Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 29 April 2015

::International:

Sri Lankan Parliament marking the beginning of new chapter in the contemporary political history has adopted the 19th Constitutional Amendment with an overwhelming majority. Under the new amendment the legislation envisages the dilution of many powers of Executive Presidency, which had been in force since 1978.

Key facts of the amendment

Reduction in the terms of President and Parliament from six years to five years;
Re-introduction of a two-term limit that a person can have as President;
The power of President to dissolve Parliament only after four and a half years
The revival of Constitutional Council and the establishment of independent commissions.

Raja Rajeswari, the first India-born woman to be appointed a judge in New York City, was sworn-in by Mayor Bill de Blasio. Ms. Rajeswari (43), who immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager, previously worked with the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office in several bureaus including Criminal Court, Narcotics, Supreme Court, and the Sex Crimes Special Victims Bureau, where she last served as Deputy Chief.
Ms. Rajeswari took the oath of office along with 27 other judges appointed earlier this month to the Family Court, Criminal Court, and Civil Court, which are part of the New York State Unified Court System. “To ensure New Yorkers have access to a fair, equitable justice system, we need judges who are qualified, honest and reflective of the people of this city,” said Mayor de Blasio.

Siddhartha Gigoo has won the best story from Asia award at the 2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Shortlist for his story titled “ The Umbrella Man ”. The award, picked four writers from 40,000 entries that were received from 53 countries of the Commonwealth.
The other winners in various categories are: Lesley Nneka Arimah from Nigeria for “ Light ”; Jonathan Tel from the United Kingdom for “ The Human Phonograph ”; Kevin Jared Hosein from Trinidad and Tobago for “ The King of Settlement 4 ”), Mary Rokonadravu from Fiji for “ Famished Eels ”.
The regional winners will compete for the overall winner’s prize, which will be announced in London on September 8. The Commonwealth Short Story Prize Shortlist is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000-5,000 words). Regional winners receive £2,500, while the overall winner receives £5,000.

Parliament has passed Regional Rural Banks (Amendment) Bill, 2014. It was first passed in Lok Sabha on December 22, 2014 and later in Rajya Sabha on April 28, 2015. This bill amends Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 and aims to strengthen the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and deepen their financial inclusion.

Key facts about RRB Amendment Bill 2014

Sponsor banks: The Act provides for RRBs to be sponsored by banks. These sponsor banks are required to (i) subscribe to the share capital of RRBs, (ii) train their personnel, and (iii) provide managerial and financial assistance for the first five years. The Bill removes the five year limit, thus allowing such assistance to continue beyond this duration.
Authorised capital: The Act provides for the authorised capital of each RRB to be Rs five crore. It does not permit the authorised capital to be reduced below Rs 25 lakh. The Bill seeks to raise the amount of authorised capital to Rs 2,000 crore and states that it cannot be reduced below Rs one crore.
Issued capital: The Act allows the central government to specify the capital issued by a RRB, between Rs 25 lakh and Rs one crore. The Bill requires that the capital issued should be at least Rs one crore.