Daily GK Updates : 4th April, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. No of beneficiaries under Ujjwala Yojana crosses 2 crore mark: Government: The number of beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana for providing free of cost LPG (cooking gas) connections to BPL households has crossed 2 crore mark since its launch in May 2016.  The success of the scheme shows that how it is serving as a novel means of women empowerment and achieving the goals of providing clean fuel and a better life to the people.

2. DAC approves proposals to buy Barak missiles for naval warships: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) of the Union Defence Ministry has approved proposal to procure fresh batch of Barak surface-to-air missiles (SAM) for the Indian Navy’s warships from Israel. The procurement of the missiles will enhance India’s maritime capability in view of the changing security dynamics in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).

3. IISc ranked India’s top university in 2017 NIRF Survey: The Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Bengaluru was adjudged as the best Indian university in the 2017 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) released by Union Human Resource Development Ministry. This year it is second edition NIRF survey and was released as part of the India Rankings 2017 for the Educational Institutions.

4. India, Malaysia inks 7 agreements: India and Malaysia have inked seven agreements to foster deeper relationship between the two countries. The agreements were exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Abdul Razak in New Delhi who was on six day state visit to India.

5. Government launches Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana in Nellore:  The Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana in Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh. The Scheme aims at providing physical aids and assisted-living devices for senior citizens belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.

6. Government withdraws subsidy to mild hybrid vehicles under FAME scheme: The Union Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises has withdrawn subsidy given to mild hybrid vehicles under FAME India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India) scheme.  Earlier, mild hybrid, strong hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicles were given incentives under the FAME India scheme. 

7. SASEC countries pledges to improve intra-regional connectivity to boost trade & tourism: India and six other South Asian countries of South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) have pledged to improve intra-regional connectivity to boost trade and tourism. Decision in this regard was taken at the Finance ministers of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Myanmar meeting held in New Delhi to reshape SASEC.  They also came out with the SASEC Vision for 2025 and adopted operational plan 2016-25.

8. Madhya Pradesh CM launches ‘MP e-nagarpalika’ app: The Madhya Pradesh chief minister ‘Shivraj Singh Chouhan’ has launched an app named “MP e-NagarPalika” to provide various municipal services online in the state. The primary goal of the project is to provide municipal services to citizens through multiple service delivery channels and ensure accessible, convenient, transparent, and timely delivery of services. The Citizens can file online complaints and subsequently track the status of their complaints online and apply online for Birth, marriage, and Death Registration.

9. J&K bans polythene manufactured below 50 microns: The Jammu & Kashmir state government has imposed ban on the use of polythene bags manufactured below fifty microns in the state. The new guidelines and regulations would facilitate proper recycling of plastic waste, reducing its impact on the ecology.

10. Union Textiles Minister launches PowerTex India Scheme: The union Textiles minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani has launched a comprehensive scheme for power loom sector development ‘PowerTex India’ in Bhiwandi, Thane district, Maharashtra. The scheme will especially benefit small power loom weavers. PowerTex India van was also flagged off for publicity of PowerTex scheme across the country.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Scientists identify fungus that eats plastic: Scientists from Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have identified a soil fungus Aspergillus tubingensis that uses enzymes to rapidly break down plastic materials. The plastic-eating fungus was found Islamabad, Pakistan. The new discovery in an advance can help to deal with plastic waste problem that threatens our environment in safer and more effective way

2. SASEC countries pledges to improve intra-regional connectivity to boost trade & tourism: India and six other South Asian countries of South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) have pledged to improve intra-regional connectivity to boost trade and tourism. Decision in this regard was taken at the Finance ministers of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Myanmar meeting held in New Delhi to reshape SASEC.  They also came out with the SASEC Vision for 2025 and adopted operational plan 2016-25.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. FIFA bans former Guatemala FA president Brayan Jimenez for life: FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) has banned Guatemala's former football chief ‘Brayan Jimenez’ for life from all football-related activities at national and international level. He was banned for accepting bribes worth several hundred thousand dollars in exchange for media and marketing rights for key matches.

BUSINESS & BANKING:

2. Income Tax communication between AO and taxpayer now online: Income Tax department-related proceedings between the taxpayer and the tax man from the new fiscal will be conducted online. This is a part of its initiative to minimise human interface between the assesse and the Assessing Officer (AO) thereby reducing complaints of harassment and corruption. A new link or window called 'e-proceeding' will soon be introduced on the e-filing website of the department, which is used by taxpayers to file their Income Tax Returns (ITRs) at present.

3. SBI cuts lending rates by 0.15%: The State Bank of India (SBI) has reduced its benchmark lending rate by 0.15 %.The minimum lending rate (Base rate) of the bank has been reduced from 9.25 percent to 9.1 %.  With this reduction, EMIs for the bank's new as well as existing borrowers who have taken housing or car loans at the base rate will come down by at least 0.15 per cent.

OBITUARIES:

4. Hindustani classical vocalist ‘Kishori Amonkar’ passes away: Renowned Hindustani classical vocalist ‘Kishori Amonkar’ (84-years) passed away in Mumbai after a brief illness. Amonka was considered one of the pre-eminent representatives of Hindustani tradition and as an innovative exponent of the ‘Jaipur Gharana’ (musical tradition of Jaipur). She was a performer of the classical genre khyal and the light classical genres ‘thumri’ and ‘bhajan’.

5. British black power activist ‘Darcus Howe’ passes away: Britain’s one of the most prominent black activists of his generation ‘Darcus Howe’ (74-year) passed away due to cancer. ‘Howe’ was a leader of the UK’s little-chronicled black power movement. He battled institutional racism and challenged the prevailing view that racism wasn't a problem in modern-day Britain.

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