Exhibition on Buddhist religious/heritage sites in India will also be organized.  To complete the experience, a Food Festival will also World's highest bridge opens in China be held. The world's highest  The Festival events are being showcased in three bridge has opened to cities of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang in traffic in China, Cambodia. connecting two Cambodia provinces in the mountainous southwest  Capital: Phnom Penh and reducing travel  Currency: Riel times by as much as three-quarters.  Prime Minister: Hun Sen  The Beipanjiang Bridge soars 565 metres (1,854 feet) above a river and connects the two mountainous Japan to assist in making Chennai, Ahmedabad and provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou. Varanasi Smart Cities Japan has decided to be UN Recognizes 2017 as Year of Sustainable Tourism for associated with the Development development of Chennai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi as The United Nations (UN) has declared 2017 as a year to smart cities. recognize that tourism is important in fostering better  This was conveyed by understanding among people. Japan’s Ambassador to  International travel leads to greater awareness of the India Kenji Hiramatsu during his meeting with heritage of other civilizations, and as a result an Minister of Urban Development M.Venkaiah Naidu. appreciation of other countries.  Mr.Hiramatsu further said that Japan is quite  According to the UN, this contributes to the interested in urban development initiatives of the strengthening of world peace. Government of India and decided to be a partner.  High Commissioner of United Kingdom Mr.Dominic Finland trials basic income for unemployed Asquith also met Venkaiah Naidu and discussed Finland has become the first country to pay its unemployed converting into action the MoU signed between the citizens an unconditional monthly sum, in a social experiment. two countries during the recent visit of British Prime  Under the two-year, nationwide pilot scheme, which Minister to India Teresa May, on cooperation in urban began on 1 January, 2,000 unemployed Finns aged 25 development sector. to 58 will receive a guaranteed sum of €560).  He said institutionalizing Government to Government  The income will replace their existing social benefits cooperation for smart city development has huge and will be paid even if they find work. potential.  So far, leading countries have come forward to be Festival of India will be Organized in Cambodia associated with development of 15 smart cities. A Festival of India is being  These include: United States Trade Development organized in Cambodia from Agency (USTDA) –Visakhapatnam, Ajmer and 10th January to 16th February, Allahabad, UK-Pune, Amaravati(Andhra Pradesh) 2017. and Indore, France-Chandigarh, Puducherry and  The activities of the Nagpur and Germany –Bhubaneswar, Coimbattore Festival include and Kochi. Ramayana Performance, Rajasthani Folk Music & Japan Dance Group (Dance Group plus Manganiyar Group),  Capital: Tokyo Classical Dance.  Currency: Yen  A Buddhist Mahotsav – Exhibition titled Dhamma  Prime Minister: Shinzo Abe Darshana - to explore the life, teachings and important China to set up world's highest altitude Gravitational Wave events connected with Lord Buddha and Photo telescopes in Tibet

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China is setting up the world's highest altitude gravitational Saptarang – confluence of seven classical dance forms wave telescopes in a Tibet prefecture close to Line of Actual culminating in Vande Matram. Control with India with a budget of $18.8 million to detect  The Festival events are being showcased in four cities faintest echoes resonating from universe which may reveal of Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Takoradi in Ghana. more about the Big Bang theory. Ghana  Construction has started for the first telescope, code-  Capital: Accra named Ngari No 1, 30 km south of Shiquanhe Town  Currenty: Cedi in Nagri Prefecture, said Yao Yongqiang chief researcher with the National Astronomical Ecuador takes chair of UN group of 134 developing Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. countries  Parts of Nagri is last Tibetan prefecture at China's Ecuador has taken over from Thailand as chair of the Group of border with India. 77 which promotes the interests of the 134 developing countries it represents at the United Nations, including China. Norway to Become First Country to Switch Off FM Radio  Ecuador's President Rafael Correa told handover Network ceremony that the group will continue promoting Norway will become the world’s first country to shut down its "social and economic equality." FM network in an unpopular move designed to force the leap  He said this can only be done if "poverty, inequality to digital technology. and exclusion" are eradicated and people live with  It is going to launch Digital Audio Broadcasting "sovereignty, dignity and in peace." (DAB) technique in place of FM radio.  Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said  Critics claim the switch off will leave citizens without his country focused in 2016 on how to implement the digital radios isolated and unable to listen to 17 U.N. goals for 2030 to promote development and emergency broadcasts. good governance, and preserve the environment.

World Hindi Day:10 January Obama lifts 20-year sanctions on Sudan The World Hindi Day is being observed annually on 10 US President Barack January. Obama is to lift some trade  World Hindi Day was first observed on 10 January and investments sanctions 2006. against Africa's third  It should be noted that World Hindi Day is the largest country. promotion of the language at the global stage. While,  But the country National Hindi Divas is being observed on 14 will still remain a state sponsor of terrorism in September across the country at national level. Washington's eyes.  Obama informed Congress that he will lift barriers Pakistan to renovate Katas Raj temple against the Khartoum government but only after a six- Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited the Katas Raj month delay to ensure Sudan continues to improve its Hindu temple in Chakwal district of Punjab to inaugurate its human rights record. renovation.  The work includes installation of a water filtration India slips 3 places to 92nd rank on global talent plant in the Amrat Jal area. competitiveness  Al-Biruni, Persian scholar and polymath, had India has slipped 3 places to 92nd rank on the global index of computed the earth’s circumference from here. talent competitiveness that measures how countries grow, attract and retain talent, a list topped by Switzerland. Festival of India to be Organised in Ghana  India's ranking is worst among the five BRICS After Combodia, now a Festival of India is being organised in countries. While China was ranked at the 54th place, Ghana from January 25 to March 16, 2017. Russian Federation was placed at 56th, followed by  The activities of the Festival include amalgamation of South Africa at 67th and Brazil 81st. Indian classical dances, Sufi & Folk Music, and  Switzerland topped the overall index, followed by Singapore and the United Kingdom in second and

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third places respectively, in the list released by according to a report by global app analytics firm App INSEAD Produced in partnership with The Adecco Annie. Group and the Human Capital Leadership Institute of  Brazil took the third spot with a little over 5 billion Singapore (HCLI). downloads.  China is not part of the Google Play (Android) India 60th in inclusive development index rankings because the country has blocked Google. India has been ranked 60th among 79 developing economies, However, it was Number one in iOS (Apple) app store below neighbouring China and Pakistan, in the inclusive downloads. development index, according to a WEF report.  Lithuania tops the list of 79 developing economies UAE’s Khalifa Foundation Donates US$2 Million Medical that also features Azerbaijan and Hungary at second Equipment to AMU and third positions, respectively. The United Arab Emirates'' Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan  While India is placed at the 60th spot, many of the Foundation has announced that they will donate an Elekta neighbouring nations are ahead in the rankings. Synergy Digital Accelerator worth US$2 million to the Aligarh  China is ranked at the 15th position, Nepal (27th), Muslim University (AMU)'s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical Bangladesh (36th) and Pakistan (52nd). College.  The announcement coincides with the visit to India of Germany tops global passport index, India ranks 78th H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, The Passport Index Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme 2017, ranks countries Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, as the chief based on the number guest at the 68th Republic Day celebrations. of nations their  HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the citizens can visit President of the UAE, had declared the year 2017 as without a visa or on the ‘Year of Giving’, focusing on public-private arrival. India ranks a partnership in the field of humanitarian initiatives. low 78th position.  Germany stands at the top with a visa-free score of Hong Kong withdraws visa-free facility for Indians 157 while Singapore (topped in Asia) and Sweden are In a setback to Indian travellers, Hong Kong, a special on second and third place respectively. administrative region of China, has withdrawn the visa-free  India stands at 78th position with a visa-free score of facility for Indians who will have to complete a pre-arrival 46, ahead of China and Pakistan which are ranked registration. 58th and 94th on the list respectively.  The Pre-arrival Registration for Indian Nationals will  Afghanistan’s is the least powerful passport with a be implemented on January 23. visa-free score of just 23.  Until now, Hong Kong has permitted Indians to enter with valid passport for a period up to 14 days without 2016 declared Earth's hottest year on record a visa. 2016 has been declared the world's warmest year since reliable  A Pre-Arrival Registration is normally valid for a six record keeping began in 1880, according to US scientists. month period or until the expiry date of the Indian  Globally-averaged temperatures in 2016 were 1.78 passport linked to it, whichever is earlier. degrees Fahrenheit (0.99 degrees Celsius) warmer than the mid-20th century mean. China builds world's biggest solar Park  This makes 2016 the third year in a row to set a new China has finished building the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park record for global average surface temperatures. in the western province of Qinghai, China.  Built at a cost of about 6bn yuan (£721.3m), India beats US, No. 1 in Google Play app usage Longyangxia now has the capacity to produce a Mobile users in India downloaded the most number of apps massive 850MW of power – enough to supply up to from Google Play app store in 2016. 200,000 households.  With over 6 billion app downloads, India, which was Nepal launches 10-yr-plan to cut vegetable imports from in the third position in 2015, surpassed the US, India

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Nepal government has launched  Iran is ranked seventh and Israel is on the eighth spot. a 10-year-plan to cut  India is the world's largest democracy, home to the dependence on vegetable second-largest English-speaking population in the imports from India and make world and boasting a diversified and rapidly growing the land-locked country self- economy, it said. reliant in food.  Vegetable imports from India have continued to World Leprosy Day: 30 January increase even despite the far-western region seeing a World Leprosy Day is observed internationally on January 30 rise in commercial vegetable farming, a local media or its nearest Sunday to increase the public awareness of the report has said. Leprosy or Hansen's Disease.  According to the report, the region imports vegetables  This day was chosen in commemoration of the death worth 55 billion rupees every year from India. of Gandhi, the leader of India who understood the  Exports volume, however, was negligible. importance of leprosy.  Potatoes worth 370 million rupees was imported  Leprosy is one of the oldest recorded diseases in the annually. world.  It is an infectious chronic disease that targets the India to become the fastest oil consumer by 2035 nervous system, especially the nerves in the cooler Having pipped Japan to become world's third largest oil parts of the body - the hands, feet, and face. consumer, India's oil consumption growth will be the fastest among all major economies by 2035, BP Statistical Review of Denmark to appoint world’s first ‘digital ambassador’ World Energy said. Denmark will become the first country in the world to appoint  India, Asia's second-biggest energy consumer since a special “digital ambassador” to work on building ties with the 2008, had in 2015 overtaken Japan as the world's globe’s tech giants, according to the country’s foreign minister. third-largest oil consuming country behind US and  The purpose of the appointment is, on the one hand, China. to be on the forefront of technological development  India, it said, will overtake China as the largest growth and the political and ethical issues that come with it, market for energy in volume terms by 2030. and on the other, to make Denmark more attractive for investment. India ranked 79th in the Corruption Perception Index 2016 India has been ranked 79th among 176 countries in the Abu Dhabi sets up Personal Status and Inheritance Court Corruption Perception Index 2016 released by the Berlin based for non Muslims Transparency International organisation. Sheikh Mansour bin  Its score marginally improved from 38 in 2015 to 40 Zayed Al Nahyan, in 2016. Deputy Prime Minister  The score runs from zero to 100. Belarus, Brazil, & and Minister of China shared the same ranks as India. Presidential Affairs and  The list was topped by New Zealand and Denmark Chairman of Abu Dhabi with a score of 90 each. Judicial Department,  Somalia was ranked the most corrupt country with a has issued a resolution setting up a Personal Status and score of 10. Inheritance Court for non Muslims in Abu Dhabi. The move is in line with the strategic goals of the Abu India ranks sixth on eight great powers in 2017 Dhabi Judicial Department to enhance the effectiveness India is ranked at the sixth spot, behind China and Japan, in a and sustainability of the judicial procedures and ensure list of eight great powers for the year 2017 by a leading access to services for all segments of the society. American foreign policy magazine. This will also ensure prompt justice and strengthen the  The list is topped by the US, whereas China and Japan culture of tolerance and acceptance of others by creating are at tie for being on the second spot. institutional infrastructure.  Russia (fourth) and Germany (fifth) are the other two Ireland became the world's first country to stop investing countries ahead of India. in fossil fuels

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Ireland has voted to be the world's first country to fully divest Government launches mobile app for Haj application public money from fossil fuels. process The Irish Parliament passed the historic legislation in a 90 Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas to 53 vote in favour of dropping coal, oil and gas Naqvi has launched the Haj Committee of India’s mobile app. investments from the 8bn (£6.8bn) Ireland Strategic  The app would bring all Haj related information to the Investment Fund, part of the Republic's National Treasury fingertips of users. Management Agency.  People can apply for Haj, seek relevant information, news and updates and can make e-payment through the app, the Minister said.

Mori village in Andhra gets Smart Digital village tag 6. Supreme Court sacks Anurag Thakur, Ajay Shirke from Mori, a tiny village under Sakhinetipalli mandal in East BCCI Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, sealed its place on India's The Supreme Court has digital map by transforming completely into a Smart Digital sacked BCCI president Village, in every sense of the term. Anurag Thakur and  All the 1189 households in the village with a secretary Ajay Shirke and population of 4500 became fully digital as Chief asked all others, who were Minister N Chandrababu Naidu finally launched the disqualified to hold posts AP FiberNet project that will provide internet at a under new court mandated norms, to step down. speed of 15 mbps, WiFi, a telephone connection and  The court also issued contempt notices to Thakur and 250 cable television channels (using a triple-play set- Shirke. top box) for a total price of Rs 149 per month.  A board of administrators will be named soon to take  The Rs 4000 worth set-top box is being provided for charge of the BCCI. a monthly installment of Rs 99.  SC has appointed Fali Nariman and senior SC lawyer  Mori also recently bagged the Swachh Village award Gopal Subramanium as Amicus Curiae to find out at the national level after all the households got who would be the BCCI officials. individual sanitary latrines and became open defecation-free. Modi inaugurated Indian Science Congress  The AP State Fiber Grid Corporation distributed 650 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the five-day 104th Android-based smartphones to the villagers to enable Indian Science Congress at the Srinivasa Auditorium in Sri them go for digital transactions post-demonetisation. Venkateswara University in Tirupati.

 ‘Science and Technology for National Development’ Gujarat CM dedicates India’s first laser technology-based would be the focal theme of the Indian Science check-post Congress. Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani  "By 2030 India will be among top three countries in dedicated India's first laser science and technology," PM Modi said. technology-based advanced AVMS RTO check-post at Shamlaji of Naidu launches Arogya Raksha for a healthy AP Aravalli district. Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has launched a  The check-post is new health scheme christened Arogya Raksha offering medical equipped with advanced ray technology with a cost of insurance to those who were not covered under any of the Rs 4.72 crore. existing health schemes of the state government.

 To avail of the benefits of Arogya Raksha, all one Agni-IV missile successfully test fired needs to do is pay `100 per month per head. Agni-IV, the Long Range Surface to Surface Ballistic Missile  The health insurance cover is offered up to `2 lakh and with a range of 4,000 kms was successfully flight tested, once free treatment can be had for 1,044 listed health again proving the reliability and efficacy of the weapon ailments in any of the 432 corporate hospitals and 80 system. government hospitals in the state.

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 The Missile was launched from Dr. Abdul Kalam Bengaluru set to host 14th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas from Island, Odisha at 1200 hrs. January 7  All the radars, tracking systems and Range Stations The 14th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) convention will begin have tracked and monitored the flight performance. on 7 January 2017 in Bengaluru. All the mission objectives have been successfully  The three-day event will kick start with the Youth met. PBD.  The main convention will be inaugurated on 8th Shripad Naik inaugurates International Conference on January by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yoga for Diabetes  Pravasi Bharatiya Divas has been held traditionally The three day International Conference on “Yoga for Diabetes” every year on 9 January to commemorate the return of was inaugurated by Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Mahatma Gandhi as a Pravasi from South Africa to Charge), Shri Shripad Yesso Naik in New Delhi. India.  In his inaugural address, the Minister informed that  The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was launched by the Atal UNESCO, the world’s apex body for culture has Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government in 2003. recently included yoga in its list of intangible cultural Notes: heritage.  Theme of the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2017:  This conference aims to generate discussions on the "Redefining engagement with Indian diaspora". role of Yoga in the prevention and management of  Theme of the Youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2017: Diabetes and to draw up a roadmap to be adopted for 'Role of Diaspora Youth in the Transformation of the control of Diabetes through Yoga. India'.  Diabetes is spreading at a very fast pace in India,  Chief Guest on Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2017: Prime particularly in urban population. It is no more Minister of Portugal Dr Antonio Costa. restricted to the older population as younger  Chief Guest on Youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2017: generation is also becoming prone to this disease. Mr. Michael Ashwin Satyandre Adhin, Vice President of the Republic of Suriname. Govt launches IPR Enforcement Toolkit for Police  Assistant State for 2017 edition: Karnataka The Commerce & Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman launched an IPR Enforcement Toolkit for Police. 4th Assam International Agri-Horti show begins  The toolkit has been jointly prepared by Cell for IPR Fourth Assam International Agri- Promotion and Management (CIPAM) and Horti show has begun in Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Guwahati, Assam on 6 January. Industry (FICCI).  State Chief Minister  This toolkit will be a ready reckoner for police Sarbananda Sonowal officials across the country in dealing with IP crimes, inaugurated the show. specifically Trade Marks counterfeiting and  Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora informed that Copyrights piracy. 10 foreign countries are also taking part in the show.

Assam Biotech Conclave begins in Guwahati Centre declares Rs 1,782 cr grant for drought-hit The two-day Assam Biotech Conclave has begun on 5 January Karnataka in Guwahati. The Centre has approved a grant of about Rs 1,782 crore to  Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the drought-affected Karnataka and Rs 209 crore to Uttarakhand conclave in presence of Science and Technology which had been hit by floods in 2013 under the National Minister Keshab Mahanta. Disaster Relief Fund.  The conclave is being organized by Guwahati Biotech  The decision was taken during a meeting of the High Park in association with industry body FINER. Level Committee chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Assam Singh.  Capital: Dispur  The Committee examined the proposal based on the  Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal reports of the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT)  Governor: Banwarilal Purohit which visited the states.

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Island Tourism Festival 2017 begins at Port Blair  "The Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana is targeted at The Island Tourism Festival 2017 began at Port Blair, capital Indian youth seeking overseas employment," Modi of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. said.  It was inaugurated by Lt. Governor Jagdish Mukhi at  PKVY will train and certify Indians, who are keen on ITF Ground. overseas employment in select sectors, in line with  The 10 day mega event will see performances by the international standards. cultural troupes from mainland India to help the Islanders renew their cultural ties with mainland. Narendra Modi inaugurates India International Exchange  An International Cultural Group from Kazakhstan Prime Minister Narendra will also perform in this event. Modi inaugurated the India International Exchange New Delhi World Book Fair to begin from January 7 (INX) located at the The much-awaited World Book Fair, the largest event of its International Financial kind in the country, is going to be held from January 7 to 15 at Services Centre (IFSC), Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. GIFT City in Gandhinagar,  The 44th edition of the book fair will be inaugurated terming it as momentous occasion for the country's financial by Minister of State for Human Resource sector. Development (Higher Education) Mahendra Nath  The India INX is a wholly owned subsidiary of BSE Pandey. Ltd.It incorporates world’s advanced IT sale purchase  The theme of the fair would be Manushi focusing on stage. writings on and by women.  The securities and products that could be traded on the  Eminent Odia writer and Jnanpith awardee Pratibha India INX are equity shares, currency and interest rate Ray will be the guest of honour and Tomasz derivatives, index based derivatives and such other Kozlowski, Ambassador of the Delegation of the securities that may be allowed. European Union to India will be the Special Guest on the occasion. PM Modi inaugurates Vibrant Gujarat Global Global Summit 20th National Conference on e-Governance inaugurated Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated 8th edition of The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Grievances (DARPG), Government of India, in association  An investment of around 30 lakh is expected by with the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, signing 21,190 MoUs during the three days summit. Government of India and Government of Andhra Pradesh is  Prime Minister Narendra Modi also inaugurated organizing the 20th National Conference on e-Governance on 'Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show', where around January 9-10, 2017 in Vishakhapatnam. 1,500 entities are participating from India and abroad.  Senior Government Officers, technical experts,  Representatives of over 80 countries are also academicians and representatives of the industry and participating in the 'Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade NGOs will participate in the event. Show' where more than 15 lakh people are expected  National e-Governance Awards for the year 2016-17 to visit over the course of five days. will be presented in twelve categories concerning various aspects of e-Governance during the event 11th blind challenge car rally held in Bhopal comprising of Gold and Silver in each category. 11th Blind Challenge Car Rally was organised in Bhopal to create awareness among the masses regarding the issues PM Modi announces scheme to skill Indian youth seeking concerning persons with visual impairment. jobs abroad  Indira Gandhi Museum and Arushi are organising car Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government will rally, where the vehicle is driven by a sighted person shortly launch the Pravasi Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and the navigator is a blind person, who reads the which is aimed at skilling Indians seeking employment abroad. route given to them on the spot in Braille.  The prime minister was speaking at the 14th Pravasi  The rally covered 30 kms within Bhopal. First three Bharatiya Divas Convention in Bengaluru. winners were awarded cash prices and trophies and

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mementos and certificates were given to all Delhi Airport first in world to adopt digital platform Arc participants. Delhi Airport claimed it has Sex ratio in Haryana touches 900-mark for first time in 20 become the first years aerodrome in the Sex ratio at birth (SRB) in world to adopt unique Haryana past year touched the performance and 900-mark for the first time in benchmarking digital almost two decades. platform, Arc, which  Prime Minister helps in tracking and monitoring building performance. Narendra Modi launched the ambitious “Beti Bachao,  This dynamic platform at T3 would be used by airport Beti Padhao” (B3P) campaign against female operator to measure, manage and improve foeticide in Panipat in January 2015. performance of airport on resource consumption,  Two years later, Haryana, notorious for its skewed sex carbon emissions and quality of passenger space. ratio and patriarchal mindset, saw a historic  Delhi Airport's Terminal 3 had earned LEED Gold turnaround. certification in 2011 under the new construction category. Maharashtra govt launches ‘MumbaiWifi’ Maharashtra government has launched WiFi service BIS revises standard for hallmarking of gold jewellery ‘MumbaiWifi’ connecting 500 hotspots across Mumbai under Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) said it has revised Indian the smart city project with an aim to empower people digitally. Standard on gold hallmarking, which is effective from January  By May 1 next year, the government will launch 700 1 this year. more hotspot services.  The hallmarked gold jewellery will now be available  MumbaiWifi is India’s largest public Wifi service and in three grades of 14 carat, 18 carat and 22 carat. one of the largest globally too.  The caratage will also be marked on jewellery in addition to fineness for convenience of consumers, National Youth Festival to be held at Rhotak that is for 22 carat jewellery 22K will be marked in Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Vijay Goel, in addition to 916 (22K916), for 18 carat jewellery 18K a statement said that this year the 21st National Youth Festival will be marked in addition to 750 (18K750) and for is being organised in Rohtak, Haryana from 12th to 16th 14 carat jewellery, 14K will be marked in addition to January, 2017. 585 (14K585), it added.  Department of Youth Affairs of Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, organizes every year the Measles-rubella vaccine to roll out in February National Youth Festival on the birth anniversary of Three years after the national vaccine advisory body Swami Vivekananda, the greatest Youth Icon. recommended the introduction of the measles-rubella vaccine  Goel further informed that this year the theme of the (MR) in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), the Festival is ‘Youth for Digital India’. vaccine is all set to be introduced from next month in five states and Union territories. Railway minister launches IRCTC rail connect to promote  In addition, from March, Pneumococcal conjugate digital ticketing (pneumococcal pneumonia) vaccine will also become To promote ease of ticketing through digital transactions, a part of the UIP basket in three other states. railway minister Suresh Prabhu has released the new passenger  Both the new vaccines will be launched by Health mobile application named ‘IRCTC Rail Connect app’. Minister J P Nadda in separate programmes.  Rail Connect has been developed to bring the power of next generation e-ticketing system like high Second Scorpene class submarine Khanderi launched performance and enhanced security. Khanderi, the second Scorpene class submarine that has  The new mobile-based application will replace the old superior stealth and the ability to launch a crippling attack with existing IRCTC connect app. torpedoes as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles whilst

8 WiFiStudy.com underwater or on surface, was launched at the Mazagon Dock App named 'SEZ India' launched by Commerce Ministry Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) here. A Mobile app named “SEZ India” has been launched by the  Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre Commerce Secretary. presided over the function to initiate the launch of  SEZ Division, Department of Commerce under its Khanderi (Yard 11876). broader e-Governance initiative i.e. SEZ Online  Khanderi is named after the Island fort of Maratha System, has developed mobile app for Special forces, which played a vital role in ensuring their Economic Zones (SEZs). supremacy at sea in the late 17th century. Khanderi is  Commerce Secretary launched the app and mentioned also the name for Tiger Shark. that the App would help the SEZ Units and Developers to find information easily and track their India’s first Madame Tussauds museum to open in Delhi transactions on SEZ Online System. in June  Now the SEZ Developers & Units can file all their The first wax museum transactions digitally through SEZ Online system and attraction Madame Tussauds track the status on the go through the SEZ India will debut in Delhi this June mobile app. with its operator Merlin Entertainments foraying into Petroleum Minister inaugurated month long awareness India with an investment programme “Saksham - 2017” plan of 50 million pounds Minister of State over the next 10 years. (Independent Charge) for  Merlin Entertainments will open its first Madame Petroleum & Natural Gas, Tussauds attraction in Delhi in June with 50 figures. Dharmendra Pradhan 60 per cent of the figures will be local celebrities and linaugurated a month long rest global. awareness programme  UK-based Merlin Enterprises runs 116 attractions in “Saksham – 2017” on 16th 24 countries and the company will be foraying into January, 2016 at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi. the Indian market with the launch of Madame  Saksham - 2017 (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav) is Tussauds in the national capital. aimed to create awareness amongst masses towards judicious utilization and conservation of petroleum World’s first gender literature fest in Patna products along with use of energy efficient appliances The world’s first ‘Gender Literature Festival’ will be held in and switching to cleaner fuels. Patna during 7th to 9th April 2017.  The programme is being organized by PCRA  The Gender Resource Centre of Bihar’s Women (Petroleum Conservation Research Association) and Development Corporation will be organising the other Oil & Gas PSUs under the aegis of Ministry of festival. Petroleum & Natural Gas.  The objective of this initiative is to create a platform, to exchange ideas, and to share and learn experiences Digital Dakiya scheme inaugurated in MP of renowned people in the field of gender literature. In Madhya Pradesh, Indore district witnessed inauguration of first of its kind scheme of the country. Digital Dakiya, which Guided Pinaka successfully test fired at Odisha's aims at encouraging cashless transactions. Chandipur  “Digital Dakiya or Digital Postman will visit different Guided Pinaka, which has been upgraded from Pinaka Rocket, places to teach and encourage people about cashless was successfully test fired from the Integrated Test Range at transactions and its benefits. Chandipur.  State Finance Minister Jayant Malliya inaugurated the  The Pinaka Rocket Mark-II, which evolved from scheme at Indore. State government will provide Pinaka Mark-I, is equipped with a navigation, Identity cards to the volunteers deployed in this guidance and control kit and has been transformed to programme. a Guided Pinaka.  Digital Dakiyas visit door to door and trained households specially women and elderly people about

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digitized transactions. The scheme aimed at urban as beefed-up and officers have also been asked to be part well as rural areas. of operation to motivate jawans.

Central government employees to get Rs 9000 minimum Government to provide free Wifi to more than 1000 gram pension panchayats The minimum pension has been increased to Rs 9,000 per In a bid to provide last mile connectivity in far-flung areas -the person for central government employees, union minister biggest impediment towards a digital and cashless economy, Jitendra Singh said. the government is embarking on an ambitious project to  Addressing the 29th meeting of the Standing provide free WiFi hotspots at more than 1,000 gram Committee of Voluntary Agencies (Scova) in the city, panchayats. he said almost 88% of pension accounts have been  Apart from providing internet connectivity for mass seeded to Aadhaar. use, the programme seeks to enable delivery of  There are about 50-55 lakh pensioners in the country. services like health and education.  Called Digital Village, the pilot project will initially Kerala's first solar-powered boat launched be rolled out in as many as 1,050 gram panchayats. The Minister of State for Power, Coal, New Prasar Bharti hosts International Television Dance Festival and Renewable Energy in Hyderabad and Mines The first edition of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) (Independent Charge), International Television Dance Festival was held in Piyush Goyal launching Hyderabad; the city with royal patronage for arts, literature and the country’s first solar architecture, on January 15. boat at Vaikkom, in  Prasar Bharati hosted the event. Kerala.  The Dance Festival is conceptualised so as to bring  The Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, the cultural diversities from across the world into the Minister of State for Transport, Shri. A.K. limelight, by breaking cultural barriers. Saseendran and the MP, Shri Jose K. Mani are also seen. Tamil Nadu Tourism launches mobile app to help tourists  The solar boat, ADITYA, is a 75-passenger vessel Tamilnadu Tourism minister Vellamandi N. Natarajan which runs on solar power. launched the mobile application named "Pinakin" in Tamil and English. 69th Army Day: 15 January  The mobile app (compatible with Android and Apple Indian Army celebrated its 69th Army Day on 15 January 2017. smartphones) is a part of its efforts to attract more  General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff domestic and international visitors to explore the reviewed the Army Day parade at Cariappa Parade state. Ground, Delhi Cantonment.  The mobile app will be helpful for both domestic and  Every year, Indian Army has been celebrates January international tourists with inbuilt audio facilities, 15 as Army Day to commemorate the day when featuring information heritage tourist spots like General (later Field Marshal) KM Carriappa took over Mamallapuram, Thanjavur Big Temple and Gangai the command of Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, Konda Cholapuram. the last British Commander-in- Chief in 1949. BHEL Commissions 500 MW Thermal Unit In West BSF launches operation 'Sard Hawa' at Rajasthan border Bengal Border Security Force (BSF) launched operation 'Sard Hawa' State-run power equipment maker at the western international border of Rajasthan. BHEL said it has commissioned  The operation will continue till January 28. another 500 MW unit of Sagardighi  The purpose of the operation is to keep a hawk's eye Thermal Power Station Phase II in on the international border, where vigil has been West Bengal.

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 The unit was the second 500 MW set to be  Organized by Apparel Export Promotion Council commissioned at Sagardighi Thermal Power Station (AEPC) India, the IIGF is one of the largest and most (TPS) Phase II project in Murshidabad district of popular platforms in Asia, from which overseas West Bengal. garment buyers can source products and forge  The first unit of the 1,000-MW project was business relationships with India’s finest players in commissioned in December, 2015. the apparel and fashion accessories domain.  The project has been set up by West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) Union HRD Minister launches ‘ShaGun’ web-portal The Union HRD Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar launched a AIIMS signs three MoU dedicated web portal ‘ShaGun’ for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi at New Delhi. signed MoUs with NBCC (India) Limited, HSCC (India)  ‘ShaGun’ aims to capture and showcase innovations Limited and with HITES HLL Life Care Ltd to expand and progress in Elementary Education sector of India infrastructure and other facilities. by continuous monitoring of the flagship scheme -  The signing ceremony was presided over by Shri J P Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Nadda, Hon’ble Union Minister of Health and Family  The Union HRD Minister also unveiled the ‘Toolkit Welfare and Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Union for Master Trainers in Preparing Teachers for Minister for Urban Development, Urban Poverty Inclusive Education for Children with Special Needs’, Alleviation, and Information & Broadcasting. which has been prepared by World Bank in  AIIMS signed an MOU worth Rs. 4441 crores with collaboration with Ministry of Human Resource NBCC (India) Limited, Rs.2500 crores with HSCC Development. (India) Limited and Rs. 729 crores with HITES HLL Life Care Ltd, a cumulative net worth of Rs. 7670. Cabinet approves India’s Membership in the International Vaccine Institute Minister of Railways Unveils Mission 41k The Union Cabinet Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu unveiled chaired by the Mission 41k during the Roundtable Discussion with External Prime Minister Shri Stakeholders on Energy Initiatives of Indian Railways. Narendra Modi has  Shri Suresh Prabhu said that Ministry of Railways has given its approval to the proposal for India’s taking full come up with Mission 41k to save Rs. 41000 crore in membership of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) the next decade in Railways’ energy costs. Governing Council.  To implement this comprehensive strategy with the  The move involves payment of annual contribution of participation of various stakeholders, we shall take US $ 5,00,000 to the International Vaccine Institute advantage of regulatory frameworks, look at new (IVI), Seoul, South Korea. technologies.  International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Seoul, South  He said that this is an opportunity to relook at Korea, established in 1997 on the initiatives of the everything and determine an ideal baseline. UNDP, is an international organization devoted to  All electrification works done in the last decade developing and introducing new and improved would be doubled and this would change the energy vaccines to protect the people, especially children, mix of Indian Railways. Indian Railways has set a against deadly infectious diseases. target of 1000 MW of solar power and 200 MW of  In the year 2007, with the approval of Cabinet, India wind energy. joined IVI. India is a long-term collaborator and stake-holder of IVI. Textiles Minister inaugurated 58th IIGF 2017 The Union Textiles Minister, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani has Anandam Scheme Madhya Pradesh to Help Poor People inaugurated the 58th IIGF and unveiled the Fair Guide as well Madhya Pradesh became the first State of the country to launch in New Delhi which is to be held from January 18 - 20, 2017. Aanandam programme to help the needy persons.  The 58th IIGF caters primarily to Autumn- Winter 2017/18.

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 Under it, government through volunteers will provide the world, followed by Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam and help to the needy and economically sound citizens can Silicon Valley in the U.S. donate items for the needy persons.  The Index tracks the speed of change of a city's  This initiative is of MP Government’s Happiness economy and commercial real estate market. department, first of its kind in India.  It covers 134 major established and emerging business hubs. Panel recommends quota for girl students in IITs  Top 10 cities in the JLL index are Bengaluru, Ho Chi A panel under the chairmanship of professor Timothy Minh City, Silicon Valley, Shanghai, Hyderabad, Gonsalves has recommended reservation for girl students in London, Austin, Hanoi, Boston and Nairobi. IITs to address the issue of slump in the number of female 22. PM Modi inaugurates 2nd edition of Raisina Dialogue students entering the prestigious institutes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi  The committee is learnt to have suggested creating up delivered the 2nd Raisina to 20 per cent supernumerary seats for girls out of the Dialogue's inaugural address total number of seats. in front of a global audience of over 250 international leaders, Manipur’s Karang is India’s first cashless island representatives and thinkers Karang, a small lake island in Manipur, has become the from 65 countries in the country’s first cashless island. national capital.  The Union ministry of electronics and information  Among other global figures, the raisina dialogue is technology under its Digital India programme witnessing the participation of Nepalese Foreign announced Karang as the first cashless island in India. Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, former Afghan  The Karang island is located in the middle of Loktak, President Hamid Karzai, former Australia PM Kevin the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. Rudd and Bangladesh Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina's International Affairs Advisor Gauhar Rizvi. UNESCO recognises WB’s sitalpati as 'intangible cultural  The theme of the 2nd edition is 'The New Normal: heritage' Multilateralism and Multipolarity'. Sitalpati or cool mat from Cooch Behar district of West Bengal  The first edition was held in March last year by the has been recognised as an "intangible cultural heritage" by the Ministry of External Affairs along with the Observer United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Research Foundation. Organisation (UNESCO).  These mats are used for sitting or to hang on doors or '28th Dantan Gramin Mela' inaugrated by President windows during summer. Mukherjee  The mats are made up of weaved green cane slips of President Pranab Mukherjee is on a tour in West Bengal. murta plants which are indigenous to the region. Pranab Mukherjee is the guest of honor in 'Dantan Gramin Mela' and inaugurated the auspicious fair of localities. Karnataka allows sale of kerosene in open market  The amazing fair in the area of Midnapore in West The Karnataka government has decided to allow the sale of Bengal will display the different skills of rural white kerosene in open market. handicraft of the region.  State Food and Civil Supplies Minister UT Khader said that the government has issued an order this Govt inks MoU to set up 1,000 'Janaushadhi Kendras' effect. The government has signed an agreement with the National  Those interested in selling white kerosene in open Yuva Cooperative Society to set up 1,000 'Janaushadhi market can approach the office of the Food and Civil Kendras' across the country and targets to open such medical Supplies in their districts, he said. stores in every block and gram panchayat to provide quality medicines at an affordable price. Bengaluru becomes the most dynamic city in the world  At present, 750 Janaushadhi Kendras, providing more Bengaluru has emerged as the most dynamic city in Jones Lang than 600 medicines and 150 medical devices, are LaSalle's fourth annual City Momentum Index of cities around operational and the target is to open 3,000 by end of

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this fiscal for achieving health safety, Chemicals and Over 3.5 lakh people sing National Anthem in Gujarat to Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar today said. set new world record  The PMBJP scheme would drastically reduce the out Over 3.5 lakh people has set a new world record by singing the of pocket health expenditure for the common man and national anthem at an event at Kagvad in Rajkot district of give an impetus to the Make in India mission in the Gujarat. pharma sector.  The occasion was installation of idol of goddess Khodiyar at a newly-built Khodal Dham temple in the Indian Railways to set up $5 billion development fund town. Indian Railways has circulated a draft cabinet note for setting  Earlier, 2,54,537 people had sung the national anthem up a dedicated $5 billion Railways of India Development Fund in Bangladesh in 2014 and set a record. (RIDF).  The fund will to be anchored by the World Bank and Bihar: Thousands form human chain for de-addiction will serve as an institutional mechanism for the Bihar claimed to have forged a world record as tens of national transporter to arrange fund from the market thousands of people came together in support of prohibition, for its investments. forming a chain for more than 11,000 kms across 38 districts.  According to a top railway official, the fund will be  Three Isro satellites, four trainer aircraft, choppers managed independently by a non-government entity. and 40 drones filmed the entire event played out over 3,000 km of National Highways and 8,285 km of state Mosapp, an app to map dengue outbreaks highways and roads. A Kochi-based NGO, the Centre for Advancement of Global  The chain was billed as a social message against Health, has developed a mobile application that can be used by addiction, and specifically in favour of prohibition. health workers to conduct local surveys, document environmental issues and also to upload real-time images and National Girl Child Day: 24 January data into their servers for tracking mosquito-borne diseases. The National Girl Child Day is celebrated on 24 January at a  The project, funded by the department of science and special function organized by the Ministry of Women & Child technology (DST), is aimed at identifying factors that Development in New Delhi in the light of exemplary could trigger diseases trasnmitted by mosquitoes and achievements by nation’s daughters during 2016. also to help users get into a preventive mode.  With a commendable performance at the Olympics  The application, Mosapp, is part of a larger project to and Paralympics and a historic induction of the first predict and prevent dengue through community female fighter pilots into the Indian Air Force, it has engagement, which involves experts from different truly been a proud year for India. countries.  The occasion was marked by felicitating 10 districts under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme for their Himachal Pradesh has highest ratings in reading and exemplary performance. maths: ASER 2016 The Annual Status Education Report (ASER) 2016 found that Kerala CM Vijayan inaugurates ‘Jyothirmaya’ Himachal Pradesh is doing well in many regards, on the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has inaugurated the 4 education front, as compared to the rest of the states. lakh square feet latest IT building, ‘Jyothirmaya’ at the  It has the country’s highest reading and mathematics Infopark in Kochi. learning levels, shooting past even Kerala, which has  Dedicating the 9-storeyed building, constructed over an almost spotless track record of maintaining its six acres of land, he said 80,000 job opportunities will position as the most literate state. be created when the buildings constructed during  Himachal Pradesh has the highest rate of children second phase of development at Infopark become who can read a standard II level of text in the country. fully operational.  This stands at 47 per cent for standard III level of  At present, 15 companies have taken up space in the learning, a 70.5 per cent for standard V and an 87.9 new building. per cent for standard VIII.  Even in mathematics, the students of the state are In a first, postal ballots to be sent via electronic mode in faring better than most of the nation. Goa

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Goa will become the first state in the country to opt for  The Bill provides for complete autonomy to the electronic transmission of postal ballot to service voters in the Institutions, combined with adequate accountability. upcoming Assembly polls, Chief Election Commissioner  Management of these Institutions would be Board (CEC) Syed Nasim Zaidi said. driven, with the Chairperson and Director of an  He said sending ballot papers through electronic Institution which will be selected by the Board. means will cut down the time in transmission of postal  A greater participation of experts and alumni in the ballot to the service voters. Board is amongst other important features of the Bill.  Goa has 822 service voters who are either in the  Provision has also been made for inclusion of women defence, para-military forces or on diplomatic and members from Scheduled Castes/Tribes in the missions. Board.  The Bill also provides for periodic review of the Govt approves Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana – 2017 performance of Institutions by independent agencies, and placing the results of the same on public domain.  The Annual Report of the Institutions will be placed in the Parliament and CAG will be auditing their accounts.  There is also a provision of Coordination Forum of IIMs as an advisory body.

Election Commission hosts International Seminar The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Election Commission of Narendra Modi has given its post-facto approval for launching India (ECI) hosted an of Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana 2017 (VPBY 2017). International Seminar on  It is a part of Government’s commitment for financial ‘Strategies for Empowering inclusion and social security. Young and Future Voters’  The scheme will be implemented through Life on 24th January 2017, in Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) during the partnership with UNDP current financial year to provide social security India. during old age and protect elderly persons aged 60 ECI signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the years and above against a future fall in their interest following Election Management Bodies at the Seminar: income due to uncertain market conditions.  Australian Electoral Commission  The scheme will provide an assured pension based on  Central Election Commission of Bosnia-Herzegovina a guaranteed rate of return of 8% per annum for ten  Fijian Elections Office years, with an option to opt for pension on a monthly  Election Commission of Nepal / quarterly / halfyearly and annual basis.

 The differential return, i.e., the difference between the National Voters Day: 25 January return generated by LIC and the assured return of 8% Election commission of India will per annum would be borne by Government of India as celebrate 7th National Voters subsidy on an annual basis. Day on 25th January 2017.  Then President, Pratibha Cabinet approves Indian Institute of Management Bill, Patil inaugurated the day 2017 on the occasion of 61st The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri foundation day of Narendra Modi has approved the Indian Institute of Election Commission of Management(IIM) Bill, 2017, under which the IIMswould be India on 25th January 2011. ECI was established on declared as Institutions of National Importance which will 25th January 1950. enable them to grant degrees to their students.  There were two themes for organising the Following are the salient features of the Bill: day,’Inclusive and Qualitative Participation’ and ‘No  IIMs can grant degrees to their students Voter to be left behind’

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List of agreements signed between India and UAE Technology Delhi, the Indian National Physical The crown prince of UAE Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Laboratory and the University of Surrey. was on a visit to India recently as a Chief guest on the occasion of 68th Republic day of India. Arunachal launches scheme to check infant mortality During his visit, following MoUs were signed between both the Arunachal Pradesh launched 'Dulari Kanya', a special scheme countries: to check infant mortality in the state, on the occasion of the  Agreement on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 68th Republic Day. between the Republic of India and the UAE.  Governor V Shanmuganathan launched the scheme,  MoU on cooperation in the field of Defence Industry. under which the government will deposit Rs 20,000 in  MoU on Institutional Cooperation on Maritime the bank account of a girl child, born in any Transport. government hospital.  MOU on Mutual Recognition of Certificates of  It would be paid along with the accrued interest after Competency as per the provisions of the Standards of she attains 18 years of her age. Training, Certification and Watch-keeping Convention (STCW78) and amendments thereof. Madhya Pradesh to ban polythene bags from May 1  MoU on Bilateral Cooperation in the Road Transport Madhya Pradesh Chief and Highways Sector. Minister Shivraj Singh  MOU on cooperation in prevention and combating of Chouhan announced a total human trafficking. ban on polythene bags in the  MoU for the cooperation in the field of Small and state from May 1. Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and innovation  "Instead of  MoU in agriculture and Allied sectors. polythene which is  MOU on mutual exemption of entry visa requirements harmful for the environment, paper and cloth will be to the holders of Diplomatic, special and Official used. Passports.  The state government has also resolved to free the  MoU for cooperation in programme exchange. region from open defecation.

 MoU on trade remedial measures to promote DU becomes first public varsity with 'monumental' flag cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Eleven months after all Central university vice-chancellors  Agreement on Oil Storage And Management. resolved to install the national flag "prominently and proudly"  MOU between National Productivity Council and Al on their campuses, Delhi University has hoisted its first Etihad Energy Services Co. LLC. monumental flag.  MOU between National Security Council Secretariat  According to the Flag Foundation of India, DU is the of India & National Electronic Security Authority of first public university in the country to get a the UAE. monumental flagpole.

 The resolution to install the national flag on campuses UK experts launch project to tackle Delhi air was adopted on February 18 last year at a meeting pollution risks chaired by then HRD Minister Smriti Irani with an Indian and British experts are joining hands on a project to help aim of "instilling nationalism and pride" in students. tackle health problems associated with air pollution in Delhi, which affect some 46 million people in and around the Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan resigns country’s capital city. Facing sexual harassment charges, Meghalaya Governor V  With air pollution levels at times up to 30 times Shanmuganathan resigned after a section of Raj Bhavan greater than those found in the UK, Delhi was rated employees demanded his removal for “seriously the most polluted city in the world for ambient air compromising” the dignity of the gubernatorial office. pollution by World Health Organisation (WHO) in  Mr. Shanmuganathan, who took over as the Governor 2014. of Meghalaya in May 2015, attended a Republic Day  Led by the University of Birmingham, the team celebration in Arunachal Pradesh, whose additional involves experts from the Indian Institute of

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charge he holds since November last year following  In the first phase, the IMD plans to set up the system the removal of Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa. in 130 districts which have already been short-listed.  The IMD has also tied up with the Ministry of Mysuru gets India’s 1st post office passport kendra Agriculture to use the Krishi Vigyan Kendras Mysuru got India's first Post Office Passport Seva Kendra (KVKs), under the Indian Council of Agricultural (POPSK), which will offer all passport related services on the Research (ICAR) in the districts, to use them as lines of PSKs. weather forecasting observatories.  The service will soon be expanded to neighbouring  Weather forecasts will be issued four days a week districts too. between Monday and Thursday.  It has been named as POPSK because the ministry of external affairs (MEA) has tied up with the postal India’s inter-service military exercise ‘Tropex’ kicks off department to offer passport related services through The navy’s annual a network of post offices. Theatre Readiness  A similar service was launched at Dahod in Gujarat Operational Exercise the same day. (TROPEX) got underway on January 24. President launches pulse polio immunization programme  The month- President Pranab Mukherjee today launched the pulse polio long exercise programme for 2017 by administering polio drops to children will have ships and aircraft of both the Western and aged below five years at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Eastern Naval Commands, as also assets from the  Mukherjee launched the countrywide programme on Indian Air Force, Indian Army and the Indian Coast the eve of the National Immunization Day. Guard exercising together.  Health minister J P Nadda and Ministers of State for  The last edition of the exercise was conducted in Health Anupriya Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste January 2015. were present during the event.  National Immunization Day 2017 was observed on 29 Nitin Gadkari declares 1,253 km road in Assam as National January. Highways The Centre will Union Textiles Minister inaugurates 1st North East invest Rs 15,000 Investors’ Summit in Shillong crores to develop The Union Textiles Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani 1,253 kilometres inaugurated the 1st North East Investors’ Summit, organized of roads in Assam jointly by the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of DoNER, into National at the State Convention Centre, in Shillong. Highways over the  Focussed on manufacturing in textiles and allied next few years, sectors, the theme of the Summit is “Exploring Union Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari said. Opportunities in North East Region”. Gadkari said the National Highways and Infrastructure  The summit aims to showcase the NER as a global Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) will spend Rs destination for investment, and to explore the 8,000 crores over the next two years for developing 143 possibility of bringing in convergence of efforts of kilometres of road, including a few bridges over various central Ministries and North Eastern States to Brahmaputra. attract investment in NER. He informed that Rs 1,00,000 crore worth of works for developing road infrastructure in Assam will be carried out IMD plans weather stations in 660 districts by the end of the five-year tenure of the Central Keeping farm activities in mind, the India Meteorological government. Department (IMD) has decided to set up weather stations in 660 districts of the country, a plan which will be further taken up to the blocks level.

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Bank of Baroda ties up with CNX Corporation Public sector lender Bank of Baroda has entered into a Mother Dairy unveils Aadhar-enabled payment partnership with CNX To promote cash less Corporation (CNX) with an transactions, Mother objective to provide collateral Dairy Fruit & management services towards Vegetable Pvt. Ltd. the loans against warehouse receipt sanctioned to the farmers introduced Aadhar- through the network of the bank's branches across the country. Enabled Payment  CNX is engaged in providing warehouse management System (AEPS) in more services relating to commodities and inventories than 1,000 milk booths and ’Safal’ retail stores. which include collateral management services, field  This service would now be available in addition to the warehousing arrangements, inventory audit services, existing modes like e-wallets and SmartChange storage and preservation services, procurement Cards. services, testing and certification services, inspection  The service was commissioned in association with services, monitoring services. CSC e-Governance Service India Ltd. under the aegis of Department of Electronics and Information Paytm gets RBI approval for payments bank Technology (Deity). Paytm said it has received final approval of the Reserve Bank to formally launch its payments bank and it expects to start RBI allows NRIs to exchange defunct notes up to June 30 operations next month. The Reserve Bank of India has allowed non-resident Indians to  Payments banks can accept deposits from individuals exchange scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes till June 30. and small businesses of up to Rs 1 lakh per account.  This facility will be available through RBI offices in  In 2015, RBI had awarded 'in-principle' approval to Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Nagpur. Paytm to set up a Payments Bank along with 10  The banking regulator said that resident Indian others. citizens who failed to deposit old notes and were abroad between November 9 and December 30, 2016 AIIMS Delhi Partners With MobiKwik to go Cashless can avail themselves of this facility up to March 31, AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) Delhi, India’s 2017, and NRI citizens, who were abroad during this premier medical institution has partnered with mobile wallet period, can exchange their defunct notes up to June company MobiKwik to convert all its payment facilities 30, 2017. cashless.  To commence with resident doctors, staff and visitors Centre permits 12 PSU banks to raise Rs. 3,000 crore can pay with MobiKwik in the institution’s cafeteria. In a bid to strengthen the capital base of public sector banks  Payment of doctor’s consultation, tests and other (PSBs), the Centre has allowed 12 lenders to raise close to Rs. services will be made cashless by the first week of 3,000 crore via preferential shares over and above the Rs. January 2017. 22,915 crore capital support committed to them in July last year. EPFO launches a campaign to enrol more workers  The Finance Ministry granted approval to 12 PSBs to Encouraging firms to enrol their workers under schemes run by raise a sum of Rs. 2,914.038 crore through retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation preferential allotment and permission was given to (EPFO), a 3-month campaign has been launched beginning raise Rs. 200 crore by United Bank of India through January 1 where employers will get amnesty and pay just Re 1 the QIP mode. as damages for not registering their employees earlier.  The Centre had already infused a sum of Rs. 25,000  To be called 'Enrollment and Establishment coverage crore in 19 PSBs during FY16. \ campaign 2017', EPFO will hold meetings with the  Seventy-five per cent of the Rs. 22,915 crore has been stakeholders -- employer and employee associations allotted and the rest will be based on performance. and states.

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 The campaign will give wide publicity to the benefits City based private sector bank - Karnataka Bank has launched the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana a month long campaign under KBL Suraksha. (PMRPY) and the Pradhan Mantri Paridhan Rojgar  This will be open up to January 31. Protsahan Yojana (PMPRPY).  KBL Suraksha is a unique group personal accident insurance Scheme extended by the Bank to its savings Droom Partners with Axis Bank for quick sanction of loans bank account holders, in association with M/s Online automobile Universal Sompo General Insurance Co. Ltd. marketplace Droom as  The scheme provides coverage against all types of tied up with Axis Bank, accidental death. India’s third largest  All the Bank's SB account customers in the age group private sector bank, to of 18 to 70 years can subscribe to this scheme by provide quick sanction of paying a nominal annual premium of Rs 100 for Rs loans on both new as well 10 lakh and Rs 50 for Rs 5 lakh coverage. as used cars.  The policy can be renewed up to the age limit of 75  Loans will be provided for up to 85% of the value of years. the car with a tenure of 1-5 years.  Furthermore, loans on Used Cars can be availed on Axis Bank retains top slot in debt investment banking vehicles upto the age of 10 years at the end of the loan Axis Bank has left behind large foreign banks, known for their tenure. investment banking skills, as it has retained the top investment banking rank in the past 10 consecutive years. Google launches tools for small businesses in India  HDFC Bank and State Bank of India were other top Google India has announced key initiatives for the small and two banks in the Bloomberg 2016 league table beating medium businesses in India, including a new tool ‘My global biggies. Business’ that would help them create an online presence, besides a digital training programme. SIDBI ties up with LIC for capital support to enterprises  Google My Business would help small businesses set Small Industries Development up website from their mobile devices. All they need is Bank of India (SIDBI) has tied up a smartphone. with Life Insurance Corporation  The tech giant also launched Digital Unlocked, an of India (LIC) for augmenting education programme in association with industry capital support to enterprises in body FICCI and Indian School of Business. the country.  The programme will impart mobile and online courses  The idea behind tying up to help small businesses. with the state-run insurance behemoth is to SBI to launch its own version of digital only bank soon give a boost to the venture capital ecosystem for The country's largest lender MSMEs. State Bank of India will take  Under fund of funds operations, SIDBI handles the lead among state-run various schemes, namely India Aspiration Fund lenders to launch branch less (corpus of Rs 2,000 crore, ASPIRE Fund (Rs 60 banking called SBI Digi Bank. crore) and Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) (Rs  The Digi Bank will have a financial superstore, a 10,000 crore). market place, and end-to-end digitisation for all products and services. Axis Bank becomes third lender to offer block chain service  The digital-only bank will use the Aadhar Private sector Axis bank has become the third lender in the infrastructure for not only on-board customers but country to announce usage of block chain solutions for its also provide them services online. operations, after its peers ICICI Bank and Yes Bank.  The Shikha Sharma-led bank, the third largest private Karnataka Bank launches KBL Suraksha campaign sector lender, will be using the upcoming technology for cross-border remittances.

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HDFC Bank launched Humanoid Ira with growth rising to 7.6 per cent in FY18 and further The private lender HDFC Bank has launched a `humanoid' in strengthening to 7.8 per cent in FY20. the domestic banking space.  The bank showcased human-sized robot Ira, HDFC Bank helps TN temples to go digital developed in association with Kochi-based Asimov HDFC Bank has reportedly helped Robotics, and said it will be deployed at a Mumbai five temples in Kanyakumari branch within a fortnight. district in southern Tamil Nadu to  City Union Bank last year introduced robot introduce digital wallets and point `Lakshmi', which uses artificial intelligence to handle of sale (PoS) to enable their 125 topics. devotees pay donations.  The Bank has opened five SBI waives MDR charges for small merchants for one year new government accounts for collecting donations Country's largest lender SBI has waived Merchant Discount from the devotees using their debit or credit cards. Rate (MDR) on debit card transactions for all small merchants  The temples that have introduced digital mode include with annual turnover of up to Rs 20 lakh for one year. Arulmighu Thanumalaya Swamy Temple,  SBI further said the move is targeted primarily Suchindrum; Arulmighu Bhagavathi Amman towards a segment of population and small merchants, Temple, Kanyakumari; Arulmighu Nagaraja who have not yet experienced the convenience of Temple,Nagercoil; Arulmighu Bhagavathi Amman Card Payments. Temple, Mondaikadu; and Arulmighu Kumaraswamy Temple, Velimalai. SNL to connect 1500 gram panchayats through OFC in 2017 Government to sell 51% stake in Pawan Hans BSNL plans to connect 1,518 gram panchayats with Optical Moving ahead with the strategic sale of Pawan Hans, the Fibre Cable (OFC) this year in Assam to ensure rural government said it will sell its entire 51 per cent stake and connectivity. transfer the management control of the helicopter service  We have emphasised on rural connectivity and 5,200 operator. kms of OFC will be laid this year to cover 1,518 gram  Pawan Hans is a joint venture where state-owned panchayats, which accounts 70 per cent of the total ONGC holds 49 per cent. gram panchayats in the state,” BSNL Chief General  The government has sought applications from entities Manager M.K. Seth. to act as transaction advisor for the proposed  Seth said that Kshetri Gaon Panchayat in Kamrup disinvestment of its stake in the company. district is likely to become the first digital gram  “The government of India intends to divest its entire panchayat of the country. shareholding of 51 per cent in Pawan Hans Ltd,  BSNL will provide three thousand hot spots at through strategic disinvestment with transfer of important places and has already initiated steps for management control,” a public notice said. automatic hook up points through wireless network, he said. Sebi cuts brokers’ turnover fee by 25%  Following demonetisation, BSNL has tied-up with To bring down the overall cost of transaction in the stock SBI and will soon launch an e-wallet called Mobicash. market, markets regulator Sebi reduced its turnover fees by 25% to Rs 15 per Rs 1 crore worth of turnover from Rs 20 World Bank cuts India’s FY17 growth forecast to 7% earlier. The World Bank has lowered its growth forecast for India to 7  The Sebi decision could lead to lower trading costs for per cent from 7.6 per cent in 2016-17, citing a slowdown in large institutional investors like insurance companies, consumption and manufacturing due to demonetisation and an foreign investors and mutual funds, and also high ongoing decline in private investment and credit constraints networth investors. due to impaired bank balance sheets.  Sebi's turnover fees is part of the fee that investors pay  The World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects to the exchanges through their brokers for trading on January 2017 report added that the Indian economy is their platforms and the exchanges in turn pass it on to subsequently set to recover its growth momentum, the regulator.

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 It also charges a Rs 50,000 annual fee from the  According to the statement, the project will directly brokers. benefit about 6,00,000 people.  The closing date of Nagaland health Project is March GST roll out likely from July 1 31, 2023. India will likely be able to roll out the goods and IMF cuts India's growth rate to 6.6% from 7.6% services tax (GST) from The IMF cut India's growth rate for the current fiscal year to July 1 following a 6.6 per cent from its previous estimate of 7.6 per cent due to breakthrough over the the "temporary negative consumption shock" of seemingly intractable issue demonetisation, days after the World Bank also decelerated of tax administration after India's growth estimates. the Centre accommodated states' concerns.  The IMF said that after a lacklustre outturn in 2016,  Under the proposed tax regime, 90% of all assessees economic activity is projected to pick up pace in 2017 with a turnover of Rs 1.5 crore or less will be assessed and 2018, especially in emerging market and for scrutiny and audit by state authorities, the developing economies. remaining 10% by the Centre.  The global growth for 2016 is now estimated at 3.1  Above that limit, Centre and states will assess in a per cent, in line with the October 2016 forecast. 50:50 ratio. Indian economy projected to grow by 7.7% in FY 2017: UN Central & SBI Card launch premium co-branded card report Future Group's fashion and lifestyle departmental store Central The United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects and SBI Card announced the launch of a co-branded credit (WESP) 2017 report said India's economy is projected to grow card, to offer benefits to consumers in the premium lifestyle by 7.7 per cent in fiscal year 2017 and 7.6 per cent in 2018, and fashion space. benefiting from strong private consumption.  The Central SBI co-brand Card is the second by SBI  It however cautioned that low capacity utilisation and Card and Future Group, after fbb SBI StyleUp Card stressed balance sheets of banks and businesses will introduced earlier in partnership with Big Bazaar. prevent a strong investment revival in the short term.  The Central SBI SELECT and SELECT+ Cards offer  China's growth on the other hand is projected to an accelerated reward points structure, where remain stable at 6.5 per cent for fiscal years 2017 and cardholders earn 20 reward points for every Rs 100 2018. spent in Central stores. RBI imposes Rs 75 lakh penalty on Bombay Mercantile Co- Yes Bank launches customisable savings account operative Bank Mid-sized private sector lender Yes Bank claimed to have The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a Rs 75 lakh launched the industry’s first customisable savings account penalty on Bombay Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd., which will protect customers from "unwanted charges" levied Mumbai for violations of Know Your Customer/Anti-Money in current offerings. Laundering (KYC/AML) directives.  Customers can choose from options like debit cards,  "RBI had issued a show cause notice to the bank, in alternatives to minimum balance requirements, and response to which the bank submitted a written reply banking benefits such as ATM usage, digital banking and also made oral submissions thereon. products, branch banking and family grouping. Lloyd's gets final approval from IRDAI to open branch in India inks financing pact with World Bank for $48 million India Multilateral lending agency World Bank and India signed a Lloyd's, specialist insurance and reinsurance company, has got financing agreement for IDA credit of USD 48 million final regulatory approval from the Insurance Regulatory (equivalent) for the 'Nagaland Health Project'. Development Authority of India (Irda) to set up branch in  The objectives of the project are to improve health India. services and increase their utilization by communities  Lloyd's will open a reinsurance branch in India, in in targeted locations in Nagaland. time for the April major reinsurance renewals.

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 This will enable Lloyd's syndicates to offer specialist former's one lakh farmers from whom the company procures reinsurance in a variety of classes from a Lloyd's India milk. branch in Mumbai.  The company has a network of about 3.25 lakh across about 4,500 villages in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and World Bank sanctions Rs 1,376 crore for Tripura power Rajasthan which are amongst the largest milk upgradation producing states of India. The World Bank has  Kwality Ltd would cover the remaining farmers in sanctioned Rs 1,376 crore for subsequent phases over a period of time. complete upgradation and  The scheme is aimed at providing financial assistance improvement of the power to improve socio-economic lives of farmers and steer system network in Tripura, them towards digitisation. Power Minister Manik Dey  Farmers would get loans up to Rs 4 lakh at less than 9 said. per cent interest rates.  The total project cost sanctioned by World Bank is Rs 1,376 crore and the Coop. banks cannot accept deposits under PMGKY project is divided into five phases. The government has announced that cooperative banks will not  SPML Infra Ltd has got contract of the first phase. be authorised to accept deposits under the Pradhan Mantry  In the first phase, Rs 461 crore would be spent. Garib Kalyan Deposit Scheme.  Large number of 132 KV and 33 KV substations will  Under the scheme, all those who are declaring be constructed and upgraded under the project. previously undisclosed income under the Scheme have to place 25% of the amount being declared in an PNB, India Post Bank team up interest-free fixed deposit with a lock-in period of Punjab National Bank and India Post Payments Bank have four years. signed a memorandum of understanding, whereby PNB will provide technology platform for pilot launch of IPPB on receipt Alibaba becomes worldwide Olympic partner through of regulatory nod from the Reserve Bank of India. 2028  IPPB has been incorporated under the Department of Chinese online giant Alibaba has became the worldwide Posts with 100 per cent government equity. Olympic partner through 2028 after signing the first long-term partnership with International Olympic Committee (IOC). 30 more countries interested to join AIIB: China  Alibaba will become the official cloud services and e- Thirty more countries have applied for joining the China- commerce platform services partner as well as the sponsored Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, in which India founding partner of the Olympic Channel, Alibaba is the second largest shareholder. Founder and Executive Chairman Jack Ma announced  Apart from 57 founding members, 30 more countries at a press conference here on the sidelines of WEF have applied to join the Beijing-based bank, Foreign Annual Meeting 2017. Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told.  IOC President Thomas Bach said Alibaba will help  The AIIB was officially established late last year with the organisation move ahead in the new digital era. 57 founding members and with authorised capital of $100 billion. INS Vikramaditya: First to be installed with ATM  China is the largest shareholder with 26.6% voting INS Vikramaditya will soon to have an ATM onboard. The shares. India is the second largest shareholder with cash dispensing machine will operate via a satellite 7.5% followed by Russia 5.93% and Germany with communication link. 4.5%.  Vikramaditya will be the first ever warship to have such facility. Earlier, INS VIRAAT was equipped Kwality partners Bank of Baroda for Rs 4000 crore loan to with a telephone link based ATM with limited access. farmers  Around 2000 people Posted on the warship will now Dairy firm Kwality Ltd said it has signed an agreement with enjoy the benefit. Bank of Baroda for providing Rs 4,000 crore loans to the  State Bank of India will launch the ATM facility onboard premier warship.

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KGB to propagate financial literacy among school children  BSE is the world's largest exchange by number of Kerala Gramin Bank (KGB) is launching a ‘FI@School’ listed companies. It is India's largest and the world's programme to propagate financial literacy among school 10th largest exchange by market capitalisation. children.  Financial literacy clubs would be be formed at every PNB launches Contactless Credit Card school identified under the programme, being In another digitalisation initiative, Punjab National Bank implemented jointly with NABARD and Child and (PNB) has launched a Contactless Credit Card. Youth Finance International (CYFI), Amsterdam.  This new credit card, which has been named PNB  The 602 branches of the bank have identified at least Wave N Pay --Contactless Card, was launched by one school in their locality for implementation of the Usha Ananthasubramanian, Managing Director & programme and seasoned bankers have been engaged Chief Executive Officer, PNB in the capital. to conduct the classes.  This card could be used by just waving it across the terminal and the transaction will be through. There is Russian Railways to help India get trains faster no need to enter any PIN for transactions up to Rs. The Russian Railways will undertake a feasibility study aimed 2,000. at upgrading train speeds on the 575 kilometre long Nagpur-  This contactless credit card has been launched on Visa Secunderabad route as part of a “government to government” Platinum platform. agreement between the two countries.  RZD International, a special purpose engineering 2017 World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting Held company established within the Russian Railways, in Davos, Switzerland will carry out the study that aims to increase the top The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017 was held train speed on the route from 120 kmph to 200 kmph. in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland from January 17-20, 2017.  At present, the Gatimaan Express – with a top speed  The theme of 47th World Economic Forum Annual of 160 kmph – is India’s only semi-high speed train Meeting 2017 was ‘Responsive and Responsible that is operational on the Delhi-Agra route. Leadership’.  A funding of $460-million to develop vaccines Apple named most innovative company of 2016 against 3 emerging highly-contagious and fatal Nearly 70 percent of the world's most innovative companies in diseases namely Middle East respiratory syndrome 2016 were American, according to a new survey of global (MERS)-coronavirus, Lassa fever, and Nipah virus executives. was launched.  Apple, Google, Tesla, Microsoft, Amazon and Netflix took the top six spots respectively in the annual poll IRDAI okays Swiss Re move to open Mumbai branch of 50 companies conducted by Boston Consulting Wholesale reinsurance provider Swiss Re said it has received Group (BCG. approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development  Apple topped BCG's list for the 11th straight year, Authority of India (IRDAI) to open a branch in Mumbai. which is not surprising given the massive amount it  With the composite branch licence, Swiss Re will be spends on research and development (R&D). able to operate in India and offer both non-life and life and health reinsurance solutions directly to clients and BSE IPO is open now brokers in the country, the company said. BSE has hitted the capital market with its much-awaited initial public offer, the first by a domestic stock exchange, to raise up Rescheduled Education Loan will not be Considered for to Rs 1,243 crore. Computing NPAs:RBI  The IPO opens on January 23 and closes on January In order to encourage banks to 25. The stock exchange aims to raise up to Rs 1,243 provide education loans, the crore from the IPO, which is priced at Rs 805-806 per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) share. has said rescheduling of  It will be country’s first stock exchange to be listed in payment period of such loans share market. due to unemployment of

22 WiFiStudy.com borrower will not be treated as restructured accounts for  The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) currently computing NPAs. comprises two regional organisations and 35 member  The RBI’s response was on a clarification sought by jurisdictions, including India, US, UK, China and the the IBA whether the education loans with extended European Commission. repayment period be treated as restructured loans.  The prohibition on investment is "in order to align" instructions under FEMA with the objectives of the Uber to launch food delivery app in India FATF. Uber is soon going to launch its on-demand food delivery app UberEATS in India. ‘GDP growth to slow to 6% in Oct-Dec 2016’: Nomura  UberEATS was launched as a delivery pilot in Los Demonetisation has stymied India's GDP growth and the Angeles in 2014. Since then, it has expanded to 58 October-December quarter show is likely to be around 6 per cities. the service also exists in Bangkok, Singapore, cent, while for January-March it could climb down to 5.7 per Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taipei. cent, forecasts a Nomura report.  Uber is currently looking to set up a network of  According to the Japanese financial services major, restaurants, restaurant partners and delivery partners the consumption and services, which were the fastest in India, before the service goes live. growing segments pre-demonetisation, were the worst-hit. Suryoday Small Finance Bank Limited commences  However a V shaped recovery is expected from the operations second half of 2017, it said. Suryoday Small Finance Bank Limited has commenced its  Earlier, Nomura had said in a report last November, operations as a small finance bank with effect from January 23, that demonetisation could slow India's GDP growth to 2017. 6.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016 against its  The Reserve Bank has issued a licence to the bank estimate of 7.3 per cent and to 7.5 per cent in the first under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, quarter of 2017 from 7.9 per cent. 1949 to carry on the business of small finance bank in India. Gujarat ranks first among states in moving towards  Suryoday Micro Finance Private Limited, Navi cashless economy Mumbai was one of the 10 applicants which were When it comes to moving towards a cashless economy after issued in-principle approval for setting up a small demonetisation, a latest analysis based on data from over 5 finance bank. million users of a personal finance app shows that Gujarat takes the top spot among states. It is followed by Telangana and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited commences Haryana. operations  One of the most industrialised states in the country, Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited has commenced its Maharashtra ranks 10th on the list, while Delhi stands operations as a small finance bank with effect from January 23, fifth. 2017.  A personal finance management app called Walnut  The Reserve Bank has issued a licence to the bank has created a scorecard comparing how each state is under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, moving towards a cashless economy post- 1949 to carry on the business of small finance bank in demonetisation. India.  Utkarsh Micro Finance Private Limited, Varanasi was Karnataka Bank, Tirth Agro Technology sign Mou on one of the 10 applicants which were issued in- agricultural mechanization principle approval for setting up a small finance bank. private sector bank - Karnataka Bank Ltd RBI prohibits investments in 'non-cooperative countries' entered into a Reserve Bank has prohibited Indian entities from making direct memorandum of investments in any entity located in 'non co-operative countries understanding with and territories', as identified by the inter-governmental body the leading FATF. agricultural

23 WiFiStudy.com equipment/implements manufacturer M/s Tirth Agro  Gaar aims to deny tax benefits to an entity that Technology Pvt Ltd, Rajkot, to finance farmers for agri exploits an investment avenue solely for the purpose mechanisation. of avoiding payment of taxes in India.  The MoU aims to establish platform to form a relation on co-operation between the two in identifying India's largest start-up incubator to be set up at Hubballi farmers buying agricultural implements/equipment The Deshpande Foundation entrepreneur Gururaj ‘Desh’ and financing them by the bank on its terms. Deshpande, will launch the country’s largest start-up incubation centre at Hubblli, alongside the new campus of HDFC Bank to deploy 20 humanoids in its branches in next information technology giant Infosys. 2 years  The foundation aims to promote entrepreneurship in India's second largest private sector lender HDFC bank will India’s tier-II and tier-III cities. deploy atleast 20 humanoids in its branches in the next two  It is investing Rs 30 crore in the centre, to be opened years. this September and able to seat 1,200 people at any  A fortnight ago the bank had announced that it will point. soon introduce a humanoid IRA - intelligent robotic assistant to help its branch staff in servicing HPCL, GAIL ink pact with Andhra Pradesh govt for Rs customers. 40k-crore project  Developed using Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) and GAIL India has signed technologies, IRA will be positioned near the an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh government for setting Welcome Desk, where it will greet customers and up a Rs 40,000-crore petrochemical plant in the state. guide them to the relevant counter in the branch such  The 50:50 joint venture will set up a 1.5-million as Cash Deposit, Foreign Exchange, Loans, among tonnes ethylene derivatives plant, which will produce others in the first phase. a wide range of petrochemical raw materials for the manufacture of detergents, paints and coatings, SBI wealth management product launched in Kochi cosmetics, textiles and adhesives. State Bank of India (SBI) has  The plant will be set up at the Petroleum, Chemical launched ‘SBI Exclusif,’ its wealth and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) sites management offering, in Kochi. It identified by the state government at Kakinada. will be rolled out in other cities in the state during the course of the year. Alibaba's financial arm acquires MoneyGram  Launching the product, S Venkataraman, Chief Ant Financial, e-commerce giant Alibaba's financial arm, has General Manager, SBI, Kerala Circle, said that wealth reached an agreement to acquire American money-transfer management has been one of the strategic priorities of major MoneyGram for $880 million, in a deal that will expand the bank. the firm's business in the US after India and Thailand.  SBI Exclusif is targeted at the fast-growing affluent  The transaction will connect MoneyGram's money segment and was launched in Bengaluru and Delhi transfer network of 2.4 billion bank and mobile last year. accounts and 350,000 physical locations with Ant Financial's users, according. GAAR ready to take off on April 1  MoneyGram will remain headquartered in Dallas and India made clear that the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (Gaar) continue to operate under its existing brand. will come into effect on April 1 as previously announced but sought to alleviate concerns of foreign investors about the REC inks pacts with Andhra Pradesh for Rs 60,000 crore fairness of its implementation. funding  The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) issued a State-owned Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd has inked set of clarifications in the form of questions and three pacts to extend financial assistance of around Rs 60,000 answers toward this end in response to representations crore to Andhra Pradesh. by industry. The financial assistance comprises Rs 40,000 crore to Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corp, Rs 10,000 to

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Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh and Rs Air Marshal SB Deo takes over as Vice Chief of Indian Air 10,000 crore to AP DISCOMSs. Force Air Marshal SB Deo paid homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate this morning before taking over as Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) at Air HQ.  Air Marshal SB Deo was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the IAF on 15 Jun 79.

David R. Syiemlieh to perform duties of Chairman, UPSC  He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy The President has and the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. appointed Prof. David R.  He is a FCL (Fighter Combat Leader) and a “Cat A” Syiemlieh, Member, Qualified Flying Instructor with over 3800 hours of Union Public Service operational and training flying. Commission, to perform the duties of the post of Jagdish Singh Khehar sworn in as Chief Justice of India Chairman, Union Public Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar has sworn in as 44th Chief Service Commission, Justice of India. with effect from the forenoon of January 4, 2017 until further  Justice Khehar will be the first Chief Justice from the orders or until completion of his term as member on Sikh community. 21.01.2018, whichever is earlier.  Justice Khehar will have a tenure for over seven  Prior to the fresh appointment, Syiemlieh was months till August 28, 2017. functioning as a UPSC member from June 25, 2012,  He assumed office as a judge of the Supreme Court till date. on September 13, 2011.

Archana Nigam is new Controller General of Accounts RBI appoints Surekha Marandi as Executive Director The Centre has appointed Archana Nigam as the next The Reserve Bank of India has appointed Surekha Marandi as Controller General of Accounts in the Finance Ministry. its Executive Director (ED) in place of U S Paliwal, who retired  Prior to this appointment, Nigam was involved in the on December 31 last year. critical task of setting up of the accounting framework  Marandi will look after Consumer Education and for the GST regime to be launched by Government in Protection Department, Financial Inclusion and next financial year. Development Department, and Secretary's  Nigam, who assumed charge as CGA on 2 January Department. 2017, has been appointed in the place of M.J.Joseph, who has superannuated on 31 December 2016. Rajeev Sethi named CCO of Airtel Africa Bharti Airtel has appointed Rajeev Sethi as the chief Indian-Origin Appointed To Top Military Post In commercial officer (CCO) for its Africa operations. Kyrgyzstan  In his new role, Sethi will be responsible for An Indian-origin Saudi-based formulation and implementation of customercentric entrepreneur has been commercial strategies across the 15 African countries appointed Major General of where Airtel operates. Kyrgyzstan, a rare military  He will report to Airtel Africa CEO Raghunath position occupied by an Indian Mandava. in the Central Asian country.  Shaikh Rafik Mohammed, who hails from Kerala, Tata Power appoints S Padmanabhan as chairman was appointed Major General of Kyrgyzstan by Ali Tata Power Co has appointed S Padmanabhan as its chairman, Mirza, Defence Minister of Kyrgyzstan at an official in place of Cyrus Mistry who resigned last month. ceremony held in the country.  In December, Tata Power brought back S  Mr Rafik holds Kyrgyzstan nationality conferred by Padmanabhan, who was executive director of its former President Kurmanbek Saliyevich Bakiyev operations at the company until 2014, as an additional whom he casually met while working in Iran. director on the board.

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 He is also the executive chairman of the Tata Business Olympic and world 800m champion, David Rudisha from Excellence Group and has recently been appointed as Kenya, is named the international event ambassador for the Tata Sons’ group head for human resources. 14th Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2017.  The marathon will be held on January 15. Jovenel Moise elected as the President of Haiti  Rudisha, the 28-year-old middle-distance ace, Jovenel Moise has been elected as the President of Haiti. The retained his Olympic 800m title with an power- electoral tribunal officially declared the winner on 3 January packed run at Rio Olympics, clocking 1:42.16. 2017.  He was timed at 1:40.91 four years ago in London  Jude Celestin remained at the second spot in the race 2012, a world record performance. of Presidential election with only 19.5% votes.  Mr. Moise will take over from the interim president Flipkart appoints Kalyan Krishnamurthy as new CEO Jocelerme Privert who took the position in February Flipkart has promoted former 2016 after the former president Michel Martelly left Tiger Global Management the position without announcing his successor. executive Kalyan Krishnamurthy as the new chief executive to run Committee to Study the Existing Sports Governance the operations of India's largest Frame Work online retailer. The Government has decided  Mr.Krishnamurthy is replacing co-founder Binny to constitute a Committee to Bansal, who has been elevated to the position of study the existing sports Group CEO. governance frame work.  Mr. Krishnamurthy joined Flipkart in June last year as  It will also look after head of ‘category design organisation.’ issues relating to  He was hired from Flipkart’s largest investor Tiger sports governance in Global, a New York-based investment firm. the country, recent developments related to sports governance, including court judgments & Gionee signs up Virat Kohli as brand ambassador international best practices and make Mobile handset brand Gionee has roped in Indian captain Virat recommendations on bringing out a comprehensive Kohli as the brand ambassador. National Sports Development Code across sports  The poster boy for Indian cricket will be joining disciplines. Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt who was roped in a few  The nine member committee will be headed by Injeti months ago. Srinivas.  The announcement of Kohli's appointment was made alongside the announcement of Gionee clocking 1.2 Kumar Sharadindu appointed as MD & CEO of SBI crore customers in India. Pension Funds SBI Pension Funds, a subsidiary of State Bank of India, has Daniel Ortega Sworn in Nicaragua’s President appointed Kumar Sharadindu as its managing director and Daniel Ortega has been sworn in for a third consecutive term chief executive. as Nicaragua's president, with his wife Rosario Murillo as the  SBI Pension Funds is one of the three pension fund new vice president. managers appointed by the regulator PFRDA to  Ortega, a 71-year-old former rebel fighter, took the manage the pension corpus of employees enrolled oath in Managua with the presidents of Venezuela, under the National Pension System for government Bolivia and Taiwan in attendance. employees.  Ortega was firstly elected in 2007.  Prior to this assignment, Sharadindu was a general Nicaragua manager at SBI Corporate Centre, Mumbai.  Capital: Managua  Currency: Cordoba David Rudisha named ambassador of Mumbai Marathon

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Dr. Ausaf Sayeed to be the next HC of India to the Republic appointed Ratan Tata as its interim chairman, of Seychelles sparking a bitter public spat. Dr. Ausaf Sayeed has been  At TCS, Chandrasekaran would be succeeded by appointed as the next High Rajesh Gopinathan, currently the company's chief Commissioner of India to the financial officer. Republic of Seychelles.  Ausaf is currently working Rajeev Singh to be interim CEO at Prasar Bharati as the Consul Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has named Rajeev Singh, General,Consulate member (finance) as interim chief executive officer (CEO) at General of India, Chicago. its board meeting in Hyderabad. Seychelles  Prasar Bharati runs Doordarshan and All India Radio.  Capital: Victoria  Singh will replace Suresh Chandra Panda who has  Currency: Rupee been serving as interim CEO since November 2016, after full time chief Jawhar Sircar put in his papers in FIH makes Sreejesh member of Athletes' Committee October. The Indian men's hockey team captain PR Sreejesh has became  Panda was formerly member (personnel) of Prasar a member of International Hockey Federation (FIH) Athletes' Bharati and is scheduled to retire on 4 February. Committee.  FIH Athletes' Committee comprises a total of eight IRDAI forms panel to review life insurance product norms current and former hockey players who have the The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India responsibility to act as a liaison between the FIH and (IRDAI) has constituted a committee to review life insurance the athletes to make sure the players have voice in the product regulations. FIH decision making process.  Amitabh Chaudhry, Chief Executive officer, HDFC  While Sreejesh's role will be to seek and provide Standard Life Insurance Company, has been feedback to the FIH on behalf of all athletes, the appointed as chairman of the eight-member panel. Committee also gets to interact with the current  The members of the committee include K S athletes in a number of ways including post event Gopalakrishnan, CEO, Aegon Religare Life surveys. Insurance, Sai Srinivas, Appointed Actuary, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance and Sandeep Bakshi, CEO, Lt General Sarath Chand appointed new Vice Chief of ICICI Prudential Life. Army Staff Lieutenant General Sarath Chand, Army Commander of Former Italian Air Force officer elected President of the Jaipur-based South Western Command, was appointed as the European Parliament new Vice Chief of Army Staff. A former Italian Air Force officer Antonio Tajani has been  Lt Gen Sarath Chand was commissioned into the elected the new president of the European Parliament. Garhwal Rifles in June 1979 and has had an  After four rounds of voting Antonio Tajani was outstanding professional career spanning over 38 victorious, receiving 351 votes and beating his fellow years. countryman Gianni Pittella who achieved a total of  He has had a very fruitful tenure as the Army 202. Commander of South Western Command.  Donald Tusk is the President of European Council while Jean-Claude-Juncker is the president of the N Chandrasekaran is new chairman of Tata Sons European Commission. Tata Sons has appointed Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Chief Executive Natarajan Chandrasekaran as its new Delhi Police Chief Alok Verma Appointed New CBI chairman. He will take over as the executive chairman from Director Feb. 21 Delhi Police chief Alok Verma was appointed the next director  The decision came about three months after the of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Company in October ousted Cyrus Mistry and

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 The post of CBI director had been lying vacant for (L-G) Anil Baijal with his approval, the Delhi government’s over one month following Anil Sinha's retirement on Home Department said in a communication sent to the Delhi December 2. High Court.  At present, Gujarat-cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana  The L-G will be chairperson of the special task force is the interim director of the investigating agency. and including him there will be 17 members in it.  Verma’s name was cleared by a three-member  The task force will conduct a meeting in every 15 selection panel headed by Prime Minister Narendra days. Modi and comprising Chief Justice of India Jagdish  Earlier, the special task force made under the Singh Khehar and Congress leader in Lok Sabha leadership of Central Home Secretary was dissolved Mallikarjun Kharge as members. in 2016.  As CBI chief, Verma will have a fixed two-year tenure. Anurag Thakur elected Himachal Pradesh Olympic  Verma, a 1979 batch IPS officer of Arunachal Association president Pradesh- Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories Ousted as BCCI president following a Supreme Court order, (AGMUT) cadre, took over as Delhi Police Anurag Thakur was unanimously elected head of the Himachal Commissioner on February 29, 2016. Pradesh Olympic Association (HPOA) for a four-year term.  Thakur was elected at the HPOA's Annual General Sanjeev Srinivasan appointed as CEO-MD, Bharti AXA Meeting. General Insurance  Virender Kanwar was elected senior vice-president, Bharti AXA General while Rajesh Bhandari, who is a vice president in the Insurance, a joint venture of Boxing Federation of India, was elected general Bharti Enterprises and AXA, secretary. has appointed Sanjeev Srinivasan as its Chief Pravind Kumar jugnauth sworn in as PM of Mauritius Executive Officer and New Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth who Managing Director. assumed office after his father Anerood Jugnauth, 86, stepped  Srinivasan joined down from the post. Bharti AXA General Insurance in August 2016, as  Anerood Jugnauth, who has been in his post since Chief Commercial and Principal Officer, and now 2014, announced that he was resigning in favour of a takes over the role of CEO and MD. "younger and more dynamic leader".  His main focus will be to drive Bharti AXA’s go-to-  Pravind Jugnauth, 55, is the leader of the main market strategy of creating a balanced portfolio, political party Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), driving new distribution tie-ups, and creating a and had already formed his ministerial cabinet after customer-centric brand to drive profitable growth. receiving an appointment letter from President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. Adama Barrow sworn in as Gambia's president Adama Barrow, the man who won The Gambia's disputed PepsiCo executive Vishal Kaul appointed as Ola COO election, has been sworn in as president. Transportation app Ola said it has appointed former PepsiCo  He took the oath at the country's embassy in Senegal, executive Vishal Kaul as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). ordering Gambian soldiers to remain in their barracks.  He succeeds Pranay Jivrajka, Ola's first employee.  But incumbent President Yahya Jammeh has refused  Jivrajka has now been appointed as Founding Partner to quit and is backed by parliament. and will continue to work closely with Bhavish  West African leaders have threatened to remove him Aggarwal, Ola co-founder and CEO. by force. The UN Security Council backed their efforts to ensure Mr Barrow assumed power. Foreign Secretary Jaishankar gets one-year extension Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, whose tenure was scheduled Special Task Force for women safety reconstituted to end on January 28, has been given a second extension of his A special task force (STF) for women safety has been term by one year, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet reconstituted under the Chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor said in a notification.

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 According to the notification, Jaishankar's term has  He will hold the office for a three-year period from been extended from January 29, 2017 until January the date of his appointment as per the Nalanda 28, 2018. University Act, Sec 11(3).  Economic Secretary Shaktikanta Das has also got an  Bhatkar, 70, replaces Gopa Sabharwal who resigned extension of three months till May 31. on November 24 last year, followed by the resignation of Chancellor George Yeo. UN appoints Director of UNIC in New Delhi UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed a senior Tokyo Olympics unveils Goku from Dragonball Z as a Dutch official as head of the world bodys information centre in brand ambassador New Delhi, covering India and Bhutan. Tokyo Olympic Committee has now announced that Son Goku,  Derk Segaar of the Netherlands has been appointed a cult anime character from Dragonball Z, will serve as one of Director of the United Nations Information Centre its brand ambassadors. (UNIC) in New Delhi.  Goku will have Naruto, Shin Chan, Sailor Moon,  He assumed his duties on January 20. Petty Cure, Luffy and Astroboy for company in the ambassadorial role with their faces plastered over the Sports Minister Vijay Goel reconstitutes TOP committee official merchandises. The Union Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports  Tokyo was announced as the host in 2013 and the Shri Vijay Goel has reconstituted TOP committee with the Games are scheduled to be held from July 24 to objective of identifying and supporting potential medal August 9 2020. prospects for 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games under the “Target Olympic Podium” scheme. AP Singh is interim head of Postal Bank  The committee will select elite athletes to provided India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), floated by the postal financial assistance for their customized training at department, has received Reserve Bank of India’s final nod to Institutes having world class facilities and other commence commercial operations. necessary support.  The Centre has appointed AP Singh, who was earlier  The 10 member committee will be headed by Beijing Joint Secretary in the Department of Investment and Olympic Gold Medalist Abhinav Bindra. Public Asset Management, as the interim Managing Director and CEO of IPPB. Banwarilal Purohit sworn in as acting governor of  Singh was also in the founding team of the Unique Meghalaya Identification Authority of India. Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit was sworn in as the acting Governor of Meghalaya by Shillong High Court Chief Justice Amulya Patnaik appointed new police chief Dinesh Maheshwari at Raj Bhavan. Amulya Patnaik, a 1985-batch IPS  The post had become vacant after V Shanmuganathan officer, has been appointed as Delhi resigned following charges of inappropriate Police Commissioner. behaviour against him. He also held an additional He will have one of the longest charge as the governor of Arunachal Pradesh. tenures as Delhi Police chief. He  Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna is set to retire in January 2020. Acharya has been sworn in and now given the He has been serving as the Special Commissioner of additional charge of Arunachal Pradesh. Police (Vigilance and administration) in Delhi Police He will take charge from commissioner Alok Verma who Dr Bhatkar appointed new VC Nalanda University is now CBI director. Vijay Pandurang Bhatkar, a technocrat who is considered the His order of appointment was released by the ministry of father of the Indian Supercomputer, has been appointed the home affairs. new Vice-Chancellor of Nalanda University, Rajgir, in Bihar.  President Pranab Mukherjee, in his capacity as Visitor UN Appointed Ashok Amritraj as India Goodwill to Nalanda University, named Bhatkar for the post Ambassador with effect from January 25. Award-winning Hollywood film producer and Wimbledon tennis player, Ashok Amritraj has been appointed by the

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United Nations as India Goodwill Ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Chairman and CEO of the Hyde Park Entertainment Group, Mr. Amritraj is the first Ambassador for the UN in

India. British-Indian professor knighted in New Year's honours Ashok Amritraj has made over 100 films during the span Shankar Balasubramanian, of his 30-year extraordinary career. an Indian-origin British He has been a pioneering force in bridging India and professor of chemistry and Hollywood through film and media. DNA expert at Cambridge University, has received a SC appoints Vinod Rai to head BCCI interim panel Knighthood by Queen The Supreme Court has appointed Vinod Rai as the head of the Elizabeth II. administration panel to oversee the affairs of the Board of  Olympic stars Andy Murray and Mo Farah were Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). among others awarded for their contributions. Rai, the former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG),  Balasubramanian, 50, Herchel Smith Professor of will be heading a four-member panel that will consist of Medicinal Chemistry at Cambridge University, has noted historian and writer Ramachandra Guha, former been recognised for his work as a co-inventor of Next women's cricket team captain Diana Edulji and Vikram Generation DNA sequencing. Limay. The members are: Shah Rukh Khan chosen for Yash Chopra Memorial Vinod Rai Award Vinod Rai served as the 11th Comptroller and Auditor Shahrukh Khan will receive the fourth National Yash Chopra General of India from 2008 to 2013. Memorial Award, the award jury, comprising Chopra’s wife He was known for raising the profile of the office of CAG Pamela, filmmaker Boney Kapoor, Simi Garewal, Padmini and is credited for reporting the allocation of License of Kohlapuri, Subbarami Reddy, Any and Shashi Ranjan, 2G spectrum which resulted in the revelation of a massive announced. scam.  The award - whose previous recipients were Lata Currently, he's chairman of United Nations Panel of Mangeshkar, Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha - will be External Auditors. presented on February 25. Ramachandra Guha

Ramchandra Guha is a noted historian, columnist and Golden Globe Awards 2017 cricket writer who is based in Bangalore.  Best Motion picture, drama: 'Moonlight' He's known for his work in environmental history and has  Best picture, comedy or musical: 'La La Land' authored award-winning books including India after  Best Actor, drama: Casey Affleck, 'Manchester by the Gandhi and A Corner of a Foreign Field which talks about Sea' Indian cricket history.  Best Actress, drama: Isabelle Huppert, 'Elle' Diana Edulji The lone sportsperson in the panel, Diana Edulji is a  Best Actress, comedy or musical: Emma Stone, 'La La former India women cricket team captain with a 17-year Land' long international career.  Best Actor, comedy or musical: Ryan Gosling, 'La La For her sporting achievement, she received the Arjuna Land' Award in 1983 and Padma Shri in 2002 - India's fourth  Best Supporting actress: Viola Davis, 'Fences' highest civilian award.  Best Supporting actor: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Vikram Limaye 'Nocturnal Animals' Vikram Limaye is the Managing Director and CEO of  Best Director: Damien Chazelle, 'La La Land' Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited  Best Screenplay: Damien Chazelle, 'La La Land' (IDFC).  Best Original Score: La La Land He's a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds an MBA  Best Original Song: City of stars, La La Land degree from the United States of America.  Best Animation Film: Zootopia

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 Best Foreign Language Film: Elle, France Justice Shri P.P. Chaudhary gave away the awards to  Cecil B. De Mille Award: Meryl Streep the winners.  National Awards for e-Governance 2016-17 were Barai, Shivangi received Pravasi Bharatiya Samaan Award presented in two types of awards for each Indian-Americans Dr Bharat Barai and Dr Sampat Shivangi category. Out of 20 awards, 09 are Gold and 11 have been selected for the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Silver. Samman Award, the highest civilian award given to overseas Category –I: Excellence in Government Process Re- Indians and people of Indian origin. engineering  They received the award from President Pranab  Gold : Chief Commissioners for Land Administration Mukherjee in Bengaluru on January 9, the last day of Vijaywada for Loan Charge Creation Module. the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conclave.  Silver : Government of Madhya Pradesh for Madhya  The award was established in 2003 by Ministry of Pradesh Shram Seva Portal External Affairs. So far, 28 overseas Indians from the Category- II: Outstanding performance in citizen centric US have received the award. service delivery  Gold :Department of Consumer Affairs, Food and Cristiano Ronaldo wins FIFA best player award for 4th Civil Supplies, Hyderabad for Aadhaar enabled time Public Distribution System Portugal and Real Madrid FC Captain Cristiano Ronaldo has  Silver :Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shastri won his fourth FIFA best player award. Bhavan, New Delhi for SAHAJ – Online LPG  Ronaldo beat great rival Lionel Messi and Antoine connection and Cylinder e-payment Griezmann to complete a sweep of top individual Category III Innovative use of technology in e-Governance awards.  Gold :Social Justice and Disabled Welfare,  FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented the award Government of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal for State to Ronaldo in a Function. Pension Portal Online Social Security Schemes  His 34.54 percent of total voting points in a 23- Management system (OSSSMS) candidate ballot was clearly better than Messi's 26.42  Silver :DM, Rudraprayag for Setting up of wireless percent. Griezmann got 7.53 percent. LAN in Kedar valley  Ronaldo has earlier clinched the award in 2008, 2013 Category IV Incremental Innovations in existing projects and 2014. He was also conferred Ballon d’or award  Gold :Ministry of Rural Development, Krishi last December. Bhawan New Delhi for NREGA Software  Silver :Directorate of Income Tax, CBDT New Delhi Amitabh Bachchan presented with US embassy award for for E-Filing Project of Income Tax fight against TB Category V Best District level initiative incitizen-centric Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was given an award by the US service delivery through ICT Embassy in appreciation for his invaluable contributions to the  Silver :Collector, Junagadh for SUGAM US-India partnership on tuberculosis. COLLECTORATE  The award was presented on January 8 by US Category VI Innovative use of GIS Technology in e- Ambassador to India Richard R. Verma to the Governance legendary actor who is also a tuberculosis survivor  Gold : DC, Gurgaon, Haryana for G Triangulation and brand ambassador for the initiative.  Silver : Commissioner, Muglisara SMC for  Amitabh Bachchan is the brand ambassador of the Implementation of GIS app along with GIS database campaign. at Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) Category VII Innovative use of Mobile Technology in e- 20th Good Governance Awards Announced Governance. The two day National Conference on e-Governance concluded  Gold :Inspector of Police, Hyderabad for Hawk Eye in Visakhapatnam. Mobile App Hyderabad City Police  On the occasion, Union Minister of State for Category VIII Sectoral Award: Digital Transformation Electronics and Information Technology and Law & towards transforming India.  Gold :CEO, My Gov, MeitY for MyGov

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Category IX Innovative use of ICT by Central Government  Best Female Debut: Ritika Singh for 'Saala Khadoos' PSUs.  Best Dialogue: Ritesh Shah for 'Pink'  Gold :ED, Rural Electrification CorporationLtd, New  Best Screenplay: Shakun Batra and Ayesha Devitre Delhi for Village Electrification Mission Dhillon for 'Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921)'  Silver : Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant for Gyan Era-  Best Story: Shakun Batra and Ayesha Devitre Dhillon Online Learning Management System for 'Kapoor & Sons Category X Innovative use of ICT by State Government  Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male): Rishi Kapoor  Gold :Managing Director KSRTC for Nation’s First for 'Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921)' Intelligent Transport System with Mobile App at  Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female): Shabana Mysore City Azmi for 'Neerja'  Silver : Development Corporation (TNHDC),  Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award: Shatrughan Chennai for Transformation of TNHDC using Sinha Information Technology  Best Music Album: Pritam for 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' Category XI: Outstanding e-Governance initiative by  Best Lyricist: Amitabh Bhattacharya for 'Channa Academic and Research institutions Mereya' from 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'  Silver : Associate Director, Research & Nodal  Best Playback Singer (Male): Arijit Singh for 'Ae dil Officer, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishvavidyalaya hai mushkil' from 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' (IGKV), Raipur for Indira Gandhi Information  Best Playback Singer (Female): Neha Bhasin for 'Jag Management System (IGMIS) Ghoomeya' from 'Sultan' Category XII Use of ICT for Development by Non-  Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent: Government Institutions Amit Mishra for 'Bulleya' from 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'  Silver : Six Sigma High Altitude Medical Services,  ·Best Visual Effects: Red Chillies for 'Fan' Delhi for SIX SIGMA Star Health Services  Best Editing: Monisha Baldawa for 'Neerja'  Silver : Managing Director, Club Infotech, Pathankot  Best Costume: Payal Saluja for 'Udta Punjab' for SAMRTH (Supply Accounting Management &  Best Action: Shyam Kaushal for 'Dangal' Reporting Tech Hub)

25 children win National Bravery Awards Filmfare Short Films Awards 2017 Twenty five children,  People's Choice Award for Best Film – Khamakha including 12 girls and  Best Short Film in Fiction – Chutney 13 boys, have been  Best Short Film in Non Fiction - Matitali Kusti selected for the  Best Actor Female - Tisca Chopra For Chutney National Bravery  Best Actor Male - Manoj Bajpai for Taandav Awards 2016. Four of the awards have been 62nd Filmfare Awards 2017 given posthumously.  Best Actor (Male): Aamir Khan for 'Dangal'  The coveted Bharat Award has been conferred on  Best Actor (Female): Alia Bhatt for 'Udta Punjab' eight-year-old Late Km. Tarh Peeju of Arunachal  Best Film: 'Dangal' Pradesh, who sacrificed her life in an attempt to save  Best Director: Nitesh Tiwari for 'Dangal' two of her friends from drowning.  Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film: 'Neerja'  The prestigious Geeta Chopra Award has been  Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor (Male): Shahid conferred on 18-year-old Tejasweeta Pradhan and 17- Kapoor for 'Udta Punjab' and Manoj Bajpayee for year-old Shivani Gond both from West Bengal, who 'Aligarh' showed immense courage in fearlessly helping the  Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor (Female): police and the NGO in uncovering an International Sonam Kapoor for 'Neerja' sex racket leading to the arrest of the mastermind in  Best Debut Director: Ashwini Iyer Tiwari for 'Nil Delhi. Battey Sannata'  The Sanjay Chopra Award has been given to 15-year-  Best Male Debut: Diljit Dosanjh for 'Udta Punjab' old Master Sumit Mamgain of Uttarakhand, who

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displayed outstanding bravery in fighting a leopard to  Warner was also named the ODI cricketer of the Year. save his cousin.  The Belinda Clark award for the best women's  Late Km. Roluahpuii (13 years) of Mizoram, Master cricketer of the year went to Meg Lanning, the Tushar Verma (15 years) of Chhattisgarh and Late Australia captain. Km. H Lalhriatpuii (14 years) of Mizoram have been  Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc was named Australia's given the Bapu Gaidhani Award. Test cricketer of the year.  Shane Watson was named the T20I cricketer of the Priyanka bags second People's Choice Award year. Indian actress Priyanka Chopra has emerged winner of the  Veteran allrounder Cameron White was named the favourite dramatic TV actress trophy for her role in "Quantico" domestic player of the year. at the 2017 People's Choice Awards.  Hilton Cartwright and Sophie Molineux were named  This is the 34-year-old actress' second People's the male and female young cricketers of the year Choice win, having been named the favourite actress respectively. in a new TV series last year.  Priyanka was not the only Indian-origin star to be Sakshi, Sindhu, Dipa honoured with special stamp cover feted at the ceremony. Lilly Singh was named In a rare honour for sporting personalities in the country, favourite YouTube star. Olympian gymnast Dipa Karmakar has found a proud place on a special cover released by India Post. Kapil Dev inducted into Legends Club Hall of Fame  The Indian postal department released a special cover Cricket icon Kapil Dev was inducted into Legends Club 'Hall featuring the Olympian during a district-level of Fame' in presence of former India captains Ajit Wadekar, philatelic exhibition in Agartala. Sunil Gavaskar and Nari Contractor at the Cricket Club of  The special cover titled "Golden girls of India - Pride India. of Nation" features Dipa along with shuttler PV Sindu  He was presented with a citation by former India and wrestler Sakshi Malik, all of whom have been player and Legends Club President Madhav Apte. awarded the nation's highest sports award Rajiv  Dev was the first Indian to take 400 Test wickets. Gandhi Khel Ratna last year.  He was the captain of the 1983 world cup winning team. Delhi International Airport wins Golden Peacock award The Delhi International Airport (Private) Limited (DIAL) has Himachali film awarded at US film festival won the ‘Golden Peacock Award for Corporate Social For the first time, a film made in a Himachali dialect "Saanjh" Responsibility (CSR) in the transportation sector under the gets international recognition by grabbing best feature film Aviation category for the year 2016. award at international Borrego Springs Film Festival held in  The award has been given to the dial by the Institute California, US. of Directors during 11th International Conference on  The film emerged winner beating 750 other Corporate Social Responsibility. nominated films from across the globe.  Golden Peacock Award was established in 1991 by  Film director and producer Ajay Saklani hails from The Institute of Directors. It is considered the Mandi district. benchmark for corporate excellence area.

Warner wins Allan Border Medal for second year in DVC gets NTPC award succession Damodar Valley Corporation said David Warner, the Australia cricket team opener, has been it received NTPC award 2015-16 named the country's best cricketer of the year, securing the from Union Power Minister of Allan Border medal for the second year in succession. Piyush Goyal.  He joined an exclusive list of Australian cricketers  DVC chairman Andrew who have won the medal more than once, becoming WK Langstieh, received only the fourth player to do so. the prize by Goyal  Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and while Shane amongst the power sectors Watson have also achieved the feat twice or more. under for implementation of Official Language.

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Padma awards 2017 announced  Krishna is presently involved in studies on Padma Vibhushan environmental risk assessment related heavy metal 1. Sharad Pawar contamination in soil. 2. MM Joshi 66. Iris Mittenaere of France Crowned Miss Universe 2016 3. Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev 4. KJ Yesudas 5. Udupi Ramachandra Rao 6. Sunder Lal Patwa (posthumous) 7. PA Sangma (posthumous) Padma Bhushan 1. Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt 2. Prof Devi Prasad Dwivedi 3. DR. Tehemtn Irc Udvadia 4. Mr. Ratna Sundar Maharaj Iris Mittenaere of France bags the Miss Universe 2016 pageant 5. NAND Niranjan Saraswati held in the Philippines. 6. Cho. Ramaswamy (posthumous)  The finalists who advanced to top 3 hailed from Haiti, 7. Mahachakri Sirindhorn France, and Colombia. Padma Shri award 2017 was awarded to 75 personalities from  Eighty-six candidates were vying for the coveted various sectors. crown, which was last held by Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach from the Philippines. Three Indian-origin conferred with Australia's highest  India's Roshmitha Harimurthy could not make it to the civilian award final 13 list of the pageant. Three Indian-origin persons have been awarded Australia's  Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen, who won her Miss highest civilian honour this year for their contributions in the Universe pageant in the year 1994 at Manila, was also field of medicine and work towards the community. on the judges panel this year.  Purushottam Sawrikar, a Sydney-based medical practitioner, received Order of Australia medal for the year 2017 announced on the Australia Day in General division category for his service to medicine, and to the Indian community. Somdev announces retirement from professional tennis  Makhan Singh Khangure from Perth was given the Ravaged by injuries, award for his for significant service to medicine in the India’s star singles field of neuroradiology, to education, and to a range player Somdev of professional medical associations. Devvarman  Vijay Kumar, a nuclear medicine specialist and a announced his researcher, was given the award for his significant retirement from service to medical research in the disciplines of professional tennis, nuclear medicine and biology, to professional bringing an abrupt end to what was once a promising career. organisations, and to the community.  The 31-year-old’s career was hampered by a recurring shoulder injury in 2012. National Geoscience Award for Keshav Krishna  He was conferred the Arjuna award — the country’s A. Keshav Krishna, a scientist at the National Geophysical second highest sporting honour — in 2011. Research Institute (NGRI) has been selected for the National Geoscience Award for 2016. Lionel Messi named the best playmaker of 2016 by IFFHS  The award given by the Union Ministry of Mines is in Lionel Messi has won the Best Playmaker of 2016 award for recognition of his work in the field of geo- his overall contribution to club and country by the International environmental studies. Federation of Football, History and Statistics.  IFFHS started this award in 2006 and it has been completely dominated by La Liga players ever since.

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 Zinedine Zidane, the current Real Madrid manager  The top-seeded Indo-American duo triumphed 6-2, 6- was the first recipient of this accolade back in 2006 3 against the second-seeded Russian team of followed by Kaka who won it the following year. Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the final.  This award is decided by votes from 56 countries from  The trophy, however, ended Sania's 91-week reign as five different continents. the world No.1 doubles player in the WTA rankings. That position was taken over by Bethanie. Table tennis Grand Slam champion Li Xiaoxia announces retirement Novak Djokovic beats Andy Murray to win Qatar Open China's table tennis Grand Slam champion Li Xiaoxia Novak Djokovic gained revenge over world No 1 Andy Murray announced her retirement through social media in Beijing. to claim the first title of the ATP season with a victory in the  Li helped China win the team gold medal at the Rio Qatar Open final. Olympic Games in 2016 when she also finished the  However, Murray remains world No. 1 after losing runner-up in the singles event. Serbian Djokovic 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 in the final match.

India win 4th straight SAFF Women's Championship title FIFA agrees to expand World Cup to 48 teams A dominant India defeated Bangladesh 3-1 to win their fourth Football’s governing body, FIFA, voted to expand the World consecutive SAFF Women's Football Championship title at the Cup to 48 teams from its current 32. Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri.  The new format, to be introduced in 2026, will feature  The Indian eves are now unbeaten in 19 matches a first round of 16 groups of three teams, with the top having won 18 and drawn one. two in each qualifying for a round of 32. From then on, it would be a straightforward knockout contest. Australian legend Arthur Morris inducted into the ICC  The new-look tournament will increase the number of Cricket Hall of Fame matches from 64 to 80. Former Australia cricketer Arthur Morris was inducted into the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Hall of Fame by ex- Sarita to be the first Indian female boxer to go professional skipper Steve Waugh. Former world champion L Sarita Devi will become the first  Morris, who became the 82nd player to be inducted ever woman boxer from India to step into the world of into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, was given the professional boxing. honour posthumously.  She will make her professional debut against Zsofia  Sunil Gavaskar, Bishan Bedi, Kapil Dev and Anil Bedo of Hungary in the Indian Boxing Council’s Kumble are the Indian cricketers who are part of the January 29 fight night to be held in her hometown of elite list. Imphal.  The 31-year-old Sarita is honing her skills under the Bopanna and Jeevan bag the Chennai Open doubles title tutelage of American coach Joe Clough. Rohan Bopanna and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan beat Purav Raja and Divij Sharan 6-3, 6-4 in the first-ever all-Indian doubles Nadia Petrova retires from tennis final at the Aircel Chennai Open to secure their maiden ATP Former world No.3 women's title as a pair. player Nadia Petrova of  This is Rohan Bopanna’s 15th career title.This is the Russia has ended her tennis first title for Jeevan at ATP world tour level. career in the wake of long  Roberto Bautista Agut downs young Daniil injury trouble. Medevedev 6-3, 6-4 to lift Men’s Singles title.  Petrova, 34, had not played since Sania - Sands lift Brisbane women's doubles title the end of 2013 and several comeback attempts failed. Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza picked up her first title of the  The 1998 French Open junior champion, Petrova won season, combining with American Bethanie Mattek-Sands to 13 WTA singles titles and reached the No.3 spot in lift the Brisbane International women's doubles title. May 2006.  She was also successful in doubles with 24 titles. She also won Olympic doubles bronze in 2012.

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Parthiv guided Gujarat to maiden Ranji title  The winners were presented with the Champions Parthiv Patel scored a precious century (143, 196b, 24 x 4s) trophy along with a prize money of whopping 1 crore and scripted a most memorable maiden Ranji Trophy and 90 lacs. victory against Mumbai at the Holkar Stadium.  The runners up took home a prize money of 1 crore  Having set a 312-run target on the final day, Gujarat and 10 lacs. chase down the target losing five wickets.  This was the second time Gujarat had reached the Malaysia Masters 2017: Saina Nehwal Wins Grand Prix Ranji final but they had lost to the Holkar team in Gold 1941 at the same stadium. Indian badminton ace Saina Nehwal notched up her first title  Gujarat is the 16th team to lift Ranji title. after a career-threatening injury by claiming the Malaysia  Now, Gujarat have won the domestic titles in T20, Masters Grand Prix Gold with a hard-fought victory in the one-day and Ranji. They are only the fourth team summit clash. to achieve this feat.  Up against 18-year-old Thai Pornpawee Chochuwong, the top-seeded London Olympics Sports Minister Shri Vijay Goel inaugurates Khelo India bronze-medallist triumphed 22-20 22-20 in a 46- National Level Competitions minute clash. Khelo India National level Competitions under aegis of  This was her 23rd title overall and the first after last Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports would be organized from year's Australian Open. 15th Jan, 2017 to 21st Jan, 2017 in Swimming, Cycling and Wrestling. Wriddhiman Saha’s double century helps Rest of India  Minister of State (I/C) Youth Affairs & Sports Shri clinch Irani Trophy Vijay Goel inaugurated the Competitions at Dr. Wriddhiman Saha of Bengal scored an unbeaten 203 and his Syama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Pool Complex, 316-run stand with Cheteshwar Pujara (116 not out) helped New Delhi. Rest of India clinch the Irani Trophy against Ranji Trophy  More than 25 states/Union territories are expected to champions Gujarat in Mumbai. participate in the National Competitions.  Rest of India won by six wickets even after Gujarat  Approximately 1000 participants are expected to took the first innings lead. participate in the Khelo India National Competitions  Wriddhiman Saha was adjudged the Man of the being organized by SAI. Match  Rest of India won the Irani Trophy for the 15th time. Amonatov wins Delhi International Chess meet Top seeded Grandmaster Dhruva Sunish wins ITF Juniors title Farrukh Amonatov of Dhruv Sunish finally got the taste of ITF Juniors title when he Tajikistan won the 15th won the boys singles crown downing Kazakhstan's Dostanbek edition of the Delhi Tashbulatov at the Dakshin Kalikata Sansad clay courts. International Chess  The under-18 India number two, who had lost in the tournament after settling finals of the Chandigarh Grade 3 ITF Juniors in the for a draw with first week of 2017 and 2 ITF Juniors in 2016, played Grandmaster Diptayan Ghosh in the 10th and final round. flawless to drub the Kazakh 6-2 6-3.  Scoring 8.5 points out of a possible ten, Amanotov stayed a half point ahead of Ghosh and Dzhumaev Bolt loses relay gold after Jamaica's Carter tests positive Marat of Uzbekistan Jamaica's Usain Bolt has lost one of his nine Olympic gold medals and his perfect triple treble of Games' sprint victories Pro Wrestling League: NCR Punjab Royals crowned after team mate Nesta Carter was found guilty of doping at the champions of season 2 2008 Beijing Olympics. NCR Punjab Royals were crowned the champions of the  Carter was found in re-tests of his sample to have Patanjali Powervita Pro Wrestling League Season 2 as they taken the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine, the triumphed over two-time finalists Haryana Hammers 5-4 in an International Olympic Committee (IOC) said, action packed game at the K D Jadhav Indoor Stadium.

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meaning Jamaica's 4x100 metres relay team must give Abul Hossain wins Kolkata Marathon back their gold medals. Siliguri lad Abul Hossain won the Kolkata Marathon as amateur runners from north Bengal and Northeast India PV Sindhu, Sameer Verma claim Syed Modi International dominated the first edition of the meet. GP titles Hossain won the race with a timing of two hours 34 PV Sindhu eased to her minutes and two seconds to leave Kolkata lad Biswanath first title of 2017 at the Pal second, five minutes behind. Syed Modi International Sikkim's Mangali Tamang won the women's half marathon Grand Prix badminton with a timing of one hour 31 minutes and 13 seconds. championships, with Sameer Verma emerging victorious in the men’s section.  Rio Olympics silver medalist Sindhu outplayed unseeded Indonesian Gregoria Mariska 21-13, 21-14, Pak's oldest living Test player Imtiaz Ahmed passes away claiming her sixth career Grand Prix gold title. Pakistan cricket  Verma had to go some extra miles before beating has lost its oldest compatriot and ninth seed Sai Praneet 21-19, 21-16 living Test player for his maiden GP gold title. Imtiaz Ahmed after  In the mixed doubles final, an all-Indian affair, he passed away in Ashwini pairing with B Sumeeth Reddy went down to Lahore following a second seeds Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Sikki Reddy protracted illness. 20-22, 10-21.  The death of Imtiaz leaves former batsman Waqar Hasan, who now lives in London, as the lone survivor Australian Open 2017 from the Pakistan team's first Test tour. Australian open tennis tournament 2017 was concluded on  Imtiaz was a member of the Pakistan squad that went 29th January 2017. It is the first Grand Slam tournament of the on a maiden Test tour to India. year.  He went on to play in 41 Tests as wicketkeeper- Category Winner Runner Up batsman, scoring 2079 runs that included 209 against Men’s Roger Federer New Zealand in 1955 at Goddard stadium in Lahore. Rafael Nadal (Spain) Singles (Switzerland) Women’s John Berger, renowned art critic & author, dies at 90 Serena Williams (USA) Venus Williams (USA) Singles John Berger, a Booker award winner, the intellectual and prodigious author died. He was 90. Men’s Bob Bryan (USA)and J Peers and H Kontinen Doubles Mike Bryan (USA)  The author of criticism, novels, poetry, screenplays and many less classifiable books, Berger had Bathenie Mattek Sands A. Hlaváčková (Czech Women’s considerable influence as a late 20th-century thinker. (USA) and Lucie Safarova Republic) and S. Peng Doubles (Czech Republic) (China) Veteran actor Om Puri passes away at 66 Mixed Abigail Spears (USA) and Sania Mirza (India) and Veteran actor Om Puri passed away at the age of 66 due to a Doubles J Cabal (Colombia) Ivan Dodig (Croatia) severe cardiac arrest.

 Born on 18 October 1950, the actor was known for his Sachin & Sourav inaugurates India's first multi-sport outstanding performances in not just Indian but also museum Pakistani, British, and Hollywood movies. Former Team India cricket captains Sachin Tendulkar and  He had been awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth Sourav Ganguly has inaugurated India's first multi-sport highest civilian award of India. museum.

 Named ‘Fanattic Sports Museum’, this is a joint Sitar Maestro Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan passes away venture of sports historian Boria Majumdar and Renowned sitar player Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan, - the last industrialist Harshavardhan Neotia. survivor of the 'Sitar Trinity' of India along with the late Pandit

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Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan - died in Mumbai. He Former Punjab chief minister Surjit Singh Barnala died in was 88. Chandigarh. He was 91.  Conferred with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and  Barnala served as Punjab CM from September 29, Sangeet Natak Akademi awards, Mr Khan hailed 1985, to June 11, 1987, when militancy in the state from the Indore Gharana and is credited for was high. innovating the unique music style of 'Jafferkhani  Along with then SAD president Harchand Singh Baaj'. Longowal, Barnala played the pivotal role in signing  He, during his music career spanning over six the Punjab accord in 1985 with Rajiv Gandhi. He decades, played the sitar for various Bollywood films, became the CM after signing the accord. including "Mughal-E-Azam", "Kohinoor", "Goonj Uthi Shehnai" and "Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje", C.V. Vishveshwara, the ‘black hole man of India’, no more among many others. Professor C.V. Vishveshwara, a pioneer in research on black Former President of Portugal Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes holes, passed away in Soares passes away Bengaluru after a period of Portugal's former president Mario Soares, widely seen as the illness.He was 78. father of the country's modern-day democracy, died aged 92.  In the 1970s, while at  He was president from 1986 to 1996 after serving as Chicago University, he was among the first to study foreign minister and prime minister, and later became “black holes” even before they had been so named so. a European lawmaker. Filmmaker Deepak Roy passes away Iran’s ex-President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani dead Deepak Roy, known for his movie "Limit to Freedom" which Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a won him a National award in 1996 under the category of best pugnacious political survivor despite his support for investigative film, has passed away at the age of 67. moderates, died after suffering a heart attack.  He started his career as a film critic in 1974 and  Mr. Rafsanjani, who was 82, was a pivotal figure in ventured into direction in 1982. Roy helmed more the foundation of the Islamic Republic in 1979, and than 90 documentary films, which he produced under served as President from 1989 to 1997. his banner "Angik Films".  His best work includes "Limit to Freedom", which Former German President Roman Herzog Dies Aged 82 depicted the miserable plight of women prisoners of Roman Herzog, who as German president was a powerful Tihar Jail and their bleak protests for any future. advocate of economic reforms in the 1990s, has died. He was 82. Veteran Actress Gita Sen Passes Away  Herzog was a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Veteran film and stage actor Gita Sen, wife of film maker conservative Christian Democratic Union. Mrinal Sen, died at her South Kolkata residence. She was 86.  He served as the chief justice of Germany's highest  Sen had acted in several films including Kolkata 71 court before being elected to a five-year term as (1971) and Akaler Sandhane (1980). president in 1994, four years after reunification.  She had also been part of the theatre movement.

Clare Hollingworth: British war correspondent dies aged P.K.K. Nair passes away 105 Noted scientist P.K.K. Nair, often referred to as the `Father of Clare Hollingworth, the veteran British war correspondent who Indian Palynology’ (study of pollen grains), passed away at his broke the news of the Nazi invasion of Poland, has died in residence in Bengaluru. Hong Kong at the age of 105.  Nair was the founder Director and Emeritus Chairman  Hollingworth, who was born in Leicester in 1911, was of the Environmental Resources Research Centre, the first to report on the invasion that triggered the Thiruvananthapuram, devoted to research and outbreak of World War Two. development in tropical biology, ecology and sustainable development. Ex-Punjab CM Surjit Singh Barnala passes away

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Urdu poet and lyricist Naqsh Lyallpuri passes away served as the Press Secretary to President Kalam. Renowned Urdu poet and lyricist Jaswant Rai Sharma, known to the world by his pen name Naqsh Lyallpuri, died. He was Akhada: Biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat 89. Akhada is the authorized biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat,  Though he got his first break in 1952 as a song writer, a former wrestler and a coach who has made India proud. real success eluded him till the early 1970s.  The book, Akhada by Saurabh Duggal, traces  Saddened by later day demands to infuse crude lyrics Mahavir Phogat’s journey with his daughters and for songs, Lyallpuri retired from Bollywood in the late nieces hailing from a small village in Haryana to 1990s and penned songs for television. winning the medals for the country.  He made a brief comeback in 2005-06 penning songs  Mahavir’s daughters, Babita and Geeta, has won for the films 'Taj Mahal' with Naushad and 'Yatra' medals at Olympics, World Wrestling Championship with Khayyam. and Commonwealth Games. Russian ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin dies Russian Ambassador Book on new age alphabets launched at book fair Alexander Kadakin, a Cyber Pathshala, a book on cyber schooling for the fluent Hindi-speaking demonetisation era, authored by Tarun Vijay was released by career diplomat considered Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash a great friend of India, Javadekar at the World Book Fair on January 10. passed away a brief illness.  According to Tarun Vijay, demonetisation has He was 67. changed our language, style and idioms and this book  Kadakin, who was to familiarise people of all ages with the new was serving as the Ambassador here since 2009, was vocabulary of the new normal. credited with playing a significant role in promotion of relations between India and Russia. An Unsuitable Boy': Karan Johar’s Biography  This was his second stint as the Ambassador, having Shah Rukh Khan was served one between 1999 and 2004. present to launch the much talked about biography on US actress Mary Tyler Moore passes away the filmmaker Karan Legendary actress Mary Tyler Moore, who delighted a Johar's life. generation of Americans with her energetic comic  The book performances, died after suffering years of ill health. She was captures details 80. from Karan's life,  Moore's eponymous sitcom ran for seven seasons in starting right from his childhood to his entry into the the 1970s and was cited as one of 17 shows that film industry with a blockbuster of a debut. 'changed television.' ‘Khullam Khulla’: Rishi Kapoor’s Biography The actor Rishi Kapoor launched his biography with wife Neetu Kapoor in Delhi.

 Rishi talks about the “The People’s President: Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam” released relationships with his A book on the former President A.P.J. father Raj Kapoor and Abdul Kalam was released in New his son Ranbir Kapoor, Delhi by the Vice President, Shri M. his career etcetera. Hamid Ansari.  The book is co-authored  The book titled, ‘The by Meena Iyer. People’s President A.P.J.

Abdul Kalam’ has been

written by S.M. Khan who

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9. Which of the following has announced retirement from Current Affairs Question professional tennis recently? 1. World’s highest bridge was recently opened in which (A) Leander Paes country? (B) Mahesh Bhupathi (A) China (C) Somdev Devbarman (B) Sweden (D) Yuki Bhambhri (C) Australia (E) None of these (D) USA 10. Imtiaz Ahmed passed away recently. He was a cricketer (E) None of these from___ ? 2. The Supreme Court has sacked BCCI president _____ and (A) South Africa secretary Ajay Shirke. (B) Pakistan (A) Kishan Rungata (C) Bangladesh (B) Sharad Panwar (D) Australia (C) Shashank Manohar (E) None of these (D) Anurag Thakur 11. Which city is hosting 104th Indian Science Congress? (E) None of these (A) Hyderabad 3. Which dairy has recently unveiled Aadhar-enabled (B) Tirupati payment system? (C) Mysore (A) Amul Dairy (D) Bengaluru (B) Mother Dairy (E) None of these (C) Lotus Dairy 12. Which state has launched Arogya Raksha scheme? (D) Vaishali Dairy (A) Gujarat (E) None of these (B) Assam 4. Who has been appointed as new Union Public Service (C) Andhra Pradesh Commission chairman? (D) Karnataka (A) David R. Syiemlieh (E) None of these (B) Manu Augustine 13. Mori village, which has acquired smart digital village (C) RK Batra status, is in___? (D) Shankar Sharma (A) Gujarat (E) None of these (B) Assam 5. Who has been appointed as new Controller General of (C) Andhra Pradesh Accounts? (D) Karnataka (A) Preity Sanyaal (E) None of these (B) Archana Nigam 14. Which state has launched India’s first laser technology- (C) Sulochana Sharma based check-post? (D) Aarti Bhardwaj (A) Gujarat (E) None of these (B) Tamilnadu 6. What is the last date for NRIs to exchange defunct notes? (C) Andhra Pradesh (A) 31 March 2017 (D) Karnataka (B) 31 July 2017 (E) None of these (C) 30 June 2017 15. Agni-IV missile was recently launched from___? (D) 31 December 2017 (A) Andhra Pradesh (E) None of these (B) Rajasthan 7. Shaikh Rafik Mohammed has been appointed Major (C) Tamilnadu General of _____? (D) Odisha (A) Tajikistan (E) None of these (B) Mauritius 16. Which bank has tied up with CNX Corporation? (C) Kyrgyzstan (A) Bank of Baroda (D) Ecuador (B) Punjab National Bank (E) None of these (C) State Bank of India 8. Knighthood honour is related to which country? (D) Canara Bank (A) France (E) None of these (B) USA 17. Payments banks can accept deposits from individuals and (C) India small businesses of up to Rs ___ per account? (D) Britain (A) 2 lakh (E) None of these (B) 1 lakh (C) 5 lakh

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(D) 10 lakh 26. Who has been appointed as chief commercial officer of (E) None of these Airtel Africa? 18. AIIMS Delhi has collaborated with ____ to go Cashless (A) S Padmanabhan transactions. (B) Rajeev Sethi (A) MobiKwik (C) Mukul Sharma (B) Paytm (D) Rounak Jain (C) Freecharge (E) None of these (D) Flipkart 27. Who has been appointed as Chairman of Tata Power? (E) None of these (A) S Padmanabhan 19. Who has been appointed as Vice Chief of Indian Air (B) Rajeev Sethi Force? (C) AK Bhatt (A) BS Dhanoa (D) Ishaak Hussain (B) Bipin Rawat (E) None of these (C) SB Deo 28. Jovenel Moise has been elected as the President of___ (D) Rajiv Jain (A) Turkey (E) None of these (B) Ireland 20. Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar has sworn in as ___ Chief (C) Haiti Justice of India. (D) Zimbabwe (A) 42nd (E) None of these (B) 45th 29. What is the full form of EPFO? (C) 43rd (A) Employees' Provident Future Organisation (D) 44th (B) Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (E) None of these (C) Employers' Provident Fund Organisation 21. The United Nations has declared 2017 as a year of___ (D) Employees' Pension Fund Organisation (A) Sustainable Tourism for Development (E) None of these (B) Poverty Elimination 30. What is the currency of Haiti? (C) Scientific Developments (A) Nuevo Sol (D) Global Peace (B) Lira (E) None of these (C) Renminbi 22. Which is the first country to pay its unemployed citizens (D) Gourde an unconditional monthly sum? (E) None of these (A) Sweden 31. Which country will organize ‘Festival of India’starting (B) Norway from 10th January? (C) Switzerland (A) Japan (D) Finland (B) Namibia (E) None of these (C) Germany 23. Which city is hosting International Conference on Yoga (D) Cambodia for Diabetes? (E) None of these (A) Bengaluru 32. Which country will assist India to develop Chennai, (B) New Delhi Ahmadabad and Varanasi as smart cities? (C) Bhopal (A) Japan (D) Mumbai (B) Namibia (E) None of these (C) Germany 24. Which company has collaborated with Axis Bank for (D) Cambodia quick sanction of vehicle loans? (E) None of these (A) Droom 33. Which bank will launch digital only bank? (B) Mobikwik State Bank of India (C) Bajaj (A) ICICI Bank (D) Yamaha (B) Karnataka Bank (E) None of these (C) Canara Bank 25. Which company has launched ‘My Business’ tool? (D) None of these (A) Infosys 34. Who is the Chairman of the Committee to study the (B) Facebook existing sports governance framework? (C) Microsoft (A) Ajay Maakan (D) Google (B) Pawan Goyal (E) None of these (C) Madhukar Gupta (D) Injeti Srinivas

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(E) None of these 43. Which city is hosting Assam International Agri-Horti 35. Who has been chosen for the 4th Yash Chopra Memorial show? Award? (A) Guwahati (A) Rekha (B) Dibrugarh (B) Lata Mangeshkar (C) Gwalior (C) Shahrukh Khan (D) Dispur (D) Amitabh Bachchan (E) None of these (E) None of these 44. The Centre has approved a grant of about Rs ____ crore to 36. With which sport, SAFF games are associated? drought-affected Karnataka? (A) Hockey (A) 1565 (B) Football (B) 2082 (C) Cricket (C) 1814 (D) Volleyball (D) 1782 (E) None of these (E) None of these 45. Which Union Territory is hosting Island Tourism Festival 37. With Arthur Morris, how many players have been 2017? inducted into the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) (A) Andaman and Nicobar Hall of Fame so far? (B) Lakshadweep (A) 58 (C) Dadra and Nagar Haveli (B) 89 (D) Puducherry (C) 82 (E) None of these (D) 94 46. What is the theme of World Book Fair 2017? (E) None of these (A) Maanvata 38. Om Puri passed away recently. Who he was? (B) Apeksha (A) Actor (C) Manjusha (B) Singer (D) Manushi (C) Musician (E) None of these (D) Journalist 47. Which bank has topped in debt investment banking? (E) None of these (A) HDFC Bank 39. Who is the author of the book titled, ‘The People’s (B) ICICI Bank President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’? (C) State Bank of India (A) Hamid Ansari (D) Axis Bank (B) Meghna Pant (E) None of these (C) Akshay Mukul 48. Small Industries Development Bank of India has tied up (D) SM Khan with ______for augmenting capital support to (E) None of these enterprises in the country. 40. Kanchenjunga Stadium is in which city? (A) Life Insurance Corporation of India (A) Silchar (B) Reserve Bank of India (B) Dispur (C) Security and Exchange Board of India (C) Siliguri (D) NABARD (D) Ladakh (E) None of these (E) None of these 49. Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan passed away recently. Who he 41. Which country’s Prime Minister is a chief guest on was? Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2017? (A) Guitar Player (A) Mauritius (B) Piano Player (B) Guyana (C) Sitar Player (C) Portugal (D) Flute Player (D) South Africa (E) None of these (E) None of these 50. What is the currency of Portugal? 42. Which edition of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas is being held in (A) Dollar Bengaluru this year? (B) Euro (A) 13th (C) Peso (B) 14th (D) Franc (C) 15th (E) None of these (D) 16th 51. Which country is setting up the world's highest altitude (E) None of these gravitational wave telescopes in a Tibet? (A) China

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(B) Indonesia (B) Jharkhand (C) India (C) Gujarat (D) South Korea (D) Maharashtra (E) None of these (E) None of these 52. Which will become the world’s first country to shut down 60. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated ______its FM network? edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit at (A) Denmark Gandhinagar, Gujarat. (B) Switzerland (A) 8th (C) Sweden (B) 7th (D) Norway (C) 9th (E) None of these (D) 10th 53 .Which city is hosting 20th National Conference on e- (E) None of these Governance? 61. Which city has hosted 11th blind challenge car rally? (A) Guwahati (A) Jaipur (B) Raipur (B) Raipur (C) Hyderabad (C) Bhopal (D) Vishakhapatnam (D) Indore (E) None of these (E) None of these 54. Which film has won Golden globe award for Best Motion 62. Sex ratio in ____ has touched 900-mark for first time in picture in drama category? 20 years ? (A) La La Land (A) Gujarat (B) Moonlight (B) Assam (C) Zootopia (C) Andhra Pradesh (D) Fences (D) Haryana (E) None of these (E) None of these 55. Pravasi Bharatiya Samaan Award was started in which 63. Which bank has become the third lender in the country to year? announce usage of block chain solutions for its (A) 2014 operations? (B) 2003 (A) ICICI Bank (C) 1998 (B) Yes Bank (D) 2007 (C) HDFC Bank (E) None of these (D) Axis Bank 56. Who is the new world No.1 doubles player in the WTA (E) None of these rankings? 64. Which bank has launched ‘Ira’ Robot? (A) Sania Mirza (A) ICICI Bank (B) Bethanie Mattek-Sands (B) Yes Bank (C) Ekaterina Makarova (C) HDFC Bank (D) Elena Vesnina (D) Axis Bank (E) None of these (E) None of these 57. Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes Soares passed away recently. 65. Who has been appointed as ambassador of Mumbai He was the former President of which country? Marathon? (A) Libya (A) Ussain Bolt (B) Lebanon (B) David Rudisha (C) Portugal (C) Asafa Powell (D) Iran (D) Tyson Gay (E) None of these (E) None of these 58. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani passed away recently. He was 66. Which of the following has won FIFA best player of the the former President of which country? year award 2017? (A) Libya (A) Lional Messi (B) Lebanon (B) Neymar (C) Portugal (C) Christiano Ronaldo (D) Iran (D) Antoine Griezmann (E) None of these (E) None of these 59. In which state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has 67. World Hindi Day is observed annually on which date? inaugurated the country’s first India International (A) 14 September Exchange? (B) 10 January (A) Karnataka (C) 14 January

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(D) 5 September (C) 1 March 2017 (E) None of these (D) 31 March 2017 68. Which free WiFi service has been launched recently by (E) None of these Maharashtra government? 76. What is the name of second Scorpene class submarine, (A) Mumbai WiFi launched recently? (B) Maha WiFi (A) Tihayu (C) Free WiFi (B) Sarthi (D) BMC WiFi (C) Khanderi (E) None of these (D) Marmugao 69. Which app has been launched by Indian railways to (E) None of these promote digital ticketing? 77. What is India’s growth forecast for the financial year (A) IRCTC Connect 2016-17, according to World Bank? (B) IRCTC Rail (A) 7.0% (C) IRCTC rail connect (B) 7.1% (D) Rail Mitra (C) 7.4% (E) None of these (D) 7.6% 70. Which is the first Airport in the world to adopt digital (E) None of these platform Arc? 78. Daniel Ortega has sworn in as the President of____? (A) Delhi Airport (A) Seychelles (B) Hyderabad Airport (B) Nicaragua (C) Mumbai Airport (C) Nigeria (D) Kochi Airport (D) Cuba (E) None of these (E) None of these 71. BSNL will connect 1,518 gram panchayats with Optical 79. Dr. Ausaf Sayeed has been appointed as the next High Fibre Cable (OFC) this year in ____ to ensure rural Commissioner of India to____? connectivity? (A) Seychelles (A) Maharashtra (B) Nicaragua (B) Assam (C) Nigeria (C) West Bengal (D) Cuba (D) Haryana (E) None of these (E) None of these 80. Who is the author of the book titled ‘Akhada’? 72. Who has been appointed as brand ambassador of Gionee (A) Bharti Pradhan Mobile? (B) Vijay Lokapally (A) Virat Kohli (C) Saurabh Duggal (B) PV Sindhu (D) Tarun Vijay (C) MS Dhoni (E) None of these (D) Sania Mirza 81. Akhada’ is the biography of____? (E) None of these (A) Geeta Phogat 73. Which district collector has won Good Governance silver (B) Babita Phogat award for SUGAM Collectorate? (C) Vinesh Phogat (A) Hyderabad (D) Mahavir Phogat (B) Bhopal (E) None of these (C) Rohtak 82. Who is the author of the book titled ‘Cyber Pathshala’? (D) Junagadh (A) Bharti Pradhan (E) None of these (B) Vijay Lokapally (C) Saurabh Duggal 74. Roman Herzog has passed away recently. He was the (D) Tarun Vijay former President of which country? (E) None of these (A) Italy 83. India’s first Madame Tussauds museum will open in (B) Germany which city? (C) France (A) Mumbai (D) Portugal (B) Kolkata (E) None of these (C) Patna 75. Revised Indian Standard on gold hallmarking will be (D) New Delhi effective from___? (E) None of these (A) 1 January 2017 84. Which city will organize world’s first gender literature (B) 1 April 2017 festival?

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(A) Mumbai (C) Afghanistan (B) Jaipur (D) Sudan (C) Patna (E) None of these (D) Guwahati 93. National Army day is observed on which date? (E) None of these (A) 15 September 85. Which Bank has helped five temples in Kanyakumari (B) 7 September district in Tamil Nadu to introduce digital wallets and (C) 15 January point of sale? (D) 7 January (A) ICICI Bank (E) None of these (B) Axis Bank 94. What is India’s rank in global talent competitiveness (C) Yes Bank index 2017? (D) HDFC Bank (A) 89 (E) None of these (B) 92 86. Who has been appointed as a member of International (C) 112 Hockey Federation (FIH) Athletes' Committee? (D) 90 (A) Sandeep Singh (E) None of these (B) PR Shrijesh 95. Which country has topped in global talent competitiveness (C) Raghunath index 2017? (D) Dhanraj Pillai (A) Switzerland (E) None of these (B) Singapore 87. Who has been appointed as new Vice Chief of Army (C) Iceland Staff? (D) New Zealand (A) Sarath Chand (E) None of these (B) Bipin Rawat 96. What is the full form of SEZ? (C) Rajiv Jain (A) Special Economical Zones (D) BS Dhanoa (B) Standard Economic Zones (E) None of these (C) Span of Economic Zones 88. Who has been appointed as new chairman of Tata Sons? (D) Special Economic Zones (A) Rajesh Gopinathan (E) None of these (B) Ishaak Hussain 97. Which programme has been launched to create awareness (C) Ratan Tata amongst masses towards judicious utilization and (D) N Chandrasekaran conservation of petroleum products? (E) None of these (A) SANRAKSHAN 89. Who has been awarded as Best Actor (Male) in Filmfare (B) SAKSHAM short film awards 2017? (C) SAMANVAY (A) Nawajuddin Siddiqui (D) SACHET (B) Manoj Bajpai (E) None of these (C) Nasiruddin Shah 98. Which state has launched Digital Dakiya scheme? (D) Anupam Kher (A) Madhya Pradesh (E) None of these (B) Telangana 90. Who is the first ever woman boxer from India to step into (C) Maharashtra the world of professional boxing? (D) Uttar Pradesh (A) MC Mary Kom (E) None of these (B) L Sarita Devi 99. Retired Central government employees will get Rs ___ as (C) Pinki Rani minimum pension? (D) Kavita Goyat (A) 8000 (E) None of these (B) 1000 90. Which country will chair the Group of 77? (C) 5000 (A) Palestine (D) 9000 (B) Israel (E) None of these (C) Ecuador 100. ‘Aditya’ Solar boat has been launched in which state? (D) Thailand (A) Goa (E) None of these (B) Assam 92. US President Barack Obama has announced to lift some (C) Kerala trade and investments sanctions against____? (D) Maharashtra (A) India (E) None of these (B) Pakistan

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101. Border Security Force has launched operation 'Sard (C) 60 Hawa' in which state? (D) 92 (A) Jammu and Kashmir (E) None of these (B) Chhattisgarh 110. What is India’s rank in global passport index 2017? (C) Arunachal Pradesh (A) 78 (D) Rajasthan (B) 62 (E) None of these (C) 60 102. Which film has won Filmfare award 2017 for the best (D) 92 film? (E) None of these (A) Udta Punjab 111. Which ministry has launched Mission 41k? (B) Sultan (A) Ministry of Railway (C) Dangal (B) Ministry of Women and Child Development (D) Pink (C) HRD Ministry (E) None of these (D) Ministry of Finance 103. Who has won Filmfare best actor award 2017? (E) None of these (A) Aamir Khan 112. Which city is hosting India International Garment Fair (B) Salman Khan 2017? (C) Shahrukh Khan (A) New Delhi (D) Amitabh Bachchan (B) Chennai (E) None of these (C) Hyderabad 104. Which team has won Ranji Trophy 2017? (D) Mumbai (A) Mumbai (E) None of these (B) Gujarat 113. Which bank has launched country’s first customisable (C) Uttar Pradesh savings account? (D) Karnataka (A) ICICI Bank (E) None of these (B) Axis Bank 105. Which city has recently hosted International Television (C) Yes Bank Dance Festival? (D) HDFC Bank (A) New Delhi (E) None of these (B) Chennai 114. World Bank and India signed a financing agreement for (C) Hyderabad IDA credit of ____ million for the 'Nagaland Health (D) Mumbai Project'. (E) None of these (A) USD 48 106. Which state has launched mobile application "Pinakin" (B) USD 58 for tourists? (C) USD 65 (A) Kerala (D) USD 45 (B) Tamilnadu (E) None of these (C) Andhra Pradesh 115. According to IMF, what is India's expected growth rate (D) Assam for the current fiscal year? (E) None of these (A) 7.6% 107. Who is the head of IRDAI committee to review life (B) 6.5% insurance product regulations? (C) 6.8% (A) Amitabh Chaudhry (D) 6.6% (B) Amitabh Kant (E) None of these (C) Arvind Pangadiya 116. ‘Khullam Khulla’ is a biography of__ (D) Ratan Wattal (A) Shashi Kapoor (E) None of these (B) Karan Johar 108. Who is known as ‘black hole man of India’? (C) Rishi Kapoor (A) C.V. Vishveshwara (D) Yash Johar (B) C.V. Raman (E) None of these (C) Abdul Kalam 117. Which web portal has been launched by HRD Minister (D) J.C. Basu Prakash Javadekar for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan? (E) None of these (A) Saakshar 109. What is India’s rank in inclusive development index (B) Sampark 2017? (C) Shagun (A) 78 (D) Shiksha (B) 62 (E) None of these

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118. Which committee has suggested creating up to 20 per (D) Uttar Pradesh cent supernumerary seats for girls in IITs? (E) None of these (A) Timothy Gonsalves Committee 127. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a Rs (B) Gourang Desai Committee ______penalty on Bombay Mercantile Co-operative (C) Ajit Vashistha Committee Bank Ltd., Mumbai for violations of Know Your (D) Divakar Sen Committee Customer directives. (E) None of these (A) 50 lakh 119. India’s first cashless island ‘Karang’ is in which state? (B) 25 lakh (A) Meghalaya (C) 75 lakh (B) Assam (D) 60 lakh (C) West Bengal (E) None of these (D) Manipur 128. Which company has got final approval from IRDAI to (E) None of these open branch in India? 120. Sitalpati, which has been recognised as an "intangible (A) Goldline cultural heritage" by the UNESCO, is related to___? (B) Lloyd (A) Gujarat (C) Kennings (B) West Bengal (D) Lord’s (C) Karnataka (E) None of these (D) Assam 129. The World Bank has sanctioned Rs 1,376 crore for (E) None of these complete upgradation and improvement of the power 121. Which state has recently allowed sale of kerosene in system network in_____ open market? (A) Tripura (A) Gujarat (B) Assam (B) West Bengal (C) Meghalaya (C) Karnataka (D) Jharkhand (D) Jharkhand (E) None of these (E) None of these 130. Which bank has tied up with India Post Payments Bank 122. According to UN report, what is India's expected growth to provide technology platform for pilot launch of IPPB? rate for the current fiscal year? (A) Canara Bank (A) 7.6% (B) Bank of Baroda (B) 7.7% (C) Punjab National Bank (C) 6.8% (D) UCO Bank (D) 6.6% (E) None of these (E) None of these 131. Which of the following was recently inducted into 123. Which is the most dynamic city in the world? Legends Club 'Hall of Fame'? (A) Silicon Valley (A) Kapil Dev (B) New York (B) Rahul Dravid (C) Nairobi (C) Dilip Vengsarkar (D) Bengaluru (D) Syed Kirmani (E) None of these (E) None of these 124. Who has been elected as President of the European 132. Who has been appointed as New CBI Director? Parliament? (A) Rakesh Asthana (A) Antonio Tajani (B) Anil Sinha (B) Donald Tusk (C) Alok Verma (C) Gianni Pittella (D) Ravi Jain (D) Jean-Claude-Juncker (E) None of these (E) None of these 133. Which country has downloaded the most number of apps 125. Which year has been declared the world's warmest year? from Google Play app store in 2016? (A) 2013 (A) USA (B) 2014 (B) India (C) 2015 (C) Brazil (D) 2016 (D) China (E) None of these 134. Which state has launched ‘Mosapp’ for dengue 126. Dantan Gramin Mela is related to which state? detection? (A) West Bengal (A) West Bengal (B) Meghalaya (B) Tamilnadu (C) Manipur (C) Kerala

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(D) Uttar Pradesh (E) None of these (E) None of these 143. Which state has has highest ratings in reading and 135. Which bank has tied up with Kwality ltd for providing mathematics? Rs 4000 crore loan to farmers? (A) Gujarat (A) Canara Bank (B) Himachal Pradesh (B) Bank of Baroda (C) Kerala (C) Punjab National Bank (D) Tamilnadu (D) UCO Bank (E) None of these (E) None of these 144. Which state has has set a new world record by over 3.5 136. Which banks cannot accept deposits under the Pradhan lakh people singing the national anthem? Mantry Garib Kalyan Deposit Scheme? (A) Gujarat (A) Co-Operative Banks (B) Himachal Pradesh (B) Scheduled Banks (C) Kerala (C) RBI (D) Tamilnadu (D) Nationalised Banks (E) None of these (E) None of these 145. In which state, people have recently formed a chain for 137. Which company has become worldwide Olympic partner more than 11,000 kms against addictions? through 2028? (A) Punjab (A) Hyundai (B) Jharkhand (B) Pepsi (C) Tamilnadu (C) Amazon (D) Bihar (D) Alibaba (E) None of these (E) None of these 146. Which bank has launched ‘FI@School’ programme to 138. Which bank will install an ATM at INS Vikramaditya? propagate financial literacy among school children? (A) Canara Bank (A) Karnataka Gramin Bank (B) ICICI Bank (B) Kerala Gramin Bank (C) SBI (C) Punjab National Bank (D) Axis Bank (D) Bank of Baroda (E) None of these (E) None of these 139. Adama Barrow has sworn in as the president of which 147. What is the name of recently launched PNB contactless country? Credit card? (A) Gambia (A) PNB Wave N Tap (B) Senegal (B) PNB Tap N Pay (C) Jamaica (C) PNB Tap N Wave (D) Cuba (D) PNB Wave N Pay (E) None of these (E) None of these 140. Which Indian film has been awarded at international 148. Which country is helping India in getting trains on Borrego Springs Film Festival? Nagpur-Secunderabad faster? (A) Parched (A) Japan (B) Sunrise (B) Russia (C) Masaan (C) France (D) Saanjh (D) Germany (E) None of these (E) None of these 141. The United Arab Emirates'' Khalifa Bin Zayed Al 149. Which is the most innovative company of 2016? Nahyan Foundation has announced to donate medical (A) Microsoft equipment worth US$2 million to_____? (B) Tesla (A) Aligarh Muslim University (C) Apple (B) Banaras Hindu University (D) Google (C) Dr Rajendra Prasad University (E) None of these (D) Delhi University 150. Who is the head of Special Task Force for women (E) None of these safety? 142. Which country has recently withdrawn visa-free facility (A) Najeeb Jung for Indians? (B) Anil Baijal (A) Germany (C) Kiran Bedi (B) France (D) Girija Vyas (C) Hong Kong (E) None of these (D) Sri Lanka

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151. National Girl Child day 2017 was observed on which (C) Fijian Elections Office date? (D) Election Commission of Nepal (A) 21 January (E) All of the above (B) 22 January 160. Uber is soon going to launch its on-demand food (C) 23 January delivery app ____ in India. (D) 24 January (A) UberFood (E) None of these (B) UberEATS 152. Which state has inaugurated IT building ‘Jyothirmaya’? (C) UberTreat (A) Kerala (D) UberLunch (B) Tamilnadu (E) None of these (C) Andhra Pradesh 161. Under Section of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the (D) Karnataka Reserve Bank issues licence to small finance bank in (E) None of these India? 153. 2017 World Economic Forum annual meeting was held (A) 22(1) in which city? (B) 28(1) (A) Basel (C) 28 (B) The Hague (D) 35 (1) (C) Davos (E) None of these (D) Berne 162. Which airport has won the Golden Peacock Award 2016 (E) None of these for Corporate Social Responsibility? 154. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth sworn in as Prime Minister (A) Hyderabad Airport of___ (B) Mumbai Airport (A) Guyana (C) Delhi Airport (B) Jamaica (D) Chennai Airport (C) Thailand (E) None of these (D) Mauritius 163. Which state has launched 'Dulari Kanya’ scheme? (E) None of these (A) Kerala 155. Naqsh Lyallpuri has passed away recently. Who he was? (B) Tamilnadu (A) Politician (C) Arunachal Pradesh (B) Singer (D) Andhra Pradesh (C) Journalist (E) None of these (D) Lyricist 164. Which of the following has received NTPC award (E) None of these 20015-16? 156. Who has won Allan Border Medal 2017 for best (A) Damodar Valley Corporation Australian cricketer of the year? (B) Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (A) Steve Smith (C) Steel Authority of India Ltd (B) Mitchell Stark (D) Kota Super Thermal Power Station (C) David Warner (E) None of these (D) Glen Maxwell 165. Which of the following has been chosen for the Padma (E) None of these Vibhushan award this year? 157. Which country has built world's biggest solar Park? (A) Udupi Ramachandra Rao (A) Malaysia (B) Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (B) India (C) Prof Devi Prasad Dwivedi (C) China (D) Cho Ramaswamy (D) Germany (E) All of the above (E) None of these 166. Alexander Kadakin passed away recently. He was 158. Which country has launched a 10-yr-plan to cut Russian ambassador to___ vegetable imports from India? (A) Pakistan (A) Nepal (B) Syria (B) Bhutan (C) India (C) Sri Lanka (D) China (D) Pakistan (E) None of these (E) None of these 167. Which country will become the fastest oil consumer by 159. Which of the following Election Management Body has the year 2035? signed a MoU with ECI? (A) Japan (A) Australian Electoral Commission (B) India (B) Central Election Commission of Bosnia Herzegovina (C) China

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(D) Russia (E) None of these (E) None of these 176. Who has been conferred with National Geoscience 168. V. Shanmuganathan resigned recently from the Governor Award 2016? post of ____ (A) Keshav Krishna (A) Manipur (B) Aakash Malviya (B) Meghalaya (C) Tarun Sahni (C) Tripura (D) Rajesh Sen (D) West Bengal (E) None of these (E) None of these 177. National Immunization Day 2017 was observed on 169. Which country has topped Corruption Perception Index which date? 2016? (A) 27 January (A) Iceland (B) 28 January (B) Germany (C) 29 January (C) New Zealand (D) 30 January (D) Denmark (E) None of these (E) Both C and D 178. Which city is hosting 1st North East Investors’ Summit? 170. What is India’s rank in Corruption Perception Index (A) Shillong 2016? (B) Gangtok (A) 78 (C) Guwahati (B) 76 (D) Dispur (C) 79 (E) None of these (D) 77 179. Expand the term TROPEX with reference to Indian (E) None of these Navy? 171. What is India’s rank in eight great powers for the year (A) Target Readiness Operational Exercise 2017? (B) Theatre Readiness Overseas Exercise (A) 6 (C) Traditional Recurrence Operational Exercise (B) 4 (D) Theatre Readiness Operational Exercise (C) 5 (E) None of these (D) 3 180. Which state has signed a pact with oil companies for (E) None of these ethylene derivatives plant? 172. Which bank has signed a MoU with Tirth Agro (A) Rajasthan Technology on agricultural mechanisation? (B) Andhra Pradesh (A) HDFC Bank (C) Gujarat (B) Karnataka Bank (D) Assam (C) Kerala Bank (E) None of these (D) State Bank of India 181. Who has been appointed as acting governor of (E) None of these Meghalaya? 173. Which bank will deploy around 20 robots in next 2 (A) Banwari lal Purohit years? (B) JP Rajakhova (A) HDFC Bank (C) Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya (B) Punjab National Bank (D) Najma Heptulla (C) ICICI Bank (E) None of these (D) State Bank of India 182. Who has been appointed as acting governor of (E) None of these Arunachal Pradesh? 174. What is the name of the wealth management product (A) Banwari lal Purohit launched by SBI in Kochi? (B) JP Rajakhova (A) SBI Exclusive (C) Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya (B) SBI Mingle (D) Najma Heptulla (C) SBI SELECT (E) None of these (D) SBI Exclusif 183. Who has been appointed as Vice Chancellor of Nalanda (E) None of these University? 175. Who is the Chairman of the recently reconstituted Target (A) Amritya Sen Olympic Podium committee? (B) Gopa Sabharwal (A) PT Usha (C) George Yeo (B) Karnam Malleshwari (D) Vijay Pandurang Bhatkar (C) Abhinav Bindra (E) None of these (D) Rajyavardhan Singh 184. Which country will host 2020 Olympics?

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(A) Brazil 193. Which city has set up Personal Status and Inheritance (B) France Court for non Muslims? (C) Russia (A) Abu Dhabi (D) Japan (B) Muscat (E) None of these (C) Dubai 185. World Leprosy Day is observed in the memory of__ (D) Damascus (A) Abraham Lincoln (E) None of these (B) Nelson Mandela 194. Which is the world's first country to stop investing in (C) Mother Teresa fossil fuels? (D) Mahatma Gandhi (A) Denmark (E) None of these (B) Ireland 186. Which country will appoint world’s first ‘digital (C) Iceland ambassador’? (D) Sweden (A) Denmark (E) None of these (B) Portugal 195. The Centre will invest Rs 15,000 crores to develop 1,253 (C) Sweden kilometres of roads in ____ into National Highways over (D) Italy the next few years. (E) None of these (A) Uttar Pradesh 187. Which company has acquired MoneyGram? (B) Andhra Pradesh (A) Cruze Finance (C) West Bengal (B) Ant Financial (D) Assam (C) Bitcoin (E) None of these (D) Verizon 196. Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd has inked three (E) None of these pacts to extend financial assistance of around Rs 60,000 188. Who has been appointed as interim head of Postal Bank? crore to____ (A) AP Singh (A) Uttar Pradesh (B) Alok Sharma (B) Andhra Pradesh (C) Nayan Chandra (C) West Bengal (D) Rakesh Sen (D) Assam (E) None of these (E) None of these 189. Iris Mittenaere of______bags the Miss Universe 2016 197. UN has appointed ____ as india goodwill ambassador pageant held in the Philippines. for sustainable development goals. (A) France (A) Ashok amritraj (B) Colombia (B) Priyanka Chopra (C) Haiti (C) Rajesh Sabharwal (D) Philippines (D) Rajendra Shinde (E) None of these (E) None of these 190. Who has won Syed Modi International GP men’s title? 198. Who has been appointed as Delhi police commissioner? (A) Sai Praneet (A) Alok Verma (B) Sameer Verma (B) Anil Dhasmana (C) Sumeeth Reddy (C) Amulya Patnaik (D) Pranav Chopra (D) Rakesh Goel (E) None of these (E) None of these 191. Who has won Australian open Women’s singles title 199. Who has been appointed as the head of BCCI interim 2017? panel? (A) Venus Williams (A) Ramachandra Guha (B) Angelique Kerber (B) Diana Edulji (C) Serena Williams (C) Vinod Rai (D) Simon Halep (D) Vikram Limaye (E) None of these (E) None of these 192. India's first multi-sport museum has been opened in 200. Which of the following is not a deputy governor of which city? Reserve bank of India? (A) New Delhi (A) R Gandhi (B) Kolkata (B) Nachiket Mor (C) Mumbai (C) SS Mundra (D) Chennai (D) NS Vishwanathan (E) None of these (E) Viral Acharya

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Answer Key

1. A 2. D 3. B 4. A 5. B 6. C 7. C 8. D 9. C 10. B

11. B 12. C 13. C 14. A 15. D 16. A 17. B 18. A 19. C 20. D

21. A 22. D 23. B 24. A 25. D 26. B 27. A 28. C 29. B 30. D

31. D 32. A 33. A 34. D 35. C 36. B 37. C 38. A 39. D 40. C

41. C 42. B 43. A 44. D 45. A 46. D 47. D 48. A 49. C 50. B

51. A 52. D 53. D 54. B 55. B 56. B 57. C 58. D 59. C 60. A

61. C 62. D 63. D 64. C 65. B 66. C 67. B 68. A 69. C 70. A

71. B 72. A 73. D 74. B 75. A 76. C 77. A 78. B 79. A 80. C

81. D 82. D 83. D 84. C 85. D 86. B 87. A 88. D 89. B 90. B

91. C 92. D 93. C 94. B 95. A 96. D 97. B 98. A 99. D 100. C

101. D 102. C 103. A 104. B 105. C 106. B 107. A 108. A 109. C 110. A

111. A 112. A 113. C 114. A 115. D 116. C 117. C 118. A 119. D 120. B

121. C 122. B 123. D 124. A 125. D 126. A 127. C 128. B 129. A 130. C

131. A 132. C 133. B 134. C 135. B 136. A 137. D 138. C 139. A 140. D

141. A 142. C 143. B 144. A 145. D 146. B 147. D 148. B 149. C 150. B

151. D 152. A 153. C 154. D 155. D 156. C 157. C 158. A 159. E 160. B

161. A 162. C 163. C 164. A 165. A 166. C 167. B 168. B 169. E 170. C

171. A 172. B 173. A 174. D 175. C 176. A 177. C 178. A 179. D 180. B

181. A 182. C 183. D 184. D 185. D 186. A 187. B 188. A 189. A 190. B

191. C 192. B 193. A 194. B 195. D 196. B 197. A 198. C 199. C 200. B

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