Daily GK Updates - 3rd February, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Govt. notifies new rules for medical devices:

 The union health ministry has notified new rules for medical devices to remove regulatory bottlenecks and ensure availability of medical devices for patients. Now, manufacturers will not be required to renew licenses periodically and submission of applications and grant of licenses will be done online. Under the new rules, manufacturing and import licences will remain valid till these are suspended, cancel or surrendered. The new rules have been framed in conformity with Global Harmonisation Task Force (GHTF) framework and conform to best international practices.

2. Centre of Integrative Oncology to be inaugurated: The Centre of Integrative Oncology has been inaugurated at National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR), Noida. The main objective of the Centre is to build collaborations in the areas of cancer prevention, research, and care. This would pave the way to carry forward the ongoing bilateral dialogue and facilitate collaboration with stake holders, like National Cancer Institute, USA. The Centre would also offer 5 post-doctoral and 5 Senior Research Fellowships each year to deserving candidates to facilitate quality research in the country in the area of cancer research.

3. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah inaugurates 9th Bengaluru International Film Festival:

Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah has inaugurated the 9th edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival in front of Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru (Karnataka). The highlight of the evening was the video mapping of Kannada and world cinema projected on the pillars of the building. Form 55 countries,200 films will be screened in Bengaluru and Mysuru during this film festival.

4. Apple to start manufacturing in India:

Apple has reached an agreement with the Karnataka government to set up a manufacturing plant in Bengaluru(Karnataka). Apple is reportedly expected to start production for the Indian market by June. India will be only the third country globally to assemble iPhones. (Note: Apple is an American multinational technology company, founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in April 1976 to develop and sell personal computers.)

5 China successfully tests DF-5C missile with 10 nuclear warheads : China has successfully tested a new version of a DF-5C missile that can carry up to 10 nuclear warheads in January 2017. The flight test of the missile was carried using 10 multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles, (MIRVs), from the Taiyuan Space Launch Centre in Shanxi province and to an impact range in the western Taklamakan desert.

6 Government notifies new rules for medical devices: The Union Health Ministry has notified new rules for medical devices to remove regulatory bottlenecks and ensure availability of medical devices for patients. Under the new rules, manufactures will not be required to renew licenses periodically and submission of applications and grant of licenses will be done online.

7 India signs $201.50 million Financing Agreement with World Bank for TEQIP III: The Union Government has singed Financing Agreement for IDA credit of $201.50 million with World Bank for the ‘Third Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme’ (TEQIP III). The agreement was signed by Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and Junaid Kamal Ahmad, Country Director, World Bank India.

8. February 2: World Wetlands Day: The World Wetland Day (WWD) is observed every year on 2 February to raise awareness about the value of wetlands for humanity and the planet. Significance of Day: This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands also called as Ramsar Convention on 2 February 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. 2017 Theme: “Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction”. It seeks to raise awareness and to highlight the vital role of healthy wetlands in reducing the impacts of extreme events such as floods, cyclones and drought on communities, and in helping to build resilience.

9. Government introduces alternative funding mechanism of electoral bonds: Budget:  The Union Government has announced two measures in the Budget 2017-18 to bring in greater transparency in funding of political parties. These include capping cash funding by a single anonymous donor to Rs. 2000 (one tenth of the current limit of Rs 20,000) and introduction of the electoral bonds. It will take effect from 1 April, 2018

10. NITI Aayog launches India Innovation Index: The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) jointly launched India Innovation Index. Besides country’s first innovation index portal was also launched. The index has been jointly developed by NITI Aayog, DIPP and CII in consultation with World Economic Forum (WEF), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Cornell University, UNIDO, ILO, OECD, UNESCO, ITU etc.

11. Mahila Shakti Kendra will be set-up at village level: Budget: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his Budget Speech 2017-18 announced corpus of Rs 500 crore for setting up Mahila Shakti Kendras in the 14 lakh ICDS Anganwadi Centres at village level. These kendras will provide one stop convergent support services for empowering rural women with opportunities for skill development, employment, health, nutrition and digital literacy.

12. Government notifies new rules for medical devices:
The Union Health Ministry has notified new rules for medical devices to remove regulatory bottlenecks and ensure availability of medical devices for patients. Under the new rules, manufactures will not be required to renew licenses periodically and submission of applications and grant of licenses will be done online.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Right to Information Act comes into force in Sri Lanka:           

Today, the historic Right to Information (RTI) Act has come into force in Sri Lanka. The act marks the culmination of a movement of over 20 years to ensure transparency in governance and easy availability of information. As per the act, public authorities are liable to share information within the specified timelines, subject to a maximum of 28 days. Earlier, Parliament unanimously passed the Right to Information Act on June 24, 2016.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Lakshya Sen becomes World No.1 Junior Badminton player

: India's young shuttler Lakshya Sen (15-year) has become the World No 1 Junior Badminton player in the latest rankings of the Badminton World Federation (BWF). He moved Chia-Hao Lee of Chinese Taipei to attain the top spot. Lakshya got 16,903 points in eight tournaments in the season and Chia Hao 16,091 points. He is the first shuttler from Uttarakhand to attain the number one spot at the international level. Earlier, his brother Chirag Sen was ranked number two in the world junior badminton rankings. He won the Senior India International Series Badminton Tournament along with the All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament at Itanagar.

2  England Football player Frank Lampard retires: Former England and Chelsea midfield star Frank Lampard (38-year) has announced to retire after turning down "a number of exciting offers" in Britain and abroad. He scored 211 times for Chelsea and won every major club honour, netting the goals which in 2005 secured the club's first championship title in 50 years. Lampard left New York City FC in the autumn and also played for West Ham United and Manchester City in the Premier League.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Over 6.26 lakh people win Lucky Grahak Yojana & Digi dhan Vyapar Yojana

Over 6.26 lakh people has won 97-crore rupee prizes under Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi dhan Vyapar Yojana till 30^th January 2017. These two schemes are part of NITI Aayog’s digital payment promotion schemes and covered cities from 21 States and 4 Union Territories. Over 100 Digi-Dhan Melas are planned across the country to inculcate digital payment among the people.

Lucky Grahak Yojana (Daily scheme): 5.55 lakh consumers have won the prize.

Lucky Grahak Yojana (Weekly scheme): over 26 thousand consumers.

Digi dhan Vyapar Yojana (weekly scheme): over 35 thousand merchants.