Daily GK Updates - 1st October, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

   I.        Union Government released commemorative postal stamp on Dr B R Ambedkar: It was released by Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as the Government is celebrating 125^th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar in the year 2015.

II.        Union Government reduced domestic natural gas price by 18 % to 3.81 USD per mmBtu.

III.     Uttar Pradesh decided to implement National Food Security Act, 2013 in three phases: The National Food Security Act, 2013 is an act of the parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people.

IV.        Union Government notified Mid-Day Meal Rules, 2015.

V.        PM Modi briefed about Project Loon during Google headquarters tour: Google’s flagship Project Loon was praised by PM Modi as he believed that it has multiple uses like long distance education, rural schools and telemedicine.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

   I.    India up 16 places to 55^th on global competitiveness index released by World Economic Forum: In a big jump, India has moved up 16 positions to rank 55^th on a global index of the world’s most competitive economies, where Switzerland remains on top.

II.         China launched 20^th satellite for its BeiDou Navigation System: It was launched on the Long March 3B carrier rocket and has put China one step closer to providing an alternative to the U S operated Global Positioning System (GPS).

III.   Palestinian flag hoisted at UN headquarters for the 1^st time: The flag hoisting ceremony was attended by the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas.

IV.        Russian parliament gave green signal to Putin to use troops in Syria, however the ‘Kremlin’ decided that it will only use Air Force there, and not ground troops.

V.         WHO removed all limitations on eligibility for Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV infected people.

VI.     World Vegetarian Day observed globally: It was observed on 1^st October 2015 as an annual celebration to promote joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism.

VII.    International Day of Older Persons observed across the world: It was observed on 1^st October 2015 with the theme ‘Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment’.

VIII. Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif proposed 4-point Peace Initiative with India during his speech at the UN General Assembly.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

  I.     IMF announces disbursement of USD 504 million to Pakistan: The International Monetary Fund has announced ‘immediate disbursement’ of USD 504 million to Pakistan bringing the total amount released to bolster the country’s struggling economy to USD 4.54 billion..

SPORTS:

II.      Hina Sidhu and Shweta Singh win gold and silver in 10m Air Pistol event at the Asian Air Gun Championship.

III.    ICC Women’s team rankings released: Australia topped the list while India was placed on the 4^th spot.

AWARDS:

IV.     Zenia Bhumgara of India conferred with Merlin Award by International Magicians Association in Mumbai.

V.            Ratan Tata honoured by UK City of Coventry: The leading Indian Industrialist took oath as an Honorary Freeman of the City of Coventry. Since 1914, only 13 people have been conferred with the honour.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

VI.      Book titled ‘Hungry Bengal: War, Famine, Riots and the End of Empire’ authored by Janam Mukherjee was released.

OBITUARIES:

 VII.     Twin Peaks star Catherine Coulson died at the age of 71.