Daily GK Updates - 23rd January, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Jan Dhan accounts deposits cross Rs 30000 crore: Deposits in accounts opened under the government’s flagship financial inclusion programme-PMJDY have crossed the Rs. 30000 crore mark. 

2. PM declassifies 100 files relating to Netaji: PM Modi made public digital copies of 100 secret files relating to Subhash Chandra Bose on his 119^th birth anniversary, which could throw some light on the controversy over his death.

3. MSDE, DoT signed MoU to develop National Action Plan for Skill Development in Telecom Sector: Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Department of Telecom (DoT) together have agreed to make concerted joint efforts towards skill development by facilitating mobilisation of financial support under the National Ecosystem for Development of Telecom Skills.

4. BEPS guidelines of OECD to be implemented in India from 1 April 2016: The term BEPS is an acronym of Base Erosion and Profit Sharing and it was in news as India decided to implement it these guidelines. The BEPS refers to tax planning strategies that would exploit the gaps and mismatches in tax rules to artificially shift profits to low or no-tax locations where there is little or no economic activity, resulting in little or no overall corporate tax being paid.

5. Chhattisgarh Government inked pact with central PSUs for Railway Projects: A special purpose vehicle SPV-Chhattisgarh Dakshin Railway Pvt Ltd was constituted through the agreement to build 142km railway line at a cost of 2000 crore rupees. The project aims at leading the economic development of tribal-dominated Bastar region.

6. New bird species named Himalayan Forest Thrush found in northeast India and adjacent parts of China.

7. Union Government notified stricter standards for Sugar Industry to minimise water pollution: The revised standards will lead to improved operational performance of sugar industries through implementation of wastewater discharge standards and waste water conservation and pollution control management protocol.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Scientists of California spotted the potential Planet 9: Konstantin Batygin and Michael E Brown, the researchers at the California Institute of Technology claimed it as a possible 9^th planet and their research papers were published in The Astronomical Journal.

2. 2016 NTI Nuclear Security Index released: Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), a US-based think-tank released the 2016 Nuclear Security Index with the theme ‘Building a Framework for Assurance, Accountability and Action. The Index assessed global nuclear security conditions in 176 countries in two areas-the potential theft of weapons-usable nuclear materials and the potential sabotage of nuclear facilities. Australia was adjudged as the safest country while India got the 21^st rank.

3. Inaugural Best Countries report released at World Economic Forum: Germany is viewed as the best country in the world followed by Canada and the United Kingdom. India is ranked as the 22^nd best country in the World.

4. Japan lifted nuclear sanctions on Iran.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Indian Olympic Association signed 2-year marketing deal with Infinity Optimal Solutions.

OBITUARIES:

2. Former Deputy Speaker of Gujarat Assembly Nirmala Gajwani died at the age of 87.