Daily GK Updates - 4th May, 2017

­­­­NATIONAL UPDATES: 

1.  Indore ranked the cleanest city in India: The Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu has announced the Swachh Survekshan 2017 Report, Indore (Madhya Pradesh) is the cleanest city in India in the survey. Bhopal is ranked second and Vishakhapatnam is in the third position. Gonda (Uttar Pradesh) has been ranked as the dirtiest city among surveyed. The 'Swachh Survekshan' was commissioned in 434 cities and towns which saw the participation of 37 lakh citizens.

2. Gadkari inaugurates The Highway Saga, SRISHTI exhibitions: The Union Minister of Road Transport Nitin Gadkari inaugurated two exhibitions (the Highway Saga Past Present and Future and Safe Road and Inter-State Highways Transforming India) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The Highway Saga exhibition will depict the evolution of road transport in India.

3. Cabinet clears ordinance to tackle bad loans of banks: The Union Cabinet has cleared the ordinance to amend Banking Regulation Act for the issue of Non-Performing Assets (NPA) in the banking system. The Banking Regulation Act will give more powers to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and its committees to act on behalf of banks while deciding on NPAs.

4. Union Cabinet Clears New National Steel Policy: The Union Cabinet has approved the National Steel Policy (NSP)-2017 to encourage the steel sector. The policy aims to enhance domestic steel consumption and transform Indian steel industry into a technologically advanced and globally competitive steel industry.

5. Vijayawada Airport becomes International Airport: The Union Cabinet has approved the declaration of Vijayawada Airport as International Airport, as per the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The Vijayawada airport is currently undergoing infrastructural upgradation and improvement in facilities for international operations.

6. MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurates world-level weapon production unit, Punj Lloyd Defence System: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has inaugurated the world level weapon production unit, Punj Lloyd Defence System, at Bhind district in the state. It is the first small weapon manufacturing unit in private sector in the country. It has been set up in the joint partnership of Punj Lloyd and Israel Weapon Industry under the Make in India Programme.

7. Banganapalle Mango of Andhra Pradesh gets GI Tag: The Registrar of Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai, has accorded GI Tag for the much famed Banganapalle Mango of Andhra Pradesh. Henceforth, Andhra Pradesh government will be the registered proprietor of the GI tag for Banganapalle mangoes.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Nepal Dy PM Bimalendera Nidhi withdraws his resignation: Nepal Deputy Prime Minister & Home Minister Bimalendera Nidhi has withdrawn his resignation after a meeting the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba at Kathmandu. Earlier, he had resigned expressing dissatisfaction over registration of impeachment motion in Parliament against Chief Justice Sushila Karki.

                       OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. India Ranked 100th in FIFA Rankings: As per the updated FIFA world football rankings, the Indian national football has managed to secure a 100th spot and entered into the top 100 of FIFA rankings. This is the first time in 21 years that India has been ranked into top 100.

BANKING & FINANCE

2. Global gold demand declined by 18% during the first quarter of 2017: According to the World Gold Council's latest Gold Demand Trends report, Global gold demand declined by 18% during the first quarter of 2017.

3. ADB predicts 7.4 percent growth for Indian economy this fiscal: According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Indian economy will grow 7.4% this fiscal, and 7.6% in the next fiscal. India had grown 7.1% in the previous fiscal.

HONOURS & AWARDS:

4. Shabana Azmi starrer 'The Black Prince' awarded at film fest in Houston: The Hollywood film The Black Prince starring singer-poet Satinder Sartaaj and actress Shabana Azmi has been awarded the Special Jury Remi Award at the 50th annual Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival (WHIFF). The film is a historic biopic on the poignant life story of the last king of Punjab, Maharajah Duleep Singh and his relationship with Queen Victoria.