Important Current Affairs of February 26, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 26, 2016

• Australia is going to increase its defense spending by nearly $21.6 billion as announced by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
• India has the Third Highest under-five child mortality rate among SAARC countries, as announced by Union Women and Child Development Minister Menaka Gandhi.
• India recorded 48 deaths per 1000 live births
• Afghanistan is at the top with 91 deaths per 1000 live births.
• Pakistan is at the second spot with 81 deaths per 1000 live births.
• A housing Scheme for over 600 transgenders facing social boycott in Bengaluru was launched by Karnataka Government.
• To carry out vacuum cleaning of the city Delhi Cabinet has approved a proposal to authorise the Public Works Department eliminating manual sweeping.
• The 3rd edition of the Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger conservation is going to be hosted by India for the Very first Time
• The 13 Participating Countries in this conference are:
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Cambodia
• China
• India
• Indonesia
• Lao PDR
• Malaysia
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Russia
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Aim: To promote awareness about tiger conservation across Asia and the world.
• Imp.
• India's tiger count has risen up to 2,226 from 1,912 in the last few years.
• State-wise Karnataka has the highest number of Tigers ( 406).

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Self Employment and Talent Utilisation (SETU) are going to be established in NITI Aayog. 
• National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 was officially launched Mizoram.
• India has now 111 billlionaires, up from 97 in 2015 as per the data of Hurun Global Rich List 2016
• Mukesh Ambani is the richest Indian with a total worth of $26 billion.
• British singer Adele On February 25, 2016 dominated the BRIT Awards 2016 by winning a total of four awards. 
• Adele won the title of the best British Female Solo Artist, BRITs Global Success award, British Album of the Year for '25' and British Single of the Year for her song 'Hello'. 
• India’s leading private lender Yes Bank has been awarded inaugural Green Bond Pioneer Award in London, United Kingdom. 
• Yes Bank was bestowed with this award in recognition for its pioneering efforts in the Green Bonds market including successful issuance of India’s first ever Green Infrastructure Bonds. 
• Beijing overtakes New York City as ‘Billionaire Capital’
• Goverdhan Mehta, a well known researcher in Chemical Sciences & former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad (UoH), has been conferred withFederal Republic of Germany’s prestigious `Cross of the Order of Merit’.
• Hyderabad-based GVK Biosciences (GVK BIO) has been awarded prestigiousGlobal CSR Excellence & Leadership Award. 
• The company was bestowed with this award in the category of Best Environment Friendly Project for its ambitious Go Green, Grow Green plantation drive under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. 
• Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee took oath as the 28th Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka.
• He was serving as acting Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court since June 1, 2015.
• Japanese car manufacturer Nissan On February 25, 2016 named Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma as their new global ambassador. 
• The decision came after the company in October 2015 signed an eight-year sponsorship agreement with the ICC, in which the carmaker will be a global sponsor for international tournaments.
• Jet Airways On February 25, 2016 announced that it has appointed Rahul Taneja as Chief People Officer and he would be responsible for shaping the group's operations and performance.
• Yoichiro Ueno has been appointed as new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Honda Cars India by its parent Honda Motor Company. 
• He will succeed Katsushi Inoue who was elevated to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company for Regional Operations (Europe region). 
• Michael Pesch has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Infosys Consulting Holding, a subsidiary of India’s second largest software company Infosys. 
• The Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu On February 25, 2016 (25th February 2016) presented the Railway Budget of the year 2016-17 in Lok Sabha. 
• This is his Second rail budget. 
• Unlike last year, Prabhu did not propose a hike in passengers fares or freight rates, and introduced three new superfast trains.
• Here are some Highlights of Rail Budget 2016-17
• No Increase in Passenger Fare.
• No Increase Freight.
• Send and SMS and your coach will be cleaned during journey.
• Focus to provide reserved ticket for all by 2020.
• Reservation quota of 33 % for Female passengers.
• Wi-Fi facilities will be provided in association with Google.
• New Uniforms for Railway employees is proposed in this rail budget 2016. 
• The Union Cabinet On February 25, 2016 cleared a proposal to withdraw surcharges, service charges and convenience fees on cards and digital payments. 
• This would be instrumental in reducing cash transactions and tax avoidance. 
• Note : The government will also rationalise the merchant discount rate — the fee charged by a bank for providing debit and credit card services.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended currency swap arrangement to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations till mid-November 2017. 
• All 7 SAARC member countries including Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka can avail the facility. 
• Under the arrangement, RBI will be offering swap arrangement up to an overall amount of US 2 billion dollars both in foreign currency and Indian rupee. 
• This move of RBI aims at enhancing economic cooperation and strengthening financial stability among the SAARC countries. 
• Long-distance runner Lalita Babar was named as the Sports Person of the Year during the India Sports Awards 2015. 
• Current national record holder, Babar has qualified for the Rio Olympics in the 3000-metre steeplechase event. 
• Note : Dipa Karmakar, first Indian to qualify for the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships final stage, was named the Breakthrough Sports Person of the Year.
• FIFA On February 25, 2016 opened its new $140 million World Football Museum in Zurich. 
• The museum houses football artifacts and memorabilia acquired by the organisation, including Paul Gascoigne’s 1990 yellow card, Italy coach Enzo Bearzot’s 1982 smoking pipe and World Cup memorabilia including balls, posters and mascots.  
• The Pakistan government On February 25, 2016 gave permission to the Pakistan Cricket team to participate in the ICC World T20, to be held in India from March 8. 
• Note : 
• Earlier Pakistan Cricket Board had requested the ICC to hold Pakistan's matches at a neutral venue in case their government refuses to give permission. 
• Pakistan will face India at Dharamsala on March 20.