Daily GK Updates - 12th January, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Youth Day, the birthday of Swami Vivekanand being observed: 12 January: 12 January of every year is observed as National Youth Day, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda a grateful nation is celebrating Swamiji's hundred fifty-fourth birth anniversary with much fanfare.

2. 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.

3. Telangana to host International Kite Festival from January 12, 2017: The second international kite festival coinciding with the 'MakarSankranti' 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.

4. Arunachal Pradesh 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.

5. India’s annual Haj quota increased by 34,500, biggest hike in three decades: Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Saudi Arabia's Haj and Umrah Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin TaherBenten inked an agreement in this regard in Jeddah, increasing the size of India's Haj quota from 1,36,020 to 1, 70,520.

6. AllahbadMaghMela begins: The month-long MaghMela festival began on 12 January 2017 at Sangam in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Thousands of Pilgrims, saint and seers are taking holy dip at Sangam on the occasion of PaushPurnima.The month-long kalpwas also began with the holy bathing.

7. 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.

8. Vedanta launches smart class project in Chitradurga: Vedanta Foundation and Vedanta Sesa Goa Iron Ore, in collaboration with the Karnataka Directorate of Education, have launched a pilot project to promote digital education in schools across the State. The Deputy Director of Public Instruction, Chitradurga district, RevanaSiddappa, has launched ‘The Smart Class’ project.

9.  Helped by HDFC Bank, Tamil Nadu 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 ArulmighuThanumalayaSwamy Temple: Suchindrum, ArulmighuBhagavathi Amman Temple: Kanyakumari, ArulmighuNagaraja Temple: Nagercoil, ArulmighuBhagavathi Amman Temple: Mondaikadu and ArulmighuKumaraswamy Temple: Velimalai.

10. Anjani Portland Cement commissions new plant: Anjani Portland Cement has commissioned a 16-megawatt (MW) coal-based captive power plant at its cement unit in Telangana. Anjani Cement is a high-quality cement prepared from the finest raw material Owing to optimum water demand.

11. VikramPawah appointed as the new president for BMW Group India.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 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.

2. Norway becomes the 1^st 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.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. P R Sreejesh becomes member of FIH Athletes’ Committee: The Indian hockey team captain PR Sreejesh has become a member of International Hockey Federation Athletes' Committee.

AWARDS:

2. Tisca Chopra wins Best Actress Award for Chutney: Actress Tisca Chopra named as Best Actress for Chutney at the Jio Filmfare Short Film Awards. Popular actress Tisca Chopra stated that winning her first Filmfare Award for short film Chutney is extra special as it’s a project she not just acted in, but also produced and co-wrote.