Daily GK Updates - 29th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Prime Minister to launch ‘Stand Up India’ scheme on 5^th of April: The scheme aims to creating jobs and promoting entrepreneurs among SC, ST and women. The scheme will offer loans to these segments at cheaper rates.

2. India sends 1^st ever direct box vessel MV Harbour-1 to Bangladesh: The 1^st direct container vessel between India and Bangladesh has been send from Krishnapatnam port. The container vessel was carrying cotton set. This step is a part of coastal shipping agreement between the two countries to facilitate easy trade.

3. Government to launch ‘Gram Uday to Bharat Uday Abhiyan’ from 14^th to 24^th April 2016: The campaign aims to generate nation-wide efforts to increase social harmony across villages, strengthen Panchayati Raj, promote rural development and foster farmers’ growth.

4. Government plans to infuse Rs 5,050 crore in PSU Banks for meeting additional expenditure on recapitalisation of public sector banks. 

5. BHEL commissions 40 MW hydropower plant at the Teesta low dam hydroelectric project (HEP) in West Bengal.

6. Pallavi Fauzdar becomes 1^st solo woman to ride across Mana Pass: Agra Biker Pallavi Fauzdar became the 1^st solo woman to ride across the Mana Pass in Uttarakhand and made a record in the Limca Book.

7. Rakesh Mohan joins Nestle India Board as Independent Non-Executive Director.

8. Telecom Commission approved 112 as single ‘Emergency Number’ for India.

9. Tata Motors signed a contract with Indian Army to supply another 619 High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) trucks.

10. Union Government unveiled Defence Procurement Procedure 2016: The aim of the DPP is to ensure timely procurement of military equipment, systems and platforms as required by the armed forces through optimum utilization of allocated budgetary resources.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. US museum returns 10^th century Rama statue to Cambodia.

2. US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Asian Development Bank signed a MoU to facilitate USD 848 million in funding to develop solar parks across India.

3. Myanmar gets its first public listing: After a delay of more than 20 years, Myanmar’s stock exchange opened for its first day of business, with the trading of a single company.

4. Bangladesh Supreme Court upheld Islam as state religion.

5. Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd, Japan signed agreement with global investment firm KKR to acquire Alliance Tire Group.

6. UNICEF launched animated film series ‘Unfairy Tales’ on refugees and migrant children: The series seeks to help frame positive perceptions towards the tens of millions of children and young people on the move globally.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. India to host 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup.

2. Sergey Karjakin won 2016 World Chess Candidate tournament held in Moscow.

3. Zaheer Khan appointed Captain of Delhi Daredevils for 2016 IPL season.

OBITUARIES:

4. Renowned American author Jim Harrison passed away at the age of 78.

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.