Daily GK Updates - 3rd August, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 3RD AUGUST, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

I. Food Corporation gets Rs 13,000 crore as food subsidy from government: The Government has released Rs 13,000 crore as food subsidy to the state owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) to ensure smooth procurement and distribution of grains.

II. Government announces highway projects worth $93 billion to woo investors: Projecting the country’s highways sector as a unique opportunity for investments, the government has rolled out projects worth $93 billion, including the $45 billion flagship road building programme, the National Highway Building Project (NHBP).

III. India’s gold imports increased by 61% in April-May: India’s gold imports increased by 61% to 155 tonnes in the 1^st two months of the current fiscal mainly due to weak global prices and the easing of restrictions by the Reserve Bank of India.

IV. MCA lifted 3-year old Wankhede Stadium entry ban SRK: Mumbai Cricket Association lifted the 5-year ban of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan on entering the Wankhede Stadium.

V. Aadi Perukku festival celebrated with traditional gaiety in Tamil Nadu: On 3^rd August, thousands of people including newlywed couples performed puja in Cauvery River in Erode, Tiruchirapalli and Salem.

VI. Guideline governing adoption of Children 2015 came into effect: The new guidelines are intended to provide for more effective regulation for adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children and would bring more transparency and efficiency in the adoption system. Along with it, the fully revamped IT application for the purpose of adoption of children, CARINGS (Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System), has also become operational.

VII. R S Folger appointed as MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

I. Tiju Thomas initiative emerged as UAE’s first and biggest donor registry: An Indian diplomat Tiju Thomas came in news  after spearheading an initiative to make blood from rare groups accessible to those in need through a website www.blooddonors.ae.

II. India foiled UK’s Pangaea Laboratories bid to patent use of Turmeric, Pine bark and tea: The UK based company had filed Patent application at the European Patent Office in February on a medicinal composition containing turmeric, pine bark and tea for treating hair loss. India succeeded in protecting its traditional knowledge.

III. NASA enhanced collision-avoidance system to avoid traffic jams between orbiting satellites and Mars: The system involves process of traffic monitoring, communication and manoeuvre planning.

IV. India to host 2^nd Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC): India will host second edition meeting of FIPIC on 21^st August in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

I. HDFC Bank’s new initiative: HDFC Bank has launched ‘Dhanchayat’, an educational film to raise awareness on the dangers of borrowing money from unorganised sources. This film has been launched under the aegis of ‘Swachh Banking’, the banks corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.

II. HDFC Bank ties up with Snapdeal for co-branded credit card: The card is aimed at getting Snapdeal’s customers, 70% of whom are from smaller cities and towns, to make online payments instead of availing the cash on delivery option.

SPORTS:

III. Indian women bag silver at World Archery Championships: The trio of Deepika Kumari, Laxmirani Manjhi and Rimil Buriuly put pressure on the Russians opening up 4-0 lead but could not wrap the issue as they lost the next two sets before going down in the shoot-off 27-28.

IV. South Sudan becomes Olympic movement’s 206^th member: South Sudan became the 206^th member of the Olympic family after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved its inclusion, despite on-going fighting in the African Country.

V. Victorian Open WSA-Joshna Chinappa won squash title: Indian Champion Joshna Chinappa won the women’s squash title in the $15,000 Victorian Open WSA event in Melbourne, Australia. The title in the men’s section went to R. Cuskelly of Australia.

OBITUARIES:

I. Private Equity pioneer Jerome Kohlberg dead: Jerome Kohlberg Jr., a founder of the investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and a pioneer of the leveraged buyout, died at the age of 90.

II. US Country singer Lynn Anderson passes away at the age of 67