DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 29TH JUNE 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 29TH JUNE 2017
(DAILY NEWS INDIA)
SHARED BY: WWW.DAILYGK.IN

1. INDIA’S FIRST BLOOD BANK FOR CATTLE TO COME UP IN ODISHA
i. Odisha is all set to become the 1st state in the country to have a blood bank for the cattle.
ii. The 1st of its kind blood bank would be established on the premises of OUAT at an estimated cost of Rs 3.25 cr. The Vice-chancellor of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology is  India's first blood bank for Cattle to come up in Odisha.
iii. A proposal in this regard was earlier submitted to the National Agriculture Development Programme.
iv. After approval from the NADP, the OUAT is now awaiting approval from the state government. The project will have a 60:40 sharing between the Centre and the state government.

2. PM NARENDRA MODI’S FOREIGN VISITS TO PORTUGAL, NETHERLANDS, US: OVERVIEW
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on an official visit to Portugal, US and the Netherlands.
ii. During PM Modi’s visit to Portugal, India and Portugal signed 11 pacts for cooperation in various areas including cooperation in outer space, nano technology, double taxation avoidance,  improving cultural ties, youth and sports, higher education, scientific research, and setting up of a Portugal-India Business Hub and an Indian Chamber of Commerce in Portugal.
iii. India and Portugal announced a 4 million Euros joint fund to bolster research in science and technology.
iv. Indian PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump agreed to continue strengthening coordination for ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan as they expressed concern over rising instability in the war-torn country caused by terrorism.
v. During PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands, India and Netherlands signed following three agreements : MoU on water cooperation, MoU on Cultural Cooperation and Agreement on Amending Social Security Arrangement

3. INDIA RANKS 93RD OUT OF 128 IN SOCIAL PROGRESS INDEX 2017
i. India has ranked 93rd among 128 countries on 2017 Social Progress Index report by Social progress Imperative with support from Deloitte and its strategic partners.
ii. Denmark is at 1st position, Finland is at 2nd position followed by Iceland is at 3rd and Norway is at 4th.

4. UNESCO NAMES SHARJAH AS WORLD BOOK CAPITAL 2019
i. Sharjah has been crowned with the prestigious ‘the World Book Capital’ for 2019 by UNESCO.
ii .It has been given for the quality of its literary and cultural activities and for its efforts to make books accessible to the entire population of the nation.
iii. It has been selected because of its innovative and inclusive application, with a community-focused activity programme.
iv. Sharjah has been chosen for the quality of its literary and cultural activities, and for its unfailing efforts to make books accessible to the entire population of the nation.
v. Sharjah is the 19th city to become World Book Capital. The recognition is an important addition to Sharjah’s existing portfolio of milestones.
vi. The Sharjah is the 1st in the GCC and 3rd in the Arab world and Middle East, to have received this recognition.

5. INDIA SIGNS LOAN AGREEMENT WITH THE WORLD BANK FOR USD 35 MILLION FOR “ASSAM STATE PUBLIC FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS PROJECT”
i. India has signed a Loan Agreement with the World Bank for USD 35 Million for Assam State Public Financial Institutional Reforms Project.
ii. An agreement for IBRD Credit of USD 35 Million from World Bank for Assam State Public Financial Institutional Reforms Project was signed at New Delhi.
iii. The programme size is USD 44 million, of which USD 35 million will be financed by the Bank, and the remaining amount will be funded out of State Budget.
iv. The agreement was signed by Shri Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary (MI), Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. John Blomquist acting Country Director, World Bank (India) on behalf of the World Bank.
v. The objective of the project is to improve predictability and transparency in budget execution and efficiency in tax administration in Assam.

6. UTTARAKHAND GETS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AT INTERNATIONAL MEET
i. Uttarakhand has been conferred the award of excellence at the 2nd Global Skill Development Summit held in Paris.
ii. Uttarakhand has been awarded for innovations and extensive use of IT for skilling the state’s youth.
iii. Project Director of Uttarakhand Skill Development Committee Pankaj Kumar Pandey received the honour on behalf of the state.
iv. In Uttarakhand, a new initiative is being taken to impart high quality job oriented training to the state’s youth so that they could avail of employment opportunities in the tourism, beauty and wellness, agriculture, health and security sectors.
v. Training programmes are being designed in accordance with the requirements of the industries and are being carried out in both rural and urban areas of the state.

7. KAUSHIK BASU IS NEW INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
i. The International Economic Association has chosen eminent economist Kaushik Basu as its president.
ii. The organisation consists of key economists who significantly help in determining global economic policy and research.
iii. Nobel Laureates like Robert Solow, Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz have been among the past presidents of International Economic Association. Kaushik Basu, is an Indian economist and academic. He will serve a 3-year term as the President.
iv. Basu is the author of several books on economics and a play called Crossings at Benaras Junction. He has also served as senior vice-president and chief economist at the World Bank from 2012 to 2016.

8. VIDYA NAMED AMBASSADOR OF INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MELBOURNE
i. Actress Vidya Balan has named an ambassador of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. It will be held in August 10-22, 2017, which showcase over 60 films.
ii. In 2017, IFFM has diversity as its central theme. It will showcase over 60 films indie and short included in 20 different languages.
iii. The films from India will include 30 Australian premieres. These films were created to entertain, inspire, enrage, engage and challenge viewers.

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS BASED ON TODAY’S NEWS

Q1. WHO AMONG THE FOLLOWING HAS TAKEN OVER AS PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION?
a)  Vinod Anand
b)  Kaushik Basu
c)  Ashish Jayram
d)  Naresh Saraogi
Q2. WHICH AMONG THE FOLLOWING WILL BECOME THE FIRST STATE IN INDIA TO HAVE A BLOOD BANK FOR THE CATTLE?
a)  Haryana
b)  Rajasthan
c)  Maharashtra
d)  Odisha
Q3. MARK RUTTE IS THE CURRENT PRIME MINISTER OF WHICH COUNTRY?
a)  Sweden
b)  Ireland
c)  Netherlands
d)  Norway
Q4. WHICH CITY HAS BEEN HAS BEEN NAMED AS ‘THE WORLD BOOK CAPITAL’ FOR 2019 BY UNESCO?
a)  Sharjah
b)  Dhaka
c)  Warsaw
d)  Moscow
Q5. WHICH INDIAN STATE WAS CONFERRED THE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AT THE 2ND GLOBAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT HELD IN PARIS?
a)  Odisha
b)  Madhya Pradesh
c)  Uttarakhand
d)  Jharkhand

ANSWERS

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