Daily GK Updates - 11th August, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Venkaiah Naidu elected 13th Vice-President of India defeating Gopalkrishna Gandhi: NDA nominee and former Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu was elected as the 13th Vice President of India after comfortably defeating Opposition candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi in the Vice-Presidential election Naidu secured 516 votes in his favour, Gandhi managed to get only 244 votes.

2. Plastic bag ban - Rs 5,000 fine for possessing plastic bags in Delhi: NGT(National Green Tribunal) banned on plastic bags in New Delhi. In an interim order, a bench headed by the Tribunal’s chairperson, Justice Swatanter Kumar on anyone found in possession of non-biodegradable plastic bags less than 50 microns.

3. Vinay Dube-New CEO of jet Airways : Jet Airways India Ltd on Wednesday named Vinay Dube, an aviation veteran with close to three decades of experience, as its chief executive officer (CEO). Dube is an accomplished aviation leader with over 27 years of US and international business experience 

4. Parliament has passed the Banking Regulation Bill: Parliament has passed the Banking Regulation Bill with the Rajya sabha approved it.The Lok sabha has already passed it.the Banking Regulation Bill will replace the banking Regulation Ordinance , 2017 promulgated by president in May 2017.

5.The US-India will co-host the Global Enterpreneurship summit(GES): The US-India co-host the GES Nov 28-30 in Hyderabad,India. Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump will lead the United States’ delegation to the Summit, which will focus on supporting women entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth globally.

6. NABARAD Launches E-shakti project: NABARD launched a project for digitisation of all Self Help Group (SHG) in the country. The project is being implemented in 100 districts across the country. aim of the EShakti programme is to support the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna (PMJDY) by way of integrating SHG members with the financial inclusion agenda, improving the quality of interface between SHG members and banks for efficient and hassle-free delivery of banking services, and to facilitate convergence of delivery system with SHGs using Aadhaar-linked identity.

 

7. India brands all 40,000 Rohingya Muslims: India brands all 40,000 Rohingya Muslims illegal immigrants and plans to deport them.All of an estimated 40,000 Rohingya Muslims living India are illegal immigrants, even those registered with the UN refugee agency, and the government aims to deport them.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India ranks 43^rd in 2017 Global Retirement Index: India was Ranked last at 43^rd position in 2017 Global Retirement Index published by French asset management company Natixis Global.Top three countries in 2017 GRI are Norway, Switzerland and Iceland.

2. Turkey begins building border wall with Iran: Turkey has begun construction of a wall along the country's frontier with Iran, mimicking the Turkish barrier along the Syrian border. The Turkish authorities are constructing the 3-meter-high barrier with portable blocks.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. The NSDC and GOOGLE india will come together to train a app developer: The National Skill Development Corporation(NSDC) and Google come together for mobile platform on the Android and web platforms, a moved in improving the country’s mobile application development ecosystem.

2. United Breweries board asks Vijay Mallya to quit as chairman: Heineken-controlled United Breweries has sent a notice to Vijay Mallya, asking him to step down as its chairman after the Securities and Exchange Board of India barred the beleaguered billionaire from securities market. 

OBITUARIES:

1. Poet and writer Vijay Nambisan passed away: Poet and writer Vijay Nambisan, who became the first All India Poetry Champion in 1988, passed away on Thursday. He co-authored Gemini, a poetry book, with Jeet Thayil and Dom Moraes. He championed the ethical use of language and made an appeal to readers, writers and enthusiasts of literature in his book ‘Language as an Ethic’. He was 54 years old.

2. Sister Ruth Pfau “The Mother Teresa of Pakistan” passed away: Sister Ruth Pfau, who has died aged 87, was a Roman Catholic nun who, after a childhood spent in Nazi Germany, became known as “the Mother Teresa of Pakistan” for her work in combating the spread of leprosy.

Daily GK Updates - 8th February,2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. TRAI bats for net neutrality, says no to differential pricing: In a big blow to social media giant Facebook, India’s telecom regulator TRAI ruled out differential pricing for internet service providers. 

2. DMICDL to implement India’s largest green-field Smart City in Dholera: With Larson and Toubro being awarded the Rs 1734-crore EPC contract, work on the construction of ancient port-city of Dholera in Gujarat, touted as India’s largest green-field smart city under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor is all set to roll out with a SPV created to manage the new township on a sustainable basis.

3. National Air Quality Indices for 24 cities released by Central Pollution Control Board: The CPCB published the National Air Quality Indices (NAQI) for 24 cities. The NAQI published with a colour code and a numeral value will help in comparing pollution levels in each cities. Varanasi and Muzzafarpur topped the list and were coded as ‘severe’.

4. India’s first aviation park to come up in Gujarat: To strengthen the aviation sector in Gujarat, the state government has planned to set up the country’s first ever aviation park here, having a slew of facilities, including an airstrip, training school, helipad and space for setting up small manufacturing units among others at 30km from Bagodara village.

5. Union Government launched 24X7 toll free Tourist Infoline in 12 International languages including Hindi, English, Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

6. PM Modi inaugurated Paradip Oil Refinery in Odisha: It is Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s 11^th refinery, which was dedicated to the nation by PM Modi.

7. First machine harvestable chickpea variety NbeG 47 released: It was released by International Corps Research Institute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics (ICRISAT) in Andhra Pradesh.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. HCL to collaborate with Microsoft for Industrial Internet of Things: HCL Technologies has launched an Internet of Things (IoT) incubation centre in Redmond, Washington, USA, designed to leverage Microsoft Azure IoT Suite to accelerate enterprise IoT adoption.

2. First joint tactical exercise Sino-India Cooperation 2016 held in Chusul-Moldo area along LoAC.

3. France became first country in the world to ban supermarket food waste: The French Senate unanimously passed a law to ban large food stores from throwing away food that is approaching its expiration date, forcing them instead to donate it to charities and food banks.

4. United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) unveiled a set of six commemorative stamps to promote UN Free and Equal, a global United Nations campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality.

5. NASA to launch its new rocket Space Launch System carrying 13 CubeSats in 2018.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBI cancels licence of 4 NBFCs: The Reserve Bank of India has cancelled the certificate of registration of four non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) in exercise of the powers under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Goyal Commercial Pvt Ltd and First Debt Management Co. of India Ltd are the NBFCs belonging to Kolkata, while Nostalgia Finvest Pvt Ltd and Narad Realtors Pvt Ltd belong to Mumbai.

SPORTS:

2. Brendon McCullum ends ODI career with series win against Australia.

3. Sapna Devi won gold in women WushuTaulu competition of the 12^th South Asian Games.

4. ICC suspends Pakistan’s leg-spinner Yasir Shah for doping offence.

5. Australia won three match women ODI series against India 2-1.

AWARDS:

6. The Revenant director Alejandro Gonzalez won Directors Guild of America Award 2015.

OBITUARIES:

7. Acclaimed Poet-Lyricist Nida Fazli died at the age of 78.

Daily GK Updates - 7th December, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES: 7 DECEMBER 2015-

1.     MODI PAHAL HITS GUINNESS WORLD RECORD:

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan presented the certificate received from Guinness Book of World Records to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The certificate is in recognition of PAHAL as the largest cash transfer programme in the world. Modi’s Pahal cash transfer scheme is providing subsidy for LPG to 14.62 crore households. The government launched the `PAHAL’ scheme in 54 districts of the country on November 15, 2014, and in remaining districts of the country on January, 2015.

2.     KAHER KAZEM APPOINTED GM INDIA HEAD:

General Motors (GM) has appointed Kaher Kazem as President and Managing Director of its India operations, effective January 1. Kazem, who is currently chief operating officer (COO) of GM India, will be replacing Arvind Saxena who has decided to retire after leading the company since early 2014. 

3.     WORLD’S LARGEST PRACTIVAL SCIENCE LESSON ATTEMPETED AT IIT:

Students from schools across the national capital have assembled at the sprawling lawns of Indian Institute of Technology to conduct ‘world’s largest practical science lesson. Northern Ireland is the current record-holder with 1,339 students.

4.     NIRMA UNIVERSITY  AWARDED EXCELLENCE  IN TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION BY FICCI:

Nirma University has been awarded under the category of ‘Excellence in Technology for Education Delivery’ during the FICCI Education Awards 2015, as a part of the Eleventh FICCI Higher Education Summit 2015. The event was organized at FICCI Federation House, New Delhi, by FICCI in association with the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.

5.     BABRI-MASJID ANNIVERSERY: DAY OF “VICTORY” AND “SORROW”:

Muslims in the twin town of Ayodhya-Faizabad observed black Sunday on December 6. Incidentally, the mosque was demolished on a Sunday on December 6, 1992. Muslim groups observed ‘day of sorrow’ while Hindu outfits celebrated ‘shaurya divas’ on the 23rd anniversary of Babri mosque demolition day, which passed off peacefully amid tight security in Ayodhya, as well as in other parts of the country.

6.     NATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL IN CHATTISGARH FROM JAN 12:

Chhattisgarh will host the 20th National Youth Festival next month at its upcoming capital Naya Raipur. The 20th edition of the National Youth Festival will be held from January 12-16, 2016. For National Youth Festival necessary preparations have started,” state sports and youth welfare secretary Dinesh Shrivastav said. The festival also coincides with the 153rd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.     VENENZULA OPPOSITION PARTY WIN PARLIAMENTRY MAJORITY:

Venezuela’s opposition party has claimed the majority of seats in the National Assembly in elections, the first major shift in power in the legislative branch since the late President Hugo Chavez took office in 1999.

2.     LATVIA’S PRIME MINISTER LAIMDOTA STRAUJUMA RESIGNED:

Latvia’s first female Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma announced her resignation. Straujuma’s resignation came after she fired the transport minister in November 2015, sparking rumours of discontent within the centre-right Cabinet that took office in January 2014.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.     HOCKEY WORLD LEAGUE FINAL: AUSTRALIA BEAT BELGIUM TO LIFT TITLE:

World champions Australia stamped their authority and defeated Belgium 2-1 to clinch the title of the second edition of Hockey World League (HWL) Final at the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Stadium. Australia, who finished fourth in the last edition of the tournament two years back, showed why they are considered as the most consistent team in world hockey as they took control of the match from the word go to dominate the world number seven Belgians.

2.     BUBBA WATSON CROWNED HERO WORLD CHALLENGE CHAMPION:

Two-time Masters Winner Bubba Watson carded a six-under 66 in the final round to clinch the Hero World Challenge even as India’s Anirban Lahiri put on a disappointing show to finish last at tied 17th, at the Albany Golf Club. Watson, one of the few left-handers on the PGA Tour, registered his sixth top-five finish in last 10 worldwide starts.

BANKING & ECONOMY:

3.     SINGAPORE REPLACES MAURITIUS AS TOP SOURCE OF FDI INTO INDIA:

Singapore has replaced Mauritius as the top source of FDI or foreign direct investment into India during the first half of the current fiscal. During April-September 2015, India has attracted $6.69 billion (₹43,096 crore) FDI from Singapore while from Mauritius, it received $3.66 billion (₹23,490 crore), according to data from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP).

4.     DELHI & TOKYO MAY IMPACT FOR INDIA’S FIRST BULLET TRAIN:

India and Japan are set to firm up an agreement on highspeed train services, widely referred to as ‘Bullet Trains’, during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit next week. The first train is planned between Mumbai and Ahmadabad. The project will cut travelling time between Mumbai and Ahmadabad from seven to two hours.

5.     IBM SIGN SECURITY PACT WITH FEDERAL BANK FOR FEDMOBILE APP:

IBM has signed a deal for an undisclosed amount with Federal Bank to provide a security layer on the Federal Bank’s mobile application.The app, called FedMobile, which can be used to transfer funds, make utility bill payments and utilize services such as top-up or recharge of mobile phones and payment of school fees, was developed on IBM’s Mobile First platform.

AWARDS:

6.     HYDERABAD POLICE GET EXPRESS IT EXCELLENCE AWARD:

Union Telecom and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today presented ‘Express IT excellence award’ to Hyderabad City Police in recognition of IT initiatives launched by them in last one year, at a event organised in Bangalore. Hyderabad police is the only police organisation in the country, which received the ‘Express IT Excellence award’ that was given in recognition of various IT initiatives and IT applications launched by them in the last one year.

Daily

Daily GK Updates - 6th December, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:  DECember 6, 2015

1.   HR GOVT. TO CELEBRATE “GITA JYANTI” FESTIVAL FROM DEC19:

The Haryana Government has decided to celebrate ‘Gita Jayanti Mahotsava’ throughout the state from December 19 to 21. A district level celebration committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners concerned. Additional Deputy Commissioners would be the Vice-Chairman and City Magistrate would be the member secretary of the committee.

2.   ANDHRA PRADESH FIRST STATE TO JOIN DISCOM REVIVAL SCHEME UDAY:

Andhra Pradesh has become the first state in the country to join the Centre’s scheme for revival of debt stressed power distribution companies after the state gave in-principle nod to the Power Ministry for joining UDAY. Though many other states including Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Haryana have evinced the interest in joining the scheme, Andhra Pradesh is the first state to officially communicate its intend to avail benefits under UDAY.

3.  GOVT. IMPOSES ANTI-DUMPING DUTY ON KITCHEN WARE PRODUCTS:

Finance Ministry has imposed an anti-dumping duty of up to $1,732.11 per tonne on import of ‘melamine tableware and kitchenware products’ like dinner sets and mugs from China, Thailand and Vietnam with an aim to protect domestic industry from cheap shipments. The anti-dumping duty in the range of $582.85 – 1732.11 per tonne will remain in effect for five years, a Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) said.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.   INDO-PAK NSA MEET IN BANKOG:

National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan held talks in Bangkok on December 6. On a wide scope of bilateral ties including terrorism and Jammu and Kashmir, and agreed to take forward the “constructive” engagement. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Nasir Janjua also discussed peace and security and other issues including tranquility along the LoC.

2.  CANADA SENT FIRST CONSIGNMENT OF URANIUM TO INDIA:

Canada has successfully sent the first consignment of 250 tonnes of uranium to India as part of bilateral civil nuclear cooperation between both countries. It was shipped by Canada’s Cameco Inc, as part of contract with Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) that was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Canada in April 2015.

3.INDIA- RUSSIA JOINT NAVAL EXERCISE INDRA NAVY-15 BEGIN IN VISHAKAPATNAM:

The eighth edition of India-Russia joint naval exercise-INDRA NAVY-15 has begun in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. INDRA NAVY-15 is a bilateral maritime joint naval exercise between the Indian and Russian navies for epitomising the strategic relationship between the two countries. The primary aim is to increase interoperability between the navies of two countries and develop common understanding of procedures for maritime security operations. The scope includes wide- ranging professional interactions during the Harbour phase and spectrum of maritime operations during the Sea Phase.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.  SARITA, SIVA, DEVENDRA WIN IN CHINA:

Asian Games bronze-medallist L Sarita Devi (60kg) returned to competitive boxing after her one-year ban with a resounding victory in the opening contest of the training-cum-competition assignment in the city of Qian’an, China. World Championships bronze-medallist Shiva Thapa (56kg) beat Thailand’s Yuttapong Thong Dee 3-0, while Commonwealth Games silver-medallist L Devendro Singh (49kg) notched up a Technical Knockout against China’s Yang Yufeng in the third round of his bout.