Daily GK Updates - 5th August, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 5TH AUGUST, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

I. Ola shuts TaxiForSure in 22 cities: Cab aggregator Ola is shutting operations of its subsidiary TaxiForSure (TFS) in around 22 smaller cities.

II. Bharti Airtel appoints Nilanjan Roy as Global CFO.

III. Rural Development Minister launched ‘SAMANVAY’ for Gram Panchayats: Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh launched SAMANVAY, a compilation of all schemes of both Union and State governments for gram panchayats. It was launched with an aim to help MPs in utilising relevant schemes in the planning and implementation of Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).

IV. Kamayani Express and Mumbai-Jabalpur Janata Express derailed over Machak River of Madhya Pradesh as base material on the tracks got washed away in heavy rains.

V. Snapdeal launched Snapdeal Instant to make instant delivery of packages: It has launched the new service Snapdeal Instant to enable delivery of packages to customers as early as within an hour of placing the order.

VI. Jharkhand empowered ACB to arrest Ministers and civil servants in bribery cases without permission: The decision to change the rule of Anti-Corruption Bureau was taken during the state’s cabinet meet chaired by CM Raghubar Das.

VII. Delhi Government decided to have tram network in Old Delhi: The tram network in Old Delhi will comprise Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Sheeshganj Gurudwara, Old Delhi Railway station and Fatehpuri Masjid.

VIII. Maharashtra Government increased the retirement age of medical officers from 58 to 60: The retirement age of ‘Group-A category medical officers’ has been increased from 58 to 60 years.

IX. Uttar Pradesh Government decided to rename Uttar Pradesh Technical University as APJ Abdul Kalam Techinical University under the UP Techincal University (Amendment) Bill, 2015.

X. Scientific Technology named SHEFROL (Sheet Flow Root Level) was in news as the SHEFROL based waste water treatment plant built at Chinna Kalapet fishing hamlet in Pudducherry was found to be successful.

XI. Two films ‘Masaan’ and ‘Jaanisaar’ made tax free in UP.

XII. India’s biggest Telescope MAST inaugurated at Udaipur Solar Observatory: Udaipur Solar Observatory has operationalized a unique telescope ‘Multi Application Solar Telescope’ for detailed study of solar activities which could facilitate space weather predictions in the future.

XIII. 13 day ‘Bharat Parv’ begins in Delhi: It is celebration of Culture and Cuisine from different states of India being organised as a part of Independence Day celebrations.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

I. Barack Obama to honour three Indian American Startup entrepreneurs: The three are P. Bradoo from San Francisco, A.M Sastry from Michigan and Suma Reddy from New York.

II. 48^th ASEAN foreign ministers’ meet starts in Malaysia.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING: 

I. SEBI slaps Rs 35 lakh fine on Monarch Research and Brokerage: Capital markets regulator SEBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 35 lakh on Monarch Research and Brokerage failing to check fictitious trade in Sky Industries Ltd’s stock. 

II. IDFC Bank to start operations from October after it recently got licence for undertaking banking business.

III.Alibaba to invest INR 400 crore in Paytm. 

SPORTS: 

IV. South Africa’s Cameron Van Der Burgh breaks 50m Breaststroke Swimming world record at the World Swimming Championship.

AWARDS:

V. Mathematician A. Krishna won the Ramanujan Prize for 2015: He was bestowed with this award for his outstanding contributions in the area of algebraic cycles, algebraic K-theory and the theory of motives.

VI. National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) wins award for Geographical Info System 2015.

OBITUARIES:
 

VII. British Singer Cilla Black passed away.

VIII. Last Surviving Dambusters Pilot L. Munro died in New Zealand at the age of 96: He was one of the pilots who took part in the legendary Dambusters operation in the World War-2 in 1943. The operations consisted of using bouncing bombs to attack German Dams.