Current affairs : January 14, 2017 for all competitive exams
The Harvest season is on and festivities have gripped the nation from the
north to down south.
- The festival of Makar Sankranti is being celebrated today when the Sun enters the Makar
zodiac and the days begin to lengthen compared to nights.
- In South India and particularly in Tamil Nadu, it’s
the festival of Pongal which is being celebrated
over 4 days at harvest time.
Signing of Bilateral Advance Pricing Agreement by CBDT
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into a Bilateral
Advance Pricing Agreement (BAPA) with Indian subsidiary of a Japanese trading
company.
- With this, total three Bilateral APAs are now signed
with Indian subsidiaries of Japanese companies all including rollbacks.
The total number of bilateral APAs entered into by the CBDT is now eight.
Ken-Betwa river link project gets green panel’s nod
Government’s ambitious Rs 9,393 crore Ken-Betwa river interlinking project
that will irrigate 6.35 lakh hectares and mitigate drinking water woes of
Bundelkhand region has received clearance from the green panel and Tribal
Affairs ministry.
- However, the final clearance for the project is yet
to be given by Union Minister of Environment and Forest, which normally
takes into account the green panel EAC’s recommendation.
India's First Madame Tussauds
Museum In Delhi Unveils Wax Figures Of Big B, Lady Gaga
India is all set to get its
first wax museum in June 2017 unveils Wax Figures Of Amitabh Bachchan, Lady
Gaga.
- Madame Tussauds, the legendary wax attraction
entertainment hotspot is all set to open its doors in capital New Delhi.
- Located in the heart of the Delhi - Connaught Place
at Regal Cinema, the dazzling entertainment zone will represent the
fascinating world of politics, glamour, sports and music, through planned
themes and interactive platforms.
Kerala Launched its First
Solar Powered Boat Aditya
The Chief Minister of
Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the first solar-powered boat of the state
water transport department, Aditya on January 12, 2017 at a function held in
Vaikom boat Jetty in Kerala.
- Piyush Goyal, Minister of State with independent
charge for New & Renewable Energy, Solar Powered boatwas the
chief guest.
Car carrier service starts
between Gujarat and Mangaluru
In line with Government of
India's policy of implementing the vision for coastal shipping, tourism and
regional development, New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has introduced Car
carrier service between Gujarat and Mangaluru.
- The pure car and truck carrier MV Dresden sailed out
to Cochin after discharging Tata Cars and loaded trucks at the port
Silver Jubilee Celebrations of NBCFDC
The Silver Jubilee celebrations of National Backward Classes Finance & Development
Corporation (NBCFDC) was recently inaugurated.
- A short film “HamariKahani” based on the experiences
of beneficiaries of NBCFDC and a book entitled “Safalata Ki Kahaniyan”
were also brought out by NBCFDC on the success stories of the beneficiaries
on the occasion.
- NBCFDC is a Govt. of India Undertaking under the aegis
of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Number of unemployed in India to climb: ILO
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released its report on
World Employment and Social Outlook for 2017.
- The number of jobless will increase from 17.7
million in 2016 to 18 million by 2018 even though the country’s
unemployment rate is expected to go down from 3.5% to 3.4% in 2017.
- Globally, the number of jobless people will increase
by 3.4 million in 2017. The global unemployment rate is expected to rise
modestly from 5.7 to 5.8% in 2017 as the pace of labour force growth
outstrips job creation.
Ecuador takes chair of UN
group of 134 developing countries
Ecuador has taken over from
Thailand as chair of the Group of 77 which promotes the interests of the 134
developing countries it represents at the United Nations, including China.
- Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa Stated the
handover ceremony that the group will continue promoting “social and
economic equality.”
US lifts 20-year economic
embargo on Sudan
The United States has
announced the end of a 20-year economic embargo on Sudan, lifting trade and
financial sanctions in an effort to foster ties with the Sudanese
government.
- The announcement made by outgoing President Barack
Obama’s administration on Friday comes after an executive order to
permanently repeal a range of sanctions as a result of Sudan’s efforts to
improve security in the region.
Airtel’s Payments Bank Starts
Operation with Initial Investment of Rs. 3000 Crore
Airtel Payments Bank the
first payments bank started its nationwide operations on January 12, 2017 with
an initial investment of Rs 3,000 crore and offering an interest rate of 7.25
per cent for savings accounts.
- The bank was launched by Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley.
- This is the first payments bank which will be opened across 29 states in India to provide financial services to the millions who are outside the banking system.
