Daily Current Affairs Quiz 31st August 2017

Eminent Konkani writer Mahabaleshwar Sail (74) was bestowed with prestigious Saraswati Samman 2016. He was awarded for his novel “Hawthan” that captures cultural lives of traditional potter community in Goa. He was presented the award, comprising plaque and a cash purse of Rs.15 lakh by Union minister for commerce and industry Nirmala Sitharaman at event held in New Delhi.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have successfully created an implantable bioartificial pancreas model grown within a 3D silk scaffold. The pancreas encapsulates insulin-producing cells and is capable of naturally producing insulin in a sustained manner.

The India and the European Union agreed to strengthen cooperation between their security and intelligence agencies to protect from the threat of terrorism and check terror financing. During the 10th India-European Union Counter Terrorism Dialogue in New Delhi, the two sides deliberated extensively on combating terror financing and challenges posed by radicalization.

Amazon announced a partnership with the Akshaya Patra Foundation to implement the Karnataka government's 'Ksheera Bhagya' Scheme, wherein school children would be provided a glass of milk each five days a week. The partnership aims to reach out to 170,000 children across 1,300 government schools in the state.

The awards will be given by the Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi in the presence of Minister of State Krishna Raj. A total of 97 AWWs will be conferred with these awards, which comprises of a cash amount of Rs 25,000 and a citation.

Badminton ace PV Sindhu, who recently won Silver at the World Championship, was on Wednesday appointed the first brand ambassador of tyre maker Bridgestone India. The shuttler has signed a three year deal with Bridgestone India, a subsidiary of Bridgestone which is one of the sponsors for the Olympics 2020 in Japan.

India and China jointly submitted a proposal to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) calling for the elimination - by developed countries - of the most trade-distorting form of farm subsidies, known in WTO parlance as Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS) or ‘Amber Box’ support as a prerequisite for consideration of other reforms in domestic support negotiations.

Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ujjivan Financial Services Ltd, has been given scheduled bank status by RBI. Ujjivan SFB commenced its operations as a Small Finance Bank with effect from February 1, 2017. Currently, Ujjivan SFB has 65 full-fledged brick and mortar branches in eight states and two Union Territories. It plans to convert 160 existing branches and 29 new Unbanked Rural Centres (URCs) by the end of FY 2017-18 and the remaining branches will be converted over a period of two years in line with RBI approval.

Shri Rajiv Gauba, IAS (Jharkhand cadre-1982 batch) took over as Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs. Shri Gauba joined the Ministry of Home Affairs as Officer on Special Duty on June 27, 2017 and took charge as the Union Home Secretary upon the superannuation of Shri Rajiv Mehrishi.

Rajiv Mehrishi has been appointed as the new Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG). A 1978-batch IAS officer, his career spanned more than 30 years. Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi had retired and Rajiv Gauba took charge. Mehrishi is an Indian Administrative Service Officer (IAS) of 1978 batch and belonged to Rajasthan cadre. Mehrishi will replace current incumbent Shashi Kant Sharma. Rajiv Mehrishi has a degree in business administration from Strathclyde Business School, Glasgow. He also did BA (History) and MA (History) from the St Stephen’s College in Delhi.