Daily GK Updates - 21st August, 2015

Daily GK Updates - 21st August, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

   I. Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Value Added Tax (amendment) Regulation 2015 promulgation approved: The amendment was promulgated by the president under article 240 of the constitution of India.

II.      Union Cabinet approved signing of MoU between India and Australia on education and research: This MoU will help deepen the existing partnership between India and Australia in higher education and research, including technical and professional education, schools, vocational education and it will now open up new and innovative areas of cooperation.

III.  Union Government launched web portal Vidya Lakshmi for students seeking Educational Loans: The portal www.vidyalakshmi.co.in is the first portal of its kind that provides single window for students to access information and make application for educational loans provided by banks as well as for government scholarships. The portal was developed by NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited.

IV.      ASA and Exchange of Information with respect to Taxes between India, Seychelles approved: The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi gave its approval for the signing of the revised Air Services Agreement (ASA) and exchange of information with respect to taxes between India and Seychelles.

V.     Himachal Pradesh Government launched RISHTA project: The Rajiv Gandhi Illuminating Scheme for Hill Town Advancement (RISHTA) Project is an efficient smart LED based street lighting project. With this, HP became the 1^st state in North India to do so.

VI.     Minority Ministry launches Online Application Management System (OAMS) for ‘NaiRoshni’:NajmaHeptullah, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs launched it for NaiRoshni, a scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women.

VII. NarendraModi-Barack Obama hotline becomes Operational: With this India becomes only the 4^th country after Russia, Great Britain and China with which the US has a hotline.

VIII.Rajasthan Government join hands with Future Group to Modernise Public Distribution System: It entered into an agreement with Future Consumer Enterprise Ltd (FCEL) to modernise the public distribution system (PDS) by providing multi-brand consumer goods at competitive prices to public through fair price shops.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

  I.     $10 billion Pak Nuclear power plant to be built by China: The Karachi Nuclear Power Plant II (Kanupp II) with the capacity to produce 1100 MW electricity is being built with the assistance of China, which has become the biggest investor in energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan.

II.     Lahore HC banned film ‘Phantom’ from release in Pakistan: The decision was taken on a plea by Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

III.  Greece PM Alexis Tsipras resigned and called for snap polls: He submitted his resignation to President P. Pavlopoulos and asked for the earliest possible election date. Tsipras resigned with an aim to defend the massive bailout of 86 billion Euros, which Greece received from the creditors. This 3^rd bailout to the country since 2010, led to rebellion within his left-wing Syriza party.

IV.  RanilWickremesinghe sworn in as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka: He was administered oath of office by President MaithripalaSirisena at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

  I.     R Gandhi Panel recommended conversion of UCBs into regular banks: The RBI’s High Powered Committee on Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) headed by RBI Deputy Governor R. Gandhi in its report has recommended conversion of UCBs with business size of 20000 crore rupees or more into regular banks. This will allow them to grow and proliferate further for financial inclusion.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

  I.     Book titled ‘Mrs Funnybones: She’s just like you and a lot like me’ authored by Twinkle Khanna released.

OBITUARIES:

   I.     Former Gujarat Finance Minister Sanat Mehta passes away.

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.