India can surpass 7.5% growth rate: Jaitley
(i) India’s 7.5 per cent economic growth rate is not its “best potential growth rate” and there is “restlessness” in the Narendra Modi-led government to boost economic growth and set higher GDP targets in the coming years, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.(ii) Predicting an 8 per cent growth this year, he said the government will set higher GDP growth targets in the future.
(iii) “I think our growth rate at the end of this year should certainly be around 8 per cent. (In) Future years, I am keeping my fingers crossed, our targets are going to be higher,” he said.
South Korean lawmakers approve new premier(i) South Korea’s ruling party-controlled legislation on Thursday approved President Park Geun-hye’s choice for prime minster, ending a lengthy merry-go-round at the country’s No. 2 job caused by political wrangling and corruption scandals.
(ii) The National Assembly on Thursday approved the appointment of Hwang Kyo-ahn by a vote of 156-120.
(iii) Lee Wan-koo in February had replaced Chung Hong-won who stepped down over the government’s criticised handling of a ferry disaster that killed more than 300 people last year.
(iv) South Korea’s executive power is concentrated in the President, but the Prime Minister leads the country if the President becomes incapacitated.
Mary Kom to be chief guest for Yoga event in Dubai
(i) Indian Olympic medallist boxer M.C. Mary Kom will be the chief guest for the Yoga event, which is being organised by Indian Consulate in Dubai, on the occasion of first ever International Yoga day on June 21.(ii) Five-time World Boxing Champion Mary Kom will join more than 15,000 United Arab Emirates participants and more than 100 nationalities during this event, to be held at Al Wasl Football Club, Dubai.
(iii) The sessions will be led by Indian yoga guru A.G. Mohan, who is also an author and co-founder of Svastha Yoga and Ayurveda in India.
India third in global doping report for 2013 by WADA
(i) India may be considered a sporting minnow but in terms of doping by its athletes, it has been ranked third behind Russia and Turkey in a World Anti-Doping Agency Report for 2013 with as many as 91 from the country testing positive for banned substances in that year.
(ii) According to the 2013 Anti-Doping Rule Violations Report released by the WADA on June 15.
(iii) Russia has maximum number of dope offenders with 212 testing positive while the figures for Turkey and India were 155 and 91 respectively. Of the 91 Indians, 20 were women athletes.
(iv) "WADA is pleased to provide the most comprehensive set of doping statistics to-date. This new ADRV Report, when combined with the Annual Testing Figures Report, will be of value to the anti-doping community’s efforts to protect clean athletes in every country around the world,” WADA Director General David Howman said.
HDFC Bank launches 10-second personal loan disbursement scheme
(i) Country’s second-largest private sector lender, HDFC Bank on Thursday launched a 10-second paperless instant loan plan for its existing customers.(ii) “HDFC Bank will now disburse personal loans to its customers in just 10 seconds. With this product, existing customers will have a pre-approved loan amount available to them 24x7,” the bank said in a statement.
(iii) The entire process of availing the loan is completely paperless, and users can simply log into their bank account via net-banking or mobile banking and avail of this loan at a click.
(iv) “It is like having a real cheque in one’s virtual wallet and is part of our mission of enabling customer delight by creating simple and speedy banking solutions that are available at a click.
WaterHealth to soon cover entire Bengaluru
(i) WaterHealth India, a leader in running decentralised water purification systems will cover the about 12 million population living in the limits of Brihat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, said WaterHealth International’s Chief Operating Officer Vikas Shah.
(ii) Currently, WaterHealth serves an estimated five million population across India, but were moving forward to achieving an audacious goal of serving 100 million consumers by the year 2020, he said, in reply to a question.
(iii) He explained that similar agreements with large municipal bodies and other projects were in the pipeline and hence the confidence.
Officials launch ‘Krishi Abhiyan’ in Mandya
(i) Members of the Zilla Panchayat and officials of Mandya District Administration launched the State Government’s ambitious ‘Krishi Abhiyan’ programme, an extensive awareness campaign that will take agricultural experts to farmers’ fields, covering the entire district here on Thursday.(ii) ZP vice-president Chandrakala, standing committee president Divyashree, Mandya Deputy Commissioner M.N. Ajay Nagabhushan, Joint Director of Agriculture Rajasulochana and others inaugurated the campaign outside the DC office.
(iii) During the programme the officials, scientists and agricultural experts would visit the different hoblis centres across the district to provide consultation to farmers.
(iv) The officials will also explain the importance of various issues including soil testing and the mechanised farming during the campaign.
