26th March 2019 Current Affairs
Vijaywada Railway station got gold rating
- Vijayawada railway station, one of the busiest railway junctions in the country, has received Gold Rating by the Indian Green Building Council.
- Council Chairman Meka Vijaya Sai presented the gold rating shield to Divisional Railway Manager R Dhananjayulu on 25 March 2019.
- The station boasts of 100% LED lighting, five star rated fans, pumps and motors, and solar water heating systems.
World’s First Wireless Electric Car Charging Station Introduced by Norway
- Oslo, the capital city of Norway will become the world’s first city to install wireless, induction-based charging stations for its fleet of electric taxis with an aim to have a zero-emission cab system by the year 2023 according to a report by Reuters.
- Norway wants all new cars to be zero emission by 2025 whereas other nations, like Britain and France, have similar goals for 2040.
RBI Slaps Rs 2 Crore Penalty On PNB
- The Reserve Bank of India has slapped a penalty of Rs 2 crore on Punjab National Bank for non-compliance of regulatory directions with regard to SWIFT operations.
- SWIFT is a global messaging software used for sharing information on inter-bank transactions by financial entities.
RBI appointed 5-member committee
- RBI appointed 5-member committee under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani to further deepen digital payments and enhance financial inclusion through Fintech.
- The RBI has requested the committee to give recommendations in 3 months in this regard.
- This was announced at the inaugural event of Fintech Conclave organized by Niti Aayog in New Delhi on 25 March 2019.
Indian Oil companies won ADNOC awards
- A consortium of 2 Indian oil companies, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited have been awarded the exploration rights for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1.
- The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC, signed agreements awarding the exploration rights on 25 March 2019.
- The award has been endorsed by Abu Dhabi’s Supreme Petroleum Council.
Anil Nair: CEO of VMLY&R
- VMLY&R appointed Anil Nair as the CEO of its India business effective immediately on 25 March 2019.
- Based out of agency’s Mumbai office, he will report to VMLY&R Asia co-chief executive Tripti Lochan, who is based in Singapore.
- Nair will oversee VMLY&R’s India operation, driving growth and building on agency’s integrated service offering spanning creative, technology and data services.
Chandrayaan 2 to carry laser instruments
- India’s lunar mission Chandrayaan 2, scheduled to launch in April, will carry NASA’s laser instruments that allow scientists to make precise measurements of the distance to the Moon.
- In Chandrayaan – 2 Mission, a 3,890-kg Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft will orbit around the Moon to study its conditions and collect data of its topography, mineralogy and exosphere.
ABHEDYA facility commissioned at Lonavala
- Admiral Sunil Lanba commissioned a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Training Facility – ABHEDYA, at INS Shivaji, Lonavla on 25 March 2019.
- It will assist the Indian Navy in providing a realistic simulation of NBC warfare to its personnel.
- The steel structure of the simulator represents the relevant NBC compartment of the ship such as upper decks, citadels, cleansing stations, etc.
1st Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Makalu Flagged Off
- First Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Makalu (8485m) comprising five Officers, two JCOs and eleven OR was flagged off by Director General Military Training.
- In furtherance of the objective of summiting all challenging peaks above 8000M, Indian Army is launching its maiden expedition to Mt Makalu in Mar-May 2019.
- Mt Makalu is considered amongst the most dangerous peaks and summiting the peak is considered extremely challenging due to inclement weather conditions and freezing temperatures.
Noted Folk Artiste Anasuya Devi passes away
- Kala Prapoorna awardee Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi (99-years) passed away due to illness at Houston, USA.
- She was an eminent folk artist, radio commentator, harmonium player, music composer and an author.
- In 2018, her two books, Bava Geetalu, a compilation of Folk Songs was released.
- She was also an awardee of the Life Time Achievement Award in America and ‘Queen of Folk’ award in Paris.
- She originally hailed from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
Try out the quiz ?
1. Vijaywada Railway station has received Gold Rating by which council?
Vijayawada railway station, one of the busiest railway junctions in the country, has received Gold Rating by the Indian Green Building Council.
2. Which city will become the world’s first city to install wireless induction-based charging stations for electric taxis?
Oslo, the capital city of Norway will become the world’s first city to install wireless, induction-based charging stations for its fleet of electric taxis with an aim to have a zero-emission cab system by the year 2023 according to a report by Reuters.
3. The Reserve Bank of India has slapped a penalty of Rs 2 crore on which bank?
The Reserve Bank of India has slapped a penalty of Rs 2 crore on Punjab National Bank for non-compliance of regulatory directions with regard to SWIFT operations.
4. RBI has appointed 5-member committee for further deepen digital payments and enhance financial inclusion through Fintech under the chairmanship of .....
RBI appointed 5-member committee under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani to further deepen digital payments and enhance financial inclusion through Fintech.
5. Indian Oil companies won ADNOC awards. This award has been endorsed by .....
A consortium of 2 Indian oil companies, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Indian Oil Corporation Limited have been awarded the exploration rights for Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1. The award has been endorsed by Abu Dhabi’s Supreme Petroleum Council.
6. Who has been appointed as the CEO of VMLY&R of its India business?
VMLY&R appointed Anil Nair as the CEO of its India business effective immediately on 25 March 2019.
7. NASA's laser instruments will carry by which lunar mission?
India’s lunar mission Chandrayaan 2, scheduled to launch in April, will carry NASA’s laser instruments that allow scientists to make precise measurements of the distance to the Moon.
8. Admiral Sunil Lanba commissioned a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Training Facility – ABHEDYA, at which place?
Admiral Sunil Lanba commissioned a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Training Facility – ABHEDYA, at INS Shivaji, Lonavla on 25 March 2019.
9. First Indian Army mountaineering expedition to Mt Makalu. What is the height of Mt Makalu?
First Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Makalu (8485m) comprising five Officers, two JCOs and eleven OR was flagged off by Director General Military Training.
10. Noted folk artiste Anasuya Devi has passed away. She was from which state?
Kala Prapoorna awardee Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi (99-years) passed away due to illness at Houston, USAShe originally hailed from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
