Kerala has become the first state to tap into masala bond market by listing the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB)'s masala bond worth of USD 312 million (Rs 2,150 crore) in London Stock Exchange (LSE)'s International Security Market (IISM).

The masala bond has a tenor of 5-years and a 9.723% coupon.

This move executed by Kerala's state finance minister Thomas Issac.

The major objective of this initiative was to tap the masala bond market and to rebuild the infrastructure in Kerala from the proceeds of masala bond.

About London Stock Exchange (LSE)

Location - London, U.K

CEO - David Schwimmer

About Kerala

Capital - Thiruvananthapuram

Chief Minister - Pinarayi Vijayan

Governor - P. Sathasivam

National Park

• Eravikulam National Park
• Mathikettan Shole National Park
• Pampadum Shole National Park
• Silent Valley National Park
• Anamudi Shola National Park

Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha is all set to form a government for a fifth term as his party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won 112 seats out of 146 Assembly seats, 

The 72-year old, one of India's longest-serving chief ministers, Patnaik becomes only the third CM after Sikkim's Pawan Chamling and West Bengal's Jyoti Basu to achieve the feat.

Naveen Patnaik is 14th Chief Minister of Odisha.

About Odisha

Capital - Bhubaneswar

Governor - Ganeshi Lal

Utkal Divas or Odisha Day - 1st April

National Park

• Similipal National Park
• Bhitarkanika National Park

Tripura Gramin Bank is among India's top three Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) in terms of profits, business and growth.

The Tripura Gramin Bank has emerged as one of the top performers in the banking sector in the 2018-19 financial year across the country, investing heavily to promote entrepreneurship.

Currently, India has 45 Regional Rural Bank out of which Tripura Gramin Bank ranked 3rd in the country.

Tripura Gramin Bank posted a profit for 7 successive years to Rs 125.45 crore in fiscal 2018-19.

Tripura Gramin Bank is the only RRB in the north-eastern region out of eight, which has been making a profit to 7 successive years.

About Tripura Gramin Bank

Headquarter - Agartala

Founded - 21 December 1976

Chairman - Mahendra Mohan Goswami

 

SpaceX launched a batch of 60 internet communications satellites into low-Earth orbit for Elon Musk's new Starlink internet service. 

These 60 small satellites launched by Falcon 9 Rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

SpaceX deployed the 60 Starlink satellites in a "very low Earth orbit" of 440 kilometers above the surface.

The Starlink satellites will eventually form a constellation of satellites that are to offer internet to almost anywhere on Earth.

About SpaceX

Headquarter - Hawthorne, California, US

CEO - Elon Musk

Pakistan has successfully test-fired a land-based supersonic intermediate-range surface-to-surface guided ballistic missile named 'Shaheen-II' which is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.

It is capable of hitting targets up to 1,500-2000 kilometers. The missile is capable of hitting major cities of India.

Shaheen-II is a highly capable missile as it fully meets Pakistan's strategic needs towards the maintenance of desired and stability in the region, according to Pakistan Military.

Harda district of Madhya Pradesh has become first where women handle entire work of counting votes.

This first of its kind of initiative was taken for the empowerment of women.

The town of Harda is district headquarter.

About Madhya Pradesh

MP has the largest reserves of diamond and copper

Known as - Heart of India (due to its geographical location)

Capital - Bhopal

Governor - Anandiben Patel

Chief Minister - Kamal Nath

National Park

• Bandhavgarh National Park
• Pench National Park
• Kanha National Park
• Panna National Park
• Madhav National Park
• Mandla Plant Fossils National Park
• Satpura National Park
• Van Vihar National Park

German Payments Company, Wirecard has teamed up with India to simplify the process of issuing tax identity cards required to open bank accounts, transfer money or complete business transactions.

The deal, with state company UTI Infrastructure Technology and Financial Services, seeks to widen the distribution of so-called PAN cards in India of 1.3 billion where most people still live and work in the informal economy.

Currently, Wirecard has network of 15,000 retail agents in 350 cities of India which would help collect and scan in the documents that people need to apply for a PAN card.

About PAN (Permanent Account Number)

It is a unique 10-digit alphanumeric identity allotted to each taxpayer

It is issued by the Income Tax Department under the supervision of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.

About Wirecard

Headquarters - Bavaria, Germany

Founded - 1999

About Germany

Capital - Belin

Currency -  Euro

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