmohan Dalmiya was on Monday unanimously elected president of the BCCI.

ii. The N. Srinivasan camp suffered a huge setback with rival faction’s Anurag Thakur beating Sanjay Patel for the post of Secretary at the Board’s Annual General Meeting.

Union Budget 2015 highlights

1. Union Budget 2015 highlights

• No merit in going ahead with Direct tax Code as it exists today. Net impact of tax proposals Rs.15,068 crore.
• Yoga to be included under charitable activites.
• Indiviual taxpayer can get benefits up to Rs. 4,44,200.
• Transport allowance exemption to be increased to Rs. 1,600 per month.

Economic Survey 2015: Highlights

1. Economic Survey 2015: Highlights

i. The Economic Survey, prepared by the finance ministry's chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian, was tabled in the Lok Sabha.

ii. India’s economic survey pegged growth at more than 8 per cent for the next fiscal and said inflation was now declining, while also setting the agenda for reforms needed to further drive the expansion, prune wasteful expenditure and promote productive investment.

Government to give digital boost to MGNREG scheme

1. Government to give digital boost to MGNREG scheme 

i. Government will roll out a pilot project to give a digital boost to the flagship rural job scheme MNREGA in gram panchayats to ensure its better implementation through mobile monitoring system. 

ii. a total of 35,000 gram panchayats will be covered which would be given a mobile/tablet.

Salaries in PSU Banks increased by 15%

1. Salaries in PSU Banks increased by 15%

i. Employee unions of public sector banks withdrew their strike call following an agreement with the management on 15 per cent wage hike. 

ii. The bank unions had threatened to go on 4-day nation-wide strike from February 25 demanding 19 per cent hike in wages. The wage hike was due from November 2012. 

PDP, BJP finalise deal on J&K government formation

1. PDP, BJP finalise deal on J&K government formation

i. BJP and PDP agreed on forming the government in Jammu and Kashmir, both the parties confirmed that the two have finalized the deal.

ii. Sources said the status quo is likely to continue on Article 370 and there will be no re-looking on the controverial Armed Forces Special Powers Act as of now.

PM Modi launches Soil Health Card scheme targeting 14 crore farmers

1. PM Modi launches Soil Health Card scheme targeting 14 crore farmers

i.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a Soil Health Card scheme, under which the Centre plans to target over 14 crore farmers in the next three years to check the excess use of fertilisers.

Hindalco bags Gare Palma coal mine

1. Hindalco bags Gare Palma coal mine

i. Aditya Birla group firm Hindalco Industries has won the Gare Palma IV/5 mine in Chhattisgarh by outbidding companies like BALCO, Sesa Sterlite, Ambuja Cements, which were also vying for the same block.

ii. Gare Palma IV/5 mine was won by Hindaco Industries at Rs 3,502 per tonne.

iii. States, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, are set to get over Rs 50,000 crore from the coal blocks sold in the ongoing auction.

AAP to launch 'Jai Kisan Abhiyan' in Haryana

1. AAP to launch 'Jai Kisan Abhiyan' in Haryana
i. senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Yogendra Yadav on Tuesday declared that a “Jai Kisan Abhiyan” would be launched across the State from February 21.
ii. The AAP national spokesperson said the four things which have impacted the farmers of Haryana are shortage of urea, their not getting the promised minimum support price for their produce, changes brought about in the Land

India and Sri Lanka Signed 4 Agreements Including Civil Nuclear Cooperation

India and Sri Lanka Signed 4 Agreements Including Civil Nuclear Cooperation

Sri Lanka’s newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena on 16 February held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and the two sides inked four agreements, including one on civil nuclear cooperation.

Current Affairs Quiz

Current Affairs Quiz

Q1. Birth Anniversary of former President of India Dr. Zakir Hussain was observed on ____.

A. 7th Feb’15
B. 8th Feb’15
C. 9th Feb’15
D. 6th Feb’15
E. 10th Feb'15

Ashton Carter confirmed as new US defence secretary

1. Ashton Carter confirmed as new US defence secretary

i. Ashton Carter, a close confidant of President Barack Obama and a strong proponent of Indo-US strategic ties, has been confirmed by the Senate as the next American defence secretary.

ii. He was confirmed to the top Pentagon post with an overwhelming 93 to five votes.

ICC World Cup 2015 launched with quirky opening ceremony

1. ICC World Cup 2015 launched with quirky opening ceremony

i. The 11th edition of the ICC World Cup was officially declared open after a two-act opening ceremony in Christchurch and Melbourne. The event was a wonderful mix of culture and traditions of the host nations Australia and New Zealand.

AAP deflates BJP

1. AAP deflates BJP

i. The AAP stunned everyone on Tuesday with an overwhelming victory in the Delhi assembly polls, setting up a second stint for Arvind Kejriwal as chief minister.

Swiss leaks: India ranks 16th on leaked HSBC list

1. Swiss leaks: India ranks 16th on leaked HSBC list

i. It is called Swiss Leaks — a trove of secret documents from HSBC’s Swiss private banking arm that reveals names of account holders and their balances for the year 2006-07.

12 dead in shooting at French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris

1. 12 dead in shooting at French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris 

i. Twelve people, 10 journalists and two policemen, have been killed, and 10 others wounded in the shooting massacre at the Paris headquarters of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

ii. Hollande confirmed the deaths, and said that at least 40 were “saved.” 

iii. The numbers of victims is likely to rise, the French president added. Flags across France have been lowered in mourning for victims of the attack.