Daily GK Updates - 16th June, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Free Education for Transgender Students: Tamil Nadu Govt. introduced free education for the transgender community in the Manonmanianm Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli. The colleges affiliated to the university will reserve one seat for transgenders, making it the first university in India to offer free education to transgenders. Further meritorious students will also get a stipend of Rs.3000 per month under the scheme.

2. AIIB grants USD 150 mn loan for Indian Infrastructure Fund: India Infrastructure Fund has been granted a loan of $150 million equity investment  byThe Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank becoming the bank’s first loan to fund private projects. Infrastructure Fund aims to expand the bank’s equity and  invest in mid-cap infrastructure companies in India.

3. India claims the top spot among the remittance receiving nations in 2016: UN Report: The study said India was the top receiving country for remittances in 2016 at $62.7 billion, followed by China ($61 billion). Indians working across the globe sent home USD 62.7 billion last year, making India the top remittance-receiving country surpassing China, according to a UN report. The ‘One Family at a Time’ study by the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) said about 200 million migrants globally sent more than $445 million in 2016 as remittances to their families, helping to lift millions out of poverty.

4. Global Innovation Index Rankings, India at 60^th position: India 60th most innovative globally, Switzerland tops the list. Among the 130 nations, India moved up six places to 60th, emerging as the highest ranked economy in South and Central Asia. The top five positions are retained by Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, US and Britain.

5. Centre launches IDCF to reduce child deaths due to diarrhoea: The Centre has launched a special drive to reach out to nearly 12 crore under-five children within a fortnight to reduce child deaths from diarrhoea, which kills 1.1 lakh children in India every year. The health ministry has launched the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF), under which community awareness campaigns on hygiene and promotion of ORS and zinc therapy will be conducted at the state level. 

6. Bhupen Hazarika Award conferred to Yeshe Dorjee Thongshi: The 5th Bhupen Hazarika National Award 2017 is awarded to writer ‘Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi’. Yeshe Dorjee Thongshi belongs to the West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. The award has been instituted with ‘Sarhad’, a Maharashtra-based social organization. The award honors outstanding literary work at national and international level. It consists of Rs. 51,000, a memento and a certificate.         

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Japan passes anti-terror conspiracy law: In order to improve security ahead of the 2020 Olympics, and to comply with a UN agreement Japan has passed a controversial bill allowing authorities to target terror conspiracies. If the public is suspected of being a member of criminal group, they could be targeted on conspiracy charges via monitoring phone and online conversations. The bill has been revised several times over the years. The latest bill reduced the number of targeted crimes to over 270 offences and narrowed the definition of terrorist and criminal organizations.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Virat Kohli :Fastest to 8000 runs: Virat Kohli has became the fastest cricketer to score 8000 runs in ODIs.He reached in his 175th innings to the 8000-run mark,ahead of A B de Villiers who had taken 182 innings to reach to the milestone.SouravGanguly and Sachin Tendulkar are third and fourth in the list.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY:

2. CCI imposes Rs. 87 crores fine on Hyundai Motor India: Due to unfair business practices with respect to providing discounts on cars, Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a penalty of Rs. 87 crores on Hyundai Motor India.  According to CCI, the company contravened competition law through arrangements that resulted into resale price maintenance and also mandated its dealers to use recommended lubricants and oils. The company is asked to cease and desist from such anti-competitive practices.

OBITUARIES:

3. Pioneer of judicial activism Justice 'P N Bhagwati' passes away: A pioneer of judicial activism in the country for introducing the concept of PILs (Public Interest Litigation), former Chief Justice of India (17th) P N Bhagwati (95-year) passed away after brief illness. He was awarded India's second highest civilian award the Padma Vibhushan(2007) in public affairs.