Daily GK Updates - 29th June, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Centre makes linking of existing Aadhaar with PAN of taxpayers mandatory from 1st July:The Union Govt. has made mandatory to link Permanent Account Number (PAN)of taxpayerswith Aadhaar numberswith its effect from 1st July 2017.The Government has also made quoting of the 12-digit biometric Aadhaar or the enrolment ID, must at the time of application of permanent account number (PAN).Earlier, an amendment to tax proposals in the Finance Bill for 2017-18 had made Aadhaar mandatory for filing income tax returns and provided for linking of PAN with Aadhaar to check tax evasion through the use of multiple PAN cards.

2.  Indian Vice-Presidential Election 2017 to be held on 5 August: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the election for the post of Vice-President of India.The election for the Vice President will be conducted through a secret ballot on 5 August 2017 where only members of both the Lok Sabha (545-MPs) and Rajya Sabha (245-MPs) will get to vote.

3.  India's First Blood Bank for Cattle to Come up in Odisha: The first blood bank for cattle is all set to come to Odisha, making it the first state in the country to have a blood bank for cattle. The blood bank would be established on the premises of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology at an estimated cost of Rs. 3.25 crores.

4.  India's communication satellite GSAT-17 successfully launched: The third satellite launched by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) India's communication satellite GSAT-17 has been successfully launched from Kourou in French Guiana.GSAT-17 with a lift-off mass of about 3,477 kg carries payloads in Extended C-band, Normal C-band, and S-band to provide various communication services. The Satellite carries equipment for meteorological data relay and satellite-based search and rescue services being provided by earlier INSAT satellites.The satellite will provide the continuity in services of aging two satellites and widen the country's horizon to mobile satellite services as well as to Antarctica areas.

5. Indian-American Krishna R Urs appointed as new US Ambassador to Peru: Indian-American Krishna R Urshas been appointed as the new US Ambassador to Peru. At the present Urs is Charge d' Affaires of the US Embassy in Madrid, Spain. Krishna specialized in economic issues and developed extensive policy experience in the Andean region of South America.

6. AP CM Naidu gives away Rs 50 lakh cash prize to shuttler Kidambi Srikanth: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu gave away 50 lakh cash prizes and offered Group 1 post to Badminton Champion Kidambi Srikanth and Rs.15 lakh cash prize for his Coach P. Gopi Chand. He also announced the allocation of 1000 square yards house site to the player in Amaravati. Naidu announced that a sports university would come up in Amaravathi and invited National Badminton Coach P. Gopi Chand to set up an academy in Amaravati.

7. India becomes the first country to contribute one lakh US dollars to UN fund: India has become the first country to contribute one lakh US Dollars to a UN fund to help developing countries actively participate in the discussion of tax issues.The UN Trust Fund for International Cooperation in Tax Matters has received its first financial voluntary contribution from India.

International UPDATES:

1. China launches its Biggest Naval Destroyer: China has launched its most powerful naval destroyer, the Type 055, at the Shanghai port. The naval destroyer is one among the largest warships in the world. It is equipped with new air defence, anti-missile, anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.“The new ship will be a great boost to China’s marine exploration capability,” Zhong Ziran, director of China Geological Survey said.

2. Trump Travel Ban: New Visa Rules: For visa applicants from six Muslim-majority countries and all refugees, the Trump administration has set new criteria that require a close family or business tie to be eligible to enter the United States. The move was taken after the Supreme Court partially restored President Donald Trump’s executive order that was widely criticised as a ban on Muslims. People from Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Iran and Yemen as well as most refugees have to prove their eligibility.

3. Sharjah named World Book Capital for 2019 by UNESCO: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) city Sharjah has been declared the ‘World Book Capital’ for the year 2019 by UNESCO.The city has been chosen by an international committee of UNESCO experts for the quality of its literary and cultural activities and the efforts to make books accessible to the entire population of the country.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE:

1. RBI starts printing Rs 200 notes: The Reserve Bank of India has begun printing Rs 200 notes at one of its government facilities, according to a report in The Economic Times. The apex bank has not yet commented on the report, which quoted two unidentified officials.The new notes have additional security features to thwart counterfeiting operations, an official said.