#Daily #Current #affairs

Canara Bank ties up with Life Insurance Corporation

Canara Bank has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Life Insurance Corporation of India for offering the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojanainsurance cover to all its eligible customers. The bank has also partnered with the United India Insurance Company for offering the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana insurance cover. According to the MoU, LIC will offer a life cover of 2 lakh in case of death of the insured person at a nominal premium of 330 per annum. All savings bank account holders in age group of 18 to 50 years can avail themselves of product.

India extends e-tourist visa scheme to 31 more countries

India will provide e-tourist visa to 31 more countries, including France and Canada, enabling the citizens of these nations easy entry to the country. The e-tourist visa had been launched in November last year for 45 countries from nine designated Indian airports.  With the latest addition, the total number of countries under this scheme will go up to 76. By the end of current financial year Government intends to extend the scheme to 150 countries.

Seychelles becomes 161st member of World Trade Organisation

Seychelles, an archipelago of 90000 inhabitants became the 161st member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It is one of the smallest nations among the WTO members. This approval by WTO ended Seychelles 20-year long wait to become a member of WTO since it had applied for WTO membership in May 1995. Seychelles also became the 33rd government to accede to the rules-based multilateral trading system through Article XII negotiations since the WTO was established in 1995. It should be noted that the Protocol of Accession was signed by former Seychelles’ Minister of Trade, Finance and Investment Pierre Laporte and WTO Director General (DG) Roberto Azevedo.

Dr. Pramod Patil and Dr. Ananda Kumar won 2015 Whitley Awards for wildlife conservation

Two Indians have been awarded with the prestigious Whitley Awards for their contribution to wildlife conservation. Dr Ananda Kumar, a conservationist from India, was awarded the prize, in honour of his work using innovative communication systems to enable human-elephant coexistence in southern India. Another winner of the Whitley Award, dubbed 'Green Oscar' is Dr Pramod Patil. He has been awarded for his work to protect the iconic great Indian bustard in the Thar Desert. HRH The Princess Royal presented the awards and each of them receiving a Whitley prize worth £35,000 at a ceremony in London.