Current Affair 3 June 2016

1. BSE gets RBI nod to start online bidding platform for SGBs

i. BSE, Asia’s oldest bourse, has received the Reserve Bank approval to start an online bidding platform for Sovereign Gold Bond scheme.
ii. The exchange plans to offer an online bidding platform for collecting bids from members and their clients for the SGB issue.
iii. This bidding platform is part of the iBBS (Internet-based Book Building System) — exchange’s existing web-based online bidding platform for IPO, Offer for Sale, and offer to buy issues.
iv. SGBs — government securities denominated in grams of gold — offer an alternative to holding gold in physical form.
v. The bond is issued by RBI on behalf of government and investors can apply for the bonds at the price as disseminated by the central bank.

2. CPI (M) nominee Sreeramakrishnan elected Kerala Speaker

i. P Sreeramakrishnan of the CPI (M) that leads the Left Democratic Front (LDF) was elected Speaker of the Kerala Assembly.
ii. He polled two additional votes even as the Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate V.P. Sajeendran secured one vote less in a pattern that indicated interesting alignments.
iii. Pro tem Speaker S Sarma did not vote while that of Independent PC George was invalidated due to technical reasons.

3. India and Tunisia sign MoUs for co-operation in IT, handicrafts sector

i. India and Tunisia have signed two MoUs for co-operation in Information Technology and promotion of traditional handicrafts.
ii. The MoUs were signed after the delegation level talks between the two countries in the presence of Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid in Tunis.
iii. The two sides also discussed the issue of spreading tide of terrorism and decided to enhance co-operation in counter terrorism. Mr. Ansari also invited 350 Tunisian citizens to India for training in different institutes over the next five years. 

4. India joins The Hague Code of Conduct

i. India has joined the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC) to further strengthen global non proliferation.
ii. However, India has made it clear that it will not have any impact on the national security as well as country’s missile programmes. 
iii. The HCoC is a voluntary legally non-binding multilateral body aimed at preventing the spread of ballistic missiles that can deliver weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

5. India-US ink MoU to boost energy security, clean energy cooperation

i. India and United States have signed an MoU to enhance cooperation on energy security, clean energy and climate change in New Delhi with an aim to promote sustainable growth.
ii. It was signed by India's Power Secretary P.K. Pujari and US Ambassador to India Richard Verma.
iii. Under the MoU, the priority initiative are - US-India Energy smart Cities Partnership, greening the grid, promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE) expansion. It also includes energy efficiency including space cooling, energy security, renewable energy, clean energy finance and US-India partnership for Climate Resilience etc.

6. NK Chari is MD of State Bank of Mysore

i. Mr. NK Chari has been appointed Managing Director of the State Bank of Mysore (SBM) with an immediate effect from 30th May. 
ii. Prior to his new position, he was the Deputy Managing Director of State Bank of India. He has joined State Bank of India as a Probationary Officer in September 1978 and also served as the Chief Operating Officer in National Banking Group, the retail branch network of State Bank of India.
iii. This development comes on the back of the proposed merger of SBM with SBI.

7. Dr. R Seetharaman conferred with 2016 Green Economy Visionary Award

i. A Qatar-based Indian banker Dr. R Seetharaman has been awarded with the 2016 ‘Green Economy Visionary award’.
ii. He has been awarded with this award for his contribution in environment-friendly activities and thereby promoting green economy for nearly two decades. 
iii. He received the award from Mohammed Jarrah Al-Sabah, Chairman of Union of Arab Banks at the 2016 Union of Arab Banks (UAB) International Banking Summit held in Rome.

8. Actor-director Balu Anand dies of heart attack

i. Tamil actor and director Balu Anand died following a massive heart attack at his house in Kalampalayam. He was 62 year old.
ii. Anand has acted in some 100 films and directed a few Tamil movies.
iii. Sathyaraj-starrrer 'Annanagar First street' and Vijayakant-starrer 'Nane Raja Naane Mantri,' were some of his hit films.

9. Argentina retain top spot in FIFA rankings

i. Argentina (1st) and Belgium (2nd) continue to hold on to the top two spots in the latest FIFA rankings, with Colombia rounding up the top three.
ii. World champions Germany are fourth in the table with European Championship holders Spain now sixth. 
iii. India have fallen down one spot to 163, while England have been replaced in the top 10 by Austria.