Daily GK Updates - 12th October, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Anupam Kher appointed new FTII chairman: Veteran actor Anupam Kher has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). He will succeed Gajendra Chauhan. FTII is considered as a premier institute for training in Cinema and Television, established in 1960.

2. SMC to do aerial survey of Tapi for potable water: To meet the demand of potable water in future, the Surat Municipal Corporation started a heliborne survey of Tapi riverbed and its banks. The SMC has thus become the first civic body in the country to carry out a scientific study to find out potable water.

3. Kovind to inaugurate two-day conference of Governors & LGs: President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated two-day Conference(48th) of Governors at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The session will start with a presentation by NITI Aayog on the possible elements of ‘New India 2022’. The second session will be on Higher Education in States and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to Make Youth Employable. 27 Governors and 3 Lieutenant Governors (LG) of States and Union Territories (UT) are attending the Conference.

4. 42 mini food parks to be set up by 2019: The government will be setting up, mini food parks to raise the processing level. Minister of  Food Processing, said all 42 sanctioned mega food parks will be operational by 2019. This will be done under the new ₹6,000 crore SAMPADA scheme approved by the government recently

5. Gujarat govt to set up 16 new GIDC townships to encourage SMEs: The Gujarat Govt. will set up 16 new Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) townships in 2400-hectare area to encourage the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This township will attract 15,000 industrial units and about 20,000 crore rupees investments is likely to come up in the state following this policy. Garment makers will get Rs. 4,000 subsidies per woman worker and Rs. 3500 rupees subsidy per male worker.

6. Maharashtra launches ‘MahaLabharthi‘ to enable people know about Govt. schemes: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launched ‘MahaLabharthi‘ web portal that will help people get information about all the government schemes that they are eligible for. The portal will allow people to apply for the welfare schemes. The web portal, https://www.mahalabharthi.in, works on the basis of personal, educational and professional information provided by a person while registering on it.

7. Maharashtra adopts climate change policy: Maharashtra cabinet approved a climate change adaptation policy that will focus on developing environment-friendly villages and cities. A special cell will be set up for the effective implementation of the policy. It is done to mitigate the impact of climate change on Maharashtra.

8. Schemes to boost Skill India Mission launched: The Committee on Economic Affairs has approved two new World Bank supported schemes of Rs. 6,655 crore. The two schemes are Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) and Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE). They are outcome focused schemes marking shift in government’s implementation strategy in vocational education and training.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. SpaceX launches 10 satellites: SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 rocket carrying 10 satellites to bolster the global data communications network for Virginia-based company, Iridium.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Direct tax collections in the first half of the current financial year rise 15.8%: The Direct Tax Collections in the first half of the current fiscal shows growth of 15.8%.

The provisional figures of Direct Tax collections up to September 2017 show that net collections are at 3.86 lakh crore rupees which is higher than the corresponding period of last year. Net Direct Tax collections represent 39.4% of the total budget estimates of Direct Taxes for the financial year 2017-18.

2. India holds second position in pharma workforce: In a LinkedIn report, India ranked as the second largest market for pharmaceuticals and biotechnology workforce. The report stated that India contributes 13.7 % to the global pharmaceuticals and biotechnology workforce.

BANKING/FINANCE:

3. SBI to setup largest Innovation Centre: State Bank of India announced the setting up of its 15,000 square feet Innovation Centre in Navi Mumbai. It will be the largest Innovation Centre by any financial services company in India.

SPORTS:

4. Indian Pair Win Gold at World Archery Youth Championship 2017: India’s Mixed pair of Jemson Ningthoujam & Ankita Bhakat has won the gold medal at World Archery Youth Championship in Rosario, Argentina. This is India’s first world title at the youth championships since Deepika Kumari’s victories in 2009 and 2011.

5. FIFA suspends the Pakistan Football Federation: The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has suspended the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) with immediate effect due to the verdict of the Bureau of the FIFA Council.Now, the Pakistan Football Federation representative and club teams are not entitled to take part in international competitions.