Daily Current Affairs: 3 March 2015

1) Opposition gets amendment passed in Rajya Sabha:

--> The government on 3 March 2015 faced an embarrassment in the Rajya Sabha when an amendment moved by the Opposition to the President’s address over corruption and black money was passed.

--> The amendment was moved by the CPI (M) members Sitaram Yechury and P. Rajeeve and it was passed through division of votes after the government’s plea for withdrawal of the step failed.

--> This is the fourth time in Rajya Sabha’s history that an amendment moved by the opposition to the motion of thanks to the President’s address has been passed.

--> The previous times such a thing happened was on January 30, 1980, during Janata Party rule, then on December 29, 1989, during V.P. Singh-led National Front and third time on March 12, 2001 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government was in power.

2) National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme:

--> Election Commission of India (ECI) on 3 March 2015 launched National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP) throughout India.

--> The programme was launched with the prime objective to bring a total error-free and authenticated electoral roll.

--> Under the nationwide drive, Election Commission will link electoral photo I-card with Aadhaar number to ensure there is no duplication.

--> The NERPAP is aimed at eliminating duplication of voters in electoral rolls by verifying multiple, bogus and ineligible voters.

3) Bill banning cow-slaughter in Maharashtra gets President's nod:

--> The bill banning the cow slaughter in Maharashtra, pending for the last several years, received the President's assent on 4 March 2015.

--> Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed happiness over President Pranab Mukherjee's decision to give assent to the bill.

--> Maharashtra had banned the slaughter of cows and calves in 1976. The new law extends the ban to bulls and bullocks.

4) Moody's downgraded IOB, Central Bank's deposits:

--> Ratings agency Moody’s has downgraded ratings for Central Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB)’s local and foreign currency deposits from “Baa3” to “Ba1” following the government’s policy to differentiate between public sectors banks (PSBs) when distributing capital.

5) World's largest Indian tricolour unfurled in Faridabad:

--> The world's largest and tallest Indian tricolour was unfurled at Town Park in Faridabad on 3 March 2015.

--> Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, Haryana chief minister M L Khattar and Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor were present on the occasion.

--> The flag weighs 48 kilograms and has a 96 feet by 64 feet dimension. It was hoisted at a height of 250 feet (75 meters), making it the largest and the highest hoisted Indian flag in the world. 

6) Mary Kom to quit boxing after Rio Olympics:

--> Olympic medallist pugilist M C Mary Kom on 3 March 2015 said she has decided to quit boxing after the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as her body would not be able to cope with the rigours of the sport any further.

--> Mary Kom said after the Rio Games she will concentrate on her boxing academy set up in Imphal.