Current affairs : January 12, 2017 for all competitive exams
National Youth Festival is organized every year by the Department of Youth
Affairs of Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on the birth anniversary
of Swami Vivekananda on January 12.
- This time the festival is being organized in Rohtak,
Haryana.
- Theme- Youth
for Digital India.
Air pollution a national problem
According to an analysis of 2015 data by Greenpeace India, pollution levels
in various cities across the country ae alarming.
- Of the 168 cities studied by Greenpeace India, 154
were found to have an average particulate matter level higher than the
national standard.
- While air quality in North and Central India saw
dangerous levels of particulate matter, South India appeared to have
comparatively cleaner air.
Green tribunal orders test of cosmetics containing
microbeads
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Centre to test cosmetic
products containing microbeads after a plea sought a ban on their use on the
ground they are extremely dangerous for aquatic life and environment.
- The court also said that it is the duty of the
government to ensure that no “dangerous” product is allowed to be
manufactured or sold to public and directed the Central Drugs Standard
Control Organisation to analyse the products in laboratory.
India-CERT Signs an MoU with US-CERT
India and the US have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for close
cooperation and exchange of information pertaining to cyber security.
The MoU was signed between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team
(CERT-In) and US CERT.
- The MoU intends to promote closer co-operation and
the exchange of information pertaining to the Cyber Security in accordance
with the relevant laws, rules and regulations of each economy and this
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and on the basis of equality,
reciprocity and mutual benefit.
Triple talaq certificate issued by chief kazi has no
legal sanction
The Madras high court has clarified that certificate issued by chief kazi
for triple talaq is only an opinion and has no legal sanction under the Kazis
Act, 1880.
- The court also said pending consideration by the
Muslim Personal Law Board, no certificate in respect of talaq would be
issued by the chief kazi.
- The order came on a public interest litigation
petition seeking to declare that Kazis in India, particularly Tamil Nadu,
were not empowered to certify talaq.
New fault in Indian Ocean may trigger quakes in future:
study
Scientists have found a new plate boundary being formed on the floor of the
Indian Ocean as a result of the largest earthquake that shook the
Andaman-Sumatra region in 2012. Scientists warn that the new fault system could
trigger more quakes in the future.
- Researchers have found evidence for this plate on
the floor of the Indian Ocean in the Wharton Basin.
Measles-rubella vaccine to roll out in February
Three years after the
national vaccine advisory body recommended the introduction of the
measles-rubella vaccine (MR) in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), the
vaccine is all set to be introduced from next month in five states and Union
territories as a part of the basket of preventive medications that every child
born in India is entitled to.
- The UIP basket already has ten vaccines of which
measles is one; once MR is introduced, monovalent measles will be
discontinued.
DEFCOM – 2017:
DEFCOM – 2017 was recently inaugurated in Delhi.
- Theme- ‘Infrastructure and
Skilled Human Resource for Digital Army’.
- DEFCOM is an annual seminar organised jointly by the
Corps of Signals of Indian Army and Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII).
- DEFCOM is the most seminal forum for interaction
between the officers of the Armed Forces, Indian Industry, Academia and
R&D organisations on matters related to operational communication
systems for the Army.
Government to add 40 more
towns to Smart Cities list
The government will add by
next month 40 more cities to the list of towns it wants to develop as Smart
Cities by providing funds for initiating urban reforms, Union Minister M
Venkaiah Naidu said today. The addition of 40 new cities will take the total
Smart Cities to 100.
- Since January last year, the government has
announced three lists of smart cities which will get Rs 200 crore for
improving their infrastructure.
India's annual Haj quota
increased by 34,500, biggest hike in three decades
In the biggest hike in
nearly three decades, Saudi Arabia has increased India's annual Haj quota by
34,500.
- Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Saudi
Arabia's Haj and Umrah Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten inked
an agreement in this regard in Jeddah, increasing the size of India's Haj
quota from 1,36,020 to 1,70,520.
Telangana to Host
International Kite Festival from January 12, 2017
The second international
kite festival coinciding with the 'Makar Sankranti' fest would be held for six
days from January 12, 2017 in Hyderabad and two other districts in Telangana.
- Telangana Tourism, which is organizing the
International Kite Festival-2017, committed to a social cause of
raising awareness about the importance of education and empowerment of
girl children and expects a footfall of around 50,000 visitors.
- The festival will have participation from 17
countries with 70 international and 40 national kite flyers, and a special
night-flying event is scheduled on January 12 as a pre-festival event at
People's Plaza.
Arunachal signs MoU with NDDB
to promote dairy development
With a view to promoting the
dairy sector and rural livelihoods in Arunachal Pradesh, the border state has
signed a MoU with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) during the Vibrant
Gujarat Global Summit 2017.
- A State Government delegation led by Shakuntala Gamlin participated in the Summit.
World’s first gender literature fest in Patna:
The world’s first ‘Gender Literature Festival’ will be held in Patna in the
second week of April.
- The Gender Resource Centre of Bihar’s Women
Development Corporation will be organising the festival.
- The objective of this initiative is to create a
platform, to exchange ideas, and to share and learn experiences of
renowned people in the field of gender based or focussed literature.
- The festival will also act as a platform to increase
visibility for gender equity and advocacy in the State of Bihar.
New species of gibbon discovered in China:
Scientists have discovered a new species of gibbon living in south-west China’s rainforests.
- It has been named the Skywalker hoolock gibbon by its discoverers, who are Star Wars fans. The name is also a nod to the fact that the Chinese characters of its scientific name, Hoolock tianxing, mean “Heaven’s movement".
Norway becomes first country
to cease FM radio broadcasting
Norway has become the first
country to cease FM radio broadcasting.
- The northern county of Nordland has stopped
broadcasting using analogue frequencies as the Government plans to roll
out digital-only radio over the course of the year.
- According to the national broadcaster, NRK, nationwide radio channels began switching to digital audio broadcasting that offers a wider range of broadcasting options and greater sound quality.
Khanderi, the second Scorpene
class submarine launched
Khanderi, the second
Scorpene class submarine that has superior stealth and the ability to launch a
crippling attack with torpedoes as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles
whilst underwater or on the surface, launched at the Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai.
- Khanderi is named after the Island fort of Maratha
forces, which played a vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in
the late 17th century.
- Khanderi is also the name for Tiger Shark.
World Bank projects global
growth at 2.7% in 2017
World Bank projected a
global growth of 2.7% in 2017, even as it observed that stagnant global trade,
subdued investment and heightened policy uncertainty marked another difficult
year for the world economy.
- World Bank President Jim Yong Kim stated that global economic growth is forecast to accelerate moderately to 2.7% in 2017 after a post-crisis low of 2.3% in 2016.
Helped by HDFC Bank, TN
temples to go digital
Helped by HDFC Bank, five
temples in Kanyakumari district in southern Tamil Nadu have introduced digital
wallets and PoS to enable their devotees to pay donations.
- The temples that have introduced digital mode
include Arulmighu Thanumalaya Swamy Temple: Suchindrum, Arulmighu
Bhagavathi Amman Temple: Kanyakumari, Arulmighu Nagaraja Temple:
Nagercoil, Arulmighu Bhagavathi Amman Temple: Mondaikadu and Arulmighu
Kumaraswamy Temple: Velimalai.
- These temples come under Hindu Religious and
Charitable Endowments Department
PR Sreejesh becomes member of
FIH Athletes' Committee
The Indian hockey team
captain PR Sreejesh has became a member of International Hockey Federation
Athletes' Committee.
- The Committee comprises a total of eight current and former hockey players who have the responsibility to act as a liaison between the FIH and the athletes to make sure the players have voice in the FIH decision-making process.
