DAILY CURRENT
AFFAIRS: 7 JAN 2018
(DAILY NEWS INDIA)
SHARED BY: WWW.DAILYGK.IN
1.
WORLD BOOK FAIR BEGINS IN NEW DELHI WITH FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENT
i. New Delhi World Book Fair 2018 began on January 6 at Pragati
Maidan, New Delhi.
i. The main theme of New Delhi World Book Fair 2018 is ‘Environment
and Climate Change’. The theme pavilion (made from environmental-friendly
material like bamboo, cane and jute) highlights various environment-related
issues like global warming, climate change, water pollution and other relevant
matters.
ii. This fair is being jointly organised by the National Book
Trust and India Trade Promotion Organisation. It is spread over 30000 sq m
space and has more than 1500 stalls.
2.
NEW DELHI HOSTED CONFERENCE ON TRANSFORMATION OF ASPIRATIONAL
DISTRICTS
i. Conference on Transformation of Aspirational Districts organized
by NITI Aayog was held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, in New Delhi.
ii. The conference focused on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
vision of a New India by 2022. PM Narendra Modi interacted with officials
in-charge of transformation of around 100 districts.
iii. Government officials such as Additional Secretary and Joint
Secretary have been made officers in-charge for the transformation of districts
initiative. The officers in-charge work to help deliver the efforts of
government in transforming districts that lag in certain parameters.
3.
ATAL PENSION YOJANA SUBSCRIBER BASE TOUCHES 80 LAKH-MARK
i. The Atal Pension Yojana’s subscriber base reached a mark of 80
lakhs subscribers. The Atal Pension Yojana is run by the Pension Fund
Regulatory and Development Authority of India. It has reached 80 lakh
subscribers.
ii. Uttar Pradesh has highest number of subscribers (11.41 lakh).
It is followed by Bihar (8.87 lakh) and Tamil Nadu (6.60 lakh). The PFRDA had
taken initiatives like account statement view and e-PRAN. It has also
introduced online registration facility for the scheme.
4.
INDIA’S FIRST NATIONAL PARK FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED PEOPLE INAUGURATED
IN HYDERABAD
i. Telangana State Government inaugurated India’s 1st National
Park for differently abled people in Hyderabad. The park has speech therapist,
vocational training instructors and physiotherapist for the differently-abled
children.
ii. The park was inaugurated by Telangana Municipal administration
and Urban Development Minister K.T. Rama Rao.
iii. At the inauguration, Mr. Rao stated that Telangana State
Government is also planning an Information technology park on similar lines.
5.
HIMALAYAN HYDRO EXPO BEGINS IN KATHMANDU
i. Himalayan Hydro Expo began at the Exhibition Hall of
Bhrikutimandap, in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Himalayan Hydro Expo 2018 is jointly
organised by the Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal and Event
Management Services. The expo is conducted for 3 days.
ii. The expo was inaugurated by Bidya Devi Bhandari, President of
Nepal. The objective of the expo is to project the hydro power potential of
Nepal and to bring together all the stakeholders at one place.
iii. Delegates from countries like India, Austria, China, Czech
Republic and Norway are taking part in the expo. Hydro power related products
and services are displayed in the expo. Seminars, discussions and competitions
are conducted for students.
6.
TIHCL GETS RBI NOD TO OPERATE AS NBFC
i. Telangana Industrial Health Clinic Ltd, a State government
initiative, has got RBI clearance to register and function as a non-banking
finance company.
ii. It will be the first State promoted and co-financing NBFC. It
had won the SKOCH Platinum Award in September 2017 under the smart governance
category in the MSME segment.
7.
CHINA TO BUILD SECOND FOREIGN NAVAL BASE IN PAKISTAN
i. China is planning to build its 2nd foreign naval base in
Pakistan. This will be China’s 2nd foreign naval base after Djibouti, in the
Horn of Africa in Indian Ocean. The base in Djibouti was formally opened in
August 2017.
8.
PAYTM PAYMENTS BANK, INDUSIND TIE UP FOR FD FACILITY
i. Paytm Payments Bank has partnered Induslnd Bank to introduce a
facility to create a fixed deposit when the customer balance exceeds Rs. 1 lakh
at the end of the day.
ii. Paytm Payments Bank customers can redeem their deposits
instantly, anytime without paying any pre-closure or miscellaneous charges and
can earn up to 6.85% annual interest.
9.
GOVERNMENT FORECASTS GDP GROWTH AT 6.5% IN CURRENT FISCAL
i. Central Statistics Office has announced the first advance
estimates of National Income 2017-18 and stated that growth in India’s Gross
Domestic Product during 2017-18 is estimated at 6.5% as compared to 7.1% in
2016-17.
ii. This has been the slowest growth in past 4 years as GDP growth
was 7.1% in 2016-17, 8% in 2015-16 and 7.5% in 2014-15. GDP growth in first
half of 2017-18 was only 6% owing to lingering effects of demonetisation in November
2016 and disruptions caused due to rollout of goods and services tax in July
2017.
iii. As per CSO estimates, growth in agriculture, forestry and
fishing is likely to slow to 2.1% in 2017-18 as compared to 4.9% in 2016-17. Growth
in manufacturing sector too is expected to slow down to 4.6% in current fiscal
as compared to 7.9% in 2016-17.
10. DIPLOMAT
T S TIRUMURTI APPOINTED ECONOMIC RELATIONS SECRETARY
i. T S Tirumurti was appointed as the Secretary (Economic
Relations) in the External Affairs Ministry. T S Tirumurti replaces Vijay
Keshav Gokhale as Secretary (Economic Relations) in the External Affairs
Ministry. Vijay Keshav Gokhale was recently appointed as Foreign Secretary.
ii. T S Tirumurti is a Indian Foreign Service officer of the
1985-batch. He is currently the High Commissioner of India to Malaysia. Earlier
he has worked as Under Secretary (Bhutan), Director (Foreign Secretary’s
Office), Joint Secretary (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives) and
Joint Secretary (United Nations Economic and Social).
11. ELITE
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS IN HARYANA
i. The 2nd edition of the Elite Women’s National Boxing
Championship, began in Haryana.
ii. The Elite Women’s National Boxing Championship is considered
as selection trials for the upcoming Common Wealth Games and the Asian Games. Boxers
like Sarita Devi, Sarjubala, Sonia Lather are participating in the tournament.
Around 300 top boxers participate in the tournament.
iii. Performance director for the Elite women’s team Raffael
Bergamasco and women’s team head coach Shiv Singh are also present in the
tournament.
OBJECTIVE
QUESTIONS BASED ON TODAY’S NEWS
Q1. ATAL
PENSION YOJANA SUBSCRIBER BASE TOUCHES 80 LAKH-MARK. WHICH STATE HAS THE
HIGHEST NUMBER OF SUBSCRIBERS?
a) Maharashtra
b) Gujarat
c) Madhya Pradesh
d) Uttar Pradesh
Q2. WORLD
BOOK FAIR 2018, WITH FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENT WAS HOSTED BY WHICH INDIAN STATE?
a) Karnataka
b) Kerala
c) New Delhi
d) Maharashtra
Q3. IN
WHICH CITY OF TELANGANA STATE, INDIA’S FIRST NATIONAL PARK FOR DIFFERENTLY
ABLED PEOPLE WAS INAUGURATED?
a) Karimnagar
b) Hyderabad
c) Nalgonda
d) Warangal
Q4. WHICH
STATE HOSTED THE CONFERENCE ON TRANSFORMATION OF ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS 2018?
a) New Delhi
b) Punjab
c) Karnataka
d) Manipur
Q5. WHICH
COUNTRY HOSTED THE HIMALAYAN HYDRO EXPO 2018?
a) Pakistan
b) Myanmar
c) Nepal
d) Bhutan
ANSWERS:
1 - D 2 - C 3 - B 4
- A 5 - C
