Daily GK Updates - 29th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Major highlights/announcement of the Union Budget 2016-17: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented his 3^rd Union Budget today. Highlights of which are as follows:

-Forex reserves are at highest level of $350 billion.

-2016: Current account deficit seen at 1.4% of GDP.

-GDP growth has accelerated to 7.6%. CPI inflation has come down to 5.4%.

-FY 2016-17 will have the additional burden of implementing the VII pay commission and the defence OROP.

-New schemes for BPL families for gas connections.

-Statutory backing for Aadhaar platform to ensure delivery of benefits.

2. Dinesh Sharma appointed as Chairman of Governing Council of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).

3. Punjab imposed ban on sale of Army Uniforms in the state: Any person who wants to buy the uniform would have to submit a self-attested copy of his identity card and phone number with the shopkeeper.

4. Ajay Shankar Committee recommendations on Prior Permission and Regulatory Mechanisms: The committee recommended that there is a need for a standing institutional mechanism within government for an independent Regulatory Impact Assessment on an on-going basis of the existing regulatory requirements and proposed new ones across the entire range of economic values. 

5. Alok Kumar Verma took charge as Delhi Police Commissioner.

6. London listed Vedanta Resources Inc. wins country’s first gold mine auction in Chhattisgarh.

7. Vice Admiral HCS Bisht assumes charge of Eastern Naval Command.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Oscar Awards 2016 conferred; film Mad Mux: Fury Road won maximum awards: Chris Rock hosted the 88^th Academy Awards and Bollywood Actress Priyanka Chopra made her debut on the Oscars red carpet and presented the award. Best picture: Spotlight, Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for The Revenant, Best Actor: Leonardo di Caprio for The Revenant, Best Actress: Brie Larson for Room, etc.

2. Hashim Thaci elected as the President of Kosovo: The capital of Kosovo is Pristina.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Rozle Prezelj elected Chairman of IAAF Athletes’ Commission.

2. Cricbuzz signs Virender Sehwag as its expert for ICC World T20.

AWARDS:

3. Asif Kapadia wins best documentary Oscar for ‘Amy’.

Daily GK Updates - 28th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage Project inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee: He inaugurated the Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage Project (MHP) at Trissur in Kerala. The project is India’s largest heritage conservation project and Kerala Government’s first green project.

2. Naveen Patnaik has been elected as BJD President for the 7^th Consecutive term.

3. President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee to be the chief guest at the 40^th anniversary celebrations of Indian Civil Accounts Service on March 1, 2016.

4. ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme to be launched: It will be launched to link states and districts in an annual programme that connects people through exchanges in areas of language, trade, culture, travel and tourism.

5. National Science Day observed on 28^th February 2016 with theme ‘Scientific Issues for Development of the Nation’.

6. 100 crore each allocated for celebrating Birth Centenary of Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay and 350^th Birth Anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.

7. President Pranab Mukherjee declared Kerala as first digital state on 27^th February 2016.

8. Former CAG Vinod Rai appointed chairman of newly constituted Banks Board Bureau (BBB).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Italy approved Gay Civil Union’s Bill: The text maintains provisions including the right to a residence permit for foreign partners and to take a same-sex partner’s name. However, it removed the provision that would have allowed gay adoption and other clauses.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Stan Wawrinka beats Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus to win Dubai Tennis Championships title.

AWARDS:

2. Resul Pookutty became first Asian to win Golden Reel Award for Best Sound for documentary India’s Daughter at the 63^rd Golden Reel Award.

OBITUARIES:

3. B K Garudachar, India’s oldest first-class cricketer died at the age of 99 in Bangalore.

4. Former Maharashtra Minister Nihal Ahmed Maulavi Mohammed Usman died at the age of 90.

5. Famous Tamil comedy actor Kumarimuthu died at the age of 77 in Chennai.

Daily GK Updates - 27th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ISRO to set up Satellite Centre for ASEAN countries in Vietnam: ISRO is working to establish a Satellite Tracking and Data Reception Station and Data Processing Facility for ASEAN member countries in Vietnam. ISRO will set up this satellite centre at the behest of Union Government as part of Space Cooperation between India and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

2. E-Tourist visa scheme extended to 37 more countries: The Union Government has extended its e-Tourist Visa Scheme to 37 more countries bringing the total to 150 countries which are getting this facility.

3. Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ranveer Singh to get Dinanath Mangeshkar Prize: The award is annually conferred on 24^th April to commemorate Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar, Lata Mangeshkar’s father’s death anniversary.

4. ‘Neerja’ declared tax free in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

5. Michael Pesch appointed CEO of Infosys Consulting Holding.

6. Yoichiro Ueno appointed President and CEO of Honda Cars India.

7. Goverdhan Mehta conferred Cross of the Order of Merit, Germany’s Prestigious Prize for his dedication to teaching.

8. Lok Sabha passed Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016: These acts regulate allocation of seats to the national and state legislatures, and delimitation (that is, fixing boundaries) of parliamentary and assembly constituencies.

9. Maharashtra Government finalised a Project Management Consultant (PMC) for the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Memorial in the Arabian Sea.

10. Union Government decided to allow birth companions during delivery in public health facilities.

11. Mumbai Police created 16 no-selfie zones including Bandra Bandstand, Marine Drive and Juhu Chowpatty.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Jonathan Sinclair Neal appointed as the CEO of AAE Travel: Expedia, the online travel company has appointed Jonathan Sinclair Neal as the CEO of AAE Travel.

2. Italy approved Gay Civil Union’s Bill: The text maintains provisions including the right to a residence permit for foreign partners and to take a same-sex partner’s name. However, it removed the provision that would have allowed gay adoption and other clauses.

3. Forbes released inaugural 30 Under 30 Asia List: The list included 300 young innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders across Asia in 10 categories who are under 30 years of age. For the first time 56 Indians were included in the list namely Saina Nehwal, Sania Mirza, Shraddha Kapoor, Virat Kohli, Arunima Sinha and Chaitanya Tamhane.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. YES Bank won Green Bond Pioneer Award for being the Pioneers in Emerging Markets-India.

SPORTS:

2. Gianni Infantino elected as FIFA President.

3. Mumbai won Ranji Trophy for the 41^st time by defeating Saurashtra by an innings and 21 runs.

4. India beat Pakistan by 5 wickets in the Asia Cup T20.

AWARDS:

5. Ex-DRDO Chairman Dr Avinash Chander received Aryabhata Award 2013.

Daily GK Updates - 26th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Highlights of Economic Survey 2015-16: The Economic Survey reviews the developments of the Indian Economy over the previous 12 months, summarizes the performances on major development programs, and highlights the policy initiatives of the government and the prospects of the economy in the short to medium term.

2. India approves $150 million credit line for Iran’s Chabahar port: The port in southeast Iran is central to New Delhi’s efforts to circumvent arch-rival Pakistan and open up a route to landlocked Afghanistan where it has developed close security ties and economic interests.

3. India and UK sign MoU for research in crop science: Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology and a consortium of top UK research institutions signed a MoU for establishment of a joint India-UK collaboration programme in crop science.

4. EPFO tightens norms for withdrawal of funds: Employees Provident Fund Organisation has tightened norms on withdrawal of provident fund as well investment of such amount in Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana for its over five crore subscribers. As per the new norms the subscribers will not be able to claim withdrawal of their provident fund after attaining age of 54 years.

5. Indian Government appoints 3 news information commissioners: They are Amitava Bhattacharya, Bimal Julka and DP Sinha.

6. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari appointed as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court.

7. Ashwini Nangia becomes Director of CSIR-National Chemical Lab, Pune.

8. The Diageo-controlled United Spirit Ltd appoints MK Sharma as new Chairman as Vijay Mallya resigned from the post.

9. IRCTC, OYO Rooms tie up for hotel bookings.

10. Reliance Capital to transfer commercial finance business into separate firm by applying to RBI for registering itself as a Core Investment Company.

11. Ratan Tata to head Indian Railways’ innovation committee.

12. Union Cabinet approves Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).

13. UP Government signs pact with OLA: Taxi aggregator OLA has entered into an agreement with the Uttar Pradesh Government to create over 50,000 entrepreneurship opportunities across the state.

14. Times Internet partners with Investopedia to deliver trusted financial content to India.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Jonathan Sinclair Neal appointed as the CEO of AAE Travel: Expedia, the online travel company has appointed Jonathan Sinclair Neal as the CEO of AAE Travel.

2. Mastercard to launch payments by selfie: Mastercard is launching new mobile technologies that will allow customers to authenticate their online purchase using selfies or fingerprints. The technology will be rolled out by big banks in the US, Canada, UK and some European countries over the next few months.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. IDBI Bank gets SEBI nod to raise Rs 3771 crore through issue of shares to qualified institutional players.

SPORTS:

2. Rohit Sharma named Global Ambassador of Nissan.

3. India Sports Awards 2015: Long Distance Runner Lalita Babar named as the Sports Person of the Year.

Daily GK Updates - 25th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu presented his second rail budget this year:He kept the fares unchanged. In his budget speech, he said that for this budget he owes its inspiration to vision of PM Modi.

Highlights: The Capital plan of Rs 1.21 lakh crore. Operating ratio kept at 92% FY17 as against 90% in current year. To generate revenues of order of Rs 1, 84,820 crore next year which is a 10.1% higher than revised target of current year.

2. India extends $1 million aid to cyclone-hit Fiji: Cyclone-hit Fiji will receive one million dollars as immediate assistance from the Indian Government.

3. Union Government to introduce Coal Linkage Auction Policy for Power Corporation: Union Government to introduce coal linkage auction policy for Power Corporation which did not have such co-ordinations with Coal India Ltd.

4. Infosys extends Vishal Sikka’s term by two years till 2021.

5. SBI launches new branch for e-commerce loans: Banking giant SBI has taken another leap in this space with the launch of SBI e-smart SME, a working capital loan offering for sellers on e-commerce platforms.

6. INS Arihant-India’s first nuclear submarine ready to operate: The submarine has passed several deep sea diving drills as well as weapons launch tests over the past five months.

7. India to induct women in combat roles: President: The Government has decided to induct women in all military combat roles in the future. The announcement was made by President Pranab Mukherjee.

8. Rajendra Singh appointed as the first Non-Navy Officer to head Indian Coast Guard.

9. Indian Government to provide wi-fi at 25,000 spots in country: The Indian Government has planned to set up wi-fi facilities at 25,000 spots in the country by March 2016. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Afghanistan’s National Women’s Cycling Team nominated for 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for their dedication.

2. Mastercard to launch payments by selfie: Mastercard is launching new mobile technologies that will allow customers to authenticate their online purchase using selfies or fingerprints. The technology will be rolled out by big banks in the US, Canada, UK and some European countries over the next few months.

3. Facebook launched Telecom Infra Project: It has announced the Telecom Infra Project, which will look at developing new and alternative technologies to build and deploy telecom infrastructure, with partners including Aricent, HCL Technologies, Intel, Nokia and T-Mobile.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. PNB declares 904 firms including Kingfisher Airlines and UB Holdings as wilful defaulters.

SPORTS:

2. Australia replaces India as world No.1 in ICC Test Rankings.

AWARDS:

4. GVK Bio wins Global CSR Excellence and Leadership Awards in the category of Best Environment-Friendly Project.

Daily GK Updates - 24th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Government to sell its 5% stake in NTPC: Government will sell its 5% stake in India’s largest power producer NTPC at a floor price of Rs 122 per share to raise Rs 5029 crore. 

2. Naval Exercise IBSAMAR 2016 between India, South Africa and Brazil kicked off in Goa: IBSAMAR is abbreviated as India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime.

3. Tamil Film Kanavu Variyam wins 2016 Remi Award: Tamil film Kanavu Variyam has won the prestigious 216 Remi Award in the United States.

4. World’s first fast-acting Anti-Rabies drug to be launched in India: World’s first fast-acting anti-rabies drug Rabies Human Monoclonal Antibody (RMAb) will be launched in India very soon.

5. Rahul Taneja appointed as Chief People Officer of Jet Airways.

6. CGPDTM issues revised patent guidelines for Computer Related Inventions: The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM) has issued an order excluding software patients in its revised guidelines for Computer Related Inventions (CRIs).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. US Air Force tested Minuteman missile from California: The US Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Minuteman 3 with a range of 4200 miles was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

2. Pakistan parliament becomes the 1^st in world to run entirely on solar power: Pakistan parliament became the first in the world to completely run on solar power. A venture supported by close ally China with a whopping $55 million funding.

3. Vienna is the world’s best city to live in: Survey: Austria’s capital is the best place in the world to live, according to an international survey on quality of life that has no Indian city in the top 100. 

4. Indian-origin playwright Ismail Mahomed conferred Knighthood by French Government for his lifelong devotion to the promotion of arts.  

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Reserve Bank of India extends currency swap arrangement with SAARC Nations: In order to enhance economic cooperation and strengthen financial stability, RBI has extended the $2 billion currency swap arrangement to SAARC nations till mid-November 2017.

SPORTS:

2. India beat Bangladesh by 47 runs in the first match of Asia Cup T20.

3. Bangladesh ODI Cricket Captain Mashrafe Mortaza set to become United Nations Development Programme’s national goodwill ambassador for youth.

Daily GK Updates - 23rd February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ‘Swachh Paryatan’ mobile app launched by the centre: The Ministry of Tourism in co-ordination with Ministry of Culture has launched the Swachh Paryatan mobile app in order to facilitate general public to communicate their complaints about any unclean area/garbage piles in and around tourist destinations. 

2. ONGC approves Rs 5050 crore investment in Tripura: The public sector oil major Oil and Natural Gas Corporation has approved an investment for Rs 5050 crore in Tripura for drilling of wells and creation of surface facilitates to produce 5.1 mmscmd gas from the states fields.

3. India remains world’s largest arms importer: India continues to remain the world’s largest arms importer, accounting for 14% of the global arms imports in the 2011-2015 time frame.

4. Madhya Pradesh’s Katni to have India’s largest railway bridge: Its total length would be 21 km included the down line of the bridge would be 7 km.

5. CII signs MoU with Dubai Exports to boost trade: With the aim to strengthen India-UAE economic ties, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has signed a MoU with Dubai Exports to boost trade and explore business opportunities.

6. Vinay Kumar Singh appointed as MD of National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).

7. Haryana to become the first state to have Aquifer Mapping: With the climate changes in the recent years, the groundwater sources have gone down to a critical level. To find out the exact location of the Aquifer rocks a new mapping technique is to be introduced in Haryana by May making it as the first state to have such mapping.

8. Bihar becomes the sixth state to enter into the Uday Scheme.

9. Union Environment Ministry held 9^th meeting of National Steering Committee on Climate Change: The committee chaired by Ashok Lavasa approved the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on adaptation submitted by governments of Telangana, Mizoram, Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh for funding under the National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC) at a total cost of Rs 108 crore.

10. Udai Kumar appointed as MD and CEO of Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India Ltd (MSEI).

11. Union Finance Minister inaugurated Exhibition on Coin and Currency of India in New Delhi.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. US Air Force tested Minuteman missile from California: The US Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Minuteman 3 with a range of 4200 miles was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

2. Indian-origin Sikh Amar Singh appointed Kuala Lumpur Police Commissioner.

3. Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities in Syria to come into effect on 27^th February. 

4. Indian-origin playwright Ismail Mahomed conferred Knighthood by French Government for his lifelong devotion to the promotion of arts.

5. Bees can help boost food security of two billion small farmers at no cost as per United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Dnipro FC wins 2016 Nagjee International Club Football Tournament.

2. Long jumper Prem Kumar won silver in 7^th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships held at Doha, Qatar.

OBITUARIES:

3. Singer Bhuvaneshwari Mishra passed away at the age of 67.

Daily GK Updates - 22nd February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Prime Minister inaugurated Rurban Mission in Chhattisgarh: He launched the ‘Rurban Mission’ for developing 300 villages across the country as urban growth centres aimed at improving the country’s basic infrastructure at Dongargarh in Chhattisgarh.

2. 42^nd Khajuraho Dance Festival begins in Madhya Pradesh: It began with Odissi group dance of Ranjna Gauher and others. The festival will showcase classical dances including Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Odissi and Kuchipudi, depicting the ancient tales like ‘Mahisasur Mardini’ and ‘Krishna Rasa’.

3. Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences and Vice President CSIR Dr Harsh Vardhan dedicates Systems for Detecting of Adulteration and Analysis of Milk (Ksheer Scanner) to the people of India.

4. India and Armenia sign MoU on Agriculture Cooperation: The MoU provides for setting up of a joint working group (JWG) and preparation of work plans in priority areas of farm sector.

5. Ricoh India wins Rs 344 crore contract to supply computer hardware to Odisha schools.

6. Odisha Government launched Pucca Ghar Yojana for construction workers: CM Naveen Patnaik announced that pucca houses will be built for 50,000 construction workers during the current financial year with a cost of Rs 500 crore.

7. India and Nepal signed 7 agreements including utilisation of Indian grant of 250 million USD to boost bilateral cooperation: The agreements covered utilisation of Indian grant of 250 million USD to Nepal for post-earthquake reconstruction and another on improving of roads in Terai region.

8. Malayalam film ‘Ottal’ named best children’s film at Berlin International Film Festival in Germany: It was honoured with the Crystal Bear Award in the ‘Generation K-Plus’ section.

9. Justice Vineet Saran appointed as the new Chief Justice of Odissa High Court.

10. Empowered Group of State Transport Ministers chaired by Rajasthan Transport Minister Yunus Khan formed to suggest measures on transport sectors.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Ri Myong Su appointed as new military chief of North Korea.

2. Pangolin, the critically endangered scaly anteater: It was in news as 20^th February 2016 was observed as the 5^th Annual World Pangolin Day.

3. International Mother Language Day observed on February 21: The theme for the year is ‘Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes.

4. Bangladesh paid homage to 1952 Language Movement martyrs at Central Shaheed Minar: The Central Shaheed Minar is a national monument, which was designed and built by Hamidur Rahman, a Bangladeshi sculptor in collaboration with Novera Ahmed. 21 February is marked as Language Martyrs day in Bangladesh.

5. World Day of Social Justice observed across the world on 20^th February with theme ‘A Just Transition-environmentally sustainable economies and societies’.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. PIB clears India Post’s Rs 800 crore proposal for Payments Banks: The Public Investment Board has approved the Rs 800 crore proposal from India Post for setting up a payments bank and it will be placed before the cabinet within a month for final approval.

SPORTS:

2. Punjab Warriors win 2016 CIL Hockey India League (4^th Edition) defeating Kalinga Lancers 6-1.

3. Triple jumper Renjith Maheshwary won silver in 7^th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar.

4. Ronnie O’Sullivan defeated Neil Robertson to win 2016 Welsh Open Snooker Tournament.

5. Italy’s Sara Errani clinched Dubai Tennis Championships title defeating Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova.

6. Former French Open Champion Italy’s Francesca Schiavone won Rio Open Tennis title: She defeated Shelby Rogers of America.

OBITUARIES:

7. Italian Novelist Umberto Eco passed away at the age of 84: He was famous for his novel ‘The Name of the Rose’.