Axis MF launches Children’s Gift Fund
1.Axis Mutual Fund today announced its new fund offer, the Axis Children’s Gift Fund. This is Axis’ first goal-based investment option, the MF house said. Investments can only be made for a minor, represented by a parent or guardian.
2.According to the company, such an investment would be better than taking an education loan in the future for a child’s education. The NFO comes with an optional lock-in period till the child turns 18 years old.
Total Telephone User Base Rises to 1.03 Billion in September
1.Total telephone subscriber base increased marginally to 1.0226 billion at the end of September on the back of rise in wireless users even as the fixed line base continued to fall, Trai.
2.As per data shared by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), the total telephone base in the country stood at 1.0141 billion at the end of August.
3.The wireless subscribers increased to 996.6 million at the end of September from 988.1 million in August while fixed line base declined to 25.9 million from 26.0 million.
PRASAD and Swadesh Darshan schemes of Ministry of Tourism
1.PRASAD (National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive) and SWADSH DARSHAN schemes of the Union Ministry of Tourism were in news in the second week of November 2015. The two initiatives, along with Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs), were launched to achieve 1 per cent share of international tourist arrivals by 2016-17 from the present 0.68 per cent.
2.Both the schemes are under implementation in mission mode and aimed at developing world-class tourism related infrastructure.
3.PRASAD’s objective is to augment religious and spiritual tourism in the country as India is a land of many religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and Sufism.
Governing Council of NIIF constituted under the chairmanship of Finance Minister
1.Union Ministry of Finance on 13 November 2015 constituted the Governing Council (GC) of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). The GC will be chaired by the Union Finance Minister and the members included Secretary: DEA, Secretary: Financial Services, Arundhati Bhattacharya, Hemendra Kothari,T V Mohandas Pai.
2.The GC was mandated to consider approval of guidelines for Investment of Trust property/Corpus of NIIF and parameters for appointment and performance of investment managers/ advisors among others.
Global cancer summit on Nov 18-20
1.Global Cancer Summit, a three-day programme focussed on understanding and suggesting strategies to tackle cancer, will be organised from November 18-20 at the Indian Institute of Science.
2.The event is organsied by BioGenesis – the Euro-Indian Health Cluster (India), Global Cancer Foundation and supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research. iii. The conclave is expected to have 700 experts in the field of oncology and related sectors and is dedicated to the late US senator Ted Kennedy.
World Bank, AP ink $75-m credit deal for rural project
1.The Centre, Andhra Pradesh and the World Bank have inked a $75 million (₹500 crore) credit deal for the Andhra Pradesh Rural Inclusive Growth Project. The project seeks to enhance agricultural incomes of small and marginal farmers and ensure increased access to services related to health, nutrition, sanitation and social entitlements.
2.It will focus on increasing economic opportunities for small and marginal farmers, especially from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) households in the 150 most backward mandals.
3.In addition, it will invest in developing a network of social enterprises for food, nutrition, sanitation and other social enterprises which operate at community and district level. The agreement was signed by Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary (Department of Economic Affairs), Ministry of Finance; Sunitha Kolaventy, Finance Secretary, Andhra Pradesh; and Onno Ruhl,
FIFA banned Nepal football Chief Ganesh Thapa for 10 years for corruption
1.FIFA, the governing body of football, on 16 November 2015 banned Nepal’s football chief Ganesh Thapa for 10 years for corruption. The body also banned the president of the Laos federation Viphet Sihachakr for two years for bribery.
2.In the context of the 2009 and 2011 elections at the Asian Football Confederation congress, FIFA accused Thapa of committing various acts of misconduct, which includes the solicitation and acceptance of cash payments from another football official, for personal and family gain.
3.FIFA’s ethics committee also stated that he had specifically been bribed over elections for the FIFA executive committee in 2009 and 2011.