Daily GK Updates - 4th July, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Govt approves hike in Minimum Support Price : The Centre approved the raise in Minimum Support Price (MSP) for kharif crops in line with its budget announcement to ensure that farmers get at least 1.5 times of the production cost.The MSP for paddy has been hiked to around ₹1,750 per quintal from previous year’s ₹1,550 and corn increased to ₹1,700 from ₹1,131.The MSP of cotton (medium staple) has been increased to Rs 5,150.

2. Special drive launched by Gujarat CM : CM of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani launched a special drive called ‘Poshan Abhiyan’ to eradicate malnutrition among children.‘Purna’ project was also launched under this drive for malnutrition girls under the age group of 14-18 years.Nutritious food will be served to these children through Anganwadi centres and Rs 270 crore has been allocated by the government to control malnutrition in girls.

3. UP Government announced new policy : UP Government announced a new Defence Manufacturing Policy, called ‘UP Defence Aerospace Unit and Employment Generating Policy, 2018’.The policy is for the entrepreneurs who are willing to invest and would project an investment of Rs. 50,000 crores for upcoming 5 years.The policy is also expected to generate 2.5 lakh jobs.

4. Rajat Sharma becomes DDCA president : Renowned journalist Rajat Sharma has been elected as the President of Delhi & District Cricket Association.Sharma surpassed former World Cup winning Indian cricketer Madan Lal by 517 votes to register his win.Sharma is currently the Chairman and Editor in Chief of India TV and has been awarded Padma Bhushan by Government of India in 2015 in the field of Literature and Education.

5. SC verdict on Delhi CM vs L-G : LG has no independent decision-making power and cannot behave as an obstructionist.Except for the three issues, including land, law and order, Delhi government should be allowed to legislate.LG being the administrative head of Delhi must be informed of all executive powers but he cannot stall all the decisions of the council of ministers.

6. Bengaluru to get India’s first e-waste plant : The country’s first e-waste recycling unit will come up in Bengaluru, Union minister of chemicals and fertilisers Ananth Kumar said.A 2016 study by Assocham and KPMG ranked India among the top five countries in e-waste generation.The e-waste recycling unit will be set up by the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET).

7. India’s first global mobility summit : NITI Aayog, in collaboration with various ministries & industry partners will organise ‘MOVE: Global Mobility Summit’ in New Delhi.This Summit will help drive Government’s goals for vehicle electrification & renewable energy integration & speed up India’s transition to a clean energy economy.It aims to engage with key stakeholders within the rapidly transforming global mobility landscape.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. NASA set to test supersonic flights : NASA is set to test a flight manoeuvre that will allow jets to travel at a speed faster than sound without generating the sonic boom.NASA showed that a repurposed fighter jet F/A-18 can be used to generate quiet sonic thumps over a particular area.The Gulf Coast city was chosen since it is near the Gulf of Mexico and enables the F/A-18 to keep its loud sonic beams out to the sea.

2. Bhutan PM to visit India : Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay would be arriving in Delhi for a 3-day visit to India.Both the nations would be discussing about host issues such as security ties and economic cooperation.This visit is expected to advance the ‘exemplary ties of friendship’ between both the nations.Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. SAIL appointed new CMD : Saraswati Prasad has been appointed as the new CMD of the Steel Authority of India.Saraswati Prasad has also taken over the additional charge of the post of managing director and chairman of SAIL on July 1, 2018.The appointment was made after the retirement of former CMD P.K. Singh.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.60.5 Lakh shares to be sold by Dena Bank : Dena Bank would be selling 60.5 lakh shares in three entities, which also includes SIDBI.It would be requesting for quotation for purchase of equity shares in three public sectors.The bank will sell 1.563% of the total paid-up equity capital in NSDL E-Governance.