Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS Update: 27th December, 2016

Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS Update: 28th December, 2016 For All The Upcoming Exams

Karnataka govt launches 25 bio-diesel buses in the state

i.In an effort to reduce pollution caused by diesel buses, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has launched 25 bio-diesel buses in the state. 

ii.These eco-friendly buses will ply on four routes, including Tirupati and Chennai. 

iii.Costing around Rs90 lakh each, bio-diesel buses eject 60-70% less emissions than diesel buses and would reportedly save the Corporation Rs80 lakh each year.

Central Government of India releases Rs 1,982 crore for Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram project 

i.The Centre has released Rs 1,982 crore for the multipurpose Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh through National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), which sanctioned the long term irrigation fund under Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. 

ii.Polavaram Project is a multi-purpose irrigation project which has been accorded national project status by the central government. 

iii.This dam across the Godavari River is under construction located in West Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh state and its reservoir spreads in parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha States also.

Central Government of India releases special stamp on freedom fighters &  Hardayal Municipal Heritage Public Library

Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications has brought out a Special Cover on freedom fighter 'Shri Gaya Prasad Katiyar' and a set of eight Commemorative Postage Stamps on 'Personalities Series: Bihar' & a stamp on 'Hardayal Municipal Heritage Public Library'.

Farmers get additional 60 days to repay crop loans: RBI

i.In a relief to farmers hit by demonetisation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given an additional 60 days to repay their crop loans due in November-December, 2016 and prompt repayment would be eligible for the extra 3% interest subsidy. 

ii.The government has been implementing the Interest Subvention Scheme since 2006-07. As per the scheme for the year 2016-17 besides subvention of 2 per cent per annum, an additional interest subvention of 3 per cent is also provided to prompt payee farmers from the date of disbursement of the crop loan.

Registration of Pakistani Hindus as Indian Citizen reduced from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 100

The registration fees for Hindus and other minority community people from three neighboring countries comprising Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, to register as Indian citizens have been reduced drastically to Rs 100 from Rs 15,000.

Odisha Governemnt Launches Malaria control programme DAMAN

i.The Odisha government has decided to intensify state sponsored malaria elimination scheme 'Daman' (Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakaran) in eight remote districts of the state.

ii.The state government has approved the scheme to be implemented in 8,000 villages of these districts and adding the programme is an innovative and integrated approach for control and prevention of malaria.

Maharashtra CM launched 'Transform Maharashtra' initiative

i.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched an initiative 'Transform Maharashtra' at IIT Bombay's 'Mood Indigo' festival.

ii.Under it, the chief minister will address issues related to youth in governance.

Odisha Names Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme after the freedom fighter Parbati Giri

i.The State Cabinet of Odisha on December 24 named the Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme worth Rs. 7,600 crore, after the noted freedom fighter and social reformer Parbati Giri as a mark of respect for her immense contribution to the freedom movement and service to the poor and needy.

ii.The scheme was named after Parbati Giri by the Chief Minister of state, Naveen Patnaik at a cabinet meeting.

iii.The State Cabinet has approved tender for 13 mega lift irrigation schemes with a total command area of 19,400 hectares in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts.

Actor Mithun Chakraborty resigns from Rajya Sabha

i.Actor Mithun Chakraborty ha resigned from the Rajya Sabha citing health issues. 

ii.The 66-year-old actor was nominated to the Upper House by West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). 

iii.He still had nearly two years of tenure remaining in the Rajya Sabha.

IDFC Bank rolls out Aadhaar Pay for cashless payments to merchantsi.IDFC Bank has announced the nationwide launch of IDFC Aadhaar Pay, the country’s first Aadhaar-linked cashless merchant solution that uses a retailer’s own Android smartphone to enable cashless payments.
 ii.Developed by IDFC Bank in association with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

KVGB launches ‘Bank Sakhi’ scheme

i.The Karnataka Vikas Grameen Banks (KVGB) has come up with ‘Bank Sakhi‘ innovative scheme for employing women in villages to promote and improve the cashless transactions in rural areas.

ii.The Bank Chairman S.Ravindran revealed that the bank would appoint women business correspondents called 'Bank Sakhi' in select villages where this scheme would be implemented.  

iii.In order to start this, the bank had hired 11 'Bank Sakhi' and had plans to appoint a minimum of 50 such women in different districts.

iv.The 'Bank Sakhi' will provide a range of financial services on behalf of the bank to her community.

Salman Khan launches his app 'BeingInTouch' on 51st birthday

i.Actor Salman Khan on Twitter has announced the launch of his app, 'BeingInTouch', on his 51st birthday 27 December 2016. 

ii.The app will provide access to Salman's social media accounts, along with his unseen pictures and videos. 

iii.The app users can also avail discounts from various brands on the app. 

iv.It is currently available for download on Google Play store.

China Passes Environment Tax Law to Curb Pollution

i.China has passed a new law to levy environment tax on polluters, especially on heavy industries. 

ii.The environment tax law was adopted by the legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC) standing committee at a meeting in Beijing. 

iii.The law will be implemented on January 1, 2018.

iv.Battling recurring pollution enveloping its cities,The Environment Tax Law was adopted by the legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee 

Dr Barbara Jatta becomes first ever female director of Vatican Museums 

i.Dr Barbara Jatta(54) has appointed as the first female director of Vatican Museums by Pope Francis. 

ii.It will be effective from January 2017 Jatta is currently working as the Deputy Director of the museums Since June 2016 

iii.With this appointments she will become the highest-ranking female administrator in the Vatican.
Former Sri Lankan prime minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake passes away

i.Former Sri Lankan prime minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake died  at the age of 83.
ii.He was admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital last week. Wickremanayake had served as prime minister during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s term as president from 2005 to 2010.

Yuki Bhambri wins $10,000 ITF Hong Kong F4 Futures

i.Yuki Bhambri has captured the title of the $10,000 ITF Hong Kong F4 Futures.  

ii.It was his 11th title on the ITF Pro Circuit. 

iii.He defeated Shintaro Imai of Japan who has been placed at second position.

iv.Bhambri won 75% of his first service points and broke serve three times to lock victory in one hour and 54 minutes.

Integrated tiger habitat conservation project launched in Karnataka

§  Wildlife conservation has received a boost with the launch of an integrated tiger habitat conservation project around M.M. 

§  Hills and Cauvery wildlife sanctuaries in Chamarajanagar district, with support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).

§  The project aims to conserve forest habitats by assisting in the sustainable development of communities living in and around the protected areas.

§  It is being implemented by the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru, and the Wildlife Trust of India in association with the Forest Department.

Punjab to Get its First Bioethanol Plant at Bathinda

§  Union food processing minister laid the foundation stone of Punjab’s first second-generation Bioethanol plant at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district. 

§  Deputy CM Punjab S. Sukhbir Singh Badal and Minister of State, Petroleum & Natural Gas Sh. DharmendraPradhan also joined her.

§  Built up at 49 acres of land, the 500 crore plant offers a practical solution to the problem of stubble burning by converting crop residue to Ethanol.

§  The state of the art bioethanol plant offers a long-term solution to farmer’s challenge of disposing off crop residue.

§  Using an efficient technology, agriculture waste is converted into fuel grade ethanol, offering a permanent solution to the age-old practice of crop residue burning.

RIL-ONGC: Justice Singhvi appointed arbitrator

§  The oil ministry has appointed G.S. Singhvi, a former Supreme Court judge and Competition Appellate Tribunal chairman (Compat), as the government’s arbitrator in a $1.55 billion dispute with Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) over alleged extraction of gas from a reservoir connected to that of state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp. on the east coast.

§  Singhvi, who retired from Compat earlier this month, will consult an arbitrator chosen by RIL for identifying a third neutral arbitrator and the place of arbitration

Govt launch mobile App ‘Smart Consumer’ & OCMC to provide speedy redressal of consumer grievances

§  The government launched a host of online initiatives yesterday including a mobile App ‘Smart Consumer’ and an ‘Online Consumer Mediation Centre (OCMC)’ to provide speedy redressal of consumer grievances.

§  The initiatives were unveiled by Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan at a function in New Delhi on the occasion of National Consumer Day on Saturday. A helpline 14404 was also launched for consumer related grievances