Daily GK Updates - 10th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. National Anthem not mandatory in cinemas: The Supreme Court said playing the National Anthem before screening movies in cinema halls is not mandatory. The bench was headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra. In November 2016, the Supreme Court had ordered all cinemas to play the anthem before screening a film ‘for the love of the motherland’.

2. Bihar govt. bans electronic cigarettes in Bihar: Bihar has banned even e-cigarette. E-cigarette is smoked through electronics nicotine delivery system for nicotine intake. Its manufacture, distribution, sale, purchase, display and advertisement also stand banned. Bihar has already banned the manufacture, distribution, trade, sale, purchase, display and advertisement of all tobacco products.

3. Mankidia tribe denied habitat in Simlipal, Odisha: Mankidia, one of the 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in Odisha were denied habitat rights inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve. They are denied their rights under the historic Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006. State Forest Department has objected on grounds that tribals could be attacked by wild animals, especially tigers.

4. Gujarat tops Logistics Performance Index: Gujarat has topped the logistics index chart, according to a Report released by Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Suresh Prabhu in Delhi. The chart is an indicator of the efficiency of logistical services necessary for promoting exports in particular and economic growth in general. Among 22 states, Gujarat is followed by Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra on the index.

5. Rahman becomes Sikkim’s Brand Ambassador: Music maestro AR Rahman was named the official Brand Ambassador of Sikkim. Mr. Chamling felicitated the legendary music composer during the inauguration of the 11-day Sikkim Red Panda Winter Carnival at Palzor Stadium in Gangtok. Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Kumar Chamling, made the announcement.

6. UIDAI introduces ‘Virtual ID’ for Aadhaar cardholders to address privacy concerns: In a bid to address privacy concerns, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) introduced a ‘Virtual ID’, which Aadhaar cardholders can generate from its website and use for various purposes, including SIM verification, instead of sharing the actual 12-digit biometric ID. This will give the users the option of not sharing their Aadhaar number at the time of authentication. The 'Virtual ID', which would be a random 16-digit number, together with the biometrics of the user, would give any authorised agency like a mobile company, limited details like name, address and photograph, which are enough for any verification.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. China to fund base in Afghanistan: China will fund construction of an Afghan counterterrorism base in Badakshan province to block cross-border infiltration of the ethnic Uyghur militants. Fergana News Agency (FNA) has quoted Gen. Dawlat Waziri of the Afghan Defence Ministry as saying that China will provide financial support to build the base, whose precise location inside Badakshan, in northern Afghanistan, is yet to the determined.

OTHER UPDATES

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. NPCI names Asbe as CEO: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Monday appointed Dilip Asbe as its MD & CEO with immediate effect. Asbe, who was the Chief Operating Officer of NPCI, was also the acting CEO of NPCI since August after A.P. Hota retired.

2. Government eases norms for FDI in single brand retail, construction, civil aviation: The Union government on Wednesday liberalised and simplified the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) regime in a host of sectors, including Single Brand Retail Trading (SBRT), civil aviation (aimed at facilitating Air India’s divestment), construction development, power exchanges, pharmaceuticals and audit firms. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval to permit 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route for SBRT. The extant policy on SBRT allows 49 per cent FDI under the automatic route, and FDI beyond 49 per cent and up to 100 per cent through the government approval route.

BANKING/ FINANCE:

1. PNB Ties up with NSFDC: Punjab National Bank and National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation have tied up to provide financial assistance for economic empowerment of persons belonging to Scheduled Caste families living below Double Poverty Line. A MoA to this effect was signed between PNB and NSFDC. Under this tie-up, PNB would act as a channelising agent for the loan schemes of NSFDC.

2. Govt to divest 1.5% in NMDC: The government will begin the sale of 1.5% stake in NMDC at a floor price of Rs153.50 a piece. Sale of 1.5% would fetch Rs750 crore to the exchequer. The NMDC Limited is a state-controlled mineral producer of the Government of India.

3. ICICI Securities plans to launch 3,200 cr IPO: ICICI Securities plans to launch an IPO worth at least Rs. 3,200 crore ($500 million) in February. Parent ICICI Bank will be selling 64 million shares in the IPO. ICICI Securities offers investment banking, institutional broking, retail broking and private wealth management services.

4. SBI to raise $2 Billion via overseas bonds: SBI is planning to raise $ 2 billion by issuing bonds in U.S. dollar or in some other convertible currency in the current and the next financial year. The lender may raise the funds in more than one tranches. The funds could be used to boost credit demand. The bond is a debt security, under which the issuer owes the holders a debt and is obliged to pay them interest on the maturity date.

SPORTS:

1. Aanchal Thakur bags Bronze in skiing: Aanchal Thakur made history as she won India’s first ever international medal in skiing. She clinched the bronze in the coveted Alpine Ejder 3200 Cup. The Championship was organised by the Federation Internationale de Ski (skiing’s international governing body) in Erzurum, Turkey. She won the medal in the slalom race category.

OBITUARIES:

1. Peter Sutherland, first WTO Dir. Gen., passes away: Peter Sutherland, first WTO Director-General, passes away in Dublin. He was 71. Mr. Sutherland took the helm of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1993 at a time when the outcome of the broad and complex Uruguay Round of global trade talks was very much in question.