Daily GK Updates - 21st July, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Seven Indian firms in Fortune 500 list: The list is topped by the retail giant Walmart with revenue of $482,130 million, followed by State Grid (revenue of $329,601 million) and China National Petroleum ($299,271 million) at the second and third place respectively. While among Indian firms, Indian Oil Corporation ranked highest at 161st place with revenue of $54.7 billion. However, another state-run firm ONGC has moved out of the rankings for 2016 and private gems and jewellery major Rajesh Exports has made its debut at the 423rd position.

2. India, Bangladesh has inaugurated Petrapolecheck-post: India and Bangladesh has opened the newly constructed modern integrated check-post at Petrapole-Benapole point of the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal. The cost of the project is 200 crore.

3. Various Cabinet approvals:

·        Establishment of a new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh under PradhanMantriSwasthyaSurakshaYojana (PMSSY) has been approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi.

·        Another approval by the Union Cabinet is for the incorporation of Sagarmala Development Company (SDC) under the Companies Act, 2013 with an initial authorized share capital of 1 thousand crore rupees and a subscribed share capital of Rs. 90 Crore. SDC will be under the administrative control of the Ministry of Shipping.

·        The 3rd approval for the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016 which has been approved by the Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi.

·     The 4th approval by the Union Cabinet is for introducing amendments to the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in Parliament. The amendments aim to strengthen the Bill in terms of the legal and administrative procedure so as to overcome the practical difficulties which may arise in the implementation of the provisions of the Bill when it becomes an Act.

·    The 5th approval is for the signing of the Air Services Agreement between India and Mozambique as at present there is no Air Services Agreement between India and Mozambique.

·    Sixth approval is for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which has been signed between India and Tunisia for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Digital Economy.

4. India and Japan signed a Social Security Agreement: India and Japan have signed a Social Security Agreement (SSA) that will come into force on 1st October 2016. The SSA will benefit Indian and Japanese professionals and skilled workers working in each other’s country and will also boost bilateral business linkages.

5. ECI launched National Electoral Roll Purification 2016: The programme was launched to improve health of Electoral Rolls (ERs) and to optimize the Polling Station (PS) location and area across the country. The motto of ECI for the year 2016 is No voter to be left behind.

6. BHEL commissions 40mw hydropower units in West Bengal:Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has commissioned the third unit of the 4x40 MW Teesta Low Dam Hydro Electric Project (HEP) Stage-IV in West Bengal. A run-of-the-river Greenfield project located in Darjeeling district of West Bengal(WB), Teesta HEP is being set up by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), on the River Teesta.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Turkey declares 3-month state of emergency: Turkey's president has declared a three-month state of emergency following a failed coup. The decision was made following a meeting with cabinet ministers and top security advisers in Ankara. While declaring the imposition of the emergency Erdogan said that the measure was being taken to counter threats to Turkish democracy.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. Federal Bank ties up with Reliance Jio Money: Federal Bank has signed an agreement with Reliance Jio Money for one-click payment service. Reliance Jio Money is a wallet application that will be launched soon for mobile devices where Federal Bank will enable a direct payment option for its customers.

2. IRCTC joins hands with SBI to promote rail ticketing: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has joined hands with the State Bank of India to chalk out a detailed plan for promotion of rail ticketing activities, including internet ticketing and unreserved ticketing system.

SPORTS:

3. BCCI conducts ‘English language and communication skills’: The Board of Control for Cricket in India has organised a course for umpires on English language and communication skills. The course has been designed by the British Council along with the International Cricket Council and is aimed at equipping the match officials with requisite communication skills.