Current Affairs of 12 May 2015

1. Justice Cyriac Joseph appointed NHRC acting chief
National Human Rights Commission Member Justice Cyriac Joseph was on Monday authorised to act as the Chairperson of the Commission until the appointment of a new Chairperson in place of Justice K.G. Balakrishnan who has completed his tenure.
According to the orders issued by the President, Justice Joseph’s appointment will be effective from Wednesday. Justice Joseph, hailing from Kaiphuza village of Kottayam district in Kerala, was a Judge of the Supreme Court from 2008 to 2012.
New initiatives
Justice Balakrishnan, the former Chief Justice of India, completed his tenure as the sixth and the longest serving NHRC Chairperson on Monday. During his tenure, he was instrumental in charting out several new initiatives towards promotion and protection of human rights in the country.
An NHRC spokesperson said Justice Balakrishnan laid emphasis on increasing the outreach of the Commission to build awareness about human rights.
Starting of open hearings of complaints on the problems of Scheduled Castes and atrocities against them in different States was one of his major initiatives.

2. K Satish Reddy appointed as Chairman of National Safety Council (NSC)
K Satish Reddy, the Chairman of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., was appointed as the Chairman of the National Safety Council (NSC). He was appointed by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment on 11 May 2015.
As the chairman of the NSC, he will oversee its functioning in generating and developing initiatives on Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) at the national level.
He succeeded Venu Srinivasan, the Chairman of Sundaram-Clayton Group, who was appointed to the post in July 2011.
About National Safety Council (NSC)
• Its objective is to generate, develop and sustain a voluntary movement on Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) at the national level.
• The apex non-profit making body was set up by the Union Ministry of Labour on 4 March 1966 and was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950.
• Its headquarters is located in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.

3. Canara Bank launches mega CASA campaign
Canara Bank has recently launched a mega CASA (current account, savings account) campaign in Bengaluru with the CanBank men and women with their logo colour caps flooding the nook and corners of the city to sell their products.
The entire city was divided into 16 clusters covering 173 branches. Each cluster was led by the rank of a General Manager from head office.
Executive directors P S Rawat and Harideesh Kumar spearheaded the campaign along with Bengaluru Metro Circle General Manager Ravindra Bhandary and his team.
Rawat said that the event was a huge success for the bank as it has got a foothold at many places where it was not there before.
Further, he said that the mega CASA campaign will continue till May 23.

4. Asiatic lion population in Gir sanctuary increased to 523: Lion Census report 2015
The number of Asiatic lions in Gir sanctuary of Gujarat increased to 523, according to 2015 Lion census report released in the first week of May 2015. This 14th lion census registered 27 percent increase in the number of Asiatic lions compared to 2010 census which had registered 411 Asiatic lions.
As per recent census, there are 201 female lions, 109 male lions and 213 sub-adults as well as cubs in Gir sanctuary and in other protected areas in Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts of Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
268 lions were sighted in Junagadh district and 44 lions in the Gir-Somnath district while 174 lions were sighted in Amreli district and 37 lions in Bhavnagar districts.The lions’ habitat area almost doubled since 2010 and has considerably increased to 21000 square kilometers.
The 2015 Lion census exercise was carried out from 1 May to 5 May 2015. The lion population was registered using Global Positioning System (GPS) in case of direct sighting or direct contact methods.
The census was conducted by more than 2 thousand persons. It included 600 units of enumerators, government officials, trackers, wildlife experts, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

5. MIDC signed a MoU with SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd to fund MSMEs
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC)  signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd to provide easy finance to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for their growth.
Accordingly, both MIDC and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) Venture Capital jointly created funds of 200 crore rupees. Of the total amount, the MIDC contributed 75 crore rupees, while SIDBI provided the remaining amount of 125 crore rupees.
The reason behind this tie-up of MIDC and SIDBI Venture Capital is to make it easier for MSME to obtain loans from banks for their expansions or various business purposes. The rate of interest at which finance would be provided to the MSMEs is yet to be decided.
The MoU was signed by MIDC CEO Bhushan Gagrani and Ananta P Sarma, MD and CEO of SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd.

6. Indian Army signed MoU with Bank of India on Defence Salary Package
Indian Army  signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of India (BOI) on the Defence Salary Package.The first MoU between BOI and the Indian Army was signed in 2011 and was valid for a period of three years. This revised MoU is customised to suit the requirements of serving soldiers, pensioners and families. Number of additional facilities was incorporated in the revised MoU after concerted efforts.
Highlights of the MoU
• This MoU will benefit a large number of serving and retired Army personnel who own their accounts with BOI.
• It will also provide them an opportunity to access modern banking facilities.
• It includes the standard bundle of free/concessional services including free drafts, free cheque books, free funds transfers to any bank in India through RTGS / NEFT, free ATM cards etc.
• Some additional features of this MoU are that the Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) cover is extended upto 10 lakh rupees from 5 lakh rupees.
• It provides for Air insurance, Home Loan Insurance on Army Welfare housing Organisation (AWHO) for deaths on account of war/external aggression/ terrorist attack for up to 50 lakh rupees.
• It provides applicability of PAI and overdraft facility to pensioners and waiver of merchant service fee (MSF) for transaction on BOI POS Terminal installed at CSD Canteens for BOI Card holders.
• It also has a provision for yearly review of specific features and requests.

7. Hollywood actress Elizabeth Wilson passed away
Veteran Hollywood actress Elizabeth Wilson passed away following age-related illness at New Haven, Connecticut. She was 94. Wilson is survived by her sister Mary Muir Wilson and several nieces and nephews.
Elizabeth Wilson was famously known for her memorable film role as the mother of Dustin Hoffman's character, Benjamin Braddock, in Mike Nichols' 1967 film The Graduate. She made her Broadway debut in 1953 in Picnic.
1. Justice Cyriac Joseph appointed NHRC acting chief
National Human Rights Commission Member Justice Cyriac Joseph was on Monday authorised to act as the Chairperson of the Commission until the appointment of a new Chairperson in place of Justice K.G. Balakrishnan who has completed his tenure.
According to the orders issued by the President, Justice Joseph’s appointment will be effective from Wednesday. Justice Joseph, hailing from Kaiphuza village of Kottayam district in Kerala, was a Judge of the Supreme Court from 2008 to 2012.
New initiatives
Justice Balakrishnan, the former Chief Justice of India, completed his tenure as the sixth and the longest serving NHRC Chairperson on Monday. During his tenure, he was instrumental in charting out several new initiatives towards promotion and protection of human rights in the country.
An NHRC spokesperson said Justice Balakrishnan laid emphasis on increasing the outreach of the Commission to build awareness about human rights.
Starting of open hearings of complaints on the problems of Scheduled Castes and atrocities against them in different States was one of his major initiatives.

2. K Satish Reddy appointed as Chairman of National Safety Council (NSC)
K Satish Reddy, the Chairman of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., was appointed as the Chairman of the National Safety Council (NSC). He was appointed by the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment on 11 May 2015.
As the chairman of the NSC, he will oversee its functioning in generating and developing initiatives on Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) at the national level.
He succeeded Venu Srinivasan, the Chairman of Sundaram-Clayton Group, who was appointed to the post in July 2011.
About National Safety Council (NSC)
• Its objective is to generate, develop and sustain a voluntary movement on Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) at the national level.
• The apex non-profit making body was set up by the Union Ministry of Labour on 4 March 1966 and was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950.
• Its headquarters is located in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.

3. Canara Bank launches mega CASA campaign
Canara Bank has recently launched a mega CASA (current account, savings account) campaign in Bengaluru with the CanBank men and women with their logo colour caps flooding the nook and corners of the city to sell their products.
The entire city was divided into 16 clusters covering 173 branches. Each cluster was led by the rank of a General Manager from head office.
Executive directors P S Rawat and Harideesh Kumar spearheaded the campaign along with Bengaluru Metro Circle General Manager Ravindra Bhandary and his team.
Rawat said that the event was a huge success for the bank as it has got a foothold at many places where it was not there before.
Further, he said that the mega CASA campaign will continue till May 23.

4. Asiatic lion population in Gir sanctuary increased to 523: Lion Census report 2015
The number of Asiatic lions in Gir sanctuary of Gujarat increased to 523, according to 2015 Lion census report released in the first week of May 2015. This 14th lion census registered 27 percent increase in the number of Asiatic lions compared to 2010 census which had registered 411 Asiatic lions.
As per recent census, there are 201 female lions, 109 male lions and 213 sub-adults as well as cubs in Gir sanctuary and in other protected areas in Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts of Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
268 lions were sighted in Junagadh district and 44 lions in the Gir-Somnath district while 174 lions were sighted in Amreli district and 37 lions in Bhavnagar districts.The lions’ habitat area almost doubled since 2010 and has considerably increased to 21000 square kilometers.
The 2015 Lion census exercise was carried out from 1 May to 5 May 2015. The lion population was registered using Global Positioning System (GPS) in case of direct sighting or direct contact methods.
The census was conducted by more than 2 thousand persons. It included 600 units of enumerators, government officials, trackers, wildlife experts, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

5. MIDC signed a MoU with SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd to fund MSMEs
The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC)  signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd to provide easy finance to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for their growth.
Accordingly, both MIDC and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) Venture Capital jointly created funds of 200 crore rupees. Of the total amount, the MIDC contributed 75 crore rupees, while SIDBI provided the remaining amount of 125 crore rupees.
The reason behind this tie-up of MIDC and SIDBI Venture Capital is to make it easier for MSME to obtain loans from banks for their expansions or various business purposes. The rate of interest at which finance would be provided to the MSMEs is yet to be decided.
The MoU was signed by MIDC CEO Bhushan Gagrani and Ananta P Sarma, MD and CEO of SIDBI Venture Capital Ltd.

6. Indian Army signed MoU with Bank of India on Defence Salary Package
Indian Army  signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of India (BOI) on the Defence Salary Package.The first MoU between BOI and the Indian Army was signed in 2011 and was valid for a period of three years. This revised MoU is customised to suit the requirements of serving soldiers, pensioners and families. Number of additional facilities was incorporated in the revised MoU after concerted efforts.
Highlights of the MoU
• This MoU will benefit a large number of serving and retired Army personnel who own their accounts with BOI.
• It will also provide them an opportunity to access modern banking facilities.
• It includes the standard bundle of free/concessional services including free drafts, free cheque books, free funds transfers to any bank in India through RTGS / NEFT, free ATM cards etc.
• Some additional features of this MoU are that the Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) cover is extended upto 10 lakh rupees from 5 lakh rupees.
• It provides for Air insurance, Home Loan Insurance on Army Welfare housing Organisation (AWHO) for deaths on account of war/external aggression/ terrorist attack for up to 50 lakh rupees.
• It provides applicability of PAI and overdraft facility to pensioners and waiver of merchant service fee (MSF) for transaction on BOI POS Terminal installed at CSD Canteens for BOI Card holders.
• It also has a provision for yearly review of specific features and requests.

7. Hollywood actress Elizabeth Wilson passed away
Veteran Hollywood actress Elizabeth Wilson passed away following age-related illness at New Haven, Connecticut. She was 94. Wilson is survived by her sister Mary Muir Wilson and several nieces and nephews.
Elizabeth Wilson was famously known for her memorable film role as the mother of Dustin Hoffman's character, Benjamin Braddock, in Mike Nichols' 1967 film The Graduate. She made her Broadway debut in 1953 in Picnic.

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