Daily GK Updates - 31st May, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. No tax deduction for PF withdrawals of up to Rs 50,000 from June 1: The Government has notified that it has raised the threshold limit of PF withdrawals for deduction of tax (TDS) from existing Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000. So there will be no deduction for PF withdrawals of up to Rs 50,000.

2. Indian Railways, PEC sign MoU to set up Kalpana Chawla Chair on geospatial technology: The PEC University of Technology of Chandigarh and Union Ministry of Railways have signed a MoU for setting up of Kalpana Chawla Chair on Geospatial Technology for Indian Railways at the University. The objective of the chair is to encourage research activities of Indian Railways in Geospatial Technology.

3. India and US to sign two key pacts during Homeland Security Dialogue: India and the US are all set to sign two key agreements in the month of July during the Homeland Security Dialogue, which is going to be held in Washington. The first deal is likely to be signed would exempt prominent Indian citizens from immigration checks in America and the other one pave the way for exchange of information on terrorists on a real time basis.

4. Public sector company NBCC to launch Ganga cleaning project in Bihar.

5. ONGC Videsh Ltd signs pact with State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) to foray into oil trading.

6. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) sells stake in African oil retailer Gulf Africa Petroleum Corporation (GAPCO) to Total S.A of France.

7. Surajit Kar Purkayastha appointed as the Director General of West Bengal Police.

8. Ashok Lavasa named as the new Finance Secretary after the retirement of the Former Finance Secretary Ratan P Watal.

9.  India and Australia sign MoU to enhance R&D capabilities in biotech: India and Australia have signed a MoU to enhance research and development capabilities in biotechnology by launching joint funding call. The MoU was signed between India’s BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) and Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed an agreement with the Government of India to provide a loan of Rs 1,548 crore to improve the quality of urban healthcare services in Tamil Nadu.

2. Snapdeal opens data sciences centre in California: Online marketplace Snapdeal has established a data sciences centre in California which will help it to get top global talent and build high-value solutions.    

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Virat Kohli named T20 Player of the Year in Ceat Award event.

2. Alastair Cook becomes the youngest cricketer to score 10000 test runs breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record.

AWARDS:

3. AR Rahman conferred with Japan’s Fukuoka Prize 2016 for his outstanding contribution towards creating, preserving and showcasing South Asian tradition fusion music.

OBITUARIES:

4. Noted Kannada writer D Javare Gowda passed away in Mysuru at the age of 101.

5. Former Lok Sabha MP Rudra Madhab Ray passed away at the age of 80.