Daily GK Updates - 19th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Make in India Campaign concludes in Mumbai: The event has secured investment commitments worth Rs 15.2 lakh crore, with host Maharashtra alone accounting for Rs 8 lakh crore.

2. BHEL commissions GVK Goindwal Sahib’s 270-MW unit in Tarn Taran district of Punjab.

3. Punjab to sign MoU with British Pig Association to promote and develop piggery in the state.

4. Robin Chaurasiya nominated for ‘Global Teacher Prize’: Robin Chaurasiya, an Indian teacher who runs a non-profit school in Mumbai for girls from the city’s red light areas has been named in the top 10 short-list for a global prize for teachers by UK based Varkey Foundation.

5. Alok Kumar Verma to be next Delhi Police Chief.

6. Tata unveils first ever India-made Robot ‘Brabo’: Dubbed ‘Tata Brabo’, the robot has been showcased in the Make in India week in Mumbai.

7. NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA) ties up with German Institutes DLR Cologne and Institute of Solar Energy Fraunhofer to carry out research in the fields of solar thermal and solar photovoltaic respectively.

8. BAIN Capital, GIC, Advent invest $350 mn in QuEST Global, a pure-play engineering and R&D services provider.

9. Denmark’s Universal Robots launched collaborative Robot line in India.

10. Thermal Powertech Corporation of India Ltd (TPCIL) signed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Telangana discoms.

11. India and Nepal signed 4 MoUs to boost cooperation in economic, energy and cultural fields during Nepal PM K P Sharma Oli’s visit to India.

12. MRF Chief K M Mammen selected as Chairman of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA).

13. Amit Mitra, West Bengal Finance Minister named Chairman of GST Committee of State Finance Ministers.

14. City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) inked 11 MoUs worth Rs 30,000 crore for the development of Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) projects.

15. Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) signed MoU with Jaina Mobiles Industries for setting up of an Electronics Cluster in Industrial Model Township Sohna, district Mewat, Haryana.

16. Union Government nod for building of 82000 houses for poor in urban areas of 163 cities.

17. Kalikho Pul sworn in as Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister.

18. Kajol appointed as part time member of the Prasar Bharti Board.

19. AP Government appoints Narasimha Murthy as Advisor (Financial Services).

20. Infosys Consulting Holding appointed Michael Pesch as CEO.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India and Myanmar sign Standard Operating Procedure on Joint Patrol: The 4^th edition of India-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol (IMCOR) was conducted jointly by ships of both navies along the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Andaman Sea.

2. WHO issues $56 million plan to combat Zika Virus: The WHO said that $56 million were needed to combat the Zika virus until June, including for the fast-tracking vaccines, diagnostics and research studies into how it spreads.

3. Apple launches payments service ‘Apple Pay’ in China.

4. US President Obama signed a new law, North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016, imposing sanctions against North Korea, aimed at punishing it for its provocative recent nuclear test and rocket launch.

5. Nepal decided to constitute 11-member political committee over provincial demarcations.

6. Team led by Pierre Maxted of the Keele University in Staffordshire of UK, discovered five new Jupiter like planets named WASP-119b, WASP-124b, WASP-126b, WASP-129b and WASP-133b.

7.Indian-origin Ashutosh Tiwari-led Utah Engineers discovered 2D Semiconducting material made of Tin Monoxide.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Karnataka Bank bags IBSA Banking Technology Award in the category of ‘Best Risk and Fraud Management initiative-Runners up’ amongst small banks.

2. SBI opens ‘Japan Desk’ in New Delhi for inbound Japanese investments in India and vice-versa.

SPORTS:

3. Rio Haryanto becomes Indonesia’s first Formula 1 driver and will make his debut at the Australian Grand Prix.

AWARDS:

4. Warren Richardson, an Australian Photographer wins 59^th World Press Photo of 2015.

5. Command Hospital (Eastern Command) received Raksha Mantri’s Trophy for Best Service Hospital.

OBITUARIES:

6. Eminent vocalist Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan passed away at the age of 107.

7. Former West Indies cricketer Andy Ganteaume died at the age of 95.

8. Polish Film Director Andrzej Zulawski passed away at the age of 75.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

9. Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography ‘Playing It My Way’ entered into the Limca Book of World records for being the best-selling adult hardback across both fiction and non-fiction categories.