Daily GK Updates - 13th February, 2017

                     NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India's first floating elementary school opens in Manipur: India's first ever floating elementary school has opened on Loktak Lake, the freshwater lake in the country, in Manipur. Situated about 50 km from Imphal, the school will not only cater to the need of the children but of the illiterate adults as well. The school will be accommodating around 25 students and two teachers from the local community.

2. EC asks UP poll officers to file FIR against Dainik Jagran: The Election Commission on Monday asked poll officers in Uttar Pradesh to file FIR against the editorial heads of media group Dainik Jagran for violating the code of conduct by publishing an exit poll. It was a violation of Section 126 A and B of the Representation of the People Act, which bars media houses from publishing exit polls.

3. Allowing Kambala leaves black mark on India - PETA: Hours after the Karnataka Assembly passed a bill to legalise traditional buffalo race Kambala, animal rights body PETA said, "Allowing this cruelty to animals is a shameful black mark on our nation." PETA added that India has long enjoyed the admiration of nations for its cultural reverence for animals rights but today it moved backward when other 

4. Delhi became capital of India on this day – 13^th February: Delhi was formally inaugurated as the capital of British India by Viceroy and Governor-General of India, Lord Irwin, on February 13, 1931. Emperor of India, George V, had laid the foundation stone of Delhi on December 12, 1911. The British government had opined that ruling India from Delhi was easier and convenient than ruling it from Calcutta (now Kolkata).

5. INS Sarvekshak 1st Indian warship to use solar energy: Navy's survey-class vessel INS Sarvekshak has become India's first warship to install solar panels on board.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Turkmenistan Prez wins fresh 7-year term with 98% vote: Turkmenistan's current President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has won a fresh seven-year term against eight other opponents with nearly 98% of a weakly contested vote, electoral officials said. The election commission claimed over 97% turnout in the poll. Notably, Berdymukhamedov had approved constitutional changes last year to increase the presidential term from five to seven years

2. 2 lakh ordered to evacuate as USA's tallest dam may collapse: Nearly 2 lakh residents living near Oroville Dam, USA's tallest dam, were urgently ordered to evacuate on Sunday as a spillway damaged by heavy rainfall could collapse at any moment, according to officials. The California Department of Water Resources is releasing as much as 1,00,000 cubic feet of water per second from the main spillway to drain the lake.

3. Hamas names top militant as Prime Minister of Gaza: Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist organisation Hamas has named top militant commander Yehiya Sinwar as its new Prime Minister in the Gaza Strip, according to reports. Sinwar, who was jailed in Israel for murder was freed in a 2011 prisoner swap. Sinwar replaces Ismail Haniyeh, who served as the Prime Minister of the Hamas government after the 2007 takeover of Gaza.

4. World Radio Day observed: The World Radio Day is observed every year on 13th February to celebrate radio as the medium for entertainment, information and the mode for communication. 2017 Theme: “Radio is You”. 

                       OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Joe Root named the captain of England's Test team: English batsman Joe Root has been appointed as England's new Test captain after accepting the position during talks with Andrew Strauss. All-rounder Ben Stokes has been made the Test team's new vice-captain.

2. India defeat Pakistan to win T20 Blind Cricket World Cup: Defending champions India defeated Pakistan by nine wickets to win the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup in Bangalore on Sunday. Pakistan scored 197/8 in their 20 overs, with India reaching the target in 17.4 overs. The Pakistani team was unbeaten in the tournament, while India had registered nine wins, losing only against Pakistan in the tournament.

BANKING AND FINANCE:

3. Govt to launch “Indradhanush 2.0” - The Union Government is planning to come out with ‘Indradhanush 2.0’, a comprehensive plan for recapitalisation of public sector lenders. Indradhanush 2.0 will be finalised by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) after completion of Asset Quality Review (AQR) which is likely to be completed by end of March 2017. It aims to clean up the balance sheets of PSBs to ensure banks remain solvent and fully comply with global capital adequacy norms, Basel-III. Besides, revised programme of capitalisation will be also issued as part of it.