Daily GK Updates - 1st May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.BS-VI fuel to be available by April 1, 2019 : The Centre told the Supreme Court that the BS-VI fuel will be made available by April 1, 2019, in 17 out of 23 districts in the National Capital Region.The government also told that BS-VI fuel will also be made available in Agra in Uttar Pradesh on or before April 1, 2019.Delhi has already switched to BS-VI fuel and the cleaner fuel is now available across the petrol pumps in Delhi

2. NITI Aayog’s agenda for ‘New India 2022’ : NITI Aayog will soon come out with a development agenda for ‘New India 2022’, which will spell out strategy for expediting economic growth.It will start working on a 15-year vision document after finalising the development agenda document for ‘New India 2022’.It had planned to come out with three documents: 3 year action agenda, 7 year medium-term strategy and 15 year vision document.

3. Gobardhan Yojana launched from Haryana : Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation launched the Gobardhan scheme from Haryana’s Karnal district on 30th April.The scheme would focus on managing and converting cattle dung and solid waste in farms to compost, biogas and  bio-CNG.The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) scheme was first announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in budget.

4. Pilot scheme for 2,500MW power procurement : Government has launched a Pilot Scheme for procurement of aggregate power of 2500 MW on competitive basis from commissioned power plants without “power purchase agreements” (PPA).The main purpose of the scheme is to revive commissioned power plants which are unable to sell electricity in the absence of valid PPA.The bids under the scheme will be invited in the first week of May.

5. Gujarat & Maharashtra celebrates its 58th foundation day : the two states Gujarat and Maharashtra are celebrating 58th foundation day.In 1960, two western states Gujarat and Maharashtra were formed from erstwhile Bombay state on this day.The Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani has inaugurated the ‘Sujalam Sufalam Yojana’ from Komsadi Talav.Every year the Government of Maharashtra issues a notification declaring the 1st of May to be a public holiday to be celebrated asMaharashtra Day.The day is marked with various cultural events and ceremonies showcasing the culture and traditions of Maharashtra.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India, Nepal to review bilateral trade treaty : India and Nepal have agreed to review bilateral trade treaty.The decision was taken at the meeting of India-Nepal Inter Government Committee on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade, held in Kathmandu.The two sides also discussed amendments to the bilateral Treaty of Transit signed in 1999 to further facilitate transit movement of Nepal’s trade with third countries.

2. Dominican Republic cuts ties with Taiwan : The Dominican Republic severed ties with Taiwan after nearly 80 years.The Dominican Republic established diplomatic relations with China.Taiwan now has formal relations with only 19 countries, many of them poor nations in Central America and the Pacific.Panama cut its diplomatic ties in favor of Beijing in June last year.

3. World Asthma Day observed on 1st May : World Asthma Day is celebrated worldwide on the first Tuesday of May every year.It is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), it is a global health event aimed at improving asthma awareness and care worldwide.The theme of this year’s event is ‘Never too early, never too late’.Asthma is a chronic lung disease that is caused by inflammation of the airways.

4. NASA mission to study heart of Mars : NASA is set to launch Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) on May 5.InSight will be the first mission to peer deep beneath the Martian surface, studying the planet’s interior by measuring its heat output and listening for marsquakes.It will use the seismic waves generated by mars quakes to develop a map of the planet’s deep interior.

5. 2nd rapidly growing country for air traffic : India has been projected to be the second fastest growing country in the world for air passenger traffic.The Airports Council International (ACI), a global trade body representing airports, in its traffic forecasts, said, by 2022 passenger traffic in emerging economies like India will surpass advanced economies.ACI has put Vietnam at the top position with an 8.5 percent growth rate.

6. International Labour Day observed on 1st May : International Labour Day, also known as International Worker’s Day or May Day is observed on 1st May.

It is observed every year to promote and encourage the international labour associations.The day marks the victory of workers’ movement for eight hours of work.It also aims to pay tribute to workers sacrifices in achieving economic and social rights all over the world.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Dalmia group adopts Gandikota fort in Andhra : Dalmia Bharat Limited has also ‘adopted’ Gandikota Fort in Andhra Pradesh under “Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan”“Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan” is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), states and union territories.Under the contract, the company will focus on providing basic amenities at the fort.

2. WhatsApp boss and co-founder Jan Koum to quit : The chief executive and co-founder of WhatsApp, the Facebook-owned messaging app, is leaving the company over disagreements about privacy and encryption.Jan Koum will also step down from Facebook’s board of directorsWhatsApp, with 1.5 billion monthly users, is the largest messaging service in the world.

3. Uday Kotak redesignated as MD & CEO : The board of directors of Kotak Mahindra Bank has redesignated Uday Kotak as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 May, 2018.Mr. Kotak was earlier executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director.Mr. Kotak was the only official among private banks to have a Vice Chairman designation.

DEFENCE:

1. Blue Origin launches its first space mission : Blue Origin, the US aerospace company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has launched its suborbital ‘New Shepard’ rocket and space capsule.The mission marked the company’s first test flight of the year and second flight of the New Shepard 2.0 spacecraft.New Shepard is a reusable vertical takeoff, vertical landing space vehicle, consisting of a pressurized capsule atop a booster.

SPORTS:

1. Rizvi claims No.1 spot pistol rankings : Indian shooter Shahzar Rizvi grabbed the number one spot in 10m air pistol rankings by ISSF.He won the silver medal in the just-concluded World Cup in Changwon,Korea. Rizvi had previously won a gold medal with a world record score at the World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico in March.The other Indians in the top-10 are Jitu Rai and Om Prakash Mitharval who are at 6th & 12th spot.

OBITUARIES:

1. Economist & WB Finance Min Ashok Mitra died : Noted scholar and former Finance Minister in the Left Front government in West Bengal Ashok Mitra passed away on 1st May.Mr. Mitra was also an eminent economist and penned several newspaper columns on social and economic issues.He was the Chief Economic Adviser to the Central Government from 1970 to 1972.In the mid-1990s he became a member of Rajya Sabha.