– Current Affairs – February 2017
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Indian Panorama Film Festival Organised in Port Blair
The Five-day, Indian Panorama Film Festival got underway on 15 February, with its inauguration by the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, Mr. Anindo Majumdar at DBRAIT Auditorium in Port Blair. Smt. Rupa Ray Padmashree Awardee, Mr. Naresh Chander Lal, secretary IP, Dr. A.K. Singla IP & T, Mr. Amit Anand were Present on the occasion.
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Cabinet Approvals on February 15, 2017 i. The Union Government chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on February 15, 2017 approved setting up of Food Legumes Research Platform (FLRP) at Amlaha, Sehore in Madhya Pradesh for meeting the emerging food security challenges. ii. The Cabinet approved the signing of Air Services Agreement between India and Rwanda which will enable the airlines of the two countries to operate services in each others’ territory. iii. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval to award contract in 31 contract areas under Discovered Small Fields Policy 2016 undertaken last year iv. The Union Cabinet approved the merger of the State Bank of India with its 5 subsidiary banks namely State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur; State Bank of Hyderabad; State Bank of Mysore; State Bank of Patiala and State Bank of Travancore.
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Govt appoints 5 new Judges to Supreme Court
Five new judges are appointed to the Supreme Court by the President Pranab Mukherjee. Now the total number of judges in the Supreme Court raised to 28 from 23. New judged are Madras HCCJ Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Rajasthan HCCJ Naveen Sinha, Kerala HCCJ Mohan M.Shantanagouder, Chhattisgarh HCCJ Dipak Gupta, Karnataka HCJ S. Abdul Nazeer. Supreme Court consisting of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and other 30 Judged.
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Two Day ‘Momentum Jharkhand’ Global Investor Summit 2017 Concluded in Ranchi
i. The two day Global Investors’ Summit (GIS) 2017 was held at Khelgaon in Ranchi, Jharkhand from February 16-17, 2017 with the brand name ‘Momentum Jharkhand’. ii. Aim: To promote industrial activity in Jharkhand and establish the state as one of the prime investment destination of Eastern India. iii. The Summit was inaugurated by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the summit through video-conferencing. iv. A Flying Red Elephant was the mascot for the Jharkhand’s Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2017. v. On the concluding day of the 2017 Global Investors Summit on February 17, 2017, 209 MoUs were signed between nine departments of the Jharkhand government worth Rs 3,03,987 crore with different companies.
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Corporation Bank Bags 2017 National MSME Excellence Award
Mangalore based public sector lender Corporation Bank was awarded the 2017 National MSME Excellence Award at a function in New Delhi. DV Subramanya Varma, General Manager of Corporation Bank received the award from Union Minister of state for MSME, Haribhai P. Chouday. The award is instituted by the Federation of Industry, Trade and services (FITS).
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2-Day South Asian Speakers’ Summit Begins In Indore i. The two-day South Asian Speakers’ Summit was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on February 18, 2017 ii. Speakers of six countries includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Nepal attended the meeting to deliberate on ways to achieve sustainable development goals. iii. The summit will have a plenary session on ‘Identifying Resources for SDGs Implementation in South Asia: Opportunities for Parliamentary Cooperation’ iv. A working session on ‘Gender Equality As A Critical Factor For Sustainable Development’ will discuss opportunities that the SDGs present to strike a better gender balance and to determine the gender impact of sustainable development policies. v. This will conclude with the adoption of an ‘Indore Declaration‘ at a closing ceremony on February 18, 2017
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BCCI General Manager RP. Shah resigned his post
RP Shah one of the three General Managers of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has resigned from his post citing his age reason. Shah was serving as the General Manager (Commercial).
The reason is that I am 61-years old. I had taken the decision back in October. There was no pressure or query from the COA.
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami Wins Trust Vote In Assembly i. The newly appointed Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi Palaniswami won the trust vote in the Assembly on February 18, 2017 where 122 MLAs voted for him, while 11 voted for O Panneerselvam. ii .To win, a majority of 68 votes were needed. With this Palaniswami will continue to remain at the position of CM. iii .It was the first such floor test which Tamil Nadu witnessed in about 30 years. iv .Earlier, on February 16, 2017, he was administered the oath of office as the Chief Minister by Governor C Vidyasagar Rao after he submitted a letter on February 14 claiming he was elected as the Leader of the AIADMK Legislature party in a meeting of its MLAs that day.
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Who is the head of the 33 member committee formed for the speedy implementation of the Sagarmala Project in Andhra Pradesh?
A.Piyush Goyal
B.M. Venkaiah Naidu
C.N Chandrababu Naidu
D.Siddaramaiah
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.N Chandrababu Naidu
Explanation :
A 33 member committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for the speedy implementation of the Sagarmala Project in Andhra Pradesh. Sagarmala project aims to improve the state’s coastline and inland waterways. The committee will be responsible for overseeing the entire project and will bring together all the concerned departments and review their work on a daily basis for timely completion of the project. A nodal officer has also been appointed from every department who would represent the department.
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Which Ministry launched the world’s first comprehensive Braille atlas for visually impaired on February 10, 2017 in New Delhi?
A.Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
B.Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
C.Ministry of Human Resource Development
D.Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences
Answer & Explanation
Answer – D. Ministry of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences
Explanation :
The Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan released the world’s first comprehensive Braille atlas for nearly 50 lakh visually challenged people in India on February 10, 2017 in New Delhi. This is for the first time that such atlas has been prepared for physically challenged with such minute details. The Braille Atlas has been prepared by National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO) under Department of Science & Technology.
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The first smart police station of Andhra Pradesh has been launched in which city on February 6, 2017?
A.Visakhapatnam
B.Tirupati
C.Vijayawada
D.Guntur
Answer & Explanation
Answer – D.Guntur
Explanation :
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inaugurates the State’s first Smart Police Station at Nagarampalem in Guntur city in Amaravati on February 6, 2017. The Smart station has been built within two months at a cost of Rs 91 lakh as a pilot project. The Andhra Police administration has formulated plans to build another 100 Smart Police Stations across the state.
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How much amount has been allocated under MNREGA for the year 2017-18 in the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister on February 1, 2017?
A.Rs.47,000 crore
B.Rs.49,000 crore
C.Rs.46,000 crore
D.Rs.48,000 crore
Answer & Explanation
Answer – D.Rs.48,000 crore
Explanation :
Allocation under MNREGA increased to Rs.48,000 crore in 2017-18 from Rs 38,500 crore in 2016-17. This is highest ever allocation. Women participation in MGNREGA has increased to 55% compared to less than 48% in the past. Total allocation for rural, agriculture and allied sectors for 2017-18 is Rs 1,87,223 crore which is 24 percent more than previous year’s allocation.
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Where was the 17th session of the BIMSTEC senior officials’ meeting held on February 7, 2017?
A.Colombo
B.Dhaka
C.New Delhi
D.Kathmandu
Answer & Explanation
Answer – D.Kathmandu
Explanation :
The 17th session of the senior officials’ meeting of the BIMSTEC was held on February 7, 2017 in Kathmandu. The delegates of the seven member nations attended the meeting to review the progress made by the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). The session of the BIMSTEC-SOM was chaired by Shanker Das Bairagi, Foreign Secretary and Head of Nepali Delegation. India was led by Secretary (East) Ms. Preeti Saran.
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How much bailout package has been announced by Government of India for IDBI Bank to enable the bank to have healthy capital-adequacy ratio and further enhance credit growth?
A.Rs. 3000 crore
B.Rs. 1500 crore
C.Rs. 2200 crore
D.Rs. 2700 crore
Answer & Explanation
Answer – A.Rs. 3000 crore
Explanation :
The government has announced to bailout IDBI Bank with Rs. 3,000-crore capital infusion to enable the bank to have better capital-adequacy ratio and further enhance credit growth. The financial assistance will help the bank to maintain stability. IDBI Bank’s lending portfolio is mostly in corporate segment and that is one of the major reasons for increase in its bad loans. In December quarter of 2016, IDBI had a net loss of Rs.2,255 crore against Rs.2,184 crore in December quarter 2015.
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On February 3, 2017, the Reserve Bank of India has waived off fee charges for transaction upto Rs. ______settled on IMPS, USSD and UPI.
A.Rs.1000
B.Rs.2000
C.Rs.2500
D.Rs.3000
Answer & Explanation
Answer –A.Rs.1000
Explanation :
The Reserve Bank of India has directed banks on February 3, 2017 to waive off transaction charges and lower interest rates on credit cards as a move to encourage digital transaction. RBI has decided that customers would not be levied any charges by banks and prepaid payment instrument issuers for transactions up to Rs. 1,000 settled on Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) till March 3, 2017.
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Which housing finance company has signed an MoU with CREDAI West Bengal on February 6, 2017 to train 1000 construction workers in Kolkata?
A.PNB Housing Finance Limited
B.Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd
C.Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd
D.LIC Housing Finance Ltd
Answer & Explanation
Answer – A.PNB Housing Finance Limited
Explanation :
The PNB Housing Finance Limited (PNBHFL) and CREDAI West Bengal, has signed an MoU on February 6, 2017, wherein CREDAI-Bengal would train 1000 construction workers in Kolkata and nearby villages. The MoU aims to address the need to speed up the construction pace for quicker delivery and hand-overs. For providing the training CREDAI-Bengal would set up permanent skill development centres in Medinipur and Murshidabad. These places have huge concentration of construction workers.
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Qatar recorded the lowest ever temperature at ______degree Celsius in its history on February 5, 2017.
A.2.5 degree Celsius
B.1degree Celsius
C.1.5 degree Celsius
D.3.2 degree Celsius
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.1.5 degree Celsius
Explanation :
Qatar recorded the lowest ever temperature in the history of the country on February 5, 2017 with a temperature of 1.5 degree Celsius (35 degree Fahrenheit). The Qatar Meteorology Department informed that the Gulf state was facing low temperature for the past several days due to an area of high pressure. The lowest temperature was recorded at the weather station in Abu Samra in the southwest of the country.
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Which northeastern state of India became the first state to implement an e-Cabinet solution for the state cabinet members on February 7, 2016?
A.Meghalaya
B.Assam
C.Arunachal Pradesh
D.Tripura
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation :
Arunachal Pradesh became the first state in the northeast to implement e-Cabinet solution for the state cabinet members. Using this system, the cabinet members can access the cabinet notes before the meeting. The entire business of the Cabinet can be conducted using the e-Cabinet solution. “e- Cabinet is a powerful tool that the Arunachal Pradesh government plans to use to streamline its decision-making process”.
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RBI increases with drawal amount Rs.50,000 per week
The Reserve Bank of India issued on January 30, 2017 and announced the weekly limit on withdrawal of cash from savings bank accounts will be increased to Rs.50,000 from the current Rs.24,000 from February 20, 2017. The limit will be removed from March 13, till there is no limit on current account and there is a cap of 50,000 for farmers a week and 2.5 lack for marriage.
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Railways Approves Rail Project in Andaman and Nicobar i. The Railway Ministry is set to develop the first ever railway line in Andaman and Nicobar Island that currently has no rail network. ii .The Ministry of Railway is set to approve the project that will construct 240-km broad gauge railway line connecting Port Blair with Diglipur, the largest town on Andaman Island. It will connect the two islands with bridges and stations along the coast. iii .Currently the Island are connected to each other through a 350-km bus service taking above 14 hours and ship taking over 24 hours. Besides, the island do not have air connectivity. iv. According to the ministry, the cost of laying the line would be nearly Rs 2,413.68 crore.
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Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY) launched in Assam
In a move to bring about paradigm shift towards holistic development of villages, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY) in Guwahati. This Scheme is a mega mission with a financial outlay of Rs.30,000 crore and it will be implemented in all the village the state.
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Arunachal first NE state to implement e-Cabinet solution i. Arunachal Pradesh became the first state in the northeast to implement e-Cabinet solution for the state cabinet members. ii. Using this system, the cabinet members can access the cabinet notes before the meeting. The entire business of the Cabinet can be conducted using the e-Cabinet solution.
iii. “e-Cabinet is a powerful tool that the Arunachal Pradesh government plans to use to streamline its decision-making process,”
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Muslim Organisations too oppose triple Talaq as is practiced now low panel
Law Commission Chairperson Justice B.S. Chauhan said that, a majority of those who had responded to its questionnaire on a uniform civil code, including many Muslim Organisms have opposed spontaneous triple talaq. Justice Chauhan said the larger consensus was that spontaneous triple talaq, as is currently practiced, was not keeping with what was stated in the Shariat, which mandates a three-month iddah period meant for reconciliation and arbitration.
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Lok Sabha Passes Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017 i. The Lok Sabha passed the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017 on February 7, 2017 which allows for payment of wages digitally or through cheque directly into the account of workers. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill is in line with the government’s cash-less economy. ii. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017 seeks to amend the Payment of Wages Act 1936. Once the bill is passed by the Rajya Sabha, it will also replace the Payment of Wages (Amendment) Ordinance 2016 that was promulgated by the President on December 28, 2016. iii. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2017 will enable the employers to pay wages via cheque or bank transfer directly into worker’s account without the need for worker’s written consent for the same. iv .Earlier, under the Payment of Wages Act 1936, employers were allowed to use cheque or bank transfers to pay wages only with written authorization from the employee. v. The amended bill will also lead to formalization of workforce and provide them social security benefits like provident fund and health insurance. The data shows that nearly 90 percent of India’s over 472 million labour market is informal where workers are deprived of the benefits of formal employment. vi. With the digital payment, the bill will take away the employers ability to cut the wage of workers.
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Qatar Airways launches world’s longest commercial flight
The world’s longest commercial flight launched Qatar Airways. It was traveled from the United Arab Emirates Doha to Auckland in New Zealand in 16 hours, 5 minutes and in 17 hours, 20 minutes on her return Journey. This has made Qatar Airways the new title holder for the world’s longest commercial flight.
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Water Resource Ministry Forms Committe to Expedite Namami Gange programme
i. A committee has been formed by the government to accelerate the process of the implementation of Namami Gange programme under which it plans to make the River Ganga free from waste by 2018. ii .The announcement regarding the committee was made by the Union Minister of Water Resources Uma Bharti on February 8, 2017 in New Delhi while chairing the first meeting of the empowered task force on Ganga. iii. The committee would comprise of Ministers of Water Resources, Environment and Forest, and Drinking Water and Sanitation as its members and will be responsible to meet at least once every fortnight.
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Hyderabad Surgeon Raghu Ram Honoured with BC Roy Award
Hyderabad based Surgeon Dr.P. Raghu Ram, President of Association of Breast Surgeons of India (ABSI) has been honoured with the prestigious “Dr. BC Roy National Award” for outstanding service in the field of socio medical relief for the year 2016. The award will be conferred upon Ram by President Pranab Mukherjee on July 1,2017 which is also observed as National Doctors Day. He is the youngest Surgeon ever from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to have been selected for the award.
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India-UK sign MoU to allow more flights to boost tourism and trade i. Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Lord Ahmad from U.K. have signed a MoU to ease restrictions on the number of scheduled flights between the two countries to trade and tourism. ii. Limits on flights from Chennai and Kolkata have been scrapped, allowing for a greater range of flights for passengers while providing a boost to trade and tourism for the UK and India iii. This will pave the way to new export markets and creating jobs and economic growth iv. The agreement also opened all destinations in the UK for Indian carriers for code share flights, and reciprocally the UK carriers can also operate code share flights to any International Airport in India, through domestic code share arrangements.
UK :
♦ Capital: London
♦ Currency: Pound sterling
♦ Prime minister: Theresa May
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Govt to make “Aadhar” compulsory to ration from PDS shops
The Govt of India on 9 February announced that people who have ration cards under the National Food Security Act need to undergo Andhar Authentication Process to receive their further subsidies. This notification comes into effect from today. This condition will also be applicable for all the new beneficiaries and in all States and Union Territories except the States Assam, Meghalaya, and Jammu & Kashmir.
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Rajasthan becomes 2nd Largest Crude Oil Producer in India
Rajasthan Governor Announced that Rajasthan has become the second largest crude oil producer in India. The oil fields in the state were producing nearly 90 lakh tonnes oil annually which accounted for 24% of the total domestic crude oil production. On the other hand, The Bombay High, an offshore oil field of Mumbai is the largest producer of crude oil in India which accounts for 50% of the total domestic crude oil production.
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Centre frames infrastructure policy to check challenges of urbanisation i. The Centre has formulated the infrastructure policy to promote living close to mass public transport corridors like metro, monorail and bus rapid transit (BRT) on February 26, 2017 ii. Aim: To addressing the challenges of urbanisation. iii. The new Policy seeks to promote Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). iv. The Ministry of Urban Development is also incentivising the TOD under new Metro Policy and Green Urban Mobility Scheme that seeks to create non-motorised transport infrastructure in cities like footpaths and cycle-tracks. v. The Ministry’s initiative comes in the context of over 300 km of metro lines being operational in seven cities, while another 600 km of metro line projects being under construction in 12 cities and over 500 km projects under consideration. vi. TOD policy is being taken up in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Naya Raipur, Nagpur and Navi Mumbai.
What is TOD ?
♦ A transit-oriented development (TOD) is a type of urban development that maximizes the amount of residential, business and leisure space within walking distance of public transport.
♦ The densest areas of a TOD are normally located within a radius of ¼ to ½ mile (400 to 800 m) around the central transit stop
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Saina Nehwal to represent Olympic Committee in BWF
Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal, who was appointed a member of the International Olympic committee’s Athletes. Commission in 2016. Now she would to representing Olympic Committee’s
panel in the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Currently, ranked world number 10 in BWF rankings, Saina is aiming to won in the All England Championship in next Month.
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Goa ranks first in having lesser infant mortality rate i. According to the recent data, infant mortality rate in the country has been registered at 42 deaths of kids per 1000 births while Puducherry was having 11 deaths of children per 1000 babies born said by Director of Health and Family Welfare Services K V Raman on February 27, 2017. ii. Top 3 states : Goa ranked first, followed by Kerala and Puducherry iii. Puducherry government hospitals had necessary infrastructures to address the health issues of young children including cardiac surgeries. iv. The that Union Territory is operating a Medical Relief Society through which assistance was also available to patients to get specialist treatment for critical ailments.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) :
♦ The infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths of infants under one year old per 1,000 live births. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.
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National Science Day 28th February
The Science day is celebrated to honour the Nobel laureate- Sir C.V. Raman for his invention of the Raman Effect on 28th February 1928. For this he got Nobel Prize in Physics in the year 1930. Various activities are organized on the day, like debates, quiz competitions, exhibitions and so on. Whole Nation takes honour of thanking all the scientists for their remarkable contributions and dedication on this occasion. The theme of the year 2017 is “Science and Technology for specially abled persons”.
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MEITY to promote digital transactions in place of NITI i. The Ministry of IT and Electronics (MEITY) has taken the the responsibility NITI Aayog to promote the digital transactions in India. ii. MEITY is responsible for promotion of e-governance for empowering citizens as well as promoting inclusive and sustainable growth of electronics and IT in the country. iii. It is also responsible for encouraging the growth of IT-enabled services industries. iv. Now NITI Aayog will focus on monitoring and suggesting ways to improve various government schemes rather than getting involved with implementation.
Ministry of IT and Electronics (MEITY) :
♦ Headquarters: Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi.
♦ Cabinet minister: Ravi Shankar Prasad
♦ Minister of state: P. P. Choudhary
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Government to set up a Defence Procurement Organisation (DPO) to simply Purchase Process i. The Union Government has planned to up a Defence Procurement Organisation (DPO) in a move to integrate and streamline the long and complex process of defence acquisitions. ii .The committee would be headed by former Director of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow, Dr. Pritam Singh. DPO will function under the Defence Ministry. iii. The organization would be set up on the recommendation of Dr. Pritam who submitted a report on the modalities of setting up the DPO to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on February 9, 2017 and would be established in about 2-3 years. iv. The Defence Procurement Process will apply to all defence capital procurements and simplify and speed up the acquisition procedure.
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GMR Hyderabad Airport bags CAPA award
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), which operates Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, has own the center of Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) Chairman’s order of Merit for its focus on environmental sustainability and becoming the first airport in Asia Pacific to become carbon neutral. GHIAL received the award during the CAPA 12th Annual India Aviation Summit in Mumbai earlier this week.
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2017 National Women’s Parliament held in Andhra Pradesh i. In a first of its kind initiative, National Women’s Parliament was organized by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly in association with MAEER’s MIT School of Governance at Pavithra Sangamam in Amravati, Andhra Pradesh with an aim to empower women. ii. The three day conclave that began on February 10, 2017 was based on the theme: ‘Empowering Women — Strengthening Democracy’. iii. The conclave was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conference in the presence of AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury. iv. The vision of the conclave is to provide a platform to enable and encourage social, political and economic empowerment of women in all strata of the society.
v. The NWP is set to come out with the Amaravati Declaration on women empowerment at the end of the three-day deliberations on February 12, 2017
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Japanese manga legend Jiro Taniguchi dies at 69
Jiro Taniguchi, a legend in Japan’s comic art of manga, died in Tokyo on Saturday (11th February) at the age of 69, leaving behind an international following for his exquisite line drawing of scenes from everyday life. Just over a decade later after starting this art, he hit the International Magna Scene with “A Distant Neighbourhood,” about a Japanese salary man who travels back to his Childhood.
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GNFC township becomes India’s first cashless Township i. India’s first cashless township “Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals (GNFC) township”was inaugurated by Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on February 13, 2017 ii. Nearly 10,000 residents in GNFC have embraced various digital mode of payments instead of cash. iii. In the township, residents are making cashless payments at shopping centres, schools, colleges, hospital, stadium, laundry and even at tea stalls.
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Indian cycle tourist establishes a Guinness World Record
Prasad Erande from Pune travelled 14,576 Kilometers on a bicycle India, establishing a Guinness World Record for the longest journey by bicycle in a single country. He covered the distance between June 22-November 9 in 2014. It increased by inner strength and taught me how to survive when conditions are not in my favour.
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Aero India 2017 Begins at Air Force Station, Bangalore i. The 11th biennial edition of International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition – Aero India 2017 kicked off at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka in Bengaluru, Karnataka on February 14, 2017. ii. The five day event was inaugurated by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. It has been organized and conducted by the Defence Exhibition Organisation (DEO) and will conclude on February 18, 2017. iii. For the first time in the Aero India event, China will also participate with a five member team. Besides, two more delegates from china would also be attending the event. iv. One of the major event of Aero India 2017 on February 14, 2017 was the handing over of Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) to the Indian Air Force by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
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Narinder Chauhan appointed as Ambassador of India to the Republic of Philippines
Former IAS officer Narinder Chauhan has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of the Philippines on 11 February 2017. Currently Narinder is working as the Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia.
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Madhya Pradesh government to set up Tourism Board
Shivraj Singh Chouhan lead by Madhya Pradesh government has decided to constitute Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board for expansion of facilities at tourist spots and draw investment in the sector.
About the Board : i. MP Tourism Board would be a non-profit company and will be registered under the Companies Act ii. The board will take all responsibilities mentioned under Tourism Policy-2016. iii. The board would work to frame, execute and monitor new policies for inviting investors, increase land bank iv. The board will also develop a work plan for all tourism-related archaeological sites, wildlife places, caves with natural beauty, amusement and other parks, water reservoirs
Board Members :
♦ Chairman : Shivraj Singh Chouhan & Deputy chairman: Tourism minister of the state
♦ Directors: Chief Secretary and principal secretaries of finance, forests, urban development, environment and culture departments
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Who has been appointed as the Whole Time Member of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) on February 22, 2017?
A.Amarjit Singh
B.Ashish Chauhan
C.M V Nair
D.Suman Saxena
Answer & Explanation
Answer – D.Suman Saxena
Explanation :
Ms. Suman Saxena took charge as the Whole Time Member, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) on February 22, 2017. Ms Saxena will look after Research and Regulation Wing comprising Corporate Insolvency, Corporate Liquidation, Individual Insolvency, Individual Bankruptcy, Research and Publications, Data Management and Dissemination and Advocacy. She will also look after National Insolvency Programme, Continuing Professional Programme, and Knowledge Management and Partnership.
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The High Court of Bombay has introduced an e-payment gateway for online payment of court fees in which of its regional branch?
A.Dadra and Nagar Haveli
B.Goa
C.Maharashtra
D.Daman and Diu
Answer & Explanation
Answer – B.Goa
Explanation :
The High Court of Bombay has joined hands with Goa Government and National Informatics Centre (NIC) has launched online payment of court fees through e-payment gateway in Goa. An e-payment of court fees would be available for District and Sessions Courts as well as all subordinate Courts in the coastal state. Now all the court fees are paid by way of impressed and adhesive stamps.
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The Living Root Bridge which has been nominated for 2017 National Innovation Foundation Award for grassroots innovations is found in which Indian state?
A.Assam
B.Manipur
C.Arunachal Pradesh
D.Meghalaya
Answer & Explanation
Answer – D.Meghalaya
Explanation :
Meghalaya’s root-bridge has been nominated for the prestigious National Innovation Foundation award for grassroots innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge. It is a community-driven
innovation by forest dwellers in the southern slopes of the state. The recognition is not for any single community, but for all communities who are engaged in growing living root bridges which have simplified bridge construction across rivers and streams in Meghalaya.
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Who has won the best actress award at the 89th Academy Award on February 26, 2017?
A.Isabelle Huppert
B.Ruth Negga
C.Viola Davis
D.Emma Stone
Answer & Explanation
Answer – D.Emma Stone
Explanation :
Emma Stone won the best actress award at the Oscars 2017 for the movie La La Land. The movie won the most number of awards at the ceremony totaling to six after being nominated into 14 categories.
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The 112-feet-tall statue of Lord Shiva in Adiyogi form has been unveiled by Prime Minister Modi in which state on February 24, 2017?
A.Maharashtra
B.Tamil Nadu
C.Haryana
D.Himachal Pradesh
Answer & Explanation
Answer – B.Tamil Nadu
Explanation :
On the occasion of Mahashivratri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 112-feet-tall Lord Shiva statue at Isha Foundation in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on February 24, 2017. The statue is dedicated to “Adiyogi”, an incarnation of Lord Shiva who is considered to be the first of yogis. The statue has been funded by The Isha Foundation and constructed by a team of engineers and designers of the foundation in foothills of Velliangiri mountains in the Western Ghats. The bust of Lord Shiva is made of steel and weighs 500 tonnes. It took 2.5 years to design and eight months to build the statue.
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Name the fully unreserved train that as flagged off by the Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on February 27, 2017 for common people?
A.Uday Express
C.Hamsafar Express
D.Sankalp Express
Answer & Explanation
Answer – B.Antyodaya Express
Explanation :
Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu flagged off the fourth Humsafar clan of trains and first Antyodaya clan of trains through video conferencing from Rail Bhawan on February 27, 2017.1.Sri Ganganagar – Tiruchirappalli Humsafar Express (Weekly) (via Krishnarajapuram, Pune, Ahmedabad). 2.Ernakulam – Howrah Antyodaya Express (Weekly) (via Salem, Katpadi, Visakhapatnam)
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Hewlett Packard Enterprise has partnered with which Indian company to gain support to roll out its Internet of Things platform, LoRa network?
A.Oxygen Healthcare Communications
B.Sasken Technologies Limited
C.Tata Communications
D.Tata Consultancy Services
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.Tata Communications
American IT MNC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has announced its partnership with Tata Communications on February 27, 2017 at the World Mobile World Congress 2017 organized in Barcelona. Under the partnership, Tata Communications will support Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) to roll-out its Internet of Things platform, “the LoRa network”. Tata Communications will also provide HPE with a range of domestic and cross-border IoT connectivity and management services particularly for applications requiring elements of mobility, such as connected cars, fleet management and transportation services.
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Which ministry has formulated the National Transit Oriented Development Policy to address the challenges of urbanization?
A.Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
B.Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
C.Ministry of Urban Development
D.Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.Ministry of Urban Development
Explanation :
The Centre has formulated the infrastructure policy to promote living close to mass public transport corridors like metro, monorail and bus rapid transit (BRT) on February 26, 2017. Aim: To addressing the challenges of urbanisation. The new Policy seeks to promote Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). The Ministry of Urban Development is also incentivising the TOD under new Metro Policy and Green Urban Mobility Scheme that seeks to create non-motorised transport infrastructure in cities like footpaths and cycle-tracks.
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The technology giant Microsoft has signed an MoU with which state on February 22, 2017 to utilise Microsoft Azure Stack for the first time in the world for migration of 340 live applications from one data centre to another?
A.Gujarat
B.Andhra Pradesh
C.Assam
D.Karnataka
Answer & Explanation
Answer – B.Andhra Pradesh
Explanation :
Technology giant Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu has signed agreement to utilise Microsoft Azure Stack for AP government state data centre at the ‘Microsoft Future Decoded’ held in Mumbai on February 22, 2017. For the first time in the world, Microsoft Azure Stack will be used to migrate 340 live applications of AP government from Hyderabad State Data Centre (SDC) to Vizag data centre.
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Which institutes scientists have developed a physically unclonable functions (PUF) based on fingerprint generator circuits to protect Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure from being hacked?
A.Indian Institute of Technology Madras
B.Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
C.Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
D.Indian Institute Of Technology Kharagpur
Answer & Explanation
Answer – D.Indian Institute Of Technology Kharagpur
Explanation :
A team of researchers at the Indian Institute Of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT Kgp) have designed ‘Physically Unclonable Functions’ (PUF) based on fingerprint generator circuits to protect Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure from being hacked. The PUF are light weight and require little power. They can be easily installed in any electronic device. The fingerprint generator circuits will enable the receiving device to read the command, verify the authenticity of the sender and then operate. It will help to uniquely identify each object and thus enable authenticating the commands sent to connected IoT devices
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Which Indian state has on February 22, 2017 imposed ban on manufacturing, storage, sale or storage of gutkha or pan masala?
A.Gujarat
B.Bihar
C.Punjab
D.Madhya Pradesh
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.Punjab
Explanation :
Punjab government lead by Parkash Singh Badal has imposed the one year ban on the manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of food products containing tobacco or nicotine like gutkha and pan masala. The decision has been taken in view of the orders issued by Supreme Court. The ban also applicable to processed, flavoured, scented, chewing tobacco.
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Which Indian state has become the 22nd state to join the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) for operational improvement of the state’s power distribution department?
A.Bihar
B.Assam
C.Sikkim
D.Andhra Pradesh
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.Sikkim
Explanation :
India’s first fully organic state Sikkim has joined the union government’s Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) as 22 nd state , the so called UDAY will in turn hand it an overall benefit of Rs 356 crore. Upon this decision Sikkim has inked MoU with the union government under the Scheme Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) for operational improvement of the state’s Power Distribution Department.
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De Randamie Crowned First Women’s Featherweight Champion
Germaine De Randamie was Crowned the UFC’s first female featherweight Champion after defeating Holly Holm via Unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 48-47 in De Randamie favour against her American opponent, who is a former bantamweight Champion.
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Government Clears that Beti Bachao Beti Padhao has no provision for cash transfer component i. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has clarified that there is no provision for individual cash transfer component in Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme. ii. The Scheme simply focuses on generating awareness about girl child and changing the mindsets and deep rooted patriarchy of the society and improve the efficiency of welfare services for girls. iii .The clarification came after the report that some unauthorised sites, organisations, NGOs and individuals were distributing forms in the name of cash incentive under the scheme. iv. The centre said that there is no cash incentive associated in any form for B3P scheme and distribution of such forms was completely illegal. v. The ministry has also adviced the people to report any such incidents to the nearest police station and the concerned District Collector and District Magistrate.
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UNICEF launches 3.3 bln USD to aid millions of Children
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on 31 January launched an appeal of 3.3 billion US dollars to provide emergency assistance in 48 countries around the globe, against the backdrop of ever increasing number of children driven from their homes due to conflicts, disasters and climate changes. The United States is by far the top donor to UNICEF, followed by Germany, Britain and the European Commission.
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India & Sri Lanka signs MoU for multi-ethnic tri-lingual Secondary School i. India and Sri Lanka has signed an MoU on February 2, 2017 for the construction of a multi-ethnic tri-lingual school in a north central district of the island nation. ii. The school would provide an opportunity to Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim students to learn in a multi-cultural environment and thus promote reconciliation and unity in Sri Lanka. iii. The MoU was signed between India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Secretary to the Ministry of Education Sunil Hettiarachchi. iv. The Indian Government would provide a grant of SLR 300 million for the island school to be constructed in Polonnaruwa district. v. Under the project class rooms, laboratories and library would be constructed as well as furniture and other equipment would be procured.
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SAARC programming committee meeting Held in Kathmandu
The 53rd meeting of SAARC Programming Committee meeting held on 01-02-2017 and could mark revival of the regional bloc following the postponement of the 19th Summit that was scheduled in Pakistan in November last year after India and some others members expressed their inability to participate.During the two day meeting they will discussions about the budget allocation of five SAARC regional centers, some specialized bodies and their annual programme. It will definitely set a positive tone to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan and for resumption of the SAARC process.
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India together with Norway Develops Body to Accelerate Research for Epidemics i. A Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has been set up by India and Norway to speed up the research and development for epidemics. ii. The body was created after the World Health Organization published a document titled ‘An R&D blueprint for action to prevent epidemics- funding and coordination models for preparedness and response’ and asked all the member nations to develop research and development plan to deal with epidemics.
iii. The CEPI has been set up by the Governments of India and Norway. Besides, other involved in the foundation includes Welcome Trust, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Economic Forum in collaboration with industry, other governments, foundations regulatory bodies, civil society and the WHO. iv. The body will make the list of the diseases against which vaccines are most feasible. This will overcome the barriers for development of vaccines.
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Telangana, Rajasthan bag eGov awards
2017 under the State category, Rajasthan and Telangana emerged Winners of Excellence while the Award of Recognition went to Odisha and Nagaland. The Center’s intense focus on Digital India seems to have drawn greater response this year to the CSI -Nihilent eGovernance Awards. Instituted by the Computer Society of India’s (CSI) Special Interest Group with sponsorship from Nihilent Technologies, these awards help recognize the efforts of eGovernance practitioners from across central and state departments, projects and in district administrative units as well.
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Kiren Rijiju Inaugurates Programme on ‘Inner Strength and D isaster Resilience’ i. Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home Affairs inaugurated the programme on ‘Inner Strength and Disaster Resilience’ on February 3, 2017 in New Delhi. The programme was organised by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). ii. The Minister stressed NDRF force to focus on mental fitness along with physical fitness. iii .NDRF is India’s professional emergency force to tackle disaster. It has become one of the dedicated forces in the country both in India and abroad. iv .NDRF has so far saved more than 5 million lives. Besides, it also educates people on how to tackle disasters. Over 47 lakh people have been trained as of now.
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Rail Museum celebrates 40th anniversary
The National Rail Museum in New Delhi celebrated its 40th anniversary on 01st February 2017. The museum, which houses a large collection of life-size rail exhibits, allows visitors to take a tour on a toy train. Its attractions include the saloons of the Maharajas of Indore and Mysore and Fairy Queen, the oldest working steam locomotive still in operation.
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Ministry of AYUSH Constitutes a 16-member Committee to Prepare a Yoga Protocol for Diabetes Control i. The Ministry of AYUSH has constituted a 16-member committee under the chairmanship of Dr. H.R. Nagendra, Chancellor, S-Vyasa University, to prepare a Yoga Protocol for Diabetes Control.
ii. The Ayush Minister Shri ShripadYesso Naik said that regular yoga practice can help reduce the level of sugar in the blood, along with lowering blood pressure, keeping a weight check, reducing the symptoms and slowing the rate of progression of diabetes, as well as lessening the severity of further complications. iii .Besides, this the Ministry has also launched a programme to integrate Ayurveda, Homoeopathy and Unani with National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS). iv .Apart from this, Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN) has opened 8 OPDs in various Govt. Hospitals to integrate Yoga & Naturopathy to cure diabetes.
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Govt, forms panel to improve Haj Policy
The Centre has formed a six-member committee to give a report on ways to improve India’s Haj Policy and also look into issue of subsidy to the pilgrimage in light of 2012 Supreme Court order on gradually reducing abolishing it by 2022. Former Consulate General of India (CGI) Jeddah, Afzal Amanullah has been appointed as high-level panel, Union Minister of state for Minority Affairs (Independent Charge) Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that.
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Norway Nobel Committee Chairwoman Kullmann Dies At 65
Norwegian Nobel Committee Chairwoman, Kaci Kullmann Five, died on February 19, 2017. She was 65, Norwegian Nobel Committee is responsible to select the peace Prize Laureates. Former businesswoman of Norway, Kullmann served as trade and shipping minister from 1989-1990. In 2003, Kullmann became a member of the Norwegian Novel Committee while was elected Chairwoman in 2015.
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Gujarat Assembly passes Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2017 i. The Gujarat Assembly passed Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2017 to empower the state government to use Aadhaar number as the sole identifier for the delivery of various subsidies and benefits in an effective and targeted manner. ii. This bill will help the government create a credible system to authenticate the identity of actual beneficiaries. iii. The assembly aslo passes two other bills which includes the Gujarat Panchayats (Amendment) Bill and the Gujarat Town Planning and Urban Development (Amendment) Bill.
Aadhaar :
♦ Aadhaar is a 12 digit unique-identity number issued to an Indian resident based on their biometric and demographic data.
♦ The data is collected by “Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)”.
Gujarat :
♦ Governor: Om Prakash Kohli
♦ Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
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The World’s Largest Battery Storage Plant has been set up in which country on January 30, 2017?
A.California, United States
B.London, United Kingdom
C.Berlin, Germany
D.Paris, France
Answer & Explanation
Answer – A.California, United States
Explanation :
Tesla Motor Inc. and Southern California Edison have jointly launched World’s largest energy storage facilities on January 30, 2017 at the utility’s Mira Loma substation in Ontario, California. The facility was unveiled as part of the massive deployment of grid-connected batteries agreement made between the two companies in September 2016. The facility would reduce dependence on fossil fuels for generating energy and take advantage of wind and sun to deliver clean energy to power homes, businesses among other things.
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Name the British Nobel Prize winner and pioneer in the body scanning technology MRI Scan who died on February 9, 2017 at the age of 83.
A.SCOTT D. STEVENS
B.ARTHUR LIEBER
C.JAMES T. LEE
D.SIR PETER MANSFIELD
Answer & Explanation
Answer – D.SIR PETER MANSFIELD
Explanation :
UK physicist and Nobel laureate Sir Peter Mansfield has died in UK on February 9, 2017 He was 83. Peter led a team of experts who revolutionised science and worked on MRI scans. He had won the Nobel prize for Physiology or Medicine for developing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 2003.
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What is the projected GDP growth rate of India for the year 2017-18 as estimated by HSBC?
A.7.1 Percent
B.6.9 Percent
C.5.7 Percent
D.8.8 Percent
Answer & Explanation
Answer – A.7.1 Percent
Explanation :
HSBC has estimated the GDP growth rate of India at 7.1 percent for the year 2017-18 which is up from the 6.3 percent in the year 2016-17. The main reason for this increase is cited to sufficient remonetization by April end, thus boosting the consumption level in the country to normal. Besides, the schemes announced in Budget 2017-18 are also seen to play major role in the growth rate. Besides, the investment is projected to remain weak within a range of 7.5-8 percent.
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Who has been appointed the new Director (Commercial) of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) on February 3, 2017?
A.Anand Kumar Gupta
B.Ramesh Sobti
C.Sanjeev Kumar Yadav
D.Upendra Sinha
Answer & Explanation
Answer – A.Anand Kumar Gupta
Explanation :
Anand Kumar Gupta (56) has been appointed as director of NTPC for commerical operation on February 3, 2017. Gupta will be responsible for the activities relating to commercial, international and domestic business development and consultancy business of NTPC.
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The final T20 International match between India and England was held in which stadium on February 1, 2017?
A.M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
B.Green Park, Kanpur
C.Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur
D.Ekana International Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Answer & Explanation
Answer – A. M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Explanation :
India defeated England by 75 runs to clinch the Twenty20 International series 2-1 on February 1, 2017 played at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. England lost their last 8 wickets for 8 runs.This is India’s first win in a bilateral T20 International series against England. 23-year-old Yuzvender Chahal was named the man of the series for taking eight wickets and giving away only 85 runs. With this, Yuzvender Chahal has also became the first Indian bowler to record a five-wicket haul in the history of Indian cricket.
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The programme on ‘Inner Strength and Disaster Resilience’ inaugurated by Kiren Rijiju had been organized in which place on February 3, 2017?
A.Mumbai
B.Pune
C.New Delhi
D.Amritsar
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.New Delhi
Explanation :
Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home Affairs inaugurated the programme on ‘Inner Strength and Disaster Resilience’ on February 3, 2017 in New Delhi. The programme was organised by National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The Minister stressed NDRF force to focus on mental fitness along with physical fitness. .NDRF is India’s professional emergency force to tackle disaster. It has become one of the dedicated forces in the country both in India and abroad.
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Which bollywood actress has been recently appointed as the brand ambassador of the campaign ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyan’ by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD)?
A.Priyanka Chopra
B.Katrina Kaif
C.Deepika Padukone
D.Anushka Sharma
Answer & Explanation
Answer – D.Anushka Sharma
Explanation :
Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma was appointed the first female ambassador of the campaign ‘Swacch Bharat Abhiyan’ by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD). Anushka will works with bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan for a nationwide health and sanitation campaign
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The Indian Coast Guard conducted a joint exercise with which countries counter-part on February 6, 2017 to enhance co-operation and exchange of operational expertise?
A.United Arab Emirates (UAE)
B.Russia
C.France
D.United States
Answer & Explanation
Answer – A.United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Explanation :
In an effort to strengthen the bilateral relations between India and UAE, the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Samudra Pavak made a goodwill visit at the Mina Al Rashid (Dubai Port) from February 4 to 7, 2017. The Indian Ambassador in UAE Navdeep Suri visited the Indian Navy ship on February 5, 2017. During the stay at port Rashid, a series of activities is scheduled to take place between Indian and UAE coast guard. As a part of the visit, a joint exercise is scheduled to take place between Indian coast guard and UAE coast guard to enhance co-operation and exchange of operational expertise.
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Which flower has been dedicated this year to President Pranab Mukherjee and his late wife in the annual Udyanotsav opened by the President in Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 4, 2017?
A.Lilly
B.Rose
C.Marigold
D.Sunflower
Answer & Explanation
Answer –B.Rose
Explanation :
President Pranab Mukherjee opened the annual ‘Udyanotsav‘ of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 4, 2017. The Mughal Gardens will remain open for general public from February 4, 2017 to March 12, 2017. The two varieties of roses named ‘President Pranab‘ and ‘Suvra Mukherjee‘ were developed by Pranabir Kumar Maity and Ashok Kumar Maity of Pushpanjali Rose Nursery at Jakpur, West Bengal. Vertical Gardens and Air Purifying Plants which absorb toxins from polluted air. Exhibition Stalls set up near the Spiritual Garden displaying produce of fresh vegetables and fruits grown in the President’s Estate Organic Farm.
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Where is the 31st Surajkund International Crafts Mela organized?
A.Rajasthan
B.Gujarat
C.West Bengal
D.Haryana
Answer & Explanation
Answer – D.Haryana
Explanation :
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurates the 31st Surajkund International Crafts Mela in Faridabad, Haryana on February 1, 2017.The mela will end on 15th February, 2017. 2017 Surajkund International Crafts Mela is known as ‘Cashless Mela’ because all stakeholders have been provided option to opt for cashless transactions. A team of volunteers called ‘Mela Mitra’ are appointed to help and guide visitors for Mela. The freedom fighter Jharkhand Birsa Munda’s statue has been constructed and people from 21 countries are expecting to participating at the mela.
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The Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) Bill, 2017 will provide a group of _____ prestigious institutes of management studies the power to grant degrees.
A.25
B.20
C.22
D.19
Answer & Explanation
Answer – B.20
Explanation :
The Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar introduced the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) Bill, 2017 in the Lok Sabha on February 9, 2017 to provide 20 prestigious Management Institutes powers to grant degrees. As per the Bill, IIMs would be declared “institutions of national importance” and the Board of Governors will be the principal executive body of each IIM. Till now IIM had been registered as societies and were unable to grant degrees, including PhD, to their students. As per the Bill, the Director of each institute will be appointed by the Board of Governors out of a panel of names recommended by a search-cum-selection committee, which too would be constituted by the Board.
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What is the currency of Mexico?
A.Mexican Peso
B.Mexican Euro
C.Mexican Dinar
D.Mexican Dollar
Answer & Explanation
Answer – A.Mexican Peso
Explanation :
Capital: Mexico City, Currency: Mexican peso, President: Enrique Peña Nieto
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With which country India has signed 3 MoUs in the field of innovation, aviation and visa requirements on February 21, 2017?
A.Saudi Arabia
B.Sudan
C.Rwanda
D.Uganda
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.Rwanda
Explanation :
India and Rwanda has signed three MoUs on February 21, 2017 in the field of innovation, aviation and visa requirements. The MoUs were signed during the visit of Vice President Hamid Ansari to Rwanda from February 19-20, 2017. The three MoUs signed includes: Air service agreement between India and Rwanda with direct flight to Mumbai, establishment of an Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Rwanda duly financed by Government of India for promoting innovation, and agreement for exemption of visa requirements for diplomatic and service passports.
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The Union Cabinet on February 22, 2017 approved the capacity enhancement under Scheme for Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects from 20,000 MW to 40,000 MW. What is the total financial assistance by central government under the revised scheme?
A.Rs.9000 crore
B.Rs.8100 crore
C.Rs.7500 crore
D.Rs.9500 crore
Answer & Explanation
Answer – B.Rs.8100 crore
Explanation :
The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) okayed revised norms for the Scheme for Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects with the production target enhancement to 40,000 MW from the present 20,000 MW. The Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects will be set up by 2019-20 with Central Government financial support of Rs.8100 crore. The enhanced target capacity would ensure development of at least 50 solar parks each with a capacity of 500 MW and above in various parts of the country. In the recent development smaller parks in Himalayan and other hilly States where contiguous land may be difficult to acquire in view of the difficult terrain, will also be considered under the scheme.
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Who has recently been appointed as the global Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR?
A.Danny Kaye
B.John Doyle
C.Neil Gaiman
D.Novak Djokovic
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.Neil Gaiman
Explanation :
The author Neil Gaiman has been appointed as a global Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Refugee Agency,UNHCR by Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Aim: To raise awareness about the plight of forcibly displaced people and to generate much needed funds. Neil will play an important role in creating better public understanding and support for refugees He had been working closely with UNHCR since 2013 and he has supported several fundraising initiatives and UNHCR campaigns and events, including #WithRefugees, the #IBelong campaign to end statelessness, World Refugee Day and the Nansen Refugee Award.
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The Union Cabinet on February 22, 2017 approved the missile deal with Israel to jointly develop a Medium Range Surface-To-Air Missile (MR-SAM) system for the Indian army. What is the total layout of the deal?
A.Rs. 17000 crore
B.Rs. 22000 crore
C.Rs. 12000 crore
D.Rs. 15000 crore
Answer & Explanation
Answer – A.Rs. 17000 crore
Explanation :
A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 22, 2017 approved Rs. 17,000 crore missile deal with Israel to protect India’s airspace from enemy aircraft and drones. Under the deal, India and Israel will jointly develop a Medium Range Surface-To-Air Missile (MR-SAM) system for the Indian army. The project will be implemented by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and Israeli Aircraft Industry (IAI).
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Reliance Jio has collaborated with which global networking company to expand its existing Jio capacity to build an All-IP services platform?
A.IBM
B.Juniper
C.Cisco
D.Brocade
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.Cisco
Explanation :
LTE mobile network operator Reliance Jio has announced a collaboration with the networking giant Cisco to expand Jio’s existing multi-terabit capacity with the first All-IP converged network in India. With this Jio can offer a combination of high-speed data, mobile video, VoLTE, digital commerce, media, cloud and payment services.
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How much amount has been approved by the Ministry of Urban Development for the development of 6 km long Bet Dwarka Darshan Circuit in Gujarat under HRIDAY ?
A.Rs. 10.15 crore
B.Rs. 12.22 crore
C.Rs. 16.27 crore
D.Rs. 19.69 crore
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.Rs.16.27 crore
Explanation :
As a part of the Central Scheme ‘Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY)’, the Ministry of Urban Development has approved development of 6 km long Bet Dwarka Darshan Circuit in Gujarat at a cost of Rs.16.27 crore. The circuit was approved by the HRIDAY National Empowered Committee chaired by Rajiv Gauba, Secretary (UD) Government of India. The Circuit will connect the famous Dwarkadish Haveli and Hanuman Dandi, the only temple housing Hanumanji and his son Makardhwaj, in Dwarka district of Gujarat. There are two important water bodies along the circuit including Ranchod Talav and Shankhudhar Lake.
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As per rating agency ICRA, the GDP growth of India in December quarter of 2016 is estimated to decline to ______percent from 7.2 percent last year.
A.5.9 percent
B.6.1 percent
C.6.5 percent
D.7 percent
Answer & Explanation
Answer – C.6.5 percent
Explanation :
Gurgaon based Domestic rating agency ICRA reported that the gross value added (GVA) is set to slip to 6.2 per cent in the third quarter from 6.9 per cent and GDP growth will decline to 6.5 per cent from 7.2 per cent. Services sector is expected to ease to 8 per cent from 9.1 per cent in line with moderation in fuel demand following the note ban. Industrial growth is set to more than halve to 4 per cent from 8.6 per cent, led by manufacturing, construction and mining and quarrying. The annual growth of systemic deposits improved to 15.2 per cent as of December 23, 2016 from 10.2 per cent.
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Pink teddy bears were given away to first time female voters at the assembly election polling booths of which state on February 4, 2017 to encourage women voters’ participation?
A.Himachal Pradesh
B.Goa
C.Punjab
D.Gujarat
Answer & Explanation
Answer – B.Goa
Explanation :
In a move to encourage active participation in the assembly poll especially by women voters, the government of Goa on February 4, 2017 conducted a unique experiment, which involved giving away 600 pink teddy bears to first time women voters across the state. The teddies were distributed at 40 model polling booths from each of the 40 assembly constituencies in Goa. These polling stations were decorated with pink balloons, pink table cloths, pink walls, while polling officials were also seen wearing pink clothes.
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India’s first integrated Heliport has been inaugurated at Rohini in North Delhi on February 28, 2017 at an investment of Rs. ______
A.Rs. 120 crore
B.Rs. 100 crore
C.Rs. 200 crore
D.Rs. 75 crore
Answer & Explanation
Answer – B.Rs. 100 crore
Explanation :
India’s first integrated Heliport was inaugurated by the Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on February 28, 2017 at Rohini in North Delhi. The Heliport has been built by state-owned Pawan Hans Ltd. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Pawan Hans CMD B P Sharma among others were present at the ceremony. The newly developed heliport has been built over an area of 25 acres with a total investment of Rs. 100 crore. The heliport consists of a terminal building having a capacity of 150 passengers, 4 hangars with the parking capacity of 16 helicopters and 9 parking bays.
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India defeated which country to win the finals of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2017on February 21, 2017?
A.South Africa
B.New Zealand
C.Pakistan
D.Bangladesh
Answer & Explanation
Answer – A.South Africa
Explanation :
Indian Women’s team pipped South African Women’s by one wicket in a crunch Women’s cricket World Cup qualifier final at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo after All round show from Harmanpreet Kaur that helped the side to deliver the victory. South elected to bat first after winning the toss notably Mignon du Preez (40), Lizelle Lee (37), skipper Dane Van Niekerk (37)scored to post decent 244 in 49.4 overs.
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Who among the given have been appointed as the part-time Non-Official Directors on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India on February 9, 2017?
A.Ashok Gulati, Manish Sabharwal, Rajiv Kumar
B.Kishore Sansi, Sharad Sharma, Rajeev Sharma
C.Jatinderbir Singh, M.R. Rao, Umesh Revankar
D.Jyoti Ghosh, Arun Tiwari, Kapil Wadhwan
Answer & Explanation
Answer – A.Ashok Gulati, Manish Sabharwal, Rajiv Kumar
Explanation :
The central government appointed three part-time Non-Official Directors on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India for a four-year term on February 9, 2017 after an approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. The Cabinet has appointed economist Ashok Gulati, Manish Sabharwal, chairman of services provider Teamlease and Rajiv Kumar, economist and former FICCI secretary general as part-time Non-Official Directors on the Central Board. Earlier, government had appointed former Gujarat chief secretary Sudhir Mankad, current Tata chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran and Mahindra & Mahindra non executive chairman Bharat Doshi as non official directors in March 2016.
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The Sports Minister Vijay Goel laid the foundation stone of the India’s first Center of Excellence for Para Sports in which state on February 5, 2017?
A.Uttar Pradesh
B.Gujarat
C.Haryana
D.Kerala
Answer & Explanation
Answer – B.Gujarat
Explanation :
Sports Minister Vijay Goel laid the foundation stone of the India’s first Center of Excellence for Para Sports to help para athletes in showcasing their skills and talent further both at the national and international level in Gujarat on February 5, 2017. Budget outlay: Rs.50 Crores.. The Center will have a fully air conditioned indoor hall, fully air conditioned elite hostel of 100 beds, 20 VIP accommodation for foreign guest which will also be air conditioned and open land for warm-up.
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Ravi Shanka Prasad launches Cyber Swachhta kendra in New Delhi
Union Minister of Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad launched Cyber Swachhta Kendra in New Delhi on February 21,2017. It was launched for Botnet cleaning and Malware analysis as a part of Digital India Initiative. He also launched two mobile apps “M-kavach” to protect smartphones and tablets from hackers and “Samvid” to protect desktops from suspicious applications.
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Gujarat Govt Presents Budget With No New Taxes In Poll Year
i. The BJP Administration in Gujarat presented a main stream budget with overall layout of Rs 1,72,179 crore for 2017-18, which is Rs 20,327 crore more than last year. ii. This budget comes ahead of Poll is due in the state this year that comes with a slew of welfare initiatives and no new taxes. iii. While Presenting Budget Finance Minister Nitin Patel in the Assembly the minister stated that the state has overall surplus of Rs 239.16 crore while the revenue surplus is estimated at Rs 6,065.60 crore. iv. As far as Tax is concerned he keeps it with a pause as he did not propose any increase, especially in the Value Added Tax (VAT), as GST will be implemented shortly. v. The Minister Kept Agriculture, irrigation and rural development with highest share of 21.88 per cent in the developmental expenditure, followed by education and sports (21.17 per cent), water supply, housing and urban development (16.72 per cent) and energy, industry and minerals (10.42 per cent). vi. In the backdrop of Demonetization besides keeping Tax rates unchanged he also emphasized Education sector with allocations this time with Rs 25,000 crore.
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Chandrasekaran takes the Chairmanship of TATA Sons Ltd
Natarajan Chandrasekaran has become the Chairman of TATA Sons Ltd, the holding company of Tata Sons Ltd announced in January, 2017 the appointment of Chandra, who joined the tata Group in 1987 after obtaining a Masters Degree in Computer Applications from the Regional Engineering College Trichy in Tamil Nadu.
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Maneka Gandhi Announces Compensation Fund For Children i. Union Women and Child Development Minister Sanjay Maneka Gandhi has unveiled the setting up of a compensation fund under Nirbhaya scheme to make available financial help to children who are victims of sexual crimes. ii. The money for this fund will be drawn from Nirbhaya Scheme and will be watched directly by the Women and Child Development Ministry and on the total amount of money to be set aside for this scheme is yet to be decided. iii. In contrary Central Victim Compensation Fund was set up with an initial corpus of Rs 200 crore in 2015 but has not been operating. iv .POCSO Act or Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was formulated in 2012 to address sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children. The POSCO victims are now included in the scheme.
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India, Japan ink pact on Rail Safety
India Signed an agreement with Japan for enhancing railway safety in the Indian Railways with focus on railway track and rolling stock safety. The Memorandum of Corporations was signed between Railway Board Chairman A.K. Mittal and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan Vice-Minister Hiroshi Tarata. Under this agreement, the areas of cooperation include rail inspection, rail wielding automatic railway track safety inspection.
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Gujarat Assembly Passes COTP Amendment Bill to Ban Hookah Bars i. The Gujarat Assembly passed the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution)(Gujarat Amendment), Bill, 2017 on February 23, 2017 to put a total ban on all the hookah bars in the state. ii. The bill seeks to amend the present ‘Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act-2003’ (COTP) and has replaced the Ordinance passed by Gujarat Government in December 2016 for the same. iii .All the hookah bars in the state have been asked to shut their shops with immediate effect. iv. Despite restriction, if any hookah bar is found to be operational would be considered as an offence and subjected to punishment ranging from maximum of Rs. 50,000 fine to jail term of up to three years.
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Abhijit Sarkar appointed Vice President of AHF
Malaysia headquartered Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has appointed Abhijit Sarkars as Vice President and also the Chief of AHF commercial and TV Committee> He led the group in promoting various sports in India by sponsoring both the Indian National Cricket Teams as well as Indian Hockey Team. Sarkar has served as the Head of Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs and Relations and the Sports Division at Sahara India Pariwar since 2004.
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Government Allows Tamil Nadu to Raise Number of Workdays under MGNREGA i. The Central government has granted permission to raise the number of workdays under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee scheme in Tamil Nadu from the existing 100 days to 150 days. ii. The increase in workdays aims to help rural laborers who are facing job loss as a result of the severe drought affecting the state. iii. The scheme is being implemented in 12,524 villages of Tamil Nadu. Works like desilting of waterbodies in rural areas and maintenance of other rural assets are being undertaken under the scheme.
iv. In 2016, 33.43 crore man-days of employment have been generated so far under the scheme and Rs 4655 crore has been disbursed. With the increase in workdays, 3 crore more man-days would be generated.
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