Spring Equinox – Vernal Equinox

The Vernal (Spring) Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is the Autumnal (Fall) Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.

Equinoxes and solstices happen twice a year.

Not Entirely Equal Day & Night

On the equinoxes the Sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night is nearly equal – but not quite.

The March equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator – the imaginary line in the sky above the Earth’s equator – from south to north and vice versa in September.

When is the Equinox in my City?

Vernal Equinox – Northern Hemisphere

(USA, Central America, Canada, Europe, Asia, northern Africa)

March Equinox in Delhi, India is on
Thursday, 21 March 2019, 03:28 IST

• Sunrise, sunset and day length around March Equinox 2019
• Countdown to March Equinox 2019 in Patiala, Punjab, India

March Equinox in Universal Coordinated Time is on
Wednesday, 20 March 2019, 21:58 UTC

• Local times for March Equinox 2019 worldwide
• Day and Night map for March Equinox 2019
• Equinoxes and solstices from 2000–2049

Vernal Equinox – Southern Hemisphere

(Australia, New Zealand, South America, southern Africa)

September Equinox in Delhi, India is on
Monday, 23 September 2019, 13:20 IST

• Sunrise, sunset and day length around September Equinox 2019
• Countdown to September Equinox 2019 in Patiala, Punjab, India

September Equinox in Universal Coordinated Time is on
Monday, 23 September 2019, 07:50 UTC

• Local times for September Equinox 2019 worldwide
• Day and Night map for September Equinox 2019
• Equinoxes and solstices from 2000–2049

First Day of Spring?

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Vernal (Spring) Equinox marks the first day of astronomical spring. There's also another, more common definition of when the seasons start, namely meteorological definitions, which are based on average temperatures rather that astronomical events.

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White Label ATMs

Info: 

The Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) has come up with a review of operations of White Label ATMs (WLAs)in the country.

What is White label-ATM?

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) set up, owned and operated by non-bank entities are called “White Label ATMs” (WLAs). They provide the banking services to the customers of banks in India, based on the cards (debit/credit/prepaid) issued by banks.

As per the new guidelines, it has been decided to allow:

• The WLA Operators to buy wholesale cash, above a threshold of 1 lakh pieces (and in multiples thereof) of any denomination, directly from the Reserve Bank (Issue Offices) and Currency Chests against full payment.
• The operators to source cash from any scheduled bank, including Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks.
• The operators to offer bill payment and Interoperable Cash Deposit services, subject to technical feasibility and certification by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• The display advertisements pertaining to non-financial products / services anywhere within the WLA premises, including the WLA screen, except the main signboard. However, it shall be ensured that the advertisements running on the screen disappear once the customer commences a transaction.
• Banks to issue co-branded ATM cards in partnership with the authorised WLA Operators and may extend the benefit of ‘on-us’ transactions to their WLAs as well.
• All guidelines, safeguards, standards and control measures applicable to banks relating to currency handling, and cyber-security framework for ATMs, shall also be applicable to the WLA Operators.

What was the need to allow non-bank entities for setting up of WLAs?

Keeping the fact in view that banks won’t be able to provide their ATM facilities in each and every place, non-bank entities were allowed by the RBI to set up White Label ATMs. This was done to increase the geographical spread of ATMs and enhance the customer service.

Key facts:

• Non-bank entities shall commence setting up and operating WLAs only after it has been authorised to do so by the RBI under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
• Taking over of ATMs operated by banks would not be permitted. Entities may ensure to draw a strategic plan for installation of such WLAs based on the criteria set during authorization. White Label ATM Operators (WLAO) may also indicate the value added services it proposes to offer at the WLA while seeking authorisation.
• WLAO is permitted to have more than one Sponsor Bank. All the transactions of WLAs serviced by this Sponsor Bank would be settled through it.
• Cash Management at the WLAs will be the responsibility of the Sponsor Bank, who may if required, make necessary arrangements with other banks for servicing cash requirements at various places.
• WLAO may establish connectivity with any of the authorised ATM Network Operators/ Card Payment Network Operators and ensure that the settlement of all the transactions at the WLAs shall be done only in the books of the Sponsor Bank through the ATM Network Operators/ Card Payment Network Operators with whom the WLAO has established connectivity.
• Maintenance and servicing of the WLAs shall be the sole responsibility of the WLAO.

In addition to cash dispensing, ATMs / WLAs may offer many other services / facilities to customers. Some of these services include:

• Account Information.
• Cash Deposit (not permitted at WLAs).
• Regular Bills Payment (not permitted at WLAs).
• Purchase of Re-load Vouchers for Mobiles (not permitted at WLAs).
• Mini / Short Statement Generation.
• PIN change.
• Request for Cheque Book.

Sources: the hindu.

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International Women’s Day 2019

Info:

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year. It is a day when the world comes together to appreciate womanhood and their importance in society. The day also celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

Themes:

This year the themes for International Women’s Day are #BalanceforBetter, which is described as a “call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world” and “More Powerful Together”. The themes stress upon the need for more men to get involved in the fight against gender equality and feminism.

History:

Earlier, it was called National woman’s day and was acknowledged by the U.S. on February 28, 1909. This was done because of the labour movement which was started in 1908 where 15000 female employees went on strike in New York City to protest against poor working conditions.

National Women’s Day was recognised as International Women’s Day only in 1910 after German women’s rights activist Clara Zetkin suggested at an International Conference.

Why March 8?

It was on this day that women in Soviet Russia gained the right the vote in 1917, hence March 8 was declared a national holiday for them. The United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace in 1977.

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IBPS Exam Coaching

IBPS Exam Coaching

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There are many variations of passages of Lorem Ipsum available, but the majority have suffered alteration in some form, by injected humour, or randomised words which don't look even slightly believable. If you are going to use a passage of Lorem Ipsum, you need to be sure there isn't anything embarrassing hidden in the middle of text. 

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