Daily GK Updates - 20th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi to be new brand ambassador of incredible India: Indian government’s Tourism Ministry has decided that instead of getting a brand ambassador for the Incredible India campaign, it will make Prime Minister NarendraModi the face of the campaign.

2. PM Modi’s monogrammed suit enters Guinness Records as ‘most expensive suit sold’: The monogrammed suit worn by Prime Minister NarendraModi during his meeting with American President Barack Obama last year, which created huge controversy, entered Guinness Book of World Records as ‘the most expensive suit sold’. The suit was sold at an auction for Rs 4.31 crore.

3. Two-day meeting of BRICS women Parliamentarian’s forum to begin in Jaipur today: The two-day meeting of the BRICS Women's Parliamentarian Forum will begin here on Saturday in which 42 delegates from member countries will participate. LokSabha Speaker SumitraMahajan will inaugurate the meeting which will have different plenary sessions.

4. Kerala Cabinet approves new debt relief scheme: Kerala government has approved a new debt relief scheme for low income and poor people who face the threat of revenue recovery proceedings after they fail to repay loans taken from various financial institutions under the government. The scheme, expected to cause an additional burden of Rs 40 crore to the exchequer, would benefit more than 10,000 persons.

5. BEL head bags top award: SK Sharma, Chairman and MD, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), has been awarded as the Most Enterprising CEO in Electronics Sector by the Indo Global Business Council (IGBC), a policy think-tank based in New Delhi.

6. Cipla, Godrej recognized in Fortune ‘Change the World’ list:India’s pharmaceutical giant Cipla Ltd and consumer goods conglomerate Godrej have been recognized by Fortune magazine in a list of global firms changing the world for the good and having a positive social impact through their activities. The list has been topped by British pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline and includes Swiss food products major Nestlé (5), India-born Ajay Banga-led Mastercard (7).

7. KVIC approves hike in wages of Khadi Artisans: Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has approved a wage hike along with a hike in Market Development Assistance. The KVIC has informed that spinners will now earn 5.50 rupees instead of 4 rupees per hank with an additional 10 percent Market Development Assistance.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian-American inducted in Texas Women’s Hall of Fame: RenuKhator, Indian-American woman academic, will be inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame for making significant contribution for the benefit of the US' second largest state.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. Urjit Patel appointed as the next RBI Governor: Urjit Patel is the new Reserve Bank of India Governor, the Finance Ministry announced.Patel will succeed RaghuramRajan as the RBI chair once he steps down on September 3, after his term comes to an end.

SPORTS:

2. P V Sindhu wins silver in women’s singles badminton: Rio Olympic 2016: India's P V Sindhu today created history by winning a silver medal in women's singles badminton event at Rio Olympics 2016. She is the first Indian female and first ever Indian shuttler to win Olympic silver.Carolina Marin of Spain beat P.V. Sindhu of India to take gold and Japan's NozomiOkuhara won bronze medal. She also became the fourth Indian to win silver at the Olympics.

3. Usain Bolt wins 200m to complete hat-trick: Jamaican's sprinter Usain Bolt has won the 200 metres final to add to his 100m title at the Rio Olympics 2016. Bolt eased to victory in the 200m final in 19.78 seconds.