Daily GK Updates - 17th September, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Hyderabad gets India’s first dog park : Hyderabad is set to get country’s first exclusive dog park.The park, which is spread over in 1.3 acres, has been developed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation at cost of Rs. 1.1 crore.The park also has dog training and exercise equipments.

2. U.P. to launch first-ever dial-FIR : The Uttar Pradesh Police are set to launch a first of its kind dial-FIR scheme in the country.In this scheme, a common man can register regular crimes without going to a police station.The scheme will also prepare an online photographic dossier of criminals that will be provided to policemen on 22,000 new i-pads.Besides this, the UP Police is also expanding the counter-terror combat and response grid in the State by training over 100 fresh commandos in special skills including a maiden batch of women personnel

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India-US military exercise begins in Uttarakhand India and US armies on Sunday began a two-week joint military exercise in Uttarakhand to hone their tactical and technical skills in countering insurgency and terrorism in a United Nation peacekeeping scenario.Battalion-strong Army personnel from the US and an equal number from India are participating in 'Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2018' at Chaubattia in Almora district.. Inaugural Edition of Bimstec Milex-18 Culminates at PuneThe Inaugural Edition of the BIMSTEC Nations Military Field Training Exercise i.e. MILEX - 2018 culminated on 16 September 18 after a Validation Exercise and an impressive Closing Ceremony held at Foreign Training Node, Aundh Military Station, Pune. 

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. NABARD Approves Rs 65,635 crore Loan For 93 Irrigation Projects : The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has approved Rs 65,634.93 crore loan so far to 93 prioritised irrigation projects under the government’s flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).The Nabard is funding the central and state share of 99 prioritised irrigation projects under the PMKSY through long term irrigation fund (LTIF). It is mandated to provide Rs 70,000 crore loan to these projects to be completed by 2019.

2.Centre announces merger of Dena Bank, Vijaya Bank, Bank of Baroda : Moving ahead with consolidation of public sector banks, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced the merger of Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank. The merged entity or amalgamated bank would be India’s third largest.There will be no adverse impact on employees of merged entity, the Finance Minister added.Department of Financial Services Secretary Rajeev Kumar said that the new bank will be strong competitive bank with economies of scale.

3.SBI Appoints Prashant Kumar As CFO : The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced Prashant Kumar as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He also worked as Chief General Manager, Kolkata circle and General Manager in Mumbai Circ

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. Second Flight Test of MPATGM Successfulndigenously developed Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM), was successfully flight tested for the second time from the Ahmednagar range.All the mission objectives have been met.The two missions on 15 and 16 September 2018 have been successfully flight tested for different ranges including the maximum range capability

 2.ISRO launches two British earth observation satellites onboard PSLV-C42The Indian Space Research Organization has launched its heavy-weight rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), into orbit carrying two earth observation satellites of Britain’s Surrey Satellite Technology Limited.PSLV-C42 is carrying two earth observation satellites of Britain’s Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), NovaSAR and S1-4, weighing 450 kg each

SPORTS:

1.  Ahmet Comert Tournament: India's 3 boxers clinch gold medals : Simranjit Kaur (64kg), Monika (48- kg) & Bhagyabati Kachari (81- kg) claimed gold medals as Indian boxers notched up an impressive seven podium finishes at the Ahmet Comert Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey.Simranjit defeated Turkey’s Sema Caliskan to win the Gold.Monika beat Ayse Cagirer (Turkey) to win the gold medal.

2. Sakshi Malik settles for the silver medal at Medved Intl wrestling : Rio Olympics Bronze medalist Sakshi Malik settled for a Silver medal in 62 kg category at the Medved International Wrestling tournament at Minsk, Belarus.Sakshi lost to Hungary's Marianna Sastin, 2-6 to finish second best.