Daily GK Updates - 20th October, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. New Tourism policy of Assam:  Assam state cabinet has launched a new Tourism policy- 'Tourism Policy of Assam 2017' with the aim of increasing tourist inflow in the state two to three folds within the next five years. Its main focus to make Assam a filmmaking destination by offering a range of incentives to movie producers to come and shoot in the state. The new policy will be effective starting January 2018 till December 2022.

2. Loan waiver scheme of Maharashtra Government: The Maharashtra Govt. has released the sum of 4,000 crore rupees under the first phase of the over 34,000 crore rupees farm loan waiver scheme. A list of 8.4 lakh beneficiaries has been uploaded online and it would be sent to banks. From a single bank account, money will be transferred to banks and they will be asked to deposit the money in farmers' accounts as per the list.

3.'Online chat' platform to answer queries of taxpayers: Income Tax Department has launched an online chat service for taxpayers. They can get answers to their basic queries and doubts relating to direct tax issues. A window has been hosted on the main page of the department's website 'incometaxindia.gov.in' with a prominent icon stating Live Chat Online- ask your query. A person can enter the 'chat room' by furnishing an email-id and ask questions as a guest. A team of experts from the department and independent tax practitioners has been deputed to answer the general queries of a taxpayer.

4. Kamle - 23rd district approved by Arunachal Assembly: The Arunachal Assembly passed a bill paving way for creation of a new district to be named Kamle (bifurcating Subansiri districts). Now, the total number of districts in the state shot up to 23.

It consists of six administrative units, three under Lower Subansiri and three under Upper Subansiri.

5. Reduction in call rates on Satellite Phone used by armed forces: The Union Govt. has abolished the monthly charges on Digital Satellite Phone Terminal (DSPT) and reduced call rates to 1 rupee per minute to personnel of military and paramilitary. The Defence, as well as paramilitary personel will be able to make calls to their families using the satellite phone for Rs 1 per minute (existing Rs 5 per minute). Now, no monthly fee will be taken for using the service.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India, Brazil & South Africa sign IBSA Trust Fund agreement: India, Brazil and South Africa signed the IBSA Trust Fund Agreement that seeks to fight poverty in developing countries. The agreement was signed by Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh who led the Indian side at the 8th IBSA trilateral Ministerial Commission Meeting in Durban. The IBSA Trust Fund brings together the three emerging economies of India, Brazil and South Africa to combat poverty in other developing countries. Each country contributes USD 1 million annually to this fund which is managed by the UN Development Programme's (UNDP) Special Unit for South-South Cooperation.

2.  South Africa displace India from top of ODI rankings: India lost their number one status in ICC ODI rankings to South Africa. Now, India and South Africa have identical 120 points against their name, India is placed second on the basis of decimal points. Recently, India had claimed the top spot in the ICC rankings following their 4-1 win over Australia at home recently.

OTHER UPDATES:

HONOURS/AWARDS:

1. Environmental scientist Schellnhuber receives Blue Planet Prize: The world’s most prestigious award for pioneers in environmental science has been given to Hans Joachim Schellnhuber in Tokyo. The Blue Planet Prize honors outstanding thinkers who help to meet challenges of planetary dimensions.

Daily GK Updates - 5th October,2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:
I.GAIL to take 10% stake in TAPI natural gas pipeline project: Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline project was in news as the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) is expected to take 10% stake in the project. The objective of this project is to transport Caspian Sea natural gas from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan into Pakistan then to India.
II.Flipkart appointed Sriram Venkataraman as Chief Financial Officer.
III.Ashish Bahuguna given additional charge of chief Executive Officer of FSSAI:  The decision was taken following the shift of Yudhvir Singh Malik to NITI Ayog as an Additional Secretary.
IV.DRDO inaugurated world’s highest Research Centre in Ladakh: It inaugurated an Extreme Altitude Research Centre at Chang La. Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir at 17600 feet above mean sea level. It is the world’s highest terrestrial research and development centre.
V.National Anti-Drug Addiction Day was observed on 2 October: It was observed to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi who condemned the use of drugs.
VI.India and Germany signed 18 MoUs: India and Germany signed a deal to fast track business approvals, an arrangement to make it easier for German companies to operate in Asia’s third largest economy that was announced as Chancellor Angela Merkel visited New Delhi
VII.Mahindra Inter-trade appoints Sumit Issar as MD

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
I.Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone opened to public for the 1st time in 12 years: Iraq’s PM Haider-al-Abadi declared Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone open to the public for the 1st time in 12 years.
II.26th edition of CORPAT between India and Indonesia began in Andaman Sea: 26th edition of the Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) between India and Indonesia began in Andaman Sea. The expanded version of the 18-day long CORPAT that will conclude on 21st October will also see the 1st ever bilateral exercise between the two nations.
III.Ruling Social Democratic Party led coalition won Portuguese general elections: Out of the total votes polled, the PSD and the CDS-People’s Party coalition secured 37% votes out of which the share of the PSD is just over 32%. With this win, incumbent PM Pedro Passos Coelho is set to hold the post for the next four years.
IV.Malaysia ordered shut down of schools due to choking smog: The schools were closed for two days because of possible health risks posed by the thick haze from Indonesian forest fires.
V.Israel banned Palestinians from entering Jerusalem’s Old City: The unprecedented action was taken after two Israelis were stabbed to death by Palestinians.
OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:
I.The World Bank raised the International Poverty Line to 1.90 USD per day from existing 1.25 USD.

SPORTS:
II.Portugal’s Pinto won Asia’s premier Mountain Bike Racing: Luis Leao Pinto of Portugal won Asia’s premier mountain bike race and got the crown of ‘King of the Himalaya’ for the second time.
III.China won 2015 FIBA Asian Basketball Championship: China defeated Philippines by 78-67 in the final and the victory has won the nation a direct qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

AWARDS:
I.Tiruchirapalli City Municipal Corporation won Skoch Award for Effective Solid Waste Management using Information and Communication Technology based solutions.
II.Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2015 announced: It was given to jointly to William C Campbell (Ireland) and Satoshi Omura (Japan) for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites. China’s Youyou Tu got the other half of the prize, who used traditional herbal medicine to find a new kind of antimalarial agent.

OBITUARIES:
I.Noted Telugu film producer Edida Nageswara Rao died at the age of 81.

Daily GK Updates - 31st July, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 31ST JULY, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

I. Centre to put Rs. 20,000 crore more as capital infusion in public sector banks this year: The Government has decided to infuse capital to the tune of Rs. 20,000 crore in public sector banks. 50% or Rs. 10,000 crore of this money will find its way to ‘weak’ banks.

II. RajendraSrivastava of Singapore Management Universities to be next dean of ISB: RajendraSrivastava, professor of marketing at Singapore Management University, will be the next dean of Indian School of Business with effect from January 1, 2016.

III. BHEL signs three MoU in Kazakhstan for Power Projects: It will work with JSU on projects of mutual; JSU is the national power utility of Kazakhstan having a major share in Kazakh power sector. BHEL also signed MoU with KUS and Karnex Invest.

IV. DIPP accepts ADB, JICA plans on industrial corridors: Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion has given nod to Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their conceptual development plan report on Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor and Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor respectively.

V. Film Talvar based on ArushiTalvar case, directed by MeghnaGulzar to be premiered at Toronto International Film Festival.

VI. Punjab Government to create Beas Belt near Harike Patan as habitat for Gharials.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

I. British PM on Landmark 1^st visit to Vietnam: David Cameron hailed rapidly growing trade with Vietnam during the 1^st visit by a British Prime Minister to the communist country, as a number of key business deals were signed.

II. Russia vetoes Security Council proposal on MH17 tribunal: Russia vetoed a UN Security council resolution that would set up an international criminal court to prosecute those responsible for shooting down a Malaysia Airlines plane over Ukraine a year ago.

III. SALt, a lamp that runs eight hours on water and salt, developed: A start-up in Philippines developed a lamp named SALt (Sustainable Alternative Lighting) that runs on a glass of water and two tablespoons of salt.

IV. Microsoft launched Windows 10 operating system.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

I. RBI decided to issue 10 rupees coins to commemorate International Day of Yoga.

SPORTS:

II. Paytm bags BCCI sponsorship rights: Mobile marketplace and payments site Paytm has bagged the title sponsorship rights of BCCI for Rs 203 crore.

Daily GK Updates - 30th July, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 30TH JULY, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

I. Tripura: Pension for transgender launched: The Tripura Government has introduced a pension scheme for transgenders. Monthly pension up to Rs 500 would be given to transgenders. The council of ministers also decided to pay a monthly pension to women and patients suffering from leprosy and AIDS.

II. Maharashtra FDA chief Harshadeep Kamble to head top panel on online pharmacies: The central government has formed a sub-committee on issues related to online pharmacies under the chairmanship of Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Harshadeep Kamble.

III. Maharashtra’s first IIM unveiled in Nagpur: Maharashtra CM DevendraFadnavis has inaugurated the new Indian Institute of Management in Nagpur. The proposal of setting up of six IIMs was made by PM Modi last year. It is Maharashtra’s 1^st IIM and is being mentored by IIM Ahmedabad.

IV. Yakub Memon executed as Supreme Court rejected his fresh plea in pre-dawn hearing: 1993 Mumbai serial blasts lone death row convict, YakubMemon was hanged till death early in the morning at Nagpur Central Jail.

V. Union Cabinet approved RajyaSabha panel’s amendments on GST Bill, 2014: The RajyaSabha Select Committee chaired by Bhupender Yadav in its report submitted on 22^nd July 2015, suggested that compensation to the states should be made for 5 years instead of up to 5 years for any revenue loss due to introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

VI. Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a penalty upon Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Karnataka Television Association (KTVA) and Kannada Film Producers Association (KFPA) for contravening the Section 3 of the Competition Act, 2002.

VII. ‘Visaarnai’ became the first Tamil film to enter Venice Film Festival: Actor Dhanush produced Tamil thriller ‘Visaarnai’ will have its world premiere at 72^nd Venice International Film Festival.

VIII. Union Cabinet approved setting up of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) to back new and stressed projects which may help restart the investment cycle: The fund will have an initial corpus of 20,000 crore rupees which can be leveraged by infrastructure companies.

IX. Cyclone Komen formed over Bay of Bengal: Cyclone Komen, a new tropical cyclone formed over Northern Bay of Bengal which is expected to make landfall on the coast of Odisha and West Bengal.

X. Procter and Gamble (P&G) appoints David Taylor as its new CEO.

XI. Airtel appoints JigneshHegde as CEO of Sri Lanka operations.

XII. Kalyani Group partners with Israel’s Rafael to make Spike Missile: India’s Kalyani Group and Israel’s Rafael have partnered to produce Spike Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) in India.

XIII.  Flipkart launches ‘India Art House’ for handicraft lovers.

XIV. Assam state government would set up a centre of innovation named after late former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who passed away on 27^th July 15.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

I.  India, Slovak republic ink agreement for standards formulation: India and Slovak Republic signed an agreement to facilitate cooperation and exchange of information about standards formulation, testing facilities and third party product certification, among others.

II. E-tourist visa to Chinese nationals from July 30: As promised by PM Modi, e-tourist visa facility will be rolled out to Chinese nationals beginning from 30^th July, 2015. Along with the citizens of China, the e-tourist visa facility will also be offered to the nationals of Hong Kong and Macao.

III. Nepal Temple bans mass animal slaughter at festival: Nepalese temples authorities end a centuries-old Hindu Tradition of mass animal slaughter during Gadhimai festival that attracts hundreds of thousands of worshippers.

IV. UNSC failed to adopt proposal to create tribunal on crash of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was unable to adopt the resolution titled International Criminal Tribunal for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. The adoption of resolution would have established an international tribunal to prosecute persons responsible for the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 which crashed in Ukraine.

V. India to become most populous nation by 2022 according to the UN World Population Prospects: The United Nations released the report titled World Population Prospects: The 2015 Revision at the UN Headquarters in New York. According to the report, India will surpass China to become the most populous nation in the world by 2022.

VI. Gates Foundation world’s wealthiest private charitable organisation: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has topped the list of the World’s wealthiest private foundations established by ultra-high net worth individuals, according to a Wealth-X report.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

I. IndusInd Bank acquires RBS’ bullion financing business for Rs 4,100 crore: Private sector lender IndusInd Bank has completed the acquisition of the diamond and jewellery financing business and related deposit portfolio of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

II. SEBI cancelled certificate of Registration of Sahara Mutual Fund: The Securities and Exchange Board of India in its order said that the company is not fit and proper entity to carry out the business of mutual fund.

III. Kotak Bank launches ‘Kotak Bharat’ mobile banking app for unbanked regions.

SPORTS:

IV. Paytm bags BCCI sponsorship rights: Mobile marketplace and payments site Paytm has bagged the title sponsorship rights of BCCI for Rs 203 crore.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

V.  Anuradha Roy’s ‘Sleeping on Jupiter’ shortlisted for Man Booker Prize.

OBITUARIES:

VI. Eminent vocalist VasundharaKomkali died at her residence in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh at the age of 85.