Important Current Affairs Daily Updates (23rd June 2017) - Specially for Upcoming Exams 2017

Important Current Affairs Daily Updates (23rd June 2017) - Specially for Upcoming Exams 2017:

Dear Readers, 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.

Rural Uttarakhand and rural Haryana have declared themselves as the 4th and 5th Open Defecation Free (ODF) States of India

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G), rural Uttarakhand and rural Haryana have declared themselves as the 4th and 5th Open Defecation Free (ODF) States of India, respectively. The two states joined the league of Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Kerala, which were the first three states to be declared ODF. Nationally, the sanitation coverage has increased from 42% to over 64% in just two and a half years since the launch of SBM.

Useful Info:

The first ODF state of the country –Kerala

53 New Projects for 9 Cities Approved in Odisha under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

The state government approved 53 urban projects with a total investment of Rs 538 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). The scheme, launched in nine urban places in the state since 2015-16 fiscal, has aimed at strengthening drinking water distribution network, development of sewerage system, storm water management, up-gradation of city transport system and development of amusement parks. Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Berhampur, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Balasore, Bhadrak and Baripada are the nine places where the scheme is being implemented with fund sharing patter of 50:50 between the Centre and state government.

Useful Info:

State – Odisha

Capital – Bhubaneswar

CM – Naveen Patnaik

Governor - Senayangba Chubatoshi Jamir

AMRUT - Providing basic services (e.g. water supply, sewerage, urban transport) to households and build amenities in cities which will improve the quality of life for all, especially the poor and the disadvantaged.

The Department of Science and Technology has launched the Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (VAJRA) scheme to attract Indian scientists abroad

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) under Ministry of Science and Technology has launched the Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (VAJRA) scheme in a bid to bring together the Indian scientists abroad and India-based researchers for conducting joint researches in India. The web portal of VAJRA was launched by Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan. The motive behind the launching of VAJRA scheme is to bring the best of the world to India and conduct research in the country itself. It aims to convert brain-drain into brain-gain.

Useful Info:

Minister of Science & Technology, Earth Science – Dr. Harsh Vardhan

Constituency – Chandni Chowk (Delhi)

Government announces another 30 cities under Smart City Mission

Government today announced the names of another 30 cities for development as smart cities under Smart City Mission. With this the total number of smart cities has gone up to 90. Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala has topped the list. Announcing the new batch of smart cities at a National Workshop on Urban Transformation, in New Delhi, Urban development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said, 45 cities contested for 40 available smart city slots but only 30 were selected.

MeitY launches Web Portal for smooth GST implementation

In order to ensure smooth GST implementation from 1st July, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched a dedicated Webpage for facilitating taxpayers with regard to addressing issues related to Information Technology Services and Electronics goods. Webpage can be accessed through Ministry’s Web Portal www.meity.gov.in Individuals, Companies and Entrepreneurs in IT and Electronics sector can visit the webpage for sector-specific information. It also enables filing of grievances in relation to implementation of GST.

Useful Info:

Cabinet Minister for Electronics & Information technology – Ravi Shankar Prasad

Constituency – Bihar (Rajya Sabha)

INTERNATIONAL

US has cleared the sale of 22 unmanned Guardian drones to India

The US has cleared the sale of 22 unmanned Guardian drones to India. This deal has been termed as a “game changer” ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington for his maiden meeting with President Donald Trump. The deal, estimated to be worth $2 to 3 billion, has been approved by the State Department. The sale of 22 predator drones being manufactured by General Atomics is “a game changer” for US-India relations as it operationalises the status of “major defense partner.” Mr. Modi’s first meeting with Mr. Trump has been scheduled to take place at the White House on June 26.

Useful Info:

Drone - An unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot aboard. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system; which include a UAV, a ground-based controller, and a system of communications between the two.

Country – United States of America

Capital – Washington D.C

Currency – US Dollar

President – Donald Trump

Vice President - Mike Pence

Current Indian ambassador to US - Navtej Sarna

According to Mercer's 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey, Mumbai is the most expensive city in India

Mumbai is the most expensive city for expatriates in India and is ranked higher than major global cities such as Paris, Canberra, Seattle and Vienna. According to Mercer's 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey, Mumbai is placed 57th on the list while New Delhi was placed at 99. Chennai (135), Bangalore (166) and Kolkata (184) were the other Indian cities on the list. Luanda, the capital of Angola, was the costliest city, driven by cost of goods and security, followed by Hong Kong and Tokyo at the second and third places, respectively.

Useful Info:

Country – Angola

Capital – Luanda

Currency – Kwanza

Mercer is the world's largest human resources consulting firm, Headquartered in New York City

BANKING & ECONOMY

The Reserve Bank of India reconstituted the Oversight Committee by appointing three more members

The Reserve Bank of India reconstituted the Oversight Committee by appointing three more members. The high-level panel was formed to examine the process to resolve mounting bad loans in the banking sector. According to the RBI former chief vigilance commissioner, Pradeep Kumar will head the now reconstituted 5-member panel. Besides Kumar, the other members of the committee are former SBI Chairman Janki Ballabh, former Canara Bank Chairman and MD MBN Rao, former Chairman of L&T Finance YM Deosthalee and S Raman, member SEBI. Raman would be inducted into the panel from September 7, 2017 after he completes the term at SEBI. The expansion follows promulgation of the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 last month.

APPOINTMENT

Vladimir Voronkov appointed as Under-Secretary-General of UN Counter-Terrorism Office

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov of the Russian Federation as Under-Secretary-General of the newly created United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office. The office is established under the General Assembly resolution 71/291 on 15 June 2017.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

PSLV-C38, carrying 31 satellites, has been lifted off from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh

Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) workhorse rocket PSLV C-38 lifted off from the spaceport of Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh carrying the Cartosat-2 series satellite - a dedicated satellite for the defense forces - along with 30 co-passenger satellites.The 30 satellites will together weigh 243 kg and the total weight of all the 31 satellites, including Cartosat, is about 955 kg.The co-passenger satellites comprise 29 nano satellites from 14 countries - Austria, Belgium, Britain, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and the US as well as one Indian nanosatellite.

Useful Info:

ISRO - Indian Space Research Organisation

HQ – Bengaluru

Current Chairman – A.S. Kiran Kumar

Satish Dhawan Space Centre is located in Sriharikota Andhra Pradesh

Indian agricultural microbiologist Shrihari Chandraghatgi has been conferred the Ministry of Environment Award for 2017 in Japan

Indian agricultural microbiologist Shrihari Chandraghatgi has been conferred the Ministry of Environment Award for 2017 in Japan for developing cutting edge technologies to address burning environmental problems. Chandraghatgi, who is President and CEO of EcoCycle Corporation, is the first foreigner to be given the Ministry of Environment Award, the highest award in the environmental sector in Japan.

Useful Info:

Country – Japan

Capital – Tokyo

Currency – Japanese yen

Prime Minister - Shinzō Abe