Daily GK Updates - 2nd December, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.   PM LAUNCHES INDIA PAVILION AT PARIS CLIMATE SUMMIT:

The India Pavilion inaugurated at the Paris Climate Summit is where visitors can get a lot of information on India’s position with regard to climate change. The PM warned developed countries should assume more responsibilities in making alternative energy technologies affordable and accessible.

2.    INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE LAUNCHED:

India launched an International Solar Alliance (ISA) at the CoP21 Climate Conference. The new body, which has invited all countries located fully or partly between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn to join, is to function from the National Institute of Solar Energy in India, Gurgaon. The Centre will provide land and $30 million to form a secretariat for the Alliance, and also support it for five years, the Prime Minister said at an event that was co-chaired with him by French President Francois Hollande.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.   DECEMBER 02- INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR ABOLITION SLAVERY:

The International Day for Abolition of Slavery is observed on December 2 every year since 1986. The day is organized by the United Nations General Assembly for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others. The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, and the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict.

2. SIR VENKATRAMAN RAMAKRISHNAN ASSUMED PRESIDENCY OF ROYAL SOCIETY:

Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has assumed Presidency of the Royal Society in London. He was elected to the office in March 2015 by the society’s council and will serve for up to five years. With this appointment, he became the 61st president of the society. And, he joined the elite club that has included Christopher Wren, Samuel Pepys, Isaac Newton, Joseph Banks, Humphry Davy, and Ernest Rutherford.

3.   CHINA HOSTS FIRST BRICS MEDIA SUMMIT:

China has taken the initiative for creating an alternative media platform for the emerging economies by hosting the first media summit of countries belonging to the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) grouping. A total of 25 media organisations are participating in the summit, which hopes to create a new institutional framework that would be tailored to benefit the media of five emerging economies, which have deep linkages with the Global South.

4.    R.M.C. KABORE ELECTED AS A PRESIDENT OF BURKINA FASO:

Roch Marc Christian Kabore has won presidential elections in Burkina Faso. Mr Kabore, a former prime minister, secured 53.5% of the vote after months of political unrest. It was the first election since last year’s popular uprising which toppled longstanding President Blaise Compaore.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.    INDIA’S THAKUR AROOP SINGH WON GOLD MEDAL IN WORLD’S BODYBUILDING AND PHYSIQUE CHAMPIONSHIP:

Indian bodybuilder, Thakur Anoop Singh earned the title of ‘Mr World’ by winning a gold medal in a world bodybuilding meet in Bangkok, Thailand. The athlete was competing against athletes from 47 countries and won a gold medal in the “fitness physique” category of the seventh WBPF (World Bodybuilding and Physique Championships). Back in 2008 when the world was hit by recession, Anoop was forced to leave his job as a pilot and that is when he turned to small screen. In the Mahabharata series that began in 2011, Anoop plays the role of Drithrashtra.

BANKING & ECONOMY:

2. INDIA’S RANK 131 ON GLOBAL INDEX OF ICT ACCESS:

India has been ranked 131 out of 167 countries by the ICT Development Index of the International Telecommunication Union, which measures countries according to their level of ICT (information, communication and technology) access, use and skills. Although India has made tremendous progress in raising its telecom density, the country remains far behind when it comes to providing internet access.

3. RBI INKS INFO EXCHANGE PACT WITH UK FINANCIAL BODY:

The Reserve Bank has signed an agreement with the UK’s Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority for supervisory cooperation and exchange of information. The Reserve Bank signed separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory Information with Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), United Kingdom.

4. MAHARASHTRA IS THE  BIGGEST ECONOMY IN INDIA:

According to the latest report by credit rating agency Brickwork Ratings, Maharashtra is the biggest economy within India at Rs 16.87 lakh crore in terms of gross state domestic product (GSDP).The highest among the bigger states — followed by Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

OBITUARIES:

5. SARANGI MAESTRO USTAD SABRI KHAN PASSED AWAY:

Renowned sarangi maestro Sabri Khan, who was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, died at the age of 88. The critically acclaimed sarangi player received numerous honours and awards, including the Sahitya Kala Parishad Award, UP Sangeet Natak Academy Award, National Sangeet Natak Academy Award and the prestigious Padma Shree (1992) and Padma Bhushan awards (2006).

6. KOODIYATOOM ARTISTE MARGI SATHI PASSED AWAY:

Margi Sathi, the doyenne of the exotic dance form of Nangiarkoothu, an offshoot of Koodiyattam. Breaking barriers, Sathi emerged as the leading woman artist, choreographer and teacher of the classical Koodiyattam theatre, recognised by the UNESCO as a unique artistic heritage of entire humanity.

AWARDS:

7. COLOMBIAN FILM EMBRACE OF THE SERPENT ADJUDGED BEST FILM OF THE 46^TH IFFI:

Colombian film Embrace of Serpent (Al Abrazo de la Serpiente) won the Golden Peacock Award at the finale of the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Besides citation, the Golden Peacock award carries a sum of Rs 40 lakh. The only Indian name in the winner’s list was that of Bengali filmmaker Kaushik Ganguly, who was given the inaugural ICFT – UNESCO Fellini Medal for his movie Cinemawala.

Daily GK Updates - 1st December, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES

1.   A.K.JAIN TO BE ACTING CHAIRMAN OF CBDT:

Senior revenue officer AK Jain has been appointed as the acting Chairman of the CBDT following the retirement of its Chairperson Anita Kapur. Jain, a 1978 batch Indian Revenue Services Officer, will be holding additional charge as chairperson of Central Board of Direct Taxes, the apex policy making body of the Income Tax department. He is at present Member (Personnel and Vigilance) of CBDT.

2.   DECEMBER 01: WORLDS AIDS DAY:

World AIDS Day is held on the December 1st every year since 1988. This day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. Globally there are an estimated 34 million people who have the virus.

3.  UNION GOVT. LAUNCHED IPV INJECTION AS PART OF GLOBAL POLIO ENDGAME STRATEGY:

PV will roll-out to 126 countries which are only using OPV in the National program and it will be the largest and fastest globally-coordinated vaccine introduction project in history.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  NARENDRA MODI IN EIGHT PLACE FOR TIME’S MAGAZINE’S PERSON OF THE YEARS POLL:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently among the top 10 people in the Time Person of the Year readers’ choice poll, in the company of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and Pope Francis. Although Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (10.5 percent) continues to lead the poll, Modi with a vote share of 2.7 percent was in the eighth place as of Monday evening, while Pakistani activist Malala (5.9 percent) was in second place and Pope Francis (3.9 percent) in third.

2.    SYRIA CONFLICT: GERMAN CABINET APPROVES  IS MISSION:

The German cabinet has backed plans for military support in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. Tornado reconnaissance aircraft, a naval frigate and a 1,200-strong force will be sent to the region under the proposals. Germany decided to join the fight against IS after an appeal by French President Francois Hollande in the wake of the 13 November Paris attacks. Its forces will not engage in combat.

3.  SAUDI ARABIA ALLOWS WOMEN TO VOTE IN LOCAL ELECTION FOR FIRST TIME:

Saudi female candidates running for municipal councils have begun campaigning in elections, marking the first time women are allowed to vote and contest polls in the kingdom.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.  P.V. SINDHU WINS 2015 MACAU OPEN GRAND PRIX GOLD BADMINTON TOURNAMENT:

Ace Indian shuttler Pusarla Venkata Sindhu has won the $120,000 2015 Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament in the women’s single category. In the title clash of the tournament, Sindhu (World No. 12) defeated Minatsu Mitani (World No. 6) of Japan by 21-9, 21-23, 21-14 score. With this victory, she has won this title for the third consecutive time after she had won it in 2013 and 2014.

BANKING & ECONOMY:

2. RAILWAY SIGNS RS.40,000 – CRORE PACTS WITH GE AND ALSTOM:

Indian Railways has signed two joint venture agreements with global transport majors General Electric and Alstom Transport for setting up two locomotive factories in Bihar with an investment of Rs 40,000 crore. US-based GE will set up a diesel locomotive factory at Marhowra that will supply 1,000 engines of 4,500 and 6,000 horsepower over 11 years. France’s Alstom will set up a manufacturing facility at Madhepura to supply 800 electric locomotives of 12,000 horsepower over 10 years. The factories will be set up at a cost of Rs 1,300 crore each.

OBITUARIES:

3. RUSSIAN LEGENDARY FILMS DIRECTOR ELDAR RYAZANOV PASSES AWAY:

The legendary film director Eldar Ryazanov died in Moscow at the age of 88.  The People’s Artist of the USSR, Eldar Ryazanov, was a Soviet film director, screenwriter and actor, most well known for his satirical comedies – “Old Men – Robbers,” “Unbelievable Adventures of Italians in Russia,” “Office Romance,” “Station for Two,” “Garage” and many others.

Daily GK Updates - 30th November, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.   INTERCEPTOR BOAT ICGS C-422 COMMISSIONED INTO INDIAN COAST GUARD SERVICE:

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned an interceptor boat (ICGS C-422) at the Karaikal port. This will enhance the port’s shallow water operational capability along the South Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry coast. Speaker of the Pondicherry Assembly V. Sabapathy commissioned ICGS C-422 with full military honours in the presence of Inspector-General S.P. Sharma, Commander, Coast Guard Region (East), Deputy Inspector-General S.C. Tyagi and Karaikal Station Commandant S.N.M. Patnaik.

2.   PARIS  CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT:

November 30th marks the beginning of a major two-week climate summit in Paris. The meeting will be attended by dozens of world leaders. The meeting goes by several names – the United Nations Climate Summit, the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, or COP21, which stands for the 21st meeting of the Conference of Parties that are part of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change.

3.   TAMIL NADU HAS MAXIMUM NUMBER OF OPERATION SEZs

Parliament has announced that, a total of 36 special economic zones (SEZs) are operational in Tamil Nadu, followed by Telangana and Karnataka. In Telangana and Karnataka, 26 SEZs in each state are operational. As of now a total of 204 SEZs are exporting. The government has approved 19 proposals for setting up of new zones in 10 states, including Andhra Pradesh (1), Maharashtra (4) and Uttar Pradesh (2) during the last three years and current fiscal till November 30.

4.   DELHI GOVT. LAUNCHES E-DISTRICT PROJECT TO OFFER SERVICES:

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has launched an ambitious ‘e-District project’. By this the people of Delhi will now be able to access a host of Delhi government services online and get documents verified for the issuance of nearly a dozen certificates.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  CHINA’S YUAN SET FOR IMF RESERVE STATUS:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to announce that China’s currency, the Yuan, will join the fund’s group of international basket of reserve currencies. Just the US dollar, the euro, Japan’s yen and the British pound are currently part of this select band. 

 

2.   RUSSIA IMPOSES ECONOMIC SANCTION AGAINST TURKEY:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree imposing a raft of punitive economic sanctions against Turkey. Putin has taken this decision after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane. The decree, which entered into force immediately, said charter flights from Russia to Turkey would be banned.

3.                 SOUTH KOREA RATIFIES FREE TRADE DEAL WITH CHINA:

South Korea has ratified a free trade agreement (FTA) with China that would remove most tariffs between Asia’s largest and fourth-largest economies.  The Seoul government has promised to provide about one trillion won (USD 865 million) in direct financial support for farmers and fishermen who argue that their livelihoods will be severely affected by the deal.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. MERCEDES DRIVER NICO ROSBERG WON ABU DHABI DRAND PRIX:

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg has won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Yas Island, marking his third successive victory of the season. His success also marked Mercedes’ 12th one-two finish of the season, representing a new Formula-1 record.

 

2. TYSON FURY DEFEATED WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO TO     BECOME WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION:

The 27-year-old Manchester fighter is only Britain’s fifth bona fide heavyweight world champion after Bob Fitzsimmons, Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno and David Haye. Klitschko had not been beaten since 2004 and his second reign as champion included 19 successful defences.

 

3.   ANDY MURRAY WINS THE DAVIS CUP FOR GREAT BRITAIN:

Great Britain have won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936 after Andy Murray beat Belgium’s David Goffin to clinch the decisive point in Ghent. Murray won 6-3 7-5 6-3 to give the visitors an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five tie.

 

BANKING & ECONOMY:

4.       LI-FI TECHNOLOGY:

Estonian startup Velmenni has successfully tested the Li-Fi technology which provides 100 times faster internet service than Wi-Fi. It provides internet speed upto 1Gbps.

 

OBITUARIES:

5. AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALLER ICON JOE MARSTON DIED:

Australian football icon Joe Marston has passed away. The 89-year-old was a pioneer for the game in this country, the first Australian to feature in an FA Cup final when he was a fan favourite at Preston North End, playing in their 1954 loss to West Bromwich Albion.

Daily GK Updates - 29th November, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.                 NORMS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY ISSUED

The Ministry of Road Transport & highways has issued a draft notification for implementation of BS-5 and BS-6 norms for the automobile sector, covering the four wheeler category. The ministry has decided to advance the date of implementation of the higher level emission standards. As per the roadmap earlier laid down, by the Auto Fuel Policy, BS – 5 norms were to implemented from 1st April 2022 and BS-6 from 1st April 2024.

2.                 ALBANIA, INDIA SIGN ON DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT HOLDER:

    Albania and India have signed an agreement on the removal of visa requirements for diplomatic and service passport holders between the two countrie.The agreements will serve the interests of both countries and strengthen friendly relations and cooperation in various areas of mutual interest, Xinhua quoted the ministry. The agreement will enable businesses from both sides to have freer movement, thus allowing more frequent communication and cooperation.

3.                 INDIA JOINS UK, AUS TO HELP POOR NATION COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

India today said it will provide $2.5 million for the vulnerable nations in the Commonwealth to help the introduce clean energy and reduce green-house gas emissions. The announcement was made on the second day of the biennial summit of the Commonwealth whose membership includes powerful countries like Britain, Australia, Canada, Singapore and small island nations such the Maldives, Tonga and Nauru.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. $ 500m WORLD BANK FACILITY TO EXPLORE POLICY BASED CARBON MARKET

World Bank launched a $500 million market-based scheme designed   to help    developing countries pay for emission reductions and combat climate change.Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland have jointly pledged an initial $250 million to get the Transformative Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF) while the bank hopes further contributions will take the eventual total to $500 mn.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING & ECONOMY:

1.                 PATANJALI TO INVEST RS. 1,000 CRORE ON EXPANSION

Patanjali Ayurved, the FMCG venture promoted by yoga guru Baba Ramdev, will invest Rs 1,000 crore next year on expansion and plans to sharpen focus on e-commerce and exports.

SPORTS:

2. PV SINDHU WON 2015 MACAU OPEN GRAND PRIX GOLD BADMINTON TOURNAMENT

Ace Indian shuttler Pusarla Venkata Sindhu has won the 2015 Macau Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament in the women’s single category.PV Sindhu won the Title after defeating Minatsu Mitani of Japan .She has won this title for the third consecutive time after winning it in 2013 and 2014.

3. ICC SUSPENDED WEST INDIES SPINNER SUNIL NARINE FOR ILLEGAL BOWLING ACTION

    International Cricket Council suspended West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine from bowling in international cricket.  The International Cricket Council found his bowling action to be illegal.

Daily GK Updates - 28th November, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.'DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND PREPAREDNESS' WORKSHOP ORGANISED BY DRDO

    The Defence Research and Development Organization organized a workshop in New Delhi today on 'Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness. The objective of the workshop is to show technologies and products developed indigenously by DRDO, which can be adopted for disaster management. The Defence Research and Development Organization is an agency of the India, charged with the military's research and development, headquartered in New Delhi, India.

2. INDIA WILL BE LAUNCHING EQUITY FUND OF    $ 1 BILLION – FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY

     India has proposed to launch a $1-billion equity fund to support renewable energy companies with seed capital from public sector units. 

3. INDIA – ISRAEL CO - DEVELOPED LRSAM MISSILE SUCCESSFULLY FLIGHT-TESTED

The trial test was undertaken by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in the presence of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists. During the test the missile achieved the desired goal by hitting the incoming target.  LRSAM or Barak 8 is an advanced long-range missile with air defence system.  Its main features are long range, active radar seeker missile, vertical launch and multiple simultaneous engagements. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PATRICIA SCOTLAND APPOINTED AS SECRETARY GENERAL OF COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS

Dominica-born British lawyer Patricia Scotland was appointed as the Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations. Patricia becomes the first British citizen and first woman as well to hold this role. Before her this post was with Kamalesh Sharma of India. She was selected during the 24th biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. ICC APPOINTED FOUR FEMALE UMPIRES FOR ICC WOMEN’S WORLD TWENTY20 QUALIFIER

The International Cricket Council stated that four female match officials have been selected for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015. The ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015 is going to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 28 November 2015. Four female umpires are New Zealand’s Kathleen Cross, Australia’s Claire Polosak, England’s Sue Red fern and West Indies’ Jacqueline Williams.

BANKING & ECONOMY

2. RBI GRANTED IN-PRINCIPLE APPROVAL TO NPCI TO FUNCTION AS THE CENTRAL UNIT FOR BHARAT BILL PAYMENT SYSTEMS

The Reserve Bank of India decided to grant in principle approval to the National Payments Corporation of India to function as the Bharat Bill Payment Central Unit in Bharat Bill Payment System. The BBPS is an integrated bill payment system which will function as the bill payment system in the country with a single brand image providing convenience of anytime anywhere bill payment to customers. National Payments Corporation of India was established in 2008, with an aim to operate for the benefit of all the member banks and their customers.

AWARDS:

3. UNESCO FELLINI MEDAL TO BE AWARDED AT IFFI FOR THE FIRST TIME

The UNESCO Fellini medal will be awarded in India for the first time at the 46th International Film Festival of India in collaboration with the International Council for Film at Paris. The medal is given to a film that reflects UNESCO’s ideals. Four Indian films have been chosen to compete for the prestigious award that are Cinemawala, Ain, Katyar Kaljat Ghusli, Chirakulla Pakshikal.The Cannes Festival is the International Film Festival held annually in Cannes, France.

Daily GK Updates - 27th November, 2015

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. BIHAR GOVERNMENT BANS SALE OF LIQUOR FROM 1^ST APRIL 2016

Bihar Government has banned sale of liquor in the state from 1^st April 2016. This decision of government will make Bihar as 6th dry state/UT in the country. Some states had already banned liquor consumption in the states of Gujarat, Nagaland, Manipur and Kerala and Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

2. SOUTH ASIAN ANNUAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT EXERCISE 2015 HELD IN DELHI

It was the first-ever joint exercise to be conducted by the National Disaster Response Force of India. This joint exercise was attended by South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation member countries. The member countries are Bhutan, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The exercise aims to synchronize efforts to institutionalize regional cooperation on disaster response among SAARC member countries.

3. NUCLEAR CAPABLE MISSILE AGNI 1 SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRED

Indigenously developed nuclear capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-I was successfully test-fired from Dr Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast. Agni I Missile Agni-I is the first missile of the Agni series launched in 1983 by the DRDO as part of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) in India. Can travel at a speed of 2.5 km/s and can destroy targets nearly 700 km away.

4. ASW CORVETTE KADMATT HANDED OVER TO INDIAN NAVY BY GRSES:

The second Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Corvette INS Kadmatt has been formally handed over to Indian Navy at Kolkata, West Bengal. It has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) and would be inducted into the Eastern Fleet shortly.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. CHINA LAUNCHES LATEST YAOGAN WEIXING VIA LONG MARCH 4C

China launched another satellite in the military’s Yaogan Weixing series via the use of a Long March-4C (Chang Zheng-4C) rocket. The “YG-29″ mission began from the LC9 launch complex at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre (TSLC). Yaogan-29 was launched by a Long March-4C launch vehicle. It was reported as the 219th launch of the rocket family known as the Chang Zheng in Chinese.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TO PLAY THE HISTORIC FIRST DAY-NIGHT TEST MATCH:

    First day-night Test will be played at the Adelaide Oval with a pink Kookaburra ball between Australia and New Zealand. It is for the first time in 138 years, a Test match will be played with at night with a ball that is not red.

OBITUARIES:

2. EMINENT TAMIL SCHOLAR NOBORU KARASHIMA PASSES AWAY

Distinguished Tamil scholar and historian of South India and South Asia,   Noboru Karashima from Japan passed away in Tokyo.

BANKING & ECONOMY:

3. RAJIV BANSAL APPOINTED AS CFO OF OLA CABS

Home grown app-based cab operator OlaCabs has appointed Rajiv Bansal as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as part of its expansion drives in the country. He will succeed Mitesh Shah who will henceforth lead strategic finance initiatives of Ola as part of Rajiv’s team.

4. 11.2% RISE IN BANKING-RELATED COMPLAINTS IN FY15

Reserve Bank of India stated that number of complaints received by Banking Ombudsmen in 2014-15 has rised up to 11.2 percent. The maximum numbers of complaints recieved are from banks' failure to meet commitments and for not following fair practices code. The Deputy Governor of RBI S.S Mundra stated the rise in complaints is a sign of awareness about the banking ombudsmen scheme.