Daily Current Affairs : 4th October 2013

1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) nominated three members to the high level advisory committee formed to recommend granting new licenses to the private banks. The committee is headed by the former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan. Other members are  Usha Thorat (former RBI Deputy Governor), C B Bhave (Former SEBI Chairman) and Nachiket Mor (Financial Sector Expert).

2. The country's lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual (LGTB) community can now celebrate freedom of airwaves with a round-the-clock radio station dedicated specifically to them. 'Q Radio' which started operating from Bangalore this September claims to be the first radio station in India that is tailored for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender audience.

3. India has once again emerged as the largest recipient of foreign remittances. Non-Resident Indians or NRIs sent a record 71 billion dollars home compared to 70 billion dollars last year.  According to a Word Bank report on recent trends and outlook on Migration and Remittance Flows, NRIs are estimated to remit up to 85 billion dollars a year by 2015. 

4. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for reforming the state higher education system. As per this, during the 12th Plan period, 80 new universities would be created by converting autonomous colleges or colleges in a cluster to State universities. Many colleges, including professional and technical colleges would be set up and existing colleges would be upgraded. Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan would also support 5000 faculty positions.

5.  Assembly elections will be held in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh from 11th November, the Election Commission announced on Friday. While Chhattisgarh will have a two-phase polling on 11th November and 19th November, the remaining states will have a single-phase poll. For the first time, voters will have an option of 'none of the above' (NOTA) in these polls where they can decide not to vote any of the candidates in the fray. 

6. President Mukherjee, in his opening remarks at the talks with Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupa, said India attaches great importance to its relations with Belgium and hoped that the two countries strengthen economic ties. President Mukherjee, the first Indian Head of the State to visit Belgium, also thanked the country for its support of India's candidature to a permanent seat in an expanded United Nations Security Council. 

7. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, ICICI Bank today opened skill training academy to provide vocational training to youth from economically weaker section of the society. The vocational training course will provide sustainable livelihood opportunities to the beneficiaries.

8. S. Varadarajan took over charge as chairman and managing director (CMD) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). S.Varadarajan has succeeded R.K. Singh. Prior to his appointment as the CMD, Varadarajan was serving as the Director (finance) of the company.

9. The Indian Railways on 3 October 2013 signed a pact with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) to set up the country's biggest Forged Wheel plant at Lalganj, Raebarelli in Uttar Pradesh. The Plant to be set with an investment of about 1100 crore Rupees will produce one lakh numbers of Forged Wheels per annum in the First phase for Locos and High speed trains.

10. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 3 October 2013 cleared Jet Airways proposed sale of 24 per cent equity to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, paving the way for the biggest ever foreign investment in the Indian aviation sector. Jet-Etihad deal was already approved by SEBI (Securities Exchange Board of India) on 1 October 2013.

11. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irda) has imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh on Barclays Investments and Loans(India) Limited, for violation of certain insurance norms.

12. India unveiled its first indigenously developed vaccine for treating Japanese Encephalitis, a mosquito-borne viral disease that affects the brain. The manufacturer of the vaccine named JENVAC claims that the highly purified inactivated vaccine can be administered during epidemics without the fear of adverse effects. It is available in both single dose and five dose presentations.Japanese Encephalitis, which is prevalent in 171 districts of 19 States, affects mostly children below 15 years.

13. General Vo Nguyen Giap, a key figure in securing Vietnam’s independence and winning the Vietnam War, died at 102. The general had been in hospital for several years because of ill health. Gen. Giap was also known as the initiator of the final offensive against South Vietnam in 1975.

14. Afghanistan Cricket team on 4 October 2013 qualified for its maiden ICC World Cup after defeating Kenya by seven wickets at World Cricket League Championship in Sharjah. With this win Afghanistha also became the 20th team to gain entry into the tournament overall.

15. The pair of India's Sania Mirza and Zimbabwe's Cara Black has entered the women's doubles final of the China Open tennis tournament. In the semi-final played in Beijing today, the pair shocked top seeded Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 12 minutes.

16.  Portugal's Luis Leao Pinto won 9^th Himalaya Bicycle Rally.

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