Daily GK Updates - 3rd August, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 3RD AUGUST, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

I. Food Corporation gets Rs 13,000 crore as food subsidy from government: The Government has released Rs 13,000 crore as food subsidy to the state owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) to ensure smooth procurement and distribution of grains.

II. Government announces highway projects worth $93 billion to woo investors: Projecting the country’s highways sector as a unique opportunity for investments, the government has rolled out projects worth $93 billion, including the $45 billion flagship road building programme, the National Highway Building Project (NHBP).

III. India’s gold imports increased by 61% in April-May: India’s gold imports increased by 61% to 155 tonnes in the 1^st two months of the current fiscal mainly due to weak global prices and the easing of restrictions by the Reserve Bank of India.

IV. MCA lifted 3-year old Wankhede Stadium entry ban SRK: Mumbai Cricket Association lifted the 5-year ban of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan on entering the Wankhede Stadium.

V. Aadi Perukku festival celebrated with traditional gaiety in Tamil Nadu: On 3^rd August, thousands of people including newlywed couples performed puja in Cauvery River in Erode, Tiruchirapalli and Salem.

VI. Guideline governing adoption of Children 2015 came into effect: The new guidelines are intended to provide for more effective regulation for adoption of orphan, abandoned and surrendered children and would bring more transparency and efficiency in the adoption system. Along with it, the fully revamped IT application for the purpose of adoption of children, CARINGS (Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System), has also become operational.

VII. R S Folger appointed as MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

I. Tiju Thomas initiative emerged as UAE’s first and biggest donor registry: An Indian diplomat Tiju Thomas came in news  after spearheading an initiative to make blood from rare groups accessible to those in need through a website www.blooddonors.ae.

II. India foiled UK’s Pangaea Laboratories bid to patent use of Turmeric, Pine bark and tea: The UK based company had filed Patent application at the European Patent Office in February on a medicinal composition containing turmeric, pine bark and tea for treating hair loss. India succeeded in protecting its traditional knowledge.

III. NASA enhanced collision-avoidance system to avoid traffic jams between orbiting satellites and Mars: The system involves process of traffic monitoring, communication and manoeuvre planning.

IV. India to host 2^nd Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC): India will host second edition meeting of FIPIC on 21^st August in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

I. HDFC Bank’s new initiative: HDFC Bank has launched ‘Dhanchayat’, an educational film to raise awareness on the dangers of borrowing money from unorganised sources. This film has been launched under the aegis of ‘Swachh Banking’, the banks corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.

II. HDFC Bank ties up with Snapdeal for co-branded credit card: The card is aimed at getting Snapdeal’s customers, 70% of whom are from smaller cities and towns, to make online payments instead of availing the cash on delivery option.

SPORTS:

III. Indian women bag silver at World Archery Championships: The trio of Deepika Kumari, Laxmirani Manjhi and Rimil Buriuly put pressure on the Russians opening up 4-0 lead but could not wrap the issue as they lost the next two sets before going down in the shoot-off 27-28.

IV. South Sudan becomes Olympic movement’s 206^th member: South Sudan became the 206^th member of the Olympic family after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved its inclusion, despite on-going fighting in the African Country.

V. Victorian Open WSA-Joshna Chinappa won squash title: Indian Champion Joshna Chinappa won the women’s squash title in the $15,000 Victorian Open WSA event in Melbourne, Australia. The title in the men’s section went to R. Cuskelly of Australia.

OBITUARIES:

I. Private Equity pioneer Jerome Kohlberg dead: Jerome Kohlberg Jr., a founder of the investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and a pioneer of the leveraged buyout, died at the age of 90.

II. US Country singer Lynn Anderson passes away at the age of 67

Daily GK Updates - 2nd August, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 2ND August, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

I. India’s 1^st Harbour Defence System commissioned in Kochi: India’s first integrated Underwater Defence and Surveillance System (IUHDSS) was commissioned in Kochi, Kerala. It is designed by the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

II. ‘Ignited Minds’ written by the Missile Man, fly off the shelves: Even as the country continues to mourn his passing, A P J Abdul Kalam’s books are flying off the shelves, with the former president’s autobiography, ‘Wings of Fire’, emerging as the top seller online.

III.  V P Mahawar takes charge as Director (onshore) at ONGC.

IV. ONGC Videsh names Sudhir Sharma as Director (Exploration).

V.  Mangaluru becomes the 1^st Indian city to fight Malaria with Software: The Mangaluru City Corporation is all set to combat Malaria with the use of technology. The unique software developed through private initiative, at no cost to the corporation, will help control and prevent vector borne diseases interfacing with multiple stakeholder like corporation, hospitals/ laboratories and field workers.

VI. Tata brand retains number 1 position: The Tata brand retained its number one position in India in this year’s annual study conducted by the U.K based Brand Finance, a leading brand valuation consultancy.

VII. Ganga Ram Agarwal, a senior official, has been appointed as the new Secretary of Railway Board.

VIII.  Rakesh Sharma took over as the new Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

I. Thomas Cook (India) Ltd buys Sri Lankan firm Luxe Asia Pvt Ltd: The acquisition was done in undisclosed deal and was made through Thomas Cook (India) Ltd’s wholly owned subsidiary Thomas Cook (Lanka) Pvt Ltd. After this deal, Luxe Asia will be operated as an independent entity.

II. Cyclone Komen makes landfall in Bangladesh.

III. Myanmar frees 7,000 political prisoners: Myanmar freed some political prisoners and 155 Chinese citizens jailed for illegal logging in an amnesty.

IV. India ranked 14^th among 22 high TB burden countries globally. As per WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2014, the estimated prevalence of TB is 2.6 million cases in country.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

I.  Centre to pump Rs. 70,000 crores into PSU Banks: The Modi Government announced a big-bucks boost to investments in the economy as the centre will for the next four years infuse Rs. 70,000 crore out of the budgetary allocations into state-owned banks.

II.  BNP Paribas acquires online broker Sharekhan: Sharekhan, one of the first movers in the country’s online broking segment, has been acquired by French Bank BNP Paribas.

SPORTS:

III. Sania Mirza recommended for Rajeev Gandhi KhelRatna: The Sports ministry confirmed that Wimbledon doubles champion SaniaMirza has been recommended for the Rajeev Gandhi KhelRatna.

OBITUARIES:

IV. Former BBC racing commentator Sir Peter O’Sullevan died in London at the age of 97.

Daily GK Test - 1st August, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 1ST AUGUST, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

I.   Government names Additional Secretary to RBI Board in place of Finance Secretary: The Finance Ministry has nominated Ajay Tyagi, Additional Secretaryin the Department of Economic Affairs to the RBI board in place of Economic Affairs Secretary.

II. IAS Officer ArunGoel takes over as new VC of Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

III. India to celebrate ‘Handloom Day’ on August 7: The Government has decided to declare August 7- the day of launch of the ‘India Handloom’ Brand as ‘National Handloom Day’.

IV. Union Government formulated draft rules for Mass Emission Standards for Bio-diesel fuelled vehicles.

V. Maharashtra government announced construction of 800-km Nagpur-Mumbai expressway: The Nagpur-Amravati-Aurangabad-Ghoti-Mumbai expressway, also called the Communication Super-expressway, would be built at the cost of 30,000 crore rupees.

VI. The state Government of Tamil Nadu instituted a youth award in the name of former president of India Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam and his birth anniversary on 15^th October would be celebrated as the ‘Youth Revival Day’.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

I. World Day against Trafficking in Persons observed across the world: World Day against Trafficking in Persons was observed across the world on 30^th July 15. To mark the day, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched the global campaign #IGiveHope to raise awareness around the plight of survivors of trafficking in persons.

II. India-UK Bilateral Air Exercise ‘Indradhanush’ concluded: During the 10-day exercise, different elements of the Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent operated from separate Royal Air Force bases (RAF).

III. 1974 Land Border Agreement between India and Bangladesh came into effect: 162 enclaves of India and Bangladesh were integrated with the main land with the execution of Land Border Agreement, 1974 between the two countries on 31 July 2015.

IV. Sri Lankan Government decided to renovate temples destroyed in Nepal Quake: Sri Lankan cabinet decided to undertake the repair of Buddhist temple in Swayambhunath and Hindu temple of Rao Machindranath in Lalitpur at a cost of 34 crore Sri Lankan rupees.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

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

SPORTS:

II. Beijing chosen to host 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

III. RavichandranAshwin presented with Arjuna Award.

IV. 14-year old Lucknow boy PrabhroopSekhon won two golds at Special Olympics World games: He won the two medals in 300m and 500m roller skating at the Special Olympics World Summer Games. The event is being held at Los Angeles, USA.

 

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.