March 7th, 2018
1. Union ministers Mr. Nitin Gadkari and Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan launched Sukhad Yatra App and Toll-free Emergency number for Highway users in New Delhi.
- Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched 24×7 toll-free assistance number National Highways in 1033 along with Sukhad Yatra Mobile App.
- The number will be of immense help in reporting road accidents and highway-related issues and will also save precious lives by providing timely help to accident victims.
- Also launched a mobile application ‘Sukhad Yatra’ which will empower users with all information pertaining to highways.The app will provide real-time data related to waiting time at toll plazas, toll taxes and various facilities like points of interest along the highway.
2. Neiphiu Rio to take oath as Nagaland CM replaces TR Zeliang.
- NDPP leader Neiphiu Rio will take over as Chief Minister of Nagaland.
- Governor PB Acharya will administer the Oath of Office and Secrecy to the Council of Ministers at Kohima Local Ground.
- The NDPP-BJP alliance government is being formed under the banner of People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA).
- Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP National President Amit Shah and party General Secretary Ram Madhav are among those who will attend the Swearing-in ceremony.
3. ICICI Bank Chief Chanda Kochhar, Axis Bank MD Shikha Sharma summoned in PNB fraud case.
- ICICI Bank Chief Chanda Kocchar and Axis Bank Managing Director Shikha Sharma were summoned for interrogation by Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), Mumbai, in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case.
- Both the bankers have been summoned in a case of over 5,000 crore rupee working capital facility given to Mehul Choksi’s Gitanjali Group by a consortium of 31 banks.
- The ICICI Bank, with a loan of around 400 crores, was a lead banker in this consortium, while Axis Bank had a major exposure too.
- Meanwhile, the CBI has detained Vipul Chitalia, the Vice President of Gitanjali Group of Companies as a part of the probe into the case. Chitalia was apprehended at the Mumbai airport and taken to CBI office for questioning.
- The SFIO also said PNB MD and CEO Sunil Mehta has been summoned for questioning.
4. RBI slaps Rs 40 lakh penalty on SBI for flouting fake note norms.
- The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 40lakh on State Bank of India for non-compliance of its directions on detection and impounding of counterfeit notes.
- An RBI notification issued from Mumbai informs that the action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance found at two of the bank’s currency chests.
- The regulator had carried out an inspection of currency chests at two branches of the country’s largest lender and noticed certain violation, following which a show cause notice was issued in the first week of January.
- RBI said the penalty seemed warranted and substantiated considering the bank’s reply and oral submissions.
- RBI has clarified that penal action is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.
- Earlier this week, RBI had imposed monetary penalties on Axis Bank for violation of non-performing asset classification norms and Indian Overseas Bank for not complying with the KYC regulations.
5. Aadhaar not mandatory for enrolment in NEET, SC tells CBSE.
- The Supreme Court directed the CBSE not to make Aadhaar number mandatory for enrollment of students appearing in NEET 2018 and other all India exams.
- A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief justice Dipak Misra directed the CBSE to upload the information on their website.
- Earlier in the day, UIDAI had told the apex court that CBSE has not been given any authority in this regard. The UIDAI’s remarks came on a plea challenging the decision of CBSE in the matter.
6. Biplab Kumar Deb will be the new Chief Minister of Tripura replaces Manik Sarkar.
- The BJP State President was unanimously elected as the leader of the Legislature Party in a meeting of the newly-elected members of BJP and its ally – Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura in Agartala.
- The meeting also decided that Jishnu Debbarman will be the Deputy Chief Minister.
7. Veteran actress Shammi, fondly called ‘Shammi Aunty’, passed away in Mumbai.
- Shammi born Nargis Rabadi was an Indian film actress who appeared in over two hundred Hindi films. She passed away after a prolonged illness. She was 89.
- She was popular for her comic roles, in the films that included ‘Coolie No 1’, ‘Hum’, ‘Gopi Kishan’, ‘Hum Saath-Saath Hain’ over her long film career.
- Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani has expressed grief on the passing away of the veteran actor.
8. Pair of Manu Bhaker and Om Prakash Mitharval bags gold at ISSF Shooting World Cup in Mexico.
- In the ISSF shooting World Cup, teen sensation Manu Bhaker partnering with Om Prakash Mitharval bagged Gold for India in the 10 meter Air Pistol Mixed team event in Mexico.
- Their feat helped India consolidate its position at the top of the medals tally with three gold. Manu also won the coveted yellow metal in the 10 meter Air Pistol Individual event.
- India’s medal count currently stands at seven – 3 Gold and 4 Bronze.
9. India to join multilateral lender European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
- India has got the go-ahead to join the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, after shareholders of the London-based multilateral lender agreed to the country becoming its 69th member, enabling Indian companies to undertake joint investments in regions in which the EBRD operates.
- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is an international financial institution founded in 1991. It is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
10. Sri Lanka declared an island-wide state of emergency to curb growing anti-Muslim violence in the country’s Central Province.
- In Sri Lanka, violence continues unabated in Kandy district as several shops and establishments belonging to minority Muslim community were burnt.
- President Maithripala Sirisena visited the district and held meetings with security officials and religious leaders to discuss the situation. President had promulgated emergency in the country but it has not helped calm the situation so far.
- The government decided to shut down social messaging networks including Facebook to control violence.
Aimbig 