Daily GK : 10-11 December 2016

National Affairs

1. 'Digishala' News launched by Central government to promote cashless economy.

• The TV channel was launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in order to provide lessons for cashless transactions.
• The TV channel will broadcast nationally on DD free-DTH service.
• Major aim for this move is to educate farmers, students, Dalits and women in rural areas about the benefits of digital payments.

2. Quota for Gujjars scrapped by Rajasthan High Court.

• The court scrapped Rajasthan Special Backward Classes (SBC) Reservation Act 2015.
• Provision of 5% quota to five communities, including Gujjars was provided under this act.
• The judgement was passed by division bench of Justice M N Bhandari and J K Ranka.

International Affairs

3. Civil Nuclear Deal signed between India and Vietnam.

• Apart from the Nuclear Cooperation agreement, three other agreements were also signed between the two countries.
• The agreements are aimed at enhancing aviation links, jointly working in the area of energy efficiency and promotion of parliamentary cooperation.
• The deals were signed in presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and President of Vietnam's National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

4. 'Space Junk Collector' successfully launched by Japan.

• The innovative device has been built with the help of a fishing net company.
• It will be delivered with the help of cargo ship, Kounotori (Stork).
• The device is made from thin wires of stainless steel and aluminium and is designed to redirect space junk towards Earth’s atmosphere.

5. Human Rights Day observed globally.

• December 10 was observed as the Human Rights Day around the world.
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on this day by the United Nation's General Assembly in 1948.

6. India ranks 7th in the Global Terrorism Index.

• As per the report released Sydney based Think tank, Institute for Economics and Peace, India holds 7th spot among the countries most struck by terrorism in 2015.
• The list was released for 163 countries which were most affected by Terrorism in 2015.

7. Ease of Doing Business Conference conduced between India and UK.

• Shri Ramesh Abhishek, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, India,  and Sir Dominic Asquith, British High Commissioner had jointly inaugurated the conference in New Delhi.
• Regulatory reforms, Inspection reforms, Tax administration and Trade facilitation were discussed in the conference.

8. New Cargo service linking Tibet with Nepal launched by China.

• The new rail and road cargo service links Guangdong, Tibet to Nepal.
• The move aims to boost trade with the South Asian neighbours.

9. Pakistan's $100 million loan cancelled by World Bank.

• The loan was given to Pakistan for a natural gas efficiency project to be carried out by Sui Southern Gas Company.
• World Bank has cancelled the loan citing various reasons including nil progress in achieving the development objectives and a lack of interest on the part of the gas distribution company.