Daily GK Updates - 2nd February, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. The Union Budget 2017-18  announces setting up of five Special Tourism Zones in partnership with States:  These five special zones will be anchored as Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) that will be set up in partnership with the States by the government. In this budget, government has allocated Rs. 1,840.77 crore to the Tourism Ministry, Rs. 250 crore more in the 2017-18 fiscal..

2. Introduction of The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017:  The Union Cabinet has given its approval for introduction of The Indian Institutes of Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in Parliament. The amendment Bill has provision for the inclusion of Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM), Kurnool along with the other IITs in the Principal Act. With this, IIITDM Kurnool will become fifth Member as a Centrally Funded IIIT. Such  inclusions will make it an institute of National Importance with the power to award degrees to students. Its academic session had commenced in two branches of study in 2015-16. The expenditure for the operationalization of IITDM Kurnool is incurred from the Plan funds of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development. The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014 confers the status of Institutions of National Importance on the IIITs. It deals with matters connected with administering these IIITs. The Andhra Pradesh as embodied in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014 had embodied creation of a new NIT at Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently, Government had approved its creation. Due to addition of a new IIIT, amendment has to be made in the IIIT Act, 2014.

3. New TB-resistant cows developed in China: The world’s first live cows with increased resistance to bovine tuberculosis (TB) has been produced by the Scientist of Northwest A&F University in China. This development shows that genetic modification technology can be better suited to producing transgenic livestock with purposefully manipulated genetic.

4. Important Glimpse Of Budget 2017-18:

ü Arun Jaitley- The Union Finance Minister presented the Union Budget 2017.

ü This was fourth annual budget which was presented by Arun Jaitley as Finance Minister.

ü No separate Railway Budget was presented.

ü It was broadly focused on 10 themes.

ü Themes:

o   farming sector

o   rural population

o   youth, poor and underprivileged health care

o   financial sector for stronger institutions

o   infrastructure

o   speedy accountability

o   prudent fiscal management

o   public services

o   tax administration for the hones

5. Existence of lost continent lies under Indian Ocean: The Entire study was based on study of Zircon, a mineral found in rocks spewed up by lava during volcanic eruptions which is too old to belong to Mauritius. Scientists have confirmed the existence of a “lost continent” under the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. It is left over by the break-up of the super-continent Gondwana, which started about 200 million years ago.

6. 19th Bharat Rang Mahotsav begins in New Delhi: The 21-day 19^th edition Bharat Rang Mahotsav has begun in New Delhi. It has a special focus on the different genres of Indian theatre. The festival will include 10 traditional folk theater performances. The festival will feature Living Legend Series, Master Classes, Youth Forum and Director's Meet as an integral part of this theater fiesta. This year's theater carnival will include three tributary plays, six diploma productions and also five plays by living theater luminaries from across the country.

7. Registration for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra begins: The registration for Kailash Manasarovar Yatra has started and the last date is 15^th According to External Affairs Ministry this year, Yatra will take place between 12th June to 8th of September through two routes. The route through Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) is estimated to cost about one lakh 60 thousand rupees per person and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim) is motorable, suitable for senior citizens unable to undertake arduous trekking estimated to cost about two lakhs rupee person. Applicants for this Yatra must be at least 18 years and not more than 70 years.

8. Mt Everest to be remeasured by Survey of India:The Survey of India is planning to remeasure the height the world’s tallest peak Mount Everest. The Survey of India would be sending an expedition to Nepal in two months to conduct the exercise. The Mount Everest currently stands at a height of 8,848 metres (29,028 feet) above the sea level. The project is being undertaken to determine whether the peak as per the doubts of some sections of the scientific community has indeed shrunk following the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal two years ago.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. SAARC programming committee meeting held in Kathmandu: The two-day North East Seed Biodiversity Festival cum Workshop of Traditional Crops 2017 has begun in Agartala (Tripura).The chief guest for the function was Pabitra Kar ( Deputy Speaker, Tripura Legislative Assembly.)The festival cum workshop is organized by Development research and communication services center, jointly with the state agriculture department.

2. British PM Theresa May receives UK Parliament's approval to begin Brexit process: The British PM Theresa May has received Parliament's first stage approval to begin the process of Britain's exit from the European Union (EU) after winning a crucial vote in the House of Commons. Earlier, British MPs voted in favor of the European Union (Notification of withdrawal) Bill. 498 MPs voted in favor of Brexit Bill, while 114 voted against it

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.  Medals for Tokyo 2020 Games to be made from recycled mobile phones:

Olympic and Paralympic medals for the Tokyo 2020 Games will be made from recycled mobile phones. Members of Japan's Olympic organizing committee gave the idea to the government officials and companies. The Japanese public will be asked to donate old phones and small appliances to gather two tonnes of gold, silver, and bronze for the 5,000 medals. Earlier, Olympic host cities have traditionally obtained the metal from mining firms.

2. India beat England by 75 runs to win T20 series 2-1:

In the third T-20 Cricket match, India beat England by 75 runs and clinched the series, 2-1. The visiting side chasing a big total of 203 were cleaned up for just 127 runs in 16.3 overs. Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took 6 wickets for 25 runs and became the first Indian in T-20 to take 5 wickets or more. Chahal was adjudged man of the match as well as the man of the series.