Daily GK Updates - 8th July, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Government launches ‘technology challenge’ : To eliminate human entry into septic tanks for cleaning, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched a ‘technology challenge’ seeking suitable solutions.The challenge is a part of the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention to be held on 2 October.The proposals will be adopted on the basis of operational effectiveness, life of machinery, & ease of use among others.

2. Subsidy on rooftop solar power installations : Himachal Pradesh government has announced a subsidy of 10% or Rs. 4,000 per Kilowatt, whichever is less, for installation of solar power plants at the rooftop of their buildings.This subsidy would be additional to the subsidy given by Central government.The subsidy amount would be deposited directly to the bank account of the consumer through Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Authority.

3. PM to inaugurate statue of unity : PM Modi will inaugurate the Statue of Unity on 31st October 2018, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.The construction of the tallest statue in the world that began in December 2015, is nearly complete.World’s tallest statue dedicated to country’s first Home Minister Sardar Vallabbhai Patel is being built with 5,700 Metric tonne structural steel and 1,900 MT of bronze.

4. Ram Vilas Paswan to attend UNCTAD meet : Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan will attend the UNCTAD meeting of a third inter-governmental group of experts on consumer protection on July 9-10 in Geneva.The group has been set up under the revised UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection.The session will also deliberate on measures on protection of vulnerable & disadvantaged consumers.UNCTAD is the UN body looking after consumer issues.

5. Indian railways to launch special train : The Indian Railways is planning to launch a tourist train, Sri Ramayana Express, which will cover all locations associated with the Ramayana.The train will run from Ayodhya (UP) to Colombo (Sri Lanka) via Rameshwaram (Tamil Nadu).The train will begin from Safdarjung station and its first stop will be in Ayodhya, the birthplace of the Hindu Lord Ram.

6. T.K Chand gets knowledge excellence award : Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand received the Knowledge Excellence Award from Secretary, Mines, Govt. of India for Outstanding Contribution in Aluminium Knowledge domain.Chand is an Indian mining veteran and is the Chairman cum Managing Director of National Aluminium Company (NALCO).NALCO is the largest integrated aluminium unit in Asia and is also one of the largest aluminium complexes of the world.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World’s largest mobile factory : Samsung has set up what is the world’s largest mobile factory at Sector 81 in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.Not just mobiles, the expansion of current facility will double Samsung’s production capacity of consumer electronics like refrigerators.Samsung is currently making 67 million smartphones in India & with the new plant being functional, it is expected to manufacture nearly 120 million phones.

2. World Sanskrit Conference in Vancouver, Canada : HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar will inaugurate the 17^th World Sanskrit Conference to be held at Vancouver, Canada from 9th to 13th July, 2018.The conference aims to promote, preserve & practice the Sanskrit language all over the world by the people.World Sanskrit Conference is being held in various countries across the globe once in every 3 years & so far it has been held thrice in India.

3. South Korean President to arrive in India : South Korean President, Moon Jae-in is on a four-day visit to India.During his visit, he will hold talks with PM Modi on several issues, including the situation on the Korean peninsula & ways to boost bilateral trade and defence cooperation.Moon’s visit to India comes nearly a month after the historic summit between US President Donald Trump & North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore.

  

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. PSU banks plan to raise over Rs 50,000 cr : Public sector banks are planning to tap the markets to raise more than Rs 50,000 crore this fiscal.Out of 21 public sector banks, 13 have already taken the approval of their boards or shareholders for raising capital through the equity market.Capital is very much required for these banks as they are saddled with non-performing assets (NPAs) of about Rs 10 lakh crore.

DEFENCE:

1. India reconsidering fighter jet programme : India has conveyed to Russia its unwillingness to go ahead with the joint development of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft primarily due to high cost involved in the project.India and Russia had signed an inter-governmental agreement for the mega project in 2007.In December 2010, India had agreed to pay USD 295 million towards the preliminary design of the fighter jet.

2. Indian warship INS Trikand reaches Sri Lanka : India’s frontline warship INS Trikand has reached Sri Lanka in a goodwill visit.Senior Indian officers, including Lt. Colonel Ravi Shekhar Mishra held discussions on matters of mutual interest with their Lankan counterparts.INS Trikand is a state-of-the-art warship of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons & sensors capable of addressing threats in all 3 dimensions.

OBITUARIES:

1. Senior Congress leader Jacob passes away : Senior Congress leader and former Meghalaya Governor M M Jacob passed away at the age of 90.Jacob, a former Union Minister, had also served as deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha in the 80s.Hailing from Ramapuram, Jacob had served as General Secretary and Treasurer of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee & Chairman, Kerala State Seva Dal Board and an elected member of AICC for many years.