Daily GK Update 23rd and 24th April, 2017

National Panchayati Raj Diwas being observed today

i. Every year April 24 is being observed as National Panchayati Raj Diwas across India. This day marks the passing of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 that came into force with effect from 24 April 1993.
ii. The Kuther Gram Panchayat of Himachal Pradesh will get the award for its best works. This Gram Panchayat was the first to become open defecation free (ODF).

World Book & Copyright Day being observed today

i. World Book and Copyright Day (WBCD) is being observed on 23rd April 2017. The day seeks to raise awareness about the importance of reading and promote publishing and the protection of copyright around the globe.
ii. The event is organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
iii. Conakry, the capital of Guinea has been designated World Book Capital 2017.

Haryana launches mobile app 'Kilkari' to create awareness among pregnant women

i. The National Health Mission (NHM) in Haryana launched a mobile-based application named 'Kilkari' to create awareness among pregnant women, parents and health workers on the importance of ante and post natal care.
ii. From the second trimester of pregnancy, till the child is one-year-old, the application will deliver 72 times appropriate audio messages to registered mobile numbers on pregnancy, child and childbirth care every week.

Maharashtra govt signs MoU with Railways to expand green cover

i. In a bid to expand the green cover, the Maharashtra government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Railways, under which trees will be planted on the land adjacent to the railway tracks in the state.

China, Iran sign first agreement on reconfiguration of Arak reactor

i. China and Iran have signed the first agreement on the reconfiguration of Iran's Arak reactor.
ii. The deal was concluded between the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and a Chinese company at the official ceremony in the Austrian capital Vienna.

Moushumi Chatterjee gets BFJA lifetime achievement award

i. Veteran actress Moushumi Chatterjee has received the lifetime achievement award, at the 80th Bengal Film Journalists' Association (BFJA) awards.
ii. The BFJA, the oldest association of film scribes in the country was founded in 1937. Bengali film actor Prosenjit Chatterjee was given the best actor award for his role in "Sankhachil", while Rituparna Sengupta was given the best actress crown for her role in "Rajkahini" along with Paoli Dam for "Natoker Moto" (2015).

'Newton' wins best film honor at Hong Kong International Film Festival

i. Bollywood film "Newton" has won the best film honor at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. The lead actor of the film is Raj Kumar Rao.
ii. Amit Masurkar-directed "Newton", is a political satire. It had its world premiere at the 67th Berlin Film Festival where it won the International Federation of Art Cinemas (CICAE) award in its Forum segment.

Aditi Ashok, SSP Chawrasia win Golf Industry Awards
i. SSP Chawrasia and Aditi Ashok were among the winners at the second Golf Industry Association (GIA) Awards 2017. Aditi, who finished second in the Ladies European Tour (LET) order of merit in 2016 bagged Outstanding Achievement as a Player award.
ii. Chawrasia, who successfully defended his Indian Open title in 2017, bagged the Award for the Men's Player of the Year. 
iii. Ali Sher, the Delhi Golf Club caddy-turned-pro-golfer, was feted for an Outstanding Playing Career. Ali Sher won the Indian Open back in 1991 and was honored with an Arjuna Award in the same year.

Cricket removed from 2018 Asian Games programme

i. One of the sports to miss out from the programme list of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang is cricket.
ii. Apart from cricket, skateboarding, sambo and surfing are among the other sports which have been removed from the programme in order to reduce the burden on Indonesian organisers.
iii. This measure was taken as a part of the series of changes aimed at reducing the total number of events from 493 to 431.

Monte Carlo Masters: Nadal wins Men's Singles; Bopanna and Cuevas lift men's doubles

i. Rafael Nadal has won the Men's Singles title of Monte Carlo Masters Tennis tournament 2017. He defeated Albert Vinolas at a summit clash in Monaco. With this Rafael claimed a record 10th Monte Carlo Masters title.
ii. Earlier, India's Rohan Bopanna and his Uruguayan partner Pablo Cuevas lifted the men's doubles crown at the Monte Carlo Masters after win over Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez in Monaco.

Important Takeaways from above GK Update are as follows

• National Panchayati Raj Diwas is observed on 24 April Nationally
• Kuther Gram Panchayat of Himachal PradeshGram Panchayat was the first to become open defecation free (ODF)
• This day marks the passing of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992
• 23 April is a symbolic date for world literature.
• World Book and Copyright Day (WBCD) is being observed every year on 23rd April.
• World Book and Copyright Day is organized by the UNESCO. 
• UNESCO stands for- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
• Irina Bokova is Director-General of UNESCO.
• World Book Capital for 2017: Conakry, Guinea.
• UNESCO Headquarters is in Paris, France.
• The Constitution of UNESCO, signed on 16 November 1945, came into force on 4 November 1946.
• National Health Mission (NHM) in Haryana launched a mobile-based application named 'Kilkari'
• Manohar Lal Khattar is the CM of Haryana
• Kaptan Singh Solanki is the governor of Haryana
• Maharashtra govt signed an MoU with Railways to expand green cover
• C. Vidyasagar Rao is the governor of Maharashtra
• Devendra Fadnavis is the CM of Maharashtra
• China and Iran signed the first agreement on reconfiguration of Arak reactor
• The agreement was signed officially in Vienna, the Capital City of Austria
• President of Iran is Hussan Rouhani and its currency is Iranian Rial.
• Xi Jinping is President of China and its currency is Renminbi
• Moushumi Chatterjee receives BFJA lifetime achievement award 2017
• Prosenjit Chatterjee was given the best actor award for "Sankhachil"
• Rituparna Sengupta was given the best actress crown for her role in "Rajkahini".
• "Newton" has won the best film honor at the Hong Kong International Film Festival
• Amit Masurkar is the director of movie "Newton"
• It also won the International Federation of Art Cinemas (CICAE) award at the 67th Berlin Film Festival.
• Aditi Ashok, SSP Chawrasia and Ali Sher won Golf Industry Awards 2017
• Ali Sher was honored with Arjuna Award in 1991
• Cricket removed from 2018 Asian Games programme
• Director General of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is Husain Al-Musallam
• The total number of events has been reduced from 493 to 431
• The 2018 Asian Games will be held in Jakarta and Palembang
• It is 18th edition of Asian Games
• Nadal wins Men's Singles title at Monte Carlo Masters Tennis tournament 2017
• India's Rohan Bopanna and Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas lifted the men's doubles crown
• The tournament was held in Monaco
• Rafael Nadal defeated Albert Vinolas