Daily GK Updates - 28th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Padma Award has been presented by President Pranab Mukherjee: He has presented 8 Padma Bhushan and 43 Padma Shri awards at the RashtrapatiBhavan in New Delhi.

2. President’s rule imposed in Uttarakhand: The decision has been come up a day before the crucial trust vote in the state assembly for the Harish Rawat government.

3. National Film Awards: Amitabh Bachchan, KanganaRanaut, Baahubali won big: Amitabh Bachchan and KanganaRanaut won the Best Actor and Best Actress awards for Piku and Tanu Weds Manu Returns respectively. Baahubali won the Best film award while Sanjay LeelaBhansali won the Best Director award for BajiraoMastani.

4. Rotavirus vaccine launched by the Union Health Minister: The Government launched the vaccine for Rotavirus as a part of Universal Immunization Programme to prevent child mortality due to Rotavirus diarrhoea.

5. Madhya Pradesh to get its first ITBP Modern Weapon Training Centre: It will have its first Indo Tibetan Border Police weapon training centre at Batiagarh, Damoh.

6. Haryana launched Scheme for the differently abled: It has launched a new scheme ‘Adapting Homes for the Differently-abled’, under which pension of 6 months would be given in advance to such persons for adapting their homes as per their requirement.

7. Maharashtra gets its first set women commanders to protect forest: A batch of 20 women is likely to become the first women commandos of the state forestry department.

8. Haryana Cabinet has approved Jat Reservation Bill.

9. Himachal Pradesh Government released Sixth Economic Census report.

10. World Bank approved $250 million loan to support Electricity Distribution Sector Reforms in Rajasthan.

11. CAG report can’t be sole basis for any liability or prosecution: Karnataka HC.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. China launches first Cyber Security Organisation: It has launched its first cyber security public organisation aimed at better safeguarding national cyber security and guiding Internet companies in perform their duties.

2. Syrian Army recaptures historic city of Palmyra from ISIS: Syrian Army and popular defence forces have regained control of the ancient city of Palmyra from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group. 

3. Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Ingapore Corvette test fires Barak missile.

4. Indian origin law professor Surya Deva appointed as UN Human Rights Commissioner. 

5. Indo-American NanditaBakshi appointed as the President & CEO of Bank of the West.

6. World Theatre Day 2016 observed globally on 27^th March 2016: The theme for this year is ‘Theatre and a Culture of Peace’. 

7. World Bank approved $100 million loan to Jordan for creating jobs for Jordanians, Syrian refugees.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Federal Bank to open Startup Incubation Centres: It is all set to open an incubation centre for startups in Bangalore and Ernakulam.

SPORTS:

2. Hockey India Annual Awards: Shreejish and Deepika won DhruvBatra Player of the Year award for men and women categories respectively.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

3. Book titled ‘Anything but Khamosh: The ShatrughanSinha Biography’ authored by Bharathi S Pradhan released.

Daily GK Updates - 27th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Scientists at Lucknow based CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) have found that mint plant has medicinal value that can cure cancer.

2. Union Government releases self-regulation Code of ethical business conduct for industry.

3. Union Cabinet approved World Bank’s $1500 million support to Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin: The approval seeks to provide for the mechanism of incentivisation of States under the SBM-G through World Bank credit.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India and China led investments in Renewable Energy in 2015: UN report: It was revealed by the ‘Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment’ Report published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

2. Pakistan and Iran signed 6 MoUs to strengthen bilateral relations: The MoUs were singed in the fields of health, commerce, finance and foreign services during the visit of Iranian President Dr Hassan Rouhani to Pakistan. 

3. UNSC extended mandate of UN Assistance Mission in Somalia until March 2017.

4. International Day for the right to the truth concerning gross human rights violation observed on 24^th March 2016 across the world.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. India beat Australia by 6 wickets in a do or die match to enter the semi-final of World Cup T20 2016.

2. Germany’s NicoRoseberg won 2016 Australian Grand Prix.

Daily GK Updates - 26th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Cabinet approved MoU between India and UAE to mobilise long term investment into National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).

2. Union Government notified E-Waste Management Rules, 2016: The new set of rules will supersede the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 and will pave the way for more transparent and environment friendly management of e-waste across the country.

3. BHEL commissioned 600 MW Jaipur Thermal Power Plant in Adilabad district of Telangana.

4. Government to create 2.5 lakh dalit entrepreneurs under Stand Up India.

5. 4^th unit of NTPC-Bihar Government owned 195 MW plant synchronised: The 4^th unit of 195-MW Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Station (MPTS) has been successfully synchronised with the national grid.

6. Mizoram and Japanese International Cooperative Agency (JICA) signed an agreement on Capacity Enhancement for Sustainable Agriculture and Irrigation Development.

7. Andhra Pradesh Government set to inaugurate country’s first lift irrigation project: It is set to inaugurate Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project, described as the first river linking project in country, connecting Godavari with Krishna in this lower riparian state, as it has been completed in a record time of one year.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Iran signs oil contract with France’s Total: Iran signed a confidential oil agreement with France’s Total to develop the South Azadegan oil field shared by Iran and Iraq.

2. Pakistan and Iran agree to boost cooperation on security, trade: Both the countries have agreed to fight extremist and terrorist groups in their countries’ shared border.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBI issued revised Framework for Revival and Rehabilitation of MSMEs.

OBITUARIES:

2. American Actor Peter Brown died at the age of 80.

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.