Daily GK Updates - 13th July, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma launches LIFE program at Songsak: Meghalaya Chief Minister ‘Dr. Mukul Sangma’ has launched a flagship program ‘Livelihood Intervention and Facilitation of Entrepreneurship’ (LIFE) at Songsak in East Garo Hills. It is a program of the State Rural Livelihood Society, which is implementing the Centre's flagship program National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). NRLM promotes livelihood through women Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their Federations.

2. Delhi Police to get ‘super cop’ belts, first state police to do so: Delhi police will be the 1st state police who will get ‘super cop belt’. These belts will help cops to keep things like Gun, Security Batten, Wireless Set Pouch & ammunition pouch.

3. Selling old jewellery will attract 3% GST: Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia announced that selling of jewellery will attract 3% GST on value realised. A jeweller buying old jewellery from someone will charge 3% GST under reverse charge.

4. High-speed rail training centre to be set up Gandhinagar, Gujarat: India’s 1st high-speed rail training centre will be soon setup at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. While India’s 1st bullet train is proposed to hit the track in 2023, the training centre would begin its operations by 2020.

5. Cabinet approves establishment of International Rice Research Institute at Varanasi: The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of the International Rice Research Institute, South Asia Regional Center at the campus of National Seed Research and Training Center in Varanasi. This will include a modern and sophisticated laboratory with the capacity to determine quality and status of heavy metals in grain and straw.

6. Mohan Bhagwat releases coffee table book on PM Narendra Modi's life authored by Bindeshwar Pathak: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat has released a coffee table book "The Making Of A Legend" on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's life in New Delhi. The book is authored by Bindeshwar Pathak.

International UPDATES:

1. Smallest star in the universe discovered by Cambridge’s astronomers: Astronomers from University of Cambridge have discovered the smallest star in the universe. It is located around 600 light years away in the Milky Way galaxy and has been as EBLM J0555-57Ab.

2. China to downsize army to under 1 million: China will downsize its 2.3 million-strong military to under 1 million as a part structural reform in the military. People’s Liberation Army will increase numbers of other services, including navy and missile forces.

3. Overseas navy base for China in Djibouti: Chinese troops are headed to Djibouti to set up China’s first overseas military base. China says the support base will be used for peacekeeping and humanitarian aid in Africa and West Asia.

OTHER UPDATES

BANKING AND FINANCE:

1. SBI reduces NEFT and RTGS charges to promote net banking: State Bank of India has reduced charges for National Electronic Funds Transfer and Real Time Gross Settlement transactions upto 75%. Reduced charges will be applicable on the transactions done through internet banking and mobile banking.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:

2. IPSOS Survey- India’s top 10 ‘most influential’ brands: According to a new study by global research firm Ipsos, Google is the most influential brand in India followed by Microsoft & Facebook at 2nd and 3rd position respectively. Patanjali & Jio have entered the top 10 ranking at 4th and 9th place respectively.

3. Skoda rolls out new Octavia with a price tag of close to Rs. 15 lakhs: Czech carmaker Skoda has rolled out a new version of its best-selling sedan Octavia priced at Rs15.49 lakhs in India.

SPORTS:

4. Vijay Goel inaugurates Oorja CRPF U-19 Football talent hunt tournament: The Sports Minister Vijay Goel has inaugurated Oorja CRPF Under-19 Football Talent Hunt Tournament in New Delhi. This Tournament is being organized as a run up to under 17 FIFA World Cup by CAPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, CRPF, CISF and Assam Rifles.