Daily Current Affairs Updates – 13th May 2017

Daily Current Affairs Updates – 13th May 2017:

Daily Current affairs News Updates about the National and International events were listed here. Candidates those who are preparing for IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk exam and all other competitive exams can use this.

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Nitin Gadkari launches NHAI's first Masala Bond in UK

The Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has launched the NHAI’s (National Highways Authority of India) Masala Bond at the London Stock Exchange, UK. The NHAI witnessed an overwhelming response from a wide range of investors, some of them were first-timers to participate in a Masala Bond market. The initially benchmarked issue of Rs. 1,500 crore was upsized to Rs. 3,000 crore at a price yielding 7.30% annually in view of the highly positive response from the investor market. According to the London Stock Exchange, there are 38 Masala Bonds currently in the market, raising around 5 billion dollars.

Gujarat govt launches implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojna

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has launched the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojna in the state. AIR correspondent reports that the scheme will cover more than 14,000 homeless families in the rural areas in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Anand, Aravalli and Kheda districts.

State : Gujarat

Capital : Gandhinagar

Chief Minister : Vijay Rupani

Governor : Om Prakash Kohli

Tejas Successfully Test Fires Air-to-Air Beyond Visual Range Missile

Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft has successfully test fired Derby Air-to-Air Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missile in RADAR guided mode. The test was performed on a Manoeuvrable Aerial Target at the Interim Test Range (ITR), Chandipur. The objective behind the test was to assess the Derby integration with aircraft systems on-board Tejas including the aircraft avionics, fire-control radar, launchers and Missile Weapon Delivery System and evaluate its performance. The test firing achieved all its planned objectives and the missile hit directly on the target with complete destruction of it. The flawless launch is a major step towards clearing BVR capabilities on LCA aircraft for final operational clearance.

Aadhaar not mandatory for PAN, ITR in J&K, Assam & Meghalaya: Govt

Government has exempted the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Meghalaya and citizens above 80 years from mandatory quoting of Aadhaar to obtain PAN cards and file tax returns. In a notification, the Finance Ministry said, the exemption has been given to an individual who does not possess the Aadhaar number or the enrolment ID. The exemption will also apply on non-residents and non-citizens. The government, under the Finance Act 2017, has made it mandatory for taxpayers to quote Aadhaar or enrolment ID of the Aadhaar application form for filing tax returns. Besides, quoting Aadhaar has also been made mandatory for applying for PAN with effect from 1st of July.

GM crop regulator approves commercial use of GM mustard

GM crop regulator of India has recommended the commercial use of genetically modified mustard in a submission to the Environment Ministry amid opposition by anti-GM groups. The nodal regulator for Genetically Modified GM crop, The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee(GEAC) has given a positive recommendation with certain conditions. Now, GEAC has pushed the hybrid plant developed by scientists at the Delhi University closer to becoming the country's first edible GM crop.

Earlier, GEAC reviewed a report of a sub-committee constituted to look into the safety angle of the commercial roll-out of GM mustard.

UPSC to share Online Scores of Candidates to boost Hiring

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has decided to share online scores of candidates taking competitive exams in order to boost hiring by the private sector. As per the government’s proposal, the scores of the candidates taking part in the competitive exams will be linked to the Integrated Information System for Public Recruitment Agencies, which will be a dedicated website being developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The scores made available in the website will act as a useful database for other employers to identify good, employable candidates.

No bag day to be observed today in UP govt schools

Saturdays will be no bag days in all government schools in Uttar Pradesh. The decision was taken at a high-level committee meeting headed by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Secondary Education Dr Dinesh Sharma in Lucknow yesterday. There are around 1.8 crore children studying in 1.7 lakh government schools in 75 districts of the state. Dr Sharma has instructed to submit a proposal in this regard within a week.

India, Singapore to carry out Mega Naval Exercise next week

The Indian Navy will join the Singapore Navy next week in carrying out a mega maritime exercise in the Indian Ocean where the Chinese Navy has been trying to increase its influence. Four warships of the Indian Navy and long range anti-submarine warfare aircraft P-8l would be part of the exercise with the Singapore Navy (RSN).The aim of the exercise will be to enhance and expand coordination between the two navies in the Indian Ocean Region.

Adiyogi bust declared world’s largest by Guinness Records

The 112-foot tall bust of 'Adiyogi' Lord Shiva at the Isha Yoga Foundation in Tamil Nadu has been declared the world's largest bust (sculpture) by the Guinness World Records. The bust, unveiled by PM Narendra Modi earlier this year, refers to the source of Yoga and symbolises the 112 methods of self-transformation that the first Yogi offered.

Indian Exclusion Report (IXR): Historically Disadvantaged Groups remain Worst Off

According to the 2016 Indian Exclusion Report (IXR) released by the Centre for Equity Studies (CES), in terms of exclusion from access to public goods, Dalits, Adivasis and Muslims continue to remain the worst-hit communities. The report has found out that the same historically disadvantaged groups such as Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, and persons with disabilities and age-related vulnerabilities continue to remain as the most severely and consistently excluded groups of the society.

External Affairs Ministry to hold 1st outreach programme Videsh Sampark inHyderabad today

The External Affairs Ministry is holding its first outreach programme, Videsh Sampark in Hyderabad today to create awareness among stakeholders about various welfare and safety measures being taken for overseas Indians. The day-long deliberations will focus on consular and passport services, and also about issues concerning the Diaspora. Minister of State for External Affairs Gen VK Singh will inaugurate the Conference.

India test-fires surface-to-air missile ‘Spyder’

India test fired a surface-to-air missile ‘Spyder’ from a test range in Odisha as part of missile launch practice of a series of tests of the short-range quick reaction. Spyder was test fired from a mobile launcher at launch complex 3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur and targeted a pilot-less target aircraft.

INTERNATIONAL

US prepares to ban laptops on flights from Europe

The US is expected to broaden its ban on in-flight laptops and tablets to include planes from the European Union, a move that would create logistical chaos on the world's busiest corridor of air travel. Alarmed at the proposal, European governments held urgent talks today with the US Department of Homeland Security.The ban would affect trans-Atlantic routes that carry as many as 65 million people a year on over 400 daily flights, many of them business travelers who rely on their electronics to work during the flight.

Country: US.

Capital: Washington, D.C.

President: Donald Trump

Currency: United States Dollar

US imposes sanctions on Hafiz Saeed's JuD group

US has imposed sanctions on Pakistan-based extremists and an organisation run by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) group. Director of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, John Smith said the sanctions seek to disrupt the financial support networks of terrorists who have provided support to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-ul-Dawa al-Qu'ran, Taliban, al-Qaeda and Islamic State terror group, for recruitment and funding of suicide bombers and other violent insurgent operations.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY NEWS:

New IIP, WPI Series Introduced

The government has released new-look index of industrial production (IIP) and the wholesale price index (WPI) , which have been built on the new series of data. The new IIP and WPI series has been released by Chief Statistician of India and Secretary, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, and Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion to usher in greater accuracy and improved synchronisation leading to better policies.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

Two Researchers from IIT Madras generated white light from turmeric andpomegranate

Two researchers from the Department of Chemistry at IIT Madras successfully produced white light using a mixture of two natural extracts - red pomegranate and turmeric. The experiment was conducted by former research scholar Vikram Singh along with his colleague Ashok Mishra. Both the researchers used a simple and environment-friendly procedure to extract dyes from pomegranate and turmeric.

APPOINTMENTS:

Amitabh Bachchan appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for Hepatitis in South-EastAsia Region

World Health Organization (WHO) has appointed Amitabh Bachchan as its Goodwill Ambassador for Hepatitis in South-East Asia Region. He has been appointed to boost awareness to stop the spread of hepatitis, which is one of the leading causes of liver cancer and cirrhosis. As an ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan will participate in public awareness programmes to scale up prevention measures, early diagnosis and treatment. It is estimated that around 325 million across the world suffer from chronic hepatitis which is an inflammation of the liver resulting in liver scarring, liver cancer and death if untreated.

UN chief names Britain's Mark Lowcock as humanitarian chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed British humanitarian expert Mark Lowcock as the UN Humanitarian Chief. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York that Lowcock will replace Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O'Brien in September. Lowcock is currently the top civil servant in the British Government's Department for International Development. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs mobilizes and coordinates humanitarian action with international, national and civil society partners to provide aid during disasters, emergencies and conflicts.

Organization : United Nations (UN)

Headquarters: New York City

Secretary‑General: António Guterres

SPORTS NEWS:

Anil, Jyoti bag bronze for India in Asian Wrestling

Two Indian wrestlers Anil Kumar and Jyoti Lohiya have won bronze medals in the Asian Wrestling Championship in New Delhi. Anil registered a thrilling come-from-behind 7-6 victory over Muhammadali Shamsiddinov (Uzbekistan) to clinch the bronze medal in the Greco-Roman 85kg category. Jyoti got a bronze medal in the 75-kg category after entering the semi-final. She in fact did not have to compete for the bronze medal in the semis since there was no other wrestler in her draw.