CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH /20/2015

  CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH /20/2015

  NSE LAUNCHED NEW INDEX:

  National Stock Exchange launched a new, “Quality30” index.

 “Quality 30” index is launched to capture the performance of stock selected on quality parameters.

  30 Quality companies will be choosen to be listed on the index from a pool of 100 large and liquid       companies listed on the NSE.   

  About NSE-> National Stock Exchange is the leading stock exchange of India, located in Mumbai       since 1992.

  NSE is world’s 12^th largest stock exchange.

  MD & CEO of NSE-> Chitra Ramkrishn

   

INDIA SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRED ASTRA:

India  successfully test-fired its indigenously developed ASTRA missile.

ASTRA missile is a beyond-visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile.

ASTRA missile was successfully test-fired at the integrated test range (ITR), Chandipur in Odisha.

NOTE->ASTRA in India’s first BVR air-to-air missile. Astra is all-weather missile indigenously designed and developed by DRDO.

LOK SABHA PASSED REPEALING AND AMENDING BILL, 2014:

Lok sabha has recently passed the repealing and Amending Bill, 2014.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the bill in LOK Sabh

Both Houses of Parliament pass Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill;Rajya Sabha also approves Coal Mines Special Provisions Bill.

Parliament has passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, with the Lok Sabha adopting it today. Among other things, the Bill will regulate the mining sector in the country and specifies the requirement for obtaining and granting mining leases for mining operations.  Minister for Mines, Narendra Singh Tomar said the bill will bring transparency in the mining sector.

This amendment bill will bring a revolutionary change in the mining sector. Apart from bringing transparency in the allotment of mines, it will also eradicate corruption. Investment will increase, arbitrariness will end, Industry will be rejuvenated and will create employment.

Cabinet approves 33 per cent reservation for women in police forces of Union Territories and Capital Delhi.

Union Cabinet has approved 33 percent reservation for women in police forces of Union Territories including Delhi Police. A decision in this regard was taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi this evening.

According to an official release, the reservation will be applicable in each category of SC, ST, OBC and others in direct recruitment in non-gazetted posts from constables to sub-inspector.  The reservation will be available to women against all such vacancies existing on the date of issue of the order after Cabinet approval and vacancies arising thereafter.  It will help in augmenting the representation of women in the police forces so as to make the police more gender sensitive.

In the ICC Cricket World Cup : Australia defeat Pakistan by six wickets, to face India in the second semifinal on Thursday;  Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi take retirement from One Day International cricket.

Bill on Black money stashed abroad with stricter norms introduced in Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha today approved the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2015, in a division of voting. The bill was adopted with 107 members in favour and 62 against. Barring Congress and Left, all parties supported the bill. JD(U) members staged a walkout before the voting. The bill will replace the ordinance promulgated first in October and then in December last year. Earlier, after its passage by the Lok Sabha on 4th of this month,  it was  taken up in the Rajya Sabha where the House decided to refer it to  Select Committee.  The Committee which was mandated to submit its report within a week’s time, had submitted it on Wednesday.

It will cover 204 coal blocks, which were canceled by Supreme Court