Current Affairs Assam – November 2017 e-Magazine
November 28
Golden Temple Awarded as Most Visited Place of the World
The Golden Temple has been awarded the ‘most visited place of the world’ by ‘World Book of Records’ (WBR), a London-based organisation. General secretary of WBR India chapter, Surbhi Kaul, and president of WBR Punjab chapter, Randeep Singh Kohli, gave this award to Shiromani Gurdwara Pharbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief secretary Roop Singh and other senior officials at Teja Singh Samundari Hall, Amritsar.
BillDesk launch Cryptocurrency exchange “Coinome” in India
Coinome allows users to register via an instant e-KYC process by using Aadhaar number. Unlike many other cryptocurrency exchanges, Coinome is an open order book cryptocurrency exchange which enables direct deals between buyers and sellers just like conventional stocks and commodities exchanges.Indian online payments firm BillDesk-owned Hatio Innovations has launched cryptocurrency exchange ‘Coinome’ in India offering trading of Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash.
First Edition of INSPIRE 2017 in Jaipur
The first edition of International Symposium to Promote Innovation & Research in Energy Efficiency (INSPIRE 2017) was held in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
The five-day symposium is being organized by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) in partnership with The World Bank, and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE). Its objective was to provide common platform for energy efficiency community to discuss energy efficiency policies, emerging technologies, market transformation strategies, delivery and business-model driven transformations.
FACTFILE – Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)
- EESL is a joint venture of NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation and POWERGRID.
- Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) was set up under the Ministry of Power to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency projects.
- EESL is an energy service company (ESCO) that seeks to unlock the energy efficiency market in India, estimated to be at US$12 billion. This can potentially result in energy savings of up to 20 per cent of current consumption, by way of innovative business and implementation models.
- EESL also acts as the resource centre for capacity building of state DISCOMs (distribution companies), Electricity Regulatory Commissions (ERCs), State Designated Agencies (SDAs), upcoming ESCOs, financial institutions, etc.
November 29
US company to launch 4 satellites on-board India’s PSLV-C40
Planet Labs Inc, a US-based integrated aerospace and data analytics company, today said four of its Dove satellites will be launched aboard India’s PSLV-C40 mission, scheduled to fly in January 2018.
Bitcoin Crosses $10,000 for the First Time Ever
Bitcoin rose above the symbolic $10,000 threshold for the first time, bringing its rise for the year to date to more than 900 per cent. The price of the cryptocurrency edged above $10,000 on Coinbase, the largest dollar denominated bitcoin exchange, which gave the latest price as $10,052 in Asia.
Bloomberg data gave the intraday high as $10,058 before easing to $9,999.Bitcoin was trading at around $1,000 dollars at the beginning of 2017.
Arun Jaitley launches Paytm Payments Bank
A new Payments Bank ‘Paytm Payments Bank’ was formally launched at the hands of the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Currently, India has four Payments Bank including Paytm Payments Bank. The other three operational ones are Airtel Payments Bank, India Post Payments Bank and Fino Payments Bank.A payments bank is a differentiated bank. A customer can open a savings bank account in them and have deposits of upto Rs. 1 lakh. These banks cannot however lend money to their customers.
Point2Remember – Bharti Airtel set up India’s first live payments bank.
FACTFILE – Payments banks
- Payments banks is a new model of banks conceptualised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- These banks can accept a restricted deposit, which is currently limited to ₹1 lakh per customer and may be increased further.
- These banks cannot issue loans and credit cards. Both current account and savings accounts can be operated by such banks.
- Payments banks can issue services like ATM cards, debit cards, net-banking and mobile-banking.
November 30
SAUBHAGYA Scheme Launched in Manipur
The Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) was launched in Manipur, by Union Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R.K. Singh and N. Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur.
A total of approximately 1.75 lakh households (1.62 lakh rural households and 0.13 lakh urban households) of Manipur are proposed to be included under the scheme.
One rupee note turns 100 on 30th November 2017
The first one rupee note was printed in India on November 30, 1917, with the photo of King George V. This smallest paper denomination note from India has traveled through a glorious historical journey all over the world since it was issued for the public.Our one rupee note has completed a century.
Point2Remember – only One rupee note is signed by Finance secretary of India, instead of Governor of RBI.
Shaktikanta Das named as India’s G20 Sherpa
The Ministry of Finance appointed former economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das as India’s G20 Sherpa for the Development Track of the grouping.
There are two tracks in G-20 – Finance Track and Development Track. Finance Track is managed by the secretary (economic affairs) as India’s Deputy to G-20 and the Development Track is coordinated by the Sherpa.
Badri Narain Sharma appointed as Chairman of National Anti-Profiteering Authority
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed senior bureaucrat Badri Narain Sharma as Chairman of National Anti-Profiteering Authority. Sharma is 1985 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre. Prior to this appointment, he was an additional secretary of Department of Revenue, Finance Ministry. The Union Cabinet in November 2017 approved setting up of five-member NAA, mandated to ensure that the benefits of GST rate reduction.
