Daily GK Updates - 13th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal formed: The Centre constituted a three-member Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal to adjudicate the dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over sharing the river's water. Supreme Court Judge AM Khanwilkar will be the Chairman of the tribunal, with Justice Ravi Ranjan of the Patna High Court and Justice Indermeet Kaur Kochhar of the Delhi High Court being the other two members.  The apex court had sought to refer the dispute to a Tribunal for adjudication under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

2. Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation: The Government has approved to institute the “Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation” to promote high professional standards of Investigation of Crime in the State/UT Police and Central Investigating Agencies. A total of 162 medals will be awarded every year. The names of awardees will be declared on 15th August every year.

3. Sitanshu Kar becomes the new PIB Chief: All India Radio’s News Services Division (NSD) director general Sitanshu Kar will be the next head of the Press Information Bureau (PIB). Kar, a senior Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, will take charge as PIB head on May 1. Doordarshan News DG, Ira Joshi will hold additional charge of DG of AIR’s NSD with immediate effect.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. A USD 100 m Line of Credit to Mauritius: India announced a new Line of Credit of USD 100 million for defense procurement by Mauritius as the two sides signed many agreements on the second day of President Ram Nath Kovind's visit. The agreements were signed after President Kovind held delegation-level talks with Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and members of his Cabinet. 

2. Anti-Defection Bill approved in Maldives: The Maldives Parliament has approved the anti-defection bill with retrospective effect amidst the boycott by opposition MPs. According to the bill, MPs elected on political party tickets will lose their seat if they leave their party, get expelled, or switch parties.  The bill would take effect from 13th July 2017, meaning that the 12 MPs that switched to the Opposition last year would lose their seats. The bill was passed with 35 votes as opposition MPs continued to boycott the settings.

3. Vietnam’s Nguyen crowned “Miss International Queen”: Vietnam’s Nguyen Huong Giang has been crowned this year’s “Miss International Queen” in Thailand at one of the world’s top beauty pageants for transgender women. The winner fended off 26 competitors, from different parts of the world, to clinch the coveted crown. The popular contest has been running since 2004.

4. World Ocean Summit 2018 concluded in Mexico: World Ocean Summit was held recently in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The summit is for business, government and environmental leaders to talk about the problems faced by the world’s seas and to come up with solutions to protect the planet’s vast ocean resources. World Ocean Summit’s vision is of an ocean with robust health and vital economy.

OTHER UPDATES

SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY:

1. New planets found near our solar system: A new planet near the habitable zone around a bright cool star has been found. The scientists have confirmed the existence of 15 new planets – including one ‘Super-Earth’ that could harbour liquid water – orbiting small, cool stars near our solar system. These stars, known as red dwarfs, are of enormous interest for studies of planetary formation and evolution, the study states.

DEFENCE:

1. India tops list of arms and ammunition buyers: Arms import by India increased by 24% between 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 period as per data on international arms transfers released by International Peace Research Institute. India is followed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, China, Austrailia, Algeria, Iraq, Pakistan and Indonesia as the world top importers. The largest arms suppliers to India are Russia (62%), US (15%) and Israel (11%).

BANKING / FINANCE:

1. ICICI Bank launches online overdraft facility for MSMEs: ICICI Bank has launched instant overdraft ‘InstaOD’ facility for MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) customers in a completely online and paperless manner. Customers can get overdraft facility up to Rs 15 lakh for a year anytime, anywhere using the bank’s Internet and mobile banking app. The new facility will enable a few lakh of pre-qualified current account customers of the bank to instantly avail of the facility without visiting a branch and submitting physical documents. ICICI Bank will also offer the facility for instant online sanction of the overdraft facility to MSME customers of other banks shortly.

2. SBI reduces non-maintenance charges in Savings Accounts: The country’s largest lender, SBI State Bank of India slashed charges for non-maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) in savings accounts by nearly 75 percent. The revised charges will be effective from April 01, 2018 and will benefit over 25 crore customers. The charges for non-maintenance of AMB for customers in Metro and Urban centers have been reduced from a maximum of Rs 50 per month to Rs 15 per month. Similarly, for Semi-Urban and Rural centers, the charges have been reduced from Rs 40 every month to Rs 12 and Rs 10 GST charges will be applicable over and above the rates specified above.