VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JUNE  27^th, 2019

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF JUNE 27^th,  2019

1.     The Union Cabinet led by PM Narendra Modi has approved Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill.

a.      This bill proposes ₹10,000 fine for anyone seen blocking the way of emergency services such as ambulances on roads. 

b.      The same amount of penalty would be levied in case of drunk driving. 

2.     The Bombay High Court today confirmed the Maharashtra government's decision to grant quota to Marathas in government jobs and educational institutions. 

a.      However, it said that the 16% quota is not justifiable and should be reduced to 12% or 13%. 

b.      Note : In November last year, the Maharashtra legislature passed the reservation bill under the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) category.

3.     In order to strengthen its 'anti-Romeo squads', Noida Police will issue red cards as warnings to men found harassing women in public by following them or passing comments. 

a.      While issuing the red cards, the details of the men will be noted by the police. 

b.      If the same person commits a similar offence again, strict action will be taken against him.

4.     The Lok Sabha has passed the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

a.      This bill seeks to extend the period for reconstitution of the Central Council from existing period of one year to two years so that the tenure of the Board of Governors may be extended for a further period of one year.

b.      The extension will be effective from 17th May, 2019. 

c.      The bill will help the Central Council of Homoeopathy in exercising the powers and performing functions of the Council.

5.     The Parliament has passed the Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill 2019 with Rajya Sabha approving it today. 

a.      The Bill seeks to amend the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005.

b.      The amendment will help in bringing International Financial Services Centres to the country. 

6.     The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has directed the Income Tax Department to share in "public interest" details of assets and accounts of loan defaulters against whom a state-run bank has made a plea. 

a.      The move is aimed at cracking down on such entities and recovery of public money.

b.      The I-T Department will obtain information on a defaulter from the ITR of an assessee.

7.     Indian cryptocurrency exchange Koinex's Co-founder Rahul Raj has announced the closing of its operations, citing lack of banking support and regulatory uncertainty. 

a.      Note : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had barred banks from serving cryptocurrency exchanges and firms in April 2018.

8.     The Switzerland government has frozen 4 bank accounts belonging to₹14,000-crore PNB scam accused fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi and his sister Purvi Modi, acting on Enforcement Directorate's request. 

a.      The financial assets in the bank accounts are reported to amount over ₹280 crore. 

b.      The ED had sent the request to the Swiss government nearly four months ago.

9.     The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has urged citizens not to pay heed to rumours regarding the genuineness of coins of 50 paise, ₹1, ₹2, ₹5 and ₹10 denomination of various sizes, themes and designs. 

a.      It asked the public, including traders and shopkeepers, to continue to accept them as legal tender without hesitation. 

b.      The central bank reiterated that banks should accept coins for transactions.

10.The Centre has released 773 crore rupees for Assam as oil royalty.

a.      With this last tranche, the state has received the entire arrears of 6 thousand 306 crore rupees for the last three financial years.

11.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today said all data related to payments must be stored in systems located only in India and data processed abroad will have to be brought back to the country within 24 hours.

a.      The RBI had issued a directive in April 2018 on 'Storage of Payment System Data'. 

b.      It had advised all system providers to ensure that within a period of 6 months, the entire data relating to payment systems operated by them is stored in a system only in India.

12.The Government has constituted an 18 member Working Group for the revision of the current series of Wholesale Price Index.

a.      The Office of Economic Adviser, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade will be the nodal office for the Working Group and will process the report and recommendation of the Group for further necessary action.

b.      Chairman of the working group : Prof. Ramesh Chand (Member, Niti Aayog)

13.Eminent Social Activist and secretary of the Gandhi Ashram Trust in Jayag, Noakhali, Bangladesh Jharna Dhara Chowdhury passed away today in Dhaka.

a.      Born on October 15, 1938 at Lakshmipur, she devoted her whole life to promoting peace, communal harmony and social justice. 

b.      She was deeply influenced by Gandhian principles of non-violence and communal harmony.    

14.Veteran Telugu actor-filmmaker G. Vijaya Nirmala (75) passed away.

a.      She holds a Guinness Record for most number of films directed by a female filmmaker.

15.Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya (P B Acharya) today sworn in as the new Governor of Manipur. 

a.      He will serve as Governor of Manipur as an additional charge from today during the absence, on leave, of Dr Najma Heptulla, Governor of Manipur.

16.Justice Prasanta Kumar Saikia (Retired) has been sworn in as the Chairperson of the Lokayukta of Arunachal Pradesh.

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

a.      Kohli reached the milestone in only his 417th international innings. 

b.      With this, Kohli became the 12th batsman and 3 Indian after Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid to reach 20,000 international runs.

18.The Central Railway beat Western Railway 3-2 in an absorbing women's final of the St Peters Youth Centre Open Hockey Tournament in Mumbai today.

a.      In the men's final, Union Bank of India prevailed over Coorg eleven by a comfortable 2-0 margin to emerge champions.

19.West Indies opener Chris Gayle, who had announced that he will retire from ODI cricket following the 2019 World Cup, has reversed his decision. 

a.      He said that he would like to play the home series against India, which is scheduled to take place in August-September.