21 Feb 2013 Online GK - Current Affairs Study Material

Published for http://www.jobentra.blogspot.com

1. AirAsia ties up with TATAs to start Airline in India

i. A new Indian airline, proposed to be launched by the Tata Group, AirAsia and another Indian investor, is likely to start operations by the fourth quarter of this year with about USD 50 mn initial investment by the Malaysian budget carrier.

ii. The airline, which would be based on the low-cost, no- frill model, would launch its operations with three to four Airbus A-320 aircraft and "scale up (the fleet) quickly thereafter,"

iii. The airline would be based in Chennai and in the initial phase concentrate on destinations in South India where AirAsia already operates,

iv. AirAsia's initial investment in the airline, which would be run through a joint venture that includes the Tata Group and Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace, would be about USD 50 million.

2.    Bangladesh, Japan strike deal for Dhaka metro rail

i. With an endeavor to ease the traffic problems that create havoc mainly in the capital city, Bangladesh on Wednesday signed a loan deal with a Japanese development agency for construction of the country's first-ever metro rail system.

ii. The project will cost an estimated USD 2.8 billion, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Bangladesh chief Takao Toda said, adding that his agency will finance 85 per cent of the cost at an interest rate of 0.01 per cent.

iii. The metro-rail construction will start in 2016 and end in 2021. 

3.    CCI approved proposal for North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Plant in Jharkhand

i. The Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) on 20 February 2013 cleared the proposal of the Power Ministry to set up the North Karanpura Super Thermal Power Plant (NKSTPP) (3 x 660 MW) near Tandwa town in Chatra district of Jharkhand by the National Thermal Power Corporation, NTPC.

ii. The CCI also agreed for restoring the original coal linkage for the project and declared that the project will be based on environment friendly super-critical technology. This supply will be made available in the 13th Five Year Plan

iii. The power project is being developed for generation of 1980 MW power. The Plant is expected to generate electricity for a period of about 35 years.

4.    India to launch Mars mission this year

i. India will launch its first space mission to Mars this year, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday.

ii. “Several space missions are planned for 2013, including India’s first mission to Mars and the launch of our first navigational satellite,”

iii. The Indian Space Research Organisation will also put in orbit the first of its seven satellites of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). The system is India’s version of the Global Positioning System.

NOTE: i. Under the mission, India will put in orbit a spacecraft using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

ii. The satellite will undertake a 300-day journey to Mars and is expected to be put into the Martian orbit in September next year.

5.    TRAI begins process for nation-wide mobile number portability

i. Telecom Regulator Authority of India (TRAI) started pre-consultation process on Wednesday for nation-wide mobile number portability services that will allow users to retain their numbers even after they shift from one service area to another.

ii. At present, mobile number portability (MNP) services are available within a service area only.

iii. With nation-wide MNP services, mobile users can retain their numbers even if they shift from one state to another.

iv. TRAI stated that there are two MNP service providers at present catering to 22 service areas.

 

6.    Kerala Govt. Raised Age Limit (18 to 21 ) for Buying and Selling Liquor

i. The State Government of Kerala today approved Kerala Abkari Act Amendment Ordinance 2013 that envisaged raising age limit for buying or selling liquor from 18 years to 21 years.

ii. The new policy was announced in 2012, according to which Congress had committed to raise liquor buying and selling age from 18 to 21 years.

iii. This was aimed at bringing down the consumption of liquor in Kerala.

iv. Apart from this, the Kerala Abkari Act Amendment Ordinance 2013 would obligate showing statutory warnings for movies and television, against the consumption of liquor.

7.    Banking, transport sector hit on day two of nationwide strike

i. Banking services were paralysed on Thursday with ATMs running out of cash in metro cities and public transport disrupted on second day of the two-day Central unions sponsored strike.

ii. In the national capital, commuters faced hardships for the second consecutive day as majority of auto-rickshaws and taxis stayed off the road in support of the strike.

iii. "A majority of ATMs have dried up while (bank) branches are shut. Additionally, there has not been any cheque clearing as personnel from RBI too joined the strike. It will take at least 2-3 working days to clear the backlog for banks",

8.    Maharashtra to host senior national carrom championship

i. The 42nd Senior National and Inter-State Carrom Championship will be held from 26th February to 3rd March at Akola in Maharashtra.

ii. The Indian team for the upcoming SAARC and Asian Carrom championships is to be picked up from this event.

iii. The nationals would see participation from 17 institutions and most of the states and union territories.

iv. The competition will feature eight events – inter-state team championship for men and women, men’s and women’s singles, veterans’ singles (for men and women) and inter institution men’s and women’s team championship