Daily GK Updates - 3rd March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Mega Military Exercise of ASEAN Plus countries begins in Pune: The multinational mega Military Exercise Force 18 conducted by India Army has started in Pune, Maharashtra. The theme of the exercise is ‘Humanitarian Mine Action’ (HMA) and ‘Peacekeeping Operations’ (PKO). Participating ASEAN countries along with ASEAN Plus nations are India, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Russia and US. Ten ASEAN countries from South East Asia are Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

2. India signs financing agreement with World Bank for USD 300 million for Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Quality Improvement Project.

3. NHAI ties up with Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad for skill development.

4. Government cancels IRB contract: Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has cancelled a contract won by IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd to build a $1.5 billion tunnel in Himalayas after the opposition politician alleged irregularities in bidding for India’s most expensive project. Union Government has ordered rebidding for 10050 crore rupees Zoji La tunnel located on the NH 1D between Srinagar and Leh. 

5. Government plans to set up more nuclear power plants: To meet the need of the country, the Government of India plans to set up nuclear power plants in Haryana, Bihar and Punjab.

6. Parliament passes Carriage by Air Amendment Bill, 2015.

7. India ranks 90^th out of 126 countries in terms of Energy Security compiled by World Economic Forum (WEF).

8. Chennai gets India’s first self-cleaning smart toilets.

9. MoU signed between Indian Army and Indusind Bank related to the defence salary package.

10. After Amazon, Flipkart and Naaptol tie up with Department of Posts to deliver parcels.

11. Facebook and CitrusPay tie up to facilitate e-commerce.

12. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved winding up of National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council.

13. Delhi became first state to launch Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as a public health programme for school children.

14. India and US to partner for research on cancer and traditional medicine to pave way for potential breakthroughs.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. South Korea Lawmakers pass Contentious Anti-Terror Bill.

2. Peru declares emergency after oil spill hits rivers.

3. International Finance Corporation launches Masala Bonds: International Finance Corporation (IFC), a part of the World Bank group launched its first Uridashi Masala Bonds (Japanese Bonds) to mobilize R30 (or $ 4.3 million) directly from Japanese households investors to promote private sector development in India.

4. Historic Old War Office in London acquired by Hinduja Group.

5. Google donates $1 million to help fight Zika Virus spread.

6. World Wildlife Day observed on 3^rd March 2016 across the world with theme ‘The future of wildlife is in our hands’.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. SWIFT Financial Messaging launched in India: Financial messaging services provider SWIFT launched its service in India, bringing with it a unified messaging protocol that can link banks, financial intermediaries, regulators and stock exchanges and clearing agencies through one suit that can secure transactions by keeping records in a dematerialised form.

AWARDS:

2. Bihari Puraskar 2015 to be given to Dr Bhagwati Lal Vyas for his anthology of Rajasthani poems ‘Katha Sun Aawe Hai Sabad’ published in 2010.

3. Whitfield Diffie and Martin Hellman won Association for Computing Machinery’s (ACM) 2015 A.M Turing Award for their contribution to modern Cryptography.

OBITUARIES:

4. New Zealand cricket legend Martin Crowe died aged 53 after losing cancer battle.

5. Coronation Street creator Tony Warren died at the age of 79..

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

6. Book titled ‘Who was Shivaji?’ authored by Govind Pansare was in news as birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was celebrated across Maharashtra on 19^th February 2016.

Daily GK Updates - 2nd March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 1^st Raisina Dialogue inaugurated by Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi: Envisioned as India’s flagship conference of geopolitics and geo-economics, the Raisina Dialogue 2016 is designed to explore prospects and opportunities for Asian integration.

2. Mukesh Ambani again tops 84 Indian Billionaires in Forbes List: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani again topped 84 Indian billionaires in Forbes 2016 list of the world’s richest people once again headed by Bill Gates with a net worth of $75 billion.

3. M S Swaminathan Research Foundation to establish a research chair in Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS).

4. TCS recognised as Top Global Employer: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading IT services company has been recognised as a Global Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute. 

5. Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain takes over as the Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command.

6. Mrugank Paranjape appointed as MD of Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX).

7. Kerala State Film Awards 2015 announced: The Best Actor award went to Dulquer Salmaan for his performance in Charlie. Parvathi grabbed the award for the Best Actress.

8. Haryana renamed Mustafabad village as Saraswati Nagar.

9. Union Government ordered rebidding for 10050 crore rupees Zoji La tunnel located on the NH 1D between Srinagar and Leh.

10. Supreme Court sought Union Government view on petition challenging Triple Talaq and Polygamy practices.

11. Telangana Government to illuminate 25 municipalities with LED bulbs in 100 days.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Scott Kelly, American Astronaut, returns to earth after 340 days in space: Scott Kelly and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Kornienko returned to earth after a historic 340 day mission aboard the International Space Station.

2. Windham-Campbell prizes for the year 2016 announced: Indian-origin Columnist and Author Jerry Pinto was chosen for 2016 Windham-Campbell Prize for his novel Em and the Big Hoom in the fiction category.

3. Moody’s Analytics cut its outlook for China to negative.

4. Zero Discrimination Day observed on 1^st March 2016 across the world with theme ‘Stand Out’.

5. Portugal nominated ex-refugee chief Antonio Guterres for UN Secretary-General.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBI unlocks Rs 40000 crore additional capital for banks: The RBI move comes with revised norms on capital recognition, making available an additional Rs 40000 crore to Indian banks.

SPORTS:

2. South African left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso suspended for illegal bowling action.

AWARDS:

3. Veteran playwright Ratan Thiyam named for 11^th Mahindra Excellence Theatre Award (META).

4. British Scientists Tim Bliss, Graham Collingridge and Richard Morris won the Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Prize, largest prize for neuroscience in the world.

Daily GK Updates - 1st March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Delhi’s IGI Airport retains world’s number 1 position: Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has retained the world’s number 1 position for the second consecutive year in 25-40 million passengers per annum category.

2. Mahesh Kumar Singla committee constituted to consider ST status to six communities of Assam: These communities are namely Koch Rajbongshi, Moran, Matak, Tai Ahom, Chutia and Adivasi (Tea Tribes).

3. Former Chief Justice of India H L Dattu joined National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) as Chairman.

4. India inks $3.1 billion deals for Apache and Chinook helicopters with US. 

5. 7^th Lamitye Military Exercise ends: The 7^th Joint Military Exercise between India and Seychelles military forces came to a close on 28^th February 2016 at Victoria Mahe Island in Seychelles with a final attack scenario where suspected pirates has escaped at Cap Ternay.

6. SIDBI to raise Rs 10,000 crore for Stand-Up India Fund: The Small Industries Development Bank of India will raise the proposed Rs 10,000 crore corpuses for ‘Stand-Up India Fund’ from Reserve Bank of India.

7. Zee Media to acquire 80% stake in India Today companies.

8. India signs $300 million loan agreement with World Bank for Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Quality Improvement Project.

9. Centre’s green panel gives nod to Rs 4641 crore J&K Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project on Chenab River.

10. UltraTech acquired cement units of Jaiprakash Associates for 16500 crore rupees.

11. Piramal Enterprise acquired US-based healthcare software firm Adaptive Software for $24.5 million.

12. Jet Airways designated Amit Agarwal as its acting CEO.

13. V B Fadnavis appointed as Executive Director of NTPC South.

14. R H Muralidhara appointed BEML’s Director-Defence Business.

15. Former SpiceJect executive Sanjiv Kapoor joins Vistara as Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Japan to stipulate 80% emission cut goal by 2050: The move follows the international climate agreement reached in Paris in December 2015.

2. NASA invites India to jointly explore Mars: India and the US could jointly explore Mars and, who knows an Indian Astronaut could also head to the Red Planet on a joint mission.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Rahul Sachdev won 1^st All India Open Invitational Snooker Championship 2016.

2. Armaan Ebrahim won Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) Man of the Year Trophy.

3. Bahadur Singh Rana won gold in 50 km race walk in 3^rd National Race Walking Championships in Jaipur.

AWARDS:

4. Randeep Hooda honoured with Achievement Award in Australia for making his mark in the film industry.

OBITUARIES:

5. Oscar winning actor George Kennedy died at the age of 91.

Daily GK Updates - 29th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Major highlights/announcement of the Union Budget 2016-17: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented his 3^rd Union Budget today. Highlights of which are as follows:

-Forex reserves are at highest level of $350 billion.

-2016: Current account deficit seen at 1.4% of GDP.

-GDP growth has accelerated to 7.6%. CPI inflation has come down to 5.4%.

-FY 2016-17 will have the additional burden of implementing the VII pay commission and the defence OROP.

-New schemes for BPL families for gas connections.

-Statutory backing for Aadhaar platform to ensure delivery of benefits.

2. Dinesh Sharma appointed as Chairman of Governing Council of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).

3. Punjab imposed ban on sale of Army Uniforms in the state: Any person who wants to buy the uniform would have to submit a self-attested copy of his identity card and phone number with the shopkeeper.

4. Ajay Shankar Committee recommendations on Prior Permission and Regulatory Mechanisms: The committee recommended that there is a need for a standing institutional mechanism within government for an independent Regulatory Impact Assessment on an on-going basis of the existing regulatory requirements and proposed new ones across the entire range of economic values. 

5. Alok Kumar Verma took charge as Delhi Police Commissioner.

6. London listed Vedanta Resources Inc. wins country’s first gold mine auction in Chhattisgarh.

7. Vice Admiral HCS Bisht assumes charge of Eastern Naval Command.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Oscar Awards 2016 conferred; film Mad Mux: Fury Road won maximum awards: Chris Rock hosted the 88^th Academy Awards and Bollywood Actress Priyanka Chopra made her debut on the Oscars red carpet and presented the award. Best picture: Spotlight, Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu for The Revenant, Best Actor: Leonardo di Caprio for The Revenant, Best Actress: Brie Larson for Room, etc.

2. Hashim Thaci elected as the President of Kosovo: The capital of Kosovo is Pristina.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Rozle Prezelj elected Chairman of IAAF Athletes’ Commission.

2. Cricbuzz signs Virender Sehwag as its expert for ICC World T20.

AWARDS:

3. Asif Kapadia wins best documentary Oscar for ‘Amy’.

Daily GK Updates - 28th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage Project inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee: He inaugurated the Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage Project (MHP) at Trissur in Kerala. The project is India’s largest heritage conservation project and Kerala Government’s first green project.

2. Naveen Patnaik has been elected as BJD President for the 7^th Consecutive term.

3. President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee to be the chief guest at the 40^th anniversary celebrations of Indian Civil Accounts Service on March 1, 2016.

4. ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme to be launched: It will be launched to link states and districts in an annual programme that connects people through exchanges in areas of language, trade, culture, travel and tourism.

5. National Science Day observed on 28^th February 2016 with theme ‘Scientific Issues for Development of the Nation’.

6. 100 crore each allocated for celebrating Birth Centenary of Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay and 350^th Birth Anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.

7. President Pranab Mukherjee declared Kerala as first digital state on 27^th February 2016.

8. Former CAG Vinod Rai appointed chairman of newly constituted Banks Board Bureau (BBB).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Italy approved Gay Civil Union’s Bill: The text maintains provisions including the right to a residence permit for foreign partners and to take a same-sex partner’s name. However, it removed the provision that would have allowed gay adoption and other clauses.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Stan Wawrinka beats Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus to win Dubai Tennis Championships title.

AWARDS:

2. Resul Pookutty became first Asian to win Golden Reel Award for Best Sound for documentary India’s Daughter at the 63^rd Golden Reel Award.

OBITUARIES:

3. B K Garudachar, India’s oldest first-class cricketer died at the age of 99 in Bangalore.

4. Former Maharashtra Minister Nihal Ahmed Maulavi Mohammed Usman died at the age of 90.

5. Famous Tamil comedy actor Kumarimuthu died at the age of 77 in Chennai.

Daily GK Updates - 27th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ISRO to set up Satellite Centre for ASEAN countries in Vietnam: ISRO is working to establish a Satellite Tracking and Data Reception Station and Data Processing Facility for ASEAN member countries in Vietnam. ISRO will set up this satellite centre at the behest of Union Government as part of Space Cooperation between India and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

2. E-Tourist visa scheme extended to 37 more countries: The Union Government has extended its e-Tourist Visa Scheme to 37 more countries bringing the total to 150 countries which are getting this facility.

3. Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Ranveer Singh to get Dinanath Mangeshkar Prize: The award is annually conferred on 24^th April to commemorate Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar, Lata Mangeshkar’s father’s death anniversary.

4. ‘Neerja’ declared tax free in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

5. Michael Pesch appointed CEO of Infosys Consulting Holding.

6. Yoichiro Ueno appointed President and CEO of Honda Cars India.

7. Goverdhan Mehta conferred Cross of the Order of Merit, Germany’s Prestigious Prize for his dedication to teaching.

8. Lok Sabha passed Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2016: These acts regulate allocation of seats to the national and state legislatures, and delimitation (that is, fixing boundaries) of parliamentary and assembly constituencies.

9. Maharashtra Government finalised a Project Management Consultant (PMC) for the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Memorial in the Arabian Sea.

10. Union Government decided to allow birth companions during delivery in public health facilities.

11. Mumbai Police created 16 no-selfie zones including Bandra Bandstand, Marine Drive and Juhu Chowpatty.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Jonathan Sinclair Neal appointed as the CEO of AAE Travel: Expedia, the online travel company has appointed Jonathan Sinclair Neal as the CEO of AAE Travel.

2. Italy approved Gay Civil Union’s Bill: The text maintains provisions including the right to a residence permit for foreign partners and to take a same-sex partner’s name. However, it removed the provision that would have allowed gay adoption and other clauses.

3. Forbes released inaugural 30 Under 30 Asia List: The list included 300 young innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders across Asia in 10 categories who are under 30 years of age. For the first time 56 Indians were included in the list namely Saina Nehwal, Sania Mirza, Shraddha Kapoor, Virat Kohli, Arunima Sinha and Chaitanya Tamhane.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. YES Bank won Green Bond Pioneer Award for being the Pioneers in Emerging Markets-India.

SPORTS:

2. Gianni Infantino elected as FIFA President.

3. Mumbai won Ranji Trophy for the 41^st time by defeating Saurashtra by an innings and 21 runs.

4. India beat Pakistan by 5 wickets in the Asia Cup T20.

AWARDS:

5. Ex-DRDO Chairman Dr Avinash Chander received Aryabhata Award 2013.

Daily GK Updates - 26th February, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Highlights of Economic Survey 2015-16: The Economic Survey reviews the developments of the Indian Economy over the previous 12 months, summarizes the performances on major development programs, and highlights the policy initiatives of the government and the prospects of the economy in the short to medium term.

2. India approves $150 million credit line for Iran’s Chabahar port: The port in southeast Iran is central to New Delhi’s efforts to circumvent arch-rival Pakistan and open up a route to landlocked Afghanistan where it has developed close security ties and economic interests.

3. India and UK sign MoU for research in crop science: Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology and a consortium of top UK research institutions signed a MoU for establishment of a joint India-UK collaboration programme in crop science.

4. EPFO tightens norms for withdrawal of funds: Employees Provident Fund Organisation has tightened norms on withdrawal of provident fund as well investment of such amount in Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana for its over five crore subscribers. As per the new norms the subscribers will not be able to claim withdrawal of their provident fund after attaining age of 54 years.

5. Indian Government appoints 3 news information commissioners: They are Amitava Bhattacharya, Bimal Julka and DP Sinha.

6. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari appointed as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court.

7. Ashwini Nangia becomes Director of CSIR-National Chemical Lab, Pune.

8. The Diageo-controlled United Spirit Ltd appoints MK Sharma as new Chairman as Vijay Mallya resigned from the post.

9. IRCTC, OYO Rooms tie up for hotel bookings.

10. Reliance Capital to transfer commercial finance business into separate firm by applying to RBI for registering itself as a Core Investment Company.

11. Ratan Tata to head Indian Railways’ innovation committee.

12. Union Cabinet approves Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).

13. UP Government signs pact with OLA: Taxi aggregator OLA has entered into an agreement with the Uttar Pradesh Government to create over 50,000 entrepreneurship opportunities across the state.

14. Times Internet partners with Investopedia to deliver trusted financial content to India.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Jonathan Sinclair Neal appointed as the CEO of AAE Travel: Expedia, the online travel company has appointed Jonathan Sinclair Neal as the CEO of AAE Travel.

2. Mastercard to launch payments by selfie: Mastercard is launching new mobile technologies that will allow customers to authenticate their online purchase using selfies or fingerprints. The technology will be rolled out by big banks in the US, Canada, UK and some European countries over the next few months.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. IDBI Bank gets SEBI nod to raise Rs 3771 crore through issue of shares to qualified institutional players.

SPORTS:

2. Rohit Sharma named Global Ambassador of Nissan.

3. India Sports Awards 2015: Long Distance Runner Lalita Babar named as the Sports Person of the Year.