Daily GK Updates - 13th October, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India donates Rs 9.3 million to Mandela Foundation: India donated Rs. 9.3 million to the Nelson Mandela Foundation to help it in its welfare work for the people of South Africa.

2. Government appoints G Mahalingam as SEBI whole-time member: The government has appointed Reserve Bank's Executive Director G Mahalingam as a Whole-Time Member of markets regulator Sebi.

3. Cabinet approves setting up of IIM Jammu: The Cabinet today approved the setting up of an Indian Institute of Management in Jammu as part of PM Narendra Modi's development package for Jammu and Kashmir.

4. Punjab Agricultural University signs MoU with Field Fresh to promote crop research: Punjab Agricultural University and FieldFresh Foods, a joint venture between Bharti Enterprises & Del Monte Pacific Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to carry out a corn productivity research programme.

5. Cabinet approves pact between EXIM Bank, NDB: Union Cabinet today approved a pact between Export-Import Bank of India and BRICS-promoted New Development Bank, along with other development financial institutions of member nations, with an aim to strengthen trade and economic ties.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day for Disaster Reduction observed on 13^th October: International Day for Disaster Reduction is observed annually on 13 October. This year theme is Live to Tell: Raising Awareness, Reducing Mortality.

2. Coordinated Patrol and India-Indonesia Bilateral Maritime Exercise commences in Indonesia: The 28th India and Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) and Second Bilateral Maritime Exercise have commenced at Belawan, Indonesia in the Andaman Sea.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. Bank of Baroda signs brand endorsement with Sindhu, Srikanth: Public lender Bank of Baroda today sealed a principal sponsorship contract with badminton Olympians P V Sindhu and K Srikanth. The three-year deal with the two players was agreed in-principle before they represented and made India proud on the international stage at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

2. Bank of Maharashtra renews tie-up with United India Insurance: State-run Bank of Maharashtra has renewed its corporate agency tie-up with United India Insurance Company. Customers can buy the entire gamut of UIIC products at any of the 1,896 branches of the bank across the country.

3. ICICI Bank first Indian lender to execute Blockchain transaction: ICICI Bank has become the first Indian lender to complete a banking transaction using Blockchain technology. This remittance transaction has been completed in partnership with Emirates NBD, a lender from the West Asia.

AWARDS:

4. Bob Dylan wins 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature: American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2016 "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition".

5. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank awarded by Ugandan government for his literary work: Former Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has been conferred with a prestigious award by the Ugandan government for promoting human values through his literature.