Daily GK Updates - 20th August, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 20TH AUGUST, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

   I.   Ashwani Lohani, a tourism veteran, to steer Air India as CMD: He has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India succeeding Rohit Nandan.

II.          Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) compliant vehicles throughout the country from April 1, 2017:  Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: This step has been taken by the ministry in order to reduce air pollution due to vehicles. As per the guidelines, all newly manufactured four-wheeled vehicle that are compliant with the BS-IV standards will be allowed to be registered and move on roads.

III.    YouTube tied-up with Whistling Woods International to set up YouTube Space: Google-run video sharing portal YouTube has tied up with WWI to set up YouTube Space in Mumbai, a collaboration and production facility for YouTube video creators. WWI is a film, communication and media arts institute owned by SubhashGhai, Bollywood Director.

IV.     SM Khan headed team constituted by Union Government to assess situation in FTII.

V.      Prasar Bharti and Digital Television Russia inked MoU: The MoU signed at New Delhi is aimed at co-producing TV programmes, repackaging and dubbing popular programs from both countries. It also covers technology modernisation, news exchange and programmes.

VI.   The Union Government issued final notification demarcating the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary.

VII.    Himachal to make Sanskrit mandatory in Government schools: HP CM Virbhadra Singh announced that Sanskrit will be introduced as a mandatory subject in all Government Schools of the state.

VIII.Karnal Singh assigned additional charge of Director of the Enforcement Directorate.

IX.     Allahabad High Court directed government servants, politicians to send children to government schools: This step has been taken to improve the condition of education of these schools.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

  I.       AnupamKher named Advocate for UN’s ‘HeForShe’ campaign: Acclaimed Actor AnupamKher has been named an advocate for the United Nations’ campaign on gender equality.

II.      Government approves pact between India and Seychelles to curb black money: With an intention of curbing black money generation, the government approved signing and ratification of the Tax information exchange agreements between India and Seychelles.

III.     Forbes’ World’s Top 100 Innovative Companies: Three Indian companies Hindustan Unilever (41), Sun Pharma Industries (71) and Tata Consultancy Services (64) have been named among the top 100 innovative companies by Forbes. California based Tesla Motors has topped the list.

IV.    US launched biggest NATO airborne drills since Cold War in Europe: The US military has launched the largest NATO airborne drills dubbed as ‘Swift Response 15’ since the end of the Cold War to enhance security and stability in the European region that will see soldiers from 11 NATO member states.

V.       Australian Government appoints Former Cricketer Adam Gilchrist as ambassador to India for education.

VI.    World Humanitarian Day observed with theme ‘Inspiring the World’s Humanity’: It was observed on 19^th August 2015.

VII.    Pakistan and Russia signed defence agreement that includes the sale of four Mi-35 helicopters: Both the countries signed the landmark deal that includes the sale of four Mi-35 Hind E attack helicopters to Pakistan. The Mi-35 is an exceedingly modernised version of the Mi-24 (Hind) combat helicopter with new onboard equipment and avionics.

VIII. Haryana, Maryland agreed to cooperate in biotechnology, life sciences: Haryana CM M L Khattar and Lt. Governor of Maryland B.K Rutherford have agreed to explore the possibilities of cooperation in the field of bio-technology, life sciences and agriculture, cyber security and engineering. Haryana CM is on a 10 day trip to the US and Canada.

IX.     Bangladesh becomes the first country in the world to receive funds from UN for Solar Home Systems.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

  I.        Reserve Bank of India grants in-principle nod for 11 payments banks: It granted ‘in-principle’ approval to 11 entities including Reliance Industries, Aditya Birla Nuvo, Vodafone and Airtel to set up payments banks and proposed such licences ‘on tap’ in future.

SPORTS:

II.       Aditi Chauhan becomes India’s 1^st woman to play in English league football: Aditi Chauhan, India’s international football goalkeeper made her debut for the women’s team of the West Ham United in the opening game of the season against Coventry City.

III.      Olympic Champion Sebastian Coe elected as President of IAAF:He was elected as the 6^th president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The British Olympian was elected as the president at the 50^th IAAF Congress in Beijing, China.

AWARDS:

IV.      Historian BabasahebPurandare conferred with Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2015.

V.      Debut Novelist Zia Haider Rahman won the James Tail Black Award 2015: The Bangladeshi Novelist won the award for his debut novel ‘In the light of what we know’.

OBITUARIES:

   VI.    Uttar Pradesh Minister ChitranjanSwarup passed away: Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Parliamentary AffairsChitranjanSwarup has passed away at the age of 70 following a prolonged illness.

Daily GK Updates - 19th August, 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES - 19TH AUGUST, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

I.     Kochi Airport becomes world’s 1^st to operate on solar power: Kerala CM OommenChandy inaugurated the 12 MWp solar power plant comprising 46,150 solar panels laid across 45 acres near the cargo complex.

II.  Tata Trusts to develop264 villages in Vijayawada under SansadAdarsh GramYojana(SAGY) initiative.

III.    LIC launches maiden unit linked insurance plan (ULIP): The ULIP which is also called as ‘New Endowment Plus’ offers investment-cum-insurance provision during the term policy providing dual benefit for the policy holder.

IV.       PM Modi announces 1.25 lakh crore Bihar Package.

V.     TajMahal world’s 5^th travel hotspots: Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet’s ‘Ultimate Travelist’ ranks historic mausoleum built in Agra by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as 5^th most attractive travel hotspot in the world.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

  I.        Happy World Photography Day to all shutterbugs: The World Photography Day was celebrated all over the globe on 19^th August 2015.

II.       Sri Lankan General Elections 2015: UNFGG emerges as largest group: Sri Lanka flocked to the polls for its 2015 Parliamentary elections, where Sri Lankan PM RanilWickremesinghe’s alliance emerged as the single largest group. His alliance United Front for Good Governance has emerged as the single largest group but has failed to secure an outright win.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

 I.          Reserve Bank of India suspends licences of Religare Finance, 6 other NBFCs: RBI suspended licences of 7 non-banking finance companies, including Religare finance, which the company said is a dormant entity and would not affect its business.

II.      SBI launches mobile wallet app ‘Buddy’: Country’s largest lender SBI launched a mobile wallet app, SBI Buddy, in collaboration with Accenture and Mastercard. The mobile wallet app can be used to send money to new and registered customers, book for movies, flights, hotels as well as shopping.

III.       Kishor Piraji Kharat takes charge as MD & CEO of IDBI Bank.

IV.   Finance Minister launches two funds for promoting MSMEs and Start-ups: ArunJaitley launched two funds, the India Aspiration Fund (IAF) and SIDBI Make in India Loan for Enterprises (SMILE) under Small Industries Development Bank of India in line to cater funding for start-ups and to aid small enterprises in India.

V.       BSE sets up new system for reporting suspicious trades: Bombay Stock Exchange has instituted new system, Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) for reporting suspicious trades in order to check money laundering through stock markets.

SPORTS:

VI.    Australia’s Opening Batsman Chris Rogers confirms Test retirement after Ashes series.

VII.     Bangladesh lifted South Asian Football Federation U-16 title.

VIII. Athletics Federation of India (AFI) chief A. Sumariwalla elected as one of the members of the prestigious council of the IAAF, the global governing body of the sport.

IX.    TPP Nair, S P Mishra, Romeo James recommended for 2015 Dhyan Chand Award.

AWARDS:

   X.   Kalam Award for ISRO scientist: TN CM Jayalalitha presented the 1^st APJ Abdul Kalam Award to ISRO scientist N. Valarmathi, who led the team that successfully launched Radar Imaging Satellite RISAT-1 in 2012.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

XI.    Book titled ‘The KubhMela: Mapping the Ephemeral Megacity’ authored by TarunKhanna was released by UP CM Akhilesh Yadav.

OBITUARIES:

XII.  First Lady Suvra Mukherjee passes away: Wife of President Pranab Mukherjee passed away at the age of 74.She founded the ‘Geetanjali Troupe’ whose mission is to propagate Rabindranath Tagore’s philosophy as expressed through his songs and dance dramas.

XIII.  Malayalam Actor Paravoor Bharathan died at the age of 86.