Daily GK Updates - 15th August, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 15TH AUGUST,  2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

   I.         According to Union Government, the seventh pay commission award will result in a 15.79 % rise in the salary outgo during 2016-17.

II.         In a move that could improve the employability of Indian sailors in international shipping, the union government has ratified the International Seafarers’ Identity Document Convention, 2003, which will provide for a globally recognised seafarers’ identity document. In addition to facilitating mobility seafarers’, the smart card will improve maritime security with a verifiable identity.

III.       Madhya Pradesh has decided to form a Special Indian Reserve Battalion (SIRB), a force that can be deployed across the country for maintaining law and order and fighting naxalism.

IV.  According to National Council of Applied Economic Research report, the MGNREGA has reduced poverty overall by up to 32% and has prevented 14 million people from falling into poverty.

V.        Union Cabinet gave an ex-post-facto approval to MoUs signed with US, France and Mongolia in the field of renewable energy.

VI.        ONGC is using some of its profit to nurse the ground and clean up key sources of water in the Himalayas. The flagship explorer has joined four expeditions launched by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation, the apex mountaineering body, to take PM Modi’s ‘Swatchh Bharat’ campaign to Himalayan heights.

VII.    India on 15^th August 2015 celebrated its 69^th Independence Day.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

  I.         Researchers discovered evidence of an ancient lake on Mars: A team of researchers for University of Colorado have discovered evidence of an ancient lake on Mars. The findings of the research titled Late-stage formation of Martian Chloride salts through ponding and evaporation were published in journal of Geology.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

  I.    AXIS Bank launched the first multi-currency contactless card service in India: India’s third largest private sector lender, Axis Bank has launched the first Contactless Debit, Credit and Multi-Currency Forex Card in association with VISA payWave in the country.

SPORTS:

II.        Rahane makes it into the record books by taking 8 catches: Ajinkya Rahane became the 1^st fielder in Test history to take eight catches, achieving the feat in the 1^st test match of the Sri Lanka tour at Galle.

III.       Rangana Herath picked up 7 for 48 to shoot India out for 112 on the fourth day of the 1^st test match and complete a 63-run win for Sri Lanka at Galle.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

IV.  American Political Scientist and author Norman G Finkelstein’s book ‘What Gandhi Says’ released.

Daily GK Updates - 14th August, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 14TH AUGUST, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

   I.            PAHAL Scheme enters into Guinness Book of world records: Union Government’s ambitious PratyakshaHastaantaritLaabh (PAHAL) scheme has been acknowledged as the world’s largest cash transfer program (households) by the Guinness Book of World Records.

II.       NTPC signed two MoUs for Skill Development: National Thermal Power Corporation has signed two MoUs with National Skill Development Fund and National Skill Development Corporation for skill development training in eastern states and Bihar.

III.       Odisha Cabinet gave nod to new Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) 2015: The IPR 2015 lays focus on various sectors for the next five years which includes infrastructure development, auto and gas components, agro and food processing, IT and Electronic System Design and Manufacturing, tourism, civil aviation, pharma sector, etc.

IV.       Maharashtra’s Dahi Handi granted with Adventure Sport status: From now on, it will be played as per the rules and regulations which will be framed by a state-level association. It will not be limited to Janmashtami only.

V.        Assam passed Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2015: The Bill seeks to eliminate rising cases of superstition leading to murder of so-called ‘witches’.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

  I.      India and Slovak republic signed MoU for technical cooperation in Railway Sector: The potential cooperation areas mentioned in the MoU are Infrastructure building and Management, station development and workshop modernisation, modernisation of signalling and telecom, etc.

II.       2015 US-India cyber dialogue held in Washington DC: The dialogue was held with an aim to increase global cyber security and promote the digital economy.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

  I.    AXIS Bank launched the first multi-currency contactless card service in India: India’s third largest private sector lender, Axis Bank has launched the first Contactless Debit, Credit and Multi-Currency Forex Card in association with VISA payWave in the country.

II.    IRDAI allows Banks to tie with insurers: This decision was taken as part of the IRDAI’s new Bancassurance model guidelines which will be notified soon. Prior to this decision, banks were not allowed to have insurance agency tie-ups with more than one insurer.

III.   RBI notified Interest Subvention Scheme 2015-16 of Union Government for Banks: With this, he RBI asked all banks to provide interest concession of 2 percent on short term crop loans of up to 3 lakh rupees.

SPORTS:

IV.      Indian Men’s Hockey team won European series against Spain 2-1.

AWARDS:

V.     Urdu Author ShamimHanfi chosen for the 1^stJnangarimaManadAlankaran Award, instituted by the BhartiyaJnanpith.

OBITUARIES:

  VI.     The founder of Hero Cycle Om Prakash Munjal passes away at the age of 87.

Daiily GK Updates - 13th August, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 13TH AUGUST, 2015

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

  I.     POSCO, Uttam Galva arm to set up steel plant in Maharashtra: South Korean steel-maker POSCO and Shree Uttam Steel and Power Ltd have agreed to set up a three million tonne per year integrated steel plant in western Maharashtra state.

II.    Premji, Nadar among Forbes’ 20 richest people in technology world: Wipro chairman Azim Premji and HCL founder Shiv Nadar are the only two Indian tycoons in the top 20 richest people in the world of technology, according to an inaugural list by Forbes, topped by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Premji is ranked 13^th followed by Nadar on the 14^th spot.

III.      Woman IPS Officer scales new heights: Aparna Kumar, 2002 batch IPS Officer of the UP cadre, added a feather to her cap when she scaled Mount Elbrus in Russia, which is the highest mountain peak in Europe.

IV.       Acharya Dev Vrat sworn in as Himachal Governer.

V.         Government raises import duty on base metal items by 2.5%: The Government has increased the import duty on base metal items made of steel, iron, copper, nickel and aluminium by 2.5% drawing praise from domestic producer but annoying end users such as engineering exporters.

VI.       Jethabhai Patel re-elected as Amul Chairman.

VII.  Union Government approved MoU between India, Nepal for construction of petroleum pipeline: The Union Cabinet gave its approval for the signing of a MoU between India and Nepal for the construction of a petroleum products pipeline from Raxaul (India) to Amlekhgunj (Nepal).

VIII.  Union cabinet nod for India, US MoU on cooperation to establish the Pace Setter Fund: The PSF seeks to support the Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE) track of the US-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE).

IX.    Sudhakar Shetty elected as the President of Gymnastic Federation of India: He succeeds Jaspal Singh Kandhari.

X.    Survey started to erect memorial for Dr. Kalam at Rameshwaram: Preliminary survey of the place where the mortal remains of former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam had been laid to rest at Rameshwaram was started by a team of officials from CPWD and Tamil Nadu Government.

XI.    Union Government approved 300 crore package to save standing kharif crops from weak monsoon.

XII.   Jayant Patel appointed as acting Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court.

XIII.Indian Railways signed 4 MoUs with Union Ministries of Power and New & Renewable Energy: The MoUs were signed for Cooperation in areas of electricity transmission, energy conservation and promotion of renewable energy in a time bound manner.

XIV.  Coca-Cola India signs Sourav Ganguly for 3 years as social ambassador.

XV.  Uninor signed worth Rs 1200 crore with Huawei for modernising its network: Uninor, a subsidiary of Norway’s telecom major Telenor has inked an agreement worth Rs 1200 crore with Chinese firm Huawei for modernising and managing its network across six circles in the country.

 

XVI. Government sanctioned 1500 MW ultra-mega solar power park for Andhra Pradesh: The 1500 MW ultra-mega solar power park will be developed in Kadapa district by NTPC.

XVII. O P Rawat has been appointed as the new Election Commissioner: While Nasim Zaidi is the Chief Election Commissioner; Achal Kumar Jyoti is the other Election Commissioner.

   

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

  I.      Astronauts eat food grown in space: Astronauts have taken the first bites of food grown entirely in space and harvested from their own space garden on board the International Space Station (ISS). The harvest comes from the NASA’s Veg-01 experiment.

II.       Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), owned by Tata Motors, signed a letter of intent with the government of the Slovak Republic for the potential development of a new manufacturing plant in the city of Nitra in western Slovakia.

III.    China and Pakistan signed deals worth 1.6 billion USD to implement CPEC: Both the countries signed the deals to implement the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

AWARDS:

  I.    Urdu Author Shamim Hanfi chosen for the 1^st Jnangarima Manad Alankaran Award, instituted by the Bhartiya Jnanpith.