Daily GK Updates - 23rd October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  3rd Himachal Pradesh Science Congress begins in Mandi : The two-day Himachal Pradesh Science Congress (3rd) has begun at Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Mandi to boost to rural innovation sector.During the event, scientists and researchers will discuss recent progress and future trends in technologies relevant for rural transformation.The theme of Himachal Pradesh Science Congress is "Rural Upliftment through Science and Technology Interventions".

2. India's first railway station inside the tunnel to come up in Himachal Pradesh :A railway station will be built inside a tunnel at a height of 3,000 meters, on the strategic Bilaspur-Manali-Leh line close to the Sino-India border.The Keylong station in Himachal Pradesh will be the first on the railway network to be inside a tunnel, Once completed. Keylong (26 km from Manali) is the administrative center of Lahaul and Spiti district and 120 km from the Indo-Tibetan border.

3. Maharashtra Govt. proposes to extend benefits of Employees Provident Fund : The Maharashtra Govt. has to extend benefits of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) as well as insurance schemes to those cutting, harvesting and transporting sugarcane.The state has around eight lakh laborers engaged in these works in 168 cooperative and private sugar factories.It has been proposed to extend benefits of EPF, insurance schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, financial assistance for children's education and housing to these laborers.

4. India’s longest bridge to be built across the Brahmaputra river : India’s longest river bridge will be built across the Brahmaputra, connecting Dhubri (in Assam) to Phulbari (in Meghalaya).The 19.3 km (four-lane bridge) will be built by 2026-27, cut road travel by 203 km as also travel time.At present, vehicles take an over-200 km-long detour using the Naranarayan Bridge.The new bridge will complete the missing link of NH127B from Assam to Meghalaya.

5. Gwalior hosts four-day International Dance Festival : Uzbekistan Ambassador to India Farhod Arziev has inaugurated a four-day international dance festival "Udbhav Utsav -2018" in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.Dance troupes from India (25 teams), Bulgaria, Turkey, and Sri Lanka are taking apart in the event.The main objective of the competition-festival is to give the opportunity to performers for creative communications, to present new talents and to facilitate acquaintance with pieces of national culture and arts in different countries.An initiative to establish peace and love in the world! One Spirit and One Religion

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. China unveils world's longest sea-crossing bridge linking Hong Kong - Macau –Zhuhai : China's President Xi Jinping has officially opened the world's longest sea-crossing bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China.The bridge connects Hong Kong to Macau and the mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai. The bridge spans 55km including its access roads and has cost about USD 20bn.

 About 30km of its total length crosses the sea of the Pearl River delta.To allow ships through, a 6.7km section in the middle dips into an undersea tunnel that runs between two artificial islands.

2. India 9th most valuable nation brand in the world : According to the Nation Brands 2018 report by Brand Finance, India is the 9th most valuable nation brand (last year it’s rank – 8^th) in the world.ndia's brand value is USD 2,159 billion in 2018.US topped in the list with a brand value of USD 25,899 billion.

3.'Padmaavat' officially selected at 2018 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus "Padmaavat" has been officially selected for 2018 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival 2018.The film is Bhansali's re-imagining of the story of Queen Padmavati, her king-consort Maha Rawal Ratan Singh and Sultan Alauddin Khilji.Actors Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh featured in the movie, which was 2018's first blockbuster.

4.  India’s longest bridge to be built across the Brahmaputra river : India’s longest river bridge will be built across the Brahmaputra, connecting Dhubri (in Assam) to Phulbari (in Meghalaya).The 19.3 km (four-lane bridge) will be built by 2026-27, cut road travel by 203 km as also travel time. At present, vehicles take an over-200 km-long detour using the Naranarayan Bridge.The new bridge will complete the missing link of NH127B from Assam to Meghalaya.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. IFC launches USD 1 Billion masala bond programme in the US & Europe : International Finance Corporation (IFC) has launched its USD 1 billion masala bond programme in the US and Europe.These bonds are aimed at funding the rapidly expanding investment activities of IFC in India. Masala bonds are bonds issued outside India but denominated in Indian Rupees.IFC uses them to raise rupee funds overseas and brings the proceeds to India for investments. 

SPORTS:

1. French Open Badminton tournament begins in Paris today : French Open Badminton tournament has begun in Paris, France.Ace Indian shuttlers, including defending champion Kidambi Srikanth, PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal will be eying their first major title of the year.Srikanth and Saina along with B Sai Praneeth and Sameer Verma are scheduled to begin their Singles campaigns tomorrow.Today, The Men's Doubles pair of Arjun MR and Ramchandran Shlok will play their opening round match.

2.  Serbia wins 2018 Women’s Volleyball World Championship : The Serbian women earned their 2nd World Championship medal, and first-ever World Championship title, on in Yokohama, Japan.It claimed the title for the first time in history at the Volleyball Women's World Championship after edging Italy 3-2 here Saturday, while China hammered the Netherlands in straight sets to get a bronze.

3.  Bajarang punia bagged silver at Wrestling World Championship :Wrestler Bajrang Punia settles for silver after losing to Japanese Takuto Otoguro ((19-years) in 65 kg category in the final at the World Wrestling Championship in Budapest. Otoguro consistently attacked the left leg of Punia and emerged a comfortable 16-9 winner.Now, Otoguru became Japan's youngest World Champion at the age of 19.Sushil Kumar is the lone Indian to win a gold medal at the World Championships, achieving the feat in 2010 in Moscow in the 66kg category.

Daily GK Updates - 27th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Intra-state e-way bill comes into force : Maharashtra, Manipur & 5 union territories have rolled out intra-state e-way bill system for movement of goods worth over Rs 50,000 within the state.With this, the number of States, where the system is being implemented will go up to 27.E-Way Bill is an electronically generated document which is required to be generated for the movement of goods of more Rs. 50,000 from one place to another.

2.PM Modi launches Eastern Peripheral Expressway : PM Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first highway to be lit by solar power in Bagpat, Uttar Pradesh.Eastern PeripheralExpressway is 135 km long, stretching from Kundli on NH 1 to Palwal on NH 2.The highway has provisions of rainwater harvesting on every 500 metres on both sides and would showcase 36 national monuments and 40 fountains.It has been built in a record time of 17 months.

3.India’s highest decorated general passed away : India’s most decorated General, Lt Gen Zorawar Chand Bakshi, also known as Zoru Bakshi passed away.Decorated with Maha Vir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal, Bakshi was instrumental in the historic capture of strategic Haji Pir pass from Pakistan army. He also took part in the World War II in the Burma in which he earned a Mention-in-Despatches.

4. Modi to inaugurate India’s 1st 14-lane highway : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 1^st phase of Delhi-Meerut Expressway.The Delhi-Meerut Expressway would be India’s first 14-lane highway.The expressway will do away with 31 traffic signals on the Delhi-Meerut road, the busiest highway in the region, and make it “signal free”.The project is being built in four segments and is expected to be fully completed by March 2019.

5. MHA creates new division for women safety : Ministry of Home Affairs has created a new division to deal with all issues of women safety in coordination with relevant ministries, departments and state governments.Punya Srivastava has been appointed as the Joint Secretary to head this division.The division will deal with all schemes under NIRBHAYA fund and Crimes against women, SCs & STs, children & elderly persons among others.

6. Insurance cover for all Telangana farmers : Telangana government has announced that it would provide life insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh each to all farmers in the state.The Telangana government has tied up with LIC for implementation of the scheme.Irrespective of the reasons due to which a farmer dies, the insured amount of Rs 5 lakh shall be paid to the nominee proposed by the insured farmer within 10 days of the claim.

7. Manipur gets first solar toilet : Manipur has become the 1^st state in Northeast & the 3^rd state in India to have solar toilets.It was inaugurated at Ibudhou Marjing hill Heingang by Tourism Director, Waikhom Ibohal.The solar panel, connected to the toilets, absorb heat to generate power & are efficient to transform waste material.Besides Manipur, these toilets have been installed in Tamil Nadu & Andhra-Pradesh.

                                  INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi, Hasina inaugurate Bangladesh Bhavan : Prime Minister Modi & his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Bangladesh Bhavan in Santiniketan, West Bengal.Bangladesh Bhavan features a museum that showcases renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore’s association with that country, the Liberation War of Bangladesh & Indo-Bangla relations.It has been built at a cost of Rs. 25 crores, which was provided by Bangladesh government.

2. Colombia formally joins NATO : Colombia has decided to formally join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).With this Colombia becomes the 1^st Latin American nation to join NATO as a global partner.Colombia will join as a global partner, which means it will not necessarily have to take part in military action & will be fully accredited in Brussels.Other global partners include Mongolia, Iraq, Japan & Pakistan.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. EPF interest rate hits 5-year low at 8.55% :The government has notified 8.55% interest rate on EPF for 2017-18, lowest in 5 years since the 2012-13fiscal.Employees’ Provident Fund is a mandatory contribution from the salary of an individual that every company which has more than 20 employees has to deduct.EPF accounts are overseen by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, which is under the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

2. Hariri wins third term as Prime Minister: Lebanon’s Saad Hariri has won a new term as Prime Minister after he won the backing of the majority of parliamentarians.

It will be 3^rd term for Hariri, who has held the position since December 2016 and was also Prime Minister between 2009 and 2011.Under Lebanon’s sectarian power-sharing system, Prime minister must be a Sunni Muslim, Speaker a Shia Muslim & President a Maronite Christian.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Yes Bank empanelled as ‘Settlement Bank’ : Yes Bank has received approval from National Stock Exchange to be empanelled as Settlement Bank for National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC), a wholly owned subsidiary of NSE.NSCC is responsible for clearing and settlement of all trades executed on NSE.The Bank is already an empanelled Clearing Bank for BSE, NCDEX & MCX.

DEFENCE:            

1. Rustom-2 drone to be delivered by 2020 : The Rustom-II Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, which is being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will be delivered to the armed forces by 2020.The drone is being developed for use by all 3 services of Indian Armed Forces, primarily for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.It can fly at around 280 km/h and carry a variety of payloads

SPORTS:

1. Real Madrid won the 2017–18 Champions League : Real Madrid have claimed yet another Champions League title by beating Liverpool FC 3-1 in the final.It is the third consecutive year that Real Madrid have won the tournament and the fourth such in five years, taking their total tally to a record 13 titles.Madrid’s Gareth Bale became the first player ever to come on as a substitute and score twice in a European Cup/Champions League final.

Daily GK Updates - 8th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. New norms for labeling food planned : Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has released new draft regulations on food packaging.All packaged food with at least 5% content from genetically engineered sources need to be labeled so.Foods that exceed norms of sugar and fat will need to carry ‘red’ and ‘green’ labels specifying the extent to which they do so.

2. Government to expand Van Dhan Vikas Kendras : Tribal Affairs Ministry will expand Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in Tribal Districts across the country.The aim of the establishment of these Kendras is to provide skill upgradation and capacity building training to increase the incomes of tribals.Van Dhan Vikas Kendra was launched at Bijapur, Chattisgarh on 14th April 2018 for training, providing equipment and tools for primary level processing.

3. India funds flood, earthquake warning systems : India has launched a flood & earthquake early warning systems in Myanmar aimed at helping the country mitigate the effects of natural calamities that affects people every year.Under the Flood Warning System, 12 automatic water level stations and 3 automatic weather stations have been established.Under the Earthquake Monitoring System, 10 telemetered seismic stations have been added.

4. Sensitization Meeting of Stakeholders held :The ‘first sensitization meeting of stakeholders to make Delhi a model Accessible city’ was held in the national capital on May 7.The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities took this initiative to coordinate the meeting of all key stakeholders, sensitize them about the legal mandates.Delhi being the capital city of the country is proposed to be selected for this drive.

5. Pradeep Kumar Sinha got one year extension : Cabinet secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha has got another one-year extension as the country’s top bureaucrat.Cabinet Secretary is the administrative head of the cabinet secretariat & is also the ex-officio chairman of the civil services board.The cabinet secretariat is under the direct charge of the Prime Minister.The cabinet secretariat assists in decision-making in the government.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India, Guatemala signs various agreements : India and Guatemala agreed to work together to combat terrorism.A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on enhancing cooperation in diplomatic academics.A Letter of Intent (LoI) of providing training for the English language to Guatemalan teachers was also signed under the ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) programme.

2. SCO Secretary-General arrived in India : Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretary General Rashid Alimov has arrived in India to hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj & other Union ministers.India became a full member of SCO in 2017, at the summit held in Astana, Kazakhstan.SCO is an intergovernmental international organisation aimed at strengthening mutual trust & neighbourliness among the member states.

3. Asia Media Summit to be hosted by India : The 15th Asia Media Summit (AMS) 2018 is being hosted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India from 10th-12th May​ 2018 in New Delhi.The AMS 2018, an annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) Kuala Lumpur, is a prestigious summit in the Asia Pacific Region.The theme of the summit is “Telling Our Stories – Asia and More”.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. BSE to launch commodity derivatives trading : Bombay Stock Exchange has decided to launch trading in the commodity derivatives segment from October 1.BSE will begin commodity derivatives with non-agriculture commodities like metals, energy and base metals.A derivative is a contract between two parties which derives its value/price from an underlying asset.The most common types of derivatives are futures, options, forwards and swaps.

DEFENCE:

1. US and Philippines began military exercises : US and Philippine forces have begun their largest annual military exercises named Balikatan on 7th May.The Balikatan exercises involved combat drills in mock urban settings to train special forces in battling terrorists.In 2017, Balikatan focused mainly on honing humanitarian responses to the Philippines’ frequent natural disasters.

Daily GK Updates - 8th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Swachh Shakti 2018: The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, in association with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, is organizing a Women’s Convention – called Swachh Shakti 2018 on International Women’s Day on 8th March at Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh will be hosting Swachh Shakti 2018 as the largest State in the country. Swachh Shakti 2018 will provide momentum to the sanitation coverage in Uttar Pradesh.

2. PM Launches National Nutrition Mission and Pan India Expansion Of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: On the occasion of International Women’s Day, PM Narendra Modi launched the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) and Pan India Expansion of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) covering all 640 districts of the Country at a mega event held at Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. NNM has been set up with a three year budget of Rs.9046.17 crore commencing from 2017-18. The NNM is a comprehensive approach towards raising nutrition level in the country on a war footing. The Prime Minister also awarded ten districts for showing outstanding performance in the areas of effective community engagement, enforcement of PC&PNDT Act and enabling the education of the girl child.

3. Karnataka Government Unveils Official State Flag: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accepted a nine-member committee’s design for the proposed official state flag. The committee was set up last year to examine the legal feasibility of an official state flag after demands by pro-Kannada activists. If the Centre approves the proposal, Karnataka will be the second state to have a separate flag, after Jammu and Kashmir.

4. Dearness Allowance for Central Govt employees hiked: The Cabinet approved a hike in Dearness Allowance to central government employees and Dearness Relief to pensioners from 5% to 7%, with effect from January 1, 2018. It represents an increase of 2%. The hike is expected to benefit 48.41 lakh central government employees and 61.17 lakh pensioners. The impact on the exchequer over the DA hike will be ₹6,077 crore per annum.

5. Udyam Sakhi Portal Launched For Women Entrepreneurs: On the occasion of International Women’s Day the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) launched a portal for women entrepreneurs of India: www.udyamsakhi.org. The portal was unveiled by the Minister of State (I/C) of MSME, Giriraj Singh, in a program in New Delhi. The portal is a network for nurturing entrepreneurship and creating business models for low cost products and services in order to empower women and make them self-reliant and self-sufficient.

6. Delhi Govt. to install Panic Alarm System in each state-run bus: On the International Women’s Day, the Delhi government has announced a project under which state-run buses would be installed with Panic Alarm Systems. Each bus will be equipped with 4 panic buttons that cover the entire length of the vehicle. A loud beeping alarm will be activated for 40 seconds on pressing the button.

7. ‘Vision For Future’ Event To Marks 70 Years Of Indo-Russia Ties Held In New Delhi: An event named ‘Vision for Future’ was held in New Delhi to commemorate 70 years of the Indo-Russia ties. The event sought to expose the youth to the dynamic opportunities of cooperation between the two countries. The program inaugurated at the Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (Eurasia Division) and the International Federation of Indo-Russian Youth Clubs.

8. Sanitary Pads for women at Rs. 2.50: The Central government launched biodegradable sanitary napkins under the name ‘Suvidha’, priced at ₹2.50 per pad, which will be available at Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Kendras. The sanitary napkins will be available in a pack of four pads for Rs. 10 across over 3,200 PMBJP Kendras by May 28, 2018.  

9. enTTech 2018 inaugurated in Mumbai: India’s biggest Media & Entertainment Services Market – enTTech 2018 was inaugurated in Mumbai. The market, spread over two days (March 7 – 8, 2018) will see fast matchmaking between 100 international delegates and their Indian counterparts. The event was organized by SEPC in association with MEAI and TVAGA and supported by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

10. LED Gram Light Training Programme launched: Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat launched a programme for women self-help groups at Thano. The 5-day programme named LED Gram Light Training programme will train 50 women from 10 SHGS in making LED bulbs, tubelights and chandeliers and help them stand on their own feet. It will boost the sale of local products and will also help in stoping sale of Chinese items of home decor.

11. Indian architect BV Doshi wins Pritzker: Balkrishna Doshi, the legendary Indian architect is being honoured with the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the Nobel equivalent for the field. He is the 45th Pritzker laureate and the first from India. The international prize, established by Chicago’s Pritzker family in 1979, bestows laureates with $100,000 along with a bronze medallion.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. International Women’s Day 2018 observed: International Women’s Day is dedicated to celebrating womanhood, their social, political, cultural, economic achievements and their significant contributions to society. The day also emphasises the importance of gender equality. Before the UN adopted it in 1977, the day was mostly celebrated in socialist and Communist countries. This year, the theme is #PressforProgress.

2. World ATM Congress 2018 Held in Spain: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is participating in World ATM Congress (WATMC) 2018 being held in Spain. Now entering its sixth year, World ATM Congress is the world’s largest international air traffic management (ATM) exhibition and conference attracting thousands of delegates each year. The AAI is showcasing its achievements and initiatives, through a stall at the conference which was inaugurated by A.K. Dutta, Member (ANS), AAI.

OTHER UPDATES

BANKING / FINANCE:

1. RBI imposes penalty on SBI: The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a monetary fine of Rs 40 lakh on the country’s biggest lender the State Bank of India over counterfeit notes. After Inspection RBI found a violation of its instructions issued on the detection and impounding of counterfeit notes.

BUSINESS / ECONOMY:

1. Airtel acquires India leg of GBI cables: Telecom major Bharti Airtel acquired India leg of Gulf Bridge International submarine cable which will boost its data carrying capacity. Under the agreement, Airtel will acquire the ownership of the India leg of GBI’s India-Middle East-Europe submarine cable. This will also complement Airtel’s existing global network spanning 250,000 kms with presence in 50 countries.

2. Paytm now registered investment advisor: Financial services platform Paytm’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Paytm Money has received approval from market regulator SEBI to become a Registered Investment Advisor. The nod from the SEBI will allow the company to roll out investment and wealth management products to consumers across the country. The platform has planned to start with direct plan mutual funds investments with zero commission.

3. Indian startups raise funds via bitcoins: Initial coin offerings (ICOs) are emerging as a new way of raising funds for startups. An ICO is based on cryptocurrencies and is a mix of an initial public offer (IPO) and crowdfunding. Startups have managed to raise as much as $200 million in a single round of funding through ICOs. Instead of granting shares in the company, the issuer will create crypto-tokens to give out to investors.