16.01.18 Karnataka (KPSC) Current Affairs

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KARNATAKA

 

  • Karnataka may get a few new trains during poll year

 

  • The long awaited commissioning of Bengaluru-Mysuru double line electrification is likely to be done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the State on January 28.

 

  • With ensuing State Assembly elections, the Prime Minister is also likely to announce a few new trains, including Humsafar Express from Mysuru.

 

  • Though the Commissioner of Railway Safety (Southern Circle) had authorised South Western Railway (SWR) to operate electric loco-hauled trains between Bengaluru and Mysuru on December 14, 2017, the same was not commissioned ostensibly awaiting clearance from the Prime Minister’s Office. 

     

    INTERNATIONAL

     

    ·        India and Israel sign 9 agreements in space, defence, cybersecurity

     

    • India and Israel have signed nine agreements to boost cooperation in the areas of space, cyber security and oil and gas between both countries.
    • The agreements were signed following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in New Delhi.
    • Netanyahu is first Israeli Prime Minister to visit India in the span of last 15 years and second one overall.
    • Agreement on Film-co-production. Protocol on Amendments to Air Transport Agreement MoU on Cyber Security Cooperation between India and Israel Memorandum
    • MoU between the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Energy on Cooperation inOil and Gas Sector LoI between IOCL and Yeda Research
    • MoU between Central Council for Research in Homeopathy and Ministry of AYUSH and Centre for Integrative Complementary Medicine, Shaare Zedek
    • MoU between Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and Technion- Israel Institute of Technology for cooperation in the field of space.

     

    ·        BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement India, Bangladesh, Nepal approve Passenger protocol

     

    • Bangladesh, India, and Nepal agreed on the text of operating procedures for passenger vehicle movement (Passenger protocol) in sub-region under Bangladesh – Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA).
    • The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of High-level officials of three decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of High-level officials of three countries held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
    • It was convened and chaired by India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

     

    Gk bit – BBIN

     

    • The Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal(BBIN) Initiative is a sub regional architecture of countries in Eastern South Asia, a subregion of South Asia. Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) signed in June 2015.

    • The agreement will permit member states to ply their vehicles in each other’s territory for transportation of cargo and passengers, including third country transport and personal vehicles.

     

    • Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurates Gigabit Connectivity with Sri Lanka

     

    • Union Minister for Law and Justice and Electronics and IT Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad is on an official visit to Sri Lanka.

     

    • On the first day of his visit, he inaugurated the gigabit connectivity between the National Knowledge Network of India and LEARN network of Sri Lanka.

     

    • This dedicated high speed internet connectivity will boost the collaboration among the academic institutions of India and Sri Lanka.

     

    NATIONAL

     

    ·        India emerging as a biggest tourism hub across the globe; over 11 lakh tourists arrived New Delhi in Dec 2017

     

    • Tourism sector of the nation is blooming year by year, as the Foreign Tourists Arrivals have bloomed by 15.2% in December 2017 as compared to December 2016.
    • And also 48.3% Growth in Foreign Tourist Arrivals on an e-Tourist visa in December 2017 Over December 2016.
    • The number of FTAs in December 2017 was 11.76 lakh as compared to FTAs of 10.21 lakh in December 2016 and 9.13 lakh in December 2015.
    • The growth rate in FTAs in December 2017 over December 2016 was 15.2%, compared to 11.9% in December 2016 over December 2015.
    • FTAs in the year 2017 was 101.77 lakh with a growth of 15.6% over 2016, compared to FTAs of 88.04 lakh with a growth of 9.7% is 2016 over 2015.

     

     

    ·        DIPP arm Launches Competition for College Students

     

    • Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM),under the department of industrial policy and promotion, launched a competition for college and university students to foster a culture of innovation and creativity in the youth.
    • The competition – IPrism – invites students to submit films on piracy and counterfeiting under two categories of 30 and 60 seconds.
    • Another category in the competition is a mobile gaming app on intellectual property (IP). Cash prizes of Rs 4 lakh will be given to the winning teams along with mementos and certificates.

    ·        Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore launches Khelo India Anthem

     

    • Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore made the announcement during the launch of the official anthem and mascot of Khelo India School Games, beginning January 31.
    • Now when an athlete wins a medal at Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympics, the coach gets the incentive.
    • The video features India’s eminent sports personalities such as Sardar Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Devendra Jhajharia, Baichung Bhutia, Pullela Gopichand, Leander Paes, Mary Kom, Akhil Kumar, Sakshi Malik and Saina Nehwal.

     

    • UIDAI to add face verification option for Aadhaar authentication

     

    • The Unique Identification Authority of India, the Aadhaar-issuing authority, has decided to enable face recognition as another means of authentication from July 1, 2018.

     

    • The decision comes at a time when problems arising due to mismatch of biometrics are being reported about, including those faced by senior citizens with fading fingerprints.

     

    ·        Air India announces  reservation for women in seats

     

    • Air India announced a reservation of seats for women in all its domestic flight services.
    • This kind of service has become the country’s first airline company.
    • Special respect to women on our behalf Air India is booking a full line for all women at an economy class at no extra charge.
    • This is for women who are traveling alone or with their young children. “
    • To avail this facility, female passengers can contact the airline’s counter or booking officer at the airport for up to 90 minutes before flying.
    • This facility of the company is only valid for domestic flights only.
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