Current Affairs Update - 19 Feb, 2015

• In an effort to move closer to customers and to empower them, the State Bank of India, India’s largest bank, launched a massive, customer friendly initiative, Tech Learning Centres (TLCs) across the country.
• 385 State Bank TLCs across the length and breadth of the country have started holding interactive learning sessions and demos of the bank’s tech-channels for over ten thousand customers every month since November 2014.
• TLCs will spread awareness of the Bank’s various tech channels including Cash Deposit Machines, Mobile Banking apps, Net Banking and Green Remit Cards, in addition to providing guidance on how to use these channels safely and in a secure manner.
• This is expected to encourage more and more customers to use these convenient, self-service, tech- channels for their routine transactions instead of queuing up at branches.

• Axis Bank will provide premium personalised banking services with dedicated managers to its affluent high net-worth individual (HNI) customers with preferential treatment with an intention to increase business from the segment.
• The third largest private bank will launch ‘Burgundy’ to offer personalised end-to-end services across segments.

• Samsung Electronics Co has bought U.S. mobile wallet startup LoopPay, signalling its intention to launch a smartphone payments service to compete with a recent offering from rival Apple Inc.
• Mobile payments have been slow to catch on in the United States and elsewhere, despite strong backing. Apple, Google, and eBay Inc's PayPal have all launched services to allow users to pay in stores via smartphones.

• Union Government on 18 February 2015 approved Project-17A worth 8 billion US dollar. The project is aimed at building country's most advanced warships. 
• Under the Project-17A seven frigates will be built indigenously with stealth features to avoid easy detection.
• The frigates under the Project-17A will be built at government shipyards in Mumbai and Kolkata.
• The move is a part to boost Make in India campaign to build a domestic defence industrial base and reduce dependence on expensive imports that have made India the world's biggest arms market.

• India on 19 February 2015 successfully test-fired nuclear weapons capable, surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile from Chandipur-on-sea in Balasore district, Odisha as part of a user trial by the army.
• The missile was tested for a shortened range of 250 km as against its full range of 350 km. The indigenously developed missile was launched by personnel of Strategic Forces Command (SFC) from a road mobile launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR).
• With a strike range of 350 km, Prithvi-II is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twine engines. It uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvering trajectory.

• The Kalyani group, on Thursday, announced a joint venture with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel to develop and manufacture a wide range of technology and systems.
• This is the group’s third joint venture business. In the new venture, the Kalyani group will hold 51 per cent stake and Rafael the balance. The announcement comes few months after the government’s move to increase the foreign direct investment cap in defence to 49 per cent.
• This is one of the major deals under the new FDI limits.

• India’s first air quality checking Mobile App, SAFAR-Air was launched on 17 February 2015 at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, Maharashtra.
• SAFAR is an acronym for System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research which was first launched in Delhi in 2010 during the Commonwealth Games. The Project Director of SAFAR is Gufran Beig.
• The App was launched by Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to provide online metro Air Quality information Service in real time.

• State Government of Bihar on 18 February 2015 decided to give 35 percent reservation to women in non-gazetted government jobs.
• The decision was made during the state cabinet meet presided by Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. Apart from this, the Cabinet also made 21 more decisions.

• Hike in MLA development fund from the existing 2 crore rupees in a year to 3 crore rupees from financial year 2016
• Approved the proposal to pay 13 months’ salary in place of 12 months to policemen up to inspector rank

• Indian telecom major Bharti Airtel Limited on 18 February 2015 tied-up with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide health, education and youth-focused content to its customers in 17 African countries.
• In this regard, Bharti Airtel limited and UNICEF signed a partnership agreement. Their partnership is aimed at improving African population’s access to health and education-related information from various innovative projects supported by UNICEF.

• India and Bangladesh on 17 February 2015 decided to step up joint patrolling along the boundary to act against criminals and smugglers.
• The coordinated border management plan will also help in enhancing cooperation between the two nations.

• Pune-based I-League football club Bharat FC in the third week of February 2015 appointed English football coach Barry Knowles as head of its youth development programme.
• The appointment of Barry Knowles is part of Bharat FC efforts to build its own training facility at Manjri and to build squads in the under -9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 age groups. Another unique aspect of this youth setup will be that the academy will give preference to young aspirants from Pune.

• Rashad Hussain (37), an Indian-American has been appointed Special Envoy and Coordinator for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications to expand global engagement and partnerships of the US to counter violent extremism.
• Rashad was currently serving as the Special Envoy of the US to Organisation for Islamic Countries (OIC). Hussain also served as Deputy Associate Counsel to US President Barack Obama, focusing on national security, new media, and science and technology issues before his role in OIC.
• In another previous role as Director for Global Engagement at the National Security Council (NSC) and as a Special Assistant US Attorney in Washington he prosecuted criminal cases.

• Noted film producer and Dada Saheb Phalke award winner Daggubati Ramanaidu died on 18 February 2015 in a hospital of Hyderabad. He was 78.
• In 2013, he was awarded with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award
• In 2009, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke, Indian cinema’s highest honour

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