Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 19th January, 2017

Digi Dhan Melas: Consumers, merchants win prizes worth Rs 61 Cr

i.Over three lakh 80 thousand consumers and twenty-one thousand merchants have won prize money worth around 61 crore rupees at 24 Digi-Dhan Melas across the country.

ii. This was disclosed by the Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in New Delhi Government’s efforts to give a boost to the digital payment systems and cashless economy have evoked good response from the people.

iii.People from different age groups, occupations and walks of life have taken part in a big way in the Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana giving a fillip to digital transactions.

Cabinet Approvals:18 January 2017

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given some cabinet approval on 18 January 2017 are as follows:

1. Cabinet approves MoU between India and Serbia for cooperation in the field of Information Technology and Electronics

2. Cabinet approves India’s Membership in the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), South Korea

3. Cabinet approves MoU on cooperation on Youth matters between India and Russia

4. Cabinet apprised of the MoU between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) for cooperation in the field of outer space

5. Cabinet approves MoU between India and Vietnam In the field of cyber security

6. Cabinet approves Trade Agreement negotiations with Peru

7. Cabinet gives approval to the package for supporting Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) – Augmentation of Corpus of Credit Guarantee Trust Fund for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE)

8. Cabinet approves the Establishment of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Jharkhand

9. Cabinet approves MOU between India and the United Arab Emirates for cooperation in the field of Small and Medium Enterprises and Innovation

10. Cabinet approves MOU between India and the United Arab Emirates for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors

11. Cabinet approves amendment in Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme

12. Cabinet approves MoU between India and the United Arab Emirates on Institutional Cooperation in Maritime Transport

13. Cabinet approves MoU between India and the United Arab Emirates on the Mutual Recognition of Certificates of Competency as per the provisions of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW, 78) and amendments thereof

14. Cabinet approves the exclusion of States from the investments of National Small Savings Fund

15. Cabinet approves MoU between India and the United Arab Emirates on Bilateral Cooperation in the Road Transport and Highways sector

16. Cabinet approves the introduction of the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2017 to repeal 105 Acts.

Bengaluru Ranked Most Dynamic City in the World in WEF Report

i.India’s IT Hub, Bengaluru has been ranked at the top position in the 2017 City .

ii.Momentum Index released the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting being held in Davos. The index identifies the most dynamic cities of the world.

iii.From India six cities have find place in top 30 most dynamic cities.

iv.Besides Bengaluru other Indian cities in the list includes Hyderabad (5), Pune (13), Chennai (17), Delhi (23) and Mumbai (25).The rankings are based on parameters such as population, technology and R&D, connectivity, output and corporate activity, education, and real estate investment.

Govt clears six FDI proposals worth Rs. 1186.5 crore

The government has cleared six foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals totalling ₹1186.5 crore. These include four from pharmaceutical companies including Sanofi-Synthelabo and Boehringer Ingelheim.

Only cash, deposits can be declared under PMGKY

i.Undisclosed income in assets such as jewellery, stock or immovable property or in foreign bank accounts will not be accepted under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY).

ii.The Central Board of Direct Taxes on stated that only undisclosed income in domestic bank accounts, post offices or stashed elsewhere will be accepted under the scheme.

iii.Only income represented in the form of cash or deposit in an account maintained with specified entity can be declared.

Cabinet clears proposals for listing 5 PSU general insurers

i.The Cabinet has given its in-principle nod for listing of all the five general insurance companies.

ii.The five general insurance companies are the New India Assurance Company Ltd, United India Insurance Company Ltd, Oriental Insurance Company Ltd, National Insurance Company Ltd and General Insurance Company Ltd.

iii.The Centre's shareholding would be divested from 100% to 75% in one or more tranches over a period of time, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

Prez Mukherjee inaugurate 28th Dantan Gramin Mela in West Bengal

i.President Pranab Mukherjee is due to inaugurate the 28th Dantan Gramin Mela in West Midnapore district in West Bengal.

ii.He is on a 4-day visit to West Bengal. The fair will display the rural handicraft skills of the people of the region.

iii.The different goods ranging from textile to terracotta will be on display.

Anandam Scheme Launched in Madhya Pradesh to Help Poor

i.Madhya Pradesh government lead by Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched Aanandam programme of the newly-formed Aanand Department.

ii.Aanandam scheme will help the poor people to get the daily needs like like jackets, sarees, blankets, utensils, school bags from the wealthy people.

iii. For this particular place is alloacted in each district to collect these items.The people who wishes to help others can visit website www.anandsansthanmp.in to become Anandak under Anandam SchemNonGovernmentent organisations, Government employees, cultural and business organisations can participate in this programe.

Meghalaya’s Mawlynnong village becomes a role model for cleanliness

i.Mawlynnong village in Meghalaya has become a role model for other states in maintaining cleanliness known as Asia’s cleanest village.

ii.Mawlynnong has become tourists’ hotspot.The Secretary of the village committee stated that, all 90 families of the village constructed toilets in 1989.

iii.Under Swachh Bharat Mission, three public toilets have been constructed in the village. Over 500 tourists from across the country and abroad visit the village daily, which is located 80 kilometers away from capital Shillong.

West Bengal Set to Give Legal Protection to Hilsa Fish

i.The West Bengal State Department of Fisheries has announced to protect the endangered Hisla Fish from getting extinct and thus has proposed to introduce law to arrest anyone found in illegal catching, buying or selling of Hilsa fish weighing less than 500 grams.

ii.With the introduction of the proposed provision, Hilsa Fish would become the first fish to get legal protection.

PNB, India Post Bank team up

Punjab National Bank and India Post Payments Bank have signed a memorandum of understanding, whereby PNB will provide technology platform for pilot launch of IPPB on receipt of regulatory nod from the Reserve Bank of India.IPPB has been incorporated under the Department of Posts with 100 per cent government equity.

Scientists names 3 diseases that could cause next global health emergency

i.Scientists have named three relatively little-known diseases they think could cause the next global health emergency.

ii.A coalition of governments and charities has committed 460 million dollars to speed up vaccine development for Mers, Lassa fever and Nipah virus.

iii.They are asking funders at the World Economic Forum Davos for another 500 million dollars.

30 More Countries to Join Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank

i.The Foreign Ministry spokesperson of China, Hua Chunying stated that thirty more countries have applied for joining the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) besides 57 founding members.

ii.It was officially established with 57 founding members and authorized capital of USD 100 billion.China is the largest shareholder of the bank having 26.6% voting shares. India is the second largest shareholder with 7.5% followed by Russia 5.93% and Germany with 4.5%.

Bharti AXA General appoints Sanjeev Srinivasan as CEO, MD

Bharti AXA General Insurance today said it has appointed Sanjeev Srinivasan as CEO and Managing Director.Srinivasan joined Bharti AXA General Insurance in August 2016 as Chief Commercial and Principal Officer and now takes over the role of CEO and MD.

ICICI Pru acquires 8.41% stake in Fino Paytech for Rs 100 crore

i.ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has acquired 8.41 per cent stake in Fino Paytech Ltd (FPL) for a total consideration of Rs 100 crore.

ii.FPL provides technology-based solutions and services related to financial inclusion. Earlier this month, FPL was granted payment bank licence by the RBI.

NASA Set to Explore Iron-Rich Asteroid 16 Psyche

i.The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has given its approval to explore an iron-rich asteroid 16 Psyche as a part of its mission to learn more about the history and composition of the celestial body.

ii.Scientists believe that 16 Psyche is one of the most mysterious objects in the solar system at a distance of about 230 million miles (370 million km) away from Earth and located in the large asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

World witnesses hottest year on record in 2016

i.The world witnessed the hottest year on record in 2016, surpassing the exceptionally high temperatures of 2015, the UN weather agency stated.

ii.The globally average temperature in 2016 was about 1.1 degree Celsius higher than the pre-industrial period, according to a consolidated analysis by the World Meteorological Organization.

C.V. Vishveshwara, Pioneer of Black Hole Discovery Dies at 78

i.Veteran Indian Scientist CV Vishveshwara and pioneer in the discovery of black hole in India died of prolonged illness.He was 78.

ii.He worked extensively on the theory of black holes and made major contributions to this field of research since its very beginning.

Kapil Dev inducted into Legends Club Hall of Fame

Cricket icon Kapil Dev was inducted into Legends Club ‘Hall of Fame’ at the Cricket Club of India on January 17, 2017.Former India player and Legends Club president Madhav Apte presented Kapil with a citation.

Despite Difficulties, Indian Women Boxers Score 6 Medals In Serbia

i.Stranded at the airport for nearly 24 hours and without their luggage for a good part of the competition, Indian women boxers had to deal with more than just opponents at the Nation’s Cup in Serbia but showed tremendous fortitude to return with half a dozen medals.

ii.The 10-member team returned to the country early this morning with 6 medals after finishing third in the competition behind powerhouses Kazakhstan and Russia.

iii.Haryana-girl Neeraj (51kg), competing in his maiden international tournament, stood out with a gold medal, while Sarjubala Devi (48kg), Priyanka Chaudhary (60kg), Pooja (69kg) and Seema Punia settled for silver medals. Veteran Kavita Goyat (75kg) was the lone bronze-medallist.