Daily GK Updates - 23rd October, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

I. PM Modi lays foundation stone for Andhra Pradesh’s new capital city: He laid the foundation stone of Amravati, a new capital city of Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of Dussehra and Vijayadashmi. The foundation stone of new futuristic capital city of the state was laid at a grand ceremony held in Guntur district.

II. Alok Rawat becomes first male member of National Commission for Women: His appointment fills the fourth seat in the five member body that seeks to review the constitutional and legal safeguards for women.

III. PM Modi laid foundation stone of Shri Venkateswara Mobile and Electronics Manufacturing Hub: He laid the foundation stone of Shri Venkateswara Mobile and Electronics Hub in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. The hub will be a dedicated mobile handset manufacturing facility.

IV. Union Government cleared first batch of AMRUT projects for 89 cities worth 2786 crore rupees: The approved action plans have a total of 143 projects in 89 AMRUT cities in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

V. ISRO to launch six Singapore-made satellites in December: India will launch six Singapore-made satellites, including a dedicated 400 kg spacecraft for carrying out surveillance missions for maritime and border security, in mid-December onboard PSLC C-29.

VI. Flipkart appoints Samardeep Subandh as the new chief Marketing Officer.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
I. Western Digital buying SanDisk in deal worth about $19 billion: Western Digital, a maker of hard drives for businesses and personal computer, is buying SanDisk in a cash and stock deal worth about $19 billion as it looks to extend its reach in the storage industry.

II. Pakistan Nuclear Forces, 2015 Report released by Bulletin of Atomic Scientists: It is an update of Nuclear Notebook on Pakistan released in 2011by Hans M Kristensen and Robert S Norris of Denmark and the USA respectively.

III. New species of Giant Tortoise named Chelonoidis donfaustoi identified in Galapagos Islands: The tortoise was named after a retired Galapagos park ranger.

IV. Britain signed Strategic Investment Agreements for building three nuclear plants with China: Under the agreement, China will help the UK in building three nuclear plants including Hinkley Point C nuclear plant, which will be the 1st since 1980s.

V. China planned to form JV to develop overseas market for third-generation nuclear reactor Hualong 1: China’s top two nuclear power companies, China General Nuclear Power Group and China National Nuclear Corporation announced that they plan to combine their technologies in the country’s flagship third-generation reactor Hualong-1.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:
I. RBI issued direction on implementation of Gold Monetisation Scheme 2015: The RBI issued the direction to all Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks) in exercise of powers conferred on it under section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The GMS 2015 will replace the existing Gold Deposit Scheme, 1999.

II. Finance Ministry exempts banking correspondents under PMJDY from service tax: The Government has exempted services provided by a business correspondent to a banking company with respect to basic savings bank deposit accounts covered by Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana from payment of service tax.

SPORTS:
III. Jacques Kallis appointed as the Head coach of Kolkata Night Riders.

IV. Saina Nehwal lost World No.1 ranking to Carolina Marin: She lost her rank after making early exits from Japan Open and Denmark Open.

V. 1st World Indigenous Games began in Brazil: The games are a multi-sport event involving indigenous athletes has around 2000 athletes participating from many indigenous ethnic groups and 30 countries like Ethiopia, Mongolia, Brazil, Australia, Russia, Philippines and New Zealand.

AWARDS:
VI. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe awarded 2015 Confucius Peace Prize by China: The Prize is dubbed as Chinese equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize. He has been chosen for this edition of prize for his inspirational leadership and service to pan-Africanism and African independence.

OBITUARIES:
VII. RIP Labh Janjua: Bollywood mourns ‘London Thumakda’ singer’s demise:  He was found dead at his residence in Goregaon (West). He was best known for his songs like ‘London Thumakda’ and ‘Jee Karda’.

VIII. Veteran Labour MP Michael Meacher dies in UK at the age of 75.

IX. Ashwini Kumar, IOC honorary member died at the age of 94.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:
X. The book titled ‘Dreaming Big: My Journey to connect India’ by Sam Pitroda has been released.