Daily GK Updates - 13th December, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Govt to set up special courts to fast-track trial of over 1500 MPs, MLAs: The Law and Justice ministry told the Supreme Court in an affidavit that, at least 12 special courts will be set up to decide cases involving politicians as accused. Twelve such courts will be set up at a cost of 8 crore rupees for a period of one year. Earlier, the apex court had directed the union govt. to place before it the details regarding 1,581 cases involving MPs and MLAs, as declared by the politicians at the time of filing their nominations during the 2014 general elections.

2. Hotels, restaurants can sell bottled water above MRP, rules SC: According to Supreme court, Hotels and restaurants are not bound by maximum retail price (MRP) in selling bottled water. The Apex Court was hearing a petition filed by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) against Delhi High Court ruling. Earlier, the union govt had submitted that selling bottled mineral water above the MRP will attract monetary penalty and jail term for the management of restaurants, hotels, multiplexes.

3. Rajasthan Govt. to recognize political prisoners as ‘Loktantra Sainani’: The Rajasthan state’s cabinet has decided to change the name of Rajasthan MISA and DIR Bandi Pension Rules 2008 to the Rajasthan Loktantra Sainani Samman Nidhi-2008. Now, the political prisoners held in jails during the emergency period as ‘Loktantra Sainani’. Earlier, only those people who were detained under MISA & DIR and kept in any of the Rajasthan jails were given the monthly pension of Rs. 12,000 and a monthly allowance of Rs. 1200.

4. CBSE to upload scanned images of OMR answer sheets with recorded response of candidates: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has uploaded the scanned images of OMR answer sheets with the recorded response of candidates who had appeared in UGC-NET test (held on 5th November).The OMR sheets with answer keys will be available on CBSE website "cbsenet.nic.in" till 18th of December. The candidate will have to submit a fee of one thousand rupees per recorded response challenged through credit or debit card.

5.  Nakul Chopra elected as BARC India Chairman: Nakul Chopra has been elected as the next Chairman of BARC India.He succeeds Sudhanshu Vats (Viacom18 Group CEO).The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India is an industry body set up to design, commission, supervise and own an accurate, reliable and timely television audience measurement system for India.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Google launches artificial intelligence research center in China: Alphabet Inc's Google is opening an artificial intelligence (AI) research center in China to target the country's local talent. The research center is the first of its kind in Asia and will comprise a small team operating out of its existing office in Beijing

2. Bangladesh launches vaccination drive of Rohingya children against Diphtheria: Bangladesh has launched a massive drive to vaccinate Rohingya children against diphtheria after a suspected outbreak killed nine refugees and infected more than 700. More than six lakh Rohingya are based in these camps, having fled violence in Myanmar in recent months. The Bangladesh government & UN agencies are vaccinating around two lakhs fifty thousand children under the age of seven living in camps and temporary settlements near the border with Myanmar.

OTHER UPDATES

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1.  Industrial output growth hits to 3-months low of 2.2% in Oct: Growth in the country's industrial production hit a three-month lowof 2.2 % in October this year. Factory output, measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production, had increased 4.2% in October last year, and 4.14% in September 2017.According to the data released by the Central Statistics Office, growth in the manufacturing sector, which accounts for almost 78% of the index. Mining output rose 0.2%, and consumer durable goods output contracted 6.9%.Consumer non-durables output increased 7.7%, and capital goods output rose 6.8% in October.

SPORTS:

1. Union Govt. will soon launch Khelo India Programme: According to the Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Rathore, the ministry will launch Khelo India programme for period 2017-18 to 2019-20 at cost of Rs 1756 crore.Mr.  Rathore also announced that the year 2018 will be celebrated as the Year of Sports.The Khelo India programme will promote 150 select schools from different districts and 20 universities across the country, as hubs of sporting excellence. It will cover about 200 million children in age group of 10-18 under a massive physical fitness drive.