Top current affairs 23 January 2015 updates useful for upcoming banking exams are given below.
Current Affairs 23 january 2015 – National Scene
1. Arunachal Pradesh launched web based education programme in collaboration with Google.
Explanation –
i) Arunachal Pradesh became the first state in the country to launch web based educational programme for all schools in the country.
ii) The system would initially be launched in 50 to 100 schools in the state.
Current Affairs 23 january 2015 – International
2. Saudi Arab’s king Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud died at 90.
Explanation –
i) He played a major role in insulating Saudi Arabia from the Islamist and democratic forces roiling the Middle East in the name of stability.
ii) His half brother King Salman will succeed the throne.
Business Diary – 23 january 2015
3. SBI signed pact with EIB (European Investment Bank).
Explanation –
i) SBI signed a signed a loan agreement for Euro 100 million to be lent to private businesses in the country. The EIB funds will be earmarked for financing projects across a broad range of sectors, including manufacturing, as well as wholesale and retail trade and services.
4. SBI launched Chota ATM in Kerala.
Explanation –
i) Chota ATM enables customers to use their mobile phones as cash withdrawal as well as credit/debit card payment terminal.
ii) For this purpose SBI has joined hands with Ezetap a mobile point-of-sale service provider.
Persons in news
5. Sunil Sood was appointed Vodafone India CEO.
Explanation –
Mr. Sunil Sood is presently the COO of the company and he will replace Marten Pieters. Sood joined Vodafone India’s predecessor business, Hutch, in 2000 and has held roles leading the company’s operations in Gujarat, Kolkata and Chennai.
He had previously worked for Pepsi in a range of Indian and international leadership roles.
Award
6. Jhumpa Lahiri bags DSC prize for South Asian literature 2015.
Explanation –
i) Indian American author Jhumpa Lahiri won the fifth annual DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2015 for her novel “The Lowland”.
ii) The award was presented by the 2014 Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry, Vijay Seshadri.