Daily Current Affairs- 7th January 2017

Dear Readers, we are presenting Daily Current Affairs for All Exams- 7th January 2017. Daily Current Affairs and General Knowledge is very helpful for IBPS Bank Exams, SBI , RBI Assistant,NIACL, SSC and Railway Exams.

1. 14th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas begins in Bengaluru

1. The 14th edition of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) began in the country’s IT hub Bengaluru, Karnataka. The theme of this edition is “Redefining Engagement with the Indian Diaspora”. 

2. On the first day of three day event, ‘Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas’ was inaugurated as part of the PBD 2017 with an aim to connect with the youth, the new generation of Pravasis growing up all over the world. 

3. The main convention will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian-origin Portugal Prime Minister, Dr. Antonio Costa who is the chief guest in the PBD convention.

2. Sunil Amrith awarded Infosys Prize 2016 in Humanities

1. Sunil Amrith, Professor, Department of History, Harvard University has been awarded Infosys Prize 2016 in Humanities.

2. The award is said to be in recognition of the Harvard University professor's contribution to the history of migration, environmental history and his field-changing research on interrelated past of contemporary Asia.

3. The award given under the aegis of the Infosys Science Foundation has entered its eighth year.

4. The prize (for each category) consists of a purse of Rs. 65 lakh, a gold medallion and a citation.

3. India’s GDP growth expected to be slower at 7.1% in 2016-17: CSO

1. According to growth projection released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is expected to grow at a slower pace at 7.1% in 2016-17 as compared to 7.6% in 2015-16. 

2. This estimate is in sync with the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) economic growth forecast and is largely based on data from the first seven months of the year. The slowdown is chiefly due to an industrial slowdown.

4. Delhi Government unveils Good Samaritan Policy

1. Delhi Government has approved ‘Good Samaritan Policy to encourage people to help road accident victims in emergency situation. It was approved by the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi.

2. This policy will give bystanders incentive to help accident victims and more importantly provide them with legal protection.

3. Under this policy, monetary incentive of Rs 2,000 and appreciation certificate will be given to people who help road accident victims in the national capital.

5. China launches its longest bullet train 

1. China has launched its longest bullet train ‘Shangri-la of the World’ connecting Kunming in Yunnan Province to Shanghai. The 2252 km Shanghai-Kunming line links China’s prosperous eastern coast with the less-developed south-western part. 

2. It traverses through 5 provinces of China viz. Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou and Yunnan. The bullet train has maximum speed of 330 km/hr and it cuts travel time across 2252 km route from 34 hours to 11 hours.

6. Norway to become first country to switch off FM radio 

1. Norway is set to become the first country in the world to switch off its FM radio network. In this regard, Scandinavian country’s parliament has approved a proposal to shift to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB). 

2. The shutdown of FM (frequency modulation) radio will begin on January 11, 2017 from the northern city of Bodoe.

7. Cabinet approves 26% strategic sale in BEML 

1. The Union Cabinet has given an ‘in-principal’ approval for strategic disinvestment of 26% equity shares in defence equipment manufacturer BEML Ltd. out of government’s shareholding of 54.03%. 

2. With this, it becomes the first major PSU to be sold through strategic disinvestment. BEML was established in May 1964 under the administrative control of Union Defence Ministry.

8. NRIs can exchange old 500 and 1,000 rupees notes at RBI offices till 30 June 2017 

1. Indian citizens who are not residing in the country have been allowed to exchange their old 500 and 1,000 rupees notes at Reserve Bank of India (RBII) offices till the 30 June 2017. The provision to exchange these notes will be subject to the regulations of the notification of Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Currency) Regulations, 2015. According to these rules put the limit of bringing back currency into the country at 25,000 rupees per person.

9. Delhi Government approves fourth phase of Delhi Metro 

1. Delhi government has approved the Phase IV of the Metro project, featuring six corridors and measuring over 103 kilometres. A decision to this effect was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. 

2. The proposed corridors in Phase IV are Rithala-Narela (21.73 km), Inderlok-Indraprastha (12.58 km), Lajpat Nagar-Saket G-Block (7.96 km), Tughlakabad-Aerocity (20.20 km), Mukundpur-Maujpur (12.54 km) and Janakpuri (west)-RK Ashram (28.92 km).

10. Dell unveils world’s first wireless charging laptop 

1. American tech giant Dell has unveiled ‘Latitude 7285’, the world’s first laptop that charges wirelessly. It is convertible laptop with detachable tablet.

2. It is embedded with wireless receiving coil based on magnetic resonance technology developed by wireless charging company WiTricity.

11. Israel building world’s tallest solar tower to harness solar energy 

1. Israel is building world’s tallest solar tower to harness solar energy as part of its ambitious Ashalim project, located deep in the Negev desert. The centrepiece of the Ashalim solar tower will be 250 m tall and will be encircled by 50,000 mirrors, known as heliostats. 

2. Solar towers use different method conventional photovoltaic solar panels, which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Instead, the solar towers use a solar-thermal method in which thousands of mirrors focus the sun’s rays onto the tower, heating a boiler that creates steam to spin a turbine and generate electricity.