Daily GK Update : 22nd February 2017

National & International Appointment

1. Shurhozelie Liezitsu sworn in as new CM of Nagaland

•  Today, Nagaland People's Front president Shurhozelie Liezitsu (81-year) has been sworn-in as the 11th Chief Minister of Nagaland.
• He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor PB Acharya at a ceremony in Kohima.
• He succeeded TR Zeliang, who resigned as the Chief Minister following widespread protests over reservation to women in local body elections.

Note:

• Nagaland is a state in Northeast India, capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur.
• It has an area of 16,579 square kilometers with a population of 1,980,602 per the 2011 Census of India.

2. Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre appointed chairman of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal

• The Chief Justice JS Khehar has appointed Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre as the chairman of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
• Justice Sapre is the sitting judge of the Supreme Court of India.
• The post was vacant since Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan resigned from the post.
• Earlier in December 2016, the Union Cabinet approved a proposal to set up a single, permanent Tribunal to adjudicate all inter-state river water disputes subsuming existing tribunals.

Note:

• Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal was established with an aim to speed up water sharing disputes among states.

National Affairs 

3. EC announces schedule for Biennial Elections to Andhra & Telangana State Legislative Councils

• The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the Biennial Elections to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State Legislative Councils to be elected by Members of Legislative Assembly.
• Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council (Seven Members) and Telangana State Legislative Council (three members) will be retiring on 29th March 2017.
• Notification will be issued on 28^th February, 7^th March is the last date for nominations Polling and Counting will be held on 17th March.

4. NPPA asks hospitals to display revised price list of cardiac stents

• In a notification,National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has asked hospitals to display revised price list of cardiac stents.
• Earlier, the authority has cut prices of life-saving coronary stents by up to 85% by capping them at 7,260 rupees for bare metal and 29,600 rupees for drug-eluting variety.
• The state drug controllers have also been sensitized on this issue and will inspect more hospitals in the coming days to check the compliance with its price cap order issued last week.
• NPPA has warned stent manufacturers and importers against shortage and said the companies were under legal obligation to maintain smooth production and supply of coronary stents.
• It keeps the arteries open in the treatment of coronary heart diseases.

Science & Defence  

5. Indian scientists discover Seven new miniature frog species

• Indian scientists have discovered seven new miniature frog species which can comfortably sit even on a child’s thumbnail in the Western Ghats after five years of extensive exploration.
• These frogs were overlooked earlier because of their insect-like calls and secretive habitats.
• Out of seven new species, five are facing considerable anthropogenic threats and require immediate conservation prioritisation.
• These frogs are active during both night and day time unlike other breeds who are active only during night

Note:

• The miniature species are locally abundant and fairly common but they have probably been overlooked because of their extremely small size, secretive habitats and insect-like calls.

Banking & Finance 

6. EPFO introduces single page composite claim form for withdrawing money

• The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has introduced single page composite claim form for withdrawing money from their PF account.
• The new forms do not require employers' attestation, but only for those subscribers whose Aadhaar number and bank account details have been seeded with their Universal Account Number.
• EPFO has also done away with the practice of filing utilisation certificates for advances taken from their PF accounts and can submit self-utlisation certificate.
• The new composite claim form replaces the existing Forms 19, 10C and 31 for filing claims.

International Affairs 

 7. Azerbaijan Prez names wife as country’s First Vice President

• Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has appointed his wife Mehriban Aliyev (52-year) as the First Vice President of the country.
• The Vice President position was created after a constitutional referendum in September, 2016.
• According to Azerbaijan's constitution, the First Vice President takes over the country's presidency if the president is unable to perform the duties.

Sports 

8. Abhijit Sarkar is new Vice Chairman of Asian Hockey Federation

• The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has appointed Abhijit Sarkar as its new Vice Chairman.
• He was also appointed the Chairman of the AHF Commercial and TV Committee with immediate effect.
• Sarkar has been associated with the Sahara India Pariwar since 2004 and served as the Head of Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs and Relations, and the Sports Division.
• The current president of AHF is Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Note:

• The Asian Hockey Federation is the governing body for the sport of field hockey in Asia and affiliated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

9. India beat South Africa in final of ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier 2017

• India beat South Africa by one wicket in the final of ICC Women World Cup Qualifier 2017 at Colombo, Shri Lanka.
• India bowled out South Africa for 244 in 49.4 overs and achieved the target of 245 runs on the last ball of the 50th over.
• India is the only unbeaten team in the tournament.
• Both teams had already qualified in this year's ICC World Cup tournament.

10. Milind Soman becomes 'Ultraman' by racing barefoot for 517.5 km

• National level swimmer-turned-model Milind Soman (51-year) has completed an extremely high endurance event called ‘Ultraman’ a 517.5 km race on in Florida.
• The challenge requires participants to complete a 10-kilometre open water swim, a 423-kilometre-long bike ride and an 84-kilometre ultra-marathon run.
• Earlier, he completed the toughest triathlon in the world to become India’s Iron Man.

11. 1st stage of ISSF World Cup Series to kick off in New Delhi today

• Today, the first stage of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Series kicks off at Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi.
• The World cup series is slated to take place in 5 stages in five different countries (India, Mexico, Cyprus, Germany and Azerbaijan).
• The ISSF World Cup Final at the end of the season will also be held in New Delhi.
• 452 athletes representing 50 National Olympic Committees are taking part in the competition.

 Thought of the Day

“Think big, think fast, think ahead. Ideas are no one’s monopoly. ” 

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