Daily GK Update : 22nd April 2017

 Important Dates

1. 'International Mother Earth Day' observed across the world

• The International Mother Earth Day has been celebrated every year around the world on ‘22nd April’ to remind each of us that the Earth and its ecosystems provide us with life and sustenance.
• International Mother Earth Day provides an opportunity to raise public awareness around the world to the challenges regarding the well-being of the planet and all the life it supports.
• The theme for 2017 is "Environmental & Climate Literacy".

Note:

• International Earth Day was established in 2009, by the General Assembly.
• The term Mother Earth is used because it "reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet we all inhabit".

International Affairs

2. China to host BRICS Film Festival in June 2017

• The BRICS Film Festival 2017 will be held in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province from 23 to 27 June,2017.
• Around 30 films from BRICS countries will be screened during the festival, including an anthology by five directors from the mentioned countries.
• The first BRICS Film Festival was held in New Delhi, India, in September 2016.

3. Sri Lanka to host the 14th Edition of United Nations International Day of Vesak 2017

• The United Nations International Day of Vesak -2017 will be hosted by Sri Lanka from 12th to 14th May 2017.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate UN Vesak Day in Colombo on 12th May,2017.

Note:

• Vesak Day is regarded by all Buddhist traditions as the anniversary of the birth of the Buddha.
• The theme of this edition is ‘Buddhist teachings for social justice and sustainable world peace’.

4. India & South Korea sign MoU for Defence Industry

• India and South Korea have signed an Inter-Governmental Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Defence Industry cooperation between their shipbuilding yards in New Delhi.
• India has nominated Hindustan Shipyard at Vishakhapatnam whereas South Korea is yet to nominate its shipyard.
• This MoU is part of the 'Make in India' initiative of the union government.

5. Mongolia launches first satellite Mongol Sat-I

• Mongolia has launched its first satellite Mongol Sat-I part of its efforts to make use of new technology to diversify its resource-dependent economy.
• It is 1227 Megahertz satellite.
• The satellite was launched in partnership with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS). The Satellite helps with space research, map making and preparing for natural disaster.

National Affairs

6. World Bank approves Rs 2,421 cr loan for inland waterways project

• The World Bank has approved a loan of around Rs. 2,421 crores for the ambitious inland waterways project between Haldia (West Bengal) and Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
• The approved loan amount is about 45% of the estimated project cost of Rs. 5,369 crore for capacity augmentation of National Waterway-1.
• The 11,390-kilometrewaterway project of the shipping ministry will enable commercial navigation of vessels with the capacity of 1,500-2,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT).
• NW-1 will have three multi-modal terminals, one each at Varanasi, Sahibganj (Jharkhand), and Haldia.

7. Assam govt to provide skill development training to 15 lakh youths

• The Assam govt. will provide skill development training to 5 lakh youths in the current financial year.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with a Singapore institute to set up skill development center in the state.
• The training will be given in various fields including hospitality and manufacturing sectors.

8. UP govt to set up 40 Yoga wellness centers in 40 districts

• The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to set up 40 Yoga wellness centers in 40 districts during current financial year.
• Twenty-three Ayurvedic hospitals 12 homeopathic and 7 Unani hospitals and colleges will be set up.
• The first herbal garden of the state will develop at Lucknow to encourage the farmers for cultivation of herbal plants across the state.

9. Steel Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh inaugurated 'India Steel 2017' in Mumbai

• The Union Steel Minister ‘Chaudhary Birender Singh’ has inaugurated the three-day International Conference and Exhibition on Steel Industry 'India Steel 2017' (3rd edition) at Mumbai Exhibition center in Mumbai.
• The exhibition-cum-conference was organized by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCO) along with Union Ministry of Steel.
• Presently, India is the third largest producer of crude steel in the world.

Science & Defence

10. Indian Navy test-fires land attack version of Brahmos supersonic cruise missile

• Indian Navy has successfully tested the land attack version of supersonic cruise missile “Brahmos” from Indian Navy's ship Teg on a target on land.
• BrahMos Missile has been jointly developed by India and Russia and its anti-ship variant has already been inducted into the Navy.
• A majority of the frontline ships of Indian Navy (the Kolkata, Ranvir and Teg classes of ships) are capable of firing this missile.
• Land Attack variant of BrahMos Missile provides Indian Naval Ships the capability to precisely neutralize selected targets deep inland, far away from coast, from stand-off ranges at sea.

Honors & Awards

11. Madhya Pradesh to get Krishi Karman Award 2015-16 for wheat production

• The union govt. has announced to confer on Madhya Pradesh the prestigious Krishi Karman Award 2015-16 for the fifth consecutive year.
• MP wheat production in 2015-16 stood at 184.10 lakh tons as against 171.03 lakh tons in 2014-15(rise of 7.64 %).
• Wheat productivity grew to 3,115 kilograms per hectare in the state (last year 2,850 kgs per hectare).
• The award instituted by the Agriculture Ministry carries a trophy, citation & cash prize of Rs. 2 crores and also cash reward of Rs 2 lakh rupees will be handed over to a woman and a male farmer as 'best wheat producer'.

12. Golfers Aditi Ashok, SSP Chawrasia and Ali Sher win Golf Industry Association Awards 2017

• Golfers Aditi Ashok, S.S.P Chawrasia and Ali Sher has won the second edition of the Golf Industry Association (GIA) Awards 2017.
• Recently, Aditi finished second in the Ladies European Tour (LET) order of merit in 2016.
• SSP Chawrasia has won the Men's Player of the Year (2016).
• Indian professional Golfer Ali Sher has won an Arjuna Award in 1991 and then went on to win the Indian Open again in 1993.

  "Thought of the Day"

“Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got.”

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