DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 7TH JAN 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 7^TH JAN 2017

(Daily News India)

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1. UNITED NATION RECOGNIZES 2017 AS YEAR OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FOR DEVELOPMENT

i. The United Nations 70th General Assembly has recognised the year 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

ii. The declaration of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development is a unique opportunity to raise awareness among decision-makers and the public about the contribution of sustainable tourism towards development along with mobilizing all stakeholders to work together in making tourism a catalyst for positive change.

iii. The Year also aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behavior towards a more sustainable tourism sector than can contribute to the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

iv .The World Tourism Organization , the United Nations Specialized Agency for Tourism, has been mandated to facilitate the organization and implementation of the International Year.

2. INDIA & KAZAKHSTAN SIGNS DOUBLE TAXATION AVOIDANCE CONVENTION AMENDMENT PROTOCOL

i. India and Kazakhstan have signed a Protocol to amend the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Convention between the two countries in New Delhi.

ii. The Protocol provides internationally accepted standards for effective exchange of information on tax matters.

iii. The Agreement was originally signed on 9th December, 1996 for the avoidance of double taxation and for the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.

3. 4TH ASSAM INTERNATIONAL AGRI-HORTI SHOW TO BEGIN IN GUWAHATI

i. The Fourth Assam International Agri-Horti Show began in Guwahati, Assam.

ii. The CM of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the programme.

iii. The Four-Day Show will be attended by about 200 organisations from 10 foreign countries. Nearly 600 farmers from Assam will be trained on doubling farmers’ income, more crops per drop and agri-preneurship development.

4. 3 DAYS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON YOGA FOR DIABETES ORGANISED

i. The Minister of State Shri Shripad Yesso Naik inaugurated the International Conference on “Yoga for Diabetes” which began in New Delhi.

ii. The 3 days conference aims to generate discussions on the role of Yoga in the prevention and management of Diabetes and draw up a roadmap to be adopted for the control of Diabetes through Yoga.

5. UNION GOVT. APPROVES ASSISTANCE OF RS 1782 CRORE FOR KARNATAKA

i. The Centre has approved an assistance of 1782.44 crore rupees for Karnataka. The state will get this sum from the National Disaster Relief Fund as drought relief.

ii. The decision was taken during a meeting of the High Level Committee chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

iii. The committee approved the grant after examining the proposal based on the reports of the Inter-Ministerial Central Team which visited the state. The assistance has been approved from the National Disaster Relief Fund.

iv. The committee also approved a grant of Rs. 209 crore to Uttarakhand which had been hit by floods in 2013.

v. The committee approved the assistance from the National Disaster Relief Fund and National Rural Drinking Water Programme in respect of Uttarakhand.

6. VETERAN ACTOR OM PURI PASSES AWAY

i. Veteran actor Om Puri has passed away after a massive heart attack.

ii. He has received an Order of the British Empire as well as Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 6TH JAN 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 6^TH JAN 2017

(Daily News India)

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1.  GOOGLE INDIA LAUNCHES MY BUSINESS AND DIGITAL UNLOCKED TOOL FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES IN INDIA.

i. Google India has launched two new initiatives named My Business and Digital Unlocked for the small and medium businesses in India.

ii. My Business tool small businesses would be able to set up website from their  Digital Unlocked mobile devices.

iii. Digital Unlocked programme will impart mobile and online courses to help small businesses. It is a digital training programme to enable the small businessman to adapt them with the changing technologies.

2. JOVENEL MOISE ELECTED AS THE PRESIDENT OF HAITI

i. Jovenel Moise has been elected as the President of Haiti.

ii. Jovenel Moise is a businessman from Haiti capital city of Port-au-Prince and is related to banana export business.  Mr. Moise who is from Bald Heads Party has won 55.6% of the total votes casted.

3. RBI APPOINTED SUREKHA MARANDI AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

i. India’s central banking institution Reserve Bank of India was appointed Surekha Marandi as its Executive Director.

ii. She replaced U S Paliwal.

iii. Marandi was working as the Chief Vigilance Officer and Principal Chief General Manager in the Reserve Bank.

iv. She has also served on the Boards of United Bank of India and Bank of Baroda.

4. AUSTRALIAN CRICKETER ARTHUR MORRIS INDUCTED INTO ICC CRICKET HALL OF FAME

i. Former Australian cricketer Arthur Morris was inducted into the International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame.

ii. Morris, who became the 82nd player to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, was given the honour posthumously.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIR QUIZ - 5 & 6 JANUARY

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIR QUIZ - 5 & 6 JANUARY

1. TABLE TENNIS OLYMPIC CHAMPION LI XIAOXIA, WHO HAS ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT BELONGS TO WHICH COUNTRY?

a) Japan

b) Thailand

c) China

d) South Korea

ANS - C

2.  WHICH COUNTRY HAS RANKED HIGHEST IN THE WORLD AMONG THE COUNTRIES OFFERING THE HIGHEST AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY TO EXPATRIATES?

a) Norway

b) France

c) USA

d) Switzerland

 ANS - D

3. NAME THE CITY IN WHICH PM NARENDRA MODI HAS INAUGURATED THE FIVE-DAY ANNUAL INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS?

a) Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh

b) Patna, Bihar

c) Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh

d) Kochi, Kerala

ANS - C

4. WHICH E-COMMERCE COMPANY HAS BEEN AWARDED A PATENT FOR LAUNCHING A GIANT FLYING WAREHOUSE THAT WOULD ACT AS A LAUNCH PAD FOR DRONES TO DELIVER ITEMS WITHIN MINUTES?

a) Amazon

b) MobiKwik

c) Flipkart

d) Paytm

ANS - A

5. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MINISTER OF KARNATAKA FOR COOPERATION AND SUGAR, HAS BEEN PASSED AWAY RECENTLY DUE TO CARDIAC ARREST?

a) Vera Rubin

b) H S Mahadeva Prasad

c) Sunderlal Patwa

d) Ratnasiri Wickremanayake

ANS - B

6.  WHICH COUNTRY HAS ANNOUNCED FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND INITIATIVE TO OFFER SOME BASIC PAY TO UNEMPLOYED CITIZENS EVERY MONTH SELECTED ON RANDOM BASIS?

a) Finland

b) Norway

c) Sweden

d) Russia

ANS - A

7.  WITH WHICH BANK CONSUMER ELECTRICAL GOODS MANUFACTURER BAJAJ ELECTRICALS HAS TIED UP TO PROVIDE DIGITALIZED PAYMENT TO ITS VENDOR USING BLOCK CHAIN TECHNOLOGY?

a) ICICI Bank

b) HDFC Bank

c) Andhra Bank

d) Yes Bank

ANS - D

8.   NAME THE SOCIAL REFORMER AND RENOWNED POET TO WHOM GOOGLE DEDICATED ITS DOODLE TO PAY TRIBUTE ON HER 186TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY?

a) Mary Harris

b) Vijay Lakshmi Pandit

c) Savitribai Phule

d) Annie Besant

ANS - C

9.  WORLD BRAILLE DAY IS OBSERVED ON?

a) January 3

b) January 4

c) January 2

d) January 5

ANS - B

10.  WHICH MOBILE COMMERCE AND PAYMENTS FIRM HAS RECEIVED THE FINAL APPROVAL FROM RBI TO OPERATE AS PAYMENT BANK?

a) Freecharge

b) Oxigen

c) Paytm

d) MobiKwik

ANS - C

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 5TH JAN 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 5^TH JAN 2017

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1. CHINA LAUNCHES FIRST FREIGHT TRAIN TO LONDON

i. China has launched its first freight train to London.

ii. The train will travel for about 18 days and more than 12,000 km before reaching its destination in Britain.

iii. It will pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belgium and France before arriving in London.

2. CENTRE APPROVES NEW PROJECTS FOR GANGA CLEANING OVER RS. 370 CRORE

i. The National Mission for Clean Ganga has approved many new projects at an estimated cost of over Rs 370 crore for its ongoing Ganga rejuvenation programme in Haridwar and Varanasi

ii. In Haridwar, 68 MLD sewage treatment plant in Jagjeetpur and 14 MLD STP in Sarai have been approved at an indicative cost of Rs 110.30 crore and Rs 25 crore respectively under Hybrid Annuity based PPP mode.

iii. The ‘Namami Gange’ programme was launched as a mission to achieve the target of cleaning river Ganga in an effective manner by involving all stakeholders.

3. TELANGANA AND ASSAM JOINS UDAY SCHEME

i. Assam and Telangana signed a pact with the Power Minister, Piyush Goyal to join the UDAY scheme in New Delhi in a bid to improve the performance of state run power distribution companies.

ii. Since the launch of the UDAY Scheme, the Power Ministry has signed Agreements with 18 states to join the Scheme. With the joining of Assam and Telangana, the total states covered under the scheme rose to 20.

4. FINLAND BECOME 1ST COUNTRY IN WORLD TO PAY BASIC INCOME TO RANDOMLY PICKED CITIZENS ON NATIONAL LEVEL

i. Finland become First country in world to pay basic income to Citizens to ensure a universal income offering greater security, especially as technological advances reduce the need for human labour.

ii. Its main aim to tackle unemployment, which stands at 8.1 percent in a nation of 5.5 million.

iii. Under this programme every month 2,000 selected unemployed will get 560 Euros.

5. MUNICH RE TO OPEN REINSURANCE BRANCH OFFICE IN MUMBAI

i. Germany based Munich Reinsurance Company has planned to open its branch office in Mumbai to provide the property-casualty, life, health reinsurance markets in India.

ii. Munich Re is one of the first foreign reinsurers to receive approval for a dedicated branch in India.

6. YES BANK TIES-UP WITH BAJAJ ELECTRICALS FOR VENDOR FINANCING USING BLOCK CHAIN

i. Yes Bank has tied-up with Bajaj Electricals for vendor financing using block chain solution.

ii. Block chain solutions is a distributed database that maintains a continuously-growing list of ordered records called blocks

iv. ICICI Bank was the India’s first bank to execute its first transaction on block chain.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 4TH JAN 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 4^TH JAN 2017

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1. BHIM BECOMES MOST POPULAR ANDROID APP IN INDIA

i. Govt's online payments app, BHIM that was launched by PM Modi to simplify digital payments is now the number one free app on Google Play Store.

ii. BHIM - which stands for Bharat Interface for Money - is named after Dr BR Ambedkar.

2. INDIA RANKS 3RD AMONG COUNTRIES OFFERING HIGHEST SALARIES TO EXPATS

i. India has ranked 3rd among the countries offering the highest average annual salary to expatriates.

ii. Switzerland topped the list to offer highest average salary of about $188,275 a year to expats that was almost twice the global average, while Hong Kong was listed third.

3. PM MODI INAUGURATES INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS AT TIRUPATI

i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 104th  Indian Science Congress at the Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati.

ii. ‘Science and Technology for National Development’ would be the theme of the Indian Science Congress.

iii. The basic aim of the 104th Congress was to focus on strengthening the scientific research in the country to make India among top three countries in the world in the field of Science and Technology by 2030.

4. BANKS CUT LENDING RATES: CORPORATE, HOME LOANS TO BE CHEAPER

i. A day after PM Narendra Modi announced an interest subvention for home loans of up to Rs. 12 lakh and asked banks to keep the poor and middle class at the focus of their activities many PSUs and private banks reduced their benchmark lending rate by up to 1.48 percent.

 ii. State Bank of India, other lenders including state-owned Oriental Bank of Commerce and largest private sector lender ICICI Bank and Andhra Bank announced a cut in the marginal cost of funds based lending rate following demonetisation.

iii. SBI along with PNB and Union Bank of India, yesterday reduced the lending rate by a good 0.9%.

iv. The reduction in lending rates may lead to an increase in credit taking frequency which has moderated substantially putting burden on balance sheet of banks.

v. The Union Government has kept interest rates on Small Savings Schemes like PPF and Sukanya Samriddhi Account, Kisan Vikas Patra, and Senior Citizens Savings Scheme unchanged for the January-March quarter.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIR QUIZ – 3 & 4 JANUARY

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIR QUIZ – 3 & 4 JANUARY

1.  WHO HAS BEEN AWARDED WITH THE ‘POWER & ENERGY PERSONA’S AWARD FOR INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE’ AT THE 10TH ENERTIA AWARDS 2016 –INDIA AND SOUTH ASIA’S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND POWER?

a) Yogendra Prasad

b) R N Khazanchi

c) K M Singh

d) D.K. Jain

ANS - C

2.  WHO HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS THE NEW MAJOR GENERAL OF KYRGYZSTAN?

a) Abdil Segizbaev

b) Shaikh Rafik Mohammed

c) Amal Al Qubaisi

d) Khalifa bin Zayed

ANS - B

3.  WHICH HEALTH SCHEME HAS BEEN LAUNCHED BY ANDHRA PRADESH GOVERNMENT FOR THE APL FAMILIES OF THE STATE?

a) Suraksha Bima Yojana

b) Arogya Swasthiya Bima Yojana

c) State Government Health Scheme

d) Arogya Raksha Scheme

ANS - D

4.  WHICH TENNIS PLAYER HAS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FROM PROFESSIONAL TENNIS?

a) Somdev Devvarman

b) Leander Paes

c) Mahesh Bhupathi

d) Rohan Bopanna

ANS - A

5.  WHO HAS BEEN SWORN IN AS THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION?

a) D P Agrawal

b) F. W. Robertson

c) David R. Syiemlieh

d) R. M. Bathew

ANS - C

6.  WITH WHICH COUNTRY PETRONET, INDIA’S LARGEST LNG IMPORTER, HAS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO SET UP $950 MILLION LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS IMPORT PROJECT?

a) Bangladesh

b) Kyrgyzstan

c) Afghanistan

d) Pakistan

ANS - A

7.  INDIA’S FIRST LASER TECHNOLOGY-BASED ADVANCED AVMS RTO CHECK-POST HAS BEEN SET UP IN WHICH STATE?

a) Maharashtra

b) Haryana

c) Rajasthan

d) Gujarat

ANS - D

8.  NAME THE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE STRATEGIC BALLISTIC MISSILE THAT WAS SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRED OFF ODISHA COAST BY INDIA?

a) Agni VI

b) Agni IV

c) Agni III

d) Agni I

ANS - B

9.  WHO OF THE FOLLOWING HAS WON THE 2016 MUBADALA WORLD TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP AT ABU DHABI?

a) Milos Raonic

b) Stan Wawrinka

c) Rafael Nadal

d) David Ferrer

ANS - C

10.  NAME THE STATE IN WHICH THE WORLD’S LARGEST 11-DAY GALA FESTIVAL “BARGARH DHANUA JATRA” ORGANIZED?

a) Andhra Pradesh

b) Odisha

c) Karnataka

d) Tamil Nadu

ANS - B

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 3RD JAN 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 3^RD JAN 2017

(Daily News India)

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1. ANDHRA CM CHANDRABABU NAIDU LAUNCHES AROGYA RAKSHA SCHEME

i. CM of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu has  launched a new health scheme, Arogya Raksha Scheme at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada to provide the medical treatment to the people of the Above Poverty Line at Rs. 1200 premium per annum.

ii. This Scheme would provide health insurance coverage to about 35 Lakh APL families in the state.

iii. Under this scheme, an end-to-end cashless service would be rendered to a total of 1044 diseases covered.

iv. To avail the Arogya Raksha scheme benefits, every individual of the family would be required to pay Rs. 100 per month or Rs. 1200 per annum as policy premium

2. NHPC CMD HONOURED AT 10TH ENERTIA AWARDS

i. State-run National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Chairman and MD K M Singh has been conferred the 'Power & Energy Persona's Award for Individual Excellence' at the 10th ENERTIA Awards.

ii. Singh received the award from Former Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Upendra Tripathy.

3. INDIAN ORIGIN APPOINTED TO TOP MILITARY POST IN KYRGYZSTAN

i. An Indian-origin Saudi-based entrepreneur Shaikh Rafik Mohammed has been appointed Major General of Kyrgyzstan.

ii. He is appointed by Ali Mirza, Defence Minister of Kyrgyzstan at an official ceremony held in the country.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 2ND JAN 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 2^ND JAN 2017

(Daily News India)

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1.  MORI IN ANDHRA PRADESH GETS SMART DIGITAL VILLAGE TAG

i. Mori village in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, sealed its place on India's digital map by transforming completely into a Smart Digital Village.

ii. All the 1189 households in the village with a population of 4500 became fully digital as Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu finally launched the AP FiberNet project that will provide internet at a speed of 15 mbps, WiFi, a telephone connection and 250 cable television channels for a total price of Rs 149 per month.

2.  26 CRORE ACCOUNTS OPEN UNDER JAN DHAN YOJANA 

i. Over 26 crore accounts have been opened under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana across the country.

ii. This Scheme was launched by the PM Narendra Modi on August, 2014 with the objective of covering all households with at least one bank account.

3. WORLD FAMOUS 11-DAY GALA FESTIVAL BARGARH DHANUA JATRA BEGINS IN ODISHA

i. Odisha's World famous 11-day gala festival Bargarh Dhanua Jatra is all set to begin. All rituals were performed before Goddess Samaleswari, the presiding deity of the event.

ii. Dhanu Jatra is an annual drama-based open air theatrical performance celebrated in a 6 km radius in and around Bargarh municipality.

4. GUJARAT CM VIJAY RUPANI DEDICATED INDIA’S FIRST LASER TECHNOLOGY-BASED ADVANCED AVMS RTO CHECK-POST AT SHAMLAJI

i. Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani dedicated India's first laser technology-based advanced AVMS RTO check-post at Shamlaji of Aravalli district .

ii. The check-post is equipped with advanced ray technology with a cost of Rs 4.72 crore. Along with this  Rupani also laid foundation stones of various developmental works worth Rs 30 crore in tribal area of Aravalli district.

iii. The income from this check posts will be used  for welfare of poor, deprived and last-person of the state.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 1ST JAN 2017

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: 1^ST JAN 2017

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1. PM ANNOUNCES NUMBER OF MEASURES ON NEW YEAR’S EVENING

i. PM Modi made a series of announcements aimed at the welfare of the entire Citizen of the Country with main focus on the senior citizens, farmers, rural housing, women and small entrepreneurs to lighten the burden of demonetization.

ii. 3 crore Kisan Credit Cards will be transformed to RuPay credit cards. Additional fund of 20,000 crore given to NABARD to give loans to farmers.

iii. PM says small traders and businesses with a turnover of up to Rs 2 crore, 6% tax will be levied instead of 8% if they accept payments through banking and digital means.

iv. For pregnant women, a national scheme launched. Would be Mothers will get Rs. 6,000 for their delivery, vaccination, and nutritious meals.

2. RBI EXTENDS THE DEMONETIZED CURRENCY EXCHANGE DATE FOR NRIS

i. The Reserve Bank of India has taken a relief providing decision for the Non-Resident Indian and Indian Citizens who were staying abroad since November 9 to December 31 post demonetization decision.

ii. The Indian Citizens can exchange their demonetized notes up to March 31, 2017 while the Non Resident Indian citizens can avail this facility up to June 30, 2017.

iii. The bank informed that there would not be any limit for Indian residents while for the NRIs the maximum limit would be Rs 25,000.

3. JUSTICE MIAN SAQIB NISAR APPOINTED AS 25TH CHIEF JUSTICE OF PAK

i. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has taken oath as the 25th Chief Justice of Pakistan.

ii. Justice Nisar has replaced Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali.

4. SIKKIM BECAME INDIA’S FIRST FULLY ORGANIC STATE

i. Sikkim has emerged as the India’s first fully organic state by converting around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land into sustainable cultivation.

ii. PM Narendra Modi formally certified Fully Organic State Status to Sikkim at a sustainable agriculture conference in Gangtok.

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