DAILY CURRENT
AFFAIRS: 24TH MAR 2017
(DAILY NEWS INDIA)
1. CABINET APPROVALS ON MARCH 22, 2017
i.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the PM Shri Narendra Modi
has given its approval for development of 403 kms of National Highways in
Meghalaya and Mizoram and also approved the Deepening and Widening of Mumbai
Harbour Channel and JN Port Channel (Phase-II) project with fresh estimates.
ii.
Government has decided to amend the Constitution for setting up the National
Commission for socially and Educationally Backward Classes as a constitutional
body for socially and economically backward classes.
iii.
The Union Cabinet approved the following proposals with regards to NABARD Act,
1981 during the cabinet meeting.
iv.
The cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Indian
Computer Emergency Response Team under the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology and the US Homeland Security Department on cooperation
in the field of Cyber Security.
v.
The government gave its approval to amend the Right of Children to Free and
Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
vi.
Central also approved the following proposals with regard to the Fund of Funds
of Start-ups which was established in June 2016 with a corpus of Rs. 10000 cr.
2.
MINISTRY OF CULTURE ORGANIZES 5TH RASHTRIYA SANSKRITI MAHOTSAV IN NORTH EAST
REGION
i.
The Ministry of Culture is organizing the 5th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2017
from March 23-31, 2017 in the North Eastern Region of India.
ii.
The 9 days cultural festival will be inaugurated at Parade Ground, Tawang in
Arunachal Pradesh by Governor of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland Shri Padmanabha
Balakrishna Acharya.
iii.
The Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is being organized to present rich diversity
and uniqueness of Indian culture and to promote the cultural inter-linkages
amongst the states to strengthen National integration.
iv.
It also envisages reconnecting the new generation with Indian culture and
bringing together the artists of other parts of the country to get known to the
culture of North East.
v.
The festival will be implemented through the 7 Zonal Cultural Centres and other
organization under Ministry of Culture.
vi.
The North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapurhas will be the nodal agency to
carry forward the execution of the National Cultural Festival.
3.
INDIA RANKS 87 IN ENERGY ARCHITECTURE PERFORMANCE INDEX 2017
i.
India has been placed at 87th position among 127 countries in the global Energy
Architecture Performance Index 2017 by World Economic Forum.
ii.
The 5th annual index has been topped by Switzerland while Bahrain is ranked the
lowest at 127th.
iii.
Top 5 Countries are Switzerland is at 1st, Norway is at 2nd followed by Sweden,
Denmark and France.
iv.
The Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report 2017 ranks 127
countries on their ability to deliver secure, affordable, sustainable energy.
4.
SOUTH INDIAN BANK INTRODUCES AADHAR-BASED PAYMENT APP
i.
Kerala based South Indian Bank has introduced Aadhar-based UPI mobile
application SIB M-Pay.
ii.
Its aim is to promote cashless digital transactions.
iii.
SIB M-Pay will enable all bank account holders to send and receive money from
their Smartphone without bank account information.
ii.
It required only Aadhar number of the beneficiary. This feature will be a major
step towards a ‘Cashless Society’ and Aadhar ID plays a key role in Digital
India initiatives.
5.
FRENCHMEN YVES MEYER WINS 2017 ABEL PRIZE FOR WAVELETS THEORY
i.
Yves Meyer was honored with the 2017 Abel Prize, given by Norwegian Academy of
Science and Letters, in a ceremony in Oslo, Norway.
ii.
He was honored the prestigious award for his contribution in the development of
the mathematical theory of wavelets.
6.
INDIAN JOURNALIST RAVISH KUMAR CONFERRED WITH FIRST KULDIP NAYAR JOURNALISM
AWARDS
i.
Ravish Kumar, the senior executive editor of NDTV India, was awarded the
inaugural Kuldip Nayar Journalism Award at New Delhi’s India International
Centre in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the world of
Journalism.
ii.
In the event organized by the Gandhi Peace Foundation, Ravish was presented the
prestigious award by veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar after whom the award has
been named.
iii.
Ravish has earlier won several prestigious awards including the Ramnath Goenka
Award in 2013. He was also awarded the best journalist of the year 2015 by
mumbai press club.
7.
ANKUR MITTAL CLINCHES GOLD IN DOUBLE TRAP EVENT IN ISSF WORLD CUP MEXICO
i.
Indian shooter Ankur Mittal won the gold medal at the International Shooting
Sport Federation Shotgun World Cup in the men’s double trap event at Acapulco,
Mexico.
ii.
Ankur Mittal beat Australia’s James Willet. With this, India got its 1st medal
of the competition.
iii.
Earlier in February 2017, Mittal won silver medal at ISSF World Cup in New
Delhi.
8.
INDIA BAGS 8 MEDALS IN IPC ATHLETICS GRAND PRIX 2017
i.
The 9th edition of Fazza International IPC Athletics Grand Prix Competition
held in Dubai, UAE.
ii.
During the course of event, Indian para athletes won total 8 Medals including 3
Gold, 1 Silver and 4 Bronze.
iii.
With this India has been ranked 7th among 48 participating countries in terms
of medal tally.
iv.
Sundar Singh Gurjar won a gold in both men’s Javelin Throw F-46 and Discus
Throw F-46 competitions.
v.
Narender Ranbir was bagged gold in men’s Javelin Throw F-44.
9.
WORLD METEORLOGICAL DAY: MARCH 23, 2017
i.
World Meteorological Day is observed annually on March 23 annually in various
part of the world to remember the World Meteorological Organization’s
establishment.
ii.
2017 Theme was ‘Understanding Clouds’.
iii.
This year theme highlights the enormous importance of clouds for weather
climate and water.
iv.
World Meteorological Organisation’s recent report indicate that extreme weather
and climate conditions have continued in 2017 even as the year 2016 made
history, with a record global temperature, exceptionally low sea ice, and
unabated sea level rise and ocean heat.
ii.
A new edition of the International Cloud Atlas has launched as a part of 2017
WMD celebration.
10.
86TH MARTYRS’ DAY OF BHAGAT SINGH, SUKHDEV AND SHIVARAM: MARCH 23, 2017
i.
Every year, March 23 is observed as Martyr’s Day (Shaheed Diwas) by India to commemorate
the death anniversary of 3 of India’s freedom struggle heroes namely Shaheed
Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Hari Rajguru.
ii.
2017 Martyr’s Day marks the 86th death anniversary of the courageous leaders.
iii.
On the occasion of Shaheed Diwas 2017, PM Narendra Modi also paid tributes to
the 3 freedom fighters remembering their courage & sacrifice.
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS BASED
ON TODAY’S NEWS
Q1.
WHO HAS BEEN AWARDED THE 2017 ABEL PRIZE?
a) Andrew J. Wiles
b) Yves Meyer
c) Yakov Sinai
d) Louis Nirenberg
Q2.
WHAT IS THE THEME OF THE 2017 WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY?
a) Weather and Climate: Engaging Youth
b) Climate Knowledge for Climate Action
c) Hotter, Drier, Wetter, Face the Future
d) Understanding Clouds
Q3.
WHO IS THE WINNER OF THE 2017 INTERNATIONAL SHOOTING SPORT FEDERATION SHOTGUN
WORLD CUP, MEXICO, IN MEN’S DOUBLE TRAP EVENT?
a) Ankur Mittal
b) Subhankar Pramanick
c) Gagan Narang
d) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore
Q4.
HOW MUCH AMOUNT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 403
KMS OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS IN MEGHALAYA AND MIZORAM DURING A CABINET MEETING?
a) Rs. 5,999 cr
b) Rs 6,721 cr
c) Rs. 6,500 cr
d) Rs. 7,120 cr
Q5.
NAME THE INDIAN JOURNALIST WHO HAS BEEN CONFERRED WITH THE INAUGURAL KULDIP
NAYAR JOURNALISM AWARD?
a) Rohit Sardana
b) Barkha Dutt
c) Ravish Kumar
d) Sudhir Choudhary
ANSWERS:
1 - B 2 - D 3 - A 4 - B 5
- C
