Daily GK Updates - 1st April, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India becomes fourth largest spender on defence: India has become the world’s fourth largest spender on defence, following a 13.1% increase in its 2016-17 defence budget, according to the US research firm IHS Inc.

2. Japan to lend Rs 14000 crore for Indian projects: The Government of Japan has committed a loan of JPY 242.2 billion for various projects across India, including Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and the North East.

3. Union Government launches Startup India portal and Mobile app.

4. UltraTech buys Jaypee cement unit for Rs 15,900 crore. 

5. Flipkart acquires mobile payments firm PhonePe.

6. FICCI, AIBC sign MoU to strengthen business ties: In a bid to further strengthen and promote business ties with Australia, FICCI announced inking a MoU with Australia India Business Council (AIBC).

7. Telangana Government launches M Wallet mobile App: The app will help motorists to avoid physically carrying documents like driving licence, registration certificate and other vehicle related documents, since digital certificates can be uploaded through the app.

8. Haryana fixes educational qualification for Urban Bodies’ polls: The minimum educational qualification for a general male candidate will be class X, while that for women and those belonging to SC category would be class VIII.

9. Mumbai to get International Arbitration Centre by August for dealing with financial disputes.

10. Rajeev Gauba takes over as Secretary of Urban Development Ministry.

11. J Geetha Reddy appointed as Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson of Telangana: She will be the first woman legislator to be appointed for the post in India.

12. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal launched Phase 1 of Green Delhi Initiative.

13. Gujarat Assembly cleared amendments in Land Acquisition Act: It passed the Right to fair compensation and transparency in the land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement (Gujarat amendment) Bill, 2016.

14. India and Sri Lanka signed MoU to provide 150 boats and fishing equipment to Mullaithivu fishermen in North Sri Lanka.

15. Union Government launched Vidyut PRAVAH Mobile App to empower people to demand 24x7 electricity.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Vietnam’s Parliament elects first female speaker: Vietnam’s National Assembly elected Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan as the country’s first female house speaker.

2. 4^th Nuclear Security Summit begins in Washington: In this edition, heads of about 53 countries and representatives of five international organisations including the UNO, IAEA, EU and Interpol are taking part.

3. ICCR to set up first Indian chair in Arab world at Cairo: An MoU in this regard was signed between India’s Ambassador to Egypt Sanjay Bhattacharya on behalf of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Prof Abdel Wahab Ezzat, acting President of ASU.

4. Russia approved ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) deal to acquire 15% stake in Vankor oilfield for $1.3 billion. 

5. Taiwan’s Foxconn agreed to buy Japan’s Sharp Corporation for $3.5 billion.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. West Indies beat India by 7 wickets in the second semi-final to enter the finals of 2017 WC T20.

OBITUARIES:

2. Renowned Iraqi-British Architect Zaha Hadid passed away at the age of 65.

3. British Comedian Ronnie Corbett passed away at the age of 85.