Daily GK Update 09th September 2017

1.  Fiscal deficit touches 92.4% of budget estimates at July-end

i. India’s fiscal deficit at July -end touched 92.4 % of the budget mainly because of front loading of expenditure by various government departments. In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit- difference between expenditure and revenue - was Rs 5.04 lakh crore during April- July 2017-18, according to the data of Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

ii. During the same period of last financial year, 2016-17, it was 73.7 % of the target. For 2017-18, the government aims to bring down the fiscal deficit to 3.2 % of the GDP. Last fiscal, it had met the deficit target of 3.5 % of the GDP.

You must Read Takeaways from the Above News:

• CGA, in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, is the Principal Accounting Advisor to Government of India and is responsible for establishing and maintaining a technically sound Management Accounting System. 
• Anthony Lianzuala is the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) under the Finance Ministry. 

2. First National Canine Seminar organized by NSG

i. The Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju attended the first National Canine Seminar organized by National Security Guard (NSG), in NSG Campus, Manesar (Gurugram), Haryana.

ii. The theme of the two days National Canine Seminar is 'Canine as Tactical Weapon in Fight against Terrorism' with an objective to discuss and deliberate on the techniques of dog training and strategies of deploying the dogs in Counter Terrorism/Counter Insurgency scenario.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• The NSG is popularly known as "The Black Cats" of the country.
• NSG was set up in 1984 as a Federal Contingency Deployment Force to tackle all facets of terrorism in the country.

3. Assam Government Signs MoU with Google to Increase Digital Literacy

i. In a bid to take Internet connectivity to the remotest part of the state, Assam government signed an MoU with Google India.

ii. Through the MoU with Google, the state government would work to provide Internet connection to 26,000 villages and 1,500 tea garden areas to increase digital literacy.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Chief Minister of Assam is Sarbananda Sonowal.
• Banwarilal Purohit is the Present Governor of Assam.

4. First water ATM in Hyderabad Inaugurated

i. The First water ATM has been inaugurated by Telangana State Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy at Nalgonda X Roads. A total of 200 ATMs will be set up to reach a targeted 150,000 people. In the first phase, 50 water ATMs will be operationalized by 2018.

ii. Safe Water Network, an international NGO has partnered with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to launch water ATMs. It will provide affordable, 24×7 safe water access in Hyderabad.

5. UIDAI Chief A.B. Pandey Appointed Interim GSTN Chairman

i. The Unique Identification Authority of India’s (UIDAI) chief executive officer (CEO) A.B. Pandey was appointed the interim chairman of the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN).

ii. This firm provides information technology (IT) backbone and portal for registration and tax returns under the GST regime. Pandey was given additional charge days after GSTN’s first chairman Navin Kumar completed his term on 29 August. 

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Navin Kumar former IAS officer from Bihar cadre, was the first chairman of GSTN.
• GSTN is a  non-government, private limited company.
• It was incorporated on 28 March 2013 with the Government of India holding 24.5% equity.

6. US Banking Regulators Shut Down Pakistan’s Habib Bank

i. US banking regulators ordered Pakistan’s Habib Bank to shutter its New York office after nearly 40 years, for repeatedly failing to heed concerns over possible terrorist financing and money laundering.

ii. The state’s Department of Financial Services, which regulates foreign banks, also slapped a 225 million Dollars fine on the bank.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Habib Bank has operated in the United States since 1978.

7. Female Wrestler Sonam wins Gold in Cadet World Wrestling Championship

i. India Wrestler Sonam Malik won a gold medal by defeating Japanese Wrestler Sena Nagamoto by 3-1 points on the fourth-day of Cadet World Wrestling Championship in Athens.
ii. The other female Wrestler Neelam also bagged Bronze Medal in 43-kilogram weight category. Wrestler Anshu will fight for Gold Medal with Japanese Wrestler Naomi Ruike in 60-kilogram weight category.

Important Takeaways From Above News-

• Athens is the capital of Greece.
• Alexis Tsipras is the Prime Minister of Greece.

8. Sjoerd Marijne Named New Coach of Indian Men's Hockey Team

i. Women's national hockey coach Sjoerd Marijne was named chief coach of the men's side. He has replaced Roelant Oltmans.
ii. Besides, World Cup-winning junior team coach Harendra Singh was appointed High-Performance Specialist coach of the senior women's team. The decisions were announced by newly-appointed Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Both Marijne and Harendra have been given a tenure till the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.