Daily GK Updates - 5th February, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Union Government launches Measles Rubella vaccination campaign: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched Measles Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the country at Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is largest ever in any campaign against these two diseases will start from five States/UTs viz. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa and Lakshadweep covering nearly 3.6 crore target children.                                                                                                                                  

2.  Government constitutes six-member committee to improve Haj policy, look into subsidy issue: The Union government has formed a six-member committee to study the ways to improve India’s Haj policy and look into the issue of subsidy to the pilgrimage in light of a 2012 Supreme Court order on gradually reducing and abolishing it by 2022. The convenor of committee is Afzal Amanullah, former Consul-Consul General of India in Jeddah. Besides, former Bombay High Court judge SS Parkar, former Haj Committee of India Chairman Qaiser Shamim, former Air India Chairman and Managing Director Michael Mascarenhas and Muslim scholar, Kamal Faruqui, are its members.

3.    HRD ministry to set up NTA to conduct exams for higher, secondary education: The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRB) will soon set up a department – National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct examinations for higher and secondary education. NTA will be the single authority that will conduct entrance tests for all higher institutions like JEE, NEET, NET and other prestigious exams.

4.   February 6: International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation: The International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is observed every year on February 6 to raise awareness of the practice of FGM and work towards its elimination. It is sponsored by UN, 2017 Theme: “Building a solid and interactive bridge between Africa and the world to accelerate ending FGM by 2030”

5.    I&B Minister to release annual book 'India-2017' & 'Bharat-2017':Today, the union minister of Information and Broadcasting Venkaiah Naidu has released the annual year book “India-2017” and “Bharat-2017” at a function in Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. These books give comprehensive information about the country and various States/Union Territories including functioning of the Government and the economy, important for competitive exams. It also provides detailed information on various schemes and projects of Government.This yearbook published annually by media unit of Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Iran lifts ban on American wrestling team: Iran has lifted a ban on U.S. wrestlers after the discriminative restrictions on Iranian nationals traveling to the U.S. was suspended by a U.S. federal judge. They are allowing them to take part in the Freestyle World Cup later this month in the Iranian city of  Iran initially refused to issue the visas, in retaliation for US President Donald Trump's immigration order.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.  Indian boys win team gold in Asian Junior Squash: India defeated Malaysia 2-0 to win the gold medal in the boy's team event at the Asian Junior Squash championship in Hong Kong. India's no.1 player Velavan Senthilkumar defeated second seed Malaysia's Ong Sai Hun. Then Abhay Singh prevailed over Darren Rahul in hard-fought five games to lift the title for India. Indian boys had won the title for the second time, Earlier, in 2011 they defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Penalty of equal amount for receiving cash over Rs. 3 lakh: According to the Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia, the penalty for doing cash transaction will be steep and the receiver will have to pay an amount equivalent to the cash received. A steep penalty awaits those accepting cash in excess of 3 lakh rupees, beginning April 1, to settle any transaction. A ban on cash transaction of more than 3 lakh rupees has been proposed in the Budget for 2017-18. A person doing a transaction of 4 lakh rupees in cash, then the penalty will be 4 lakh rupees which will be levied on the receiver. He said, the government, will track all large cash transactions, and also curb the avenues of conspicuous consumption through cash.