Daily GK Updates - 14th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Banaras Hindu University turns 100: BHU founded by Freedom fighters Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya has turned 100 years on 13^th February 2016. 

2. Neem extract may help treat pancreatic cancer: A new study has claimed that a natural extract derived from the neem tree can potentially be used to treat pancreatic cancer without harming normal, healthy cells. The study was conducted by scientists from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Centre El Paso.

3. States can clampdown mobile internet access under section 144 of CrPC: Supreme Court: It ruled that States can clampdown mobile internet access under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) if there is apprehension that a public agitation can turn aggressive and disturb public tranquility.

4. UP Land Revenue Act, 2015 came into effect: The new code that unifies many acts replaced at least 39 old land revenue acts. The new revenue act also replaced the pre and post British era Land Revenue Act of 1901 and Zamindari Abolition and Land Reform Act 1950.

5. Ministry of Railway signed MoU with Telangana for rail expansion: The MoU was signed in the backdrop of Railway Minister’s Budget announcement regarding setting up of joint ventures with States for focused project development, resource mobilization, land acquisition, project implementation and monitoring of critical rail projects.

6. Madhya Pradesh gets first Mega Food Park: In order to give an impetus to the growth of the Food Processing Sector in Madhya Pradesh, the first Mega Food Park in the state promoted by M/S Indus mega Food Park Pvt Ltd was inaugurated by Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries at village Panwa, District Khargone.

7. Jayalalitha announced free purified water for city’s poor: The scheme named ‘Amma Kudineer Thittam’ to supply drinking water free of cost to the poor in the city who are unable to afford purified, packaged drinking water sold by the private companies.

8. Delhi Government to spend 25% of budget on education.

9. Kalyani Group tied up with Swedish defence major Saab to form joint venture firm for the multi-billion dollar contract for short range surface to surface air missile and man portable very short range air defence programmes.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. UAE named women ministers for happiness, tolerance: The UAE appointed women ministers to the newly created portfolios for happiness and tolerance, youth and affairs. There were 5 new women ministers added to the cabinet.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Axis Bank has tied up with fitness firm GOQii to launch wearables for its customers that will allow the customers to make NFC payments.

SPORTS:

2. P Anand clinched first taekwondo gold for India in the U-87 kg category in the 12^th South Asian Games.

OBITUARIES:

3. Malayalam poet ONV Kurup passed away at the age of 84 in Thiruvanathpuram.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

4. The book titled ‘A Kingdom for his Love’ authored by Vani Mahesh and Shinie Antony was launched by Amar Chitra Katha.