Daily GK : 14 Dec 2016

National

1. India's own Agni-V ballistic missile is all set to Test Launch

• India is getting ready to test its Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its final operational configuration from Wheeler Island off Odisha after two years.
• This will be fourth and the final test of nuclear-capable Agni-V.
• Once the Agni-V is inducted, India will join the super exclusive club of countries with ICBMs (missiles with a range of over 5,000-5,500km) alongside the US, Russia, China, France and the UK.
• It is capable of reaching northern parts of China.

2. Rajya Sabha passes bill on rights of differently-abled

• A bill stipulating up to two- year jail term and a maximum fine of Rs 5 lakh for discriminating against differently-abled persons was passed by the Rajya Sabha today.
• It provides for imprisonment of at least six months up to two years, along with a fine ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 5 lakh for discriminating against differently-abled persons.

3. NGT imposes interim nationwide ban on manja for flying kites

• The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday imposed an interim nationwide ban on use of glass-coated “manja” for flying kites as the sharp string poses a danger to humans, animals and birds.
• A bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar passed the order after noting that “manja”, string coated with glass and metal powder and used for flying kites, poses a threat to the environment.

4. Antyodaya Express: New modern superfast train for unreserved passengers

• After Deen Dayalu coaches and Humsafar Express, Indian Railways is getting ready to introduce the all new Antyodaya Express. The Antyodaya Express was first announced by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in this year’s Railway Budget
• Antyodaya Express has been envisioned as an unreserved, superfast service, that will ply on high density routes. “Antyodaya Express will be a long-distance, fully unreserved, superfast train service, for the common man to be operated on dense routes
• The train will have modern facilities and multiple comforts for the unreserved passenger, a move that is likely to benefit and bring cheer to the common man.

International

5. 6th Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development begins in New Delhi

• The sixth edition of ‘Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development’ inaugurated by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu in Delhi today, where during the three-day conference, ministers and senior officials from 68 countries in the region are expected to deliberate on challenges of urban planning and management.
• The conference seeks to address issues ranging from crowded city centres to peripheral expansion, metropolitan based urban population growth, megacities and urban corridors, among others.

6. India, Russia bilateral naval exercise Indra Navy 2016 begins

• The 9th edition of exercise INDRA NAVY, an annual bilateral maritime exercise between Indian Navy and Russian Navy will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 14 to 21 December 2016.
• The primary aim of exercise INDRA NAVY-16 is to increase inter-operability amongst the two navies and develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations.

7. India becomes world’s 4th largest defence spender

• India now belongs to the list of top five defence spenders in the world with more than $50 billion devoted to its military budget, placing the South Asian country in fourth place, according to the annual Jane’s Defence Budgets Report.
• According to the report, global defence spending rose by 1 per cent to $1.6 trillion (Rs 108 lakh crore) in 2016, against a 0.6 per cent increase in 2015. The report also revealed that the United States was still king with its expenditure representing about 40 per cent of the total Global Defence budget. India overtook Saudi Arabia and Russia to become one of the top five defence spenders globally.
• Top 5

1. United States
2. China
3. United Kingdom
4. India
5. Saudi Arabia

Financial Awareness

8. Finance Ministry: Old Rs 500 notes not acceptable from December 15 mid-night

• People can use old Rs 500 notes for paying utility bills or buying medicines till Wednesday mid-night as the government has decided not to extend exemptions beyond December 15.
• At the same time, mobile recharge facility with old Rs 500 notes will not be available. However, people can deposit invalid Rs 500 currency in their bank accounts.
• Exemptions for use of old Rs 500 notes will end on December 15 midnight.
• That means old 500 currency notes will not be acceptable at medicine shops and for paying public utility services such as payment of electricity and water bill etc.
• The government had already withdrawn some of the relaxations like booking railway or plane tickets and payment at the petrol pump and toll plaza by using the old Rs 500 notes.

9. India to contribute $500000 to UN emergency response fund

• India has said it will contribute $500,000 to the United Nations's emergency response fund for the year 2016-17 as it stressed that the international response is falling significantly short of the challenges posed by humanitarian crises across the world.