Current affairs : January 11, 2017 for all competitive exams
The World Bank has
decelerated India's growth for 2016-17 fiscal to 7% from its previous estimate
of 7.6%.The World Bank stated that immediate withdrawal of a large volume of
currency in circulation and subsequent replacement with new notes in India contributed
to slowing growth.
- Also, the country would regain momentum in the
following years with 7.6 and 7.8% growth. According to the report, India
maintains the distinction of being the fastest growing emerging market
economies of the world, bypassing China.
Modi inaugurates Nobel Prize
exhibition in Gujarat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
has inaugurated the 'The Nobel Prize' exhibition at Science City in
Gandhinagar.
- 'The Nobel Prize: Ideas Changing the World' contains
several original artifacts, both from Alfred Nobel himself and from a
number of Nobel Laureates.
- The exhibition is open to public until February 13,
2017, that too free of charge. It is a part of Nobel Prize Series India
2017, an extensive program of events taking place with the participation
of nine Nobel Laureates
Petroleum Ministry receives Silver Award for Excellence
in Citizen Centric Services:
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and the Oil Marketing Companies
Indian Oil, HPCL and BPCL collectively received Silver Award for Excellence in
Citizen Centric Services in the National Awards on e-Governance 2016-17.
- The award is in recognition of the achievements of
the Ministry and OMCs for significant innovations in the area of
e-governance and various initiatives for the LPG sector like Sahaj (online
issue of new connections), online refill payment, etc.
Income Tax Department receives Silver Award for e-filing
of Income Tax Returns project:
The Income Tax Department has been conferred the Silver Award in the
National Awards on e-Governance-2016-17 for the e-filing of Income Tax returns
and other forms project in the category “Incremental Innovations” in existing
projects.
- The award is in recognition of the achievements of
the Department in the area of e-Governance and for significant innovations
in successful e-Governance programs in the current Award period.
- The e-filing of Income Tax returns project had
already won the Silver Award in the National Awards on e-Governance in
2007-08.
Draft Notification for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules, 2016
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has invited comments
on the draft notification of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and
Marketing Rules), 2016.
- The Ministry will be notifying the proposed draft
Rules in the Gazette of India for public information.
- The objective of the Rules is to make dog breeders
and their marketers accountable and to prevent infliction of any cruelty
in this process.
Health Ministry to launch
Measles-rubella vaccine to roll out in February 2017
Health Minister J P Nadda to
launch Measles-rubella vaccine to roll out in Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep,
Puducherry and Tamil Nadu between February 3 and 4, 2017 and the pneumonia
vaccine will be introduced in Himachal Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar from March 17.
India, Kenya sign agreements
in the area of agriculture
India and Kenya have signed
agreements in the area of agriculture which was inked after delegation-level
talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta
in New Delhi.
- India is collaborating with Kenya to raise
agricultural productivity and the Loan of Credit Agreement of 100
million dollars signed for farm
mechanization will open a new dimension of engagement between the two
countries.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that expansion
of bilateral trade, greater flow of capital between two economies and
stronger developmental partnership is a priority.
India, France strengthen 50
years space bond, ink pact for satellite launch
Indian Space Research
Organisation and French Space agency (CNES) has signed a partnership agreement
in satellite launch technology.
- The agreement was signed between ISRO Chairman Kiran
Kumar and CNES President Jean-Yves Le Gall in the presence of visiting
French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Marc Ayrault.
- Space cooperation between France and India spans
over 50 years and is of the cornerstones of the Indo-French strategic
partnership.
SC orders audit of 30 lakh NGOs
The Supreme Court has directed the government to audit nearly 30 lakh NGOs
which received public funds but consistently failed to explain how they spent
the money.
- The court has also asked the government to frame
guidelines for accreditation of NGOs, the manner in which these
organisations should maintain their accounts and the procedure for
recovery in case they fail to submit their balance sheets.
- The Supreme Court demanded that the government file
a compliance report by March 31, 2017.
Cash for land is just not done: SC
Agreeing to hear the plight of the landless victims of the Sardar Sarovar
Project in detail, the Supreme Court recently observed that giving cash instead
of land to farmers who lost their fertile lands to the mega dam project is
“tentatively” not acceptable.
- The court also observed that farmers in the region
should not be left to suffer due to land acquisition.
- The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a gravity dam on the
Narmada river near Navagam, Gujarat in India. It is the largest dam and
part of the Narmada Valley Project, a large hydraulic engineering project
involving the construction of a series of large irrigation and
hydroelectric multi-purpose dams on the Narmada river.
Study throws light on groundwater, rainfall link
According to a recently conducted study, the groundwater level in north
India has been declining at a rate of 2 cm per year during the period
2002-2013, while in north-central and south India, it has increased by 1-2 cm
per year during the same period.
- The study was carried out by a team of researchers
from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar.
China deepens military ties with Malaysia
For the first time, a Chinese submarine has docked at a port in Malaysia,
signalling deepening military ties between the two countries, which are already
partners in the development of the Beijing-led Maritime Silk Road.
- The visit of the submarine is adding a prominent
military dimension to China’s ties with Malaysia which is fast emerging as
Beijing’s top partner, close to the Strait of Malacca, along the Maritime
Silk Road (MSR).
China launches 1st commercial
space mission with new rocket
China has successfully sent
three satellites into space in its first commercial mission using an updated
version of the low-cost Kuaizhou-1A rocket, amidst the Communist giant's
determined bid to expand its ambitious space program.
- The rocket, carrying the satellite JL-1 and two
CubeSats XY-S1 and Caton-1, blasted off from northwestern China's Jiuquan
Satellite Launch Center in Gansu
BIS revises Indian Standard on
gold hallmarking
Bureau of Indian Standards
(BIS) has revised Indian Standard on gold hallmarking, which is effective from
January 1, 2017.
- The hallmarked gold jewelry will now be available in
three grades of 14 karat, 18 karats, and 22 karats.
- The cartage will also be marked on jewelry in
addition to fineness for a convenience of consumers.
Former wrestler Mahavir Singh
Phogat’s biography released
Former wrestler and coach
Mahavir Singh Phogat made his way to the launch of his authorized biography
'Akhada' in Chandigarh.
- Sports journalist Saurabh Duggal released the biography.
World Cup: FIFA to expand the
competition to 48 teams
The Federation
Internationale de Football Association FIFA has decided that the World Cup will
be expanded to host 48 teams, up from 32.
- An initial stage of 16 groups of three teams will
precede a knockout stage for the remaining 32 when the change is made for
the 2026 tournament.
- The sport's world governing body voted unanimously
in favor of the change at a meeting in Zurich.
Jimmy Adams appointed new West
Indies Cricket director
West Indies turned to former
batsman Jimmy Adams into their new director of cricket Association.
- Adams played 54 Test matches for the Caribbean side
and will be able to draw upon from his vast experience as he turns his
attention to overseeing the development of West Indies cricket at all
levels.
- The 49-year-old returned to Jamaica after ending a
five-year spell as head coach of English county side Kent last October.He
replaces Englishman Richard Pybus who had been in the position since
November 2013.
Yana Kudryavtseva, 13-time
gymnastics world champion, retires aged 19
Russian rhythmic gymnast
Yana Kudryavtseva has retired from competition aged just 19, Kudryavtseva won
13 world championships from 2013 to 2015, making her the early favorite for the
all-around gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, but a foot fracture
disrupted her preparations
