Daily GK Updates - 14th February, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Cabinet approves Patna Metro Rail project : The Union Cabinet approved the Patna Metro Rail Project to boost transport facilities in the capital city of Bihar.The Cabinet has also hiked the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Raw Jute by Rs 250  to Rs 3950 per quintal for 2019 -20 season.The MSP is expected to ensure appropriate minimum prices to the farmers and step up investments in jute cultivation.

2. Cabinet approves the proposal for extension of tenure of NCSK beyond March 2019 : The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for Extension of tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK) beyond 31st of March 2019 for three years.The Union Cabinet approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Saudi Arabia on cooperation and mutual assistance in Customs Matters.

3. Rajasthan passes 5% quota bill for Gujjars, four other communities : Rajasthan government has passed a Backward Classes, Amendment Bill, 2019 to provide 5% quota in jobs and educational institutions to ‘Gurjars’ and four other communities.The state government has also decided to increase the ceiling of creamy layer from Rs. 2.5 lacks to Rs. 8 lacks.

4. Bihar govt announces universal old age pension scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension Yojna’ : Bihar government has announced a universal old age pension scheme - Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension Yojna (MVPY) for all people above 60 years of age (except retired senior citizens of govt. service).Currently old age pension scheme is applicable to only the BPL category. All will be eligible for RS. 400 monthly Pension irrespective of caste, religion or community. The Scheme will come into force from the 1st of April 2019.

5. AYUSH Minister launches e-AUSHADHI portal : Shripad Yesso Naik (Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH) has launched the e-AUSHADHI portal, for online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and related matters at New Delhi.The new ‘e-AUSHADHI portal’ is intended for increased transparency, improved information management facility, improved data usability and increased accountability.This e-portal is an acronym for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy Automated Drug Help Initiative.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.British Academy Film Awards announced : The film "The Favourite" won seven honours in British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA)- 2019 in London.The Favourite won best actress for Olivia Colman and best supporting actress for Rachel Weisz, Outstanding British Film, Original Screenplay, Costume Design, Production Design, Makeup and Hair.Also, Netflix production 'Roma' also had a successful night picking up four prizes - best film, best director, best cinematography and best film not in the English language.

2. Women with four children to get life tax exemption in Hungary : According to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, women in the country with four children or more will be exempted for life from paying income tax.The move aims at boosting the country’s population.For women who raise at least four children, a subsidy of USD 8,825 will be given for the purchase of a seven-seat vehicle.A low-interest loan of 35,300 US dollars for women under the age of 40 who are marrying for the first time will be introduced.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. RBI penalises banks for violating various norms : The Reserve Bank has imposed a monetary penalty of two million rupees each on HDFC Bank, IDBI Bank and KotakMahindra Bank for non-compliance of various Know Your Customer/ Anti-Money Laundering norms.RBI also imposed a monetary penalty of 1.5 Crore rupees each on Allahabad Bank, Bank of Maharashtra and Indian Overseas Bank for non-compliance of norms related to monitoring end use of funds, exchange of information, classification and reporting of frauds and on the restructuring of accounts.A penalty of 1 crore rupees was imposed on Andhra Bank for the same reason.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Retail inflation declines to 2.05 per cent in January : As per data released by the ministry of statistics and Programme Implementation, the Retail Inflation declined marginally to 2.05% in January over the last month on the continued decline in food prices.The retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Dec 2018 has also been revised downward to 2.11% from the earlier estimate of 2.19%

In January 2018, inflation was 5.07%.

SPORTS:

1. ‘Clouded Leopard’ to be Mascot for National Games 2022 : Clouded Leopard (Meghalaya's state animal) will be the mascot for the National Games 2022, coinciding with the 50th year of the creation of the state.This decision was taken at the 1st National Games 2022 executive committee meeting chaired by Meghalaya Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh.The clouded leopard is one of the wild cats that live throughout the forests of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills. An estimated 14,450 athletes and officials are expected to visit Meghalaya during the Games.