Daily GK Updates - 19th November, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Manushi Chhillar wins Miss World 2017 title: India’s Manushi Chhillar was crowned the coveted Miss World crown for the year 2017. The win comes 17 years after Priyanka Chopra brought home coveted title in the year 2000. The winner of 2016 title, Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Del Valle passed on her crown to Ms Chhillar at a grand event held in Sanya in China.

2. India’s first mega Coastal Economic Zone to come up at JNPT in Maharashtra: The Union Government has given go-ahead for setting up India’s first mega coastal economic zone (CEZ) at Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) in Maharashtra. The first of its kind mega CEZ will stretch along north Konkan region spread across Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik and Raigarh. About 45 companies across auto, telecom and IT sectors will soon bid for 200 hectares of land to set up manufacturing units in zone.

3. Indira Gandhi’s 100th Birth Anniversary observed: The 100th Birth Anniversary of Ms. Indira Gandhi was observed today. A commemorative programme to mark the anniversary of Gandhi held at Shakti Sthal, New Delhi. Indira Gandhi was the only female Prime Minister of the country. She served as Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.

4. Manmohan Singh to get Indira Peace Prize: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh will receive the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development this year for his leadership of the country between 2004 and 2014 and for enhancing India’s stature globally. The award, comprising a cash prize of Rs.25 lakh and a citation. It was instituted by the Indira Gandhi Memorial trust in 1986.

5. Karnataka passes SC/ST promotions bill: Karnataka passed ‘Karnataka Extension of Consequential Seniority to Government Servants Promoted on the Basis of Reservation Bill 2017’. Prior to introduction of this bill, SC had struck down Karnataka Govt.’s provision for providing reservation in promotion for SC/ST employees.

6. Delhi to form ‘Mahila Suraksha Dals’: Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia said that, the Delhi would form “Mahila Suraksha Dals” to curb crimes against women in the national capital. The government would constitute these teams in coordination with the Delhi Commission for Women. These MSDs will comprise representatives of the local community, both men and women, besides civil defence volunteers & will work at the grassroot-level.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. World Toilet Day observed today: The World Toilet Day (WTD) is observed every year across the world on 19 November to raise awareness and inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. The theme for year 2017 is Wastewater. Observance of the day seeks to draw attention of people around world to raise global awareness of the daily struggle for proper sanitation which in fact is a human right along with clean water.

2. NASA launches Joint Polar Satellite System-1: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched a next-generation satellite called the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1) into space. JPSS-1 is a joint venture between NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was launched into orbit atop United Launch Alliance-built Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It will be renamed NOAA-20 when it reaches its final orbit.

OTHER UPDATES

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Swiss parliamentary panel approves automatic information exchange with India: Paving the way for India to get instant access to details on Indians with Swiss accounts, a key parliamentary panel in Switzerland has approved an automatic information exchange pact between the two countries. The Commission for Economic Affairs and Taxes of the Council of States — a key panel of the Swiss Parliament’s Upper House — approved the proposed pact with India as also with 40 other countries, but suggested strengthening the provisions for individual legal claims.

2. Anand Baiwar becomes Executive Director of SEBI: Markets regulator SEBI said Anand Rajeshwar Baiwar has taken charge as an executive director. An Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the 1990 batch, Baiwar assumed office on November 16. Baiwar will look after the investigation department and division of foreign portfolio investors and custodians. Prior to this assignment, he was working as an income tax commissioner in Kolkata.

3. Reliance General Insurance and YES Bank ink bancassurance pact: Reliance General Insurance has signed a comprehensive bancassurance-corporate agency agreement with YES Bank. YES Bank will enable RGI to reach a large base of retail and MSME clients.

SPORTS:

1. Cheteshwar Pujara becomes third Indian to bat on all five days of a Test: Cheteshwar Pujara joined an elite list of players on Monday as he became the third Indian batsman to bat on all five days of a Test match. This was after he came out to the crease on the last day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The two other Indians who have achieved this rare feat are ML Jaisimha and current India head coach Ravi Shastri. 

2. India to host Asia Cup of Road Racing (ACRR): Round 3 of FIM Asia Cup of Road Racing (ACRR) was held at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, India. Top bikers will participate in round three of the FIM ACRR. India will be represented by Sai Rahil Pillarisetty and Israel Vanlalhruaizela, who are fourth in the standings after the first two rounds in Thailand and Taiwan.

OBITUARIES:

1. Former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna dies at 49: Former World No 2 Jana Novotna died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her family, at 49 on Sunday. She had been battling with cancer for a long time. The player from Czech Republic won 17 Grand Slam titles through her career – 12 in doubles, four in mixed doubles and her solitary Slam in singles came at Wimbledon in 1998. She beat Frenchwoman Nathalie Tauziat in the final and thus became the last Czech player to win a Slam until Petra Kvitova won in 2011.

Daily GK Updates - 21st August, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Govt all set to hike GST cess on luxury cars, via ordinance: The government is set to promulgate an ordinance within weeks, allowing an increase in goods and services tax (GST) cess on luxury cars and SUVs, as it seeks to restore tax revenue from the automobile industry that unintentionally got affected in the transition to the new indirect tax regime.

2. Number of PSU banks to fall to 10-15 after consolidation - Sanjeev Sanyal: The government is looking to reduce the number of public sector banks to 10-15, more than what was envisaged earlier, through a series of mergers and acquisitions so that none of the banks become too big to fail, said Sanjeev Sanyal, principal economic adviser at the finance ministry. Earlier it was speculated that the number of PSBs might be reduced to 4-5.

3. AIADMK factions finally unite, Panneerselvam is deputy CM: The AIADMK factions finally merged following a power sharing arrangement. Palaniswami will remain the chief minister and O Panneerselvam will be his deputy. Panneerselvam will also be the AIADMK coordinator while Palaniswami will be the co-coordinator.

4. K Chandrasekhar Rao gets global agriculture leadership award: Chief Minister of Telangana ‘K Chandrashekhar Rao’ has been selected for the prestigious Agriculture Leadership Award-2017 for his innovative services rendered to the welfare of farmers and the farm sector. The Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA) Committee headed by agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan has recommended the CM’s name.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. China launches first cyber court in e-commerce hub of Hangzhou: China launched its first cyber (internet) court specialising in handling internet-related cases in the e-commerce hub of Hangzhou, amid a spike in the number of online disputes. The cyber court will handle cases such as online trade disputes and copyright lawsuits. These cases handled by the court will be tried online.

2. China's army conducts military exercises 'to strike awe in India':  Global Times made sure to mention that the drills were conducted "amid tensions in Doklam" to "lay the ground for plateau warfare". More than 10 PLA units from the 'western theater command' participated in the drills. The units included aviation and armoured forces, said a China Central Television report.

3. World’s smallest surgical robot: British scientists have developed world’s smallest surgical robot which could transform daily operations for tens of thousands of patients. The robot, called Versius, mimics human arm & can be used to carry out a wide range of laparoscopic procedures including hernia repairs, colorectal operations.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING & FINANCE:

1. SBI waives processing fees on personal loans: State Bank of India has waived processing fees on most of its retail loans. It will waive upto 100 per cent processing fee on car loans, personal gold loans and other personal loans. The retail push comes three weeks after the bank announced a cut in the savings bank rate.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY:

2. Rosneft closes $13-billion Essar Oil acquisition deal: The nearly $13-billion acquisition of Essar Oil Ltd by a consortium led by Russia’s Rosneft PJSC is believed to have been completed, sources close to the matter said. This paves the way for the Essar group to reduce its debt. The deal, which Essar termed the largest foreign direct investment in India, includes the sale of a 20 million-tonnes-per-year Vadinar refinery and Vadinar port in Gujarat to Rosneft, United Capital Partners and Trafigura Group Pte. Essar’s promoters, the Ruias, will retain a 2% stake in these assets.

3. McDonald’s terminates franchise agreement with CPRL for 169 restaurants: McDonald’s India Pvt. Ltd (MIPL), the Indian subsidiary of the American fast food chain on Monday terminated its franchise agreement with Connaught Plaza Restaurants Pvt. Ltd (CPRL), the north and east India licensee of McDonald’s, the company said in a statement.

4. NTPC seeks shareholder nod to raise Rs15,000 crore via bonds: State-owned power giant NTPC Ltd has sought shareholders’ approval to raise Rs15,000 crore via non-convertible bonds on private placement basis domestically for capex, working capital and other corporate purposes. The special resolution is listed on the agenda of the annual general meeting scheduled for 20 September.

5. Chaayos plans to expand tea range, open more stores in India: Tea cafe chain Chaayos is planning to expand its range of tea-based packaged consumer goods and open more stores. Chaayos CEO Nitin Saluja says launching Chai Pattis to help customers enjoy top selling Chaayos Chai at the comfort of their homes.

6. Government imposes anti-dumping duty on tempered glass from China: The Union Finance Ministry (Revenue Department) has imposed anti-dumping duty on certain “textured toughened (tempered) glass” imported from China. This will help the local industry against the heavily dumped Chinese products.

SPORTS:

7. Indian hockey is on par with the best: Rupinder Pal Singh: Rupinder was named TOISA Hockey Player of the Year (Jury’s Choice) for an excellent 2016. He was part of a fruitful 2016 campaign during which India won the Asian Champions Trophy.

8. Shapath Bharadwaj wins bronze at Junior Shotgun World Cup: Shapath Bharadwaj (15-year) has won a bronze medal in the double trap event at the ISSF Junior Shotgun World Cup in Porpetto, Italy. Lakshay Sheoran and Manisha Keer combined to win a bronze in the mixed team trap competition.