Asa Daily Current Affairs Jan 2017

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1 ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 01.01.2017 1

Thanks
to
all the members of
TEAM AKANKSHA SUCCESS ACADEMY
ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 01.01.2017 houses in rural areas.
NATIONAL In a bonanza to farmers post demonetization, the

Prime Minister said that the centre will pay
1. Gujarat CM dedicates Indias first laser interest for 60 days on loan taken by them for
technology-based check-post Rabi season from district cooperative banks and
primary societies.
Gujarat chief minister
Vijay Rupani dedicated He also announced that the 3 crore 'Kisan Credit
India's first laser Cards' would be converted to RuPay Card within
technology-based three months to help farmers purchase various
advanced AVMS RTO inputs anywhere.
check-post at Shamlaji of
Aravalli district on Friday. NABARD will be given an additional 20,000
crore rupees to finance district cooperative banks
The check-post is equipped with advanced ray and societies.
technology with a cost of Rs 4.72 crore
In his nearly 45 minutes address, Modi said all
pregnant women will get an assistance of 6000
Rupani also laid foundation stones of various rupees to meet medical expenses.
developmental works worth Rs 30 crore in tribal
area of Aravalli district. Senior citizens will get 8 per cent interest on
deposits of up to 7.5 lakh rupees for 10 years.
All the 16 check-posts across the state will be Prime Minister said banks have also been asked to
made advanced, automatic and transparent with a raise cash credit limit to small business to 25
cost of Rs. 35 crore during next year. percent from 20 percent.
On the occasion Transportation Minister Modi said after the demonetization 125 crore
Vallabhbhai Kakadiya said that state government people have proved that for them the truth and
has made 125 people oriented decisions within honesty are important despite inconveniences.
just 100 days of ruling.
INTERNATIONAL
Principal Secretary to Transportation
Department Vipul Mitra briefed people about the 3. China to ban ivory trade by end of 2017
would-be benefits to vehicle owners as initiations
of AVMS RTO check-post.
2. PM Modi announces number of measures for

welfare of farmers, small traders, women &
senior citizens
Modi said under the

Pradhan Mantri
Awash Yojana 4 per
cent interest waiver on
housing loan up to 9 China will ban all domestic ivory trade and
lakh rupees and 3 per processing by the end of 2017, state media
cent on loan up to 12 reported Friday, in a move hailed by activists as a
lakh rupees will be provided in the urban areas. game changer for African elephants.
He announced three percent interest subvention African ivory is highly sought after in China
on loan up to 2 lakh rupees for the construction of where it is seen as a status symbol and prices for a
1|Page http://www.akankshasuccessacademy.in/
kilo can reach as much as $1,100. Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1994. He was
elevated as the judge of the High Court in 1998
Xinhua said the complete ban would affect 34 and of the SC in 2010
processing enterprises and 143 designated trading
venues, with dozens to be closed by the end of 5. Govt permits 12 PSU banks to raise 3,000 cr
March 2017. from market
Conservationists estimate that more than 20,000

elephants were killed for their ivory last year, with
similar tolls in previous years. The WWF
campaign group says 415,000 of the animals
remain.
The Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora In a bid to strengthen capital base of public
(CITES), which took effect in 1975, banned the sector banks (PSBs), the government has allowed
ivory trade in 1989. 12 lenders to raise nearly 3,000 crore via
preferential shares over and above the 22,915
Like other countries, China permits the resale of crore capital support committed to them in July
ivory bought before the 1989 ban -- and also has a last year.
stockpile purchased with CITES approval in 2008,
which it releases for sale with certification. The Finance Ministry granted approval to 12
proposals of PSBs to raise a sum of 2,914.038
4. Justice Mian Saqib Nisar appointed next crore through preferential allotment and
Chief Justice of Pakistan permission given to raise 200 crore by United
Bank of India through QIP mode.
Senior judge of the Supreme
Court Justice Mian Saqib Nisar The government had already infused a sum of
has been appointed as the next 25,000 crore in 19 PSBs during FY 201516.
Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Zero balance accounts has been reduced to 23.86
A notification issued by the per cent.
Law Ministry on Wednesday said that Justice
Nisar will take charge as chief justice of the apex Aadhaar seeding has been done in 14.43 crore
court on December 31, reports the Express account under PMJDY, while 99.9 per cent
Tribune. households out of the 21.22 crore households
surveyed have been covered under PMJDY.
According to sources, the notification has been
issued after approval from President Mamnoon As on December 23, 2016, out of total
Hussain. requirement of 1, 27,198 fixed location bank
mitras in sub service areas (SSAs), 1, 26,985
Justice Nisar will replace Justice Anwar Zaheer bank mitras have been deployed by banks.
Jamali, who is set to retire on December 30. Out of 1,712 claims lodged, 1,626 claims have
In April this year, the senior SC judge took oath been disposed of under accidental insurance cover
as the acting Chief Justice of Pakistan in of 1 lakh under RuPay debit card.
Islamabad, on the account of CJP Anwar Zaheer
Jamali's seven-day official visit to Turkey. SPORTS
Justice Nisar who joined the legal profession as 6. Lionel Messi wins Worlds Best Playmaker of
an advocate in 1980 was enrolled as advocate of 2016
the High Court in 1982 and as advocate of the
Argentine Star A similar service has been provided to
Lionel Messi was employees and journalists in the form of health
chosen as the cards and for those, who are not being covered by
Worlds Best any such scheme, the new health initiative
Playmaker for the Arogya Raksha has been launched, he explained
year 2016 on
December 29, 2016, by the International the Chief Minister stressed that health is wealth
Federation of Football History and Statistics and added that in line with the states vision for
(IFFHS). achieving a higher rank in happiness index,
measures had been taken up to improve the
Messi topped the list with 172 points followed overall health standards of the people. Donning
by Andres Iniesta at second spot with 66 points the role of a health counsellor, Naidu underlined
and Toni Kross third with 45 points. that fitness is a must to extend ones lifespan.
Five-time Ballon dOr winner, Lionel Messi 2. Sikkim becomes the first fully organic state of
earlier won the Best Playmaker of the World for India
the year 2015 with 168 points Sikkim is now the
first fully organic
ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 02.01.2017 state of India.
Believe it or not,
NATIONAL the landlocked state
in Eastern India has
1. Naidu launches Arogya Raksha for a healthy done what many other states could not. Sikkim is
AP now a completely organic state officially.
Chief Minister N With a population of around six lakhs, the state

Chandrababu Naidu on also known as the Land of Flower, will now be
Sunday launched a new known for its Organic initiative too.
health scheme
christened Arogya Though the state attained the status in
Raksha offering December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made
medical insurance to those who were not covered the official announcement during his maiden visit
under any of the existing health schemes of the to the state of Sikkim.
state government
As an entirely organic it can now boast of being
To avail of the benefits of Arogya Raksha, all a state where the tourists can savour fresh organic
one needs to do is pay `100 per month per head. vegetables in the heart of Himalaya.
The health insurance cover is offered up to `2 Sustainable farming goes a step ahead as it
lakh and free treatment can be had for 1,044 listed provides environmental protection, bio diversity
health ailments in any of the 432 corporate conservation and better agricultural products. It
hospitals and 80 government hospitals in the state also lowers down pollution thus maintaining the
fragile ecosystem of the Himalayan state.
NTR Arogya Seva has already been launched
for below poverty line families, and under that Bestowed with varied agro-climatic conditions,
scheme, medical treatment for 1,044 health and some of the major crops produced in Sikkim are
medical ailments is being offered free of cost at cardamom, ginger, turmeric, off-season
corporate and government hospitals, he pointed vegetables, flowers, Sikkim mandarin, kiwi, buck
out. wheat, paddy maize and millets.
3. India successfully test-fires intercontinental IoT solutions onsite in Mori as part of a pilot
ballistic missile Agni-IV project run by the state government towards
creating smart and sustainable villages in the state.
BUSINESS
5. Indias Petronet Signs MoU to Set Up $950

Mn LNG Project in Bangladesh
India's largest LNG

importer Petronet has signed
an agreement to set up a USD
950 million liquefied natural
gas import project in
Bangladesh.
Petronet signed a MoU with

Petrobangla to set up a 7.5
million tonnes a year project to receive and
regasify LNG on Kutubdia Island in Cox's Bazar
and lay a 26-km pipline to connect it to the
consumption markets.
4. Mori in Andhra gets Smart Digital village tag
We intend to start marine survey work this
Mori, a tiny village month and are targeting 2020 for completion of
under Sakhinetipalli the project," Petronet LNG CEO and Managing
mandal in East Director Prabhat Singh told PTI here.
Godavari district of GAIL may be wanting to sell LNG into
Andhra Pradesh, Bangladesh and then there is this pipeline
sealed its place on
India's digital map by Bangladesh has a lot of unmet demand. Gas
transforming completely into a Smart Digital demand is projected to more than double to 45
Village, in every sense of the term. million tonnes from current 20 million tonnes in
next 20 years.
All the 1189 households in the village with a
population of 4500 became fully digital as Chief Indian Oil Corp (IOC) too can join if city gas
Minister N Chandrababu Naidu finally launched projects are to be developed
the AP FiberNet project that will provide internet
at a speed of 15 mbps, SPORTS
WiFi, a telephone connection and 250 cable 6. Rafael Nadal wins Mubadala Tennis
television channels (using a triple-play set-top Championships 2016 in Abu Dhabi
box) for a total price of Rs 149 per month.
The Rs 4000 worth set-top box is being provided Spanish tennis
for a monthly installment of Rs 99. veteran Rafael
Nadal defeated
Mori would also soon have piped LPG supply. Belgian David
Goffin 6-4, 7-6
Information and Communications Technology to win the
major Ericsson demonstrated its Connected Mubadala
Aquaponics and Smart Water Grid Management World Tennis Championships here on Saturday.
The world No.9 disrupted 11th ranked Goffin's Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra,
rhythm as he had planned before the final, by Canara Bank, Catholic Syrian Bank, Central Bank
switching sides and changing from slice balls to of India, DCB Bank, Dena Bank, Federal Bank,
high balls on the center court of the International HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IDFC
Tennis Centre in Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City, Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank,
reports Xinhua. IndusInd Bank, Karnataka Bank, Karur Vysya
Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Oriental Bank of
Nadal, 30, trailed at 1-3 in the first set but Commerce, Punjab National Bank, RBL Bank,
regained advantage over Goffin, who overcame South Indian Bank, Standard Chartered Bank,
world No.1 Andy Murray in the semi-finals. State Bank of India, Syndicate Bank, Union Bank
of India, United Bank of India, and Vijaya Bank.
In the second set, the game was dragged into the
tiebreak where Nadal forced a number of errors 2. India 3rd among nations offering highest
from the 26-year-old and won 7-5. salaries to expats
ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 03.01.2017
NATIONAL
1. BHIM app tops Google Play Store charts: Top

points to note
BHIM is a digital payments solution app based

on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) from the
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

The
app
India has ranked third among the countries

offering the highest average annual salary to
allows users to send or receive money to other expatriates, according to HSBC Holdings data.
accounts using UPI or via IFSC and MMID code Notably, Switzerland offers an average salary of
as well. You can make direct payments to $188,275 a year to expats, the highest in the world
merchants by scanning QR code. and almost twice the global average.
Users can send money to their friend or family Further, the best employment packages,
even if they dont have the BHIM app, as it is including health benefits, are found in Middle
linked directly to a bank account. East countries like Bahrain
A maximum of Rs 10,000 can be shared per 3. Maharashtra Govt. to organised Digi Dhan
transaction, and a total of Rs 20,000 can be sent Mela in Mumbai
within 24 hours.
. The Maharashtra Government will organised
3. A number of banks support the BHIM app. the Digi Dhan Mela in Mumbai under the aegis of
Central Government's Lucky Grahak Yojana for
The list includes Allahabad Bank, Andhra Bank, Consumers and Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana for
traders. would act as a Launchpad for drones
Amazon, after winning a patent for flying the

warehouse in the US, announced plans for an
"airborne fulfillment center" (AFC) such as an
airship, CNBC reported.
The airship will be stocked with lots of products

and would float at an altitude of around 45,000
feet
Amazon said the process would require little

Digi Dhan Mela in Mumbai will have 50 stalls power as the drone would be gliding down rather
manned by banks, e wallet, and telecom and than having to take off and land.
transport companies.
BUSINESS
Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendra operators, Fair Price
Shop Owners, vendors selling electronic goods, 6. NRIs can exchange defunct notes till June 30,
foodstuffs, textiles, handicrafts and fashion others till Mar 31: RBI
accessories, Self Help Groups from National
Payments Corporation of India and Aadhaar RBI last
authorities will also participate in the event. night came
out with
These stall will serve as training blocks and conditions for
information kiosks for the government's cashless exchange of
endeavor. defunct notes
for those,
INTERNATIONAL including
non-resident
4. Russia delivers Sukhoi jets to Beijing after Indians, who failed to do so till December 31, the
Chinese military unveiled J-20 fighter last day for depositing the invalid currency notes
in banks.
Russia has delivered
four Sukhoi Su-35 Resident Indian citizens who were abroad from
fighter jets to China. November 9 to December 30 can avail this facility
up to March 31, 2017 and NRI citizens,
The delivery was
made on December 25. who were abroad during this period, can
Moscow feared exchange their defunct notes up to June 30, 2017.
Sukhoi will lose value after Chinese military
unveiled its J-20 stealth fighter. While there is no monetary limit for exchange
for the eligible resident Indians, the limit for NRIs
5. Amazon's flying warehouse to launch drones will be as per the relevant FEMA Regulations (Rs
for fast delivery 25,000 per person Citizens). The statement added
that no third party tender will be accepted under
American e- the facility.
commerce giant
Amazon will fly a This facility will be available through Reserve
warehouse at an Bank offices at Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai,
altitude of around Kolkata and Nagpur.
45,000 feet that
According to RBI, Indian citizens resident in
Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and Bangladesh cannot
avail this facility.
7. India's first laser technology-based advanced

AVMS RTO check-post
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani dedicated

India's first laser technology-based advanced
AVMS RTO check-post at Shamlaji of Aravalli
district
Syiemlieh, a UPSC member, has been asked to
The check-post is equipped with advanced ray take over charge on January 4 and will remain the
head of the organization till his retirement on
January 21, 2018 or till further orders.
NATIONAL
1. Swachh Bharat survey in 500 cities
technology with a cost of Rs 4.72 crore.
Along with this Programme, Rupani also laid

foundation stones of various developmental works
worth Rs 30 crore in tribal area of Aravalli
district.
All the 16 check-posts across the state will be

made advanced, automatic and transparent with a
cost of Rs. 35 crore during next year.
In a bid to encourage competition to improve
State government is committed for strict sanitation standards, the government will kick
implementation of ban on hookah bars and liquor start a survey, Swachh Survekshan from
prohibition to make our youth free from evil of Wednesday to rank 500 cities across the country
bad habits, on cleanliness.
On the occasion Transportation Minister The survey will be conducted by Quality

Vallabhbhai Kakadiya said that state government Council of India.
has made 125 people oriented decisions within
just 100 days of ruling. It will judge cities on the basis of data provided
by Municipal bodies, data collected through direct
APPOINTMENT observations and independent assessment and
citizen feedbacks.
8. David R Syiemlieh appointed new UPSC
chairman The areas of evaluations include waste
David R Syiemlieh has been appointed as the collection, sweeping and transportation, open
Chairman of the Union Public Service defecation free and toilets, municipal solid waste-
Commission (UPSC) by President Pranab processing and disposal, information, education
Mukherjee. and behavior change, and Capacity building -
Swachh Bharat Mission e-learning portal. five-judge constitution bench in the Supreme
Court which had struck down the controversial
The citizens can give their feedback by either NJAC Act for appointment of judges, was sworn
giving a missed call on 1969 to record their in as the 44th Chief Justice of India.
response or by filling up a feedback form on the
Swachh Survekshan website. President Pranab Mukherjee administered the
oath of office and secrecy to Justice Kehar at the
Swachh Survekshan 2016 had ranked 73 cities Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan.
across the country.
INTERNATIONAL
2. Google doodle pays tribute to social reformer
Savitribai Phule 4. Finland introduces basic income for
unemployed
Tech giant Google
on Tuesday
honoured social
reformer Savitribai
Phule on the
occasion of her birth anniversary.
Savitribai had many firsts to her credit she was

the first woman teacher of the first womens
school in India and a pioneer in modern Marathi Finland has become the first country in the
poetry. world to pay a basic income to randomly picked
citizens on a national level in an experiment
Savitribai taught in the school which she and her aiming at dismissing poverty, motivate people to
husband, Jyotirao Phule, started in 1848 with just join the workforce and decrease unemployment.
nine students on the rolls.
The experiment is conducted with 2,000
Born into a family of farmers in 1831, in randomly picked unemployed participants
Maharashtra, Savitribai, as was the practice then, between the ages of 25 and 58. For two years,
was married when she was just nine to Jyotirao, participants from different parts of the country
who was 12. will receive an unconditional monthly tax-free
basic income of 560 euros ($586).
The British government honoured the couple in
1852 for their contribution to the cause of The plan aims to find ways to reshape the social
womens education. security system in response to changes in the
labour market,
The Government of Maharashtra has instituted according to the website of the Social Insurance
an award in her name to honour women social Institution or Kela, which manages the project. It
reformers. also seeks to reduce the bureaucracy and simplify
the complicated benefits system, Kela says.
Also, a stamp was released by India Post in
honour of Savitribai on March 10, 1998. 5. Nepal Hosts Elephant Festival in Chitwan to
Boost Tourism
3. Justice Jagdish The small Himalayan country caught between
Singh Khehar sworn in China in the north and India to the south,
as 44th Chief Justice of
India It has been able to achieve 365 days of zero
Justice Jagdish Singh poaching twice: in 2011 for rhinos, and for 12
Khehar, who led the months ending February 2014, for rhinos, tigers
and elephants.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a
postal stamp dedicated to Guru Gobind Singh to
mark his 350th birth anniversary at Gandhi
Maidan
This is one of the biggest reason for celebrations

as Sauraha celebrated the 13th Chitwan Elephant "The launch of the postal stamp has been kept
Festival, a five-day event that started from confidential. It is directly monitored by the
December 26, Monday to December 30, Friday. communications ministry.
BUSINESS Officials from Delhi will reach Patna with the

special postage stamp to be released by the PM,"
6. RBI appoints Surekha Marandi as executive said a senior postal department official.
director
Bihar governor Ramnath Kovind, chief minister
The Reserve Bank of India has Nitish Kumar and his Punjab counterpart Prakash
appointed Surekha Marandi as Singh Badal will also be present on the occasion.
its Executive Director (ED) in
place of U S Paliwal, Realising postage stamp on the 350th birth
anniversary of Shri Guru Gobind Singhji will be
Who retired on December 31 good way to remember him.
last year, the bank announced on
Tuesday. 2. United Nations declares 2017 as the
International Year of Sustainable Tourism for
Marandi, who assumed charge on Monday, will Development
look after Consumer Education and Protection
Department, Financial Inclusion and Development
Department, and Secretary's Department
"She has also served on the Boards of United

Bank and Bank of Baroda.
Prior to being promoted as ED, Marandi was

Principal Chief General Manager and Chief
Vigilance Officer in the Reserve Bank.
The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has
ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 05.01.2017 approved the adoption of 2017 as the International
Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
NATIONAL
the importance of international tourism, and
1. PM Narendra Modi to launch postal stamp on particularly of the designation of an international
Guru Gobind Singh year of sustainable tourism for development, in
fostering better understanding among peoples Tata Power
everywhere, BSE Company
has appointed
This decision follows the recognition by global S
leaders at the UN Conference on Sustainable Padmanabhan
Development (Rio+20) that well-designed and as the chairman
well-managed tourism of the company
after Cyrus Mistry resigned from the post
The decision to adopt 2017 as the International following his ouster from Tata Sons.
Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
comes at a particularly important moment as the Tata Power brought back S Padmanabhan, who
international community embraces the new was executive director of operations at the
Agenda 2030 company until 2014, as an additional director on
the board.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
approved by the UN General Assembly last He is also the executive chairman of Tata
September. Tourism is included as targets under Business Excellence Group and has also been
three of the SDGs recently appointed as the head of group for human
resources for Tata Son.
3. Jovenel Moise confirmed as new president
INTERNATIONAL
5. Sir Tim Barrow: UK's new ambassador to EU
Jovenel Moise has been declared the winner of

Haiti's November 20 presidential election.
Moise was the majority winner with 55.6 percent

of the vote. Turnout was low at a reported 21
percent. Sir Tim Barrow: UK's new ambassador to EU
'tough negotiator' Downing Street has called the
Haiti election 'better organised this time' UK's new ambassador to the European Union a
"seasoned and tough negotiator", who will bring
Moise, previously a little-known businessman, "energy" to Brexit talks
was chosen to run on behalf of the Tet Kale party
of former president Michel Martelly, who ended
his term without an elected successor.
The 48-year-old president-elect runs a banana

export company that he sees as a model for rural
development, and on the campaign trail he
branded himself as "Banana Man".
4. S Padmanabhan nominated as Chairman of

Tata Power
10 | P a g e http://www.akankshasuccessacademy.in/
SPORTS ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 06.01.2017
6. Australian legend Arthur Morris inducted into NATIONAL

the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
1. 4th Assam International Agri-Horti show to
begin in Guwahati
Former Australia cricketer Arthur Morris was

inducted into the International Cricket Councils
Fourth Assam International Agri-Horti show
(ICC) Hall of Fame by ex-skipper Steve Waugh.
will begin in Guwahati, Assam.
Morris, who became the 82nd player to be
State Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will
inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, was
inaugurate the show.
given the honour posthumously.
Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora informed
His wife Judith Morris received a personalized
that 10 foreign countries are also taking part in the
cap from Waugh, himself an ICC Cricket Hall of
show.
Famer.
He said Union Agriculture Minister Radha
According to a release, Mrs. Morris said, It is a
Mohan Singh and Governor Banwarilal Purohit
great honour to be receiving this award, which
will attend the closing ceremony on Monday.
brings in a flood of memories along with it.
Nearly 600 farmers from Assam will be trained
7. India wins 2016 SAFF womens
on doubling farmers' income, more crop per drop
Championship
and agri-preneurship development.
More than 200 organizations from across the

country will take part in the show.
Business meet and discussions are also being

organised by the Assam government.
2. Island Tourism Festival to begin in Andaman

and Nicobar
The Island Tourism Festival will begin at Port

Beautiful India! That's exactly how the story
Blair in Andaman and Nicobar islands.
turned out on Wednesday as the India women's
football team lifted their fourth consecutive SAFF
Lieutenant Governor Jagdish Mukhi will
Championship. Sajid Dar's women army
inaugurate the mega event at ITF Ground this
overpowered Bangladesh with a 3-1 score in the
evening.
SAFF Women's Championship 2016 final at the
Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri
During the 10-day event, performances by the
cultural troupes from mainland will help the
Islanders renew their cultural ties with mainland INTERNATIONAL
India.
4. Protocol to amend India-Kazakhstan DTAC
signed
An International Cultural Group from

Khazkhistan will also perform the ITF Ground. India and Kazakhstan on Friday signed a
Protocol to amend the existing double taxation
A band of artists from mainland will also avoidance convention (DTAC) between the two
perform during the festival at North and Middle countries.
Andaman and also at Nicobar Group of Islands,
besides South Andaman. This Protocol has among other things inserted a
limitation of benefits (LOB) article to provide a
3. Book on Dr. Kalam titled 'The Peoples main purpose test to prevent misuse of the DTAC
President: Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam' released and to allow application of domestic law and
measures against tax avoidance or evasion.
In 2004, the then
President APJ Abdul The original DTAC was signed on December 9,
Kalam took a long time 1996.
to be convinced that the
country could have a This Protocol also inserts specific provisions to
council of Union facilitate relieving of economic double taxation in
ministers even after the transfer pricing cases.
Parliament was dissolved
and an election had been The Protocol has inserted service Permanent
announced. Establishment (PE) provisions with a threshold
and also provides that the profits to be attributed
Finance Minister Arun to PE will be determined on the basis of
Jaitley, one of the two people tasked with apportionment of total profits of the enterprise.
convincing Kalam then, said Wednesday.
The Protocol provides internationally accepted
The other person was then Attorney General, standards for effective exchange of information on
Soli Sorabjee. The two took turns to explain tax matters.
legalities, past precedents and the Constitutional
provisions to Kalam who finally signed on the BUSINESS
dotted line after hours of meetings, he said.
5. SIDBI ties up with LIC for capital support to
In 2004, then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had enterprises
dissolved Parliament to advance the general
election by about six months. Small Industries Development Bank of India
(SIDBI) has tied up ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 07.01.2017
with Life Insurance
Corporation of India NATIONAL
(LIC) for augmenting
capital support to 1. Sitar Maestro Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan Dies
enterprises in the At 88
country.
Renowned sitar
The idea behind tying player Abdul
up with the state-run Halim Jaffer
insurance behemoth is to give a boost to the Khan, - the last
venture capital ecosystem for MSMEs, it said. survivor of the
'Sitar Trinity' of
Under fund of funds operations, SIDBI handles India along with the late Pandit Ravi Shankar and
various schemes, namely India Aspiration Fund Ustad Vilayat Khan - died in Mumbai after a brief
(corpus of Rs 2,000 crore, ASPIRE Fund (Rs 60 illness, a family member said. He was 88.
crore) and Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) (Rs
10,000 crore). He breathed his last at his Bandra residence
around 5 pm, his son and sitar player Zunain A
Under the MOU, as part of first phase, LIC and Khan told IANS.
SIDBI signed Contribution Agreements on
January 03 in New Delhi with 7 Venture Capital Conferred with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan
Funds (VCFs), with an aggregate commitment of and Sangeet Natak Akademi awards, Mr. Khan
Rs 99.50 crore from LIC. This is over and above hailed from the Indore Gharana and is credited for
commitment of Rs 162.75 crore already given to innovating the unique music style of 'Jafferkhani
these funds by SIDBI. Baaj'.
6. Karnataka Bank launches group insurance Born in Jawra, Madhya Pradesh, he, during his
scheme music career spanning over six decades, played
the sitar for various Bollywood films, including
Karnataka Bank on "Mughal-E-Azam", "Kohinoor", "Goonj Uthi
Wednesday launched a Shehnai" and "Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje",
group personal among many others.
accident insurance
scheme titled KBL 2. 30 Indian-origin men, women in Forbes list
Suraksha in of super achievers
association with Universal Sompo General
Insurance Company. The Forbes list has
30 game changers in
The scheme provides insurance cover for the 20 industries
family members of its savings bank customers for including healthcare,
accidental deaths, said a release. manufacturing,
sports and finance.
All the savings bank accountholders of the bank
in the 18-70 age group could subscribe to the The innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders, who
scheme by paying a nominal annual premium of have been featured in the 2017 edition of Forbes'
Rs. 100 for Rs. 10 lakh coverage and Rs. 50 for list of super achievers, are under the age of 30
Rs. 5 lakh coverage.
3. Bengaluru set to host 14th Pravasi Bhartiya
The policy could be renewed up to the age of 75 Divas
of the accountholder. 14th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) convention
will on Saturday begin in Bengaluru. of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas
Naqvi.
The three-day event will kick start with the
Youth PBD, the theme of which is Role of Various issues, including review of progress
Diaspora Youth in the Transformation of India. under the schemes relating to grant of financial
assistance for computerisation of waqf properties,
The main convention will be inaugurated strengthening of waqf boards and development of
tomorrow by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and waqf properties by the National Waqf
chief guest of the event, Prime Minister of Development Corporation Ltd., will be discussed
Portugal Dr Antonio Costa. during the conference.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention is a BUSINESS

very important platform for engagement of the 6. Per capita income of Indians to cross Rs. 1
central and state governments with the Overseas lakh in FY17
Indian Community. Indias per
capita income, a
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has been held gauge for
traditionally on 9th January every year to measuring living
commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi as a standard, is
Pravasi from South Africa to India. estimated to cross
Rs. 1 lakh in
INTERNATIONAL 2016-17, up from Rs. 93,293 in the previous
fiscal.
4. China launches longest high-speed train
service First Advance Estimates of National Income,
2016-17 released by the Central Statistics Office
China on (CSO), the per capita net national income during
Thursday 2016-17 is estimated to be Rs. 103,007 at
launched its current prices.
longest high- This is higher by 10.4 per cent compared to Rs.
speed train 93,293 during 2015-16.
service, from
Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan At constant prices, the growth rate in per capita
Province, to Beijing. income is estimated at 5.6 per cent during 2016-
17, as against 6.2 per cent in the previous year.
The train, named "Shangri-la of the World," left
Kunming at 11:05 a.m. on a 2,760-km trip to The Central Statistics Office said Indias GDP is
Beijing, which takes about 13 hours. expected to slow down to 7.1 per cent during
2016-17 from 7.6 per cent in the previous fiscal
5. All India Conference of Waqf Boards begins mainly due to slump in manufacturing, mining
and construction activities.
The All India
Conference of The CSO did not figure in the impact of
Chairpersons and demonetization, effected on November 9 and the
Chief Executive estimates are based on sectorial data available till
Officers of states October.
and union territories'
Waqf Boards will The CSO projections on national income are in
begin here in the national capital. line with the Reserve Banks estimates, which too
had lowered the GDP growth prospects to 7.1 per
The conference will be inaugurated by Minister cent.
gravitational
ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 08.01.2017 wave telescopes
in a Tibet
NATIONAL prefecture close
to Line of Actual
1. ISRO to launch record 103 satellites at one go Control with
in February India
ISRO will With a budget of $18.8 million to detect faintest

launch a record echoes resonating from the universe which may
103 satellites in reveal more about the Big Bang theory.
one go using its
workhorse Construction has started for the first telescope,
PSLV-C37 in the code-named Ngari No 1, 30 km south of
first week of Shiquanhe Town in Ngari Prefecture, said Yao
February Yongqiang chief researcher with the National
Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese
The launch will be a major feat in country's Academy of Sciences.
space history as no exercise on this scale has been
attempted before SPORTS
INTERNATIONAL 4. Qatar Open: Novak Djokovic beats Sir Andy

Murray in final to end Brit's winning streak
2. Norway to Become First Country to Switch
off FM Radio Network Novak Djokovic withstood a comeback from Sir
Andy Murray
Norway will become to defend his
the worlds first Qatar Open
country to shut down title and end
its FM network in an the Briton's
unpopular move winning
designed to force the streak of 28
leap to digital consecutive ATP Tour matches.
technology.
Murray remains world number one despite the 6-
Critics claim the switch off will leave citizens 3 5-7 6-4 defeat by the Serbian world number two.
without digital radios isolated and unable to listen
to emergency broadcasts. Around two million cars ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 09.01.2017
in the country are also unequipped with Digital
Audio Broadcasting (DAB) technology. NATIONAL
The Norwegian government claims the switch to 1. PM to launch 'Pravasi Kaushal Vikas
digital will save money and allow national radio Yojana' for Indians seeking overseas
stations to invest more in radio content. employment
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official
BUSINESS spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Sunday said that
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon launch
3. China to build world's highest altitude the 'Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana' which is
telescopes in Tibet targeted at the Indian youth seeking overseas
employment.
China is setting up the world's highest altitude
Chaudhary said that there is a need for bridging
the digital divide between the urban and rural
areas.
He said the Union government promotes

research and development and innovative eco-
system of Information Technology and also
encourages acquisition of the Intellectual Property
Rights by Indians.
3. Golden Globe Awards: The winners list

"He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) said that
we will shortly be launching a skill development
Programme called the 'Pravasi Kaushal Vikas
Yojana', which is targeted at Indian youth seeking
overseas employment.
This will be very significant given that we have

more than 31 million Indians living and working
outside India," he told ANI.
"He talked about the tremendous contributions Here is the full list of winners, in the order in
that Pravasi Bharatiyas make to the progress and which they were presented:
development of India, to the progress and
development of their societies where they are MOVIES
living and working...their 'karmbhoomi', but India Best Supporting Actor
has always been their 'marnbhoomi'. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nocturnal Animals
2. Two-day 20th National Conference on e- Best Original Score

Governance concludes in Visakhapatnam Cyber La La Land
security is the need of the hour: MoS Shri P.P.
Chaudhary Best Original Song, Motion Picture
The two day National Conference on e- "City of Stars," La La Land
Governance concluded in Visakhapatnam .
Best Supporting Actress
The Union Minister of State for Electronics and Viola Davis, Fences
Information Technology and Law & Justice Shri
P.P. Chaudhary chaired the valedictory session of Best Actor, Musical or Comedy
the 20th National Conference on e-Governance. Ryan Gosling, La La Land
Addressing on the occasion, Shri P.P. Best Screenplay

Damien Chazelle, La La Land
Best Animated Film

Zootopia
Best Foreign-Language Film

Elle
Best Director
Damian Chazelle, La La Land
Best Actress, Musical or Comedy Best Actress, Television Drama
Emma Stone, La La Land Claire Foy, The Crown
Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy Best Television Drama

La La Land The Crown, Netflix
Best Actor, Drama Best Actor, Television Series Comedy or Musical

Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea Donald Glover, Atlanta
Best Actress, Drama INTERNATIONAL

Isabelle Huppert, Elle
4. Ghana: Nana Akufo-Addo is sworn in as
Best Picture, Drama president
Moonlight
TELEVISION
Best Actor, Television Drama

Billie Bob Thornton, Goliath
Best Actress, Television Series Comedy or

Musical
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish
Nana Akufo-Addo has been sworn in as Ghana's
Best Television Series Comedy or Musical new president after beating John Mahama in last
Atlanta month's election.
Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series Heads of state from across Africa and thousands
or Motion Picture Made for Television of guests and dignitaries watched him take the
Sarah Paulson, The People v. O.J. Simpson: oath of office at a ceremony in the capital, Accra.
American Crime Story
Mr. Akufo-Addo, a 72-year-old former human
Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture rights lawyer, promised free high school
Made for Television education and more factories.
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime
Story BUSINESS
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting 5. SBI Pension Funds appoints Kumar

Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Sharadindu as MD & CEO
Made for Television
Hugh Laurie, The Night Manager SBI Pension
Funds Pvt Ltd
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting (SBIPFPL), a
Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture subsidiary of
Made for Television SBI, has
Olivia Colman, The Night Manager recently
appointed Kumar Sharadindu as the MD & CEO
Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or of the company.
Motion Picture Made for Television
Tom Hiddleston, The Night Manager Prior to this assignment, Kumar was General
Manager at SBI Corporate Centre, Mumbai, ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 10.01.2017
heading the private equity business of the bank.
NATIONAL
He has held several crucial assignments in his
banking career spanning more than 30 years in the 1. PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate 8th edition
areas of credit, treasury, risk and large corporate of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017
lending, a company press release said.
SBI Pension Funds had assets under

management (AUM) of Rs. 46,019 crore, as on
March 31, 2016
SPORTS
6. Sania Mirza wins Brisbane International title
Top-seeded Indo- American duo triumphed 6-2

6-3 against the second-seeded Russian team of
Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the
final. The eighth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global
Summit, 2017, was inaugurated by Prime Minister
The trophy, however, ended Sania's 91-week Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad in the presence of
reign as the world No.1 doubles player in the Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani
WTA rankings. That position was taken over by and interim chairman of Tata group Ratan Tata
Mattek-Sands among other dignitaries.
7. Roberto Bautista Agut beats Daniil Around 20 heads of states and ministers
Medvedev, wins Chennai Open 2017 representing governments across the world have
attended the previous editions of this global
Roberto Bautista Agut beat Daniil Madvedev 6- summit.
3, 6-4 to win the men's singles title at Chennai
Open 2017. This time, 12 nations are partner countries for
the event USA, UK, Australia, Canada,
Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut won the men's Denmark, France, Japan, The Netherlands,
singles title of the Chennai Open 2017. Poland, Singapore, Sweden and the UAE.
Agut beat Russian 20-year-old Daniil Medvedev Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said India is
6-3 and 6-4 to claim the first ATP tournament of a bright spot in the global economy where the
the season rising middle class offers a huge market potential
to investors.
2. Maharashtra Government launches WiFi

services connecting 500 hotspots
The state
Monday
launched WiFi
services
connecting 500
hotspots across
Mumbai under the smart city project.
Mobile handset brand Gionee has roped in
By May 1 next year, the government will extend Indian test captain Virat Kohli as the brand
the free WiFi services across 1200 hotspots. ambassador.
The list of hotspots include prominent tourist The poster boy for Indian cricket will be joining
places such as Gateway of India, Churchgate, Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt who was roped in a
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Prabha few months ago.
Devi, Shivaji Park, Tarapore Aquarium, Bombay
Stock Market, among various places across The announcement of Kohli's appointment was
Eastern, Western and Harbour railways. made alongside the announcement of Gionee
clocking 1.2 crore customers in India.
INTERNATIONAL
Gionee has two manufacturing units in India and
3. McDonald's sells China operations for $2.08 is continuously beefing up its brand and
billion marketing initiatives with the aim to grow as
much as 2.5 times in 2017.
US fast-food giant
McDonald's will sell a As part of this, it will also be establishing 500
controlling stake in its brand stores in India along with doubling their
mainland China and strength of retail representatives to 20,000.
Hong Kong franchise
business to a consortium Arvind R Vohra, Country CEO & MD, Gionee
of Citic Group and the India said: "India is one of the fastest growing
Carlyle Group for up to $2.08 billion. young economies in the world and Gionee takes
immense pride in having India's biggest youth
Citic Limited, Citic Capital Holdings, Carlyle icons Virat Kohli and Alia Bhatt as its brand
Group and McDonald's will form a company that endorsers
will act as the franchisee responsible for the SPORTS
chain's business in mainland China and Hong
Kong for 20 years, the companies said in a joint 5. Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri named as
statement. FIFA Coach of the Year 2016
Citic and Citic Capital will have a stake of 52 By Allan Valente. Leicester City boss Claudio
per recent, Carlyle will take 28 per cent, and Ranieri has
McDonald's will hold 20 percent of the new been named
company. as the
Coach of
BUSINESS the Year at
the FIFA
4. Gionee signs Virat Kohli as brand ambassador Football
Awards in Zurich.
The Italian was up against Fernando Santos, who

led Portugal to Euro 2016 glory in the summer,
and Zinedine Zidane, who guided Real Madrid to
the Champions League title last season.
6. Cristiano Ronaldo wins FIFA best player

award for 4th time
mobile app with NGET (Next Generation e-
Ticketing) for ticket booking, simple and easy
user interface and supports general, ladies, Tatkal
and Premium-Tatkal quota.
Through IRCTC Rail Connect app users can

view and cancel old mobile app tickets also. The
new app will provide payment gateway to over 40
banks to facilitate payments through net Banking,
Ronaldo's fourth FIFA award closed the gap on credit or debit cards and wallets like Paytm, PayU,
five-time winner Messi, the runner-up to each Mobikwik, Prabhu informed.
Ronaldo victory,
The IRCTC Rail Connect will also be inter-
Who did not attend the ceremony. Cristiano connected with IRCTC AIR, Food on Track
Ronaldo received FIFA's best player award for the mobile apps to facilitate booking of air tickets and
fourth time on Monday, after Portugal and Real food through e-catering.
Madrid won both major European titles in 2016.
2. India, Kenya sign agreements in area of
ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 11.01.2017 agriculture
NATIONAL
India and Kenya signed agreements in the area

of agriculture which were inked after delegation
1. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu launches level talks between Prime Minister Narendra
new IRCTC Rail Connect app Modi and Kenyian President Uhuru Kenyatta in
New Delhi.
In a bid to promote ease of ticketing through
digital transactions, Railway Minister Suresh Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, expansion
Prabhu released the new passenger mobile of bilateral trade, greater flow of capital between
application named IRCTC Rail Connect app two economies and stronger developmental
partnership is a priority.
Currently e-ticketing system caters to over 10
lakh passengers daily (comprising 58 per cent of India is collaborating with Kenya to raise
total reserved passengers). agricultural productivity there.
To increase the ease to users, a new Android- The Loan of Credit Agreement of 100 million
based mobile application for reserved booking dollars signed for farm mechanization will open a
IRCTC Rail Connect has been developed new dimension of engagement between the two
countries.
the new application has features like 24/7 service
with no time based checks, synchronization of Mr. Kenyatta was accorded a ceremonial
welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan floor of the Indian Ocean as a result of the largest
this morning. President Pranab Mukherjee and earthquake that shook the Andaman-Sumatra
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Mr. region in 2012, according to scientists who warn
Kenyatta. He also laid a wreath at Rajghat. that the new fault system could trigger more
quakes in the future.
INTERNATIONAL
3. John Kerry to make final visit to Vietnam,

France, UK, Switzerland
Researchers, including those from the Nanyang

Technological University in Singapore and the
Indonesian Institute of Sciences, have found
With less than 10 days left for the new evidence of a possible new plate boundary
administration, US Secretary of State John Kerry forming on the floor of the Indian Ocean in the
would leave for a nearly week-long final official Wharton Basin.
visit that would take him to Vietnam, France,
Britain and Switzerland. A slip-strike quake occurs when two plates slide
horizontally against one another.
The top American diplomat would return to
Washington on January 18, two days before Such quakes can be caused by deformations that
President-elect Donald Trump would be sworn in occur in plates distant from fault lines as pressure
as the 45th President of the United States. builds up across a plate.
On January 14, Kerry will travel to CA Mau They can lead to inter-plate earthquakes and
province in Vietnams Mekong Delta region. cause a plate to break, resulting in a new boundary
and this in turn can lead to even more quakes.
Kerry will then travel to Paris, on January 15 to
attend a conference on Middle East peace hosted It is this scenario that the researchers believe
by French President Francois Hollande. happened in 2012 when two earthquakes struck
the Andaman-Sumatran region (north-west part)
In London on January 15, Kerry will meet with of the Indian Ocean the largest inter-plate
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and earthquakes ever recorded.
discuss the situation in Syria and other global and
regional issues, Kirby said. BUSINESS
On January 1718, Kerry will attend the World 5. Post demonetization, World Bank drops
Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in India's growth rate to 7 %
Davos, Switzerland
The World Bank has decelerated India's growth
4. New fault in Indian Ocean may trigger quakes for 2016-17 fiscal to 7 per cent from its previous
in future: study estimate of 7.6 percent.
A new plate boundary may be forming on the The World Bank said, immediate withdrawal of
a large volume of currency in circulation and in Zurich.
subsequent replacement with new notes in
November contributed to slowing growth. The number of tournament matches will rise to
80, from 64, however, the eventual winners will
still play only seven games.
The tournament will be completed within 32

days - a measure to appease powerful European
clubs, who objected to reform because of a
crowded international schedule.
The changes mark the first World Cup expansion

since 1998.

It said, the country would regain momentum in
the following years with 7.6 and 7.8 per cent NATIONAL
growth.
1. International kite festival begins
The Bank said, various reform initiatives are
expected to unlock domestic supply bottlenecks
and raise productivity.
According to the report, India maintains the

distinction of being the fastest growing emerging
market economies of the world, bypassing China.
SPORTS
6. World Cup: FIFA to expand competition to 48

teams The second international kite festival held in
connection with the Sankranthi festival will begin
here on Thursday. A special kite flying event will
be held on Thursday night at Peoples Plaza,
Necklace Road.
The International kite festival will come to a

close on January 15 in the city. The festival will
also be held at Yadagirigutta on January 16 and
Warangal on January 17.
The festival is expected to have a footfall of

50,000 visitors. The event is dedicated to the
FIFA has decided that the World Cup will be social cause of raising awareness about education
expanded to host 48 teams, up from 32. An initial and empowerment of girl child. Aga Khan
stage of 16 groups of three teams will precede a Academy will host the festival January 13, 14 and
knockout stage for the remaining 32 when the 15.
change is made for the 2026 tournament.
The tagline of the festival is to fly a kite for a
The sport's world governing body voted girl child and colour the sky for a cause.
unanimously in favour of the change at a meeting
Competitors from 17 countries are expected to
take part in the kite festival which will see 70
international and 40 national kite fliers.
The tourism department plans to conduct the

festival in cities across the State in the ensuing
years.
2. Effects of Endosulfan devastating: SC

Talking about the victory, she told IANS via
email: Its heartening to see that films that have
no godfather or a big studio supporting them are
also picked by a firm and fair jury
62nd Jio Filmfare Awards introduced a new

category Jio Filmfare Short Film Awards, where
among 45 nominations, Chutney bagged two
awards. It was also chosen as Best Film (Fiction).
Set in Delhi, the films story is about a middle-

Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Kerala class family where Tisca plays a deglamorized
government to release the entire compensation to woman with an extraordinary mind. In reference
over 5,000 victims, mostly newborns, and their to her character, Tisca said:
families in three months.
Winning for a character that is the opposite of
A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of heroine material is what shows me that Filmfare
India J.S. Khehar said the State of Kerala can is really looking at the art of acting in a bold and
initiate legal proceedings to recover the modern way.
compensation money from pesticide companies
responsible for the production and sale of the 4. Magh Mela' begins in Allahabad, pilgrims to
highly controversial but cheap agrochemical. take holy dip on Paush Purnima
Kerala has earmarked over 180 crore for the

payment of compensation to victims,
The State has paid cash compensation ranging

from 2 lakh to 5 lakh to the victims. It said the
entire rehabilitation scheme, including a multi-
speciality hospital, would cost over 500 crore.
Every industry should look into corporate

social responsibility also, you cannot just look at The month-long Magh Mela festival began in
the money. For us cost is not the only point, even Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh with approximately 50
if one child suffers we do not want it on our heads lakh pilgrims, including scores of kalpwasis,
expected to take a holy dip at Sangam, the
3. Tisca Chopra wins Best Actress Award for confluence of Yamuna, Ganga and mythological
Chutney Saraswati, on the occasion of Paush Purnima on
Thursday.
Tisca was named Best Actress for Chutney at the
Jio Filmfare Short Film Awards. During the entire month of Magh Mela, the
pilgrims stay on the banks of Sangam in tents and
take early morning bath and take part in other from 10 per cent on average in 2010, and likely
religious duties. declined another half percentage point last year.
Elaborate arrangements have also been made for "We can help governments offer the private
smooth conduct of bathing. sector more opportunities to invest with
confidence that the new capital it produces can
More than three thousand police person have plug into the infrastructure of global
already deployed in the Mela area. 12 police connectivity," said World Bank Chief Economist
stations have been set up in the tent city and 45 Paul Romer.
CCTV cameras have been stalled on all main
roads of sangam area. 6. Norway becomes first country to cease FM
radio broadcasting
Besides this, water police with 160 divers are on
the job for safe and secure bathing. Special Task
Force and Anti-Terrorist Squad have also been
deployed.
Magh Mela is also known as mini Kumbh Mela

and is held in Magh month as per traditional
Hindu calendar followed in North India.
INTERNATIONAL
5. World Bank projects global growth at 2.7% in Norway has become the first country to cease
2017 FM radio broadcasting.
The World Bank The northern county of Nordland has stopped

projected a global broadcasting using analogue frequencies
growth of 2.7 per cent in yesterday as the Government plans to roll out
2017, digital-only radio over the course of the year.
World Bank President The national broadcaster, NRK, nationwide

Jim Yong Kim said as radio channels began switching to digital audio
the financial body in its latest report said that broadcasting that offers a wider range of
global economic growth is forecast to accelerate broadcasting options and greater sound quality.
moderately to 2.7 per cent in 2017 after a post-
crisis low of 2.3 per cent in 2016. The main reason behind this technological shift
is to offer a better radio service to the whole
"Now is the time to take advantage of this population.
momentum and increase investments in
infrastructure and people. This is vital to Capital Oslo will turn off FM broadcasting in
accelerating the sustainable and inclusive September, and the process will be completed
economic growth required to end extreme nationwide by December
poverty," Jim said.
Move to radio digitization was decided by the
In the latest edition of the Global Economic Parliament in 2011, and a timetable was
Prospects, the World Bank said growth in announced in 2015. Norways Culture Ministry
advanced economies is expected to edge up to 1.8 estimated that it would save 25 million dollar a
per cent in 2017. year.
Investment growth fell to 3.4 per cent in 2015 SPORTS
from school altogether
7. FIH makes Sreejesh member of Athletes'
Committee Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)
The Indian men's hockey 2014, one of the largest non-governmental
team captain PR Sreejesh on household survey, the proportion of children aged
Wednesday became a 6-14 years enrolled in school in rural areas has
member of International been above 96 per cent for the past six years.
Hockey Federation (FIH)
Athletes' Committee. The real problem, the Aayog said, is the quality
of education as measurement by student
FIH Athletes' Committee comprises a total of achievements. The ASER report finds that more
eight current and former hockey players who have than 50 per cent of the fifth graders cannot read
the responsibility to act as a liaison between the second standard level text.
FIH and the athletes to make sure the players have
voice in the FIH decision making process. Aadhaar platform is one such avenue. It can
eliminate multiple ration cards held by the same
Sreejesh, who led the Indian team to a historic household and also weed out ghost ration cards
silver medal feat at the FIH Champions Trophy in
London last year, 2. Guided Pinaka successfully test-fired at
Chandipur in Odisha
"It's a great honour to be part of the FIH
Athletes' Committee which comprises of
legendary players like Moritz Fuerste and other
international greats
NATIONAL
1. NITI Aayog calls for review of RTE Act
The Pinaka Rocket converted to a Guided Pinaka

was successfully test-fired from Integrated Test
Range at Chandipur in Odisha, yesterday.
The Pinaka Rocket Mark-II, which evolved from

Pinaka Mark-I is equipped with a navigation,
guidance and control kit and has been transformed
to a Guided Pinaka.
The NITI Aayog has called for a review of the
provisions of the Right To Education Act that According to an official release, this conversion
stipulate that children who dont perform well has considerably enhanced the range and accuracy
cannot be held back up to class VIII. of Pinaka. The test-firing has met all mission
objectives.
RTI aims to provide primary education to all
children aged 6-14 years The radars, electro-optical and telemetry systems
at Chandipur tracked and monitored the vehicle
the purpose behind this provision is to minimize all through the flight-path.
the drop-out rate, since demoralization resulting
from failing a class leads to children withdrawing The Guided Pinaka is developed jointly by the
ARDE Pune, RCI Hyderabad and DRDL
Hyderabad.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has

congratulated the DRDO, industry and the Armed
Forces for the successful flight-test.
3. SC refuses to pass judgment on Jallikattu

before Pongal
Abes two-day visit to the archipelago makes
him the first foreign leader to visit since the
election of the Philippines' President Rodrigo
Duterte in May 2016.
He told that we will leverage Japanese

technology and know-how to the fullest extent to
The Supreme Court rejected a plea urging it to positively cooperate for the improvement of
pass judgment on Jallikattu before the harvest infrastructure in Metro Manila and the whole of
festival of Pongal on Saturday. the Philippines.
A bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and R President Rodrigo Duterte issued a statement
Banumathi told that it is unfair to ask the bench to claiming that his nation and Japan would increase
pass an order. maritime and security cooperation.
The apex court, however, said that the draft of 5. Barack Obama awards Joe Biden with
judgment has been prepared but it was not highest civilian honour
possible to deliver it before Saturday.
President Barack
The apex court court had earlier questioned the Obama awarded the
Centre for its January 2016 notification allowing nation's highest civilian
use of bulls in events like Jallikattu, saying that its honor, the Presidential
2014 verdict banning the use of the animals Medal of Freedom, to a
cannot be negated. shocked Vice President
Joe Biden on Thursday
It had also dismissed the review petition against at the White House
its 2014 verdict.
Biden and the president had gathered for what
INTERNATIONAL the White House had described as a final tribute to
the vice president.
4. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe signs 1 trillion yen
aid package to Philippines The event began with a playful and heartfelt
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has signed tribute from Obama to one of his closest friends
a 1-trillion yen, about 8.7 billion dollars, aid and confidantes in Washington. As he finished his
package over the next five years to the remarks, the president asked one of his military
Philippines, meant to improve economic and aides to come to the stage.
political relations between the two island nations.
"For the final time as president I am pleased to
The package is focused on infrastructure and award our nation's highest civilian honor . . ."
energy. Obama began as a Marine officer bearing the
medal stood by.
medals in the season-opening 6th Nation's Cup
BUSINESS after one pubilist made it to the final of the event
and four entered the semi-finals being held in
6. TCS CEO N. Chandrasekaran appointed Tata Vrbas, Serbia.
Sons chairman
The ones who have made the semi-finals are
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, 53, will be the new former World Championships silver-medallist
executive Sarjubala Devi (48kg), Priyanka
chairman of
Tata Sons Chaudhry (60kg), Pooja (69kg), and former
from 21 Asian Games bronze-medallist Kavita Goyat
February, the (75kg). Seema Punia (+81kg) is through the final,
holding courtesy a bye as her category has only three
company of boxers in fray.
the $103
billion group announced on Thursday. The tournament is being competed among 18
countries in all and features three rounds of three
Chandrasekaran, who has spent his entire career minutes each as mandated by the new
at Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS), is International Boxing Association technical rules.
currently the managing director and chief
executive of the software maker. ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 14.01.2017
He will take over the role at a time when the NATIONAL

group is embroiled in a battle against its ousted
chairman Cyrus Mistry to protect its reputation. 1. Pongal celebrated with traditional fervour
""Wishing my Tamil friends a happy & blessed
Starting at TCS as a software programmer in Pongal", Mr. Modi tweeted in Tamil
1987, Chandrasekaran was co-opted on the TCS
board and named chief operating officer in Tamil Nadu
September 2007. celebrated the
harvest festival of
As COO, he drove TCSs acquisition strategy. Pongal with great
Two years later, in October 2009, he was elevated zeal and fervour on
as CEO and managing director. Saturday, with
people preparing
SPORTS traditional food and
offering prayers to the Sun God.
7. Indian women boxers assure of 5 medals in
6th Nation's Cup The streets in both rural and urban areas of the
state were decked up with kolam (drawings
made of flour).
People decorated their homes with mango leaves

and strings of flowers.
Special prayers were held at temples. Sweet rice

(pongal), made of jaggery with rice and milk, in a
traditional mud pot, was offered to the Sun God
along with pieces of sugarcane.
Indian women boxers were assured of five The food is shared with relatives and neighbours
after being offered to the Sun God. The announcement made by outgoing President
Barack Obamas administration on Friday comes
2. Fourth International Kite Festival begins in after an executive order to permanently repeal a
New Delhi range of sanctions as a result of Sudans efforts to
improve security in the region.
The fourth International
Kite Festival began in For the first time in two decades, Sudan will be
New Delhi. able to receive imported goods and services from
the US, as authorised by the US Department of the
Treasury.
Professional kite flying experts from across
India and the globe are taking part in the three-day The lift will also release frozen Sudanese
festival, which will have an exhibition on the property and assets held in the US, and permits
history of kites as well. the trade with the oil and gas industry in Sudan.
A special kite making demonstration will also be Sudan has welcomed the decision even as it is
organised where professional kite flyers will unclear what US President-elect Donald Trumps
showcase their expertise and demonstrate the art stance is on the embargo lift.
of kite making.
4. Ecuador takes chair of UN group of 134
Various other activities like crafts bazaar, magic developing countries
shows, puppet shows, quiz contests and dance
performances by various academies of Delhi
government will also provide the visitors a fun
filled time during the Kite Festival being hosted
by Delhi Government.
INTERNATIONAL
3. Obama lifts 20-year sanctions on Sudan
Ecuador has taken over from Thailand as chair

of the Group of 77 which promotes the interests of
the 134 developing countries it represents at the
United Nations, including China.
Ecuador's President Rafael Correa has said that
US President Barack Obama is to lift some trade the group will continue promoting "social and
and investments sanctions against Africa's third economic equality."
largest country
He said this can only be done if "poverty,
The sanctions relief is expected to impact inequality and exclusion" are eradicated and
businesses that deal with agriculture, import- people live with "sovereignty, dignity and in
export services, transportation, technology and peace."
medical equipment, and oil, a White House
official said. Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai
said his country focused in 2016 on how to
implement the 17 UN goals for 2030 to promote compared to a contraction of 3.4 percent in
development and good governance, and preserve November of the previous year.
the environment.
Factory output measured in terms of the Index of
New Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Industrial Production, IIP, enhanced in November
the G-77 is his "preferred forum" to implement his due to better performance of the manufacturing,
vision including seeing the new goals become electricity and capital goods sectors.
reality and reforming UN operations.
According to data released by the Central
5. Australia, Japan agree to boost defense ties Statistics Office , the manufacturing sector, which
constitutes over 75 percent of the index, grew 5.5
percent in November last year.
Mining output rose 3.9 percent in November,

and electricity generation increased 8.9 percent.
Capital goods output surged 15 percent during the
month.
Consumer durable output jumped 9.8 percent in

November, consumer non-durable production
In Australia, the leaders of Australia and Japan increased 2.9 percent, and overall growth in
agreed to boost cooperation between their consumer goods output was 5.6 percent.
militaries, as Japan tries to shore up security ties
throughout the Asia-Pacific region amid concern SPORTS
over China's growing military might.
7. Premier Badminton League 3: PV Sindhu
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his finally prevails over Saina Nehwal, guides
Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull said Chennai to finals
they had signed an upgraded defence agreement
after talks in Sydney on trade and regional
security issues.
The leaders said the pact would allow their

militaries to provide each other with logistical
support during exercises, and are working toward
an agreement that would make it easier to
participate in joint military exercises.
Abe said the countries would enhance their

Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu
coordination on activity in the disputed South produced a disciplined performance to outwit
China Sea and the nuclear threat posed by North Saina Nehwal in straight games in a much-
Korea. anticipated encounter as Chennai Smashers
entered the finals of the Premier Badminton
BUSINESS League season 2 with a 4-1 win over Awadhe
Warriors in New Delhi last night.
6. Industrial production grows 5.7% in
November China Open champion Sindhu, who has never
defeated London Olympics bronze winner Saina
Allaying fears of a slowdown following in a tournament, finally exorcised the ghosts of
demonetization, the country's industrial her losses with an 11-7 11-8 victory over her
production grew 5.7 percent in November 2016,
senior colleague in a crucial women's singles 2. Prez Mukherjee condoles passing away of
clash which was Chennai's trump match. former Punjab CM, Surjit Singh Barnala
ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 15.01.2017 1. The President of

India, Shri Pranab
NATIONAL Mukherjee has
condoled the passing
1. 21st NATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL-2017: away of former Chief
More than 6000 artist participating to show their Minister of Punjab, Shri Surjit Singh Barnala.
talent
2. In a message to his wife, Smt. Surjit Kaur
Barnala, the President has said, I am sad to learn
about the passing away of your husband, Shri
Surjit Singh Barnala, a colleague and friend for
long years.
3. Shri Barnala was a distinguished Statesman,

Parliamentarian and able administrator who
served the nation with great distinction in various
capacities such as Chief Minister of Punjab and
Governor of several states.
1. The display of the countrys defence prowess at
the Defence Expo being held at the ongoing 21st 4. He also served with distinction as member of
National Youth Festival-2017 in Rohtak is the Union Council of Ministers, having handled
drawing large crowds. portfolios of Agriculture and Chemical and
fertilizers.
2. The exhibit of the Indian Navy showcasing
missile destroyers is the centre of attraction, with 5. He will be always remembered for the strong
display on the Delhi-class destroyer stance he took against the forces of extremism and
commissioned by the Indian Navy in 1997 the struggle he waged against terrorists and anti-
garnering special interest. national forces in our country.
3. Giving details about the display, Commander 6. In his passing away, the nation has lost a patriot
Abhimanyu Arya and Lieutenant Vaibhav Vishal and a public figure who made important
said that the Delhi-class destroyer is the first contribution to the maintaining of the unity and
indigenous guided missile destroyer of the integrity of our country as well as its
country. comprehensive development.
4. It has a length of 163 meters and weighs 6,200 3. 69th Army Day being observed
tonnes. Apart from advanced weaponry and
RADAR, the destroyer also features a helipad.
The showcase also features later models of
destroyers with stealth capabilities.
5. More than 6,000 artistes and artisans from

across the country are showcasing their talent in
performing and fine arts and other creative
disciplines at the 21st National Youth Festival-
2017 being 1. INDIAN Army is celebrating 69th Army
day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence
Minister Manohar Parrikar have greeted to all
soldiers, veterans and their families on Army Day. 4. Israel and the Palestinians have been invited to
hear the conclusions of the meeting, but not to
2. Mr. Modi said, people of the country salute the participate in the summit itself.
courage and invaluable service of the Indian
Army. 5. The last round of direct peace talks collapsed
amid acrimony in April 2014.
3. The Prime Minister said, Army put their lives at
risk so that the countrymen live peacefully. Our 6. The Meeting comes at a time of tension
correspondent reports, an impressive Army Parade between Israel and the international community
was also organised at the Delhi Cantt to celebrate after the UN passed a resolution last month
the occasion. denouncing Israel's settlement activity on
occupied land
4. The day marks the taking over of the Indian
Army by the first Indian Commander-in-Chief, 5. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe reaches Indonesia
Field Marshal K M Cariappa, on 15th January on his Asian, Oceania tour
1949.
5. Army day is celebrated to pay homage and

salute to the courageous and brave Indian soldiers
who have been sacrificing their lives for
protecting the country. This day inspires the
troops to continue to enrich the glorious traditions
of the Indian Army with their dedication and
sacrifice.
6. Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat, Air Force Chief 1. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has landed
BS Dhanoa and Chief of Indian Navy Sunil Lanba in Indonesia on the third leg of his Asia and
paid tributes at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate. Oceania tour.
The Chiefs also laid wreath at the Amar Jawan
Jyoti remembering the soldiers. 2. He will hold a summit with Indonesian
President Joko Widodo later in Jakarta.
INTERNATIONAL
3. Be hopes to promote the peaceful resolution of
4. Intl. conf. being held in Paris for peace talks territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
b/w Israel and Palestinians
4. The Japanese Prime Minister will offer to help
1. A major international Indonesia develop the Natuna Islands.
conference is being held
in the French capital, 5. The operation of Chinese fishing boats near the
Paris to try to kick-start islands has led to heightened tensions between
peace talks between Israel Beijing and Jakarta.
and the Palestinians.
BUSINESS
2. Delegates from 70 nations are expected to
reaffirm support for a two-state solution to the
6. SEBI may lower broker fee to Rs 15 per
decades-old conflict.
transaction of Rs 1 crore
3. Palestinians have welcomed the meeting but 1. The Securities and Exchange Board of India
Israel, which is not attending, says the conference (SEBI) is looking to lower broker fee to Rs 15 per
is loaded against it. transaction of Rs 1 crore as part of calibration of
various other fees collected by the regulator from 2017, the day Mr. Chandrasekaran, the current
different market intermediaries. CEO & MD takes charge at Tata Sons.
3. TCS has also named N Ganapathy

Subramaniam (NGS), currently President, TCS
Financial Solutions, as the President and Chief
Operating Officer. He has been appointed as a
director on the board.
8. Ranji Trophy Final highlights: Parthiv Patel

ton as Gujarat win maiden title
1. Skipper Parthiv Patel (143) led from the front,

2. Even after reducing the broker fee, SEBI is scoring a century under pressure and batting
expected to see an increase in its overall fee almost through the day, as Gujarat (313/5) beat
income as certain new charges would be levied Mumbai by five wickets on Day 5 of the Ranji
including filing fee for draft scheme of Trophy final at Holkar Stadium in Indore on
arrangements and processing fee on application Saturday.
for relaxation in certain regulations.
2. Gujarat, who won their first Ranji Trophy title,
3. The board of SEBI will consider a proposal in were chasing 312 to win on Day 5. Mumbai
this regard this week, sources said. scored 412 in their second innings, riding on half
centuries by Abhishek Nayar and skipper Aditya
4. Under the proposal, the markets regulator will Tare. Get highlights from Day 5 of the Gujarat vs.
reduce broker fee from Rs 20 for Rs 1 crore Mumbai Ranji Trophy Final here.
transactions to Rs 15 per crore of transactions. It
has been a long pending demand of broker and ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 16.01.2017
market participants.
NATIONAL
5. It plans to revise upwards the panel exemption
fee under Takeover norms to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 3 1. 62nd Filmfare Awards 2017: Shatrughan
lakh. With regard to regulatory fee from Sinha honoured with the Lifetime Achievement
exchanges, SEBI would continue with the present Award
fee structure.
Bollywood
7. Rajesh Gopinathan appointed TCS CEO & came together
MD, NGS named COO to raise a toast
to the best in
1. N. Chandrasekaran the industry at
as Tata Sons the 62nd Jio
Chairman, major Filmfare
changes have been Awards 2017,
effected at Tata held on January
Consultancy Services 14 at the NSCI Dome in Worli, Mumbai.
(TCS), a leading IT
services and Consulting firm and the Groups
most valuable and profitable company. Here is the complete list of those who won big at
the 62nd Jio Filmfare Awards 2017.
2. The TCS board on Thursday appointed Rajesh
Gopinathan as Chief Executive Officer and Best Actor (Male): Aamir Khan for 'Dangal'
Managing Director of TCS effective February 21,
Best Actor (Female): Alia Bhatt for 'Udta Punjab' Best Music Album: Pritam for 'Ae Dil Hai
Mushkil'
Best Film: 'Dangal'
Best Lyricist: Amitabh Bhattacharya for 'Channa
Best Director: Nitesh Tiwari for 'Dangal' Mereya' from 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'
Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film: 'Neerja' Best Playback Singer (Male): Arijit Singh for 'Ae
dil hai mushkil' from 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'
Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor (Male):
Shahid Kapoor for 'Udta Punjab' and Manoj Best Playback Singer (Female): Neha Bhasin for
Bajpayee for 'Aligarh' 'Jag Ghoomeya' from 'Sultan'
Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor (Female): Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music
Sonam Kapoor for 'Neerja' Talent: Amit Mishra for 'Bulleya' from 'Ae Dil
Hai Mushkil'
Best Actor (Male) in a Short Film: Manoj
Bajpayee for 'Taandav' Best Visual Effects: Red Chillies for 'Fan'
Best Short Film People's Choice: Khamakha Best Editing: Monisha Baldawa for 'Neerja'
Best Short Film (Fiction): 'Chutney' Best Costume: Payal Saluja for 'Udta Punjab'
Best Short Film (Non-fiction): 'Matitali Kusti' Best Action: Shyam Kaushal for 'Dangal'
Best Actor (Female) in a Short Film: Tisca Best Background Score: Sameer Uddin for
Chopra for 'Chutney' 'Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921)'
Best Debut Director: Ashwini Iyer Tiwari for 'Nil

Battey Sannata' Best Choreography: Adil Shaikh for 'Kar Gayi
Chull' in 'Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921)'
Best Male Debut: Diljit Dosanjh for 'Udta Punjab'
Best Cinematography: Mitesh Mirchandani for
Best Female Debut: Ritika Singh for 'Saala 'Neerja'
Khadoos'
Best Dialogue: Ritesh Shah for 'Pink'
Best Screenplay: Shakun Batra and Ayesha

Devitre Dhillon for 'Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921)'
Best Story: Shakun Batra and Ayesha Devitre

Dhillon for 'Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921)'
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male): Rishi

Kapoor for 'Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921)'
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female):

Shabana Azmi for 'Neerja'
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award:

Shatrughan Sinha
2. SC allows 24-week pregnant woman to have Airlines flight from Hong Kong to Istanbul via
abortion Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek -- crashed at around
7.30 am local time (0130 GMT), a spokesman for
1. The Supreme Court has given permission to a the country's emergency services ministry told
woman in her 24th week of pregnancy to undergo AFP.
termination of pregnancy after medical report
finds foetus is without skull. The Court says, a 4. Turkish parliament passes bill bolstering
woman can abort if foetus poses danger to Erdogan powers in first reading
mother's life.
2. The apex court also directed that the

termination of pregnancy be performed by a team
of doctors of the hospital which shall maintain a
complete record of the procedure adopted in the
matter.
3. Referring to the report of the seven-member

medical board, the court said, the medical
evidence clearly suggests that there is no point in
allowing the petitioner to run in full course since 1.Turkish Parliament has passed in a first reading
the foetus would not be able to survive outside the a controversial bill bolstering the powers of the
uterus without a skull. Presidency under Recep Tayyip Erdogan that
critics claim will lead to one-man rule.
4. The Mumbai based woman had approached the
apex court seeking permission to undergo the 2. Parliament yesterday approved the two final
termination of pregnancy citing abnormalities in sections of the 18-article new constitution after a
the foetus. marathon week of debating.
INTERNATIONAL 3. The ruling Justice and Development Party
(AKP) mustered the necessary 330 or more votes
3. Kyrgyzstan says at least 32 dead after Turkish a three-fifths majority needed for the adoption of
cargo plane hits village the constitutional change and sending it to a
referendum for final approval.
4. The constitution plan will now go to a second

reading in Parliament expected to start on
Wednesday.
5. The proposed changes will create an executive

presidency for the first time in modern Turkey.
The president will have the power to appoint and
fire ministers, while the post of Prime Minister
will be abolished.
1.A cargo plane crashed near Kyrgyzstan's main
airport Monday, leaving 32 people dead including BUSINESS
four pilots as it hit a populated area after
attempting to land in thick fog, authorities said. 5. WPI inflation rises to 3.39 per cent in
December
2.The majority of the dead were from the village 1.Breaking a 3-month declining trend, wholesale
of Dacha-Suu where the plane -- a Turkish inflation rose to 3.39 per cent in December 2016.
1.India has slipped 3 places to 92nd rank on the
global index of talent competitiveness that
measures how countries grow, attract and retain
talent, a list topped by Switzerland.
2. Indias ranking is worst among the five BRICS

countries. While China was ranked at the 54th
place, Russian Federation was placed at 56th,
followed by South Africa at 67th and Brazil 81st.
2. The increase was mainly due to a rise in prices
of manufactured items, even as food articles 3. Switzerland topped the overall index, followed
turned cheaper. by Singapore and the United Kingdom in second
3. Wholesale price index-based inflation had and third.
stood at 3.15 per cent in November 2016, and
minus 1.06 per cent in December 2015. SPORTS
4. According to Commerce Ministry data, overall 7. India vs. England 1st ODI: India won by 3
wholesale food inflation fell to minus 0.7 per cent wickets with 11 balls remaining
in December 2016, from 1.54 per cent in
November.
5. But inflation in manufactured articles rose to

3.67 per cent in December, from 3.2 per cent in
November.
6. India slips to 92nd rank on global talent

competitiveness
1.In Cricket, Team India pulled off an incredible

three-wicket win over England in the first One
Day International of the 3-match series at Pune
last night.
2. Put in to bat, England had posted a mammoth

350 for 7, their highest ODI score against India,
courtesy half centuries by Joe Root, Jason Roy
and Ben Stokes. Root top scored with 78, with the
visitors scoring 115 runs in the last 10 overs.
3. In reply, India got off to a poor start as they lost

4 wickets at the score of just 63. But, a 200-run
fifth wicket stand between Skipper Virat Kohli
and Kedar Jadhav - which came of just 147 balls -
helped the hosts bounce back brilliantly putting
them on course to a superb win
ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 17.01.2017 3. Tamil Nadu Tourism Department has
launched a mobile app pinakin
NATIONAL
1. RBI enhances cash withdrawal limit from

ATMs to Rs 10000 per day
1. Reserve Bank of India has raised the daily Cash

withdrawal limit
of 4500 rupees
from ATMs to
ten thousand
rupees per card
1. For the benefit of both domestic and
with immediate
international tourists, Tamil Nadu Tourism
effect.
Department has launched a mobile app pinakin
with information on tourism in Tamil Nadu with
2. However, the
audio facilities.
overall withdrawal limit from saving accounts will
remain unchanged at 24 thousand rupees per
2.The app, in two languages Tamil and English
week.
covers world heritage tourist sites like
Mamallapuram, Thanjavur Big Temple,
3. The limit on withdrawal from current accounts
Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram, an
has also been enhanced from 50,000 rupees per
official release said. The app can be downloaded
week to one lakh rupees. It extends to overdraft
free of cost from iStore or Playstore.
and cash credit accounts also.
3. The app would provide information on other
4. In its notification, the RBI said, the ceilings
major tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu in a
were raised following review of the current
phased manner.
withdrawal limits. Earlier, the RBI had raised the
ATM withdrawal limit from 2500 rupees to 4500
4. The Tourism Mart of Tamil Nadu would be
rupees form 1st of this month.
held on May 20, 21 and 22 in Chennai to bring
together all stakeholders and government
2. Veteran film actress Geeta Sen passes away
departments with travel agents and other tourism
agencies.
1.Veteran film and
stage actor Gita Sen,
wife of film maker 4. India 60th in inclusive development index;
Mrinal Sen, died in ranks below China, Pakistan
Kolkata. She was 86.
Sen had been
suffering from old
age-related ailments.
2. Sen had acted in several films including

'Kolkata 71' and 'Akaler Sandhane'.
3. She had also been part of the theatre movement.

Film and theatre personalities visited the residence
of Sens and consoled Mrinal Sen (93) who is also 1. India has fared worse than its neighbours:
ailing. Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and China, in an
inclusive development index.
2.World Economic Forums Inclusive Growth and in the efforts to make India a member of the elite
Development Report 2017 said that India, with a nuclear club.
score of only 3.38, ranks 60th among the 79 BUSINESS
developing economies on the IDI (inclusive
development index), despite the fact that its
growth in GDP per capita is among the top 10 and
labour productivity growth has been strong.
3. China is placed 15th; Nepal is 27th, Bangladesh

36th while Pakistan is at 52nd place on the index.
4. The report said that poverty has also been

falling, albeit from a high level. On the other
hand, its debt-to-GDP ratio is high, raising some 6. India Signs Financing Agreement with World
questions about the sustainability of government Bank for US$ 48 Million for Nagaland Health
spending. Project".
1. A financing agreement for IDA credit of US$
INTERNATIONAL 48 million (equivalent) for the Nagaland Health
Project was signed with the World Bank here.
5. US hopes to overcome Chinese hurdle on
Indias NSG bid 2. The Financing Agreement was signed by Mr.
Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of
Economic Affairs on behalf of Government of
India and Mrs. Genevieve Connors, Acting
Country Director, World Bank (India) on behalf
of the World Bank.
3. A Project Agreement was also signed by Dr. L.

Watikala, Principal Director, Directorate of
Health & Family Welfare, Government of
Nagaland and Ms. Genevieve Connors, Acting
Country Director, World Bank.
1.A day after China came out strongly against US
on India's Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) bid, 4. The Objectives of the project are to improve
outgoing US envoy Richard Verma has exuded health services and increase their utilization by
confidence that the new Donald Trump communities in targeted locations in Nagaland.
government will be able to overcome the hurdle. Communities in targeted locations will benefit
from project activities at the community and
2. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event health facility levels while the population of the
in New Delhi, Mr. Verma said, US President state as a whole will benefit from improvements
Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and in higher-level facilities as well as system-wide
a lot of other people had worked in pushing investments.
India's membership to the elite group. He said,
Washington will continue to work in this 5. The project will directly benefit about 600,000
direction. people. It will support and complement existing
systems and mechanisms involving communities
3. China had, yesterday, said the admission of under the National Health Mission.
non-NPT signatories in NSG cannot be a farewell
gift for countries to give to each other. The 6. The closing date of Nagaland health Project is
Chinese reaction had come after the Obama 31st March, 2023.
administration asserted that Beijing was an outlier
7. App named SEZ India launched by 1. Smriti Irani inaugurates 58th India
Commerce Ministry International Garment Fair
A Mobile app named SEZ India has been 1. Textiles Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated the
launched by the Commerce Secretary. SEZ 58th India International Garment Fair - IIGF at
Division, Department of Commerce under its Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
broader e-Governance initiative i.e. SEZ Online
System.
2. On the occasion Mrs. Irani said the three-day

fair provides a platform to overseas garment
buyers to source products and forge business
relationships with Indian players in the apparel
and fashion accessories domain.
3. She said the fair will gave great benefit to the

Indian emerging export players. More than 130
participants from 14 states are participating in the
fair and nearly one thousand byers are coming on
first day.
1. SEZ INFORMATION: This is a compendium
of the SEZ Act, 2005, SEZ Rules, 2006, MOCI 4. AEPC Chairman Ashok G Rajani said the
Circulars, details of SEZs and Units etc. It gives objective of IIGF is to showcase the latest trends
up to date comprehensive details on all the above in garment and fashion accessories, and to
aspects. leverage brand India across the globe.
2. TRADE INFORMATION: This provision gives 5. Our correspondent reports the fair caters
access to important information / tools such as primarily to Autumn-Winter styles and the sellers
Foreign Trade Policy, Hand Book of procedure, are showcasing womens wear, accessories, kids
Duty Calculator, Customs & Excise Notification wear and menswear.
and MEIS Rates.
2. Cabinet approves Rs 10,000-cr incentive for
3. CONTACT DETAILS: We see that the contact electronic manufacturing
details of all Development Commissioners Office,
DGFT, DG System, DGCI & S and SEZ online. 1.Cabinet also
approved
4. SEZ online Transaction this is a dynamic 10,000-crore
submenu that tracks the Bill of Entry / Shipping rupees
Bill processing status and also does verification. incentive for
The app also helps the Importers / Exporters to electronic
track the status of Bill of Entry / Shipping Bill manufacturing
integration and processing in the EDI system of by March 2018. IT Minister Ravishankar Prasad
the ICEGATE. said, it will help moving towards the goal of 'Net
Zero imports' in electronics by 2020.
2. Mr. Prasad said, under Modified Special
NATIONAL Incentive Scheme, investors in electronics
manufacturing can apply till March 2018.
5. Tajani, an ally of former Italian Prime Minister
3. He said, the scheme has boosted electronics Silvio Berlusconi, devoted his victory to the
manufacturing in India in last two years. The victims of Augusts earthquake in Italy and to all
incentives will be available for investments made victims of terror.
within 5 years from the date of approval of the
project. 4. India welcomes Syrian peace talks in
Kazakhstan
4. Approvals will normally be accorded to eligible
applications within 120 days of submission of the 1.India has
complete application. welcomed the
Syrian peace
5. A unit receiving incentives under the scheme, talks in
will provide an undertaking to remain in Kazakhstan.
commercial production for a period of at least 3 India's Deputy
years. Permanent
Representative in the United Nations, Tanmaya
6. The Minister informed that 42 new mobile Lal, in a Security Council debate, said that India
phone manufacturing units have come in India in welcomes all efforts to end violence in Syria and
last 2 years and investments have increased to to jump-start the political process.
1.26 lakh Crore rupees.
2. He said, it is encouraging that the process is
INTERNATIONAL committed to the sovereignty, independence, unity
and territorial integrity of Syria. Lal described the
3. Antonio Tajani is new President of European truce in Syria, which came into effect on
Parl December 30, as a much-needed positive
development.
1.Antonio Tajani of
the EPP Christian 3. He said India look forward to the outcome of
Democrat group has the direct talks in Astana. He also said meaningful
been elected president involvement of the UN is essential in the Syrian
of the European peace process.
Parliament in a day-
long polling series during which he defeated his
socialist opponent. 4.The talks organised by Turkey, Russia and Iran
to put an end to the brutal war raging in Syria
2. Before the first round of voting, the EPP, the since March 2011 are scheduled to begin on
largest group in the European Unions legislature, January 23 in Kazakhstan capital Astana.
and the ALDE liberals, the fourth-largest,
announced a coalition that gave Tajani a big early 5. Eugene Cernan, last man on the moon, dies
lead over S&D socialist Gianni Pittella.
1.Eugene A. Cernan, the
3. The battle among the two Italians was won by last astronaut to leave his
Tajani yesterday on a vote of 351-282 in the footprints on the surface of
decisive final round, which only the top two the moon, has died.
candidates could enter.
2. The retired United
4. Tajanis victory gives the Christian Democrat States Navy captain was
group all the biggest jobs in the EU, with Donald 82.
Tusk as Council President and Jean-Claude
Juncker as Commission chief. 3. Cernan earned several distinctions in his 13
years with NASA. He was the second American
to walk in space and one of three men to have
flown twice to the moon.
4. But he's best remembered as commander of

Apollo 17, the last mission to the moon in
December of 1972.
BUSINESS
6. Microsoft offers to collaborate with Andhra in

e-governance, cyber security
1.Microsoft has 3.The listing will open way for the companies to
offered to raise resources from the capital market to meet
collaborate with their fund requirements. He said, shareholding of
Andhra Pradesh in these companies will be divested from 100 per
the areas of e- cent to 75 per cent.
governance and
cyber security, an 4. The companies are New India Assurance,
official statement United India Insurance, Oriental Insurance,
said here on Tuesday. National Insurance and General Insurance.
2. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is
currently in Davos, met Microsoft CEO Satya 8 IMF cuts Indias GDP growth forecast to 6.6%
Nadella on Tuesday. on note ban woes
3. Mr. Nadella suggested that Andhra Pradesh

should nurture hybrid cloud technology and that it
will be a great leap in technology for India and
Andhra Pradesh in particular, according to a
statement here.
4. Mr. Nadella and Mr. Naidu agreed to make

significant progress in hybrid cloud technology
within a year.
5. Mr. Naidu mentioned that he is keen on

increasing the digital transactions which is at 30
per cent now to 70 per cent by March this year.
In its update to the World Economic Outlook
7. CCEA gives approval for listing five General released in October, IMF projected India GDP
Insurance Companies in stock exchanges growth rate at 6.6% for 2016-17 against its earlier
estimate of 7.6%
1.The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
(CCEA) has given in-principle approval for listing SPORTS
five government-owned General Insurance
Companies in stock exchanges. 9. Kapil Dev inducted into
Legends Club Hall of
2. Briefing media in New Delhi this afternoon Fame
after a Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Arun
Jaitley said, 1.Cricket icon Kapil Dev
was inducted into Legends
Club 'Hall of Fame' in presence of former India ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 19.01.2017
captains Ajit Wadekar, Sunil Gavaskar and Nari
Contractor at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai NATIONAL
yesterday.
1. ISRO successfully maneuvers orbit planes of
2. Kapil Dev, who led India to the emphatic Mars Mission to enhance capacity of battery
World Cup victory in 1983, is considered as the
country's greatest all-rounder.
3. He was presented with a citation by former

India player and Legends Club President Madhav
Apte. Gavaskar, who was the first batsman to
score 10,000 runs in Test cricket, was also
presented a citation by Wadekar. He was already
inducted into the club's Hall of Fame on July 11,
2013
10. Amonatov wins Delhi International Chess

meet
1. Indian Space Research Organization Chairman

A.S. Kiran Kumar has said, ISRO has successfully
maneuvered the orbit planes of Mars Mission to
enhance the capacity of battery
2.Mr. Kumar said, maneuver was carried out

successfully on Tuesday evening and there was no
eclipse effect noticed yesterday.
3. He said, Mars Mission has still 30 kilograms of
1.Top seeded Grandmaster Farrukh Amonatov of energy, which will provide service for many more
Tajikistan won the 15th edition of the Delhi years.
International Chess tournament after settling for a
draw with Grandmaster Diptayan Ghosh in the 4. The ISRO Chairman has said, Chandrayan -II
10th and final round here on Monday. will be launched in 2018. He said, several
experiments are being conducted for soft landing
2.Scoring 8.5 points out of a possible ten, of Chandrayan-II on Moon surface.
Amanotov stayed a half point ahead of Ghosh and
Dzhumaev Marat of Uzbekistan, who both tied for 5. Mr. Kumar said, engines and other equipments
the second spot on eight points but the former was are being tested on artificial lunar surfaces created
declared the runners-up based on his better at Mahendragiri (Odisha) and also in Karnataka.
tiebreak.
6. Our correspondent reports that the ISRO
3. Among others, local boy Aradhya Garg Chairmen was in Ahmedabad for the 6th
defeated Grandmaster Nilotpal Das in what was a Convocation Ceremony of Gujarat Technological
fine display of attacking chess. University. Governor of Gujarat O.P.Kohli and
State Education Minister Bhupendra singh
Chudasama were also present on this occasion.
2. DigiDhanMela: Consumers, merchants win Kashmir valley.
prizes worth Rs 61 cr
2. As soon as the house met this morning, leader
of opposition Omar Abdullah raised the issue.
3. The motion was later endorsed and moved by

the speaker of the house Kavinder Gupta.
4. The house passed the resolution unanimously

and various members rendered their full support
to the motion saying that with the improvement in
situation government should facilitate the return
and rehabilitation of Kashmir migrants who have
1.Over three lakh 80 thousand consumers and
to shun their places due to militancy.
twenty one thousand merchants have won prize
money worth around 61 crore rupees at 24 Digi-
5. However the Independent legislator from
Dhan Melas across the country.
Langate Er. Rashid opposed the move and dubbed
it worthless and impractical.
2. This was disclosed by the Information
Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in New
4. 5-day Jaipur Literature festival begins
Delhi yesterday. He said, governments efforts to
give a boost to the digital payment systems and
1.In Rajasthan, the
cashless economy have evoked good response
five day Jaipur
from the people.
literature festival
began in Jaipur
3. Mr. Prasad said, people from different age
where a large
groups, occupations and walks of life have taken
number of
part in a big way in the Lucky Grahak Yojana and
literature lovers are
Digi-Dhan Vyapar Yojana giving a fillip to digital
being seen. Popular poet Gulzar, spiritual Guru
transactions.
Jaggi Vasudev and Chief Minister Vasundhara
Raje inaugurated the festival.
4. The schemes were launched on 25th of
December last year and shall remain open till 14th
2. At the inauguration session, poet Gulzar
of April this year. The schemes are aimed at
requested the organizers to promote literature
incentivising the consumers and the merchants to
written in any local Indian language in festival
promote digital payments.
every year.
5. He said, the common service centres under the
3. The faces of a large number of literature lovers
department of Electronics and IT has trained 1.94
are shining as they have found their favorite
crore citizens and 5.93 lakh merchants for
writers in the Jaipur Literature festival and got
carrying out transactions through digital payment
opportunities to meet them, talk them and also
systems.
getting autographs from their favorites.
3. J&K Legislative Assembly passes resolution
5. Bengaluru Ranked Most Dynamic City in the
on return of Kashmiri Pandits back to Kashmir
World in WEF Report
1.The Jammu and Kashmir
1. In the roller-coaster that life is, India's IT
Legislative Assembly passed a
capital Bengaluru zoomed from being 'unsafe' to
resolution on the return and
being 'the most dynamic city in the world' in the
rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits
first three weeks of this year.
and other migrants back to
2. And in doing so, Bengaluru has beaten the
original Silicon Valley, not to mention China's hotel was buried by an avalanche in earthquake-
Shanghai and even Boston. hit central Italy.
2. Italian media said that the avalanche covered

the three-story hotel in the central region of
Abruzzo yesterday evening and there were
fatalities.
3. It also said that there had been at least 20 guests

and seven staff at the Hotel Rigopiano on the
lower slopes of the Gran Sasso Mountain when
the first of four powerful quakes hit the region
yesterday.
7. 30 more countries interested to join AIIB:
China
3. Closely competing in the world's top ten
dynamic cities is Hyderabad, at spot 5: 1.Thirty more countries have applied for joining
the China-sponsored Asia Infrastructure
4.The decade-old rivalry between the two IT Investment Bank, in which India is the second
capitals in the country seems to have revived all largest shareholder, the Foreign Ministry here said
over again. And while Delhi figures in the top 30 on Tuesday.
cities, smog seems to have bogged down the citys
reputation. 2. Apart from 57 founding members, 30 more
countries have applied to join the Beijing-based
5. The rankings are based on parameters such as bank, Foreign Ministry spokesperson
population, technology and R&D, connectivity, HuaChunying told reporters while highlighting
output and corporate activity, education, and real the banks achievements on its first year of
estate investment. operations.
6. These are rankings released by real estate 3. As an initiator, China is very pleased to see the
consultancy firm James Lang Laselle at the World progress made by the Asia Infrastructure
Economic Forum in Davos and as the firm rightly Investment Bank (AIIB) in the past year, she
says, "They are not what you'd expect." said, adding that the bank has emerged as an
efficient and professional institution.
INTERNATIONAL
4. The AIIB was officially established late last
6. Several people die by avalanche in Italy year with 57 founding members and with
authorised capital of $100 billion.
5. China is the largest shareholder with 26.6%

voting shares. India is the second largest
shareholder with 7.5% followed by Russia 5.93%
and Germany with 4.5%.
6. The interest shown by more countries to join

AIIB is a demonstration of high recognition of the
international community in the efficiency and
prospects of the bank, Chunying said.
1.In Italy, several people have died after a ski BUSINESS
8. ICICI Pru acquires 8.41% stake in 4. While Seema out-punched Ukraine's
FinoPaytech for Rs 100 crore ElizavetaSayushkina 3:0, Basumatary thrashed
Algeria's ManelMeharzi 3:0.
5. In the senior division, Meena Rani (81kg) and

Bina Devi Jaobijam settled for silver medals after
losing in their respective finals.
1.ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has acquired 6. The silver-medallists for India in the youth
8.41 per cent stake in financial technology category were Sarita Singh (57kg), Siwi Boora
services provider FinoPaytech Ltd (FPL) for a (60kg) and Nisha (64kg).
total consideration of Rs 100 crore.
7. Among the juniors, Ramya Guduru (48kg),
2. In a BSE filing, ICICI Prudential said it has Parveen (52kg), Astha Pahwa (70kg) and Niharika
"completed the acquisition and obtained necessary Gonella (80kg) brought home silver medals.
approval from insurance sector regulator IRDAI".
8. This year's Nations Cup has been the biggest so
3. The company further said it has acquired "8.41 far with participation from 34 nations belonging
per cent of equity, preference shares and warrants to all five AIBA confederations.
in cash for total consideration of Rs 100 crore."
9. In all, 151 Elite, 60 Youth and 45 junior boxers
SPORTS took part in the event.
9, Despite Difficulties, Indian Women Boxers

Score 6 Medals In Serbia ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 20.01.2017
NATIONAL
1. No TDS or advance tax credit for disclosure

under PMGKY: Govt
1.Indian women boxers packed quite a punch at

the 5th AIBA Nations Cup in Ruma, Serbia,
notching up a rich haul of 4 gold, 9 silver and 9
bronze medals at the tournament.
1. About R65, 250 crore was declared under IDS
2. Tournament featured simultaneous during the June-September period and 45% of this
competitions in the senior, youth and junior amount is expected to be collected by the
categories and Indians made an impression in all government as taxes. (Reuters)
three age groups.
2. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on
3. Seema Punia (+81kg) and Pwilao Basumatary Wednesday clarified that no credit will be allowed
(57kg) fetched gold medals in the senior category. against advance tax paid or the tax deducted at
On the other hand, Soniya (48kg) and Manisha source (TDS) or tax collected at source (TCS) in
(60kg) clinched the yellow metal in the youth and respect of the income declared under Pradhan
junior competitions respectively. Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna (PMGKY)
3.PMGKY is meant to give an opportunity to 1.The central
those who deposited tax-evaded money in bank- government has
demonetized currencies during the window that sanctioned Rs
was available till December 30 to come clean. 2,207.30 crore to
Jammu & Kashmir
4. It was opened on December 17 last year and as 'special
will remain open till March 31. Under the scheme, assistance' during
a person declaring undisclosed income would 2016-17 with a view
need to pay a tax of 30%, in addition to a penalty to expediting completion of area-specific
of 10% and a Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan cess schemes.
of 33% on the tax.
2. The Union government has decided to provide
2. 100% FDI under consideration in food further 'special assistance' of Rs 1,129.40 crore to
processing sector: Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Bihar during 2016-17 for completion of the
approved ongoing projects under special plan for
Bihar, an official statement said.
3. Including the present release of Rs 1,129.40

crore, the central government has so far released
Rs 6,934.61 crore to Bihar, it added.
4. Similarly, according to the statement, the

government has used the special assistance to
support the newly-formed states of Andhra
1.Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Pradesh and Telangana.
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti has said cent percent
Foreign Direct Investment in food processing 5."A further release of Rs 1,976.50 crore to the
sector is being actively considered by the Union state Of Andhra Pradesh was made during the
Government. current financial year 2016-17," it said.
2. Addressing a conclave organized by the 4. Govt inks MoU to set up 1,000 'Janaushadhi
ASSOCHAM in Chennai on the sunrise sector, Kendras'
she expressed hope, the Finance Ministrys
approval for the proposal would be secured at the
earliest to give a boost to the industry.
3. Expressing satisfaction over launching eight

Mega Food Park projects across the country
within the last two and a half years, the Minister
said more such projects are in the pipeline.
4.She expressed concern, food produces worth Rs

92-thousand crore are being wasted away every
year due to lack of cold chains and storage
facilities and said food processing would help 1. The government signed an agreement with the
check the wastage apart from giving value National Yuva Cooperative Society to set up
addition that would boost farmers income. 1,000 'Janaushadhi Kendras' across the country
and targets to open such medical stores in every
3. Centre releases Rs 2,207cr to J&K as special block and gram panchayat to provide quality
assistance in FY17 medicines at an affordable price.
2. At present, 750 Janaushadhi Kendras, providing 6. It has received $100 million commitments from
more than 600 medicines and 150 medical Welcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates
devices, are operational and the target is to open Foundation, and the governments of Germany,
3,000 by end of this fiscal for achieving health Japan and Norway have pledged to contribute
safety, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ananth additional $260 million.
Kumar said.
BUSINESS
3."BPPI and NYCS has signed a MoU to open
1,000 Janaushadhi Kendras across the country 6. Lloyd's gets final approval from IRDAI to
from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to Kutch to open branch in India
Kohima under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya
Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme," 1.Lloyd's,
Kumar said. specialist
insurance and
INTERNATIONAL reinsurance
company, has
5. CEPI formally launched at WEF, Davos got final regulatory approval from the Insurance
Regulatory Development Authority of India
1.The Coalition for (IRDA) to set up branch in India.
Epidemic
Preparedness 2. Lloyds will open a reinsurance branch in India,
Innovations (CEPI) in time for the April major reinsurance renewals.
was officially This will enable Lloyd's syndicates to offer
launched at World specialist reinsurance in a variety of classes from
Economic Forum a Lloyd's India branch in Mumbai.
(WEF) Davos after
it received $460- 3."A local presence in India will bring Lloyd's
million to develop vaccines against 3 emerging closer to clients and risks enhancing
highly-contagious and fatal diseases. understanding and the ability to develop new
solutions for the needs of the Indian market with a
2. These three diseases are Middle East particular focus on agriculture, infrastructure and
respiratory syndrome (MERS)-coronavirus, Lassa disaster management," said Nelson.
fever, and Nipah virus. CEPI will use this fund to
contain outbreaks these 3 diseases before they SPORTS
become global health emergencies.
7. Punjab Royals crowned champions of Pro
3. Key Facts Under it, CEPI will solicit proposals Wrestling League Season 2
from academic researchers and industry to
develop candidate vaccines for its three target
viruses.
4. In 5 years, it aims develop at least two vaccines

for each virus through early human studies so that
they are ready for a real-world test as soon as one
of these viruses surfaces again.
5. CEPI also intends to fund vaccine platforms

technologies like harmless viral vectors or
messenger RNA that can serve as backbones for a
variety of vaccines. 1.Punjab Royals have bagged the Pro Wrestling
League Season 2 title. In the summit clash in New
Delhi, the Punjab team beat Haryana Hammers 5- Gandhi
4.
2. Dharamsala declared the second capital of
2. Punjab reigned supreme with their foreign Himachal Pradesh
imports Vladimir Khinchegashvili, Vasilisa 1.Himachal Pradesh
Marzaliuk and Ilias Bekbukatov, besides India's chief minister Virbhadra
Nirmla and Jitendra doing the damage in the Singh on Thursday
crucial ties of the day. announced Dharamsala
as the second capital of
3. Haryana, who had remained undefeated in the the tiny hill state with a
tournament, thus failed to cross the last hurdle. population of about 70
lakh.
ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 21.01.2017 2. Dharamsala nestling in the lap of majestic
snow-clad Dhauladhar ranges has a significance
NATIONAL and history of its own and fully deserved to be the
second capital of the state.
1. Bihar government to launch 'nashamukt' state
campaign 3. The announcement is significant as 25 out of 68
assembly seats fall in Kangra, Una and Hamirpur
1.The Bihar districts, and Dharamsala was important for lower
government will areas of Himachal Pradesh including Kangra,
Saturday launch a Chamba, Hamirpur and Una districts.
'nashamukt' (addiction-
free) state campaign, 4.the practice of annual winter sojourn way back
after formation of in 1994 to hear the people out and see for himself
human chain across the the progress of development works being carried
state. out in the area.
2. Besides Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, over two 5. Meanwhile, leaders and people of the region
crore people are likely to participate in human expressed their gratitude towards the chief
chain. All teachers and students of schools and minister for declaring Dharamsala as the second
colleges will participate this chain. This human capital of the state.
chain will be for 45 minutes starting from 12.15 in
the afternoon. 3. India's biggest aircraft carrier ship INS
Vikramaditya first to have ATM onboard
3. The total length of the human chain will be
11,292 kms, covering all panchayat and blocks of
the state.
4. Apart from satellite, drones and low flying

aircraft will also be used for taking images of the
human chain.
5. In view of human chain traffic will be stopped

from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
6. Kumar said 'nashamukti' in Bihar would herald

a new era in the country as no one will be 1.The largest warship of the Indian Navy, INS
permitted to use intoxicating substance and Vikramaditya, will be equipped with its own
tobacco products. He said Bihar will become an dedicated ATM. It will cater to over two thousand
ideal state of the country as dreamed by Mahatma naval personnel deployed on the aircraft carrier.
2. Indias largest public sector bank State Bank of
India is providing the Navy the services for the
ATM which will be on the satellite link.
3. A currency chest will also be provided to keep

running the ATM. The much needed facility is
expected to ease out cash problems of a large
floating population of the warship as they run out
of money during long period of deployment of the
carrier.
of about 8 lakh people who braved chilly weather
INTERNATIONAL
to gather on the National Mall in the center of the
capital to celebrate the occasion.
4. WEF, UCSB partner to protect world's $2.5
trillion ocean economy
3. He placed his left hand on two bibles including
the historic Abraham Lincoln Bible, recited the
1.The World
oath of office on the steps of the Capitol to
Economic Forum and
become the most powerful man on earth. He was
the UCSB's Marine
administered the oath of office by Chief Justice
Science Institute have
John Roberts.
announced a
partnership to
4. Mike Pence was also sworn-in as the Vice
improve health of world's oceans and maritime
President of the US. He took the oath of office
resources.
before Mr. Trump. In his maiden address to the
nation from the US Capitol, Mr. Trump promised
2. The new partnership aims to protect world's
to rebuild the country to bring back their dreams
USD 2.5 trillion ocean economy.
wherein America First will be the key to his
governance.
3."This partnership will harness the potential of
public-private cooperation and the fourth
5. He vowed to address the ills he sees plaguing
industrial revolution to help the international
the nation, including gun violence, drugs and
community meet the ocean sustainable
crime. He said his administration will follow two
development goal
simple rules - buy American and hire American -
amidst applause from the lakh of people gathered
4.According to the World Wildlife Fund, oceans
at the National Mall.
generate goods and services worth an estimated
USD 2.5 trillion per year, equivalent to the
6. Mr. Trump renewed his frequent vow to attack
seventh largest economy in the world.
radical Islamic terrorism, saying he will eradicate
it completely from the face of the earth.
5. However, this value - in addition to the
livelihoods of 80 per cent of the world's
7. Mr. Trump assured the world that his
population - is threatened by the decline.
administration does not want to impose its
governance over other countries. He said America
5. Donald Trump sworn in as 45th US President
will seek friendship with the world while
recognizing that countries abroad had a right to
1.Mr Donald Trump has taken over as the 45th
govern themselves as they see fit.
President of the United States, he took over the
reins from Barack Obama last night amid
expectations of radical change in policies and BUSINESS
apprehension at home and abroad.
2. Mr. Trump, 70, took the oath of office in front 6. RBI imposes Rs 75 lakh penalty on Bombay
Mercantile Co-operative Bank km stretch between Nagpur and Secunderabad and
submitted a preliminary report last week.
1.The Reserve Bank of New passenger cars
India (RBI) has imposed a
Rs 75 lakh penalty on 4.Since Indian Railways doesnt have coaches that
Bombay Mercantile Co- can move with a speed of 200 km per hour, a new
operative Bank Ltd., type of passenger cars needs to be approved as
Mumbai for violations of well.
Know Your Digital tech network
Customer/Anti-Money Laundering (KYC/AML)
directives. 5.A digital technological communication network
for the entire section, instead of the existing radio
2."RBI had issued a show cause notice to the communication, was also proposed.
bank, in response to which the bank submitted a 50:50 cost sharing
written reply and also made oral submissions
thereon. 6.The high-speed project will be jointly financed
and the cost will be split equally between the two
3. After considering the facts of the case and the countries.
banks reply in the matter, the Reserve Bank came
to the conclusion that the violations were 2. Bihar: Thousands form human chain for de-
substantiated and warranted imposition of addiction, govt claims world record
penalty," the central bank said without giving
details on the exact nature of the violations.
NATIONAL
1. With Russias help, India to increase train

speed to 200 kmph
1.Bihar claimed to have forged a world record on
Saturday as tens of thousands of people came
together in support of prohibition, forming a chain
which the ruling JD(U) said stretched for more
than 11,000 kms across 38 districts.
2. Officials said three ISRO satellites, four trainer

aircraft, choppers and 40 drones filmed the entire
event played out over 3,000 km of National
Highways and 8,285 km of state highways and
roads.
1.Currently, the fastest train in the country is
Gatimaan Express with a top speed of 160 km per
3. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who kept a
hour
poll promise by announcing total prohibition on
April 5 last, led the landmark event which was
2.The Russian Railways is helping Indias
also attended by RJD chief Lalu Prasad and state
national transporter increase the speed of its
Congress chief Ashok Choudhury.
passenger trains up to 200 km per hour.
4.The human chain made of some 2.5 crore (25
3. The Russian Railways is at present
million) of its 11 crore (110 million) population
collaborating with the Indian Railways on a 575-
holding hands has broken a Guinness world 4. Apple Becomes The Most Innovative
record, set up in 2004 in Bangladesh, which Company In The World For 11th Consecutive
extended across 10,000 km, said Ajay Alok, Year
spokesperson of the JD(U)
50 Most Innovative Companies in 2016:
3. Over 3.5 lakh people sing National Anthem in
Gujarat, set new world record
1.Over 3.5 lakh people on Saturday set a new

world record by singing the national anthem at an
event at Kagvad in Rajkot district of Gujarat.
2. The occasion was installation of idol of goddess

Khodiyar at a newly-built KhodalDham temple in
the town. According to the survey report published
by BCG Global, Apple Inc. has been
3. Earlier, 2, 54,537 people had sung the national awarded the title of the Most Innovative
anthem in Bangladesh in 2014 and set a record. Company in 2016. Google, Tesla,
That record was on Saturday broken, according to Microsoft, and Amazon lie in the
Gajera. following positions. The list has a total of
50 companies around the globe including
4.The trust also set two new records for Limca 6 Asian companies, 10 European, and 34
Book of Records, by organizing the longest (40 based in the US.
km) `shobha-yatra (procession) and a 1008-kund
`mahayagna, he said. SPORTS
5. Goddess Khodiyar is particularly revered by the 5. Malaysia Masters: Saina Nehwal wins Grand
Leuva Patel community. Prix Gold
India's ace
6. Trust officials claimed that over 50 lakh shuttler Saina
devotees were estimated to have visited the Nehwal has won
temple during the five-day installation ceremony the Malaysia
which began on January 17. Masters Grand
Prix Gold title at
7. The temple was built at the cost of Rs 60 crore. Sarawak. Saina,
The trust was planning to set up an agricultural the top seed in the tournament, defeated
university adjacent to the temple premises, Gajera Pornpawee Chochuwong of Thailand in straight
said. games 22-20, 22-20 a shortwhile ago.
INTERNATIONAL
ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 23.01.2017 fought defiantly to liberate India.
NATIONAL 2. Union Steel Minister inaugurates Digi Dhan

Mela in Chhattisgarh
1.Nation pays homage to Netaji Subhash
Chandra Bose on his 120th birth anniversary
1.Union steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh

inaugurated Digi Dhan Mela in Chhattisgarh's
Bhilai city. Winners of Lucky-Grahak and Digi
1.Nation pays homage to Netaji Subhash Chandra Dhan-Vyapar schemes were presented with
Bose on his 120th birth anniversary. It was on this awards on the occasion.
day in 1897, Netaji was born in Cuttack, Odisha.
2. This is the third digi dhan Mela being organised
2. A number of functions have been organised in in Chhattisgarh, to promote cashless transactions
different parts of the country to mark the among its people.
occasion. In Delhi, floral Tributes will be paid to
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in the Central Hall 3. TeamIndus proposes nameplate on the Moon
of Parliament. for Rs.500
3. In Andaman Nicobar Islands, the Subhash Mela

Committee of Havelock is organizing Subhash
Mela at Krishna Nagar Havelock. A Variety of
Cultural Programmes including Sports and games
will also be organised during the Mela.
4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid rich tribute

to Netaji. In a series of tweets, Mr. Modi said 1.A Bengaluru start-up says donors to its moon
Netaji's valour played a major role in freeing India lander project will be immortalized.
from colonialism. The Prime Minister said, Netaji
was a great intellectual who always thought about 2. Indians are being offered the opportunity to
the interests and wellbeing of the marginalized leave their name on the moon, for a price.
sections of society.
3.Space start-up TeamIndus will get the names of
5. Mr. Modi said, he feels honoured that his public donors micro-engraved on a small-sized
government got the opportunity to declassify files aluminum object, which will be placed on the
relating to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and fulfil lunar surface when its lander descends on the
a popular demand pending for decades. moon. The bill: 500 per name.
6. He said files relating to Netaji are available on 4.The mission, planned for December 28 this year
netajipapers.gov.in. In his tribute, Information and on the PSLV rocket, will travel the 3.84 lakh
Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu described kilometres from earth to make a soft landing on
Netaji as a fervent nationalist and patriot who the moon on January 26, 2018. Its robotic rover
will send back photos and videos. inaugurated the 4 lakh square feet latest IT
building, Jyothirmaya at the Infopark near here.
5. The name plaque plan is part of a crowd-
funding effort, says Sheelika Ravishankar, Jedi 2.Dedicating the 9-storeyed building, constructed
Master - Marketing and Outreach, of the over six acres of land, he said 80,000 job
Bengaluru-based start-up. opportunities will be created when the buildings
constructed during second phase of development
4. Ecotourism project set up at Purulia at Infopark become fully operational.
3. Jyothirmaya, constructed as part of the second

phase of development at Infopark, will generate
4,000 job opportunities in the field of IT sector,
Vijayan said.
4. He said the second phase of Infopark that is

being developed on 160 acres on the shores of
Kadamprayar River has been envisaged as a walk
to work technology campus.
1.Priya Entertainments Pvt Ltd has set up an
ecotourism project at Khairabera, foothills of
5. About one lakh job opportunities are expected
Baghmundi, in Purulia district of West Bengal.
to be generated in five years once the
development of first and second phase of Infopark
2. The adventure camp is located 300 km from the
is completed,
city.
INTERNATIONAL
3. Bookings for luxury tents, individual cottages
and camping tents can be made through the
6. China commissions 31st stealth warship
website, www.ecoadventureresorts.net.
4.Efforts have been made to make the land

suitable for trees as diverse as pomengrate, lemon,
java apple, Indian blackberry, Indian bay leaf, and
many more varieties, Arijit Dutta, Managing
Director, Priya Entertainments, said in a release.
5. Our aim was to promote the rich culture,

natural beauty and heritage of the district of
Purulia among tourists, he added.
6. Khairabera Eco Adventure Camp has already

seen huge interest among nature lovers and there
has been a huge volume of tourist traffic, the
company claimed in its release. 1.Chinese media have said the U.S. has to wage a
war with China if America blocks it from
5. Kerala CM accessing the artificial islands it has built in the
inaugurates contested South China Sea.
Jyothirmaya
2. Rapidly expanding its naval fleet, China has
1.Kerala Chief commissioned its 31st stealth warship as it got its
Minister Pinarayi battle group under its first aircraft carrier ready
Vijayan amid tensions with the U.S. and other nations over
its assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.
3. The Peoples Liberation Army Navy has 2. The objective is to
commissioned its 31st Type056 class corvette, raise the consciousness of
marking a new addition to the worlds largest fleet society towards the girl
of modern corvettes, official media reported. child so that she can be
valued and respected.
4. With a maximum speed of 52 km/h, the ship
features good manoeuvrability, a high-level of 3. In the national capital, a special function has
automation and stealth capability, and is capable been organised by the Women and Child
of hitting aircraft, ships and submarines, the PLA Development Ministry to mark the occasion.
Daily, the official organ of the Chinese military
said. 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, it is a
day to celebrate the exceptional achievements of
APPOINTMENT the girl child, whose excellence in many fields
makes the country proud.
7. Ex-BCCI president Anurag Thakur to head
Himachal Olympic Association 5. In a tweet, Mr., Modi said, it is imperative to
reject discrimination against the girl child and
1.Ousted as BCCI ensure equal opportunities.
President following a
Supreme Court order, 6. The Prime Minister appealed to the people to
Anurag Thakur was reaffirm their commitment to challenging
unanimously elected stereotypes based on gender and promote gender
head of the Himachal sensitization as well as gender equality.
Pradesh Olympic
Association (HPOA) for a four-year term. 2. T-Hub inks pact with ESRI India for GIS
Innovation Hub
2. Thakur, who had to step down as BCCI
President owing to the Supreme Court ruling on 1. A startup
Lodha Committee reforms, was elected at the incubator set up
HPOA's Annual General Meeting. by the Telangana
government
3. Virender Kanwar was elected Senior Vice- announced the
President, while Rajesh Bhandari, who is a Vice launch of GIS
President in the Boxing Federation of India, was Innovation Hub (GIH) for the start-ups belonging
elected General Secretary. to the capital Hyderabad.
4. The HPOA decided to have a Himachal 2. T-Hub, the GIH is powered by ESRI India,
Olympic Bhawan at Shimla and to organize the countrys leading Geographic Information System
state Olympic festival on the lines of the national (GIS) software and solutions provider.
games at hamirpur from June 23 to 26.
3. The facility was inaugurated by Jack
ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 24.01.2017 Dangermond, co-founder, president and CEO,
ESRI Inc., it said.
NATIONAL
4. The GIH will be a platform for start-ups, within
1. National Girl Child Day being observed T-Hub ecosystem, to leverage the power of GIS
through ESRI India.
1. The government had, in 2008, declared 24th
January each year to be observed as the National 5. Agendra Kumar, President, ESRI India said, the
Girl Child Day. companys vision is to enable transformation and
the start-up program helps realize this vision 4. BCSBI to organised know your rights
Programme
3. No New Tax in Jharkhand Budget for 2017-
18 1. To educate
awareness on banking
1. Jharkhand, in the codes at grass root
state budget level, The Banking
presented on Codes and Standards
Monday, did not Board of India
introduce any new (BCSBI) will organised know your rights
taxes and the budget Programme in all the states.
has the total outlay
Rs 75,673.42 crore. 2. For this, the organization will adopt a three-fold
approach in the awareness Programme focusing
2. Here are the major highlights from the budget: Tier II cities, metros and other backward areas,
3. The Jharkhand government has not introduced Anand Aras, CEO, BCSBI said.
any new tax in the budget for 2017-18.
3. With the opening up of innumerable Jan-Dhan
4. Total outlay of Rs 75,673.42 crore. accounts and increased usage of formal and
transparent modes of financial transactions, it is
5. Focus on education and rural development, now imperative for the lesser privileged section of
with 13.90 per cent and 13.84 per cent of the total the society to understand their rights, he added.
outlay allocated for the sectors, respectively.
4.Aras, who was here to organised a Programme
6. The highest budget allocation is for education in Kerala in association with Kudumbashree,
with Rs 10,517.64 crore, followed by Rural
Development with 10,473.70 crore. 5.Conducting an educational Programme through
an interactive session would prove to be more
7.2017-18 fiscal to be Garib Kalyan Varsh beneficial as people relate things better when
delivered in simple language with situational
8. The budget is 19.17 per cent more than the references than conducting a mere class-room
previous budget. session.
9. For the first time, Jharkhand has ended the 5. Uber to bring UberEATS, its food delivery
planned and non-planned budget and tabled app, to India
Revenue expenditure and Capital expenditure
budget. 1. Uber started
UberEATS in 2014 as
10. In 2017-18, the Capital budget is Rs 18,812.10 a delivery pilot in Los
crore and Revenue Budget is Rs 57,861.32 crore. Angeles. The service
has since been
11. Started a new 'Mukhyamantri Kitchen'. expanded to 58 cities
across the globe, including New York, Paris and
12. All 32,000 villages of the state will be Seattle
connected to internet facilities and all the
panchayat secretariats will have internet within 2.Uber Technologies Inc. will soon launch food
two years. delivery service UberEATS in India, the company
said in a blog post on Monday.
3. Ubers entry into the food delivery segment

comes at a time when most food start-ups are
struggling with poor unit economics, while some bank, which will cater to the poor in largely in the
have shut shop because of a dearth of funds. northern belt
INTERNATIONAL
6. Turkish parliament approves presidential
system, paving way for referendum NATIONAL
1. The Turkish 1. Assam launches Chief Ministers Award to

parliament has backed a reward districts adopting digital payments
plan to strengthen the
powers of the 1. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
presidency, paving the mooted for cashless transactions through grassroot
way for a referendum on the issue in spring level programmes, saying his government has
which, if passed, could allow President Tayyip initiated several steps to digitise payment
Erdogan to stay in office until 2029. methods.
2. Erdogan says the reform will provide stability 2. Cashless payment has the potential to root out
in the European Union candidate country at a time corruption from the system and citizens must
of turmoil and prevent a return to the fragile adopt cashless transactions as a way of life, the
coalitions of the past. His opponents fear it will Chief Minister said inaugurating the
herald increasingly authoritarian rule. DigiDhanMela here.
3. The constitutional reform bill was approved 3.Sonowal, who pitched for popularizing cashless
overnight with 339 votes in the 550-member transactions at the grassroot level, announced that
assembly, parliament said on its official Twitter a Chief Ministers Award would be given to the
account on Saturday. The legislation needed at best performing district in adopting digital
least 330 deputies to support it in order to go to a payment methods and familiarizing cashless
public vote. transactions among a large section of people.
BUSSINESS 4. A prize of Rs 50,000 would be presented at the

end of financial year 2016-2017 after March 31,
7. Utkarsh to launch Small Finance Bank 2017 to Deputy Commissioner for the best
performing district, he said.
1. UKs
Commonwealth 5.Minister of Information Technology Keshab
Development Mahanta said that his department is making all
Corporation efforts to fast-track the digitization process and
(CDC)-backed DigiDhanMela organised at village and
Utkarsh Micro Panchayat levels would give an impetus to the
Finance is ready to governments efforts of transforming Assam into
begin its banking journey from Monday and plans a cashless state
to disrupt the market with higher deposit rates.
2. India, UAE sign 14 agreements in various
2. As the bank, it will remove 1% loan processing fields including defence to boost strategic ties
fee for new borrowers to start with, while look to
reduce lending rates in the future. At present it
will lend at 15-25% annual rate.
3. Utkarsh Micro Finance with Rs 700 crore net

worth will be the holding company for the new
1. India and UAE on Wednesday signed 14
agreements in various fields including defence,
comprehensive strategic partnership, shipping,
agriculture, prevention and combating human
trafficking and other allied sectors to boost
strategic ties between both sides.
2. The agreements were signed after the

delegation-level talks between Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the
Hyderabad House.
3. Prime Minister invited UAE to become Indias

partner in infrastructure projects. He said India is
encouraging and facilitating the trade between the
two sides. He said energy partnership between
India and UAE is crucial.
3. Complete list of Padma awardees
INTERNATIONAL SPORTS
4. Nikki Haley Confirmed as New US Envoy to 6. Kremlin to host 2018 FIFA World Cup
UN finals draw
1. US Senate has 1. The draw for the

confirmed Nikki Haley 2018 World Cup
as the next Ambassador finals hosted by
to the United Nations, Russia will take
making her the first place in the Kremlin
Indian-American to on December 1, the
serve on a Cabinet rank countrys Football
position in any Union (RFU) chief
presidential administration in the US. Vitaly Mutko said on
Monday.
2. Senate Foreign Relations Committee had
yesterday overwhelmingly approved the 2. Mutko, Russias deputy prime minister, said
nomination of The South Carolina Governor as that world footballs ruling body FIFA had
the next US Ambassador to the United Nations. approved the plan though FIFA had yet to
comment.
5. Trump signs executive orders to advance
Keystone XL, Dakota Access pipelines 3. The World Cup finals draw ceremony will
take place on December 1, TASS news agency
1. US President quoted Mutko as saying at a meeting with Prime
Donald Trump has Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
signed an executive
order to advance 4. Russia will host the 2018 World Cup between
controversial June 14 and July 15 at 12 stadiums in 11 cities
Keystone XL and including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan and
Dakota Access pipelines. His latest actions to Sochi.
overturn the policies of former President Barack
Obama, the nation's chief executive he replaced 5. These four cities are also the hosts of the 2017
four days ago. Confederations Cup that kicks off in Kazan on
June 17 and will end with a final in Saint
Petersburg on July 2.
2. Mr Trump signed executive orders calling for
new negotiations to allow construction of the
7. Retired Watson bags Australia's T20I Player
Keystone XL pipeline, which is designed to carry
of the Year award
Canadian oil sands crude through the US to
refineries near the Gulf of Mexico, and the Dakota
1. Retired
Access pipeline sending oil from the state of
all-rounder
North Dakota south to Illinois.
Shane
Watson has
3. Trump's executive order aroused a lot of piped his
criticism from environmental groups. However, former team-
Trump's decision has earned a warm welcome mate Glenn
from US oil and natural gas industry. Maxwell to
be adjudged
Cricket Australia's (CA) T20 International Player
of the Year at the Allan Border medal ceremony.
2. The 35-year-old Watson, who retired from
international cricket just after the World T20 in
India last year, was the second highest run-getter
behind Maxwell during the voting period from
January 8, 2016 to January 7, 2017 but bagged the
award on the back of his equally potent bowling
8. Boon and Hayden inducted into Australian

Hall of Fame
1. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on

Thursday announced a total ban on polythene
carry bags from May 1 in Madhya Pradesh in a
bid to conserve the environment, protect cows and
promote cleanliness.
2. Chouhan, in his Republic Day address, also

praised the MP Police for its swiftness in
1. Test greats David Boon and Matthew Hayden,
neutralizing eight SIMI suspects who escaped
and the late Betty Wilson will be inducted into the from local central jail last year, in an encounter
Australian Cricket Hall of Fame this week, here.
Cricket Australia said on Sunday.
3."I announce a total ban polythene bags,"
2. Boon and Hayden, both top-order batsmen who Chouhan said at a grand function in the city on R-
made most of their runs as openers, were key Day on behalf of Governor Om Prakash Kohli,
figures who played more than 100 Tests for who is also Gujarat Governor
Australia, while all-rounder Wilson was a female
cricketer ahead of her time, Hall of Fame
chairman Peter King said.
3.David Boon and Matthew Hayden are among a

2. Delhi University to be the first public varsity
select group of just 12 players to have appeared in
with monumental flagpole
100 Test matches but their significance goes way
beyond that simple statistic, he said. 1. Eleven
months after all
4. Boon described his induction as an enormous Central
honour. university vice-
chancellors
5. The trio will be inducted into the Hall of Fame resolved to
at the Allan Border Medal ceremony in Sydney on install the
Monday. AFP national flag prominently and proudly on their
campuses,
2. Delhi University is set to hoist its first
NATIONAL monumental flag tomorrow. According to the Flag
Foundation of India, DU is the first public
1. Madhya Pradesh CM Announces Total Ban university in the country to get a monumental
on Polythene Bags flagpole.
3.The resolution to install the national flag on 1. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed
campuses was adopted on February 18 last year at directives to build a wall along the US border with
a meeting chaired by then HRD Minister Smriti Mexico and crack down on US cities that shield
Irani with an aim of instilling nationalism and illegal immigrants, proceeding quickly on
pride in students. sweeping and divisive plans to curb immigration
and boost national security.
4. The decision had come against the backdrop of
a controversy over alleged shouting of anti-India 2.The Republican President is also expected to
slogans being raised at an event in JNU. take steps in the coming days to limit legal
immigration, including executive orders
INTERNATIONAL restricting refugees and blocking the issuing of
visas to people from several Muslim-majority
3.US Emmy award-winning actress Mary Tyler Middle Eastern and North African countries
Moore dies aged 80 including Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Libya
and Yemen.
3.Trump signed two executive orders at the

Department of Homeland Security, one ordering
construction of a wall along the roughly 2,000-
mile (3,200kilometre) US-Mexico border and the
other moving to strip federal grant money from
sanctuary states and cities, often governed by
Democrats, that harbour illegal immigrants.
SPORTS
1. Emmy award-winning US actress Mary Tyler
Moore has died at the aged of 80. 5.Usain Bolt loses one Olympic gold medal as
Nesta Carter tests positive
2. She was best known for her television roles in
the 1960s sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show and
the eponymous The Mary Tyler Moore Show in
the 1970s.
3. She was also nominated for a best actress Oscar

in 1980 for the film Ordinary People.
4. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Moore moved to

Los Angeles when she was eight years old and
started her career in show business as a dancer 1. Usain Bolt will have to hand back one of his
aged 17. nine Olympic gold medals after Jamaican team-
mate Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned
4. Trump orders wall to be built on Mexico substance.
border
2. Carter was part of the Jamaican quartet that
won the 4x100m in Beijing in 2008. His was one
of 454 selected doping samples retested by the
International Olympic Committee last year, and
has been found to contain the banned stimulant
methylhexaneamine.
NATIONAL
1. GAAR will be effective from April 1
1. President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday

posthumously conferred the Ashok Chakra on
Havildar Hangpan Dada of the Rashtiya Rifles,
who laid down his life after single-handedly
killing three terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir last
year.
1. The General Anti Avoidance Rule, GAAR, will
be effective from the 1st of April this year. It 2. The highest peacetime gallantry award for
seeks to prevent companies from routing valour and courageous action was accepted by
transactions through other countries to avoid Dada's widow Chasen Lowang, who struggled to
taxes. hold back tears while receiving the honour.
2. Finance Ministry has said that the proposal to 3. Kerala government rolls out e-health program
apply GAAR will be vetted first by the Principal 'Jeevan Rekha'
Commissioner of Income Tax, Commissioner of
Income Tax and at the second stage by an 1. The State Governments
Approving Panel headed by a judge of High much-hyped e-health
Court. Programme (Jeevan Rekha)
aimed at efficient service
3. It has assured the stakeholders that adequate delivery to the people and providing a centralized
procedural safeguards are in place to ensure that database of healthcare information was rolled out
GAAR is invoked in a uniform, fair and rational on Wednesday.
manner.
2. The government is for bringing in an overall
4. The Ministry also clarified that GAAR will not change in the health sector. Diseases like cholera,
apply if the jurisdiction of Foreign Portfolio malaria and filariasis, which were once eradicated
Investor (FPI) is finalized based on non-tax are being reported from the state.
commercial considerations and the main purpose
of the arrangement is not to obtain tax benefit. 3. Health Minister K K Shylaja said it is a first-of-
its-kind initiative in the country to create
5. Besdies, GAAR will not interplay with the right electronic health records of a population. The
of the taxpayer to select or choose method of availability of digital data would provide a huge
implementing a transaction. impetus to disease surveillance.
6. It said, government is committed to providing 4. Rubber Soil Information System (RubSIS)

certainty and clarity in tax rules. launched
1. Commerce & Industry minister Nirmala
2. Republic Day: Havildar Hangpan Dada Sitharaman has launched Rubber Soil Information
Posthumously Awarded Ashok Chakra System (RubSIS) in New Delhi.
3. "Like Japan, India is often overlooked in lists of
the world's great powers, but it occupies a rare and
enviable position on the world stage," The
American Interest magazine said in its latest
annual report of eight great powers.
6. R-Day: Arunachal launches scheme to check

infant mortality
1. Arunachal
Pradesh launched
'Dulari Kanya', a
2. This is an online system for recommending special scheme to
application of appropriate mix of fertilizers to the check infant
specific plantations of rubber growers depending mortality in the
upon their soil nature. state, on the
occasion of the
3. RubSIS, developed by Rubber Research 68th Republic Day.
Institute of India (RRII) under the Rubber Board
in collaboration with three agencies. 2. Governor V Shanmuganathan launched the
scheme, under which the government will deposit
4. It brings soil data to the fingerprints of rubber Rs 20,000 in the bank account of a girl child, born
growers and recommends the optimum mix and in any government hospital. It would be paid
quantities of chemical fertilizers that his holding along with the accrued interest after she attains 18
requires. years of her age.
5. The scientific and user friendly online fertilizer 3. "The proposals having an estimated cost of
recommendation system was launched for about Rs 8000 crore in the sectors of health,
Kottayam (Kerela), the largest rubber growing education, rural connectivity, hydropower, solar
district of India which will be extended to the energy, public distribution system and drinking
entire traditional rubber growing region i.e. the water have been submitted.
states of Kerela and Tamilnadu this year.
INTERNATIONAL
5. India ranks sixth on eight great powers in
2017: American foreign policy magazine
1. India is ranked at the sixth spot, behind China

and Japan, in a list of eight great powers for the
year 2017 by a leading American foreign policy
magazine which is topped by the US.
2. The list is topped by

the US, whereas China
and Japan are at tie for 7. 3 Indian origin persons awarded Australia's
being on the second spot. highest civilian honour
Russia (fourth) and
Germany (fifth) are the
other two countries ahead
of India. Iran is ranked
seventh and Israel is on the eighth spot.
1. Three Indian origin persons have been awarded
Australia's highest civilian honour this year for
their contributions in the field of medicine and
community work.
2. Purushottam Sawrikar, a Sydney-based medical

practitioner, received Order of Australia medal for
the year 2017 for his service to medicine, and to
the Indian community.
3. Makhan Singh Khangure from Perth was given 1. Reserve Bank prohibited Indian entities from
the award for his service to medicine in the field making direct investments in any entity located in
of neuroradiology, to education, and to a range of 'non co-operative countries and territories', as
professional medical associations. identified by the inter-governmental body FATF.
4. Vijay Kumar, was given the award for his 2. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
service to medical research in the disciplines of currently comprises two regional organizations
nuclear medicine and biology, to professional and 35 member jurisdictions, including India, US,
organizations, and to the community. UK, China and the European Commission.
5. Over 950 Australians were named in the 3. The prohibition on investment is "in order to
Australia Day Honours this year, announced align" instructions under FEMA with the
yesterday on the Australia Day. objectives of the FATF.
8. Japan launches first military communications 10. Karnataka Bank inks pact with Tirth Agro
satellite Technology
1. Japan launched
its first military
communications
satellite to boost
the broadband
capacity of its 1. Karnataka Bank Ltd has signed a memorandum
Self Defence Forces as they reinforce an island of understanding (MoU) with the Rajkot-based
chain stretching along the southern edge of the Tirth Agro Technology Pvt Ltd (manufacturer of
East China Sea agricultural equipment and implements) for
financing agricultural mechanization.
2. The satellite lifted off from Japans
Tanegashima space port aboard an H-IIA rocket at 2. Quoting P Jayarama Bhat, Managing Director
0744 GMT and successfully entered orbit, and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, a press
release said here that the MoU aims to work
3. The satellites is one of three planned so-called together to promote agricultural mechanization by
X-band satellites that will quadruple broadband utilizing the experience the bank has in
capacity, unify a fractured and overburdened agricultural finance through its vast network of
communications network and allow branches and the expertise of the company in the
communications across more territory. field of manufacturing of agricultural equipment
and implements.
BUSINESS
3. The bank has a network of 740 branches in 21
9. RBI prohibits investments in 'non-cooperative states and two Union Territories.
countries'
expenditure, stronger standards of integrity for
4. Tirth Agro Technology Pvt Ltd manufactures public officials, and independent judicial systems.
agricultural implements under the brand name
Shaktiman. It has a network of more than 685 5. Somalia was ranked the most corrupt country
dealers and 42 distributors across the country, with a score of 10. Other countries with lower
rankings were South Sudan, North Korea, Syria,
11. India ranked 79th in the Corruption and Yemen.
Perception Index 2016
6. The lower-ranked countries in the index were
plagued by untrustworthy and badly functioning
public institutions like the police and judiciary.
NATIONAL
1. ISRO successfully ground-tests Cryogenic

Upper Stage engine meant for rocket GSLV-
Mark-III
1. India has been ranked 79th among 176 Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has
countries in the Corruption Perception Index 2016 successfully ground tested the Cryogenic Upper
released by the Transparency International Stage engine meant for the rocket GSLV-Mark-
organization. Its score marginally improved from III.
38 in 2015 to 40 in 2016. India had a score of 36
in 2012. The engine, designated as C25, was tested for a
duration of 50 seconds in its Propulsion Complex
2. The organization has used the World Bank data, at Mahendragiri in southern Tamil Nadu,
the world economic forum and other institutions demonstrating all the stage operations.
to rank countries by perceived levels of corruption
in public sector. This is the first in a series of two tests. The next
one is planned for a flight duration of 640 seconds
3. The score runs from zero to 100, from highly shortly.
corrupt to 100. Belarus, Brazil, & China shared
the same ranks as India. The national space agency has termed the 50
second test as a significant milestone
4. The list was topped by New Zealand and
Denmark with a score of 90 each. Higher-ranked The GSLV-Mark-III rocket fitted with the
countries tend to have higher degrees of press cryogenic upper stage is expected to lift off in the
freedom, access to information about public first quarter of this year, carrying a 4-tonne class
communication satellite. Vikramaditya, INS Chakra, Landing Platform
Dock (LPD) Jalashwa
2. AP launches Rs 100 cr fund of funds to prop
fintech startups anti-submarine warfare aircraft operating
alongside SU-30 MKI, Jaguars, AWACS, IL-78
Andhra Pradesh announced Flight Refuelling Aircraft of the Indian Air Force
Rs 100 crore fund of funds to and infantry units of the Indian Army
invest in fintech startups.
The exercise will be conducted in various
A fund of funds which will phases, both in harbour and at sea encompassing
be managed professionally by the various facets of war-fighting and combat
a venture capital firm. It will operations.
help hone fintech startups
4. Founder of Indian supercomputing Dr
It is Initiated an industry-academia-government Bhatkar appointed new VC Nalanda University
partnership to tap and hone skilled talent available
at cheaper costs to develop the biggest city of the Vijay Pandurang Bhatkar, a technocrat who is
state into a global fintech hub. considered the father of the Indian
Supercomputer, has been appointed the new Vice-
100 start-ups and up to 15 global companies Chancellor of Nalanda University, Rajgir, in
with their centres of excellence housed in the Bihar.
'Vizag Fintech Valley.
He will hold the office for a three-year period
3. Indias inter-service military exercise Tropex from the date of his appointment as per the
kicks off Nalanda University Act, Sec 11(3).
Established in November 2010 as a Central

University, Nalanda University is spread over a
The Indian Navys Annual Theatre Readiness
443-acres campus and started offering academic
Operational Exercise (TROPEX) got underway on
programmes in 2014
24 Jan 17
INTERNTIONAL
The exercise will have ships and aircraft of both
the Western and Eastern Naval Commands, as
5. Tokyo Olympics unveils Goku from
also assets from the Indian Air Force, Indian
Dragonball Z as a brand ambassador
Army and the Indian Coast Guard exercising
together.
Participation of major surface combatants and

air assets of the Indian Navy including INS
DragonBall Z Fans Can Rejoice as Tokyo 2020 product partners to provide an extensive suite of
Unveils Son Goku as Olympics Ambassador privileged products and lifestyle benefits
SPORTS
7. Australian Open: Serena beats sister Venus

for record 23rd slam title
Japan wants the Olympics to appeal to the

millennials that is why anime characters are
involved.
The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe was

dressed as Super Mario and he had announced that
the country's rich culture will be central to the
Olympic Games in 2020.
Serena Williams beat her sister Venus Williams
BUSINESS in the final to win her 23rd Grand Slam singles
title.
6. SBI wealth management product launched
in Kochi This is also her a seventh Australian Open win
and her 23rd Grand Slam victory since the game
turned professional in 1968.
Serena now stands just one Slam away from

matching Margaret Courts record of 24 Slams
State Bank of India (SBI) has launched SBI while eclipsing the record of Steffi Graf with 22.
Exclusive, its wealth management offering, in
Kochi. ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 29.01.2017
& 30.01.2017
o Growing segment
NATIONAL
The bank has a number of high-net worth
customers whose banking needs are sophisticated 1. India Post becomes 3rd entity to receive
and require highly specialized services licence to start payment bank operations
o Open platform
The bank has introduced an open platform

where customers will also have access to the best
products across categories from market-leading
institutions
o Digital channels
SBI has tied up with leading technology and
India Post has become the third entity to Next generation satellite INSAT-3DR has
receive a final license last week from the Central opened new frontiers in Indias weather
Bank to start its payment bank operations forecasting
INSAT-3DR works in tandem with INSAT-
Countrys largest telecom service provider 3D, operational since 2014, in sending raw data
Bharti Airtel and digital payments firm Paytm are and high-resolution images, zoomed up to 1
the other two to have received the license while kilometer near the earths surface, every 15
only Airtel has started operations so far minutes.
The government has also appointed AP Singh Dr Sunil Peshin, who heads the division
has interim MD and CEO of the India Post
Payment Bank. INSAT-3DR, night time monitoring of
atmospheric phenomenon like cloud cover, fog,
2. In a first, India gets its own multi-sports haze and snow among others has become possible.
museum at New Town
4. Gokaldas Exports to set up manufacturing
units in Chittoor district
Sporting exploits, achievements, records and Gokaldas Exports has entered in to a

memorabilia frozen in time and feted across the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the
world are set to be showcased in the country's first Andhra Pradesh Government for setting up four
multi-sports museum. apparel manufacturing units in Chittoor district
over next three years.
India currently has two cricket museums, one
in Pune and the other in Chennai. The company plans to invest up to Rs 200
crore which is likely to generate approximately
3. INSAT-3DR to map farm fires in Haryana, 5,000 new jobs.
Punjab
The investment is however subject to such
terms and conditions as requested and sought by
Gokaldas Exports,
Including appropriate infrastructural support

and relevant incentives and subsidies being made
available to GEL with the Government of Andhra
Pradesh.
5. Supreme Court appoints former CAG Vinod

Rai to head BCCI
access to services for all segments of the society
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy

Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential
Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Judicial
Department,
Has issued a resolution for the setting up of a

Supreme Court appoints former CAG Vinod Rai Personal Status and Inheritance Court for non-
to head BCCI. The Supreme Court of India on Muslims in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Emirate
Monday appointed former CAG Vinod Rai to of Abu Dhabi, the largest of the UAE's seven
head Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) emirates.
along with noted historian Ramachandra Guha,
former cricketer Diana Edulji and Vikram Limaye 8. Amulya Patnaik to be the next Delhi Police
commissioner
6. Centre to invest Rs 15k cr to develop 1,253 km
road in Assam as NH IPS officer Amulya Patnaik has been
appointed to be
The Centre will invest the next Police
Rs 15,000 crores to develop Commissioner
1,253 kilometres of roads of Delhi. He
in Assam into National will succeed
Highways over the next Alok Verma.
few years
Mr. Patnaik
1,253 kilometres of state roads as National is an AGMUT cadre IPS officer from 1985 batch.
Highways
He is a native of Odisha and currently holding
The National Highways and Infrastructure charge as special commissioner in Delhi Police.
Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) will
spend Rs 8,000 crores over the next two years for INTERNATIONAL
developing 143 kilometres of road, including a
few bridges over Brahmaputra. 9. Hollywood legend & Harry Porter actor John
Hurt dies at 77
7. Abu Dhabi to set up court for non-Muslims to
strengthen culture of tolerance
Abu Dhabi will set up a court for non-Muslims

to strengthen the culture of tolerance and
acceptance of other communities and ensure
British actor, John Hurt who garnered Oscar
nominations for his roles in "Midnight Express" The purpose of the appointment is, on the one
and "The Elephant Man," has died at the age of 77 hand, to be on the forefront of technological
development and the political and ethical issues
that come with it
On the other, to make Denmark more attractive
for investment.
Facebook and Apple have revealed plans to

build data centers in Denmark.
11. SAARC members to meet in Nepal
Hurt worked more than six decades in

television, movies and voice work in England and
the United States.
He received two Academy Award

nominations, a Golden Globe Award, and four
BAFTA Awards, with the fourth being a Lifetime
Achievement recognition for his outstanding Members of South Asian Association for
contribution to British cinema. Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will meet this
week on Wednesday and Thursday at Kathmandu
10. Tech diplomacy: Denmark to appoint
worlds first digital ambassador Budget of SAARC secretariat and its 5
regional centres and regular activities of the
Association will be discussed.
Senior officials of eight member countries will

participate in the meeting.
This is the first senior level meeting of

Association since postponement of 19th SAARC
Summit in November last year.
Nepal, current chair of the SAARC, had

decided to postpone the summit after four nations
Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and India
requested for it following escalation of tension
between India and Pakistan.
Denmark will become the first country in the BUSINESS

world to appoint a special digital ambassador to
work on building ties with the globes tech giants, 12. Seven new countries join BEPS agreement
Tech liaison who reflects a diplomatic power As part of continuing efforts to boost
shift between established nations and privately- transparency by multinational enterprises
owned conglomerates. (MNEs), Gabon, Hungary, Indonesia, Lithuania,
Malta, Mauritius and the Russian company that manages the country's largest
money market fund, Yu'ebao.
Federation have now signed the Multilateral e-commerce giant Alibabas financial arm, has
Competent Authority Agreement for Country-by- reached an agreement to acquire American
Country Reporting (CbC MCAA), bringing the money-transfer major MoneyGram for USD 880
total number of signatories to 57. million, in a deal that will expand the firms
business in the US after India and Thailand.
Lithuania and Hungary joined the Agreement
in October and December 2016 respectively. The company owns Alipay, one of Chinas
biggest online payment platforms
13. IMD plans weather stations in 660 district
for better forecast The transaction will connect MoneyGrams
money transfer network of 2.4 billion bank and
The India mobile accounts and 350,000 physical locations
Meteorological with Ant Financials users,
Department (IMD) has
decided to set up MoneyGram will remain headquartered in
weather stations in 660 Dallas and continue to operate under its existing
districts of the country brand,
the first phase, the SPORTS

IMD plans to set up the
system in 130 districts 15. Roger Federer beats Rafael Nadal in
which have already been Australian Open final for 18th major
shortlisted.
The IMD has also tied up with the Ministry of

Agriculture to use the Krishi Vigyan Kendras
(KVKs), under the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR) in the districts, to use them as
weather forecasting observatories
Weather forecasts will be issued four days a

week between Monday to Thursday.
14. Alibabas financial arm acquires Swiss star Roger Federer has annexed his 18th
MoneyGram Grand Slam trophy.
Ant Financial owns Alipay, one of China's In the summit clash of the Men's Singles at
biggest online payment platforms and controls the the Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday, he
defeated arch-rival Rafael Nadal of Spain in five Full Marathon: 1. Abul Hossain (2:34.02); 2.
sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Biswanath Pal (2:39.16); 3. Paritosh Roy
(2:52.48).
It was Federer's first Major title win after the
2012 Wimbledon. ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 31.01.2017
35-year old Federer also became the second- NATIONAL

oldest winner of a Grand Slam tournament in the
Open Era after Australian Ken Rosewall won the 1. Economic Survey 2017 tabled in Parliament:
Australian title at the age of 37 in 1972. Key highlights
16. Glad to start the year with wins at PBL and

Syed Modi tournament: PV Sindhu
Olympic
silver
medallist P V
Sindhu and
National
champion
Sameer Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday
Verma began the new season on a resounding note tabled the Economic Survey 2016-17 in
by winning the women's and men's singles crowns Parliament budget session. The survey projects
respectively at the USD 120,000 Syed Modi the economy to grow in the range of 6.75% to
Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament 7.25% in the next fiscal year 2017-18 in the post-
demonetization year.
17. Abul Hossain wins Kolkata Marathon
The survey prepared by chief economic adviser
in the finance ministry Arvind Subramanian
Here are the major highlights from the Economic

Survey 2016-17:
Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2016-

17 to dip to 6.5%, down from 7.6% in last fiscal.
Economic growth to rebound to 6.75 to 7.5% in

Siliguri lad Abul Hossain won the Kolkata 2017-18.
Marathon
Hossain won the race with a timing of two Economic Survey sees fiscal windfall from
hours 34 minutes and two seconds to leave Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, low oil
Kolkata lad Biswanath Pal second, five minutes prices.
behind
Farm sector to grow at 4.1% in the current
Sikkim's Mangali Tamang won the women's fiscal, up from 1.2% in 2015-16.
half marathon with a timing of one hour 31
minutes and 13 seconds. Fiscal gains from Goods and Services Tax
(GST) will take time to realize.
Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, who is
the face of the event and flagged off the races, Growth rate of industrial sector estimated to
moderate to 5.2% in 2016-17 from 7.4% last
fiscal. Using the
app, people
The survey prepared by Chief Economic can hire
Adviser in the finance ministry Arvind two-
Subramanian said the adverse impact of wheelers
demonetization on GDP growth will be for short-
transitional. distance
commute at
The Economic Survey 2016-17 has advocated cheaper
the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) as rates.
an alternative to the various social welfare
schemes in an effort to reduce poverty. The agreement was aimed at providing the last-
mile connectivity from and to the upcoming
In his budget speech earlier this month, J&K Metro railway stations.
finance minister Haseeb Drabu said he would
want to create a social security fund and provide a Uber Founder and CEO Travis Kalanick
UBI to all those living below the poverty line
through a direct benefit transfer system. 4. Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Bags 916
Crore Contract from Indian Coast Guard to
2. India Post Payments Bank starts pilot services Build 14 Fast Patrol Ships
India Post Payments
Bank (IPPB) on Reliance Defence
Monday kicked off its and Engineering Ltd
operations by rolling out (RDEL) has signed
pilot services in Raipur Rs 916 crore contract
and Ranchi. with Defence
Ministry for design
The bank will offer an interest rate of 4.5% on and construction of
deposits up to 25,000; 5% on deposits of 14 fast patrol vessels
25,000-50,000 and 5.5% on 50,000-1, 00,000, for Indian Coast
its Chief Executive Officer A.P. Singh said. Guard.
RDEL is a wholly-owned arm of Reliance
The paid up equity of the new bank is 800 Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra).
crore, of which the government has already
infused 275 crore, he added. RDEL emerged winner through a competitive
bidding process undertaken by Ministry of
The idea is to have a branch in every district Defence with participation from almost all the
and make 3 lakh postmen come alive in payment private sector and public sector shipyards namely,
bank function, he said. L&T, Cochin Shipyard Ltd, Goa Shipyard Ltd,
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd
Also 1,000 ATMs of India Post will be (GRSE), the company said in a statement.
transferred to IPPB, Mr. Singh added.
Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) are medium range,
Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said that IPPB high speed vessels;
plans to have 650 branches across the country by
September 2017. they are primarily utilized for patrol within
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), coastal patrol,
3. UberMOTO launches service in Hyderabad anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, search and rescue
operations
Cab-hailing firm Uber has launched two-wheeler
aggregation service UberMOTO in Hyderabad. INTERNATIONAL
General of Accounts, tax revenue was 71(point) 4
5. Miss France Iris Mittenaere crowned Miss per cent of the full-year budget estimate.
Universe 2016
Total expenditure, Plan and Non-Plan, was
74(point) 3 per cent of the government's full-year
estimate.
The revenue deficit during April-December 2016

stood at 100(point) 1 per cent of the budget
estimate.
7. RBI lifts ATM cash withdrawal limit from

Feb 1
Miss France Iris Mittenaere, a 24 year-old dental
student from Lille, has been crowned Miss
Universe, 2016
securing victory over the 85 other contestants in

the final of the 65th ceremony of the world
famous beauty pageant.
The Miss Universe 2016 coronation took place

yesterday at the Mall of Asia, in suburban Pasay
city, south of Manila, Philippines.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will remove
Iris Mittenaere of France received the crown limits placed on daily cash withdrawals from
from Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, while automated teller machines from Feb. 1
Raquel Pelissier of Haiti and Andrea Tovar of
Colombia became the first and second runners-up It will also lift all curbs on branch withdrawals
respectively. from current account, cash credit and overdraft
accounts with immediate effect
BUSINESS
Cash withdrawal limits for over-the-counter
6. Fiscal deficit reaches 94% of the budget savings bank accounts which currently stand at
estimate 24,000 rupees ($353.28) a week may be
withdrawn in the near future.
Fiscal deficit in
the first nine ****************************************
months of 2016-17 ****************************************
touched 93(point)
9 per cent of the
Budget estimate.
BEST OF LUCK
The fiscal deficit
had stood at 87(point) 9 per cent in the
corresponding nine months a year ago.
The fiscal deficit is the gap between expenditure

and revenue.
According to data released by the Controller

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22 ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 22.01.2017 49

NATIONAL In a bonanza to farmers post demonetization, the

2. PM Modi announces number of measures for

Modi said under the

Conservationists estimate that more than 20,000

The Convention on International Trade in

Chief Minister N With a population of around six lakhs, the state

5. Indias Petronet Signs MoU to Set Up $950

India's largest LNG

Petronet signed a MoU with

ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 03.01.2017

1. BHIM app tops Google Play Store charts: Top

BHIM is a digital payments solution app based

India has ranked third among the countries

Amazon, after winning a patent for flying the

The airship will be stocked with lots of products

Amazon said the process would require little

7. India's first laser technology-based advanced

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani dedicated

ASA DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 04.01.2017

1. Swachh Bharat survey in 500 cities

technology with a cost of Rs 4.72 crore.

Along with this Programme, Rupani also laid

All the 16 check-posts across the state will be

On the occasion Transportation Minister The survey will be conducted by Quality

Savitribai had many firsts to her credit she was

This is one of the biggest reason for celebrations

BUSINESS Officials from Delhi will reach Patna with the

"She has also served on the Boards of United

Prior to being promoted as ED, Marandi was

5. Sir Tim Barrow: UK's new ambassador to EU

Jovenel Moise has been declared the winner of

Moise was the majority winner with 55.6 percent

The 48-year-old president-elect runs a banana

4. S Padmanabhan nominated as Chairman of

6. Australian legend Arthur Morris inducted into NATIONAL

Former Australia cricketer Arthur Morris was

More than 200 organizations from across the

Business meet and discussions are also being

2. Island Tourism Festival to begin in Andaman

The Island Tourism Festival will begin at Port

An International Cultural Group from

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention is a BUSINESS

ISRO will With a budget of $18.8 million to detect faintest

INTERNATIONAL 4. Qatar Open: Novak Djokovic beats Sir Andy

He said the Union government promotes

3. Golden Globe Awards: The winners list

This will be very significant given that we have

2. Two-day 20th National Conference on e- Best Original Score

Addressing on the occasion, Shri P.P. Best Screenplay

Best Animated Film

Best Foreign-Language Film

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy Best Television Drama

Best Actor, Drama Best Actor, Television Series Comedy or Musical

Best Actress, Drama INTERNATIONAL

Best Actor, Television Drama

Best Actress, Television Series Comedy or

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting 5. SBI Pension Funds appoints Kumar

SBI Pension Funds had assets under

6. Sania Mirza wins Brisbane International title

Top-seeded Indo- American duo triumphed 6-2

2. Maharashtra Government launches WiFi