Daily GK Updates - 26th December, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Lucky Grahak Yojana, DigiDhan Vyapar Yojana launched: Government of India has launched Lucky Grahak Yojana for Consumers and Digi-DhanVyaparYojana for Merchants to promote digital transaction.

2. PM Modi lays foundation stone of Pune Metro Rail:PM NarendraModi laid the foundation stone of Pune Metro project's Phase-I.PM Modi said the government is actively working on the Rurban Mission, which caters to the places that are urbanising quickly.The government needs to improve the quality of life in villages as well as mitigate the challenges that the urban areas are facing.

3. Assam CM launches Atal-Amrit Abhiyan across the State:Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal has launched 'Atal-Amrit Abhiyan' Scheme across the State.

4. ‘Kuchipudi’ performers dance their way into Guinness World Records: Andhra Pradesh’s own classical dance ‘Kuchipudi’ found a place in the Guinness World Records yet again when a record 6,117 dancers came together to present a show at the IGMC Stadium in Vijaywada.

5. India’s first 2G Ethanol Bio-refinery set up in Punjab:The foundation stone for India's first second generation ethanol bio-refinery to be set up by Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) at Bathinda in Punjab at a cost of Rs 600 crore.

6. UP CM inaugurates power projects worth Rs52, 000 crore:Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav has inaugurated power projects worth over Rs52, 000 crore across the state. 

7.India successfully test-fires nuclear capable Agni-V: India tested its Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its final operational configuration from Wheeler Island off Odisha , paving the way for its eventual induction into the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) after user-trials.

8. Five global reinsurers, including RGA, Swiss Re, get final licence from Irda: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irda) has approved the R3 application and granted certificate of registration to five global reinsurers to opens shops.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Scientists find world's most heat resistant material: Scientists have identified materials that can withstand temperatures of nearly 4,000 degrees Celsius, an advance that may pave the way for improved heat resistant shielding for the faster-than-ever hypersonic space vehicles.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. SBI adopts village of Maharashtra for Aadhaar-based payments: The State Bank of India (SBI) has adopted Shirki village in Pen taluka in Maharashtra for driving the Aadhaar-based merchant payment initiative. 

SPORTS:

2. Pankaj Advani won National title in 6-red Snooker: Sixteen-time world champion Pankaj Advani ended the year on a high by bagging the National title in 6-red snooker, the shorter format of the game.

OBITUARIES:

3. Co-Artist of national emblem Dinanath Bhargava died at 89: Dinanath Bhargava, a co-artist in the team that sketched the national emblem ‘Lion Capital of Ashoka’ and decorated the pages of the Constitution’s manuscript, died at the age of 89 in Indore.

4. British singer George Michael who launched his career with Wham in the 1980s and continued his success as a solo performer.