Hinduja Global signs on Anirban Lahiri as brand ambassador Hinduja Global signs on Anirban Lahiri as brand ambassador

Hinduja Global Solutions Ltd (HGS) has roped Asia’s No. 2 golfer Anirban Lahiri as its brand ambassador.

• In the last few years, HGS has been involved in various worldwide golfing events as a sponsor and participant, including the Ryder Cup in the US and CG Cup in Dubai.

Canara Bank CSR drive

Karnataka Headquartered Canara Bank has tied up with the Navodhan Charitable Foundation in its efforts for timely detection of cancer.

• It has helped the foundation to acquire a mobile cancer detection unit fitted with the best facilities as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) drive.

To coincide with the launch the mobile unit, the Bank will join the Foundation to host a one-day cancer detection camp.

• VS Sivakumar, Minister of Health, will launch the camp in the presence of Elizabeth Antony, founding president of the foundation and N Sivasankaran, General Manager, Canara Bank.

Union Bank ties up with Maharashtra for OTC tax collection

Union Bank of India tied up with Maharashtra for over-the-counter (OTC) collection of taxes and receipts.

• The bank has integrated its core banking with the Maharashtra virtual treasury, GRAS (Government Receipt Accounting System), to facilitate OTC tax collection, which will provide one more mode of payment for convenience of tax payers and the state.
• It will give tax payers the convenience of payment at the branch through their account or by cash with online generation of challans and real time updation of records through GRAS.

The state will also be benefited by having a hassle-free revenue collection, daily reconciliation, real-time update of records and providing easy reach to the tax payers.

RBI granted in-principle approval to NPCI to function as the central unit for Bharat Bill Payment Systems

The Reserve Bank of India has decided to grant in principle approval to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to function as the Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit (BBPCU) in BBPS.

About Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)
BBPS is an integrated bill payment system, will function as a tiered structure for operating the bill payment system in the country with a single brand image providing convenience of“anytime anywhere” bill payment to customers.

• The present scope of BBPS will include utility bill payments, such as, electricity, water, gas, telephone and Direct-to-Home (DTH).
• The Operating Units will function as entities facilitating collection of bills/repetitive payments.

Reserve Bank of India had issued guidelines in 2014 for setting up the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) wherein it was indicated that NPCI will function as BBPCU and there could be multiple Bharat Bill Payment Operating Units-BBPOUs (Operating Unit) under BBPS.

India emits only 3.96% of global carbon dioxide emission – Mospi report

According to a report released by the ministry of statistics and programmer implementation, India emitted 1,146 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2008 while the total emissions from the globe were 28,962 million tonnes.

• As per Govt data, India emits only 96% of the global carbon dioxide emissions.

As per UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008, India’s share of CO2 in the total emissions in the world is very insignificant in per-capita terms. The per-capita emissionof anIndian citizen is 1.2 tons of carbon dioxide whereas his counterpart in USAcontributing20.6 tons.

India joins UK, Australia to help poor nations combat climate change

The 24th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta deliberated extensively on combating climate change and a number of nations pledged their financial assistance to vulnerable countries.

• India will provide $ 2.5 million for the vulnerable nations in the Commonwealth to help them introduce clean energy and reduce green-house gas emissions.
• Commonwealth and the Governments of India, Malta, Mauritius and Sri Lanka announced the new trade financing fund to help boost trade and investment flows in small countries.

NEERI’s project approved for developing greenbelts along highways

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has approved a pilot project submitted by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur for undertaking scientific studies on designing greenbelts along national highways.

• The project will be implemented on a 5 km stretch on NH-7 between Jam and Hinganghat in Nagpur region.
• Estimated cost – 11.80 crore
• Around 20,000 trees of scientifically chosen species are proposed to be plantedon both sides of this stretch in multiple rows.