Daily GK Updates - 24th January, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India submitted first Biennial Update Report to UNFCCC: The report was submitted towards fulfilment of the reporting obligation under the convention. As per the provisions of the convention, countries need to periodically provide information in the form of their National Communication. 

2. Andhra Pradesh Government launched Giriputrika Kalyana Pathakam Scheme for tribal people: The scheme seeks to reduce rampant infant mortality and child marriages among tribal people. It is designed to provide a onetime financial assistance of Rs 50,000 rupees to each tribal woman who gets married.

3. Delhi Airport suspends sale of entry tickets for visitors in view of the present security scenario.

4. Ambedkar, ‘Swachh Bharat’ among themes for 67^th Republic Day tableaux: A giant statue of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar, rare natural abode of Asiatic lions of Gir, white tiger safari and initiatives like ‘Swachh Bharat’ and ‘Digital India’ are among the themes this year for the Republic Day tableaux.

5. Modi flags off hi-tech Varanasi-Delhi train: PM Modi flagged off a new train, Mahamana Express, connecting the city and New Delhi through Lucknow in 14 hours. The train is named after Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of BHU.

6. India and Oman conduct bilateral naval exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’: India and Oman will conduct 10^th edition of bilateral maritime exercise ‘Naseem Al Bahr’ in the Arabian Sea.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. UNESCAP released World Economic Situation and Prospects 2016 report: The report highlights that the world economy stumbled in 2015 and only a modest improvement is projected for 2016/17. Global growth is expected at a mere 2.4% in 2015, making a downward revision by 0.4 percentage points from the UN forecasts presented in 2015.

2. Sri Lanka tops South Asia in human development: Sri Lanka has maintained its high ranking in human development. But the country’s performance in terms of average annual human development index (HDI) growth rate during 1990-2014 was lower than many other South Asian countries.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBI asks banks to extend loans to women SHG: RBI has asked banks to provide loans of up to Rs 3 lakh at 7% interest rate to Women Self –Help Group (SHG) under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) Aajeevika scheme during 2015-16.

OBITUARIES:

2. Eminent Tabla player Shankar Ghosh passed away at the age of 80.