Daily GK Updates - 10th August, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Namami Gange Jagriti Yatra: The new clean Ganga campaign launched by UP government: The Uttar Pradesh Government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath  has launched a new awareness drive called Namami Gange Jagriti Yatra. The drive will be focusing on cleanliness along the banks of Ganga river and maintain hygiene. The campaign was flagged off in the state capital Lucknow by CM Adityanath in hopes of making the river and the banks much more cleaner in the future. Around one lakh Home guard volunteers will organize the public gathering and other awareness programs in the district under this project till the 6th Sep 2017.

2. The launch of a Web Portal for supply of NCERT Textbooks: The portal will ensure better distribution of textbooks across the country and will also address the apprehensions, on the part of schools and parents, regarding unavailability of National Council of Educational Research And Training (NCERT) textbooks. Mr. Upendra Kushwaha (Minister of State for HRD) has launched the NCERT’s Web portal “ncertbooks.ncert.gov.in” for the supply of textbooks to schools and individuals at a function in New Delhi. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organization of the Government of India that was established on 1st September 1961 as a literary, scientific and charitable Society under the Societies' Registration Act.

3. Government targets of installing 60GW wind power capacity in the country by 2022:  According to the Power Minister 'Piyush Goyal', govt has fixed an ambitious target of installing 60 Giga watt (GW) wind power capacity in the country by 2022. The annual wind power capacity addition of around 5500 megawatts is required to meet wind capacity target of 60 GW. The current wind power installed capacity in the country is over 32.5 GW.

4. Government aims to give skill training to 30 crore Indians by 2020: According to the Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the union govt. has set a target of providing skill training to one crore people in next three years under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana(PMKVY). The target is to set up five hundred such Kendras in various parts of the country out of which two hundred are functional. A separate national skill certification board will be set up in the Ministry to enable the ITIs to provide equivalence to class 10th and 12th at par with CBSE and ICSE.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India becomes 80th country to ratify  ‘Kyoto Protocol’ for the second time: The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997 and entered into force in February 2005. India has ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that commits countries to contain the emission of greenhouse gases, reaffirming its stand on climate action. India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol under the UN Convention on Climate Change.

2.Qatar Waives Entry Visa Requirements for Citizens of 80 Countries: DOHA, Qatar - Qatar’s Ministry of Interior (MoI), Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Qatar Airways today announced that Qatar will allow visa-free entry for citizens of 80 countries, effective immediately. Citizens of 33 mostly European countries can enter without a visa for 90 days in single or multiple trips during a 180-day period. Americans, Britons, Canadians, and citizens of 44 other countries can enter visa-free for an initial 30 days on single or multiple trips, and can extend that for a further 30 days. The economy of Qatar has taken a hit since Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain moved to isolate it over allegations it supports extremists.

3.  The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will participate in the two days 15th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in Nepal: During the meeting of foreign ministers of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), countries will review the progress in identified fourteen areas of cooperation and discuss ways to accelerate cooperation. The BIMSTEC stands for Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal. BIMSTEC states are among the countries which are dependent on the Bay of Bengal.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Asian Shotgun Championship: India wins bronze:  The Indian pair ‘Kynan Chenai’ & ‘Shreyasi Singh’ have won bronze in mixed team trap event in Asian Shotgun Shooting Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan. They defeated Lebanon shooters 40-38.

2. 3,000m steeplechase world title won by Kirputo from Kenya: Olympic gold medallist ‘Conseslus Kipruto’ has won the men's 3,000 meters steeplechase at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in London. The Kenyan clocked eight minutes and 14.12 seconds to continue his in-form performance in the event after the Rio Olympic Games last year.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. IDFC Bank ties up with Zeta: IDFC Bank has partnered with digital payments company Zeta to launch ‘IDFC Bank Benefits’, an innovative solution for corporate that digitizes employee spends and claims, making the process simple, real-time and paperless. The Zeta app offers employees a real-time view of spends, reimbursement limits and claims. Employees can access the Benefits Card via the Zeta app on mobile or web.

OBITUARIES:

1. Paan Singh Tomar Actor Sitaram Panchal Passes Away at 54 after battling kidney and lung cancer: The actor made his Bollywood debut with Bandit Queen (in 1994) and went on to feature in critically-acclaimed films such as, Peepli Live, Slumdog Millionaire, Paan Singh Tomar and Jolly LLB 2.