Daily GK Updates - 18th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Arun Jaitely releases ‘India-2016’ and ‘Bharat-2016’ Year Books: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting ArunJaitely released the books having comprehensive information about the county and various states and union territories including functioning of government and the economy.

2. ENVIS Portal launched by Union Government: PrakashJavadekar, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched Environment Information System (ENVIS) portal and mobile application.

3. Cabinet approves Trade Facilitation Agreement: The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to notify the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to keen on projecting India as a business friendly destination.

4. Lyricist Sameer Anjaan enters Guinness Book of World Records for writing the most number of songs for Bollywood films.

5. Nitin Seth to join Flipkart as Chief People Officer.

6. Jayant Mishra appointed as the Director General of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).

7. Jharkhand Government and Adani Group inked MoU to set up thermal power plant: The MoU was signed for investment of 15000 crore rupees in the state to set up a 1600 MW capacity thermal power plant in Godda and Sahibganj district of the state.

8. Odisha Government to introduce self-certifying scheme for industries to set up units: This scheme will ease the process of doing business in the state by shortening the inspection process at the initial levels required for non-hazardous industries to set up units.

9. Paani Foundation joined hands with Maharashtra Government for water conservation: Paani foundation is a non-profit organisation found by Aamir Khan and his wife KiranRao.

10. Apple to set up Technology Development Centre in Hyderabad.

11. Tamil Nadu Government announced Free Bus Pass Scheme for senior citizens.

12. Tata Motors and Bharat Forge tied up for $11 billion Indian Army’s FICV Programme: The Future Infantry Combat Vehicle Programme (FICV) involves development of compact combat vehicles for the Indian Army that will replace Russian-designed BMP series armed vehicles that are in operation since 1980.

13. Amendment to the Delimitation Act, 2002 and Representation of the People Act, 1950 approved.

14. Union Cabinet approved nomination of NITI Ayog CEO as part-time member of Telecom Commission.

15. Northern Central Railway commissioned ultra-modern computer based signalling system at Khurja Jn.

16. PM Modi released guidelines for PradhanMantriFasalBimaYojana at KisanMela in MP: The Yojana will come into force from the 2016 Kharif Season. It aims at boosting the agricultural sector of India and envisages a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for Kharif crops, and 1.5% for Rabi crops while the premium for annual commercial and horticulture crops will be 5%.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. United Nations and Columbian Government launched trust fund for peace-building needs: The Fund will be managed by the UN and the Government, in close cooperation with interested donors to especially support conflict areas in the lead-up to and aftermath of possible peace agreements with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army.

2. 1^st Silk Road train arrives in Tehran from China: The train had started its journey from China’s eastern Zhejiang province and it took 14 days to reach final destination.

OTHER UPDATES:

AWARDS:

1. Renowned Indologist David Shulman awarded Israel Prize for his breakthrough studies in the fields like philosophy and religion.