Daily GK Update 04th March, 2017

Daily GK Update 04th March, 2017

Aadhaar number made mandatory for students to receive midday meals

i. Students will now be required to have an Aadhaar number for getting their midday meals across the country.The HRD ministry issued this notification. This rule will be applicable across the country, except Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya and Assam. 

ii. However, the ministry has given time till June 30, 2017 for those who are not yet enrolled. 

Ministry of Women & Child Development Observes Swachhta Pakhwada throughout India

i. The Ministry of Women & Child Development is observing the Swachhta Pakhwada from March 1, 2017 to March 15, 2017 to raise awareness about Swachh Bharat Abhiyan among women and children.

ii. The Swachhta Pakhwada is observed by various Ministries of Government of India to achieve the goal of universal sanitation, hygiene and ‘open defecation free’ India by 2019. During the course of the progamme, various activities would be conducted throughout the country through the wide network of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs).

100 districts in India Declared ODF under Swachh Bharat Mission

i. During occasion of 'Swachh Shakti Saptah' in Gurugram, Haryana. The Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has informed that the number of ODF (Open Defecation Free) districts in India has crossed 100, making it a milestone achievement under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

ii. Besides, over 1.7 lakh villages over the country has also become ODF. Shri O.P Dhankar, Haryana Minister for Development & Panchayats, and Agriculture declared that Haryana will become an ODF State by November 2017. 

India foreign exchange reserves increases to USD 362.79 billion

i. India's foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 63.7 million to USD 362.79 billion. A RBI press release has informed that foreign currency assets, a major part of the overall reserves increased from 63.4 million to USD 339.783 billion.

ii. In the previous week, the reserves had declined by USD 56.8 million to USD 362.73 billion. Gold reserves remained unchanged at 19.248 billion. 

Govt approves Rs 756 cr scheme to treat cataract patients

i. With an aim to free India from cataract by 2022, the government has approved a Rs 756 crore scheme to treat over 700 lakh such patients in the next five years.

ii. The scheme would render Rs 2,000 as financial assistance for each operation, including cost of lenses. In addition to it, a mobile application will be developed to bring the government, private doctors, clinics and NGOs together for monitoring the endeavor.

Yatra inks MoU with Madhya Pradesh govt to promote homestays

i. Online travel company Yatra.com has signed an agreement with Madhya Pradesh government to jointly promote homestays in the state.

ii. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Yatra will promote all the state tourism approved homestays, where travelers can book a room with a local family or the entire house.

Kerala’s Capital Thiruvananthapuram Ranks Best City in Urban Governance Survey

i. According to the fourth edition of the Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems 2016 by Bengaluru-based advocacy group Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala has been ranked as the top Indian city to manage urban governance. 

ii. Thiruvananthapuram which also ranked No. 1 in 2015 was evaluated against 21 major cities across 18 states of India. Thiruvananthapuram followed by Pune and Kolkata which are in second and third position, respectively.

iii. Delhi that has a population of about 18 million has been ranked at a distant 9, behind much smaller cities such as Bhopal and Kanpur.

NMCG Signs MoU with Rotary India for the Success of Namami Gange

i. In its effort to make Namami Gange program a mass movement with the involvement of more and more voluntary organizations, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation signed an MoU with Rotary India in New Delhi. 

ii. Rotary India will support clean Ganga mission through their WASH in Schools program in various schools. 

SBI to charge for breaching monthly average balance in saving accounts

i. State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest public lender, will resume charging customers who don’t maintain Monthly Account Average Balance (MAB) in their savings bank accounts from April 1, 2017.

ii. These charges will be based on the difference between the minimum balance required and the shortfall. 

iii. The minimum monthly balance for savings bank account holders in metropolitan areas is Rs 5,000. Similarly, in urban areas, SBI customers will need to maintain a monthly average balance of Rs 3000. In semi-urban areas, the amount is Rs 2,000, while for rural areas, the monthly average is Rs 1,000.

ET Money ties up with HDFC Life to launch data-led insurance policy

i. Long-term life insurance provider HDFC Life has launched an exclusive Data-Led Group Term Insurance Plan in partnership with personal finance app ET Money of Times Internet.
ii. This is the country's first term insurance plan which is based on the spending pattern of the users. ET Money Benefit, the group term life insurance plan can be exclusively availed by 1 million users of the ET MONEY app. 

World Wildlife Day: 3rd March

i. On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March, as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.

ii. World Wildlife Day was celebrated in 2017 under the theme “Listen to the Young Voices”.

President of India presents ‘Standard’ to 125 Helicopter Squadron and ‘Colours’ to mechanical training institute of Indian Air Force

i. The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the ‘Standard’ to 125 Helicopter Squadron and ‘Colours’ to Mechanical Training Institute of Indian Air Force at Air Force Station, Tambaram, Tamil Nadu.

ii. Mr. President complimented the 125 Helicopter Squadron and Mechanical Training Institute of Indian Air Force and stated that these units have a glorious past, embedded with rich heritage, stellar efforts and selfless service to the Nation. 

Pakistan diplomat Amjad Hussain B Sial assumes office as new Sec Gen of SAARC

i. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has named Amjad Hussain B Sial, as secretary general with immediate effect from March 1, 2017. 

ii. Mr.Sial from Pakistan succeeded Nepal’s Arjun Bahadur Thapa as the SAARC secretary general who was appointed the Secretary-General in 2014. 

13th ECO Summit ISLAMABAD

i. The Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) gathered on the occasion of the 13th ECO Summit Meeting, in Islamabad, Pakistan under the theme “Connectivity for Regional Prosperity”  on the 1st March 2017.

ii. It aimed to review the objective conditions and progress in the implementation of ECO programs and projects. The headquarter of ECO is in Tehran, Iran.

INHS ASVINI Mumbai receives Raksha Mantri’s Trophy, named best service Hospital in the AFMS

i. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar presented the Raksha Mantri’s Trophy and Citation for the best Service Hospital in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for the year 2016 to INHS Asvini, Mumbai.

ii. The Command Hospital (Southern Command), Pune and Command Hospital (Northern Command) Udhampur have jointly adjudged the second best Service Hospitals.

Ukraine region to use Russian ruble as currency

i. Ukraine’s self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, state in eastern Ukraine, will use the Russian ruble as its official currency, along with the Ukrainian Hryvnia. 

ii. The Russian ruble is already being used in pro-Russian territory which serves to stabilize the volatile economic situation in the region. 

Rihanna Receives Harvard University's Humanitarian Award, 2017

i. Harvard named the 29-year-old singer Rihanna its Humanitarian of the Year, pointing to her projects that include an advanced center to treat breast cancer in her native Barbados and support for girls’ education around the developing world.

French football legend Raymond Kopa passes away

i. French football legend Raymond Kopa who won the European Cup three times with Real Madrid in the 1950s died in Paris after a long illness. He was 85.

ii. He was a central part of the French side beaten by Pele’s Brazil in a classic World Cup semi-final in 1958.

Bishnoi appointed international match referee

i. Former India wrestler Kripa Shankar Bishnoi has been appointed as an international match referee by United World Wrestling (UWW), the sport's global governing body. 

ii. Bishnoi was selected by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for the annual training course for match referees conducted by the UWW.

Australian cricketer Sarah Coyte announces retirement

i. Australian women cricketer Sarah Coyte, who was also a part of Australia's 2014 World T20-winning squad, has announced her retirement from all forms of the game.

ii. Coyte's decision arrives a year after she stepped down from international duty with the Southern Stars to combat mental health issues.