Current Affairs Daily Updates 7th January 2017
APPOINTMENTS
Michelle Obama selects Indo-American for education campaign
- US
First Lady Michelle Obama has selected a 16-year-old Indian-American to
serve in the inaugural Student Advisory Board of the 'Better Make Room'
education campaign.
- Swetha
Prabakaran, the only Indian-American on the list, has been chosen in
recognition of her efforts to educate the youth in computer sciences.
- She
has previously been honoured as a White House Champion of Change.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
30 Indian-Origin Men &
Women Inducted into 2017 Forbes’ Super Achievers List:
- The
2017 edition of the Forbes’ list of super achievers under the age of 30
features about 30 Indian-Origin Innovators, Entrepreneurs and
Leaders who made outstanding contribution towards
transforming the world.
- The
30 people listed belong to 20 different industries including healthcare,
manufacturing, sports and finance.
Tata Motors, Castrol announce global strategic partnership
- Tata
Motors and Castrol have signed a 3-year strategic partnership agreement.
As part of the agreement, Castrol
will supply Commercial Vehicle Oils to Tata Motors globally.
- The
agreement will cover over 50
markets including SAARC and ASEAN region, Middle East, Africa, Russia
and Latin America.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
India’s GDP growth
expected to be slower at 7.1% in 2016-17: CSO
- According
to growth projection released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO),
India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is expected to grow at a
slower pace at 7.1% in 2016-17 as compared to 7.6%
in 2015-16.
- This
estimate is in sync with the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) economic growth
forecast and is largely based on data from the first seven months of the
year. The slowdown is chiefly due to an industrial slowdown.
Droom Partners with Axis
Bank for quick sanction of loans:
- Online
automobile marketplace Droom has tied up with Axis Bank
to provide quick sanction of loans on both new as well as used
cars.
- Loans
will be provided for up to 85% of the value of the car with a tenure of
1-5 years. Furthermore, loans on Used Cars can be availed on vehicles upto
the age of 10 years.
Forex reserves up $626
million at $360 billion: RBI
- The
RBI on Friday said foreign exchange reserves rose by $625.5
million to $360.296 billion in the week to December 30.
- In
the previous week, the reserves had declined by $935.2 million to $359.671
billion.
- The
reserves had touched $371.99 billion in the week to September 30, 2016.
DEATHS
Sitar Maestro Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan passes away
- Renowned
sitar player Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan, - the last survivor of the 'Sitar
Trinity' of India along with the late Pandit Ravi Shankar and UstadVilayat
Khan - died in Mumbai. He was 88.
- Conferred
with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and SangeetNatakAkademi awards, Mr Khan
hailed from the Indore Gharana and is credited for innovating the unique
music style of 'JafferkhaniBaaj'.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Japan to Help in
Developing Chennai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi Smart Cities:
- Japan’s
Ambassador to India Mr.Kenji Hiramatsu, informed about Japan’s intention
to help India with the development of Chennai, Ahmedabad and
Varanasi as smart cities.
- The
decision was announced by the Mr.Kenji during a meeting with Minister of
Urban Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu on January 5, 2017.
- Till
date many countries have come forward to aid with development of 15 smart
cities in India.
Norway to become first country to switch off FM radio
- Norway
is set to become the first country in the world to switch off its FM radio
network. In this regard, Scandinavian country’s parliament has approved a
proposal to shift to Digital Audio
Broadcasting (DAB).
- The shutdown of FM (frequency
modulation) radio will begin on January 11, 2017 from the northern city of
Bodoe. Norwegian government claims that Radio digitization will help to
save money and allow national radio stations to invest more in radio
content.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
44th New Delhi World Book
Fair begins:
- The
44th edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair began at Pragati Maidan in
national capital.
- The
theme for this edition of the event is ‘Manushi– Books Written on
and by Women’.
- It
was inaugurated by Union Minister of State (MoS) for Human Resources
Development (Higher Education) Mahendra Nath Pandey.
All India Conference of
Waqf Boards begins:
- The
All India Conference of Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of
States and Union Territories' Waqf Boards has begun in New Delhi.
- The
conference will be inaugurated by Minister of State for Minority Affairs
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
- Various
issues, including review of progress under the schemes relating to grant
of financial assistance for computerization of waqf properties,
strengthening of waqf boards and development of waqf properties by
National Waqf Development Corporation Ltd. will be discussed during the
conference.
Telangana to Provide
Monetary Help of Rs. 1000 to Single Women in State:
- The
Telangana Government led by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, announced
a new scheme on January 6, 2017, to providefinancial assistance of Rs.
1000 per month to poor single women in the state.
- The
scheme will be implemented from April 2017 and necessary
funds will be allocated in the upcoming budget.
Japan to Help in Developing Chennai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi
Smart Cities
- Japan
has decided to be associated with the development of Chennai, Ahmedabad
and Varanasi as smart cities.
- This
was conveyed by Japan’s Ambassador
to India Mr.Kenji Hiramatsu during his meeting with Minister of Urban
Development Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu.
14th Pravasi Bhartiya
Divas begins in Bengaluru:
- The
14th edition of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) has begun in Bengaluru,
Karnataka.
- The
theme of this edition is “Redefining Engagement with the Indian
Diaspora”.
- On
the first day of three day event, ‘Youth PBD’ was
inaugurated as part of the PBD 2017 with an aim to connect with the youth,
the new generation of Pravasis growing up all over the world.
- PBD
is an annual event organised since 2003 by Ministry of External Affairs to
foster greater interaction between the Indian Diaspora and Indian
government.
Delhi Government unveils
Good Samaritan Policy:
- Delhi
Government has approved ‘Good Samaritan Policy to encourage people
to help road accident victims in emergency situation.
- It
was approved by the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind
Kejriwal in New Delhi.
- This
policy will give bystanders incentive to help accident victims and more
importantly provide them with legal protection.
- Under
this policy, monetary incentive of Rs 2,000 and
appreciation certificate will be given to people who help road accident
victims in the national capital.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
China successfully
launches telecommunication technology test satellite:
- A
telecommunication technology test satellite was successfully test fired by
China from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre.
- The
satellite was launched late last night by a Long March-3B carrier
rocket.
- China
mulls to conduct a "record" number of 30 space launch missions
this year.
China launches longest high-speed train service
- China
has launched its longest high-speed train service from Kunming capital of south-west China's
Yunnan Province to Beijing.
- The
train named 'Shangri-la of the
World' left Kunming at 11:05 am on a 2,760-km trip to Beijing. The
mileage will increase to 45,000 km by 2030.
