Daily GK Updates - 18th January, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 58^th India International Garment Fair to begin in New Delhi: The 58th edition of India International Garment Fair, IIGF begins in New Delhi. Organized by Apparel Export Promotion Council India, the event is one of the largest and most popular platforms in Asia, from which overseas garment buyers can source products and forge business relationships with India’s finest players in the apparel and fashion accessories domain. Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani will inaugurate the three-day long fair.

2. Timothy Gonsalves Committee suggests 20% reservation for girl students in IITs: A committee formed by the IIT Joint Admission Board (JAB) has recently given its suggestion to create 20 percent reservation seats for the girl students in IITs out of the total number of seats available. The committee headed by professor Timothy Gonsalves recommended the supernumerary seats to address the issue falling number of female students entering the institute.

3. India and Mauritius sign MoU for cooperation in the field of Cooperatives: The MoU will enable the two countries to collaborate in this vital sector and can significantly benefit thousands of Mauritians. India offered to exchange its expertise and technology with Mauritius in agro industry, fisheries and dairy sector.

4. India ranks 60^th in Inclusive Development Index 2017: India has been ranked at 60th position among 79 developing economies with a score of only 3.38 in the Inclusive Development Index (IDI) of the World Economic Forum (WEF). WEF released its ‘Inclusive Growth and Development Report 2017’ on January 16, 2017 in Davos, Switzerland.

5. India ranked 78^th in global ‘Passport Index’: Indian passport has been ranked a lowly 78 in a global ranking of the world’s most powerful passports which was topped by Germany. Germany stands at the top with a visa-free score of 157, while Singapore overtakes South Korea and becomes the highest ranked Asian passport with a visa-free score of 156.

6. Manipur’s Karang is India’s first cashless island: Karang, a small lake island in Manipur, has become the country’s first cashless island. The Union ministry of electronics and information technology under its Digital India program announced Karang as the first cashless island in India.

7. Petroleum Conservation Campaign ‘Saksham 2017’ inaugurated in Nagaland: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOP & NG) inaugurated one month long oil and gas conservation campaign Saksham-2017 at a function in Unity College.

8. Kolkata’s Sitalpati gets place in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has registered Sitalpati or cool mat from the Cooch Behar district, West Bengal as an  Sitlapati intangible cultural heritage.

9.  BSNL launches mobile TV service Ditto TV: State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL)  announced mobile TV service ‘Ditto TV’ and limited fixed mobile telephony, an app that virtually turns mobiles into cordless phone working in sync with landlines within home premises.

10. Karnataka allows sale of white Kerosene in open market: The Karnataka government allowed to the sale of white kerosene in open market. State Food and Civil Supplies Minister UT Khader stated that the government has issued an order this effect.

11. N Chandrasekaran appointed as Tata Motors Chairman.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World’s lightest watch unveiled in Geneva: The world’s ultra-light high-performance mechanical watch RM 50-03 was inaugurated on January 16, 2017 at the 27th edition of the Salon International De La Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva. The watch made up of Graphene composite has been developed by the University ofLightest Watch of the World made Using Graphene Launched Manchester, UK in collaboration with the watchmaking brand Richard Mille and McLaren F1. 

2. Antonio Tajani elected president of European Parliament: Antonio Tajani of the EPP Christian Democrat group has been elected president of the European Parliament.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Yes Bank launches Business Accelerator Programme Yes Fintech:Private sector lender YES BANK in collaboration with T-Hub, Anthill and Lets Talk Payments launched a unique business accelerator program YES FINTECH to provide start-ups a platform for creating sustainable and market ready products as well as provide innovative banking solutions to the customers.

2. Yes Bank launches India’s 1^st Customisable Savings Account:YES Bank has launched a first of its kind unique Customizable Savings Account to enable the customers to design an account as per their convenience. Mumbai-based bank has become the first bank in India to launch such type of account that enables the customer to choose various features of a savings accounts that suits one’s own lifestyle.

SPORTS:

3. Tajikistan’s Amonatov wins Delhi International Chess Tournament: Farrukh Amonatov of Tajikistan won the 15th edition of the Delhi International Chess tournament after settling for a draw with Grandmaster Diptayan Ghosh in the 10th and final round.

OBITUARIES:

4. Renowned Actress Gita Sen passed away at the age of 86.

5. Former Chhattisgarh Minister Tarun Chatterjee passed away at the age of 68.

6. Eugene Cernan, the last human on moon passed away at the age of 82: The commander of Apollo 17 and the last man who walk on the moon, Astronaut EugeneCernan, the Last Human on the Moon Passed Away at 82Eugene Cernan has passed away in Washington D.C, USA.