Daily GK Updates - 25th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Arvind Kejriwal named among world’s 50 greatest leaders by Fortune: The list was topped by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. Kejriwal was ranked 42^nd and is the only Indian included in the list.

2. Jaitley visiting Australia soon to woo investments: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will fly to Australia on March 28^th on a four day visit to attract foreign investments in the infrastructure sector.

3. Himachal Pradesh and Mumbai to have electric buses: Department of Heavy industry has granted in-principle approval to Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority to introduce zero emission retrofitted electric buses.

4. Tech Mahindra expands presence in France: The Information Technology services of Tech Mahindra have announced the launch of a development centre in Toulose, France to work on projects for existing partners and customers in the aerospace industry. 

5. ITC Ltd acquires Technico Agri Services Ltd, Australia for Rs 121 crore.

6. Hero Cycles acquires 60% stake in Sri Lanka’s BSH Ventures.

7. Paytm hires Alibaba’s former executive Bhushan Patil as company’s new President.

8. ISRO established Gadanki Ionosphere Radar Interferometer (GIRI) near Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

9. Union Cabinet approved India’s accession to the Ashgabat Agreement: The Agreement is an international and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. President Pranab Mukherjee greets Greece on Independence Day: President Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings and felicitations to the government and people of Greece on the eve of their Independence Day. He sent his greetings to the President of Greece, P Pavlopoulos.

2. Asia most exposed to disasters, Africa most vulnerable: A study revealed that countries and mega cities across Asia are highly exposed to natural hazards ranging from cyclones to earthquakes, but people in sub-Saharan Africa are more vulnerable.

3. Microsoft shuts Artificial Intelligence Robot-Tay: Microsoft, which launched artificial intelligence (AI) powered bot on Twitter for a playful chat with people, only to silence it within 24 hours as users started sharing racist and offensive comments with the bot.

4. International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade 2016 observed across the world on 25^th March 2016: The theme for this year is Remember Slavery: Celebrating the Heritage and Culture of the African Diaspora and its roots.

5. US Navy Tug USS Conestoga wreck discovered after 95 years.

6. Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic sentenced to 40-year imprisonment for his involvement in the 1995 Srebrenica Genocide: The capital city of Serbia is Belgrade.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RuPay to launch credit cards in September 2016: Its market share for debit cards has increased to 38%.

2. Lakshmi Vilas Bank ties up with National Bulk Handling Corporation (NBHC) for Collateral Management and Warehousing.

OBITUARIES:

3. Hollywood Comedian Garry Shandling died at the age of 66.

Daily GK Updates - 24th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Cabinet approved Rs 9000 crore for Swachh Bharat Mission: The Government of India has approved a $1.5 billion (approximate Rs 9000 crore) to support Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in Rural Areas.

2. AROGYA Fair to commence from March 26 in Goa: The four day fair will be organised by Ministry of AYUSH and Confederation of Indian Industry.

3. Indian Coast Guard vessel Arnvesh commissined: The Fast Patrol Vehicle (FPV), ICGS Arnvesh, of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was commissioned in Visakhapatnam.

4. Bajaj Finance enters life care financing segment: Under the Rs 20,000-crore life care segment, it will finance expenses for stem cells storage units, cosmetics-based hair treatment, dental and eye care, IVF & maternity care, laproscopic cure for a dozen ailments, and elective medical/paramedical care for many other issues. 

5. Justice Permod Kohli appointed as Chairman of Central Administrative Tribunal.

6. South Indian Bank gets ISO 9001:2008 certifications.

7. Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched Longitudinal Ageing Study in India: It will survey more than 60000 elderly over 25 years plan. The survey will provide scientifically validated data on various issues of the elderly.

8. NGT fined Uttarakhand-based developer DHDPL 20 lakh rupees for construction on Ganga floodplain.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Tuberculosis Day observed on 24^th March 2016: The theme for this year is ‘Unite to End TB’.

2. 9^th International Abilympics started at Bordeaux in France: Abilympics is coined from Olympics of Abilities of persons with Disabilities. 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Australia’s Shane Watson to retire from internationals after World Twenty20.

OBITUARIES:

2. Kadhaprasangam Maestro and Actor V D Rajappan passed away at the age of 70.

3. Football legend Johan Cryuff passed away at the age of 68.

Daily GK Updates - 23rd March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India and Bangladesh PM launch two bilateral projects: Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh commissioned international gateway of interest service in Agartala and supply of 100MW power to Bangladesh from Tripura.

2. Core banking facility available at 25K post offices by April: The Department of Posts will offer core banking solutions (CBS) to its customers at 25000 post offices by April, against 20,429 CBS-enabled branches.

3. 21 states to implement National Food Security Act by April 1: The National Food Security Act (NFSA) will be implemented in 10 more states from April 1 this year, taking the total number of states implementing NFSA to 21, Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan.

4. H L Dattu appointed to International Human Rights body: Justice H L Dattu, chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, India emerged as the unanimous choice to be appointed as a member of the International Coordinating Committee of NHRIs (ICC) Bureau in Geneva.  

5. India’s Defence Lab develops Thermal Imaging Radar to look through walls: The Through Barrier Imaging Radar, named ‘Divyachakshu’ (divine eye), has been developed by DRDO’s Electronic and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) based in Bangalore and is going through development trials now.

6. Cabinet approves National Capital Goods Policy: The government believes implementation of the capital goods policy is critical and needed to give a boost to the sector and the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

7. Cabinet approves Udaan scheme till 2019-20: Udaan provides exposure to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to the best of corporate India to the rich talent pool available in the state.

8. India, France sign MoU for construction of six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur.

9. ReNew Power inks pact with OPIC for $250-million debt facility: Sumant Sinha promoted ReNew Power Ventures signed an agreement to receive debt financing of up to $250 million from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the US Government’s development finance institution.

10. Cabinet Okays MoU between India and Lithuania for Agriculture: The capital of Lithuania is Vilnius.

11. Airtel signs pact with American Tower Corporation for tower sale in Tanzania: The capital of Tanzania is Dodoma.

12. Union Government and Industry Association signed MoU for effective-redressal of consumer complaints.

13. Mukund Padmanabhan appointed as new editor of The Hindu.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Poetry Day 2016 observed globally on 21^st March 2016.

2. World Meteorological Day 2016 observed on 23^rd March 2016 with theme Hotter, Drier Wetter. Face the future.

3. Nepal became Dialogue Partner of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka won BNP Paribas Open Men’s and Women’s title respectively.

Daily GK Updates - 22nd March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley launched ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ and ‘Unified Package Insurance Scheme’.

2. Government further relaxes Atal Pension Yojana norms: It has further relaxed the norms for the Atal Pension Yojana to give an option to spouse to continue to contribute for the balance period on premature death of a subscriber.

3. Akhilesh Ranjan Committee on Taxation of e-Commerce submitted its report to the Union Government: The report provides the view of the committee on issues related to taxation of e-commerce and recent international developments in this area.

4. Ashok Leyland (a Hinduja Group company) to partner with US firm Lockheed Martin to develop defence systems such as light specialist vehicle and light armoured multi-purpose vehicles. 

5. Ashok Lahiri committee constituted to review excise duty imposed on different jewellery articles in Budget 2016-17.

6. Telangana and French Aviation Company Aero Campus Aquitaine and Bordeaux Metropole signed MoU to set up aviation training institute in Hyderabad.

7. India to host 8^th BRICS Summit in October in Goa: The logo of the summit is a lotus having colours from all the five member countries and a traditional ‘namaste’ in the centre.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Water Day observed on 22^nd March 2016 across the world with theme ‘Water and Jobs’.

2. Ali Mohamed Shein declared winner of Presidential elections of semi-autonomous region Zanzibar.

3. Scientists from University of Hawaii revealed that year 2014 recorded highest anthropogenic carbon release in past 66 million years.

4. Nepal signed agreement with China to extend the strategic Tibet rail link to Nepal

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka won BNP Paribas Open Men’s and Women’s title respectively.

2. Indian wrestler Hardeep Singh won silver medal in Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

AWARDS:

3. Renowned Malayalam writer M Sukumaran chosen for CV Kunhiraman Literary Prize.

4. 5^th National Photography Awards presented in New Delhi by Arun Jaitley: Lifetime Achievement Award-Bhawan Singh, Professional Photographer Award-Javed Ahmed Dar, Amateur Photographer-Himanshu Thakur.

OBITUARIES:

5. Former Inter Chairman and CEO Andrew Grove died at the age of 79.

Daily GK Updates - 21st March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Andhra Pradesh Government signed MoU with Cisco to launch AP Fibre Net: The Fibre Net Project is aimed at providing broadband connectivity at affordable rates to all households and institutions in the State.

2. Fashion Designer Ritu Beri appointed as Advisor to Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

3. Government allows 49% FDI in Insurance under automatic route: The Government has relaxed FDI norms for the insurance sector by permitting overseas companies to buy 40% stake in domestic insurers without prior approval, which is another effort to bring more foreign players into India’s vast insurance market.

4. BHEL commissions its 2^nd 270 MW thermal unit at Goindwal Sahib coal-fired power project in Punjab: The unit has been commissioned at the GVK Power and Infra Ltd in Tarn District near Amritsar. 

5. Hinduja Brothers top Britain’s ‘Asian Rich List’: India-born brothers S P Hinduja and G P Hinduja have topped the ‘Asian Rich List 2016’.

6. Cisco to invest $100 million in India to train over 250,000 students.

7. Mumbai’s Wilson College adopts railway station for cleanliness: One of Mumbai’s oldest college, Wilson College has adopted the Charni Road station here for cleanliness and upkeep as a part of the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2016 observed across the world on 21^st March 2016 with the theme ‘Challenges and Achievements of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

2. International Day of Forests observed on 21^st March 2016 with theme ‘Forest and Water’: The theme highlights the importance of forests in sustaining planet’s supply of freshwater, which is essential for life.

3. United Nations appoints Red from ‘Angry Birds’ as Honorary Ambassador for Climate Change.

4. Obama embarks on Historic Cuba visit: US President Barack Obama embarked on a historic trip to Cuba more than a year after Washington reset its foreign policy towards the island following decades of cold war animosity that almost led to a nuclear war. He will meet Cuban President Raul Castro here.

5. Prince Harry begins 5-day trip to Nepal to mark the 200^th anniversary of bilateral ties.

6. General Lori Robinson nominated as 1^st US Female Combatant Chief.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. H S Prannoy won 2016 Swiss Open Men’s single title of Badminton organised in Basel, Switzerland defeating Marc Zwiebler of Germany.

2. SSP Chowrasia won Hero Open title of Golf held at New Delhi.

3. Lionel Messi named as Huawei Global Ambassador.

4. Bangladesh bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny suspended by ICC for illegal bowling action.

AWARDS:

5. Cairn India bags five awards at FICCI Excellence Awards: The awards, which are dedicated for best safety and occupation health systems act as motivation and catalyst for adopting best safety practices and systems in the manufacturing sector.

6. Indian-origin student Geetakshi Arora wins first Noor Inayat Khan Prize in London.

OBITUARIES:

7. Former Danish PM Anker Joergensen died in Copenhagen at the age of 93.

Daily GK Updates - 20th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Narendra Modi launched Kisan Suvidha mobile app: It will provide information on the subjects such as weather, market prices, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and agriculture machinery.

2. Government launches mobile app ‘Pusa Krishi’: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh launched a new mobile app ‘Pusa Krishi’ for farmers in order to take the technology to farm fields. It was launched during the Krishi Unnati Mela in New Delhi.

3. NMDC signs MoU to revive Mahila Haat: In its latest bid to revive the ‘Mahila Haat’, an ambitious project of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation to provide space and impetus to women entrepreneurs, the corporation has signed a MoU with the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO). With an objective of serving as a marketplace for women artisans and entrepreneurs, the Haat will also serve as a culture centre.

4. Bing ties up with FreeCharge to offer redeemable points for searches. 

5. Ola and Maharashtra Government sign MoU to skill one lakh youth.

6. Paytm ties up with PVR to sell online moving tickets.

7. Union Government notified new Plastic Waste Management Rules to curb 6000 tonnes of plastic waste.

8. Indian Air Force successfully conducted Exercise Iron Fist in Pokhran: The day-night exercise was aimed at demonstrating IAF’s combat and fire power and reassure the nation about its commitment and capabilities in safeguarding the national interests.

9. India’s Agasthyamala among 20 UNESCO world biosphere reserves: India’s ‘unique’ Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats is among 20 new sites added by UNESCO to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

10. PM Modi conferred National Krishi Karman Awards 2014-15. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 10^th edition of Earth Hour was observed globally from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm local time on 19 March 2016.

2. World Sparrow Day was observed across the world on 20^th March 2016: The theme for this year was ‘Rise for the SPARROW-Experience the power of one.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Yogeshwar Dutt clinched gold medal in Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament held at Astana in Kazakhstan.

2. Gurmeet Singh became the first Indian to win gold medal in Asian 20 km Race Walk.

Daily GK Updates - 19th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Krishi Unnati Mela in New Delhi: PM Modi inaugurated three-day ‘Krishi Unnati Mela’ providing information on new farm schemes and technologies that will help farmers double their incomes within the next five years.

2. Supreme Court allows pictures of Governors, CMs and Ministers in Government in advertisement.

3. India and Bangladesh enter new era of Bilateral Petroleum Trade: India and Bangladesh entered into a new era of petroleum trade with a special goodwill train loaded with High Speed Diesel rolling down from India to Bangladesh.

4. India and Australia ink pact to avoid Double Social Security Contribution: India and Australia ink pact to avoid double social security contribution. Under this agreement, employees of India deputed to Australia and vice versa will not have to make double social security contribution. 

5. Tata Steel expects Rs 20,000 crore investment in Gopalpur SEZ in Odisha.

6. Sudhir Raheja has been given extra charge as Airport Authority of India (AAI) Chairman.

7. Indian Professor T V Paul took over as the 56^th President of International Studies Association.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Turkey and EU reach landmark deal on refugees: Turkey and EU have reached a controversial deal which European leaders hope will stop the flow of refugees to the continent in return for political and financial concessions for Ankara.

2. Russia gets its own rating firm-ACRA: Vladimir Putin’s home-grown credit-ratings firm is up and running and foreign competitors are already feeling the heat. ACRA stands for Analytical Credit Rating Agency.

3. Tikka Shatrujit Singh knighted with Knight of the Legion of Honour award of France. 

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Indian Overseas Bank has become the 1^st bank to sell Indian Gold Coins.

AWARDS:

2. Skoch Lifetime Achievement Award conferred on Venkaiah Naidu: He was selected for the award for his contribution to inclusive growth and towards poverty alleviation in India.

OBITUARIES:

3. US Actor Larry Drake passed away at the age of 66.