Daily GK Updates - 13th March, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Dipa Karmakar selected as Barbie Role Model : Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar (25-year) has been selected as Barbie role model, as the company celebrates its 60th anniversary. Karmakar has been chosen along with 19 other successful women(from 17 countries), included in the collection of Barbie dolls inspired by real-life heroes. She was part of the ‘Shero’ program launched in 2015 by the company.

2. Megha Engineering enters Limca records : Megha Engineering Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) has found a place in the Limca Book of National Records and Asia Book of Records for completing a power sub-station in seven months (normally it takes 15-18 months). NP Kunta sub-station was taken up to connect Ultra Mega Solar Power Plant built in Ananthapur with Power Grid, to facilitate the supply of 1500 MW of electricity.

3. Mizoram Cabinet approves Liquor Prohibition Bill :  The Mizoram state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Zoramthangahas approved the proposed liquor prohibition bill, 2019 in the state. The bill would be introduced in the state Assembly during the Budget session. There was total prohibition in Mizoram from 1997 till January 2015 with the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act in force in the state. Earlier, Lal Thanhawla government allowed opening of wine shops in the state from March 2015.

4. C Lalsawta sworn in as Mizoram’s first Lokayukta chairman : Mizoram Governor Jagdish Mukhi administered the oath of office to Mr. C Lalsawta (Retired IAS officer) as the first Chairman of the newly-constituted Lokayukta at Raj Bhavan in Aizawl. Mr. Lalsawta (1981-batch Bihar cadre IAS officer) was the Principal Secretary of the Finance department in the State from 2008 to 2011. The Lokayukta (also Lok Ayukta) is an anti-corruption ombudsman organization in the Indian states.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.DGCA decides to ground Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft with immediate effect : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to ground Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft with immediate effect. The decision comes in the wake of Ethiopian Airlines crash (killed all 157 people) in Addis Ababa. The planes will be grounded until appropriate modifications and safety measures are undertaken to ensure their safe operations. Spice Jet has around 12 Boeing 737 Max 8 planes, Jet Airways (5) in its fleet in the country

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1.  India's internet base crosses 500 million mark :  According to a newly released Kantar IMRB ICUBE report, Internet user base in India has exceeded 500 million marks. It is likely to reach 627 million by the end of 2019. The number of internet users is estimated to be 566 million as of December 2018 (annual growth -18%). The report finds 493 million Indians (total user base-87%) are defined as regular users, having accessed the internet in the last 30 days.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.Axis Bank names Rakesh Makhija as new Chairman :  Private sector lender Axis Bank has named ‘Rakesh Makhija’ (67-years) as its new Non-Executive (Part-Time) Chairman for a period of three years. Mr. Makhija (Chairman of SKF India) will take over from Sanjiv Mishra(current Axis Bank Chairman), when his term comes to an end on 17thJuly 2019. He has been an Independent Director on the board of Axis since October 2015.

2. Bank of India raises Rs 660 crore by selling shares to employees :  State owned Bank of India (BoI) has raised Rs 660.80 crores by issuing shares to employees under Employee Share Purchase Scheme (ESPS). The bank issued 6,25,52,188 shares of Rs 10 each to eligible employees. It offered a discount of 24.28% on the applicable price to the employees and about 94.70% of the total employees participated in the scheme.

OBITUARIES:

1. Veteran Hindi Newsreader Vinod Kashyap passes away :  Veteran Hindi Newsreader Vinod Kashyap (88-years) passed away following a prolonged illness.

She served All India Radio for about 30 years. The veteran newsreader started her career in Radio as a drama artist

2.  U.S Olympic gold medallist Kelly Catlin passes away :  America’s finest and most remarkable cyclists ‘Kelly Catlin’(23-year) passed away in the USA. Catlin helped a dominant US team to three consecutive world titles in the pursuit between 2016 and 2018. She also won a silver medal in the team pursuit at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.