Daily Free Current Affairs 8th Jan. 2016 ( Free GK Updates)

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 8 JAN 2016
(Daily News India)
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1. GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO MERGE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS WITH MEA
i. Union Government has decided to merge Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs with the Ministry of External Affairs.
ii. This decision has been taken to avoid duplication of work and to improve efficiency with Union Government’s broad principle of minimum government, maximum governance.
iii. MOIA was established in May 2004 and the primary task of the MOIA was to connect the Indian diaspora with its motherland by initiating various programmes.

2. UNION GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES RIVER INFORMATION SYSTEM
i. India’s first River Information System was launched by Union Government to facilitate safe and accurate inland waterway navigation.
ii. River Information Services  are combination of modern tracking equipment comprising of hardware and software designed to optimize transport and traffic processes in inland water navigation.
iii. The main aim of the system is to streamline the exchange of information via Very high frequency wireless communication between waterway operators and users
iv. It was also help in the enhancement of inland navigation safety in ports and rivers. 
v. It will also help in environmental protection.

3. UNION GOVERNMENT APPROVED ATAL MISSION PLANS FOR PUNJAB AND UTTARAKHAND FOR 2015-16
i. The Union Ministry of Urban Development approved the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation for Punjab and Uttarakhand for the year 2015-16.
ii. Punjab Government will invest 720 crore rupees in improving basic urban infrastructure in 16 cities.
iii. Uttarakhand will spend 267 crore rupees in 6 cities under action plan.
iv. AMRUT is the scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the urban renewal projects to establish infrastructure to robust sewerage networks and water supply for urban transformation

4. UNION GOVERNMENT ALLOWED TRADITIONAL BULL-TAMING SPORTS JALLIKATTU IN TAMIL NADU
i. The Union Government has allowed to conduct traditional bull-taming sports, Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.
ii. Jallikattu is celebrated around pongal in southern state of Tamil Nadu.
iii. Now the bulls can be exhibited and trained as performing animal at different events of different states as per the customs or tradition of any community.

5. INDIA TO GROW AT 7.8% IN YEAR 2016 BY WORLD BANK REPORT
i. The Global Economic Prospect report has been released by the World Bank in which it has projected india will grow at 7.8 per cent growth for the year 2016.
ii. World bank has forecasted India’s growth for 2017 and 2018 at a 7.9 per cent.
iii. It projected China will grow at 6.7 per cent in the year 2016 and 6.5 per cent for the year 2017 and 2018.

6. DEVENDER KUMAR SIKRI APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN OF COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA
i. Devender Kumar Sikri has been appointed as Chairman of fair-trade regulator Competition Commission of India.
ii. He has replaced Ashok Chawla, who has retired on 7 january.
iii. Competition Commission of India is a body of the Government responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 throughout India.
iv. It also ensures to prevent activities that have an adverse effect on competition in India.

7. INDO FRENCH MILITARY EXERCISE SHAKTI-2016 STARTED
i. India and France started counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency joint exercise Shakti-2016 in Rajasthan.
ii. The exercise will focus on counter terrorism operations in backdrop of semi-urban terrain under United Nations Mandate.

iii. It will also help both country armies to train together and gain from each other's rich operational experience.