Daily GK Updates - 15th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. President Pranab Mukherjee conferred Infosys Prize 2015: The awards were received by 6 winners in New Delhi namely Prof Umesh Waghmare, Prof Jonardan Ganeri, Dr Amit Sharma, Prof Mahajan Mj, Prof G Ravindra Kumar and Dr. Shrinath Raghavan. 

2. What, Why and How of India’s gravitational wave observatory initiative IndIGO: The term IndIGO or Indian Initiative in Gravitational Wave Observations was in news as international physicists announced detection of gravitational waves for the first time since their prediction by Albert Einstein in 1916.

3. 3 MoUs worth Rs 21000 crore signed on the 1^st day of Make in India Week: On the first day of the ‘Make in India’ week in Mumbai, three MoUs between Maharashtra government bodies and various companies for total investment worth Rs 21000 crore have been signed.

4. Devaraja Reddy elected as the new President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

5. Air Vice Marshal R D Mathur promoted to the rank of Air Marshal.

6. Tata Steel wins TIME’s best in class for manufacturing award.

7. Indian Government to distribute 14 crore Soil Health Cards by March 2017.

8. Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) launched mobile application ‘DIAL Cargo’ for cargo operations to reduce paperwork and track movement of shipments on real time basis.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 69^th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) announced: The Revenant starring Leonardo DiCaprio won the best film award. Brooklyn was named the Outstanding British Film while Inside Out won the Best Animated Film. Amy won the award in the Best Documentary category. Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, Best Actress: Brie Larson, Best Director: Alejandro Inarritu.

2. 7^th India, Seychelles joint military exercise LAMITYE 2016 began in Seychelles.

3. Indian, Israeli firms join hands for defence cooperation: Around 25 Indian and 100 Israeli firms will come together for a unique business seminar on defence and security in Israel. The seminar will be organised jointly by SIBAT, the Israeli Defence Ministry, the International Defence Cooperation Directorate and Ficci will take place on 21-25 February 2016.

4. President Idriss Deby appoints MP Albert Pahimi Padacke as new PM of the central African country Chad.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBI allows 3% more of SLR for LCR: It allowed banks to qualify 10% of SLR bonds as Liquidity Coverage Ratio from 7% earlier, a requirement mandated under the Basel-III accounting norms from their SLR requirements.

SPORTS:

2. West Indies won maiden ICC U19 Cricket World Cup defeating India by 5 wickets.

3. India beat Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in the third T20 to clinch the series 2-1.

4. Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis won 2016 St Petersburg Ladies Trophy: The victory was their 40^th consecutive win.

AWARDS:

5. ‘Nagaland is changing, but…’ Film on conservation efforts by Nagaland villagers won Golden Beaver Best Film Award at the 6^th National Science Film Award and Competition. 

6. Vidya Balan awarded with The Pride of Kerala Award.

OBITUARIES:

7. Indian Ambassador to Tajikistan Biraja Prasad passed away due to cardiac arrest.

Daily GK Updates - 14th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Banaras Hindu University turns 100: BHU founded by Freedom fighters Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya has turned 100 years on 13^th February 2016. 

2. Neem extract may help treat pancreatic cancer: A new study has claimed that a natural extract derived from the neem tree can potentially be used to treat pancreatic cancer without harming normal, healthy cells. The study was conducted by scientists from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Centre El Paso.

3. States can clampdown mobile internet access under section 144 of CrPC: Supreme Court: It ruled that States can clampdown mobile internet access under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) if there is apprehension that a public agitation can turn aggressive and disturb public tranquility.

4. UP Land Revenue Act, 2015 came into effect: The new code that unifies many acts replaced at least 39 old land revenue acts. The new revenue act also replaced the pre and post British era Land Revenue Act of 1901 and Zamindari Abolition and Land Reform Act 1950.

5. Ministry of Railway signed MoU with Telangana for rail expansion: The MoU was signed in the backdrop of Railway Minister’s Budget announcement regarding setting up of joint ventures with States for focused project development, resource mobilization, land acquisition, project implementation and monitoring of critical rail projects.

6. Madhya Pradesh gets first Mega Food Park: In order to give an impetus to the growth of the Food Processing Sector in Madhya Pradesh, the first Mega Food Park in the state promoted by M/S Indus mega Food Park Pvt Ltd was inaugurated by Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries at village Panwa, District Khargone.

7. Jayalalitha announced free purified water for city’s poor: The scheme named ‘Amma Kudineer Thittam’ to supply drinking water free of cost to the poor in the city who are unable to afford purified, packaged drinking water sold by the private companies.

8. Delhi Government to spend 25% of budget on education.

9. Kalyani Group tied up with Swedish defence major Saab to form joint venture firm for the multi-billion dollar contract for short range surface to surface air missile and man portable very short range air defence programmes.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. UAE named women ministers for happiness, tolerance: The UAE appointed women ministers to the newly created portfolios for happiness and tolerance, youth and affairs. There were 5 new women ministers added to the cabinet.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Axis Bank has tied up with fitness firm GOQii to launch wearables for its customers that will allow the customers to make NFC payments.

SPORTS:

2. P Anand clinched first taekwondo gold for India in the U-87 kg category in the 12^th South Asian Games.

OBITUARIES:

3. Malayalam poet ONV Kurup passed away at the age of 84 in Thiruvanathpuram.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

4. The book titled ‘A Kingdom for his Love’ authored by Vani Mahesh and Shinie Antony was launched by Amar Chitra Katha.

Daily GK Updates - 13th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Narendra Modi opens ‘Make in India’ centre in Mumbai: PM Modi inaugurated Make in India Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex, a commercial complex in the suburbs of Mumbai. 

2. Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year Award 2015: CEO Vinita Gupta and MD Nilesh Gupta, Lupin Ltd have been chosen the EY Entrepreneurs of the Year 2015.

3. MoU signs between NRDC and IICB to promote Entrepreneurship: To promote start-ups and entrepreneurship, the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB) and National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) signed an MoU to facilitate industry-institute partnership.

4. International Radio Fair 2016 hosted by Bhubaneswar: It was held on 13^th February 2016 on the occasion of World Radio Day.

5. Oracle to setup its campus in Bengaluru: The computer giant Oracle is planning to set up a campus in Bengaluru and start an initiative to help more than half a million students in India develop computer science skills.

6. Ashok Chawla appointed as the Chairman of The Energy and Research Institute (TERI).

7. Jharkhand became first ever state to auction Limestone block online.

8. Manipal University signs MoU for academic cooperation with University of Chicago.

9. Ramesh Abhishek appointed secretary of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

10. Vilas Tonapi appointed as Director of Indian Institute of Millets Research.

11. Facebook India head Kirthiga Reddy steps down after it shut down ‘Free Basics’ in India.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Radio Day celebrated on 13^th February 2016: This year the UNESCO theme for World Radio Day is ‘Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster’.

2. Discovery of the Century: Gravitational Waves: Scientists have observed a stunning discovery in their quest to fully understand gravity. They have observed the warping of space time generated by the collision of two black holes more than a billion light-years from Earth. The gravitational waves were predicted by Albert Einstein in his general theory of relativity 100 years ago in 1915.

3. 4^th World Government Summit concluded in Dubai: The 2016 WGS was attended by 4500 participants from more than 130 countries to discuss challenges and opportunities before present and future governments worldwide.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBI allows 3% more of SLR for LCR: It allowed banks to qualify 10% of SLR bonds as Liquidity Coverage Ratio from 7% earlier, a requirement mandated under the Basel-III accounting norms from their SLR requirements.

SPORTS:

2. Kavita Raut clinched gold in South Asian Games Marathon.

3. Lionel Messi named La Liga player of the month for January.

4. Adam Voges of Australia became the first batsman ever in test cricket to reach the magical average of 100 thus beating legendary Don Bradman, whose average was 99.94.

5. BCCI banned Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf for 5 years for involvement in 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal.

OBITUARIES:

6. Jnanpith awardee Poet O N V Kurup passed away at the age of 84.

Daily GK Updates - 12th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India and UAE signed 9 agreements to boost bilateral cooperation: The agreements were signed during the second day of the three day visit to India of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. These nine agreements are covering cooperation in the fields of currency swap, culture, investments in the infrastructure sector, renewable energy, space research, insurance supervision, cyber security, skill development and commercial information sharing. 

2. Railway minister Suresh Prabhu launched 3 IT enabled services: These apps include handheld terminals for Indian Railways travelling ticket examiners (TTEs), a paperless unreserved ticketing mobile application and a facility for E-booking of disposable linen on trains.

3. Indian-origin lawyer Davinder Singh appointed as Vice-Chairman of International Chamber of Commerce Commission (ICC).

4. Wipro to buy US Healthcare services: Global software major and India’s 3^rd largest exporter Wipro has made an announcement buying ‘Healthplan Service’ business in the US for $460 million (Rs 3,150 crore).

5. Amazon to invest in Westland (A Tata Group Company): E-Commerce Company Amazon has made an investment in Westland, a Trent Ltd subsidiary (Tata Group) in support of its publishing business.

6. Retail inflation hits 16-month high in January at 5.69%.

7. Health Minister J P Nadda launched National Framework for Elimination of Malaria 2016-30 at New Delhi.

8. Karnataka Mobile One Project won 2016 Best m-Government Service Award at World Government Summit.

9. Indian American danseuse Pavithra Nagarajan named for US Presidential Scholars in the Arts.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India Australia Energy Security Dialogue held at Canberra, Australia: To implement the PM’s vision of affordable energy for all, Shri Piyush Goyal Union Minister of State (IC) for Coal, Power and New and Renewable Energy had an energy security dialogue with Australian minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia, Mr Josh Frydenberg at Canberra.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Anirban Lahiri wins Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Year award.

OBITUARIES:

2. Leslie Bassett, Pulitzer winner composer passed away at the age of 93.

3. Soviet football legend Anatoli Ilyin passed away at the age of 84.

Daily GK Updates - 11th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 6^th National Science Film Festival begins in Mumbai: The festival has been jointly organised by Nehru Science Centre and Vigyan Prasar. 

2. R K Verma assumed charge as Secretary of Railway Board.

3. India ranks 37 on USCC IP Index: India has ranked 37 out of 38 countries for its intellectual property rights environment in the annual IP index released by the United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC).

4. Draft National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) 2017-31 unveiled by the environment ministry accords special emphasis to rehabilitation of threatened species of wildlife.

5. Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori to quit Flipkart: Mukesh Bansal, the head of commerce and advertising business and Ankit Nagori, Chief Business Officer of Flipkart has put in his papers.

6. Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank inks pact with NSFDC: Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank has signed a MoU with the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) for obtaining funds. These funds will be used for onward lending to schedule caste borrowers.

7. Kalyan Jewellers partners with Flipkart to sell jewellery online.

8. Isuzu Motors India appoints Hitoshi Kono as new Deputy MD.

9. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified wild boar as Vermin for a year in Uttarakhand.

10. Marine Museum inaugurated at Marine Aquarium and Regional Centre in Digha, West Bengal.

11. Assam CM Tarun Gogoi unveiled a draft document, Vision Assam-2030: Everything for Everyone-Achieving inclusive and Sustainable development.

12. HeyBiz, a sales-marketing support application for SMEs tied up with Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd.

13. Elephanta Island, famous for its Hindu cave sculptures depicting the cult of shiva will be completely electrified by Independence Day 2016.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India Australia Energy Security Dialogue held at Canberra, Australia: To implement the PM’s vision of affordable energy for all, Shri Piyush Goyal Union Minister of State (IC) for Coal, Power and New and Renewable Energy had an energy security dialogue with Australian minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia, Mr Josh Frydenberg at Canberra.

2. National Assembly of France voted for stripping of nationality for terrorists.

3. NATO and European Union signed agreement on Cyber Defence Cooperation.

4. Tamar Hahn of Israel took charge of Director of United Nations Information Centre in Buenos Aires.

5. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company agreed to store crude oil in India’s Strategic Storage.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBI tells banks to set aside more for stressed loans: The Reserve Bank of India has directed commercial banks to accelerate provisioning requirement from April 1, for existing stock of restructured loans that are showing signs of stress.

2. Yes Bank partnered with Smartbox to help reduce delivery returns for ecommerce firms.

AWARDS:

3. Adele named International Federation of Phonographic Industry’s (IFPI) the Global Recording Artist of 2015 across all music formats.

OBITUARIES:

4. Veteran Director Aurobindo Mukherjee passes away at the age of 97.

5. Siachen Avalanche survivor Lance Naik Hanamanthappa passes away at the age of 33.

Daily GK Updates - 10th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. E-commerce giant Flipkart ties up with Hero Cycles.

2. Bidyananda Barkakoty appointed as new vice-chairman of Tea Board.

3. Hydrocarbon Vision 2030 for North-East released: The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has consciously and constantly focused efforts towards making hydrocarbons a tool to enable social and economic development.

4. Justice Dhirendra Hiralal Waghela appointed as Chief Justice of Bombay High Court.

5. Andhra Pradesh proposed to develop INS Viraat as Tourism Centre.

6. National Deworming Day observed on 10^th February 2016: The first Deworming Day was observed in schools and preschools to combat parasitic worm infections among preschool and school-age children.

7. Sikkim Government to construct Mini Sikkim for showcasing state’s diverse and rich culture.

8. Rs 580 crore sanctioned for construction of railway track to connect Kolkata and Tripura via Bangladesh: The Agartala-Akhaura rail link between Indian Railway and Bangladesh Railway will reduce the current 1700 km road distance between Kolkata to Agartala via Siliguri to just 350 km by railway.

9. Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection of International Civil Aviation Organisation proposed binding of carbon emission standards for aviation industry.

10. National Arogya Fair-2016 concluded at Dehradun: The themes were based on Immune system, homeopathy in women’s disorders, treatment in Ayurveda, Yog se Arogya and Non-communicable Diseases management in Sidhha System etc.

11. Two day Governor’s Conference hosted by President held in New Delhi today: It was the 47^th such conference to be held at RashtrapatiBhavan.

12. UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is on a three day visit to India along with seven ministers.

13. Vodafone launched 4G services in Mumbai.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Pakistan approves Hindu Marriage Bill after decades of inaction: After decades of delay and inaction, the Hindu minority community in Pakistan will soon have a marriage law as parliamentary panel has unanimously approved the Hindu Marriage Bill.

2. US President unveiled Cyber Security National Action Plan to protect US from risks from new technologies. 

3. US Supreme Court stalled Obama’s Clean Power Plan: The Court’s five conservative member bench in its verdict ruled that the President’s Clean Power Plan to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide from US power plants could not go forward until all legal challenges were heard.

4. UN Secretary General launched One Humanity: Shared Responsibility Report: The report was launched as part of the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit that is scheduled to be held from 23 May to 24 May 2016. The report called for a global campaign to prevent the erosion of humanitarian law and protect civilians in conflict. 

5. World’s largest concentrated Solar Plant Noor opened in Morocco.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBI released PG Apte Working Group Report on Introduction of Interest Rate Options in India.

SPORTS:

2. Quinton de Kock of South Africa became fastest cricketer to make 10 ODI centuries by achieving the feat in mere 55 innings.

3. Lord’s to host Women’s Cricket World Cup Final in 2017.

OBITUARIES:

4. Renowned Musician Dan Hicks passed away at the age of 74.