Daily GK Updates : 22nd August, 2015

Daily GK Updates - 22nd August, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

   I.       BhartiAirtel ties up with Uber for wallet services: Telecom operator BhartiAirtel has tied-up with taxi-hailing app Uber for its services. Now, Uber riders can pay for their trips with Airtel’s mobile wallet service-Airtel Money. Uber has earlier tied up with Paytm Wallet. Also, with this service Uber will set up WiFi hotspots in each its cabs and will pay Airtel for the bandwidth consumed.

II.     Noted academician Amitabh Mattoo appointed as Advisor to J&K CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed:Mattoo will now have the status of a cabinet minister.

III.    Puducherry CM N Rangasamy launched free laptop scheme: The scheme envisages providing free laptops to all students who have passed 12^th class from Government Higher Secondary Schools in the last two academic years i.e. 2013-14 and 2014-15.

IV.   Infosys launches three new services Ai-ki-do: India’s second largest IT services company Infosys launched Aikido, three enhanced service offerings in design thinking, platforms and knowledge-based IT (KBIT).

V.         Gujarat High Court stays compulsory voting rule in Gujarat civic polls.

VI.     Union Government to sell 10% stake in IOC: The Union Government announced that it will sell a 10% stake in Indian Oil Corporation on the stock market through an offer for sale (OFS).

VII.   AAP Government joins hands with FIFA for U-17 World Cup: The FIFA U-17 World Cup is to be held in India in August-September 2017.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

  I.    NASA spacecraft LADEE found presence of Neon gas in Moon’s atmosphere: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spacecraft LADEE (Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer) confirmed the presence of Neon gas in Moon’s atmosphere.

II.       Iran no longer on restricted visa list: The Union Government has removed Iran from the list of countries put under the restricted visa category, indicating that it wants to reach out to the Persian Gulf Nation.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

  I.       SEBI bars 59 entities for manipulating markets, evading taxes: The Securities and Exchange Board of India passed an interim order against several wealthy investors, for alleged manipulation of the stock exchange route for evading taxes.

II.        Union Government issued norms for selection of CEOs and MDs of smaller banks: The guidelines were issued after the approval by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) for selection of MDs & CEOs in Public sector banks other than five large public sector banks.

SPORTS:

III.  Back as World No.1, SainaNehwal signs Rs 25 crore deals: The World Championships’ Silver medallist regained top spot ahead of Carolina Marin and also struck a landmark deal with Management Company IOS Sports and Entertainment.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

  I.       Book titled ‘Making India Awesome’ authored by ChetanBhagat released.

OBITUARIES:

   I.        Eminent Sanskrit scholar and Indologist NR Varhadpande passed away.