Daily GK Updates - 18th March, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Trivendra Rawat sworn in as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand: Former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak and MLA of Doiwala ‘Trivendra Singh Rawat’ (57-year)sworn in as a new Uttarakhand Chief Minister (9th) in the state capital Dehradun. Governor KK Paul administered the oath

2. GST Council Approves SGST & UTGST Draft Bills: The Goods and Service Tax (GST) council headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley cleared the remaining State GST (SGST) and Union Territory GST (UTGST) draft bills during its 12 Council meeting.

Now with this Council has approved all five draft bills for GST which is likely to be rollout by July 1, 2017.

3. Karan Avtar Singh appointed as Chief Secretary of Punjab: Senior IAS officer Karan Avtar Singh (1984-batch) has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of Punjab. Singh was also given the charge of the Principal Secretary of Department of Personnel, General Administration and Vigilance and Investment Promotion.

4. Dalai Lama Inaugurated the International Buddhist Conference in Bihar: The three-day International Buddhist conference has been jointly inaugurated by respected religious leader Dalai Lama and the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Mahesh Sharma at Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Rajgir (Bihar). More than 1000 delegates from 35 countries including Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Singapore is participating in the event. The main topic of the conference is Buddhism in the 21st century.

Last year, it was held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

5. Sanjauli police post becomes first in India to be linked with CCTNS: Sanjauli police station of Sanjauli the main suburb of the city of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh has become the first police post in the country to be linked with Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), a nationwide online tracking system.

6. CCEA approves setting up of 50 new Kendriya Vidyalayas: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the proposal for setting up around 50 new Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) under Civil or Defence Sector in the country. The Kendriya Vidyalayas are considered as model schools in the country in terms of physical infrastructure, teaching resources, curriculum and academic performance. There are over 1100 functional Kendriya Vidyalayas at present, including three international branches at Moscow, Kathmandu, and Tehran.

7. India, Brazil finalise social security agreement: India and Brazil have finalised text of the Social Security Agreement (SSA). It will come in force by early 2018 after it is ratified. 

8. India, Russia ink long-term support pact on Sukhoi Su-30MKI: India and Russia have signed two long-term support agreements for the Sukhoi Su-30MKI combat aircraft fleet, covering around 57,000 spares and components related to the aircraft. The agreements were signed by India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) with Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation and United Engine Corporation at the first India-Russia Military Industrial Conference held in New Delhi.

9. Babul Supriyo named vice-president of FIFA U-17 World Cup: The Union Minister of State Babul Supriyo has been appointed as vice-president of the local organizing committee for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. For the first time, India to host FIFA U-17 World from 6 to 28 October, 2017.

interNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Germany to use voice recognition to identify migrant origins: Germany is to begin testing new voice recognition software that can tell which country migrants without documentation come from. The automated new system would begin within two weeks.

Other UPDATES

BANKING & FINANCE

1. RBI to print Rs 10 plastic notes: RBI has been authorized by Government of India (GOI) to conduct field trials of plastic notes of Rs 10 in five cities across the country viz Kochi, Mysore, Jaipur, Shimla and Bhubaneswar.

The main purpose of introducing plastic note is to extend the life cycle of banknotes.

2. World Bank approves $175 million loan for India’s National Hydrology Project: The World Bank has approved $175 million for India’s ambitious National Hydrology Project to improve its ability to forecast floods and reduce vulnerability to recurring floods and droughts. 

SPORTS

3. Michael Clarke’s launches his autobiography ‘My Story’: Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has launched his autobiography named ‘My Story’ in Kolkata. This book was triggered by how he was affected by Phil Hughes’ death when India was touring Australia in 2014-15.

OBITUARIES

4. Nobel laureate Derek Walcott, a Caribbean poet passes away: Nobel-prize winning poet, playwright, and painter "Derek Alton Walcott" (87-year) has passed away. Walcott known for capturing the essence of his native Caribbean. The prolific and versatile poet received the Nobel Prize in literature in 1992.