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Daily GK Update : 17th May, 2016 For All The Upcoming Exams

Daily GK Update : 17th May, 2016 For All The Upcoming Exams |_2.1

1. The World Hypertension Day is being observed today 
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i. The World Hypertension Day (WHD) is being observed today (17th of May). The day was initiated by the World Hypertension League (WHL) to increase awareness about hypertension. 
ii. The WHL launched its first WHD on May 14, 2005. Since 2006, the WHL has been dedicating May 17 of every year as WHD. 
iii. The WHL began with the simple theme of “awareness of high blood pressure.” It changed the theme to “Treat to goal” with a focus on keeping blood pressure under control the next year.

2. World Bank approves $625 m loan to support rooftop solar programme in India
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i. The World Bank’s Board has approved USD 625 million loan to support the central government’s programme to generate electricity from rooftop solar power plants. 
ii. The Board also approved a co-financing loan of USD 120 million on concessional terms and a USD 5 million grant from Climate Investment Fund’s (CIF) Clean Technology Fund.
iii. The project will finance the installation of at least 400 MW of grid connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (GRPV) across India. These solar photovoltaic (PV) installations will provide clean, renewable energy, and reduce GHG emissions by displacing thermal generation. 

3. Govt launches Swachh Office Drive across India
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i. The government on Monday launched a 15-day ‘Swachh Office Drive’ across India to ensure cleanliness at government-run offices. ii. Launching the drive, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu directed senior officials to ensure sanitation. 
iii. The ministry issued a norms manual, including measures like ensuring 45 litres daily water supply per head per day and one toilet for 25 persons.

4. Union Government launches ePACE, INFRACON and up-Scaled INAM PRO for Road Transport Sector
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i. Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has launched three initiatives for best practices in road transport sector. 
ii. These three innovative IT initiatives are: INFRACON, ePACE and up-Scaled INAM PRO.
iii. These initiatives are aimed at making the road building procedure faster, more transparent and more efficient. These innovative IT initiatives are developed in house by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL).

5. India ranks 3rd in ‘Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index’
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i. India’s renewable energy sector has been ranked third in the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) with China at second and the US on top.
ii. The index ranks 40 markets on the attractiveness of their renewable energy investment and deployment opportunities, based on a number of macro, energy market and technology-specific indicators. 
iii. The methodology has been refreshed in the May edition to reflect greater focus on energy imperative, policy stability and routes to market.




6. India, U.S. Hold First Maritime Security Dialogue
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i. India and the US  held the first round of discussions under the recently-constituted Maritime Security Dialogue. 
ii. The dialogue was held between the officials of Defence and External Affairs ministries and their US counterparts.
iii. The dialogue was one of the several new initiatives agreed between Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his US counterpart Ashton Carter during the latter’s visit to India in April 2016. It was created as a part of the maritime security objectives under the India-US Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.

7. RBI authorises 29 agency banks to accept payments of I-T dues
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i. RBI has authorised 29 agency banks to accept payments of Income Tax dues as recently Reserve Bank of India has asked income tax assessees to pay their tax dues well in advance to avoid last minute rush. 
ii. RBI has taken this measure as the rush for remitting Income Tax dues becomes far too heavy towards the end of June every year making it difficult for the Reserve Bank to cope with the pressure.
iii. So in order to minimize the hassle, tax payers can also use the facility of online payment or use alternate channels like the authorized agency banks. Some of the agency banks authorized by RBI to collect tax include Allahabad Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank etc.

8. DBS Bank to set up new technology hub in Hyderabad
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i. Singapore based DBS Bank has decided to set up its biggest technology hub out off its headquarter. 
ii. The bank has appointed Mr. Mohit Kapoor as the head of its Technology Development Centre in Hyderabad. Going ahead, the bank also plans to hire about 1,500 people over the next two years.
iii. As per the bank, the hub will help in strengthening the lenders technological capabilities across Asia as well as its digital banking strategy.

9. RBS to shut down operations in India
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i. UK-based Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) on Monday said it will shut down its corporate, institutional and retail banking operations in India, following the announcement of the plan last year. 
ii. RBS currently operates 10 retail branches in India employing 400 people. 
iii. This is part of the bank’s plan to reduce its international operations to 13 countries from the current 38.

10. NASA launches super pressure balloon from New Zealand
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i. NASA successfully launched a super pressure balloon from New Zealand’s South Island Wanaka Airport to conduct near-space scientific investigations. 
ii. The launch marks the fifth attempt to get the massive balloon airborne, with previous bids thwarted by bad weather.
iii. Long-duration balloon flights at constant altitudes play an important role in providing inexpensive access to the near-space environment for science and technology. The 532,000 cubic metres balloon is expected to circumnavigate the globe about the southern hemisphere’s mid-latitudes once every one to three weeks, depending on wind speeds in the stratosphere. The aim is for it remain airborne for more than 100 days.

11. China Launches Yaogan-30 Remote Sensing Satellite
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i. China has successfully launched a remote sensing satellite Yaogan-30 into sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) using the Long March-2D rocket. 
ii. The rocket was launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center located in Gobi desert in northwest China’s Gansu Province.
iii. It was the 227th flight of the Long March rocket series and was also the second orbital launch from the Jiuquan Satellite launch Center in 2016. The Yaogan-30 satellite was built by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). 

12. British Royals launches Heads Together campaign to tackle stigma of mental health
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i. British Royals Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince Harry has launched the Heads Together campaign at Queen Elizabeth Park in East London.
ii. The campaign aims to change the national conversation on mental health and wellbeing.
iii. It will be executed the Royal Foundation in partnership with eight charities that have decades of experience in tackling stigma and raising awareness. It is the single biggest project the three British Royals have undertaken together so far.

13. Pfizer to buy Anacor Pharma in $5.2 bn deal
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i. Pfizer Inc will buy Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc in a $5.2-billion (£3.61 billion). 
ii. This deal comes just after a month when US drug major scrapped plans to acquire Allergan Plc. Now Pfizer is all set to add an eczema gel to its portfolio with the help of this acquition. 
iii. The acquisition will give Pfizer access to a non-steroidal topical gel, crisaborole, which is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of mild to moderate eczema and as per the American global pharmaceutical corporation, Pfizer, the crisaborole had the potential to reach or exceed peak sales of $2 billion.

14. NTPC forms joint venture with Coal India
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i. State-owned power generating firm NTPC has signed a joint venture agreement with state-run Coal India to revive plants run by the Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL). 
ii. The joint venture would initially be incorporated with a 50:50 contribution from both but also contains a provision of inducting strategic partners at a later date.


15. Indian Short Film ‘Beti’ To Be Screened At Seattle International Film Festival
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i. Beti, a non-fiction short film on girl child education, made by young student filmmakers of Chandigarh, has been invited for a special screening at the 42nd Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), Washington DC.
ii. Beti is the only short film from India to be featured amongst 421 films representing 85 countries and will be screened on 30 May 2016, which is Seattle Memorial Day at the SIFF. 
iii. The film was made by young student filmmakers of Chandigarh. The movie is directed by Shivain Arora.

16. New CJ Of Rajasthan HC, Tripura HC and Chhattisgarh HC have sworn in
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i. Justice Navin Sinha was sworn-in as the new Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court. Governor Kalyan Singh administered the oath to the new Chief Justice of the state High Court. 
ii. Justice Tinlianthang Vaiphei was sworn in as the acting Chief Justice of Tripura High Court. He was administered the oath of office by the Governor Tathagata Roy at the Raj Bhavan in Agartala.
iii. Justice Deepak Gupta on  was sworn-in as the new Chief Justice of the Chhattisgarh High Court. Chhattisgarh Governor Balram Das Tandon administered the oath of office to Justice Gupta at a function at Raj Bhawan in Raipur. 

17. South Korean author Han Kang wins Man Booker International Prize
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i. Han Kang, a South Korean author has won he 2016 Man Booker International Prize for her novel ‘The Vegetarian’. 
ii. It is about a story of a wife, who gives up eating meat and seeks to become a tree. 
iii. The 45-year-old Han kang is the first South Korean to win the prize. The writer and her British translator will share the 72,000 Dollar prize money. The book was translated by Deborah Smith, a 28-year-old Briton who only began learning Korean when she was 21. 

18. JK Rowling receives highest French civilian honour
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i. Renowned author of Harry Potter series, Mr. JK Rowling has been honoured with the highest French civilian honour -‘French Legion Of Honour’. 
ii. She was given honorary title by the President of France Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy at a ceremony in Paris. J K Rowling or Robert Galbraith is a British novelist, screenwriter and film producer.
iii. The title was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 19th century and constitutes the country’s elite national merit society.

19. Discoverer of Neptune’s rings dies aged 73
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i. French astrophysicist Andre Brahic, one of the discoverers of Neptune’s rings, died in Paris at the age of 73.
ii. Brahic, along with American astronomer William Hubbard, first spotted the rings in 1984, naming them Equality, Fraternity and Liberty. 
iii. Further, a minor planet numbered 3488 was named ‘Brahic’ in tribute to his work.

20. Archers Deepika, Bombayla, Laxmirani named for Rio Olympics
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i. A three-member Indian women’s archery team comprising Deepika Kumari, Bombayla Devi and Laxmirani Majhi was named for the Rio Olympics after a series of selection trials in the last three months. 
ii. The women’s trio will compete in the individual events as well as team event at the Rio Games in August.
iii. India’s women archers earned three individual berths and a team quota by virtue of the team’s performance at the World Championships in Copenhagen last year. Archery Association of India, AAI, also announced a three-member men’s team consisting Jayanta Talukdar, Atanu Das, Mangal Singh Champia for the third stage World Cup in Antalya, Turkey, next month in order to have a shot at Olympic berths. 

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