Daily GK Updates - 16th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Puducherry to ban single-use plastic from 1st March : Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has announced to ban the production, sale and use of single-use plastic products in the Union Territory from 1st March 2019.The government wants to gift a plastic-free Puducherry to the future generation and curb the plastic in the larger interest of the environment.

2. Harshvardhan launches DD Science and India Science channels : India  DST  (Department of Science and Technology) along with Doordarshan has launched the two-science communicationinitiative ‘DD Science’ and ‘India Science’ in New Delhi.The two channels will have science-based documentaries, studio-based discussions, and virtual walkthroughs of scientific institutions, interviews and short films and will be completely free to access (24/7). While DD Science is a one-hour slot on Doordarshan National channel, India Science is an internet-based science channel.

3. Regional Centre of National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) : The Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi has inaugurated 5th Regional Centre of National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) at Mohali, Punjab.NIPCCD is a premier organisation devoted to the promotion of voluntary action, research, training, and documentation in the overall domain of women and children development.

4. Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Jharsuguda to be dedicated to the Nation : The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to the Nation Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP), at Jharsugudaand in Odisha.The Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Jharsuguda is built at a cost of Rs 100 Crores.PM Modi also inaugurated a new railway line from Balangir-Bichupali built at an estimated cost of Rs. 115 crores.It will facilitate EXIM and Domestic cargo including Private Freight Traffic.

5. 1st National EMRS National Sports Meet, 2019 began at Hyderabad :  The first National Level Sports Meet for the students of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) has been inaugurated by Shri Jaswantsinh Sumanbhai Bhabhor (Minister of State for Tribal Affairs) at G.M.C Balayogi Stadium, Gachibowli, Hyderabad.The Minister also launched an app ‘EMRS Sports Meet’ dedicated on the occasion.The event has the participation of 1777 students (975 boys and 802 girls) representing 20 States of the country.

6. MP launches Rs 50,000-cr farm debt-waiver scheme : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has launched the Rs 50,000-crore farm debt-waiver scheme named 'Jai Kisan Rin Mukti Yojana'.It would benefit 55 lakh small and marginal farmers.About 70% people of Madhya Pradesh are associated with agriculture and allied sectors.

7. Jaideep Govind appointed Secretary General of NHRC : Senior IAS officer Jaideep Govind (1984-batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre) has been appointed the Secretary-General (15^th) of National Human Rights Commission(NHRC).Earlier, he was posted as Special Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Ministries of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  9th International Micro irrigation conference begins in Aurangabad : The Union Minister for water resources and river development Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 9th International Micro irrigation conference at Aurangabad, Maharashtra.The theme of the three-day conference is “Micro Irrigation and Modern Agriculture”. 740 delegates including 100 foreign delegates from 56 countriesand as many 100 Agricultural scientists will also attend the conference.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2018-19 (Series-V) opens : The Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2018-19 (Series-V) opened for subscription, continue till 18th January 2019.

The issue price of the Bond during this subscription period will be Rs. 3200 and fourteen rupees per gram with the settlement date of 22nd January 2019. The Centre in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India has decided to allow a discount of 50 rupees per gram from the issue price to those investors who apply online and make the paymentthrough digital mode.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1.  Govt forms GoM for GST issues in real estate : The Union Government has constituted a seven-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to boost the real estate sector under the GST regime.Nitin Patel (Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat) will be the convener of the GoM.Finance Ministers of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh and the Panchayat Minister of Goa will be the members.Group of Ministers will analyse tax rate of GST and suggest a composition scheme for residential construction units.