Daily GK Updates - 15th October, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. New Bureau of Indian Standards Act brought into effect: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has brought into effect new Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act 2016. The Act replaced Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986. It aims to help in ease of doing business in the country, enhance ‘Make In India’ campaign and ensure availability of quality products and services to the customers.

2. India on solid growth track – Christine Lagarde: The combination of fiscal consolidation, lower inflation and structural reforms will deliver more employment and jobs to the Indian workforce, said Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, IMF. She said, though the IMF has scaled down India’s GDP forecast to 6.7% for 2017, India is on a much more “solid growth track”.

3. Guinness World Record created – 149000 students attend a session on biology: At the second day of the India International Science Festival in Chennai, a new Guinness World Record for the Largest Biology Lesson was created. One thousand forty-nine students participated in the record-breaking session. The World record had students from Class 9 and Class 10. The biology lesson was delivered by Ms Lakhsmi Prabhu from Shri Shankar senior Secondary School.

4. Arvind Kejriwal – “In theatres now”:  A documentary on Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is being released. Titled as ‘An Insignificant Man’, the film will hit theatres on November 17. Directed by Khushboo Ranka and Vina Shukla, An Insignificant Man, is a non-fiction political thriller that chronicles the rise of Arvind Kejriwal from a social activist to the chief minister of Delhi.

5. Namita Gokhale nominated for Centenary National Award for Literature: Eminent writer Namita Gokhale has been nominated for the first Centenary National Award for Literature, for her outstanding literary contributions. The award has been conferred by the Asam Sahitya Sabha, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious literary bodies in India.

6. World’s largest combustion research centre inaugurated at IIT Madras: The world’s largest combustion research centre which will impart a major boost to the Indian scientific community was inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. The National Centre for Combustion Research and Development as inaugurated by NITI Aayog member V K Saraswat.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. In a first, woman to head Saudi sport federation: For the first time, a princess has been named to head a Saudi multi-sports federation. Princess Rima Bandar bin Sultan has become “the first woman to lead a federation” covering sporting activities for men and women.

2. International Day of Rural Women: The International Day of Rural Women is observed on October 15 to recognise the services of rural women in food production and food security. This day was first observed on October 15, 2008, after being approved by the United Nations. The 2017 Theme is “Challenges and opportunities in climate-resilient agriculture for gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”

3. Audrey Azoulay elected as UNESCO DG: Former French Culture Minister Audrey Azoulay was elected as new Director-General of UNESCO – the UN’s education, science and culture agency. With this, she becomes first Jewish Director of UNESCO.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. MPEDA - 12% growth in seafood export: The Marine Products Export Development Authority is looking at a 10-12 percent growth in seafood exports in the current fiscal. According to MPEDA, seafood exports in 2016-17 reached a record $5.8 billion.

BANKING/FINANCE:

2. IndusInd bank to buy Bharat Financial: IndusInd Bank agreed to an all-share deal to buy Micro-lender Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd. This acquisition would boost IndusInd’s presence in microfinance lending and rural banking. IndusInd will give Bharat Financial’s shareholders 639 of its shares for every 1,000 shares they own in Bharat Financial. The deal would help IndusInd become a dominant player in the microfinance industry.