Daily GK Updates - 29th May, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India leads in usage of biometric tech: With advancements in the field of biometric technology, India has topped globally in adoption of biometrics techniques. On an average, people in India (9%) are three times more likely than any other country (3%) surveyed to have used ‘iris recognition’ to identify themselves.

2. Revenue department sets up twitter handle for GST: The revenue department on Sunday started a new twitter handle to answer industry queries related to the new indirect tax regime. Traders and industry can ask questions on the twitter handle ‘@askGST_GoI’ and officials from Central Board of Excise and Customs will answer them. The GST will start from July 1.

3. Aeronautical test range in Karnataka: Defence Minister Arun Jaitley has inaugurated the newly built Aeronautical Test Range of the Defence Research & Development Organisation at Chellakere, Chitradurga in Karnataka. The 28 km strategic ATR is expected to facilitate conditions for research, which is expected to enrich the human resource required in the field of aeronautical testing.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day of UN Peacekeepers: The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers is observed on May 29 annually to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace. It was so designated by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 57/129, on December 11, 2002. The 2017 theme is, “Investing in Peace around the world.”

2. New species of glass frog discovered: A new glass frog species with transparent skin through which its beating heart is visible has been discovered by scientists.

The frog (Hyalinobatrachium yaku) was discovered in Ecuador.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. World Table Tennis Championships starts in Germany: The 2017 World Table Tennis Championships is being held in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 29 May to 5 June 2017. Top-ranked Indian in the world, Achanta Sharath Kamal will lead the 8-member Indian squad.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY:

2. RBI to observe financial literacy week in June: The Reserve Bank of India will observe financial literacy week from June 5 to 9 across the country. The financial literacy week will focus on four broad themes — Know Your Customer (KYC), Exercising Credit Discipline, Grievance Redressal and Going Digital (UPI and *99#). The main objective of observing the financial literacy week is to emphasize the importance of financial literacy.

3. Fairfax sells stake in ICICI Lombard: Fairfax has sold 12.18% stake in ICICI Lombard General Insurance to three investors, namely, Red Bloom Investment Ltd, Tamarind Capital Pte. Ltd and IIFL Special Opportunities Fund. The company is valued at Rs 20300 cr as per the deal.

4. Bank of Baroda to raise Rs. 9000 cr: Bank of Baroda plans to raise Rs 9000 crore through various instruments, including follow-on public offer, to fund growth during this fiscal. The board approved raising of additional capital funds up to Rs 9000 crore up to March 31, 2018, comprising of Rs 6000 crore by way of equity capital and Rs 3000 crore by way of additional tier I capital instruments.

5. Paradip Port gets award: The Paradip Port Trust has been awarded by the Union Shipping Ministry for witnessing the second highest growth in traffic for FY17. In FY17, the port has handled 88.95 MMT of cargo; a 16.5% rise.