Read Current Affairs Today February 22 2018. All Information is updated with important news for upcoming exams from areas like sports, national, International, states, defence and more. Read for daily updates to improve your performance in government job exams.
EPFO Dept. Reduced interest rate to 8.55 p.c. for 2017-18
EPFO on last Wednesday has made reductions in the interest rate paid from earlier 8.65 per cent to new 8.55 percent. The new reduction in interest rate by EPFO will effect more than 6 crore subscribers of country. This is the second consecutive year when the reductions have been made by the department. Earlier department had also reduced interest rate in 2016-17 to 8.65% from earlier 8.80% in 2015-16.
As per the EPFO department, it has paid a surplus of Rs 695 crore at a rate of 8.65% for last fiscal year and this time the department has decided to pay 8.55% interest rate according to which surplus of Rs 586 crore will be paid for fiscal year 2017-18.
India ranks 81st in global corruption perception index
In the latest global corruption perception index for 2017 performed on total 180 countries of world, India has been ranked 81st place. The index was released by Transparency International. India was also named among worst offenders for graft and press freedom in the Asia Pacific region. India’s position is almost same as compared to 2016 survey during which India was placed at 79th place out of 176 countries.
The countries are scored from 0 to 100. Zero means highly corrupt country whereas 100 means very clean country free of corruption. India got a score of 40.
Parivartan scheme Haryana
Haryana state government has launched Parivartan scheme in the state to address ten major issues of state in 46 development blocks. CM Manohar Lal Khatter while launched the scheme also selected 46 top officials of state from IAS, IFS and IPS cadres. Each of these officials will be allotted one block each.
Below are the 10 areas included in the Parivartan scheme:
Facilitation of financing, making agriculture profitable and sustainable, improving health services, implementing Swachh Bharat, decongesting market areas, engaging the youth, checking air pollution, ensuring availability of identity-related services, effective policing, and ensuring road order and conduct.
Google Launches Google Pay To Take On Apple Pay
World technology giant Google has launched its much awaited app Google Pay to take on Apple Pay. The new app from Google is the combination of its two apps: Google Wallet and Android Pay. The new app offer much more facilities such as ability to pay at checkout counters with a smart-phone or pay for public transportation. As per Google, the app will be loaded with more features in future to make it more useful for users.
Kerala makes vaccination compulsory for school admissions
State government of Kerala has made vaccination compulsory for children to get admission in schools of state from next academic year. As per the rules it will be compulsory for parents to show details that the shots are given to their child at the time of admission. State health minister KK Shailaja released the health policy draft in the wake of stiff protest from some communities in Kerala against the vaccination drive of government.
India Successfully Conducted Night Trial Of Prithvi-II Missile
India has successfully tested the indigenously built Prithvi-II Missile in the night. The night trial of nuclear capable surface-to-surface missile was performed from a mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur by Army. The missile comes with a strike range of 350KM.
Uttar Pradesh Government Signs Pact With Amazon India For Khadi Products Sale
Uttar Pradesh’s Khadi and Village Industries Board has came with signing a pact with Amazon India to sell khadi products online. As per the MoU, Amazon will train and educate khadi artisans from rural areas on how to sell their products through the online store of Amazon. The products such as khadi shirts, kurtas, dhotis, towels and gourmet food will be available under the brand “UP Khadi”. These products made from khadi are in huge demand in recent years in India.
Telangana signs agreement with Taiwan for better technology partnership
Telangana state government has signed an agreement with Taiwan’s Taoyuan city for better partnership in technology. The memorandum of understanding was singed by IT Minister K T Rama Rao and principal secretary Jayesh Ranjan with Robert Huang, Director of the Board of Taiwan company at World IT Congress 2018 at HICC.