Daily GK Updates - 16th December, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Vijay Divas observed across the country to commemorate India’s victory in 1971 war: On this occasion, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Army Chief D S Suhag, Navy chief R K Dhowan and Air Force Chief Arup Raha remembered martyrs and paid tributes at Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi.

2. World Bank approved 1.5 billion USD loan to support Clean India Campaign (Swachh Bharat Mission) : The loan was granted to support the government in its efforts to ensure all citizens in rural areas have access to improved sanitation and end the practice of open defecation by 2019.

3. Combined Commanders Conference held on INS Vikramaditya off Kochi coast: It was attended by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, all three services chiefs and other senior officers of three armed forces. The conference is also known as the Unified Commanders’ Conference (UCC).

4. Supreme Court appoints Virendra Singh as Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh.

5. Supreme Court bans registration of new diesel SUVs, luxury cars in Delhi: The ban will be valid to SUVs, luxury cars with engine capacity of 2000cc or more till March 31, 2016.

6. Arun Kumar Jain appointed as the Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

7. NIIT Technologies appointed Amit Kumar Garg as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

8. Snapdeal launched mobile website in Hindi and Telugu.

9. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation approved Smart City Proposal for Maharashtra: It approved the smart city proposal for Maharashtra with worth of 32000 crore rupees.

10. Supreme Court asks Government to prepare draft memorandum of procedure on appointment of judges to higher judiciary.

11. UP Governor Ram Naik gave assent to state’s Revenue Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2015: The proposed ordinance will enable dalits of the state to sell their land to non-dalits without approval of the administration.

12. Union Ministry of Finance raised monetary limit for filing appeals to 10 lakh rupees in Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) and 20 lakh rupees in High Courts.

13. Green Peace India released report on National Air Quality Index of 17 cities: As per the report, Delhi was listed as the most polluted city in the World, while 13 Indian cities were figured in the list of 20 most polluted cities on the planet.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Pakistan successfully tests fires nuclear capable Shaheen-IA ballistic missile: Range of the missile is 900 kilometres.

2. IAEA ends 12 year Iran Nuclear Weapon probe: International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) has ended its 12-year investigation into concerns that Iran might be developing nuclear weapons. The move is seen as a key step towards lifting EU, UN and US sanctions and a symbolic victory for Iran.

3. Arctic Region hits record high temperature over land: NOAA: The average temperature over Arctic land for the year ending in September 2015 was the highest on record indicating that the Arctic is warming twice as fast as other parts of the earth. It was revealed by the annual Arctic Report Card of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a federal agency of US for monitoring condition of the oceans and the atmosphere.

4. Japan’s SoftBank wins its 1st solar project in India:  Marking its debut in the Indian solar industry, post its investment announcement of 20 billion USD, Japan’s SoftBank won its 1st 350 Mw solar power project in Andhra Pradesh through its joint venture company SBG Cleantech.

5. Merriam-Webster declares ‘ism’ as word of the year for 2015.

6. 14th Meeting of the heads of governments of SCO member states concluded in Zhengzhou, China: India, which is a acceding state at present, was represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Gen V K Singh at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet.

7. European Commission adopted proposal for a European Border and Coast Guard force to protect Schengen area: The creation of new border force was part of proposals to manage migration more effectively, improve the internal security of the European Union and safeguard the principle of free movement of persons.

8. ISRO’s PSLV-C29 successfully launched 6 Singapore satellites into space.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. PAN mandatory for all transactions over Rs 2 lakh from New Year: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that to counter domestic black money, the centre will make it mandatory to furnish PAN for cash dealing above Rs 2 lakh. The Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia confirmed the same later on.

2. ICICI Prudential Life launches iProtect Smart: It offers cover against death, critical and terminal illness, accidental death and disability due to an accident.

SPORTS:

3. Apoorvi Chandela wins gold medal at 59th National Shooting Championships: She won the gold medal in 10 m air rifle event in the women’s category by shooting 207.8 score in the finals.

4. IPL 2016: Dhoni, Ashwin to play for Pune; Raina, Jadeja for Rajkot: India’s limited overs captain MS Dhoni emerged as the top draw in the IPL draft with the Sanjeev Goenka-owned new franchise Pune to pick him first for the stipulated price of Rs 12.5 crore. Suresh Raina also went for Rs 12.5 crore to Rajkot.

5. Chain Singh won gold at the 59th National Shooting Championships: He won the Men’s 50m rifle 3 positions gold at the event held at Tughlakabad in New Delhi.

6. Serena Williams is SI’s Sportsperson of the year: Serena Williams was named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year, the first female athlete honoured on her own by the magazine in more than 30 years.

7. Rory Mcllory wins European Tour Player of the Year Award 2015: He has won the award for the third time in the past four seasons.

8. Shiva, Mandeep among four boxers to receive IOC Olympic scholarships: Four Indian boxers namely Shiva Thapa, Mandeep Jangra, Gaurav Bidhuri and Sumit Sangwan were selected by the International Olympics Committee for a scholarship.