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China operationalised world's longest bullet train line


China in the last week of December 2016 commenced operations of Shanghai-Kunming line, one of the world's longest high-speed railways.
●    The link joins the prosperous eastern coast to the less-developed southwestern part of the country.
●    The launch of the Shanghai-Kunming line signifies that China’s high-speed rail grid has taken shape and connects almost all provinces on the Chinese mainland.
●    The line is a part of the China Railway High-speed’s system of high-speed rail corridors, beginning in Shanghai and ending in Kunming.
●    The Shanghai-Kunming line is 2252 km in length.
●    The line is also the longest east-west high-speed railway in China.
●    It passes through five provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou and Yunnan.
●    It cuts travel time from Shanghai to Kunming from 34 hours to 11 hours.
 

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Beipanjiang Bridge, 'world's highest bridge' standing 1850ft above a gorge opens

Beipanjiang Bridge, the world’s highest bridge that connects the province of Guizhou and Yunnan in the remote mountainous part of China was opened to traffic on 29 December 2016. 
●    The bridge spans 1850 feet (564 meters) above a gorge over the Beipan River.
●    Build at an expense of about USD 146.7 million dollars Beipanjiang Bridge will help in reducing the road travel time between Xuianwei to Liupanshui from five hours to two.
●    As per reports, the bridge surpassed the 1837-foot-tall Sidu River Bridge for its world record title.
●    The bridge that hangs above the Beipan River was developed in three years.
●    The 1341-meter long bridge is a four-lane roadway.
●    The bridge is named after Beipan River over which it was developed.
●    The bridge is a part of 2115 mile Hangrui Highway that will connect Hangzhou to the China-Myanmar border crossing in Ruili.


 

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Sugar mills produce about 66 Lakh MT of sugar so far 

During the current Sugar Season 2016-17, the sugar mills of the country have commenced the crushing operation smoothly and  have produced about 66 Lakh MT of sugar so far. 
●    The sugar production is expected to be about 22.5 million MT by the end of the season. 
●    With a carryover stock of 7.71 million MT, the total availability of sugar is sufficient to meet the estimated domestic requirement of about 25 mMT.  
●    The stock position at the close of the current sugar season (Sept. 2017) is likely to be 5.21 mMT which will be carried forward for the next sugar season 2017-18.
●    Further, the sugar production in the next sugar season (2017-18) is expected to be good and is likely to start early and therefore there will be no shortage of domestically produced sugar in India. 
●    By November 2017, another 2 mMT would be available from early crushing. 
●    The government has taken necessary steps to maintain sufficient stocks in the country and keep the sugar prices under control.

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‘SwachhSwasthSarvatra’- Joint Initiative of HealthMinistry and Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation launched 

Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda and Union Minister of Human Resource Development ShriPrakashJavadekarlaunched ‘SwachhSwasthSarvatra’ to commemorate Good Governance Day at a function, here today. SwachhSwasthSarvatra is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation to achieve better health outcomes through improved sanitation and increased awareness and healthy lifestyles.
●    ShriNadda informed that the Health Ministry is working on the theme of “Catch them Young” and is working on effecting positive behavior change among the young to keep away from such habits that cause Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). 
●    He added that through pictorial books- ‘SwasthBaccheSwasth Bharat’ prepared by Central Health Education Bureau (CHEB), health messages shall be brought out that will educate the children and youth about healthy living habits and activities. The Ministry has distributed these books on healthy living across schools in India, the Minister added.
●    To complement and leverage the efforts and achievements made so far, the MDWS and the MOHFW have launched a joint initiative today- SwachhSwasthSarvatra. The three key components of SwachhSwasthSarvatra are:
●    Community Health Centres (CHCs) in ODF blocks supported to achieve Kayakalp certification
●    Gram Panchayat of Kayakalp Primary Health Centres (PHCs) prioritized to become  ODF
●    Training in WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene ) of CHC/PHC nominees

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50 per cent reservation in Judicial services in Bihar


The Bihar Government on 27 December 2016 approved 50 per cent reservation in all judicial services for candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes, Extremely Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
●    The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting. The reservation will be applicable in both Superior Judicial Services and Subordinate Judicial Services.
●    The Cabinet stated that the aspiring candidates belonging to EBC will get 21 per cent reservation and those belonging to OBC will get 12 per cent reservation.
●    In addition, candidates falling in the Scheduled Castes category will have 16 per cent reservation and those in the Scheduled Tribe category will get 1 per cent reservation in all judicial services under the state. 
●    Aside from this, 35 per cent ‘horizontal reservation’ will be provided to women and 1 per cent reservation to those who are differently abled.

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Anil Baijal to be appointed 21st Lieutenant Governor of Delhi

Former IAS officer Anil Baijal is all set to be appointed as the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. The approval for his appointment was given on 28 December 2016 by President Pranab Mukherjee.
●    Anil Baijal is a 1969 batch IAS officer of Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.
●    At present, he is associated with the Vivekananda International Foundation.
●    He has obtained a master's degree in Arts from the University of Allahabad. He is an alumnus of University of East Anglia.
●    He has also served as the Home Secretary under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
●    He is the former Vice-Chairman of Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
●    He retired as Secretary of the Urban Development Ministry in 2006.


 

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Samit Gohel broke 117-year-old record in first-class cricket

Samit Gohel, the Ranji player from Gujarat, who scored 359 not out runs in Ranji Trophy quarterfinal in Jaipur, Rajasthan, has broken the 117-year-old record in first-class cricket. He was able to create the world record with 45 boundaries and one six in 723 balls.
●    While Hanif Mohammed’s score of 499 remains the highest score by an opener in first-class cricket.
●    Highest score carrying the bat in first-class cricket.Highest second-innings score in first-class cricket
●    Longest innings by minutes in first-class cricket.Joint 4th highest score of the Ranji Trophy
●    Samit Gohel
●    He is an opening batsman of Gujarat team.
●    He is a government job seeker and has applied for sports quota job in Dena bank as well as Income Tax department.
●    He is also the first triple centurion opener in last 81 years in the first class cricket.

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SP Vaid appointed as Director General of J&K police

The Jammu and Kashmir government on 28 December 2016 cleared the appointment of Dr Shesh Pal Vaid, Special DG, Coordination and Law and Order, as new Director General of Police. Vaid.
●    His appointment was approved at a cabinet meet chaired by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
●    He is the second officer from Jammu to have risen to the post of Director General of Police. 
●    He carries an immense experience in operations against the militants.
●    He was promoted to the rank of DG and appointed as DGP (Prisons) on 3 March 2016.
●    He was transferred and posted as Special DG (Coordination and Law & Order) on 8 September 2016.
●    He survived a major explosion in September 1991, while serving as the Superintendent of Police, Jammu.
●    On 21 March 1991, he was ambushed by militants. At that time, he was posted in the Baramulla-Kupwara range near Sopore as Deputy Inspector General of Police.

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Serbian tennis player Ana Ivanovic announces retirement

Serbian professional tennis player Ana Ivanovic on 28 December 2016 announced retirement from tennis at the age of 29.
●    Born on 6 November 1987, Ana Ivanovic is a Serbian former professional tennis player.
●    As of 7 November 2016, she is ranked No. 65 in the world by the Women's Tennis Association.
●    She was ranked No. 1 in the world after she defeated Dinara Safina to win the 2008 French Open.
●    She has also qualified for the annual WTA Tour Championships three times, in 2007, 2008 and 2014.
●    In total, she has won 15 WTA Tour singles titles, including one Grand Slam singles title.
●    She was named one of the 30 Legends of Women's Tennis: Past, Present and Future by Time in June 2011.


 

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World Bank approves USD 235 million for Bihar Rural Roads Project

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors in December 2016 approved USD 235 million for the Bihar Rural Roads Project.
●    After the completion of the project, around 1.2 million people will be able to access all-weather road. A majority of these people belong to the poor and vulnerable sections of society.
●    30% of the people, who will benefit from the project, live below the poverty line and about 48% of them are women.
●    The project will also create direct employment of about 20 million person days for local labourers through a rural road construction and maintenance program.
●    Under the project, climate resilient and cost-effective engineering designs will be used. Local materials and industrial by-products will be used to construct the roads.
●    It will also use the alluvial sand that gathers on large tracts of farmable land after floods. It is expected that the step will save more than 25% in construction costs for rural roads.
 

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