Daily Current Affairs 31 January 2019: We have collected the latest current affairs for 31 January 2019 that are important for all competitive exams like bank, ssc, ibps, sbi exams. The GK current affairs will help you score more in these competitive exams. Improve your general knowledge with our daily online current affairs. You can also read the current affairs on our mobile app.
Current Affairs 31 January 2019
The Reserve Bank introduces Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced the Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019 for redressal of complaints against deficiency in services related to digital transactions. It has come into effect from January 31, 2019.
- Complaints to be handled under the Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions, 2019:
- Complaints related to Prepaid Payment Instruments,
- Mobile / Electronic Fund Transfers,
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI) / Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) / Bharat QR Code / UPI QR Code,
- Non-reversal / failure to reverse within reasonable time, funds wrongly transferred to the beneficiary account due to lapse at the end of System Participant.
- Excess Fees charged w.r.t digital payment
- Maximum compensation under this scheme is Rs 20 lakh. (This is for the actual loss suffered due to issues in payment system). Note: The compensation that one will get is the amount of loss suffered or Rs 20 lakh whichever is lower.
- Maximum compensation for for mental agony and harassment: Rs 1 lakh.
- As on date, 21 Ombudsman for Digital Transactions have been appointed.
- Appellate Authority: Deputy Governor (Presently Shri M. K. Jain)
RBI removes BoI, BoM, OBC from Prompt Corrective Action framework
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has removed the restrictions of prompt corrective action plan (PCA) on three banks namely Bank of India (BoI), Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) and Oriental Bank of Commerce.
- Bank of India and Bank of Maharashtra meet the regulatory norms including Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB) and have Net NPAs of less than 6% as per third quarter results. Oriental Bank of Commerce, though the net NPA was 7.15%, as per the published results of third quarter, the Government has since infused sufficient capital and bank has brought the Net NPA to less than 6%.
- Now there are total 8 banks under the PCA framework.
Srikrishna committee indicts Chanda Kochhar
- The Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee that probed allegations against Chanda Kochhar (former MD, CEO of ICICI Bank) in the Videocon loan case, has found that she violated the bank’s code of conduct in dealing with conflict of interest and fiduciary duties in the case of loans to Videocon and had routed a part of the money to a company owned by her husband Deepak.
- ICICI Board of Directors have now decided to treat her ‘separation’ as a ‘termination for cause’ under the bank’s policies that will include revocation of all her existing and future entitlements such as unpaid amounts, bonuses, increments and stock options.
CSO revises GDP growth rate for 2017-18 to 7.2%
- Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revised the economic growth rate for India for 2017-18 upwards to 7.2%.
- The First Revised Estimates for 2017-18 shows that Real GDP or GDP at constant (2011-12) prices for 2017-18 stands at Rs 131.80 lakh crore (7.2%) and the Real GDP or GDP at constant (2011-12) prices for 2016-17 stand at Rs 122.98 lakh crore (8.2%).
Ajai Kumar appointed interim MD, CEO of Yes Bank
- Ajai Kumar has been apponited as the interim MD, CEO of Yes Bank, till the time when Ravneet Singh Gill assumes office as full time MD, CEO from March 01, 2019.
- Ajai Kumar will act as the interim MD and CEO of the bank from February 1, 2019 for one month or till Ravneet Gill assumes office as MD and CEO, whichever is earlier.
- Rana Kapoor has demitted the office as the MD/CEO from January 31, 2019.
Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P Takes Charge as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command
- Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar P, took over as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command on 31 January 2019 at Mumbai.
- He succeeds Vice Admiral Girish Luthra.
- Ajit Kumar P was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 01 July 1981.
- He was the Vice Chief of Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi prior to assuming charge of the present post.
LT Gen Rajeev Chopra Takes Charge as DG NCC
- Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra assumed the appointment of Director General of National Cadet Corps (NCC)(DGNCC) in New Delhi on January 31.
- He was commissioned in the Madras Regiment in December 1980.
- Chopra succeeds Lt. Gen. P.P Malhotra.
PK Purwar named BSNL CMD; to take over on July 1
- Pravin Kumar Purwar has been selected for the post of Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), who will take office from July 1, 2019.
- He will replace Anupam Shrivastava, who has been the CMD of BSNL since January 2015.
Central Bank of UAE & Saudi To Launch Common Digital Currency ‘Aber’
- The United Arab Emirates Central Bank (UAECB) and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (Sama) have issued a joint statement to launch the common digital currency project ‘Aber’.
- Aber will be used in financial settlements between the two countries through Blockchains and Distributed Ledgers technologies.
- The project will be launched on pilot basis to study the impact of modern technologies on the improvement and reduction of remittance costs and the assessments of risks and how to deal with them.
- It will also establish an additional means for the central financial transfer systems of the two countries and enable banks to directly deal with each other in conducting financial remittances.
- Initially, the use of the currency will be restricted to a limited number of banks in each state with concentration on technical aspects.
Israel Aerospace Industries Signs $93 million Follow-Up Agreement with India
- Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has entered into $93 million agreements with India for providing Naval Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile systems to India.
- The contracts were entered with the Indian Navy and the Cochin Shipyard by IAI.
- IAI will provide complementary systems for the air defense system. it will involve follow up orders for a range of maintenance and other services for various sub-systems of IAI’s advanced MSRAM ADS.
Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development Launched in Rome
- The Italian government has established the Africa Centre for Climate and Sustainable Development in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome.
The main focus of the centre will be on:
- Boosting the agricultural sectors and promoting rural development in Africa to ensure a better future for the continent’s youth
- Facilitate exchange of information and coordination to increase efficiencies and build synergies across Africa
- Develop and scale-up innovative solutions for sustainable development and implement the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Climate Agreement.
Europe launches Special Purpose Vehicle- INSTEX for trade with Iran
- Germany, France and the UK have setup a transaction channel named INSTEX — short for “Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges.” that allows non-dollar trade with Iran. This will help the European countries to trade with Iran despite the sanctions imposed on Iran by US.
- INSTEX is Headquartered in Paris, France and will be headed by German banker Per Fischer, a former director of Commerzbank.
World Leprosy Eradication Day Observed in India in January 30
- The World Leprosy Day is observed annually on the last Sunday of January globally to increase the public awareness of the Leprosy or Hansen’s Disease.
- This day was chosen in commemoration of the death of Mahatma Gandhi.
- While, World Leprosy Day was observed globally on January 27, 2019 (the last Sunday of January), India marked the day on January 30, 2019 (M K Gandhi’s death anniversary).
- The theme for 2019 is Ending Discrimination, Stigma and Prejudice.