Daily GK Updates - 31st May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Krishna Murari as CJ of Punjab and Haryana HC : The Union Law Ministry has cleared the appointment of Justice Krishna Murari of the Allahabad High Court as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court.Justice Murari will succeed former chief justice S J Vazifdar, who retired on May 3.Punjab and Haryana High Court is the common High Court for Haryana, Punjab and Union Territory of Chandigarh.

2. Guidelines for Adventure Tourism launched : The Government is for the first time issuing guidelines for Adventure Tourism in India.The guidelines on Safety and Quality Norms for Adventure Tourism in India have been formulated along with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India.The aim of this initiative is to help adventure tour operators understand and execute safety guidelines in a better manner.

3. Andhra Pradesh gets new state bird & flower : Andhra Pradesh government has decided to notify ‘Rose-ringed parakeet’ popularly known as ‘Rama Chiluka’, as the state bird.The neem is the official tree of the Andhra Pradesh.The blackbuck is the animal while Jasmine as its state flower.Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated to create Telangana in June 2014.

4. New Northern Army Commander : Lt Gen Ranbir Singh has been appointed as the new Northern Army commander.Lt Gen Singh succeeds Lt Gen Anbu who has been appointed as the Vice-Chief of the Indian Army.Lt Gen Ranbir Singh was the Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) when India carried out surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. RIMPAC from June 27, 2018 : As many as 26 countries, including India, would participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercise from June 27 to August 2, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.RIMPAC is known as the world’s largest international maritime exercise.Four countries — Brazil, Israel, Sri Lanka and Vietnam — are participating in RIMPAC for the first time in 2018.

2. World No Tobacco Day observed on 31 May : World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed around the world every year on 31 May. It is intended to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption around the globe.The World Health Organisation(WHO) has designated 31st May of each year as the World No Tobacco Day.The theme for 2018 is “Tobacco and heart disease”.

3. India, Indonesia to set up task force : India and Indonesia have agreed to set up a special task force to enhance connectivity between the strategic Andaman andNicobar Islands and provinces in Sumatra Island.This will promote trade, tourism and people-to-people contacts.The Joint Task Force will undertake projects for port related infrastructure in and around Sabang which is an Indonesian island.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Microsoft becomes third most valuable firm : Microsoft has surpassed Alphabet, in the market capitalisation for the first time in 3 years, becoming the 3^rd most valuable firm after Apple & Amazon globally.On May 29, 2018, Microsoft reportedly had a market cap of $753 billion at the close of trading, almost $14 billion ahead of Alphabet.Apple leads with a market cap of $924 billion & Amazon is at second spot with nearly $783 billion.

BANKING/FINANCE :

1. Yes Bank inks MoU with SIDBI : Yes Bank has entered into an agreement with SIDBI under which it will act as a preferred financial institution for giving loans to the small and medium enterprising customers.This will facilitate smooth flow of credit in a hassle-free manner to MSME customers availing term loan facility from SIDBI.Small enterprises will also be entitled to use Yes Bank’s varied banking solutions.

DEFENCE:

1. India-Nepal joint military exercise begins : A joint military exercise between India and Nepal began on May 30 in Uttrakhand.The military exercise, which is set to conclude of June 12, is called ‘Surya Kiran’ and is conducted alternatively in India and Nepal every six months.Surya Kiran with Nepal is India’s largest military exercise in terms of troop participation.

2. Upgraded Pinaka rocket successfully test-fired : An upgraded version of Pinaka rocket, with a guidance system and an enhanced range, was successfully test-firedfrom the Proof & Experiment Establishment at Chandipur in Odisha.Pinaka has now been upgraded into a guided version, with a navigation, guidance & control kit developed by the Research Centre, Imarat, Hyderabad.The conversion helped in enhancing the range and accuracy of Pinaka.

Daily GK Updates - 15th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Lt Gen Sukhdeep takes over as DGAR : Lieutenant General Sukhdeep Sangwan has taken over the charge as the Director General of Assam Rifles.Lt Gen Sanwagn has taken over as the 20th Director General of the Force which is popularly called as Sentinels of the North East.Lt Gen Sangwan has also participated in Operation Blue Star, Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram.

2. E-Way Bill system in Assam & Rajasthan : The E-way bill system for intra-State transport of goods in Assam and Rajasthan will roll out on May 16 and May 20 respectively.This would take the total number of States under the system to 21.E-Way Bill system for inter-State movement of goods has been rolled out from 01st April 2018.E-Way Bill is electronically generated for the consignment/movement of goods from one place to another.

3. Government unveiled Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy : Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has issued National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy.The objective of the policy is to provide a framework for the promotion of large grid-connected wind-solar PV hybrid system for efficient utilization of transmission infrastructure and land.It also aims at reducing the variability in renewable power generation and achieving better grid stability.

3. Environment Ministry launched GSDP : The Union Environment Ministry launched its full-fledged Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) that aims to train over 5.5 lakh workers in environment and forest sectors in the country through 30 courses by 2021.Environment minister Harsh Vardhan also unveiled a related mobile app (GSDP-ENVIS).The GSDP was launched last year as a pilot project in 10 districts of the country.

4. Mangeshkar conferred with Swara Mauli award : Lata Mangeshkar has been honoured with the Swara Mauli title by spiritual guru Vidya Narsimha Bharati Swami.It is for the second time that Lata Mangeshkar has been honoured with the Swara Mauli title.The veteran singer has several awards to her credit in her over seven-decade-long career, including three National Awards.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi, Putin to hold informal summit : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia on May 21 for an informal summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the city of Sochi.The two leaders will discuss their respective national developmental priorities and bilateral matters.This informal summit in Sochi is in keeping with the tradition of regular consultations between India and Russia at the highest levels.

2. WHO launched ‘REPLACE’ : WHO has launched a comprehensive plan to “REPLACE” to eliminate industrially-produced artificial trans fats from global food supply by 2023.REPLACE stands for review dietary sources, promote the use of healthier fats, legislate, assess changes, create awareness and enforce.REPLACE package is the first time WHO is calling for the elimination of something other than a noncommunicable disease.

3. Sulabh founder awarded Nikkei Asia Prize : The founder of Sulabh International, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, has been honoured with the Nikkei Asia Prize in Japan for his contribution to Asia’s development.Pathak is among the three who have been conferred with the award.Nikkei Inc., one of the largest media corporations in Japan, has been presenting the awards since 1996.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANACE:

1. India-dedicated investment fund : China’s largest bank, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China has launched country’s 1^st India-dedicated publicly offered investment fund.The fund will invest in exchange-traded funds listed on more than 20 exchanges in Europe & US that are based on Indian market.The bank said that the Indian market offers the best opportunity for Chinese investors due to the prospects of double-digit growth

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. India to clock GDP growth of 7.7% : India’s GDP is expected to grow by 7.7% in January-March, up from 7.2% in the preceding quarter, says a Nomura report.According to the report, despite the moderation in March, industrial production growth averaged 6.2% in the January-March period.The report further noted that India is expected to witness cyclical recovery led by both investment and consumption.

DEFENCE:

1. Mountaineering Expedition to Mt. Bhagirathi-II : Indian Army Women Officers’ Mountaineering Expedition to Mt. Bhagirathi-II (6512 metres) consisting of 9 women officers, was flagged off by Director General of Military Training.Mt. Bhagirathi-II is located in the Garhwal Himalayas in Gangotri National Park.The expedition aims at encouraging women in the field of adventure where dauntless courage, will-power & determination is put to test.

2. China aims to deliver amphibious aircraft : China’s amphibious aircraft, stated to be the largest in the world is expected to be delivered to customers by 2022.Code-named Kunlong, the plane (AG600) is designed to be the world’s largest amphibious aircraft.It will mainly be used for maritime rescue, fighting forest fires and marine monitoring, according to its state-owned manufacturer.

SPORTS:

1. Heena Sidhu clinched gold : Indian Shooter Heena Sidhu clinched the gold medal in the women’s 10m air pistol at the International Shooting Competitions 2018 in Hannover, Germany.Heena was in a rollicking form in the final where she was tied with France’s Mathilde Lamolle on 239.8 points. She won the tie to win the gold ahead of Mathilde.The finish marks a strong build-up to next week’s ISSF World Cup in Munich.

OBITUARIES:

1.Physicist EC George Sudarshan passed away : Famous theoretical physicist EC George Sudarshan passed away in Texas, USA.He worked in the subjects of quantum Zeno effect, optical coherence, open quantum system, non-variance groups among others.In 2007, the Kerala-born scientist was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian award.

Daily GK Updates - 1st May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.BS-VI fuel to be available by April 1, 2019 : The Centre told the Supreme Court that the BS-VI fuel will be made available by April 1, 2019, in 17 out of 23 districts in the National Capital Region.The government also told that BS-VI fuel will also be made available in Agra in Uttar Pradesh on or before April 1, 2019.Delhi has already switched to BS-VI fuel and the cleaner fuel is now available across the petrol pumps in Delhi

2. NITI Aayog’s agenda for ‘New India 2022’ : NITI Aayog will soon come out with a development agenda for ‘New India 2022’, which will spell out strategy for expediting economic growth.It will start working on a 15-year vision document after finalising the development agenda document for ‘New India 2022’.It had planned to come out with three documents: 3 year action agenda, 7 year medium-term strategy and 15 year vision document.

3. Gobardhan Yojana launched from Haryana : Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation launched the Gobardhan scheme from Haryana’s Karnal district on 30th April.The scheme would focus on managing and converting cattle dung and solid waste in farms to compost, biogas and  bio-CNG.The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) scheme was first announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in budget.

4. Pilot scheme for 2,500MW power procurement : Government has launched a Pilot Scheme for procurement of aggregate power of 2500 MW on competitive basis from commissioned power plants without “power purchase agreements” (PPA).The main purpose of the scheme is to revive commissioned power plants which are unable to sell electricity in the absence of valid PPA.The bids under the scheme will be invited in the first week of May.

5. Gujarat & Maharashtra celebrates its 58th foundation day : the two states Gujarat and Maharashtra are celebrating 58th foundation day.In 1960, two western states Gujarat and Maharashtra were formed from erstwhile Bombay state on this day.The Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani has inaugurated the ‘Sujalam Sufalam Yojana’ from Komsadi Talav.Every year the Government of Maharashtra issues a notification declaring the 1st of May to be a public holiday to be celebrated asMaharashtra Day.The day is marked with various cultural events and ceremonies showcasing the culture and traditions of Maharashtra.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India, Nepal to review bilateral trade treaty : India and Nepal have agreed to review bilateral trade treaty.The decision was taken at the meeting of India-Nepal Inter Government Committee on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade, held in Kathmandu.The two sides also discussed amendments to the bilateral Treaty of Transit signed in 1999 to further facilitate transit movement of Nepal’s trade with third countries.

2. Dominican Republic cuts ties with Taiwan : The Dominican Republic severed ties with Taiwan after nearly 80 years.The Dominican Republic established diplomatic relations with China.Taiwan now has formal relations with only 19 countries, many of them poor nations in Central America and the Pacific.Panama cut its diplomatic ties in favor of Beijing in June last year.

3. World Asthma Day observed on 1st May : World Asthma Day is celebrated worldwide on the first Tuesday of May every year.It is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), it is a global health event aimed at improving asthma awareness and care worldwide.The theme of this year’s event is ‘Never too early, never too late’.Asthma is a chronic lung disease that is caused by inflammation of the airways.

4. NASA mission to study heart of Mars : NASA is set to launch Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) on May 5.InSight will be the first mission to peer deep beneath the Martian surface, studying the planet’s interior by measuring its heat output and listening for marsquakes.It will use the seismic waves generated by mars quakes to develop a map of the planet’s deep interior.

5. 2nd rapidly growing country for air traffic : India has been projected to be the second fastest growing country in the world for air passenger traffic.The Airports Council International (ACI), a global trade body representing airports, in its traffic forecasts, said, by 2022 passenger traffic in emerging economies like India will surpass advanced economies.ACI has put Vietnam at the top position with an 8.5 percent growth rate.

6. International Labour Day observed on 1st May : International Labour Day, also known as International Worker’s Day or May Day is observed on 1st May.

It is observed every year to promote and encourage the international labour associations.The day marks the victory of workers’ movement for eight hours of work.It also aims to pay tribute to workers sacrifices in achieving economic and social rights all over the world.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Dalmia group adopts Gandikota fort in Andhra : Dalmia Bharat Limited has also ‘adopted’ Gandikota Fort in Andhra Pradesh under “Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan”“Adopt a Heritage: Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan” is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), states and union territories.Under the contract, the company will focus on providing basic amenities at the fort.

2. WhatsApp boss and co-founder Jan Koum to quit : The chief executive and co-founder of WhatsApp, the Facebook-owned messaging app, is leaving the company over disagreements about privacy and encryption.Jan Koum will also step down from Facebook’s board of directorsWhatsApp, with 1.5 billion monthly users, is the largest messaging service in the world.

3. Uday Kotak redesignated as MD & CEO : The board of directors of Kotak Mahindra Bank has redesignated Uday Kotak as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 May, 2018.Mr. Kotak was earlier executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director.Mr. Kotak was the only official among private banks to have a Vice Chairman designation.

DEFENCE:

1. Blue Origin launches its first space mission : Blue Origin, the US aerospace company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has launched its suborbital ‘New Shepard’ rocket and space capsule.The mission marked the company’s first test flight of the year and second flight of the New Shepard 2.0 spacecraft.New Shepard is a reusable vertical takeoff, vertical landing space vehicle, consisting of a pressurized capsule atop a booster.

SPORTS:

1. Rizvi claims No.1 spot pistol rankings : Indian shooter Shahzar Rizvi grabbed the number one spot in 10m air pistol rankings by ISSF.He won the silver medal in the just-concluded World Cup in Changwon,Korea. Rizvi had previously won a gold medal with a world record score at the World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico in March.The other Indians in the top-10 are Jitu Rai and Om Prakash Mitharval who are at 6th & 12th spot.

OBITUARIES:

1. Economist & WB Finance Min Ashok Mitra died : Noted scholar and former Finance Minister in the Left Front government in West Bengal Ashok Mitra passed away on 1st May.Mr. Mitra was also an eminent economist and penned several newspaper columns on social and economic issues.He was the Chief Economic Adviser to the Central Government from 1970 to 1972.In the mid-1990s he became a member of Rajya Sabha.

Daily GK Updates - 29th April, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Every village now has access to electricity : According to the government data, all of India’s 597,464 census villages now have access to electricity.The last village to be brought on the national power grid was Leisang village in the Senapati district of Manipur.Prime Minister Modi in his Independence Day speech on 15 August 2015 promised to electrify all un-electrified villages within 1000 days.

2. Budgam shortlisted for Modi’s excellence award : Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district has been shortlisted for PM Modi’s excellence award for promoting digital payments and cashless economy.Digital payments facility has been installed at 670 places across the district so far.In order to ensure successful implementation of the digital payments, the district administration has trained hundreds of local residents at Common Services Centers.

3. India’s longest serving chief minister : Pawan Chamling has created history by surpassing the record of former communist ruler of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu, as the longest serving chief minister in the country.Chamling became the chief minister of Sikkim on December 12, 1994, and has ruled the tiny Himalayan state ever since.Chamling joined politics in 1973, and was elected to the Sikkim assembly for the first time in 1985.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.North Korea to rejoin South’s time zone : North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will move country’s clocks 30 mins forward to unify with South’s time zone.The 2 countries on divided peninsula had different time zones since 2015 when North changed its standard time to 30 mins behind the South.North will move to the time zone used before Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of peninsula to mark the 70^th anniversary of its liberation from Tokyo.

2.International Buddhist meet begins in Lumbini : The International Buddhist Conference got underway in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.The conference aims to disseminate teachings of Buddha and spread the messages of nonviolence, brotherhood, co-existence, love and peace to the international community.Representatives from 16 countries including U.S., Japan, India, China, Indonesia and Sri Lanka will attend the conference.

3.Pompeo sworn in as new US secretary of state : Former CIA Director Mike Pompeo has been sworn in as the 70th US secretary of state after the Senate voted to confirm him, 57-42.Mike Pompeo replaces President Donald Trump’s first Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.His confirmation creates avacancy atop the CIA that will be filled, at least for now, by Gina Haspel,the intelligence agency’s No. 2 official.

4.Saudi Aramco appoints the first woman to the board : Saudi Arabia’s Aramco, the world’s top oil company has appointed its first female board member among five new members to its board of directors.Lynn Laverty Elsenhans, the former chairwoman, president and CEO of U.S. oil refiner Sunoco is the first female board member of Aramco.Elsenhans was named by Forbes as one of the world’s most powerful women in 2008.

5.World Day for Safety and Health at Work : The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work.It is held on 28 April and has been observed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003.The theme for World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2018 is: Occupational safety health (OSH) vulnerability of young workers.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Most trusted Internet brand in India : According to the TRA Brand Trust Report 2018, With 1.2 trillion searches per year Google is the most trusted Internet brand in India, followed by Facebook.E-commerce major Amazon, which had been ranking second since 2015, slipped to third position while e-Bay ranked fourth.The biggest falls in trust were seen by Snapdeal, who fell by 142 ranks over last year, Hike and Myntra.

SPORTS:

1. Sumit, Nikhat strike gold at Belgrade Boxing : Sumit Sangwan and Nikhat Zareen were among the three gold-medallists in India’s stupendous campaign at the 56th Belgrade International Boxing Tournament in Serbia.Also claiming a gold was Himanshu Sharma, who defeated Algeria’s Mohammed Touareg 5-0 in his final bout.India ended the tournament with three gold, five silver and five bronze medals in all.

2. India won South Asian U-12 Tennis Championship : India has won the South Asian Under-12 Qualifying Tennis Tournament, defeating host Nepal in the finals.Indian girls and boys team defeated their Nepali opponents in the final by 2-0.Now both the Indian teams will participate in ITF Asian 12 and Under Team Championship to be played in Kazakhstan later this year.

3. ICC scraped 50-over Champions Trophy : International Cricket Council has decided to convert the 2021 Champions Trophy, scheduled in India, into a World T20 event.Champions Trophy was the second-biggest 50-overs tournament after the World Cup. The number of teams competing varied over the years.This means that there would now be two ICC World T20 events in 2 years — the 2020 edition in Australia and the 2021 edition in India.

Daily GK Updates - 20th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Question rose against Darwin’s theory of evolution: Union minister Satyapal Singh has claimed that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution of man was "scientifically wrong" and it needs to be changed in school and college curriculum.  Singh, the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, said our ancestors have nowhere mentioned that they saw an ape turning into a man.  "Darwin's theory (of evolution of humans) is scientifically wrong. It needs to change in school and college curriculum. Since the man is seen on Earth he has always been a man," he said while speaking to reporters yesterday here.  The IPS officer-turned-politician was in this central Maharashtra city to attend the 'All India Vaidik Sammelan.' "Nobody, including our ancestors, in written or oral, have said they saw an ape turning into a man," he said.  "No books we have read or the tales told to us by our grandparents had such a mention," the minister added.

2. Nine more smart cities to come up: The Urban Development Minister ‘Hardeep Singh Puri’ has announced the name of nine more smart cities (total to 99). Silvassa in Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli has topped the list of winning cities in this round of competition. The other cities include Erode (Tamil Nadu), Diu (Union Territory of Daman and Diu), Biharsharif (Bihar), Bareilly (UP), Saharanpur(UP) and Moradabad (UP),  Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) and  Kavaratti (Lakshadweep). The total proposed investment in 99 Smart Cities will be two lakhs three thousand 979 crore rupees.

3.  Former Chief Minister of Gujarat Anandiben Patel will be the next Governor of Madhya Pradesh: She replaces Om Prakash Kohli who has an additional charge of the office of MP Governor along with the office of Gujarat Governor.

4. The Anthem -  “Bharat Ke Veer” : The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has launched ‘Bharat Ke Veer’ anthem and a short film on India’s brave hearts in New Delhi.Bharat Ke Veer is a fund to support the families of those courageous and brave Indian soldier belongings to the eight Central Armed Police Forces, who lost their lives protecting the nation from terrorists and other anti-social elements.The fund is directly administered by the Home Ministry and is given as an annuity or one-time grant to the family of the martyred soldier.

5.  Ramayana festival with ASEAN nations in Delhi : The five-day Ramayana festival with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations has begun in Delhi. Troupes from ASEAN countries will display the shared heritage also at Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Ayodhya and Kolkata. The festival seeks to underline the common cultural heritage and India's friendship with ASEAN nations. The Festival is a fitting prelude to the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit on 25th January.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Britain announces public register against money laundering: Britain has announced the world's first public register that requires overseas companies that own or buy property in the country to provide details of their ultimate owners. The government is set to publish relevant draft laws and the register will go live by early 2021.This register will build on their reputation for corporate transparency as well as help create a hostile environment for economic crimes like money laundering. Properties in Britain worth 250 million dollars has been under criminal investigation for being linked to corruption since 2004. Over 75% of the properties currently under investigation have been suspected of being used off-shore corporate secrecy, a tactic regularly seen by investigators pursuing high-level money laundering.

2. India becomes 43rd member of Australia Group: India has formally become the 43rd member of the Australia Group, a group of countries instituted to counter the spread of materials, equipment and technologies. The inclusion will raise India’s stature in the field of non-proliferation and help in acquiring critical technologies. The Australia Group is a multilateral export control regime (MECR) and an informal group of established in 1985 to help member countries to identify those exports which need to be controlled so as not to contribute to the spread of chemical and biological weapons.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. India to face Pakistan in the fifth edition of “Blind Cricket World Cup” Final: The 5th edition of the Blind Cricket World Cup tournament is currently held from 8 Jan -21st Jan 2018 in Pakistan and in the United Arab Emirates(UAE). Team India (defending champion) will face arch-rival Pakistan in the 5th edition of the 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup Final at Sharjah. India defeated Bangladesh by 7 wickets in the semis to enter the Finals of the 2018 Blind Cricket World Cup. Pakistan qualified for the final of the Blind Cricket World Cup after defeating Sri Lanka.

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY:

1. Robo Scientist makes malaria breakthrough: Research carried out in part by a 'robot scientist' has found that a common ingredient of toothpaste could be developed to fight drug-resistant strains of malaria. In a study in 'Scientific Reports', scientists from Britain's Cambridge University who used the robot to conduct high-throughput screening said the ingredient, triclosan, showed the potential to interrupt malaria infections at two critical stages - in the liver and the blood. Malaria kills around half a million people every year, the vast majority of them children.

BANKING/ FINANCE:

1. The IMF and World Bank have commended the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) for the remarkable progress in strengthening banking supervision system: The multilateral agencies have released two Detailed Assessment Reports relating to the 2017 India Financial Sector Assessment Programme. The Report providing ‘Detailed Assessment of Observance-Basel Core Principles noted that the supervision and regulation by the Reserve Bank remain strong and have improved in recent years. Most of the Basel III framework has been implemented and cooperation arrangements are now firmly in place.

OBITUARIES:

1. Iconic Cartoonist Chandi Lahiri (86-years) passed away due to illness: Lahiri left generations of Bengalis enthralled with his brand of humour that was non-acerbic for the past five decades. He created a number of animal characters like Giraffe, Nengti (a rat), Michke (a cat) and their relationship with children.

Daily GK Updates - 10th August, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Namami Gange Jagriti Yatra: The new clean Ganga campaign launched by UP government: The Uttar Pradesh Government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath  has launched a new awareness drive called Namami Gange Jagriti Yatra. The drive will be focusing on cleanliness along the banks of Ganga river and maintain hygiene. The campaign was flagged off in the state capital Lucknow by CM Adityanath in hopes of making the river and the banks much more cleaner in the future. Around one lakh Home guard volunteers will organize the public gathering and other awareness programs in the district under this project till the 6th Sep 2017.

2. The launch of a Web Portal for supply of NCERT Textbooks: The portal will ensure better distribution of textbooks across the country and will also address the apprehensions, on the part of schools and parents, regarding unavailability of National Council of Educational Research And Training (NCERT) textbooks. Mr. Upendra Kushwaha (Minister of State for HRD) has launched the NCERT’s Web portal “ncertbooks.ncert.gov.in” for the supply of textbooks to schools and individuals at a function in New Delhi. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organization of the Government of India that was established on 1st September 1961 as a literary, scientific and charitable Society under the Societies' Registration Act.

3. Government targets of installing 60GW wind power capacity in the country by 2022:  According to the Power Minister 'Piyush Goyal', govt has fixed an ambitious target of installing 60 Giga watt (GW) wind power capacity in the country by 2022. The annual wind power capacity addition of around 5500 megawatts is required to meet wind capacity target of 60 GW. The current wind power installed capacity in the country is over 32.5 GW.

4. Government aims to give skill training to 30 crore Indians by 2020: According to the Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the union govt. has set a target of providing skill training to one crore people in next three years under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana(PMKVY). The target is to set up five hundred such Kendras in various parts of the country out of which two hundred are functional. A separate national skill certification board will be set up in the Ministry to enable the ITIs to provide equivalence to class 10th and 12th at par with CBSE and ICSE.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India becomes 80th country to ratify  ‘Kyoto Protocol’ for the second time: The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in December 1997 and entered into force in February 2005. India has ratified the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol that commits countries to contain the emission of greenhouse gases, reaffirming its stand on climate action. India deposited its Instrument of Acceptance of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol under the UN Convention on Climate Change.

2.Qatar Waives Entry Visa Requirements for Citizens of 80 Countries: DOHA, Qatar - Qatar’s Ministry of Interior (MoI), Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Qatar Airways today announced that Qatar will allow visa-free entry for citizens of 80 countries, effective immediately. Citizens of 33 mostly European countries can enter without a visa for 90 days in single or multiple trips during a 180-day period. Americans, Britons, Canadians, and citizens of 44 other countries can enter visa-free for an initial 30 days on single or multiple trips, and can extend that for a further 30 days. The economy of Qatar has taken a hit since Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain moved to isolate it over allegations it supports extremists.

3.  The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will participate in the two days 15th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in Nepal: During the meeting of foreign ministers of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), countries will review the progress in identified fourteen areas of cooperation and discuss ways to accelerate cooperation. The BIMSTEC stands for Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal. BIMSTEC states are among the countries which are dependent on the Bay of Bengal.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Asian Shotgun Championship: India wins bronze:  The Indian pair ‘Kynan Chenai’ & ‘Shreyasi Singh’ have won bronze in mixed team trap event in Asian Shotgun Shooting Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan. They defeated Lebanon shooters 40-38.

2. 3,000m steeplechase world title won by Kirputo from Kenya: Olympic gold medallist ‘Conseslus Kipruto’ has won the men's 3,000 meters steeplechase at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in London. The Kenyan clocked eight minutes and 14.12 seconds to continue his in-form performance in the event after the Rio Olympic Games last year.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. IDFC Bank ties up with Zeta: IDFC Bank has partnered with digital payments company Zeta to launch ‘IDFC Bank Benefits’, an innovative solution for corporate that digitizes employee spends and claims, making the process simple, real-time and paperless. The Zeta app offers employees a real-time view of spends, reimbursement limits and claims. Employees can access the Benefits Card via the Zeta app on mobile or web.

OBITUARIES:

1. Paan Singh Tomar Actor Sitaram Panchal Passes Away at 54 after battling kidney and lung cancer: The actor made his Bollywood debut with Bandit Queen (in 1994) and went on to feature in critically-acclaimed films such as, Peepli Live, Slumdog Millionaire, Paan Singh Tomar and Jolly LLB 2.