Current Affairs 18th July 2014

Current Affairs 18th July 2014

Updated : 18-Jul-2014

Current Affairs 18th July 2014 - Important Points
Current Affairs 18th July 2014 - Details
Mr. Om Prakash Kohli sworn in as Gujarat Governor
Mr. Om Prakash Kohli was sworn in as Gujarat Governor at a function in Gandhinagar on 16th July 2014. He succeeded Dr. Kamla Beniwal. Dr. Kamla Beniwal was transferred to Mizoram by the President of India. Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court Bhaskar Bhattacharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Kohli. Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Vajubhai Vala and Ministers of the State Cabinet were present at this occasion.

Mr. Kohli, a former Rajya Sabha member, is a veteran leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. A former chief of BJP’s Delhi unit in 2009, Kohli has been associated with BJP since his student days and was made the president of the party's student wing, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) before becoming the president of the Delhi University Teachers Association.
For over three-decades, he has served as a lecturer at Hansraj College and Deshbandhu College of Delhi University. He retired from service as a reader in 1994.
SC issues notice to states, UTs on plea on passive Euthanasia
The five-judge Constitution bench of Supreme Court on 16 July 2014 issued notice to the State governments and Union Territories (UTs) to submit their responses over legalising passive euthanasia. State Government and UTs have to submit their responses to the notice till the 17 September 2014. However Centre strongly opposed the petition saying it is a form of suicide which cannot be allowed in the country.
The five-judge Constitution bench consisted of Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha, and Justice J.S. Khehar, J. Chelameswar, A.K. Sikri and Rohinton F. Nariman.
Note :
The notice was issued by the SC bench on a PIL filed by Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Common Cause. In the PIL Common Cause had reasoned that, if there is medical expert opinion that a person treatment is beyond from being curable has reached the point of no return, then the person should be given the right to refuse the treatment and die, if the person gives a living will.

RBI released Draft Guidelines for Licensing of "Payments Banks and Small Banks"
On 17th July 2014, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued draft guidelines for licensing of payments banks and small banks. Both these banks will be created with a common objective of furthering financial inclusion by adding value through adapting technological solutions to lowers costs.
Small banks will provide a whole suite of basic banking products, such as, deposits and supply of credit, but in a limited area of operation
Payments banks will provide a limited range of products, such as, acceptance of demand deposits and remittances of funds, but will have a widespread network of access points particularly to remote areas, either through their own branch network or through Business Correspondents (BCs) or through networks provided by others.
The final guidelines will be issued after the process of receiving suggestions will be completed. RBI will also start inviting application for setting up the Payment and Small Banks after receiving the feedbacks on the drafted guidelines.
The issuance of guidelines are the follow up the to the set of guidelines issued for licensing of new banks in the private sector in February 2013. On 2 April 2014, RBI gave in-principle approval to Bandhan and IDFC Ltd to set up new banks in the private sector within a period of 18 months.
India to host next IBSA summit in 2015
India will be hosting the 7th IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) Summit in 2015, it was announced following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Jacob Zuma in Brazil. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the interaction between the BRICS leadership and leaders from Latin American countries.
Apart from this, it was also agreed to hold India Africa Forum meet in New Delhi in December 2014.
Do you Know ?

IBSA is a trilateral initiative amongst three different societies of three different continents in India, Brazil and South Africa. It was formed with an aim to promote South-South cooperation and exchange of like-minded countries, committed to inclusive sustainable development. The group was formed on 6 June 2003 with the adoption of the Brasilia Declaration followed by a meet of foreign ministers of the three countries in Brasilia.
Malaysian Airlines plane Boeing 777 with 295 people on board shot down
On 17th July 2014, In a tragic incident, Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane, MH-17, was shot down over war-torn eastern Ukraine near the Russian border. Plane was flying at an altitude of 10000 meters (33000 feet).
All passengers along with crew members of the plane died. The plane might have been shot down by the terrorists by a Buk surface-to-air missile system. The Buk missile system can fire missiles up to an altitude of 22000 meters (72000 feet).