1). Which Stategovernment has made Aadhaar Cards mandatory in place of Ration Cards for all Financial Assistance scheme besides introducing new forms to get the benefit of old age pensions?
Explanation: Punjab government has made Aadhaar Cards mandatory in place of Ration Cards for all Financial Assistance scheme besides introducing new forms to get the benefit of old age pensions. Giving this information at Chandigarh, a government spokesman said that the step has been taken by the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to ensure that only genuine people get the benefits of pension and other financial assistance schemes.
2). The two-day northern region round table consultation on the effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act and POCSO Act began in which of the following places?
Explanation: In Rajasthan, the two-day northern region round table consultation on the effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act and POCSO Act began in Jaipur in collaboration with Rajathan State Legal Service Authority and UNICEF. Supreme Court justice Madan B. Lokur inaugurated the consultation meet. The representatives of the judicial, administration, police, child protection committees and NGO from the Punjab, Hariyana, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Rajasthan are participating in the consultation meet.
3). Which Stategovernment has decided to open canteens offering meals at subsidised rates to registered construction workers under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana at 23 locations in the state?
Explanation: The Haryana government has decided to open canteens offering meals at subsidised rates to registered construction workers under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana at 23 locations in the state. This was disclosed by Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nayab Singh, after presiding over a review meeting of the Department at Chandigarh.
4). Which Stategovernment has increased the pension of jailed freedom fighters of the State into 10 thousand rupees per month?
Explanation: The Odisha government has increased the pension of freedom fighters of the State. A statement issued by the Chief Minister’s office said, the pension of jailed freedom fighters, who also receive central pension, will get 10 thousand rupees per month, up from the earlier 6 thousand rupees. The freedom fighters who were not jailed and those who took part in the Goa Mukti Andolan, will get pension benefit of 9 thousand rupees instead of 5 thousand rupees.
5). India’s first private sector small arms manufacturing plant has been inaugurated in which of the following Places?
Explanation: India’s first private sector small arms manufacturing plant has been inaugurated in Madhya Pradesh to supply world class weapons to the armed forces in line with the India’s defence indigenisation programme. The plant is a joint venture between India’s Punj Lloyd and Israel Weapon Systems. The plant will manufacture four products, namely, X95 carbine and assault rifle, Galil sniper rifle, Tavor assault rifle and Negev Light Machine Gun (LMG). The joint venture company named as Punj Lloyd Raksha Systems will help in replacing the weapons used by the armed forces with sophisticated and high precision products.
6). Whichwill soon launch a smartphone app which will allow people to rate the service quality of their call after the call ends?
Explanation: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said that it will soon launch a smartphone app which will allow people to rate the service quality of their call after the call ends. It also announced that it will further bolster the existing ‘Do Not Disturb’ system, which helps people to avoid calls from telemarketers.
7). Which StateHigh Court had declared Ganga, Yamuna and their tributaries living entities with the status of a legal person?
Explanation: The Madhya Pradesh government has passed a resolution granting river Narmada the status of a living entity and committed itself to the protection of its legal rights. Before, the Uttarakhand High Court had declared Ganga, Yamuna and their tributaries living entities with the status of a legal person.
8). Which of the followingsocial network giant launched Express WiFi service commercially in India?
Explanation: Facebook launched Express WiFi service commercially in India. The Express WiFi offers Internet facility through public hotspots to users in rural parts of India. The social network giant partnered with telecom operator Bharti Airtel that plans to bring an additional 20000 hotspots online. The company previously launched the service commercially in Kenya.
Explanation: The Centre has declared entire Assam, besides bordering areas of Meghalaya, as a disturbed area, under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), for three more months. In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry cited violence perpetrated by insurgent groups like ULFA, NDFB and others as the reason for enforcing AFSPA for three more months, with effect from the 3rd of this month.
10). Which Country has the plan to launch its own online encyclopedia next year rivaling Wikipedia and Britannica?
Explanation: China has the plan to launch its own online encyclopedia next year rivaling Wikipedia and Britannica (Britain’s Encyclopaedia). The main objective of this project is to guide public thought. China fears that its citizens who use Wikipedia are being corrupted by foreign influences. Around 20,000 scholars and academics have been tasked to create more than 300,000 entries before launch in 2018.
11). Which Organisation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with enterprise application software major SAP SE to launch ‘SARAL GST’ solution for taxpayers?
Explanation: Reliance Corporate IT Park Ltd. (RCITPL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with enterprise application software major SAP SE to launch ‘SARAL GST’ solution for taxpayers. According to the subsidiary of Reliance Industries, the new offering will enable taxpayers to be GST compliant and smoothly access the government’s GST System, once GST is rolled out from July 1, 2017.
12). Which Company acquires home services start-up ‘Zimmber’?
Explanation: Online classifieds company ‘Quikr’ has announced the acquisition of on-demand household services provider ‘Zimmber’. ‘Zimmber’ will benefit from synergies with QuikrServices and other Quikr verticals. Household services is an exciting category which is seeing increasing adoption among urban consumers.
13). Who has bagged 2016 Wisden-MCC Cricket ‘Photograph of the Year’ Award?
Explanation: Kashmir based freelance photographer has bagged prestigious 2016 Wisden-MCC (Melbourne Cricket Council) Cricket ‘Photograph of the Year’ for capturing a stunning image of boys playing cricket at the Nishat garden in the outskirts of Srinagar. With this Saqib Majeed has become the first Kashmiri and second Asian after Atul Kamble to receive the prestigious award. Saqib Majeed is an engineer by profession. Every year MCC publishes a book with a title ‘Wisden Cricketer Almanack’ that includes best sports pictures that were taken across the globe. This year’s edition of the book will also feature Majeed’s picture.
14). Who was appointed as Vice Chancellor of Ashoka University?
Explanation: Ashoka University named Pratap Bhanu Mehta as its Vice Chancellor (VC). The varsity announced that Mehta has been appointed “after conducting an extensive global search”. Mehta is a renowned public intellectual and head of Centre for Policy Research, a Delhi-based think-tank. Mehta will take charge from 1 July 2017 at the Sonepat, Haryana-based university. He will be the second VC of the liberal arts university since its inception after Rudrangshu Mukherjee.
Explanation: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has tightened the rules around making the Joint Lenders’ Forum (JLF) more effective, directing banks not to break any rules and to meet all deadlines. The RBI has said that any breach of rules would attract a monetary penalty. JLFs are meetings held to revitalise stressed assets. In JLF banks attempt to red-flag stress early and check them by putting in place a corrective action plan (CAP).
16). Which of the following wins Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament held at Malaysia?
Explanation: Great Britain beat Australia 4-3 in a thrilling hockey final of the 26th edition of the Azlan Shah Cup at Ipoh, Malaysia. This victory came to Great Britain in the Azlan Shah Cup after 23 years. Australia is the world champions and had won the Azlan Shah title nine times. Great Britain becomes the first team from the British Isles to win the Azlan Shah title since 1994. Earlier in the day, India outclassed New Zealand 4-0 to clinch a bronze medal in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. India gave an improved display to clinch the bronze after failing to earn a place in the final after a listless show in the last preliminary league encounter against Malaysia.
17). Which State government will introduce boat ambulance service in four districts of the State where people face difficulties in getting health service?
Explanation: Odisha will introduce boat ambulance service in four districts where people face difficulties in getting health service. The boat ambulance service will be available in Koraput, Malkangiri, Kendrapara and Kalahandi districts where people face problems in availing 108 ambulance service due to intervening large water bodies in the form of rivers and dams disrupting road communication. Health and Family Welfare secretary PK Meherda said the state government has sanctioned six boat ambulances for these areas which will be part of the 108 ambulance service.
18). Which Country ranks 3rd globally in startup incubators, accelerators according to a Nasscom report?
Explanation: India now ranks third globally in number of startup incubators and accelerators after China and the US, according to a Nasscom report. With 140 startup incubators and accelerators, India has surpassed Israel by 10 incubators. The number of incubators and accelerators in India grew by 40% in 2016, with Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR having the maximum number of accelerators.