Daily GK Updates - 2nd April, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Mamta Banerjee’s dream project ‘Rupashree’ rolled out: The West Bengal government has rolled out Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s dream project ‘Rupashree’ which provides one-time financial support to the marriages of poor women. ‘Rupashree’ scheme follows the chief minister’s ambitious ‘Kanyashree’ project which has drawn global applause. Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 25,000 will be credited to her bank account before her marriage.

2. SIDBI celebrates its Foundation Day: SIDBI celebrated its foundation day as the day of Sampark (connect), Samwad (interaction), Suraksha (security) and Sampreshan (disseminate) on 2nd April. On this occasion, SIDBI launched a series of initiatives. SIDBI launched ‘Samridhhi-the virtual assistant’ on banks revamped universal loan portal ‘www.udyamimitra.in’. It will answer standard queries of aspirants 24*7.

3. Naitwar Mori Project’s foundation stone laid: Minister of State (IC) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, laid the founda tion stone of the 60 MW Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project (NMHEP) in Uttarkashi. NMHEP is located on the river Tons – a tributary of the Yamuna, in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The project was allocated to SJVN Ltd by the Government of Uttarakhand.

4. Hyderabad tops in Global City Momentum Index: Hyderabad has been ranked the top city in the short-term Momentum Ranking of JLL’s annual ‘Global City Momentum Index’. The report identifies urban economies and real estate markets which are currently undergoing the most rapid growth.

5. Centre allows states to set up crop insurance firms under PMFBY: The Centre has allowed states to set up their own insurance companies for implementing Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Launched in April 2016, PMFBY provides comprehensive crop insurance from pre-sowing to post-harvest against non-preventable natural risks. Presently, five public sector insurers and 13 private insurance companies are empanelled for implementation of the scheme.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Autism Awareness Day observed on April 2: World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognized day on 2 April every year. It is designated by United Nations to raise awareness about people with autism throughout the world. The 2018 World Autism Awareness Day observance will focus on the importance of ’empowering women and girls with autism’.

2. First International Justice Conference in Morocco: Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Law and Justice embarked on a visit to Marrakech, Morocco, for the first International Justice Conference. The conference is being organised by Morrocco in celebration of the judicial reforms undertaken by it in 2017.

3. Carlos Alvarado to be next Costa Rica President: Carlos Alvarado, Costa Rica’s centre-left presidential candidate, is set to be the country’s next leader after elections on 1st April. Costa Rica’s electoral council made the announcement based on ballots from 91% of polling stations.

OTHER UPDATES

SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY:

1. NASA test launches Mars landing parachute, ASPIRE: A supersonic parachute that will help NASA missions to land on Mars, was successfully launched into the sky. The Advanced Supersonic Parachute Inflation Research Experiment (ASPIRE) was launched on March 31 from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in the US. The test was meant to mimic the conditions that a spacecraft would experience during a red planet entry, descent and landing.

DEFENCE:

1. Khanjar V military exercise concludes: The 5th Indo-Kyrgyzstan joint training exercise ‘Khanjar V’ culminated recently with a ‘Joint Tactical Validation Exercise’ in Mizoram. Kyrgyzstan in the exercise was represented by the military contingent of the military unit of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic.

BUSINESS / ECONOMY:

1. SEBI doubles investment limit of angel funds: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) decided to double the investment limit by angel funds in venture capital undertakings to ₹10 crore. The SEBI board has approved amendments to Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) regulations with respect to ‘Angel Funds.’ The regulator would raise the maximum period of accepting funds from an angel investor to five years, from three years.

SPORTS:

1. Kerala wins Santosh trophy: Kerala won its sixth Santosh Trophy title in Kolkata on 1st April. Kerala had beaten Bengal in the tie-breaker to claim its sixth Santosh Trophy title. The Santosh Trophy is an association football knock-out competition contested by the regional state associations and government institutions under the All India Football Federation.