Daily GK Updates - 9th November, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Nuclear capable surface to surface Agni-IV missile successfully test fired: Indian Army’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) successfully test fired surface to surface Agni-IV missile from the Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast.

2. Professor Ashok Mishra headed committee of Eminent Persons CEP on JEE submitted its report: It was constituted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Council under the chairmanship of Prof. Ashok Mishra to suggest reforms to the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE).

3. Union Government launched E-Pathshala, Saransh, Shaala Siddhi Portals: E-Pathshala is a web portal which hosts educational resources for students, teachers, parents, researchers and educators.Saransh is a tool which allows the schools to identify areas of improvements in students, teachers and curriculum to facilitate and implement change. Shaala Siddhi web portal is a comprehensive instrument for school evaluation which enables the schools to evaluate their performance in more focused and strategic manner.

4. FIPB clears four FDI proposals worth Rs 384 crore: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board has cleared four FDI proposals worth Rs 384 crore including that of pharma firm Lupin.

5. SBI’s Arundhati Bhattacharya most powerful woman in Indian business: Fortune India: The SBI chairperson remains the most powerful woman in the Indian business sector, according to Fortune India ICICI’s ChandaKochar and Axis Bank’s Shikha Sharma were placed at 2^nd and 3^rd place respectively.

6. India inks $273 mn loan pact with ADB for funding rural roads: The Government has signed a USD 273 million loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank to improve rural roads in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.

7. Union Government issues notification for implementation of OROP: The notification is in tune with the modalities for implementation announced on 5 Sep 2015.

8. Grand Alliance won the 2015 Assembly Elections of Bihar with two-thirds majority: Election commission of India announced the results of the 2015 Assembly elections of Bihar. Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) of RJD, JDU and Congress emerged as the winner of the election.

9. Conference of Power, New Renewable Energy and Mines Ministers of States and UTs concluded: The conference discussed problems faced by power and renewable energy sector and evolved appropriate resolutions.The conference was held in Kochi, Kerala.

10. Nestle partners with Snapdeal to re-launch Maggi in India: Nestle India has partnered with the e-commerce giant to re-launch Maggi noodles. The first lot of Maggi noodles was sold out in a flash.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Boeing and Tata Group form JV to make aero-structures: Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) have joined hands to manufacture aero-structures for aircraft and collaborate on integrated systems development opportunities in India.

2. Cyclone Megh struck Yemeni Island of Socotra: The cyclone made landfall with a force of a category 3 hurricane carrying heavy rains and destructive winds with a speed of 200 km/h.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. N Srinivasan removed as ICC Chairman: He was dethroned as the ICC Chairman after the BCCI decided to recall him and nominate its recently elected President ShashankManohar as the chief of the world body.

2. Nigeria won 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup: Nigeria defeated Mali 2-0 to win its third championship in the final held at Chile. India will host the bi-annual championship in 2017.

3. BCCI announced monetary benefits for former players: The board announced monetary benefits for former cricketers, both domestic and international, including monthly and one-time payments.

AWARDS:

4. Santoor maestro Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma honoured with Kala Shikhar Award.

OBITUARIES:

5. Former IAF Chief O P Mehra passed away at the age of 96.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

6. The book titled ‘What happened to Netaji?’ authored by former journalist Anuj Dhar released.