Daily GK Update: 29th December, 2016 For All The Upcoming Exams

Govt launches Swachh Swasth Sarvatra initiative

i.Government of India launched Swachh Swasth Sarvatra initiative, aiming at strengthening health centres in open defecation-free blocks. 

ii.Launching this initiative in New Delhi, Health Ministry J P Nadda stated that the objective of this initiative is to strengthen community health centres in 708 Open Defecation free blocks across the country to enable them to achieve higher levels of cleanliness and hygiene.

Cabinet approves ordinance to make possession of old notes penal offence

i.The Cabinet has approved promulgation of an Ordinance to make possession of a large number of scrapped banknotes a penal offence making holding of old 1,000 and 500 rupee notes after March 31st 2017 beyond a threshold amount a criminal offence.

ii.The possession will attract a monetary fine of 10,000 rupees or five times the cash held, whichever is higher.

Important Cabinet Approvals:28 December 2016

i. Cabinet Approves Ordinance to Penalize Person with Scrapped Notes Post March 31. 

ii. Cabinet Approves Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas

iii. Centre gives ex post facto approval for ratification of ISA’s Framework Agreement

iv. Centre Gives Green Signal for Apex Corridor Development Body
v. Centre Approves Rs 266 crore investment for Delhi under AMRUT

India Signs Agreement with Bhutan for green and sustainable construction

i.India has signed an agreement with Bhutan for assistance in green and sustainable construction of infrastructure in the Himalayan kingdom. 

ii.The MoU was signed between Central Public Works Department (CPWD), under India’s Ministry of Urban Development and the Department of Engineering Services, under Bhutan’s Ministry of Works and Human Settlements.

Former IAS officer Anil Baijal to be next Delhi Lt Governor

i.Anil Baijal has replaced Najeeb Jung as the next Delhi Lt Governor. Baijal, a 1969-batch IAS officer, served as home secretary in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. 

ii.Delhi's former Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung had resigned on December 22 2016, 18 months before the end of his tenure.  

Centre approves Rs 266 crore investment for Delhi under AMRUT

i.The Central Govt of India has approved investments of Rs266 crore rupees for improving water supply and sewerage networks in Delhi. 

ii.With the approval, the Urban Development Ministry has now given nod to a total investment of Rs489 crore rupees for improving urban infrastructure in the national capital under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) guidelines. 

Haryana Government to set up country’s first Caterpillar Train

i.Haryana Government has decided to set up a pilot corridor for an innovative concept of 'Caterpillar Train' that will fly over city’s traffic, in Gurgaon city.

ii.The concept of Caterpillar Train, also known as C-Train, was co-developed by an Indian Railways engineer Ashwani Kumar Upadhyaya along with Emil Jacob, both PhD  Caterpillar Trainscholars at MIT, for which they won a global award at the MIT in the United States earlier in 2016 for this innovative idea. 

SP Vaid appointed as new J&K police chief

i.The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet has cleared the appointment of 1986 batch IPS officer Dr Shesh Pal Vaid, Special DG, Coordination and Law and Order, as new Director General of Police. 

ii.He will succeed DGP K Rajendra, whose extended term of service ends on 31 December 2016. 

Rajasthani writer Satya Narayan chosen for Bihari Puraskar

i.Eminent Rajasthani writer Satya Narayan has been chosen for the 26th Bihari Puraskar, 2016 by the K K Birla Foundation.

ii. He will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 2 lakhs, besides a citation and a plaque. 

iii.Narayan selected for his Hindi book titled ‘Yeh Ek Dunia’ which was published in 2010.The book is a meticulous depiction of various circumstances of life in the contemporary world.  

South Indian Bank has introduced a full-fledged NRI-focused mobile banking app

i.South Indian Bank has introduced a full-fledged NRI-focused mobile banking application called SIB Mirror+ across major mobile platforms. 

ii.The new app was launched after the path-breaking 'E-Lock' feature that provided a single tap solution to fully secure all digital transaction from frauds. SIB Mirror+ equips the customers to perform almost all banking transactions from their smart phones.

Ex Madhya Pradesh CM Sunderlal Patwa passes away at 92

Veteran BJP leader and two-time Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Sunderlal Patwa passed away after a brief illness. 92-year-old Patwa, a former union minister, died due to a heart attack. 

Transformer of Modern Physics and Astronomy Vera Rubin Dies at 88

Vera Rubin, who transformed modern physics and astronomy with her observations showing that galaxies and stars are immersed in the gravitational grip of vast clouds of dark matter, died at 88 

Meghalaya to host National Games 2022

i.After successfully co-hosting the 12th South Asian Games with Assam early in 2016, Meghalaya has now got the opportunity to hold the National Games 2022 with its 50 years of statehood.

ii. Meghalaya clinched the bid for hosting the prestigious 2022 national games in the state overshadowing four other bidders Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Chhattisgargh and Uttarakhand.

iii. It also pledged Rs 5 crore as the bid amount for the game.

Ana Ivanovic announces retirement from Tennis

Serbian Ana Ivanovic, the former world No1 and 2008 French Open champion, has retired from tennis at the age of 29.