Daily GK Updates - 11th February, 2017

                     NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Government constitutes inter-departmental task force to crack down on benami firms: The Union Government has constituted inter-departmental task force comprising members of various regulatory Ministries and enforcement agencies to crack down on benami firms. It is first major post-demonetisation move undertaken by Government for unearthing black money from shell companies used for large-scale money laundering and tax evasion.

2.  Ananth Kumar inaugurates Orientation Programme for launching of 1000 PMBJKs: The union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth Kumar has inaugurated orientation programme for launching of one thousand Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras in New Delhi.

3. 2017 Desert Festival concludes in Jaisalmer: The three day long International Desert Festival 2017 started with great enthusiasm on 8 February 2017 in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

4. Government to set up Defence Procurement Organisation: The Union Government is planning to set up a Defence Procurement Organisation (DPO), new procurement body to integrate and streamline the long and arduous process of defence acquisitions. The DPO will be a vertical under the Union Defence Ministry.It will simplify the defence purchase procedure by integrating procurement processes.

                      INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day of Women and Girls in Science observed: The International Day of Women and Girls in Science was observed across the globe on 11 February 2017. The day comes as an opportunity for all to take a stand for girls and women in science.

2. China releases theme for BRICS Summit 2017: 2017 BRICS association of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to be held in Xiamen, China in September 2017. The summit will be held under the theme “BRICS: Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future”.

                       OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Hemant Bhargava appointed as LIC’s Managing Director: Hemant Bhargava has been appointed as the managing director of Life Insurance Corporation of India.Bhargava, who was the zonal manager (I/C) Delhi, has been appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet as managing director from the date of notification of his appointment up to the date of his superannuation (July 31, 2019) or until further orders

2. Senior IAS officer Ajay Tyagi appointed as SEBI Chairman: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed senior bureaucrat Ajay Tyagi (58) as the new chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Mr. Tyagi will have tenure of 5 years or till the age of 65 years or until further orders. He will succeed UK Sinha whose term ends on March 1, 2017.

SPORTS:

3. Official mascot of FIFA U-17 World Cup 'Kheleao' unveiled:The official mascot of the tournament 'Kheleao' was unveiled in a ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. A clouded leopard called Kheleao was introduced by Sports Minister Vijay Goel and All India Football Federation President Praful Patel.

BANKING/FINANCE:

4. Arundhati Bhattacharya Becomes the Ambassador for its SBI PO recruitment ad: SBI chairman, Arundhati Bhattacharya, a part of the 1977 batch of probationary officers, has become the face of SBI PO Recruitment 2017.

AWARDS:

5.   Sudarsan Pattnaik creates Guinness World Record by creating 48.8 feet tall sand castle: Sand artist ‘Sudarsan Pattnaik’ has created a ‘Guinness World Record’ by creating a 48.8 feet tall sand castle at Puri beach in Odisha in four days.

The sculpture was built with a message of world peace and featured sculptures of Mahatma Gandhi, Gautama Buddha and Nelson Mandela.