Daily GK Updates - 21st August, 2015

Daily GK Updates - 21st August, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

   I. Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Value Added Tax (amendment) Regulation 2015 promulgation approved: The amendment was promulgated by the president under article 240 of the constitution of India.

II.      Union Cabinet approved signing of MoU between India and Australia on education and research: This MoU will help deepen the existing partnership between India and Australia in higher education and research, including technical and professional education, schools, vocational education and it will now open up new and innovative areas of cooperation.

III.  Union Government launched web portal Vidya Lakshmi for students seeking Educational Loans: The portal www.vidyalakshmi.co.in is the first portal of its kind that provides single window for students to access information and make application for educational loans provided by banks as well as for government scholarships. The portal was developed by NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited.

IV.      ASA and Exchange of Information with respect to Taxes between India, Seychelles approved: The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi gave its approval for the signing of the revised Air Services Agreement (ASA) and exchange of information with respect to taxes between India and Seychelles.

V.     Himachal Pradesh Government launched RISHTA project: The Rajiv Gandhi Illuminating Scheme for Hill Town Advancement (RISHTA) Project is an efficient smart LED based street lighting project. With this, HP became the 1^st state in North India to do so.

VI.     Minority Ministry launches Online Application Management System (OAMS) for ‘NaiRoshni’:NajmaHeptullah, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs launched it for NaiRoshni, a scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women.

VII. NarendraModi-Barack Obama hotline becomes Operational: With this India becomes only the 4^th country after Russia, Great Britain and China with which the US has a hotline.

VIII.Rajasthan Government join hands with Future Group to Modernise Public Distribution System: It entered into an agreement with Future Consumer Enterprise Ltd (FCEL) to modernise the public distribution system (PDS) by providing multi-brand consumer goods at competitive prices to public through fair price shops.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

  I.     $10 billion Pak Nuclear power plant to be built by China: The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant II (Kanupp II) with the capacity to produce 1100 MW electricity is being built with the assistance of China, which has become the biggest investor in energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan.

II.     Lahore HC banned film ‘Phantom’ from release in Pakistan: The decision was taken on a plea by Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

III.  Greece PM Alexis Tsipras resigned and called for snap polls: He submitted his resignation to President P. Pavlopoulos and asked for the earliest possible election date. Tsipras resigned with an aim to defend the massive bailout of 86 billion Euros, which Greece received from the creditors. This 3^rd bailout to the country since 2010, led to rebellion within his left-wing Syriza party.

IV.  RanilWickremesinghe sworn in as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka: He was administered oath of office by President MaithripalaSirisena at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

  I.     R Gandhi Panel recommended conversion of UCBs into regular banks: The RBI’s High Powered Committee on Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) headed by RBI Deputy Governor R. Gandhi in its report has recommended conversion of UCBs with business size of 20000 crore rupees or more into regular banks. This will allow them to grow and proliferate further for financial inclusion.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

  I.     Book titled ‘Mrs Funnybones: She’s just like you and a lot like me’ authored by Twinkle Khanna released.

OBITUARIES:

   I.     Former Gujarat Finance Minister Sanat Mehta passes away.