1. Govt. orders probe against Maggi – 15 day ban on Maggi’s sale in Delhi

(i) The centre has filed a complaint with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) charging that Nestle has engaged in unfair trade practices in the sale of Maggie noodles.

(ii) The Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) – the main regulator in the country – has taken samples of Maggi noodles from different states for testing.

(iii) At present, the Delhi government has banned the sale of Maggi for the next 15 days and asked Nestle to withdraw stock. Army canteens too have set aside their Maggi stock until further developments. 

2. OECD projects India’s GDP to rise 7.3% in 2015 

(i) In its latest forecast, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has pegged India’s GDP to rise 7.3% in 2015.

(ii) It further added that it expects a boost in investments given the government’s effort to improve ease of doing business in the country and the ‘Make in India’ campaign.

(iii) It also projected that the economy could grow over 8 percent if reforms involving Goods and Services Tax, Land and Labour Laws, etc. were approved by the government.

3. 25 – 30% share of urban local bodies in state’s share of GST 

(i) The Ministry of Urban Development has asked for the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which the government plans to roll out in 2016, to subsume 25 – 30 percent share for all urban local bodies in the state’s share of GST. 

(ii) The GST is expected to be divided between the centre and states based on a mutually acceptable formula. But the Ministry of Urban Development has been arguing that urban local bodies will have to deal with a huge fiscal gap once local body tax, octroi and other taxes are scrapped .

(iii) The Empowered Committee of state finance ministers is to hold a meeting today at Delhi to discuss the constitutional amendment bill.

4. India and US renew Defence Framework Agreement (DFA)

(i) Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter signed documents on Wednesday to renew the 10-year Defence Framework Agreement.

(ii) The two countries also finalised two project agreements on the joint development of Mobile Electric Hybrid Power Sources and the Next Generation Protective Ensembles. The two projects are among the four pathfinder projects.

(iii) India and US have agreed to expedite discussions on co-operation on jet engines, aircraft carrier design and construction, among other areas. 

5. India and Belarus sign six agreements

(i) President Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a two-day visit to Belarus, inked six Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and carried out discussions over boosting trade and co-operation between the two countries in the field of education and mining.

(ii) The MoUs signed between the two countries were in the field of Textiles, Standardisation and between Prasar Bharati and National State TV and Radio Company of Belarus (to cooperate in Broadcasting). In addition, another MoU on bilateral cooperation was signed between SEBI and the Ministry of Finance, Belarus. The two governments also signed a protocol, amending the agreement for the Avoidance of Double taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income and property.

6. French Open – Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal

(i) Novak Djokovic stunned the nine-time champion Rafael Nadal 7 – 5, 6 – 3, 6 – 1 in their French Open quarter final match. This was only the second loss for Nadal in all French Open matches. Nadal’s French open record now stands at 70 – 2 (70 matches won, 2 lost). Robin Soderling is the only other man to have defeated Nadal at the French Open (4th round, 2009). 

(ii) Djokovic is now set to face Andy Murray in the semi finals.

(iii) In the Women’s Singles, world number one Serena Williams defeated Italian Sara Errani to reach the semi-finals. 

7. Inderjeet Singh wins gold in Men’s shot put at the Asian Athletic Championship 

(i) The 21st Asian Athletic Games, being held at Wuhan, began on a good note for India with Inderjeet Singh winning a gold medal in Men’s shot put on Wednesday.

(ii) He clinched the gold by heaving the iron ball to a new record of 20.41 m. Chang Ming Huang of China won the silver with a throw of 19.56 m. 

To get fresh updates about different exams on your Facebook & Twitter timelines, subscribe to our pages created specifically for them. We will post only exam specific links on these pages:

Bank PO:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pagalguybankpo

Twitter:https://twitter.com/PaGaLGuYBankPO

SSC – CGL:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pagalguy-SSC-CGL-Others/879667042056262

Twitter:https://twitter.com/pagalguyssc

UPSC:

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pagalguy-UPSC/951926044840262

Twitter:https://twitter.com/PaGaLGuYUPSC