Daily GK Updates - 20th July, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

I.      Government to launch 8 postal ATMs in North East: Department of Posts will soon launch 8 ATMs in the North Eastern Region. Chief Post Master General of North East circle, SmitaKumari said in Shillong that 15 more locations are under process of installations of ATMs. India Post has taken up modernization plan under which computerization of all post offices in the country is taking place.

 

II.     ‘Bonalu’ declared as state festival by Telangana Government: It announced that total expenditure of the ‘Bonalu’ festivities will be officially borne by the state government.

 

III.  Hindustan Group of Institutions won 3 national awards at a corporate summit organised by All India Technical and Management Council (AITMC): WhileHindustan University was chosen as Best Private University of the Year, the award for Best Placements and Career Building and the award for Best International School were given to KCG college of Technology and Hindustan International School respectively.

 

IV.  The Visakh White Oil Terminal of HPCL has become the 1^st location in the country to launch bio-diesel product for own vehicles of the company, as part of its efforts to promote green initiative.

 

V.  Poor connectivity, lack of security behind poor economic growth of NE: ASSOCAM: The economic growth rate of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur has recorded a rate lower than that of the average growth rate of the North East region.

 

VI.   Maharashtra records most farmer suicide: As per the data released by the National Crime Records Bureau, Maharashtra recorded the highest number of farmer suicides during 2014 followed by Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

 

VII.  AAP leader Swati Maliwal takes charge as Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW).

   

VIII. 21 railway stations to be developed with private participation: Thiruvananthpuram Central, Ernakulam Junction and Kozhikode are among the 21 stations. 400 stations have been shortlisted for development with private participation.

 

IX.   Israel offers help to clean Ganga: One of India’s biggest defence partners, wants to offer its expertise in Water Management and help the Government with its ambitious Ganga cleaning Project.

 

X.     Surat 1^st city to launch picture intelligence unit: It became the 1^st city in the country to launch a picture intelligence unit, comprising real time facial recognition and number plate recognition and vehicle speed violation system. The project has been initiated on public private partnership (PPP) model with a city based NGO Surat Traffic Education Trust. 

 

XI.   Daggubati Suresh Babu has been unanimously elected as the President of Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC).

 

XII.  PM Modi inaugurated the 46^th Session of Indian Labour Conference, also called the ‘Labour Parliament’ in New Delhi.

 

XIII. Two new plant species namely Vellithumpa and Eriocaulon Manoharanii discovered in the Western Ghats.

XIV. Delhi CM ArvindKejriwal inaugurated 1^st ‘AamAadmi Clinic’ at Peeragarhi Relief Camp.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

I.     China, for the 1^st time going to participate in the Indian International Fleet Review (IFR): The development comes at a time of growing competition between the two countries for strategic space in the Indian Ocean with the Chinese Navy’s increasing forays into the region. The two sides will exchange visits of Naval Ships and hold PASSEX (Passing Exercise) and SAR (Search and Rescue) exercises.

II.   PM Modi paid tribute to Madiba on Nelson Mandela Day: 18^th July, the birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela is observed as the UN Mandela Day every year from 2010.

III.  Indo-Bangla joint survey in 162 LBA enclaves over nationality preferences concludes.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

I.      Foreign Equity composite cap:Banking, Defence ‘strategic’, not part of the new norm: The Government has done away with the difference between the various forms of foreign investments including FDI, FII and NRI by bringing in composite cap for foreign investments. Defence and Banking sector would be kept out of the new provisions given their ‘strategic importance’.

Currently, Foreign Investment of up to 74% of the paid up capital is allowed in the banking sector while the permissible limits through FIIs, FPIs and NRIs is 24% which can go up to 49% through a special resolution by bank. FDI limit of a composite 49% is allowed in the defence sector but the portfolio investment by FPIs/FIIs/NRIs and investments by FVCIs together cannot exceed 24% of the total equity of the investee.

 

II.      Pay minimum card due in 90 Days or get tagged as NPA: The RBI has asked banks to treat credit card accounts as non-performing if the minimum due is not paid fully within 90 days of the payment due date mentioned in the credit card statement.

SPORTS:

III.     AmelieMauresmo inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame: She is two time grand slam winner and former number one tennis player of France.

 

IV.  ShubhamJaglan wins World Junior Golf Championship: He defeated Australia’s Jeffrey Guan to win the World Junior Golf Championship in San Diego, California.

AWARDS:

V.      Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage Project wins award: Kerala Tourism has won this year’s prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award for its Muziris Heritage Project, aimed at restoring the historical and cultural significance of the ancient town that stretches across North Paravur in Ernakulam to Kodungalloor in Thrissur. The award is sponsored by Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO).

 

VI.     Indian Origin Doctor Shiv Pande receives honorary fellowship in UK:He has been given the fellowship by the prestigious University of Central Lancashire of United Kingdom.

OBITUARIES:

VII.  Alex Rocco, the actor known for his role in ‘Godfather’ died at the age of 79.

VIII.   Noted Urdu fiction writer Dr.BishesharPradeep died in Lucknow. He was best known for his ‘AfsanaNigari’, the fiction writing form in Urdu.