DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 31ST MAR 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 31^ST MAR 2017

(DAILY NEWS INDIA)

SHARED BY: WWW.DAILYGK.IN

1. HP CM VIRBHADRA SINGH LAUNCHED LED LIGHTS, ENERGY SAVING FANS DISTRIBUTION SCHEMESS

i. The CM of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singh officially launched the LED Lights, Energy Saving Fans Distribution scheme. As the part of the scheme, LED tube lights and energy-efficient fans are distributed to promote energy saving.

ii. The distribution of LED tube lights and energy saving fans is carried out under Unnat Jeevan by Affordable LEDs and Appliances for All scheme.

2. CENTRE TO BUILD 1 CR HOUSES UNDER PMAY-G BY 2019

i. In a written reply to question raised in Lok Sabha, Ram Kripal Yadav – Minister of State for Rural Development mentioned that Central Govt. has approved the construction of 1 cr houses under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Grameen with the financial outlay of Rs 81,975 cr during the period of 2016-17 to 2018-19.

ii. This decision is a part of Govt. efforts to achieve ‘Housing For All by 2022’ mission set by PM Modi.

iii. This approval to build 1 cr houses under PMAY-G by 2019 constitutes the first phase of action plan.

3. IIT MADRAS SIGNS MOU WITH INDIAN ARMY TO ENHANCE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGICAL AREAS

i. The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Army to address the technological gap in the armed forces.

ii. The MoU was signed between IITM Director Bhaskar Ramamurthi and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (P&S) Lt. Gen. Subrata Saha.

iii. The MoU provides a platform to institutions like IITs to closely work with the army officials to identify the critical gap in technological areas in army so as to enhance them.

iv. As per the MoU, Indian Army will sponsor 4 officers for doctoral programmes as well as 15 officers for 5-day Technology Development Programme on a biannual basis.

4. ‘INDIA PRIDE AWARD’ – INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT WON BY AAI AND BEST PERFORMANCE WON BY NTPC

i. Airports Authority of India was awarded with Dainik Bhaskar’s India Pride Awards 2016 -17 for “Excellence in Infrastructure Development” in the category of Public Sector Undertaking. In addition to that, National Thermal Power Corporation Limited also won the India Pride Awards 2016 -17 for “Excellence in Performance in the Power Sector” in the category of Public Sector Undertaking.

ii. Both the awards were presented by Union Minister of Communications (I/C) Manoj Sinha in New Delhi in the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways.

5. PAKISTAN APPOINTS SIMA KAMIL AS THE 1ST WOMAN CHIEF OF LEADING BANK

i. Sima Kamil, a veteran Pakistani banker has become the 1st female to be appointed as the President and CEO of one of the largest commercial bank of Pakistan.

ii. Kamil was appointed as the President of United Bank Limited, one of the top 5 banks of the country.

iii. Initially she will serve as the deputy CEO at UBL and eventually take over as the President and CEO on June 1 after the incumbent CEO Wajahat Hussain retires.

iv. Kamil has obtained her business degree from Kingston University in the UK and an MBA from the City University, London.

v. Prior to her appointment, Kamil worked at leading Habib Bank Ltds Branch Banking since 2011.

6. PRESIDENT INAUGURATED 'NAMAMI BRAHMAPUTRA' FESTIVAL IN ASSAM

i. Namami Brahmaputra, The biggest river festival of India, begins in 21 districts of Assam.

ii. President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the festival on the banks of the river Brahmaputra, which is considered country's only male river.

iii. The main purpose of the 5-day festival is to give a boost to the investment and tourism prospect in the state.

7. INDIA SIGNS FIRST LOAN AGREEMENT WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT BANK

i. The Loan Agreement for New Development Bank financing of US$ 350 Million for Development and Upgradation of Major District Roads Project in Madhya Pradesh was signed between Government of India and the New Development Bank.

ii. This is the 1st Loan Agreement for NDB assisted project in India. The objective of the Project is upgradation of major district roads in Madhya Pradesh to improve connectivity of the interior areas of the state with the national and state highway networks. The project implementation is 5 years.

8. SUNAINA SINGH APPOINTED AS NEW VICE-CHANCELLOR OF NALANDA UNIVERSITY

i. Sunaina Singh has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of Nalanda University. She has replaced George Yeo.

ii. The University has received a total of 160 applications for the position and 6 people were called for interviews and 3 names were then sent to the Visitor. Singh’s name was on top.

9. RAIL MINISTER SURESH PRABHU RELEASES BOOK TITLED “INDIAN RAILWAY- THE WEAVING OF A NATIONAL TAPESTRY”

i. A book on the history of Indian Railways titled “Indian Railway-The weaving of a National Tapestry” was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu.

ii. The book has been jointly authored by Shri Bibek Debroy (Member, NITI Aayog), Shri Sanjay Chadha (Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce) & Ms. Vidya Krishnamurthi.

iii. The book has been written with the theme Historical Development of Railways in India.

iv. It covers the early Indian Railway life from 1830-1947. To make it interesting, the authors have written the book in story telling manner.

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS BASED ON TODAY’S NEWS

Q1. CHIEF MINISTER OF WHICH STATE HAS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED THE LED LIGHTS, ENERGY SAVING FANS DISTRIBUTION SCHEME?

a)  Assam

b)  Uttarakhand

c)  Himachal Pradesh

d)  Jharkhand

Q2. WHICH INSTITUTE HAS SIGNED MOU WITH INDIAN ARMY TO ENHANCE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGICAL AREAS?

a)  IIT – Madras

b)  IIT – Guwahati

c)  IIT – Kharagpur

d)  IIT – Kanpur

Q3. NAME THE VETERAN PAKISTANI BANKER WHO HAS BECOME THE FIRST FEMALE TO BE APPOINTED AS THE PRESIDENT AND CEOOF ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL BANK OF PAKISTAN?

a)  Farida Anwar

b)  Sima Kamil

c)  Heena Masood

d)  Rubina Khan

Q4. WHICH BOOK ON HISTORY OF INDIAN RAILWAYS HAS BEEN JOINTLY AUTHORED BY SHRI BIBEK DEBROY, SHRI SANJAY CHADHA & MS. VIDYA KRISHNAMURTHI?

a)  “Indian Railway-Inside Out”

b)  “Indian Railway-The Epic Journey”

c)  “Indian Railway-The weaving of a National Tapestry”

d)  “Indian Railway-The Rare Jewel”

Q5. AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF INDIA HAS BEEN AWARDED INDIA PRIDE AWARDS 2016 -17 FOR “EXCELLENCE IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT” IN THE CATEGORY OF PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKING BY WHICH DAILY NEWSPAPER?

a)  Times of India

b)  Indian Express

c)  The Hindu

d)  Dainik Bhaskar

ANSWERS:

  1 - C  2 - A    3 - B    4 - C    5 - D