Daily GK Updates - 17th November, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. National Press Day observed: National Press Day, celebrated on 16th of November is symbolic of a free and responsible press in India. This was the day on which the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog.

2. Establishment of the National Anti-profiteering Authority approved: Cabinet has given its approval for the creation of the posts of Chairman and Technical Members of the National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) under GST. This paves the way for the immediate establishment of this apex body. The body will ensure that the benefits of the reduction in GST rates on goods or services are passed on to the ultimate consumers by way of a reduction in price.

3. Karnataka to install WiFi in panchayats to enable villages being tech-savvy: Karnataka unveiled an ambitious project to install Wi-Fi facility in all gram panchayats across the state. At Bengaluru Tech Summit 2017, Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah stated that the objective of this project is to bridge the digital divide.

4. First WHO Conference on Ending TB held at Russia: India reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating TB by 2025 at 1st WHO Global Ministerial Conference on Ending TB in Sustainable Development Era’ at Moscow, Russia. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is also organizing a side event on ‘Ending TB: Our Promise to Our People’. The National Strategic Plan for TB elimination in India has 4 pillars, namely- “Detect, Treat, Build and Prevent”.

5. SAMPRITI exercise ends: Joint Indo-Bangladesh Training Exercise SAMPRITI 2017, which was being conducted in Mizoram culminated. It is the seventh such exercise in the SAMPRITI series. The exercise has been aimed to strengthen and broaden the aspects of interoperability and cooperation between the Indian and Bangladesh Armies.

6. India Disease Burden Initiative Report released: As per ‘India State-level Disease Burden Initiative Report’, child and maternal malnutrition were responsible for 15 % of the total disease burden in 2016 across India. Analysis of disease burden for each Indian state from 1990 to 2016 has been presented. It is jointly prepared by the ICMR, the Public Health Foundation of India and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

7. ‘Saubhagya’ Web-Portal launched: Ministry of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, launched the PM Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana – ‘Saubhagya’ Web Portal. The portal can be accessed at http://saubhagya.gov.in. The Saubhagya Dashboard is a platform for monitoring household electrification progress, which would disseminate information on Household Electrification Status.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Kevin Lillian becomes Miss International 2017: Indonesia’s Kevin Lilliana was crowned Miss International 2017 by the Philippines’ Kylie Verzosa at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Japan. This is the first Miss International title for Indonesia.

2. Climate Change Performance Index 2018 released, India ranks 14^th: India has ranked 14th out of 56 nations and European Union on Climate Change Performance Index 2018 released by environmental organisation Germanwatch. This marks an improvement from its 20th rank in CCPI 2017. CCPI keeps track of countries’ efforts in combating climate change.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING & FINANCE:

1. Urjit Patel appointed to BIS Advisory Board: RBI Governor Urjit Patel was appointed to the Financial Stability Institute Advisory Board of the Bank of International Settlement. Bank of International Settlement is a global financial organisation owned by major central banks from across the world.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY:

1. BSE to set up the first in-house Block Chain Lab in Mumbai: BSE Institute Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of BSE Ltd. has signed an MoU with DLT Labs to set up India’s first state-of-the-art Block Chain Lab in Mumbai. The objective is to provide knowledge-driven, in-class education and training in the field of financial technology. Block Chain technology has multiple utility in various sectors including global supply chains and financial transactions.

2. Moody's upgrades India's credit rating to BAA 2: US-based Major credit rating agency Moody's has upgraded India's sovereign credit rating to 'BAA 2' from 'BAA 3'. The decision to upgrade the ratings is underpinned by Moody's expectation that continued progress on economic and institutional reforms will enhance India's high growth potential. In 2004, Moody's had upgraded India's rating to 'BAA 3', lowest investment grade just a notch above 'junk' status.

SPORTS:

1. Shagun Chowdhary crowned National Women's Trap champion: Shooter Shagun Chowdhary bagged a national champion crown at the 61st National Shooting Championship in New Delhi. She overcame the challenge Rajeshwari Kumari to prevail 41-38. Now, Shagun Chowdhary will be the first Indian woman trap shooterto win an Olympic berth. Madhya Pradesh won medals both in the senior and junior women's team events.