#Daily #Current #Affairs

SBI launches online forex platform

State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest bank, has launched SBI eforex, an Internet-based platform that enables customers to book their foreign exchange transactions online. This smart platform facilitates the customers of the bank to obtain forex rates without having to physically visit the branch. SBI eforex is an innovative platform incorporating robust security features and is designed to be user-friendly, fast and convenient. It is a highly flexible product offering the facility to the customers to customise and set their own limits for deal size, daily transaction limits etc. Details of all deals done are made available to the users on a real-time basis. Under the forex segment, SBI had recently launched 'Fx Out' which enables sending of foreign currency remittances from any its branches in India.

Union Government launched weather alert service NOWCAST

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh launched a weather alert service named NOWCAST. NOWCAST will be used to send SMS alerts on extreme weather data like hailstorm, thunderstorm and squall originated by India Meteorological Department (IMD) to over one crore farmers whose mobile numbers are registered on government’s mKisan portal.Further, the mKisan portal will send warning SMSs to farmers located in affected district/blocks. These warnings will help the farmers to take precautionary measures as needed and feasible. The SMS will be sent in English, Hindi and regional languages as per farmers’ request.This technological break-through is a collaborative effort between mKisan Portal developed by DAC, weather technologies adopted by IMD and GIS Portal of NIC. Radha Mohan Singh also launched Insurance Web-Portals for Farmers (www.farmer.gov.in/insurance) that will enable farmers to insure their crops under three schemes. Prevailing provisions under which farmers can insure their crops are

• National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS)

• Modified National Insurance Scheme (MNAIS) 

• Weather based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS)

Besides, Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme (CPIS) also is applicable in some parts of the country.

First translated version of Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita released                in China

Translated Chinese version of Bhagavad Gita, a sacred ancient Indian scripture was released in China. This is the first a well-known Hindu ancient religious text was published in China. The book was released by Indian Ambassador to China Ashok K Kantha during an international yoga conference. It was translated in Chinese by Professor Wang Zhu Cheng and Ling Hai of Zhejiang University in Shanghai and was published by Sichuan People’s Publications. The foreword for the book was written by K Nagaraj Naidu who had served as the consulate general at the Indian Consulate in Guangzhou city of China. Some of India’s ancient are well-known in China. It includes ancient Buddhist scriptures which were introduced to them by celebrated Chinese traveler Huen Tsang after he had visited India in the 7th century. Earlier in 2014, scholars from India and China published an Encyclopaedia on the age-old cultural contacts between both countries which had showcased their history to over 2000 years.

World’s First Electric Passenger aircraft BX1E manufactured in China

The world’s first electric passenger aircraft named BX1E was manufactured in China. The aircraft was designed by Shenyang Aerospace University and Liaoning General Aviation Academy located in the northeastern Liaoning Province of China. BX1E aircraft has a 14.5-meter wingspan and a maximum payload of 230 kgs. It can fly at an altitude of 3,000 meters. The aircraft can charge within two hours. Fully charged aircraft can have flight time of 45 minutes to 1 hour with a maximum speed of 160 km per hour. The first two BX1E aircrafts were delivered to Liaoning Ruixiang General Aviation Co. Ltd. These aircrafts will be used in tourism, pilot training, meteorology and rescue operations.

C.N.R. Rao conferred with Japan’s highest civilian award ‘Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star’

Eminent scientist and Bharat Ratna awardee C.N.R. Rao was conferred with Japan’s highest civilian award the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star. He was presented with the award by Japanese Ambassador to India, Takeshi Yagi for his outstanding contributions to science and Indo-Japanese science cooperation. C.N.R. Rao (Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao) is an eminent scientist and world’s foremost solid state and materials chemists. He has worked mainly in solid-state and structural chemistry. He was first Indian scientist to reach the h-index of 100. He has authored of around 1600 research papers. He also has authored and edited 45 books. He is also an elected member of almost all scientific academies across the globe and had served as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council to Prime Ministers of India. He is also the Honorary President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advance Scientific Research, Bengaluru and a former Chair of the Japan-India Science Council.