Daily Current Affairs: 3rd January 2018

Dear SH Aspirants,
Study Daily Current Affairs and stay updated as well as prepare for General Awareness section of bank exams. It's time to gear up your preparations for IBPS/RBI/SBI/SSC and with the daily dose of current affairs, you can easily prepare G.A and score well.

1. Jharkhand CM launches programme

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das has launched "Saubhagya Yojana", a programme that would provide electricity to all the 29,376 villages in the state.

•    Launching the "Saubhagya Yojana" here, Das said only 38 lakh households out of 68 lakh households in the state could get electricity in 67 years.

•    However, this government has provided electricity to 13 lakh households in just three years.

•    By December 2018, the target is to provide electricity to the rest 17.64 lakh households.

2. Joint Schemes for SC, OBC, Safai Karamcharis and Disabled Persons

The Government is implementing a Scheme, namely the Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) that provides grant-in-aid to non-governmental organizations for various projects relating to rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. 

•    The objective of the scheme is to enable persons with disabilities to reach and maintain their optimal, physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric or social functional levels.

3. UP theme state for Surajkund crafts mela

The Haryana tourism department has disclosed that Uttar Pradesh would be the theme state for the 32nd Surajkund International Crafts Mela, which would be organized at Surajkund, Faridabad from February 2 to 15.

•    Apart from all other states, about 24 countries would also participate in it.

•    The fair organized by the Haryana Tourism and Surajkund Fair Authority in collaboration with the Union ministries of tourism, textiles, culture and external affairs, exhibited handicrafts, handloom variety and prosperity of India at global level.

4. India's GDP growth rate may accelerate to 7% in 2018-19: HSBC

India’s growth rate is expected to accelerate over the coming year and is likely to improve further to 7.6 per cent by 2019-20 as key sectors would revive from disruptions related to the implementation of GST and demonetization.

•    According to an HSBC report, India's GDP growth rate is expected to accelerate to 7.0 per cent in 2018-19 from 6.5 per cent in this fiscal.

5. Parliament gives nod to NABARD (Amendment) Bill, 2017

The Parliament has gave its nod to a Bill that allows the central government to increase from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 30,000 crore the limit to which it can increase the capital of NABARD.

•    The bill seeks to amend the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981.

•    The 1981 Act provides for the establishment of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), responsible for providing and regulating facilities like credit for agricultural and industrial development in the rural areas.

6. Government appoints Rajinder Khanna as Deputy National Security Advisor

Rajinder Khanna, former chief of the country's external intelligence agency RAW, was appointed as Deputy National Security Adviser.

•    The post was lying vacant since Arvind Gupta, a former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, completed his tenure in August last year. Gupta was in August 2014 appointed to the post.

•    Khanna is at present Officer on Special Duty (Neighbourhood Studies) in the National Security Council Secretariat.

7. Salil Parekh takes over as Infosys CEO and MD

Salil S Parekh has formally takes over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Infosys.

•    Parekh, who was one of Capgemini's five deputy CEOs, has experience in the cloud computing business, ability to handle large acquisitions and a strong grip on technology and sales.

•    On December 2, 2017, Infosys had announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Salil S Parekh as CEO and MD of the company effective January 2, 2018.

8. Eminent Urdu poet Anwar Jalalpuri dies at 71

Eminent Urdu poet Anwar Jalalpuri, also known for his translation of the Bhagavad Gita from Hindi to Urdu, passed away following cardiac arrest. He was 71.

•    Jalalpuri was admitted to the trauma centre of King George's Medical University (KGMU) on December 28 following a brain stroke.

•    Jalalpuri was awarded the Yash Bharati by the Uttar Pradesh government.