Daily GK Updates - 22nd June, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ‘Women Wizards Rule Tech’ programme : NASSCOM unveiled a programme named Women Wizards Rule Tech.It aims to increase the number of women in senior levels in the Information Technology (IT) industry.The Women Wizards Rule Tech was announced in March at the Nasscom Diversity and Inclusion Summit in Chennai as a joint initiative by the Nasscom Sector Skills Council and the Data Security Council of India.

2. Vishwas Mandalik & yoga institute to get award : Vishwas Mandalik from Nasik and the Yoga Institute in Mumbai have been selected as recipients of the Prime Minister’s award.They are being awarded for their outstanding contribution for promotion and development of yoga for the year 2018.The selection was done from among 186 nominations received under different categories.

3. Chief Economic Advisor Subramanian resigned : The Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) of India, Arvind Subramanian had resigned from the post and will return to the US because of “pressing family commitments”.The announcement was made by Mr Arun Jaitley.Subramanian was appointed as CEA to the finance ministry in October 2014, for the period of three years.In 2017 his term was extended for a year.

4. Haryana to give star ranking to panchayats : Haryana government has decided to give star rankings to its panchayats on the basis of 7 social parameters under state’s 7-Star Gram Panchayat Rainbow scheme.A total 1,120 villages have achieved the rankings & will be awarded Rs.1 lakh for achieving each parameter.Ambala topped the star ranking with 407 stars followed by Gurugram with 199 stars & Karnal with 75 stars.

5. Surat Selected for best smart city award : Surat city has been awarded best city award under the Smart City Mission’s award for implementation of projects in urban environment, transport and mobility and sustainable integrated development.Bhopal and Ahmedabad have been selected as joint winners under innovative idea award category.The Ministry of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs issued the award.

6. 5th National Standards Conclave : The 5th National Standards Conclave was held in New Delhi.It was organised by Department of commerce and Confederation of Indian Industry(CII).The theme of conclave was Implementing the Indian National Strategy for Standardization.2 reports were released by the Commerce Minister, Suresh Prabhu Indian National Strategy for Standardization(INSS)and CII-ASL Study on TBT/SPS Notifications.

7. Yoga World record created in Kota : Guinness world record was created by conducting the largest yoga session on International Yoga Day at Kota, Rajasthan where 1 lakh people together performed yogic exercises.Yoga guru Ramdev conducted the yoga session attended by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, ministers, officers and local people at RAC ground.The previous record was that of 55,524 people performing yoga in Mysore in 2017.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. US dismisses 3rd party role in Kashmir dispute : The US administration has dismissed a third-party role in resolving the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan.“We believe the pace, scope and character of any discussion on Kashmir are for the two sides to determine,” it said.This comes after Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said trilateral cooperation between India, China and Pakistan could help resolve the issue.

2. Canada legalized marijuana : Canada has become the second nation in the world the first G7 nation to legalize marijuana.Uruguay was the first country to legalize marijuana’s production, sale and consumption in December 2013.Medical marijuana is already legal in Canada.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. India raises import duties on many items : India raised import duties on almost 30 items including agricultural and steel products in protest against the US imposing higher levies on products shipped from the country.Earlier, US hiked tariffs on certain steel and aluminium products which had tariff implication of $241 million on India.China, EU and other trading partners have also hiked tariffs in protest.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. RBI revised Housing Loan limits : RBI revised the upwards housing loan limits under Priority Sector Lending (PSL). ​Housing loans of up to Rs 35 lakh for residences costing less than Rs 45 lakh will now be treated as PSL to give a boost to the low-cost segment.The housing loan limits for eligibility under priority sector lending will be revised to Rs 35 lakh in metropolitan centres and to Rs 25 lakh in other centres.