Daily GK Updates - 2nd March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 1^st Raisina Dialogue inaugurated by Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi: Envisioned as India’s flagship conference of geopolitics and geo-economics, the Raisina Dialogue 2016 is designed to explore prospects and opportunities for Asian integration.

2. Mukesh Ambani again tops 84 Indian Billionaires in Forbes List: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani again topped 84 Indian billionaires in Forbes 2016 list of the world’s richest people once again headed by Bill Gates with a net worth of $75 billion.

3. M S Swaminathan Research Foundation to establish a research chair in Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).

4. TCS recognised as Top Global Employer: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading IT services company has been recognised as a Global Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute. 

5. Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain takes over as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command.

6. Mrugank Paranjape appointed as MD of Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX).

7. Kerala State Film Awards 2015 announced: The Best Actor award went to Dulquer Salmaan for his performance in Charlie. Parvathi grabbed the award for the Best Actress.

8. Haryana renamed Mustafabad village as Saraswati Nagar.

9. Union Government ordered rebidding for 10050 crore rupees Zoji La tunnel located on the NH 1D between Srinagar and Leh.

10. Supreme Court sought Union Government view on petition challenging Triple Talaq and Polygamy practices.

11. Telangana Government to illuminate 25 municipalities with LED bulbs in 100 days.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Scott Kelly, American Astronaut, returns to earth after 340 days in space: Scott Kelly and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Kornienko returned to earth after a historic 340 day mission aboard the International Space Station.

2. Windham-Campbell prizes for the year 2016 announced: Indian-origin Columnist and Author Jerry Pinto was chosen for 2016 Windham-Campbell Prize for his novel Em and the Big Hoom in the fiction category.

3. Moody’s Analytics cut its outlook for China to negative.

4. Zero Discrimination Day observed on 1^st March 2016 across the world with theme ‘Stand Out’.

5. Portugal nominated ex-refugee chief Antonio Guterres for UN Secretary-General.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBI unlocks Rs 40000 crore additional capital for banks: The RBI move comes with revised norms on capital recognition, making available an additional Rs 40000 crore to Indian banks.

SPORTS:

2. South African left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso suspended for illegal bowling action.

AWARDS:

3. Veteran playwright Ratan Thiyam named for 11^th Mahindra Excellence Theatre Award (META).

4. British Scientists Tim Bliss, Graham Collingridge and Richard Morris won the Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Prize, largest prize for neuroscience in the world.