Daily GK Updates - 9th February, 2017

                     NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Government not in favour of new law for CBI: The Union Government has turned down the recommendation of Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee to come up with a new law for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The parliamentary committee has recommended replacing Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946 which governs CBI.

CBI is the foremost investigative police agency in India. It is non-constitutional and non-statutory body. It was established in 1941 as Special Police Establishment and was renamed to present nomenclature in 1963.

2. Railways Ministry launches first phase of Station Redevelopment Program: Railways Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu launched the first phase of the Station Redevelopment Program comprising 23 major railway stations on Indian Railways network.

3. India to pitch Trade Facilitation in Services at WTO: India will make a presentation on the proposed Trade Facilitation in Services (TFS) Agreement to World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General Roberto Azevedo and India Inc. The global pact proposed by India to boost services trade at the WTO-level aims to ease norms including those relating to movement of foreign skilled workers and professionals across borders for short-term work. The proposed services pact is similar to the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in Goods adopted by the WTO Members in 2014 at Bali Summit to ease customs norms for boosting global goods trade.

4. Gujarat becomes first State for establishing cashless system for distribution of food grains: Gujarat in the first week of February 2017 became the first State in the country for establishing a cashless system for distribution of food grains.

5. India ranks at 43rd position in 5th Annual International IP Index of USCC: 09 February 2017 Current Affairs: India ranked at 43rd position out of 45 countries in the 5th Annual International Intellectual Property (IP) Index of the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC). The 2017 International IP Index, named as 'The Roots of Innovation', was released on 8 February 2017.

International IP Index : The USCC's IP Index ranks countries on the basis of the points received on various aspects of patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and market access, enforcement and ratification of international treaties.

6. SC issues contempt notice to Calcutta HC judge CS Karnan:  A seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court has issued a contempt notice to Calcutta High Court Judge C.S. Karnan, initiating suo moto criminal proceedings.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Somalia's Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo chosen as new President: The Parliament of Somalia elected former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, as the country's new president on 8 February 2017.

2. UK House of Commons passes Brexit bill: The UK Parliament has given PM Theresa May, the authority to officially trigger Brexit and start negotiations for leaving the 28-member European Union. The draft legislation has been approved by 494 to 122 votes and now moves to the House of Lords.

3. NASA’s Chandra satellite detects distinct X-ray signal: The US space agency NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory in February 2017 detected a very strange and distinctive X-ray signal from the Milky Way galaxy. This observation can help the scientists in proving the existence of dark matter in the universe.

4. Dubai Gets First Woman Commercial Pilot In Royal Family: Shaikha Mozah Al Maktoum, one of the female members of Dubai's ruling family, is claimed to have become the first woman commercial pilot.

5. Russia banned from London World Athletics Championships: Russia has been barred from international competition since November 2015 following a damaging report alleging that state-sponsored doping was rife in the country.

6. China becomes world’s largest Solar Energy Producer: China has emerged as the world’s largest producer of solar energy. According to China’s National Energy Administration, its photovoltaic (PV) capacity reached to 77.42 GW in 2016. It has surpassed Germany, former global solar-power leader which has produced 40.78GW solar energy in November 2016. 

Other UPDATES

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Rajeev Singh takes over as acting CEO of Prasar Bharati: Rajeev Singh, Member (Finance) in Prasar Bharati Board, will take charge as interim CEO of the public broadcaster after S C Panda retires in February.

2. HDIL to launch budget homes in Mumbai Metropolitan Region: Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd said it will soon launch its new budget homes brand in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). HDIL will provide affordable homes within Rs. 50 lakh inclusive of stamp duty and registration in Mumbai’s suburbs and within Rs. 20 lakh, including stamp duty and registration charges, in the Vasai–Virar region.

AWARDS

3. Hyderabad surgeon Raghu Ram honored with B C Roy Award: Dr P Raghu Ram, president of Association of Breast Surgeons of India, has won the prestigious Dr B C Roy national award for 'outstanding service in the field of socio medical relief' for 2016. The award, the highest recognition for medical practitioners in India, would be conferred on Ram by President Pranab Mukherjee on July 1, observed as Doctors Day.

4. India under-19 team clinches One-Day International series against England, 3-1: The fifth One-Day International (ODI) between India Under-19 and their English counterparts ended in a tie after India lost its final wicket on the last ball of the match.

BANKING AND FINANCE

5. RBI to set up separate Enforcement Department: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to set up separate Enforcement Department to effectively monitor banks in case they violate regulations and speed up regulatory compliance. The department will be operational from April 1, 2017 i.e. the next financial year (2017-18). It will mainly deal with the penalties imposed on banks for violation of norms.