DAILY CURRENT
AFFAIRS: 17TH MAR 2017
(DAILY NEWS INDIA)
1.
CABINET APPROVALS ON MARCH 15, 2017
i. The Union Cabinet under the chairmanship of PM Shri
Narendra Modi gave its approval for signing of a Memorandum of Understanding
between Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie and
Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management, Namibi.
ii. The government was apprised of the Memorandum of
Understanding signed between India with Indonesia for cooperation in youth and
sports matters and Kyrgyz Republic for cooperation in the field of youth
development.
iii. Cabinet also gave its approval to the revised
Memorandum of Understanding and Mode of Operation between India and Bangladesh
for establishing Border Haats on India-Bangladesh Border.
iv. Narendra Modi approved signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding between the Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships,
Ministry of Shipping and the Department of Shipping, Government of Bangladesh
on Aids to Navigation.
v. The Centre has approved to increase the Dearness
Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to pensioners to
4% from the existing rate of 2% with effect from January 1, 2017.
2.
TAMIL NADU FINANCE MINISTER JAYAKUMAR PRESENTS TAX-FREE BUDGET FOR 2017-18
i. The Tamil Nadu Finance Minister D Jayakumar presented a
tax free and revenue deficit budget for the fiscal 2017-18 in the state
Legislative Assembly. It is the 1st Budget presented by the state Finance
Minister as well as the 1st budget of the AIADMK government headed by E.
Palaniswami.
ii. Total Revenue Receipts: Rs 1,59,363 cr, Total
Expenditure: Rs 1,75,293 cr.
iii. Revenue Deficit: Rs 15,930 cr, Fiscal Deficit: Rs
41,977 cr (2.79% of GDP)
3.
INDIA AMONG OTHER SOUTH EAST ASIAN COUNTRY SIGNS WHO’S CALL TO END TB BY 2030
i. India along with other South East Asian Region countries
signed a ‘Call for Action’ to end tuberculosis and pledged to take efforts to end
the disease by 2030.
ii. The ‘call for
action’ was signed by the Health ministers of the WHO’s South-East Asia Region
countries and the World Health Organization on the concluding day of the 2 day
ministerial meeting towards ending TB in the region.
iii. The initiative envisages scale-up efforts and
implementing adequately funded, innovative, multi-sectoral and comprehensive
measures to achieve the global target to end the disease by 2030.
4.
HDFC BANK LAUNCHES INDIA’S FIRST DIGITAL LOANS AGAINST SECURITIES
i. HDFC Bank in collaboration with National Securities
Depository Limited has launched an instant Digital Loan against Securities
product.
ii. LAS will reduce the time to disburse the overdraft
facility in just 3 minutes rather than several days previously. This is a
1st-of-its-kind initiative in India and probably the 1st in the world as well.
iii. Under this facility, customers can pledge shares
directly through their demat accounts and give necessary approvals while
applying for the loan.
iv. Shares dematerialised by NSDL and executed through HDFC
Bank demat account could be used for pledging.
5.
SINGAPORE’S CHANGI AIRPORT NAMED WORLD’S BEST AIRPORT FOR 5TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
i. Singapore based Changi Airport was named as the World’s
Best Airport for the 5th consecutive year at the 2017 Skytrax World Airport
Awards held at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
ii. This is the 8th time that Changi Airport has been
awarded the top international title at the World Airport Awards since it was
introduced in 2000.
iii. Tokyo International Airport is at 2nd place and Incheon
International Airport at 3rd followed by Munich Airport and Hong Kong
International Airport at 4th and 5th.
6.
AMARINDER SINGH TAKES OATH AS CHIEF MINISTER OF PUNJAB
i. Captain Amarinder Singh took oath as the 26th CM of
Punjab at the Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh thus paving way for the return of the
Congress to power in the state after a gap of 10 years.
ii. The oath of office was administered by Punjab governor
VP Singh Badnore.
iii. This is the 2nd time that Punjab Pradesh Congress
Committee chief Amarinder Singh takes oath as chief minister.
iv. Some of the other ministers who took oath include
Manpreet Singh Badal, Razia Sultana, MLA from Malerkotla, Rana Gurjit Singh,
Aruna Chaudhary and Brahm Mohindra.
7.
PAKISTAN SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRES LAND BASED ANTI-SHIP MISSILE
i. Pakistan Navy has successfully test-fired ground-to-sea
missile from the coastal region.
ii. The trial was witnessed by Vice Chief of Naval Staff
Admiral Khan Hisham Bin Siddique.
iii. The missile is equipped with modern technology
avionics, secured a hit on a target placed at sea with a high degree of
accuracy.
iv. This missile would strengthen Pakistan’s defence and
operational capabilities.
OBJECTIVE QUESTION BASED
ON TODAY’S NEWS
Q1.
INDIA AND OTHER SOUTH EAST ASIAN REGION SIGNED A WHO’S CALL FOR ACTION ON MARCH
16, 2017 TO END TUBERCULOSIS (TB) BY WHICH YEAR?
a) 2020
b) 2019
c) 2023
d) 2030
Q2.
THE UNION CABINET APPROVED TO INCREASE THE DEARNESS ALLOWANCE/ DEARNESS RELIEF
TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES/PENSIONERS FROM 2% TO ______ %.
a) 5%
b) 4%
c) 6%
d) 3%
Q3.
WHICH BANK HAS LAUNCHED INDIA’S FIRST DIGITAL LOAN AGAINST SECURITIES SERVICES?
a) HDFC Bank
b) ICICI Bank
c) Axis Bank
d) Yes Bank
Q4.
WHO HAS BEEN SWORN IN AS THE NEW CHIEF MINISTER OF PUNJAB?
a) Manpreet Singh
Badal
b) Aruna Chaudhary
c) Amarinder Singh
d) Rana Gurjit Singh
Q5.
WHICH COUNTRY SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRES A LAND-BASED ANTI-SHIP MISSILE TO
STRENGTHEN ITS DEFENCE CAPABILITIES?
a) Russia
b) China
c) Iran
d) Pakistan
ANSWERS:
1 – D 2 - B 3
- A 4 - C 5 - D
