Daily GK Updates - 28th March, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Government launches Online Film Certification System: The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has launched the e-Cinepramaan, an online film certification system of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

2. India, Nepal renew petroleum supply agreement: India and Nepal have signed an agreement to renew supply of petroleum to Nepal for a period of five years i.e. till 2022. The renewed agreement, which was overseen by the Petroleum Ministers of both countries, was signed even as both sides pledged to build a new pipeline for LPG.

3. Government approves 101 cold chain projects to boost food processing sector: The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (FPI) has sanctioned 101 new integrated cold chain projects across the country. These projects will leverage a total investment of Rs. 3,100 crore for creation of modern infrastructure for the food processing sector.

4. Indian Navy de-inducts TU142M Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft: The Indian Navy has de-inducted TU142M Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft after 29 years of dedicated service to the nation and 30,000 hours of accident-free flying. The aircraft was formally de-inducted at a ceremony held at INS Rajali naval air station in Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu. Now its role will be taken on by the newly inducted Boeing P-8I aircraft.

5.  Rana Kanwar Pal elected speaker of Punjab Assembly: Today, former Punjab Youth Congress President Rana Kanwar Pal Singh (59-year) has unanimously elected speaker of Punjab Assembly. Rana K P Singh is elected from the Anandpur Sahib constituency for the third time.

6. Union Petroleum Ministry launches MoPNG e-Seva: The Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has launched MoPNG e-Seva. It is a dedicated grievances redressal platform on Social Media for all queries and grievances relating to Oil and Gas Sector. The grievances will be dealt on real-time basis.

7. Uttar Pradesh BPL households to get free power connection: In Uttar Pradesh, all below poverty line (BPL) households in the urban and rural areas of the state will get free power connection while those above poverty line (APL) will be given 100 % financing option with easy EMIs. The decisions were taken after a meeting between Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister Shrikant Sharma in New Delhi.

8. Odisha becomes the first state to bring banking to remote rural areas through SHG: Odisha has become the first Indian state to carry financial inclusion and extend banking services to unbanked areas through Self Help Groups(SHGs). The state government has signed an agreement with State Bank of India (SBI) to provide banking facilities to people in unbanked areas.

9. Anil Ambani gets a seat on Atlantic Council advisory board: Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani has been inducted into the international advisory board of The Atlantic Council. He joins News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, former Spanish PM Jose Maria Aznar, Airbus CEO Thomas Enders among others, on the board. The Council is a foreign policy think tank.

                       OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. India beat Australia by 8 wickets to win Test series 2-1: Today, India beat Australia by eight wickets in the fourth and final cricket Test to claim the four-match series 2-1 at the HPCA stadium, Dharamsala. Player of the series: Ravindra Jadeja (India).

2. Satwiksairaj & Chirag won Vietnam Open International Challenger Badminton Doubles title: Indian pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have won the USD 20,000 ‘Vietnam Open International Challenger badminton title’ in Hanoi, Vietnam. They defeated the fifth-seeded Thai duo of Trawut Potieng and Nanthakam Yordphaisong.

BANKING & FINANCE:

3. Syndicate Bank opens 40 ‘Ananya’ branches: The ‘Syndicate Bank’ has digitally inaugurated 40 ‘Ananya’ transformed branches to enhance customer experience, improve sales focus, and improve digital transactions through a dedicated digit zone. ‘Project Ananya’ is a two-year large-scale transformation project undertaken by the bank to provide customers with ‘best in class’ services while improving and modernizing the whole bank.

4. ‘Karur Vysya Bank’ bags ‘best small bank’ award:  The ‘Karur Vysya Bank’ (KVB) has been adjudged the ‘Best Small Bank for 2016’. The managing Director(MD) of ‘Karur Vysya Bank’ has received the award from Sudhir Munguntivar, Minister of Finance and Planning, Government of Maharashtra, at a function in Mumbai. This is the eighth award won by KVB in the current fiscal.

5.  Vijaya Bank inks MoU with Piaggio Vehicles: Vijaya Bank entered into an MoU with Piaggio Vehicles for providing financial support for the purchase of vehicles under Small Road Transport Operators (SRTO) scheme in Bengaluru.