Chhattisgarh CM, Kangana Ranaut launch smartphone distribution scheme

  • Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh, and actress Kangana Ranaut, launched a smartphone distribution scheme named Mobile Tihar under the Sanchar Kranti Yojna (SKY).
  • The scheme is for distribution of smartphones to women and students and will cover more than 50 Lakh beneficiaries.
  • As part of the scheme, 556 new mobile towers will be installed across the state.

Reliance beats TCS to become India’s highest-valued company

  • Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has just beaten Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to become the most valued company in India by market capitalisation.
  • Reliance had a market capitalisation of Rs.7.46 trillion while TCS’s market cap fell to Rs.7.39 trillion.
  • However, earlier this year TCS beat Reliance Industries in the race to a $100 billion market capitalisation.

Common Service Centers to implement Ayushman Bharat scheme

  • Common Service Center (CSC) and National Health Accounts (NHA) signed an MoU to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme through 3 lakh Common Service Centers (CSCs) across the country.
  • Ayushman Bharat is National Health Protection Scheme. It will cover over 10 crore poor vulnerable families, providing coverage of up to 5 lakh rupees (per family per year).
  • According to the MoU, a beneficiary will have to visit an CSC to get check his/her entitlement for the Ayushman Bharat scheme. They will get a printed card from the CSC, which they can use at hospitals to claim the benefits under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Government imposes 25% safeguard duty on import of solar cells

  • The government has imposed a safeguard duty on solar cell imports from China and Malaysia for two years.
  • The aim is to protect domestic players from steep rise in the inbound shipments in solar panels.
  • It will be set at 25% for the period of July 30, 2018 to July 29, 2019; 20% for the July 30, 2019 to January 29, 2020 period; and 15% for the January 30, 2020 to July 29, 2020 period.
  • There has been a significant increase in imports of solar cells in absolute terms.
  • India has produced 842 MW solar cells in 2017-18.
  • Imports of solar cells has jumped to 9,790 MW in 2017-18 from 1,275 MW in 2014-15.

US gives India STA-1 status, will ease export controls for high-tech product sales

  • The United States has eased export controls for high-technology product sales to India.
  • For this, the US has elevated India’s status to a Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) country.
  • With this, the US has granted India the same access as NATO allies, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
  • India is the only South Asian country to feature on the STA-1 list.

India Post Payments Bank to start operations in August 2018 with 650 branches

  • India Post Payments Bank will start operations with 650 branches and around 17 crore accounts in August 2018.
  • The RBI has given clearance to the IPPB after testing its entire system.
  • The IPPB is the third entity to receive payments bank permit after Airtel and Paytm.
  • Payments banks can accept deposits up to Rs 1 lakh per account from individuals and small businesses.
  • The India Post Payments Bank will have 3,250 access points co-located at post offices, and around 11,000 gramin dak sevaks (in rural areas) and postmen (in urban areas) who will provide doorstep banking services.

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