Daily GK Updates - 23rd February, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. NER’s first Regional Centre for Agriculture with Israeli collaboration to be inaugurated in Mizoram: Israeli Ambassador to India, Mr Daniel Carmon has stated that a Centre for Agriculture, with the collaboration of Israeli expertise, is going to be inaugurated in Mizoram in March 2018. This will be the first such centre in the North East region (NER) of India that is being established with Israeli collaboration. It has been set up at a cost of Rs 8-10 crore.

2. Asian Development Bank and India sign $84 million loan for water supply in Bihar: The Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $84 million loan for improvement and expansion of water supply in Bhagalpur and Gaya towns in Bihar. The tranche 2 loan is part of the $200 million multi-tranche financing facility (MFF) for the Bihar Urban Development Investment Program that was approved by ADB in 2012. The loan will have a 25-year term, including a grace period of 5 years, an annual interest rate determined in accordance with ADB’s lending facility based on the London interbank offered rate (LIBOR), and a commitment charge of 0.15% per year.

3. ED freezes deposits, shares worth Rs.44 cr of Nirav Modi group: The Enforcement Directorate(ED) froze bank accounts with Rs.30 cr balance, shares worth Rs.13.86 cr held in a company of Nirav Modi. Earlier, ED has frozen shares and mutual funds worth Rs.94.52 cr belonging to Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi’s firms.

4. Gopalganj district constructs a record 11,000+ toilets in 100 hrs: Gopalganj district in Bihar has set a record by constructing 11,244 toilets in 100 hours. The previous record was set in March 2017 Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, where 10,499 toilets were built in 100 hours.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Global Passport Index released: According to the 2018 Global passport Index, S Korea and Singapore have the most powerful passports in the world with a visa-free score of 162. Germany and Japan ranked second, while UK and US ranked 4th and 5th respectively. With a visa-free score of 57, India has ranked 73rd, falling below Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe. Afghanistan ranked last on the list.

OTHER UPDATES

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. India Signs MoU with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC): An MoU between the Government of India and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) was signed in New Delhi. The agreement was signed to usher the “programme based research support” in addressing current and future global and local developmental challenges. IDRC has funded 551 research activities worth CA$159 million in India through institutions, researchers and NGOs.