CURRENT AFFAIRS DAILY DIGEST

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1. Kohli nominated for Polly Umrigar award, Ashwin for Dilip Sardesai award

India captain Virat Kohli will be presented with the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award, given to BCCI’s International Cricketer of the Year, at the Annual Awards to be held in Bengaluru on March 8. Virat Kohli will become the first to receive the award thrice. He had won the award in 2011-12 and in 2014-15. R Ashwin will also become the first to receive the Dilip Sardesai Award given to the top performer on the West Indies tour twice.

2. JNU wins Visitor’s Award for Best University of 2017

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has won the annual Visitor’s Award for the ‘Best University’, 2017. Deepak Pant from the Central University of Himachal Pradesh won the Visitor’s Award for ‘Innovation’ while the Visitor’s Award for ‘Research’ has been jointly won by Shyam Sunder from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Professor Niranjan Karak from Tezpur University.

3. JS Deepak named India’s next Ambassador to WTO

Telecom Secretary J.S. Deepak has been appointed as country’s permanent representative to World Trade Organization (WTO). Mr. Deepak will take over his new assignment from June 1, 2017 and till then he will be Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Department of Commerce in the Ministry of Commerce and Industries with immediate effect.

4. Ajay Tyagi takes charge as 9th Sebi chief

Ajay Tyagi assumed charge as the ninth chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). The former additional secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, made a confident entry in the Sebi’s and is likely to hit the ground running. Sources said the Finance Ministry has set some action plan for Tyagi particularly in the area of commodity markets.

5. Govt launches nationwide ‘Swachh Shakti Saptah’ in Sikkim

The Rural Management and Development Department (RM&DD) has started a week-long campaign titled “Swachh Shakti Saptah” to emphasize on active involvement of women in the Swachh Bharat Mission. The campaign was also launchedand will conclude onMarch eight.The Department has lined up various events leading up to March eight which is the International Women’s Day, said the Secretary RM&DD, D R Nepal while addressing a press conference.

6. BEML launches solar rooftop project in Karnataka

BEML Ltd, a defence public sector company, has set itself a goal of utilising 100 per cent renewable energy for its consumption. In this endeavour, the company has inaugurated a 200 KW grid connected rooftop solar project at its Mysore complex. The project was inaugurated by Deepak Kumar Hota, Chairman & Managing Director, BEML, in the presence of B R Viswanatha, Director-Mining & Construction, BEML.

7. Railways to soon start Aadhaar-based online ticketing system

The railways will soon move towards Aadhaar-based online ticketing system to prevent touts from blocking a bulk of tickets, end fraudulent bookings and curb cases of impersonation. Aadhaar number has been made mandatory for senior citizens+ to avail concessions in train tickets from April 1. A three-month trial run for this is going on.An integrated ticketing app will also be launched by May to promote cashless transaction.

8. Yatra.com signs pact with MP govt to promote homestays

Online travel company Yatra.com has said it has signed an agreement with Madhya Pradesh government to jointly promote homestays in the state. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Yatra will promote all the state tourism approved homestays, where travellers can book a room with a local family or the entire house

9. Aashray inks MoU with Jharkhand, to set up incubation centre for start-ups

• Gujarat based Incube Ventures Pvt Ltd, under the banner of Aashray Promotion of Social Enterprises Foundation, a techno social business incubator announced the signing of an MoU with the Jharkhand government’s Department of Information Technology and e-Governance (DoIT) to establish an incubation center for start-ups in that state.
• Accordingly, Incube Ventures will avail of the support listed in the Jharkhand government’s Start-Up Policy 2016 for five years, with the objective of making the incubation centre self-sustaining. The MoU was entered upon during the ‘Momentum Jharkhand Global Investors Summit 2017’ held recently.

10. DRDO inks deal with Jindal Steel to manufacturing high nitrogen steel

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Jindal Stainless (Hisar) Limited (JSHL) have inked a licence deal for manufacturing High Nitrogen Steel for armour applications. The agreement was signed in the presence of Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre and DRDO Chairman S. Christopher.

11. Navy successfully test fires anti-ship missile for 1st time

• The Navy has successfully test-fired an anti-ship missile for the first time from an indigenously built Kalvari class submarine.
• The Navy described the launch as a significant milestone in enhancing its “sub-surface” warfare prowess.
• The weapon was fired from the submarine, the first of India’s six Scorpene-class submarines which are being built under the Project 75, and it “successfully hit” a surface target during the trial in the Arabian Sea.

12. World Bank offers over $1-billion loan to Maharashtra

The World Bank has announced an assistance programme of over $1 billion in the areas of urban transport and climate resilient agriculture in Maharashtra, over the next 2-3 years. This was announced by the World Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Kristalina Georgieva, at the end of a day-long visit to the city. Over the last five years, World Bank had invested over $1.4 billion in Maharashtra in urban transport, rural water supply and agriculture.

13. South Korea, US begin large-scale military exercise

South Korean and U.S. troops began large-scale joint military exercise conducted annually to test their defense readiness against the threat from North Korea, which routinely characterizes the drills as preparation for war against it. The exercise, called Foal Eagle, comes amid heightened tension following the latest test launch of a ballistic missile by the North on Feb. 12 and in the past prompted threats by Pyongyang to launch military action in retaliation.

14. Nepal Investment Summit 2017 starts in Kathmandu

The Nepal Investment Summit 2017 in Kathmandu on March 2-3 will see the participation of nearly 250 companies from about two dozen countries. A number of Indian and Chinese companies will participate in an international summit in Nepal next week that aims to position the landlocked country as an attractive investment hub. Around 300 Nepalese firms will also take part in the summit themed ‘Harnessing Investment Opportunities.

15. Luis Norton de Matos appointed new head coach of India U-17 football team

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has appointed Portugal’s Luis Norton de Matos as the head coach of the India U-17 team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled to be held in October this year. A former manager with the Benfica Reserve side, De Matos replaces Nicolai Adam, who was forced to resign under controversial circumstances after a revolt from the players.

16. Indian Badminton Duo Tarun Kona and Alwin Francis Wins Uganda International Series Doubles Title

• Top seeded Indian shuttler duo Tarun Kona and Alwin Francis won the Men’s Double title at the 2017 Uganda International Series by defeating Aatish Lubah and Georges Julien Paul of Mauritius, 21-8, 21-14 at MTN Arena Lugogo, Kampala.
• The Uganda International Badminton Tournament 2017, sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation, was held from 23rd to 26th of February 2017. In Men’s Single George Julien Paul (Mauritius) defeats Edwin Ekiring (Uganda).
• In Women’s Single Shamim Bangi (Uganda) defeats Domou Amro (Jordan). In Women’s Double Doha Hany/Hadia Hosny (Egypt) defeats Evelyn Siamupangila/Ogar Siamupangila (Zambia).
• In Mixed Doubles Bahaedeen Ahmad Alshannik/ Domou Amro (Jordan) defeats Ahmed Salah/ Menna Eltanany (EGYPT)

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