Current Affair of 02 July 2018. Read Important Current Affairs for UPSC/SSC/Bank and other state exam

Current Affairs 02 July 2018

NATIONAL

Solar Charkha Mission to be launched soon in 50 clusters

The Solar Charkha Mission of the Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) will be launched by President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi.

The Mission has been approved by the Government of India and will disburse subsidy of Rs 550 crore to the artisans. It will cover 50 clusters and every cluster will employ 400 to 2000 artisans.

Each of the centres will be built at a cost of around Rs 150 crore. The 10 centers, which will become operational soon, are located in Durg (Chhattisgarh), Bhiwadi (Rajasthan), Rohtak (Haryana), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Sitarganj (Uttarakhand), Baddi (Himachal Pradesh), Bhopal (M.P.), Kanpur (UP) and Puducherry.

CRIS develops ‘utsonmobile’ app to enable cashless ticketing

The Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS) has developed a mobile-based application ‘utsonmobile' to enable cashless ticketing.

The mobile app will enable booking and cancellation of unreserved tickets, issue and renewal of season and platform tickets and checking and loading of R-wallet balance. It will also help maintain user profile management and booking history.

NITI Aayog to launch Composite Water Management Index

NITI Aayog announced to launch the Composite Water Management Index with an aim to achieve the objective of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.

The Composite Water Management Index will be a useful tool to assess and improve the performance inefficient management of water resources. This index is an attempt to inspire States and UTs towards efficient and optimal utilisation of water and recycling, with a sense of urgency.

  • The Composite Water Management Index will be a useful tool to assess and improve the performance inefficient management of water resources.
  • Taking note of all these factors, NITI Aayog finalised to launch the Composite Water Management Index after undertaking an elaborate exercise including seeking feedback from the States and consultation with reputed experts.

    • INTERNATIONAL

    Social media tax take effect in Uganda.

    The government of Uganda has started effecting the recently proposed social media tax from 1st July 2018, where subscribers are required to pay a daily fee of Shs 200 to tax body Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), before accessing their social media networks.

    Final Nepal-India EPG Meeting Concludes

    The final meeting of the Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations, mandated to provide suggestion on ways to reshape bilateral ties and review treaties between the two countries concluded.

  • There are four members each from Nepalese and Indian sides in the group.

    • During the two-day meeting, the group has successfully prepared a joint report which would be submitted to the prime ministers of both the countries.

    The EPG was formed four years ago by the governments of Nepal and India for reviewing the entire gamut of Nepal-India relations and update bilateral agreements and treaties.

    BUSINESS

    Goods and Services Tax Day: 1 July

    The Government of India has announced that 1st of July shall be commemorated as ‘GST Day’. Union Minister for Railways, Coal, Finance & Corporate Affairs Mr Piyush Goyal presided over as the Chief Guest of the event and Minister of State for Finance.

  • The government of India is celebrating the 1st Anniversary of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) coming into force on 1st July 2017.

    • Four Laws namely CGST Act, UTGST Act, IGST Act and GST (Compensation to States) Act were passed by the Parliament and since been notified on 12th April 2017. All the other States (except Jammu & Kashmir) and Union territories with legislature have passed their respective SGST Acts.

    LIFE

    Orange colored crocodiles found in Gabon, West Africa

    The West African state of Gabon is famous for its biodiversity but in a galaxy of spectacular finds, one stands out: orange crocodiles.

    The reason for the change in color is because of their food. In the total darkness, the animals survive on a diet of bats and crickets, unlike above-ground crocodiles of the same species which feed on fish and crustaceans. This has caused a specific ‘genetic signature’ in the cave-dwelling crocodiles.