Daily GK Updates - 20th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.     FCRA licence of 5,000 NGOs cancelled: Registration of the NGOs under FCRA was cancelled after they were found to be violating the laws. Nearly 5,000 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were barred by the government from receiving foreign funding after cancellation of their licences since April 2017, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said the registration of the NGOs under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) was cancelled after they were found to be violating the laws. “Close to 5,000 FCRA registrations have been cancelled since April 1, 2017,” he said in a written reply.

2.   Lingayat issue - Modi govt to examine proposal to grant religious minority tag: The Congress state govt has recommended religious minority tag to the Lingayat and Veerashaiva Lingayat communities, months ahead of Karnataka elections. The Union home ministry will examine in detail the Karnataka government’s recommendation to grant religious minority tag to the Lingayat and Veerashaiva Lingayat community as and when it receives the proposal.

3.  India’s diversity makes its millennials happy – World Happiness Survey2018: According to the recently released World Happiness Survey 2018, “Happiness can change, and does change, according to the quality of the society in which people live.” India which ranks 133 out of 156 countries in this report is a nation which will by year 2020 become the youngest country. In order to understand what is it about India and its society that brings joy to its people, on this International Day of Happiness, a few millennials were asked what makes them happy about the country and why. Our diversity is the source of happiness for many.

4.    Kishanganga project – First unit commissioned: State-run power equipment maker has commissioned 1st unit of 110 MW of the Kishanganga hydroelectric project of NHPC in Jammu and Kashmir. Located on the river Kishanganga, a tributary of the Jhelum in Bandipora district, all the 3 units of the 340 MW project will generate 1,350 million units of electricity annually. BHEL has commissioned 31 Hydro sets with a capacity of 1,257 MW in J&K.

5.     National Workshop on POSHAN Abhiyaan: The first National workshop on POSHAN Abhiyan involving all the states and union territories was held at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, New Delhi. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is organising the day-long workshop with participation from all the states/UTs. POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched on 8th March 2018 by the Prime Minister in Jhunjhunu.

 INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.    India - US to bilaterally discuss steel import curbs - Suresh Prabhu: Trade minister Suresh Prabhu’s statement come amid growing concerns of escalating trade war over US steel import tariffs. India will bilaterally discuss import curbs on steel with the United States, trade minister Suresh Prabhu said on Tuesday, amid growing concerns of an escalating trade war over tariffs. Prabhu told reporters that the US was committed to the World Trade Organization (WTO), even as Washington has raised concerns about the functioning of the WTO and asked for reforms. US President Donald Trump has pressed ahead with import tariffs of 25% on steel and 10 %for aluminium, but exempted Canada and Mexico and offered the possibility of excluding other allies, backtracking from an earlier “no-exceptions” stance.

2.    International Day of Happiness – 20th March: The International Day of Happiness is celebrated worldwide every March 20. It was conceptualized and founded by philanthropist, activist, statesman, and prominent United Nations special advisor Jayme Illien. It aims to inspire, mobilize, and advance the global happiness movement.  It was endorsed by Secretary-General of the United Nations - Ban Ki moon.  “International Day of Happiness” has been adopted by the unanimous consensus of all 193 UN member states of the United Nations General Assembly on June 28, 2012. Finland is the happiest country in the world, according to the latest World Happiness Report. Norway, last year's winner, came in second place in the 2018 report. It's followed by Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland.

3.   China ready to enhance talks with India, says Xi Jinping: Chinese president Xi Jinping spoke with India PM Narendra Modi about bettering India -China relations. China is willing to keep up the good momentum of two-way cooperation with India, President Xi Jinping told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a telephone call. China is ready to enhance communication with Modi on long-term, strategic bilateral issues to promote political mutual trust.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1.   IRCTC – Ola tie up: To provide first-and-last-mile connectivity, IRCTC announced a partnership with cab aggregator Ola, giving commuters an option book taxi on its app. The Ola cab facility will provide all the services directly on the IRCTC Rail Connect App. The tie-up, a six-month pilot project, will give customers access to Ola booking services when they visit the IRCTC Rail Connect App.

2.    GE Power bags NTPC contract worth Rs309 crore for Telangana thermal plant: GE Power India has won a contract worth Rs309 crore by NTPC to install its flue gas desulphurisation system at Phase-I of its super thermal power project in Telangana. GE Power India on Tuesday said it has been awarded a contract worth Rs309 crore by NTPC to install its flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) system at Phase-I (2X800 MW) of its super thermal power project (STPP) in Telangana.

3.   UltraTech Cement likely to get support from Binani creditors: Banks support the UltraTech offer for Binani Cement as it is a better deal for them, despite the committee of creditors’ approval of the Dalmia Bharat bid. Aditya Birla Group’s UltraTech Cement Ltd is likely to get support from Committee of Creditors (CoC) of Binani Cement in the ongoing fight for control after the Birla company issued comfort letter worth Rs7,266 crore to Binani group for 98.43% stake.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.   Banks Board Bureau seeks more mandate, dialogue with finance ministry: The Banks Board Bureau has sought wider mandate from the government including advising it on PSU bank consolidation in the least disruptive manner.

2.    PNB fraud: Mehul Choksi again refuses to join CBI investigation: Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi told CBI he was held up in his business abroad and ‘working hard’ to resolves the issues it was facing due to the ‘unnecessary closure’ of business in India due to ‘untenable allegations’. The agency had asked him to appear before it for questioning in connection with first FIR in which Choksi is named as an accused along with his nephew Nirav Modi, Ami Modi, Nishal Modi. A separate FIR against him and his company Gitanjali group had also been registered by the agency.

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY:

1.   World’s last male northern white rhino dies: The world’s last male northern white rhino has died leaving only 2 females of its subspecies alive although scientists still hope they can save it from extinction. The world’s last male northern white rhino has died, the Kenyan conservancy taking care of it said, leaving only two females of its subspecies alive in the world although scientists still hope they can save it from extinction. Ol Pejeta Conservancy said in a statement it had made the decision with wildlife officials and his previous carers to euthanise on Monday the 45-year-old rhino, named Sudan, due to the rapid deterioration in his condition. Sudan was being treated for age-related complications that had affected his muscles and bones and also gave him extensive skin wounds.