Daily GK Updates - 1st September, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

   I.        Union Government releases Rs 2000 crore for Employees’ Pension Scheme: This contribution is in addition to the 250 crore rupees contributed by the government as grant-in-aid in the EPS in order to provide minimum pension of Rs 1000 to pensioners under the scheme.

II.        Union Government approved Smart National Common Mobility Card Model for seamless travel across India: The model will enable commuters to travel by different metros and other transport systems across the country besides retail shopping and purchases.

III.      Anjali Duggal takes charge as Financial Services Secretary in the Department of Financial Services in the Finance Ministry.

IV.        Manish Sisodia got additional charge of Law Ministry of Delhi: The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi will hold additional charge of the Law Ministry of Delhi replacing Kapil Mishra.

V.            A K Jha takes charge as NTPC interim CMD.

VI.        Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports recognised as sports discipline:  It was placed under priority category in order to encourage the practice of yoga across the country especially among the youth.

VII.    Haryana Government inaugurated Sakhi, one stop centre for women in distress: Haryana Women and Child Development Minister Kavita Jain inaugurated state’s 1^st One Stop Centre, known as Sakhi, at Karnal. This is the 2^nd such centre in the country after Chhattisgarh.

VIII.     Raghav Chandra took charge as the Chairman of NHAI.

IX.   Law Commission of India submitted its report on Death Penalty: The Law commission of India submitted its report on the Death Penalty to the Union Government. The report was submitted by the Chairman of Law Commission Justice (Retd) AP Shah. The commission favoured speedy abolition of the death penalty from the statue books of India as it doesn’t serve the goal of deterrence any more than life imprisonment. However, the capital punishment should not be abolished in cases of terrorism.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

  

 I.          Highest mountain of North America Mt.Mckinley renamed as Denali: The Mountain was renamed by President Barack Obama. This designation will now recognize the sacred status of Denali to generations of Alaska natives. The Mountain has been known as Denali in Alaska since 1975.

II.       Tejinder Pal Singh named as Australian of the Day by Commonwealth Bank: An Indian-origin driver in Australia Tejinder Pal Singh was named as Australian of the Day by Commonwealth Bank of Australia for feeding the homeless in Darwin for the past 3 years.

III.   IS damages ancient temple of Bel in Syria’s Palmyra: The ancient temple was dedicated to the Palmyrene gods and was one of the best preserved parts of the historical sites of Palmyra.

IV.    Reliance Entertainment ties up with French Studio Pathe: Anil Ambani’s film production and distribution outfit Reliance Entertainment has tied up with French Film production and distribution house Pathe to distribute director GurinderChaddha’s next movie titled Viceroy’s House.

V.      Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Imperial College of London warned that 99% of the world’s seabird species will be ingesting plastic by 2050 if current marine pollution trends continue.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

  I.        RTGS will not operate 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays: RBI: The RTGS system which allows real time transfer of large funds will not be operated on 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays with Banks observing public holiday on these days.

II.      At 7%, India remains fastest growing major economy: India remained the fastest growing major economy of the world for the second straight quarter, with GDP growth at 7% during April-June 2015. Data was released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

SPORTS:

III.         India beat Sri Lanka by 117 runs to win Cricbuzz Series 2-1 in Sri Lanka after 22 years.

IV.   Ishant Sharma and 3 Sri Lankan players namely LahiruThirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal and Dhamika Prasad were charged for misconduct in the last test match played at Colombo.

AWARDS:

   V.        ITBP official Jot Singh gets Tenzing Norgay national adventure award: Indo-Tibetan Border Police official and mountaineer Jot Singh has been honoured with the Tenzing Norgay national adventure award by President Pranab Mukherjee.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

VI.      Book titled ’30 Women in Power: Their voices, their stories’ authored by Naina Lal Kidwai released.