Daily GK Updates - 21st September, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Cabinet approves additional investment of Rs 12,000 cr towards supplementary nutrition for children: The Union Cabinet has approved the increase of cost norms for supplementary nutrition provided in Anganwadis and for out of school adolescent girls under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). It will involve an additional investment of 12 thousand crore rupees over the next three years. Under the ICDS, children between six months to three years are entitled to a morning snack as well as a hot-cooked meal at an Anganwadi center.

2. Cabinet Approves Revamped Khelo India Program at a cost of Rs.1,756 crores: The Union Cabinet has approved the revamped Khelo India program at a cost of Rs.1,756 crores for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20. This marks a watershed moment in the history of Indian sports, as the programme aims at mainstreaming sport as a tool for individual development, community development, economic development and national development.

3. W Bengal govt. announces constitution of a panel to oversee the administration of Darjeeling hills: The West Bengal govt. has constituted a panel to oversee the administration of Darjeeling hills. The state govt. has decided to form a nine-member board of administrators (BoA) which will enjoy the same powers as members of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). Binay Tamang has been appointed as the Chairman and Anit Thapa as Vice-Chairman of the Board.

4. Centre to start Helicopter & smaller aircraft services to hilly areas: The Union govt. is planning to start helicopter and smaller aircraft services to hilly areas north-east, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, under UDAN scheme (in the second phase). The second phase of UDAN seeks to connect unserved and under-served airports as well as make flying more affordable with fares capped at Rs. 2,500 (one-hour flights).

5. Floating B4 boat labs to study the Brahmaputra River: The Union Government is planning to safeguard fast-eroding Majuli island — world’s largest riverine island using research carried out on floating Brahmaputra Biodiversity and Biology Boat (B4) labs along Brahmaputra River. The purpose of project is to study changes caused by dams, climate change, human interventions and eventual effects on river eco-system. B4 boat labs will be large barge (or boat) which will be set up on river. It will be well-equipped laboratory with cold storage facilities and other advanced research support system.

6. Centre announces Dusshera bonus for 12L Railways employees: The Centre on Wednesday approved a productivity-linked bonus for over 12 lakh non-gazetted Railways employees, to be paid before the Dusshera holidays. The bonus, equivalent to wages of 78 days, is estimated to cost the Railways ₹2,245 crore. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day of Peace observed today: It is dedicated to world peace and specifically the absence of war & violence such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. The theme for 2017 is “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety, and Dignity for All.”

2. Zannah Mustapha wins UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award: A Nigerian lawyer, teacher and peacemaker, Zannah Mustapha, has won the 2017 UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) for his work opening school amid conflict in north-eastern Nigeria. Mustapha founded a school 10 years ago in Maiduguri (the capital of Borno State) which is the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency. The school has stayed open throughout violence, persecution, and abductions which have left over 20,000 killed and millions more displaced.

3. Protesters march against Philippine Prez's 'dictatorship': Around 8,000 people marched in the Philippines on Thursday in protest against President Rodrigo Duterte's leadership which they claim is the emergence of a "dictatorship". The protests against Duterte, who has launched a war on drugs and has threatened martial law, marked the 45th anniversary of the declaration of martial law under late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1972.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS & ECONOMY:

1. Fino Payments Bank Launches Mobile Banking App: Fino Payments Bank has launched its mobile banking app called BPay. Fino aims to make banking easy for millions of underbanked people in India. The upgraded BPay app is available on Android at present.The mobile banking app enables simple, paperless and convenient banking that allows customers to make bill payments, recharges, fund transfers and buy insurance.

SPORTS:

2. BCCI nominates MS Dhoni for Padma Bhushan award: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has nominated MS Dhoni for the Padma Bhushan award for his contribution to the game. Dhoni is already a recipient of the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and the Padma Shri award.

OBITUARIES:

3. Liliane Bettencourt, heiress to the L’Oreal cosmetics empire and the world’s richest woman, dies at 94: Her death was announced in a statement from Jean-Paul Agon, chief executive officer at L’Oreal Group. She died on Wednesday at her home in Neuilly, a suburb west of Paris, according to a company spokesman.