Current Affairs: Daily GK Update 12th January, 2017

1.World Bank projected a global growth of 2.7% in 2017, even as it observed that stagnant global trade, subdued investment and heightened policy uncertainty marked another difficult year for the world economy. 

ii.World Bank President Jim Yong Kim stated that global economic growth is forecast to accelerate moderately to 2.7% in 2017 after a post-crisis low of 2.3% in 2016.

i.The government will add by next month 40 more cities to the list of towns it wants to develop as Smart Cities by providing funds for initiating urban reforms, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said today. The addition of 40 new cities will take the total Smart Cities to 100. 

ii.Since January last year, the government has announced three lists of smart cities which will get Rs 200 crore for improving their infrastructure. 

i.The second international kite festival coinciding with the ‘Makar Sankranti’ fest would be held for six days from January 12, 2017 in Hyderabad and two other districts in Telangana.

ii.Telangana Tourism, which is organizing the International Kite Festival-2017,  committed to a social cause of raising awareness about the importance of education and empowerment of girl children and expects a footfall of around 50,000 visitors.

iii.The festival will have participation from 17 countries with 70 international and 40 national kite flyers, and a special night-flying event is scheduled on January 12 as a pre-festival event at People’s Plaza.

1.With a view to promoting the dairy sector and rural livelihoods in Arunachal Pradesh, the border state has signed a MoU with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017.

ii. A State Government delegation led by Shakuntala Gamlin participated in the Summit. 

i.In the biggest hike in nearly three decades, Saudi Arabia has increased India’s annual Haj quota by 34,500. 

ii.Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Saudi Arabia’s Haj and Umrah Minister Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten inked an agreement in this regard in Jeddah, increasing the size of India’s Haj quota from 1,36,020 to 1,70,520. 

i.The month-long Magh Mela festival began on 12 January 2017 at Sangam in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. 

ii.Thousands of Pilgrims, saint and seers are taking holy dip at Sangam on the occasion of Paush Purnima.

iii.The month-long kalpwas also began with the holy bathing.

iv. During the entire month of Magh, kalpwasis or pilgrims stay on the bank Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in tents and take early morning bath and take part in other religious duties.

i.Khanderi, the second Scorpene class submarine that has superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack with torpedoes as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles whilst underwater or on the surface,  launched at the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai. 

ii.Khanderi is named after the Island fort of Maratha forces, which played a vital role in ensuring their supremacy at sea in the late 17th century. 

iii.Khanderi is also the name for Tiger Shark.

i.Vedanta Foundation and Vedanta Sesa Goa Iron Ore, in collaboration with the Karnataka Directorate of Education, have launched a pilot project to promote digital education in schools across the State.

ii.The Deputy Director of Public Instruction, Chitradurga district, Revana Siddappa, has launched ‘The Smart Class’ project.

i.Helped by HDFC Bank, five temples in Kanyakumari district in southern Tamil Nadu have introduced digital wallets and PoS to enable their devotees to pay donations.

ii.The temples that have introduced digital mode include Arulmighu Thanumalaya Swamy Temple: Suchindrum, Arulmighu Bhagavathi Amman Temple: Kanyakumari, Arulmighu Nagaraja Temple: Nagercoil, Arulmighu Bhagavathi Amman Temple: Mondaikadu and Arulmighu Kumaraswamy Temple: Velimalai.

iii.These temples come under Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department

Anjani Portland Cement has commissioned a 16-mega watt (MW) coal-based captive power plant at its cement unit in Telangana. Anjani Cement is a high-quality cement prepared from the finest raw material Owing to optimum water demand. 

Tisca Chopra wins Best Actress Award for Chutney

i.Actress Tisca Chopra named as Best Actress for Chutney at the Jio Filmfare Short Film Awards. 

ii.Popular actress Tisca Chopra stated that winning her first Filmfare Award for short film Chutney is extra special as it’s a project she not just acted in, but also produced and co-wrote.

Vikram Pawah new President for BMW Group India

i.Vikram Pawah has been appointed as the president of BMW Group India, effective from March 1, 2017.

ii. He will take over from Frank Schloeder, who will assume new position at BMW Group headquarters in Germany.

i.Norway has become the first country to cease FM radio broadcasting. 

ii.The northern county of Nordland has stopped broadcasting using analogue frequencies as the Government plans to roll out digital-only radio over the course of the year.

iii. According to the national broadcaster, NRK, nationwide radio channels began switching to digital audio broadcasting that offers a wider range of broadcasting options and greater sound quality. 

i.The Indian hockey team captain PR Sreejesh has became a member of International Hockey Federation Athletes’ Committee. 

ii.The Committee comprises a total of eight current and former hockey players who have the responsibility to act as a liaison between the FIH and the athletes to make sure the players have voice in the FIH decision-making process.