Daily Current Affairs Updates: 03 & 04 July 2015

1) Airbus and Mahindra to make military choppers in India:

--> European aerospace giant Airbus and India's Mahindra group have inked a deal to jointly build helicopters as the Indian government moves to upgrade the country's ageing military hardware.

--> The joint venture between Airbus Helicopters and Mahindra Defence aims to become the "first private Indian helicopter manufacturer under the 'Make in India' initiative.

--> To be set up in the coming months, the venture would produce helicopters to meet the country's military requirements. 

2) President of India receives first copy of book 'Uniki':

--> The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee received the first copy of the book 'Uniki' in Hyderabad on 3 July 2015.

--> The book has been written by Shri Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra.

--> The President received the book from Shri K Chandrashekar Rao, Chief Minister of Telangana who formally released it.

--> President congratulated Shri Rao for bringing out this useful compilation of writings and reflections on his life and experiences.

--> He stated that the title, 'Uniki', which means Existence, evokes a philosophical view of the issues and events that have been written about in this book.

3) Keltron founding chairman K P P Nambiar passed away:

--> K P P Nambiar, founding Chairman of Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited (Keltron) died on 1 July 2015 due to age-related illnesses.

--> Nambiar set up India's first Electronic Technology Park (Techno Park) in Trivandrum to provide infrastractural support required to set up high technology electronic units in the State.

--> He served as Secretary to the Department of Electronics during late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure.

--> He was awarded Padma Bhushan by Government of India for his contributions to the field of technology in 2006.

4) BSNL launched mobile wallet service ‘Speed Pay’:

--> BSNL on 3 July 2015 launched a pre-paid card linked mobile wallet service which would allow its customers to transfer money, pay for services as well as withdraw cash of up to Rs. 1 lakh.

--> The wallet service, Speed Pay, allows a customer to load money even if he does not have a bank account. The money loaded in the mobile wallet can be transferred to a bank account and even withdrawn at bank branches or BSNL outlets.

--> Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the service.

5) Nationwide Mobile Number Portability becomes operational:

--> Nationwide mobile number portability (MNP) has become operational from 3 July 2015.

--> It became operational after major private mobile operators like Vodafone, RCom, Airtel, Uninor and Idea Cellular along with state-run BSNL and MTNL issued statements to launch MNP.

--> The operationalisation of nationwide MNP will allow customers to keep their existing mobile phone numbers while shifting between States and circles by changing operators.

6) Madhya Pradesh sets world record for hand washing:

--> Guinness Book of World Records has recognized the record created on world hand washing day in Madhya Pradesh on October 15, 2014.

--> Information about the record set by Madhya Pradesh is displayed on official website of Guinness Book.

--> According to Guinness Book, 12,76 ,425 students created a new world record through simultaneous hand washing at programmes held at 13,196 places across the 51 districts of the state.

7) C Ramakrishnan appointed Tata Motors' Group CFO:

--> C Ramakrishnan was appointed on 1 July 2015 as Tata Motors' Group Chief Financial Officer.

--> Tata Motors is the leader in commercial vehicles in each segment, and among the top in passenger vehicles in the compact, midsize car and utility vehicle segment.