31st January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 31st January 2017

International Current Affairs

• African Union today re-admitted Morocco "back into the family" after a 33-year absence as 39 out of 54 member states voted in favour of its return at the 28th African leader's summit in Ethiopia. 
• Note : Morocco left AU in 1984 after it recognised the independence of Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. 
• Representatives of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will meet in Nepal on February 1-2 to attend a session of the Programming Committee. 
• This will be their first meeting since the postponement of the SAARC Summit which was to take place in Pakistan last year. 
  
• The members will reportedly discuss the SAARC Secretariat's budget among other issues.
• Pakistan has declined an invitation by the Indian Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union to attend South Asian Speakers' Summit to be held in Indore next month. 
• The summit will be attended by Speakers of Parliament from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka among other countries. 
• Note : India had boycotted a Commonwealth Parliamentary Union meeting in Islamabad in 2015.

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30th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 30th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• The White House today hinted that Pakistan could be included in the list of countries from where immigration has been banned. 
  • Note : This is the first time that the Trump administration has publicly acknowledged that it could put Pakistan on the list, which currently has seven nations.
• Greece's Lambrakis Press Group today announced that two of its newspapers including Ta Nea, the country's best-selling daily, will cease publication due to financial reasons. 
• It also added that the situation was a result of the economic crisis Greece is currently facing.
• Members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to meet this week on Wednesday & Thursday at Kathmandu.

National Current Affairs

• Today (30th January) is National Martyrs' Day.
• This day is also known as Sarvodaya day / Shaheed Diwas.
• We observe this day to commemorate 69th death anniversary of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
• Note : On this day in 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse at a prayer meeting.
• Today is Anti Leprosy Day.
• This day is observed every year in memory of Mahatma Gandhi.

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29th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 29th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• US President Donald Trump today signed an executive order which has a clause that says privacy protections would not be extended past US citizens or permanent residents in America. 
• This clause is in contravention of the EU-US Privacy Shield agreement which ensures non-Americans are not treated differently by US organisations with weaker privacy safeguards.
• The Colombian government and rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have announced a joint deal to fight cocaine crop cultivation. 
• Under the deal, farmers will be offered loans, subsidies and monthly payments of around $350 (around ₹24,000) if they agree to destroy their cocaine crops.
• Earlier, FARC relied on cocaine production to fund its insurgency. 
  

National Current Affairs

• On the eve of National Immunization Day, President Pranab Mukherjee today launched nationwide Pulse Polio programme for 2017 by administering polio drops to children at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• The programme will cover around 17 crore children aged under five years in an effort to maintain the country's polio-free status.

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28th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 28th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• Denmark has announced it will appoint a 'Digital Ambassador' to manage its relationship with technology giants like Google and Apple.
• Note : With this, Denmark will become the first country to appoint Digital Ambassador.
• In an effort to curb tourist numbers, the Spanish city of Barcelona today made a law limiting the number of beds hotels and tourist apartments can offer. 
• The law also temporarily prohibited the construction of new hotels. 
• Barcelona, which houses 16 lakh residents, was visited by 3.2 crore tourists last year. 
• Its residents consider tourism among its biggest problems.
• US President Donald Trump today signed an executive order banning visitors from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries for three months. 
• He put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the US and said persecuted Christians would be prioritised over other refugees.
  

National Current Affairs

• Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala has announced ₹1,188 crore in the 2017-18 fiscal for the smart city project. 
• The aim of this project is to provide smart solutions at reasonable rates for services provided by the municipal corporations.
•  The six cities, which will be developed under the scheme are,
• Mangaluru, 
• Belagavi, 
• Shivamogga, 
• Hubballi-Dharwad, 
• Tumakuru 
• Davanagere

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27th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 27th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• Today (27th January) is International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust (International Holocaust Remembrance Day).
• This day commemorates the genocide that resulted in the death of an estimated 6 million Jewish people, 2 million Romani people, 250,000 mentally and physically disabled people, and 9,000 homosexual men by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.
  
• Theme of the year 2017 : “Educating for a Better Future: The Role of Historical Sites and Museums in Holocaust Education”
• India has been ranked 79th out of 176 countries in the recently released Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2016. 
• This index was released by the Berlin-based corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI).  
• New Zealand and Denmark jointly got 1st place in the index.  
• Finland got the 3rd position.
• Top 10 Countries in the List :
• New Zealand and Denmark
• Finland
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Norway
• Singapore
• Netherlands
• Canada
• Germany

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26th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 26th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• Today (26th January) is International Customs Day.
• This day recognizes the role of custom officials and agencies in maintaining border security.
• It focuses on the working conditions and challenges that customs officers face in their jobs.
• Theme of the year 2017 : Data Analysis for Effective Border Management
• The Republic Day of India (26th January) coincides with the Foundation Day of Australia (or Australia Day).
• The Australia Day marks the beginning of the European settlement in Australia and the foundation of the modern Australian state. 
• It was on this day (26th January) in the year 1788 that the British ships reached Australia and the flag of Great Britain was raised in the country.
• The President of United States, Donald Trump signed an executive order to enable construction of a 2,000-mile wall along the southern US border with Mexico.
  
• The wall is aimed at stemming the flow of drugs, illegal immigration into the US. 
• Earlier, Trump had vowed to make Mexico pay for the wall even as it refused to pay for it.

National Current Affairs

• India celebrates 68th Republic Day today.
• The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India. 
• To commemorate this, January 26 is celebrated as Republic Day every year. 
• Note : This day was also chosen as the Republic Day because, on January 26, 1930, the declaration of complete independence was proclaimed by the Congress.

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25th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 25th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• Former US President Barack Obama, during his final hours in office, authorised the transfer of around $227 million to foreign accounts, of which around $221 million (over ₹1,500 crore) was issued to Palestine.
• Around $4 million (over ₹27 crore) was transferred to climate change programs and $1.25 million (over ₹8.5 crore) to the UN Peacebuilding Fund.
• US President Donald Trump's administration has barred scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from posting updates on social media and speaking to reporters.
• According to the recently data released by the Pentagon, the United States has spent around $10.7 billion (₹72,865 crore) on fighting the Islamic state under 'Operation Inherent Resolve'.
• Turkey, Russia and Iran have reached agreement on forming a three-party mechanism to monitor ceasefire violations in Syria, concluding the talks held in Kazakhstan's capital Astana. 
• Note : Iran and Russia support the Syrian government, while Turkey supports rebels opposing the government. 

MOUs & Agreements

• During the ongoing visit of Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, India and UAE signed an MoU to establish cooperation in identified fields of defence manufacturing and technology.
  
• This agreement enables the two sides to cooperate in areas of armaments, defence industries and transfer of technology. Both the countries signed a total of 14 MoUs.

National Current Affairs

• Today is 7th National Voters’ Day.
• The date (25th January) was declared as the National Voters' Day in the year 2011 as the Election Commission of India was founded on 25 January 1950. 
• The day aims at increasing the enrolment of voters, especially encourage participation of newly eligible young voters and ensure universal adult franchise.
• Theme of National Voter's Day 2017 : 'Empowering Young and Future Voters'

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24th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 24th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• The Crown Prince of AbuDhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is on a visit to India.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi received him at Delhi airport.
• Important Note : He is our chief guest for the Republic Day function 2017.
• China has built Longyangxia Dam Solar Park, the world's largest solar park which can produce about 850 MW of power in Qinghai province.
• This park occupies 27 square kilometres and has been expanded several times since its construction began in 2013.
• The White House has revealed that they are in "beginning stages" of discussing plans to move USA's Israel embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. 
• This comes after France warned President Donald Trump of "serious consequences" if the embassy is moved to Jerusalem. 
• Note : Most countries have embassies in Tel Aviv due to ongoing political disputes between Israel and Palestine over Jerusalem.
  

National Current Affairs

• Today is 10th National Girl Child Day.
• This day has been started as a national girls development mission by the Government of India. 
• This mission raises the awareness among people all over the country about the importance of girl’s promotion. 
• It enhances the meaningful contribution of the girls in decision making processes through the active support of the parents and other community members.
• Theme : “Empowerment of Girl Child”

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23rd January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 23rd January 2017

International Current Affairs

• The Nepal government has launched a 10-year-plan to reduce its dependence on vegetable imports from India and make itself self-reliant.
• Note : Every year Nepal imports vegetables worth ₹3,437 crore from India.

National Current Affairs

• Today is 120th birth anniversary of Indian Nationalist and Freedom Fighter Subhash Chandra Bose.
  • Bose was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, which was then a part of Bengal province. 
  • An advocate of complete freedom, Netaji went to jail 11 times during the independence struggle. 
  • Netaji, the founder of the Indian National Army, was chosen President of the Congress twice when Mahatma Gandhi was also nominated.

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22nd January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 22nd January 2017

International Current Affairs

• Indian-origin Mauritian Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth today announced that he is stepping down to hand over power to his son Pravind Jugnauth. 
• Pravind who is the incumbent Finance Minister is expected to be named Prime Minister early next week.
• The World Economic Forum and UCSB’s Marine Science Institute (MSI) have announced a partnership to improve health of world’s oceans and maritime resources. 
• This partnership will harness the potential of public-private cooperation and the 4th industrial revolution to help the international community meet the ocean sustainable development goal.
• Turkey's Parliament today voted in favour of a constitutional reform bill making the country's President the head of the executive. 
• The bill will now be put to a nationwide referendum that would be held in April. 
• If people vote in favour of the referendum it could reportedly allow Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to stay in office until 2029.

National Current Affairs

• Over 3.5 lakh people today set a new world record by singing the National Anthem at an event in Gujarat. 
• The event was organised during the installation of an idol of goddess Khodiyar at a newly-built Khodal Dham temple in Rajkot's Kagvad.
• The Gurugram Police has been given body-worn cameras, which will be attached to a policeman's uniform, for better patrolling. 
• The cameras, imported from the United Kingdom, are encrypted and it is not possible to delete or overwrite footage.

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21st January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 21st January 2017

International Current Affairs

• Businessman-turned-politician Donald Trump sworn-in as 45th President of the US at the Inauguration Day ceremony in Washington DC. 
• He vowed to rebuild the country 'with American hands'. 
• He concluded inaugural address with campaign slogan : Yes, together we will make America great again.
• He signed his first executive order, directing government agencies to scale back Obamacare.
• During his campaigns, Trump had promised to dismantle the health care law, which required Americans to have health insurance or pay a tax penalty. 
• Note : The Senate last week voted to draft a legislation repealing Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act or Obamacare.
• Vice President Hamid Ansari today extended an invitation to his newly-appointed US counterpart Michael Richard Pence to visit India.
• In an attempt to finalise the cooperation agreement, India and UAE today held their first strategic dialogue. 
• During the meeting, the two sides discussed several issues ranging from cooperation in the areas of trade and investments to the areas of energy security and renewable energy, defence and security, electronics and information technology and space.
• The government is planning to build a rail link connecting neighbouring nations Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has announced today. 
• Further, he informed that work was on to connect all the eight state capitals of the north-east.

National Current Affairs

• The states Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya are today celebrating 45th Statehood Day. 
• The three states attained statehood in 1972 under the North-Eastern Areas (Re-organisation) Act, 1971. 
  
• While Meghalaya was a part of Assam before becoming a full-fledged state, Manipur and Tripura were Union Territories before 1972.
• The Centre today cleared the ordinance on Jallikattu proposed by the Tamil Nadu government.
• This move will allow the state to take the ordinance route to promulgate the bull-taming sport
• CM O.Panneerselvam is going to launch Jallikattu at Alanganallur in Madurai tomorrow morning.

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20th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 20th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• Donald J. Trump is going to be sworn-in as 45th President of United States today. 
• Chief Justice of Supreme Court John Roberts will administer him the oath of office using Trump family bible & one known as the Lincoln Bible.
• Note : Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna will represent India at the Presidential Inauguration today.
  

National Current Affairs

• Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh today declared Dharamshala as the 2nd capital of the state. 
• The Himachal government is expected to make Dharamshala its winter capital and shift the government to Dharamshala for two months in winter.
• Important Points to Note : 
• This move makes Himachal Pradesh the third Indian state to have more than one capital. 
• While Maharashtra has Mumbai and Nagpur as its capitals, Srinagar and Jammu are the respective summer and winter capitals of Jammu and Kashmir.

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19th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 19th January 2017

National Current Affairs

• Indian city Bengaluru has emerged as the most dynamic city in the world (according to recently released annual by Jones Lang LaSalle’s City Momentum Index). 
• Another Indian city Hyderabad stood at 5th place in the index.
• Top 10 cities in 2017 CMI :
• Bengaluru (India), 
• Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), 
• Silicon Valley (US), 
  
• Shanghai (China), 
• Hyderabad (India), 
• London (UK), 
• Austin (US), 
• Hanoi (Vietnam), 
• Boston (US) 
• Nairobi (Kenya)

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18th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 18th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Boris Johnson is on a Two Day visit to India.
• Today he met PM Narendra Modi. 
• Johnson spoke at the Raisina dialogue and emphasised the need for a free trade agreement between India and UK.
  
• Libyan military commander General Khalifa Haftar visited Russian aircraft carrier 'Admiral Kuznetsov' in the Mediterranean today. 
• On the tour, Haftar and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the fight against terrorist groups in the Middle East. 
• Note : The visit is seen as a show of Russian support to Libya in its fight against terrorism.

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17th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 17th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• India has officially became an associate member of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), deemed as the world's largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory. 
• Important Points to Note : 
• Indian scientists played a significant role at CERN including the construction of the Large Hadron Collider, which helped confirm the Higgs boson. 
  
• The membership would cost India approximately ₹78 crore per year.
• India has been ranked 60th among 79 developing economies, below China (15), Nepal (27) and Pakistan (52), in World Economic Forum's Inclusive Development Index. 
• Top 10 Countries in the List : 
• Lithuania
• Azerbaijan
• Hungary
• Poland
• Romania
• Uruguay
• Latvia
• Panama
• Costa Rica
• Chile

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16th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 16th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• US President Barack Obama has declared January 16 as Religious Freedom Day in accordance with a yearly tradition.
• India was ranked 92nd among 118 countries in the 2017 Global index of talent competitiveness (GTI) list.
• Top 10 Countries in the List :
• Switzerland
• Singapore
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Sweden
• Australia
• Luxembourg
• Denmark
• Finland
• Norway

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15th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 15th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• China has handed over two ships Hingol and Basol, to the Pakistan to safeguard the strategic Gwadar port and trade routes under the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

National Current Affairs

• Today (15th January) is 69th Indian Army Day
  
• It was on this day in 1949 when Lt. General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa became the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army post Independence.
• This day inspires the troops to continue to enrich the glorious traditions of the Indian Army with their dedication and sacrifice.
• This Day also marks a day to salute the valiant soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect the country and the people living in it.
• Important Names to Remember :
• Chief of Army Staff - Bipin Rawat
• Chief of Naval Staff - Sunil Lanba
• Air Chief Marshal - Birender Singh Dhanoa

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14th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 14th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• Ecuador has taken over from Thailand as Chair of the Group of 77 (G77) countries of the United Nations for the year 2017. 
• The group promote collective economic interests of the 134 developing countries at the United Nations, including India. 
• About Group of 77
• Founded on - 15th June 1964
• Founding Members - 77
• Current Members - 134
• Current Chairman (2017) - Ecuador
• After the lifting of international sanctions on Iran in 2015, the country today received its first new aircraft in 40 years. 
• A commercial passenger jet for airline Iran Air, Airbus A321 arrived at Tehran on a flight from the Airbus headquarters in France. 
• The jet is the first of the 100 aircraft Iran ordered after sanctions were lifted.
• The US has announced the end of a 20-year economic embargo on Sudan by lifting trade and financial sanctions.
• The announcement made by outgoing President Barack Obama’s administration in an effort to foster ties with the Sudanese government to improve security in the region. 
  
• Note : This will be for the first time in two decades Sudan will be able to receive imported goods and services from US.

National Current Affairs

• The 1st edition of ABU (Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union) International Television Dance Festival was held in Hyderabad (Telangana). 
• 10 Asian-Pacific countries including  Maldives, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Fiji and Indonesia have participated in this festival.
• Host : Prasar Bharati

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13th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 13th January 2017

National Current Affairs

• Mumbai Police has launched an 'Alert is Alive' campaign on Twitter to mark the Road Safety Week.
• The Government has increased the minimum monthly pension to 9,000 per person, besides a two-fold hike in ex-gratia amount for central government employees.
• Airline company Air India today announced the reservation of six seats in the third row on every domestic flight for women travelling alone, beginning January 18.
  
• Keeping young adolescent girls' health and hygiene in mind, the Haryana Government has decided to install automated sanitary napkin vending machines and incinerators in the state's all government colleges.  .
• Delhi was declared free from bird flu (H5N8 avian influenza) after consecutive samples collected at 15 days’ intervals from the last positive results tested negative. 
• Note : In October 2016, cases of mortality among the birds due to H5N8 avian influenza were reported in National Zoological Park, Delhi NCR.

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12th January 2017 Important Daily Current Affairs

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Daily Current Affairs of 12th January 2017

International Current Affairs

• Head of China's Xinjiang province, Shohrat Zakir, today announced that the security along the China-Pakistan border would be tightened to prevent terrorism as " neighbouring countries are facing rising terrorist threats". 
• This comes as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which connects Balochistan's Gwadar port to Xinjiang province, is being constructed to boost trade between the countries.
• Russia's Health Ministry has unveiled a proposal to ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2015.
• If the proposal becomes a law, it would make Russia world's first country to completely phase out tobacco.
• Note : The proposal, if approved, will take effect in 2033 when the affected Russian citizens (now babies) turn 18 years old.
• Saudi Arabia has increased India's annual Haj quota from 1.36 lakh to 1.70 lakh, biggest such expansion in last 29 years.

MOUs & Agreements

• India and Kenya have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and allied sectors. 
• The agreement was signed during the visit of Kenyian President Uhuru Kenyatta to India. 
• Important Note : This is the first official state visit of Kenyan President to India since 1981.
• Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today announced that the state has inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the Railways to manufacture parts of a bullet train. 
• Rupani said the project will "attract work worth ₹67,000 crore to Gujarat."

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