Daily GK Updates - 27th April, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. President embarks on two-nation tour to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand: This is the first ever state visit of an Indian President to these two countries. Symbolising the growing strategic and economic engagements with the Pacific Island countries, the President’s first stopover will be Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea.

2. Union Railway ministry to set up Rs 1 lakh crore Rashtriya Rail SanrakshaKosh: The Union Railway Ministry has decided to create a Rs 1 lakh crore safety fund named as Rashtriya Rail SanrakshaKosh (RRSK) to strengthen safety measures on the rail network to prevent accidents.

3. Government approved the policy for sharing competitive exam scores with private sector: The Government has approved the policy for public disclosure of scores and ranking of the students who appear for recruitment examinations conducted by various public recruitment agencies for the benefit of employers in the public and private sector seeking qualified candidates through a portal.

4. All new mobiles to have panic button from 2017: The Department of Telecommunication has notified that from next year, all mobile phone sold in India will come with a dedicated ‘Panic Button’ and will also have the Global Positioning System facility in it. These facilities can be used to send out a signal in case of distress.

5. Government to sell its 11.36% stake in NTPC in disinvestment exercise of the current year.

6. Operation Sulaimani to eradicate Poverty in Kozhikode district of Kerala: The operation is being implemented in association with the state Hotel and Restaurants Association. Following the implementation of the project, the needy will get food free of cost.

7. Union Tourism Ministry launched NOAPS Web Portal of National Monuments Authority: The portal was developed through the technology and expertise of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who is in process of mapping of 3686 ASI protected monuments and sites.

8. ISUZU Motors India opens manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh.

9. PatanjaliAyurved, the FMCG venture promoted by Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev will invest over Rs 1,150 crore in 2017.

10. Bharat Petroleum gets green nod for Rs 694 crore LPG project in Haldia Dock Complex in West Bengal.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. China launches sounding rocket: China has launched a sounding rocket designed to conduct research, take measurements and scientific experiments in the country’s Hainan Province. Kunpeg-1B was launched from Danzhou city by the National Space Science Centre (NSSC).

2. Tibetan Government in exile re-elected LobsangSangey as the Prime Minister for the second consecutive term.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. RiyadMahrez became the first African football player to win Professional Footballers Association’s (FPA) Player of the year award for the 2015-16 season.

2. NanduNatekar became first non-cricketer to become a member of Cricket Club of India (CCI).

AWARDS:

3. IIT Kharagpur research scholar K Ashok Kumar wins International Award on Plant Nutrition: The award is given by the US-based International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) and carries a cash prize of USD 2,000 and a recognition certificate.

OBITUARIES:

4. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) founder Amanullah Khan passed away at the age of 82.

Daily GK Updates - 26th April, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Government hikes minimum wage for contract workers to Rs 10,000: The Minister of State for Labour and Employment BandaruDattatreya informed LokSabha that the wage hike has been done based on a Supreme Court verdict.

2. Over two lakh new Central Government jobs by 2017: The central government has projected in the budget estimates for 2016-17 an increase of about 2.18 lakh in the existing workforce of 33.05 lakh, as in 2015, by 2017.

3. Heart of Asia conference begins today in New Delhi: The conference aims to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan and speeding up its reconstruction with a focus on enhancing investment and connectivity to the country.

4. Government to provide Rs 1 lakh per month to Rio-bound athletes: Union Sports Ministry has decided to provide one lakh rupees per month as out of pocket allowance to the sports persons under the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme in their preparation for the Olympics and Paralympics Games at Rio de Janeiro. Till date 77 athletes have qualified for the Rio Olympics.

5. Union Government constituted Ashok Dalwai committee for doubling farmers’ income by 2022.

6. India-Mongolia Joint Military Exercise, Nomadic Elephant-2016 commenced: The 11^th Indo-Mongolia joint training exercise titled ‘Nomadic Elephant-2016’ commenced in Mongolia.

7. INS Karmuk Corvette participated in Indo-Thai Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT): Indian missile corvette, INS Karmuk along with a Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft participated in the 22^nd Indo-Thai Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT) on 25^th April 2016 in the Andaman Sea.

8. India lays foundation for final phase of Housing Project in Central and Uva provinces of Sri Lanka.

9. Videocon D2H ties up with Vodafone m-pesa to allow its customer a simple, convenient and on-demand recharge facility using the proven m-pesa platform.

10. Hero Motocorp invests Rs 3000 crore in new Andhra Pradesh unit for annual capacity building of 1.8 million units.

  

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Intellectual Property Day 2016 observed globally on 26^th April 2016: The theme for this year’s World Intellectual Property Day was ‘Digital Creativity-Culture Re imagined.

2. Top Gay rights activist Xulhaz Mannan murdered in Bangladesh.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Mohan Bagan’sJejeLalpekhlua named Football Players’ Association of India (FPAI) Player of the Year.

2. Rower DattuBhokanal qualified for the Rio Olympics after winning silver medal in the finals of men’s single sculls at the 2016 FISA Asian and Oceania Olympic Qualification Regatta at Chung-ju in South Korea.

OBITUARIES:

3. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) founder Amanullah Khan passed away at the age of 82.

Daily GK Updates - 25th April, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Centre to provide Plastic Park to Andhra Pradesh: Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananta Kumar announced that Andhra Pradesh would be the plastic hub in a short while from now and that the centre would provide a plastic park to the state with Rs 1000 crore.

2. NABARD gives Rs 1000 crore to HSWC for wheat procurement: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned a loan of Rs 1000 crore to Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC) for purchase of wheat during the on-going rabi marketing season.

3. TATA Trusts sign pact with Odisha for Malaria elimination: Tata Trusts has signed a pact with the Odisha government to achieve elimination of Malaria from the state by 2030.

4. Cadbury inaugurates largest Asia-Pacific facility in India: Cadbury India, part of Mondelez International inaugurated its $190 million factory in Sri City SEZ, on the border of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

5. India banned milk and mobile phone imports from China: India has banned import of milk and milk products, certain mobile phones and a few other items from China after finding them sub-standard or not following security codes.

6. Uber partners with Election Commission in Tamil Nadu: It has partnered with Election Commission in Tamil Nadu to spread awareness on voting among the electorate for the May 16 assembly polls.

7. Manoj Bajpayee to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award for ‘Aligarh’.

8. Lok Sabha passed Atomic Energy (Amendment) Bill 2015: The bill seeks to overcome difficulties encountered in the setting up of new nuclear projects and enhancement of nuclear power generation.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Malaria Day observed across the globe on 25^th April: 25^th April, every year is observed as World Malaria Day (WMD) to create awareness among the people about this vector borne disease. This year’s theme is End Malaria for Good.

2. International Solar Alliance Cell and UNDP declared Cooperation for Promoting Solar Energy.

3. Former Finance Minister Clement Mouamba appointed as Prime Minister of Congo.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Rafael Nadal wins Barcelona Open to equal clay-court record of Guillermo Vilas of 49 titles.

2. India to host 2018 Commonwealth Judo Championships in Jaipur.

Daily GK Updates - 24th April, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. President nominates 6 eminent members to Rajya Sabha: President Pranab Mukherjee has nominated of six eminent members to Rajya Sabha as per the provisions of Article 80 of the constitution. The nominated members are legendary Boxer Mary Kom, renowned economist and Olympic bronze medallist Narendra Jadhav, Malayalam actor Suresh Gopi, Journalist Swapan Dasgupta, BJP leader Subramanium Swamy and Cricketer turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu.

2. India and France launch $1 trillion Potential Solar Programme under ISA: It is a solar finance programme under the International Solar Alliance (ISA) that aims at helping developing countries to fully harness their solar resources for a clean energy future.

3. India’s first online interactive heritage portal Sahapedia launched in New Delhi: The web portal is a collaborative knowledge resource on the arts, culture and heritage of India.

4. Union Government notifies new rules to revamp SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act: The new rules seek to tighten provisions to ensure speedy justice to members of the SC/ST community. 

5. India ratifies Trade Facilitation Agreement of WTO: India has formally ratified the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, which aims at easing customs procedures to boost commerce.

6. Salman Khan named as Indian contingent’s Goodwill Ambassador for 2016 Rio Olympics to be held in August 2016.

7. Union Government merged Rajiv Gandhi Khel Abhiyan with Khelo India.

8. ISRO Scientists made world’s lightest synthetic material ‘Silica Aerogel’ to keep soldiers warm in Siachen.

9. 19^th round of talks held between India and China on Boundary issue held in Beijing.

10. Union Government constituted panel to double farmers’ income by 2022: The panel will be headed by Ashok Dalwai, Additional Secretary at the Union Agriculture Ministry. The panel will prepare a plan to shift farm policies from being production-oriented to income based ones.

11. Mahindra became first Indian Company to join EP100 Campaign.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Europe became world’s first region to end malaria as per a report by WHO.

2. Idriss Deby elected as the President of Chad for the fifth time.

3. Pakistan and China signed agreement to launch a special satellite to monitor China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

4. World Anti Doing Agency (WADA) suspended accreditation of National Anti-Doping Laboratory of Beijing. 

5. Japan successfully tested its first stealth fighter X-2 Jet.

OTHER UPDATES:

AWARDS:

1. Actress Radhika Apte won best actress award for ‘Madly’ at Tribeca Film Fest 2016.

OBITUARIES:

2. Hollywood movie director Guy Hamilton died at the age of 93.

Daily GK Updates - 23rd April, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bhupendra Kainthola is new FTTI Director: Bhupendra Kainthola, an Indian Information Service (ISS) officer has been appointed as the new Director of Film and Television Institute of India (FTTI).

2. India signs climate pact along with over 170 states at UN: India today signed the historic Paris Climate agreement here along with more than 170 nations, marking a significant step that has brought together developing and developed nations for beginning work on cutting down greenhouse gas emission to combat global warming.

3. Uber partners with FICCI, Gujarat Tourism for soft skill training: Cab aggregator Uber has entered into a partnership with Gujarat Tourism and FICCI in Ahmedabad city to facilitate training for Uber driver-partners.

4. PM to launch Rs 8000 crore scheme for free LPG connections to poor: He will on May 1, 2016 launch Rs 8000 crore scheme to provide 5 crore free LPG connections to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families using the money saved from 1.13 crore cooking gas users voluntarily giving up their subsidies. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 22^nd April celebrated World Book and Copyright Day: This is an annual event celebrated every year by the people all over the world on 23^rd April. It is the most important event organised annually by the UNESCO in order to promote the reading, publishing and copyright among the public worldwide.

2. Harriet Tubman to be the first African-American on US currency: Anti-slavery crusader Harriet Tubman will become the first African-American on the face of US paper currency.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Ace Shooter Jitu Rai finishes sixth in the men’s 50m pistol event at Shooting World Cup held in Rio de Janeiro.

2. Hong Kong cricket team’s all-rounder Irfan Ahmed suspended for two years and six months for breaching the ICC’s Anti-corruption code.

3. BCCI to host first Day-Night Test against New Zealand this year.

Daily GK Updates - 22nd April, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Government’s Twitter Seva to address grievances of start-ups: The Commerce and Industry Ministry has launched a Twitter Seva service, a special Twitter cell by the Narendra Modi government manned by a set of dedicated officers of the Commerce and Industry Ministry was launched.

2. President Pranab Munkherjee to attend Khongjom Day in Manipur: Khongjom Day is observed on the 23^rd April every year to pay rich tributes to the brave sons of Manipur who made supreme sacrifice for the cause of their motherland.

3. Department of Disinvestment is now Dipam: The Department of Disinvestment has been renamed as the Department of Disinvestment and Public Asset Management or ‘Dipam’.

4. Dr Harsh Vardhan celebrates Earth Day by inaugurating India’s 1^st Cellulosic Alcohol Technology Demonstration Plant in Uttarakhand: He inaugurated India’s 1^st Second-Generation (2G) Ethanol Plant at Kashipur in Uttarakhand. 

5. Six Indians in TIME’s 100 most influential people list: The list included RBI Governor Raghuram G Rajan, Priyanka Chopra, Sania Mirza, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Environmentalist Sunita Narain along with Flipkart co-founders Sachin and Binny Bansal.

6. Goa to host international seminar on wheat products: The 8^th International Seminar on Wheat and Wheat Products is scheduled to be held in Panaji, Goa on July 17-18, 2016.

7. Vistara and TCS entered into strategic partnership: Full service airline Vistara has entered into a strategic partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for a broad range of Information Technology (IT) services, including application maintenance services and airport infrastructure support.

8. TCS in TIME’s Top 50 Employers for Women in UK.

9. India replaces China as top FDI destination in 2015 as per FDI Intelligence Report.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 22^nd April celebrated as the World Earth Day: This is an annual event which is celebrated all over the world to demonstrate support for environment protection. 

2. Harriet Tubman to be the first African-American on US currency: Anti-slavery crusader Harriet Tubman will become the first African-American on the face of US paper currency.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. BCCI appoints Rahul Johri as its new CEO.

AWARDS:

2. Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter Tara Gandhi gets top French honour, the Order of Arts and Letters for her remarkable work for promoting peace, solidarity, culture, education and development.

OBITUARIES:

3. Renowned Music Legend Prince Rogers Nelson has passed away at the age of 57.

Daily GK Updates - 21st April, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates second edition of ‘Global Exhibition on Services’ in Greater Noida.

2. PM Modi confers awards for excellence in implementation of priority programmes: He conferred the awards for excellence in implementation of priority programmes on the occasion of 10^th Civil Services Day today. For the priority programme PM Jan Dhan Yojana, Nagaon, Assam was awarded in North East and Hill states category, Chandigarh in UTs and North 24 Parganas, West Bengal in other States group. Under Swachch Bharat Mission (Gramin), West Sikkim and Bikaner, Rajasthan were awarded in North East and Hill States and other states category respectively.

3. First meeting of All India Handloom Board held in New Delhi: The Chairman and Union Textiles Minister, Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar gave an overview of the various initiatives being taken by the government for the development of the sector.

4. The 3 day Curtain Raiser International Yoga Fest inaugurated by Shri Shripad Yesso Naik: It was inaugurated by the Minister of State for AYUSH and Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi. 

5. High Court of Uttarakhand revoked President’s rule in Uttarakhand.

6. Accenture launches Cyber Centre in Bengaluru to expand its global security pressure and help organisations tackle complex security challenges.

7. J K Tyres acquired Cavendish Industries for 2200 crore rupees.

8. Zee Media Corporation Group CEO Bhaskar Das quits following his transfer to another Essel Group entity.

9. Centre appoints IAS Officer A Ajith Kumar as Chairman of the Kerala based Rubber Board.

10. Goa appoints Justice P K Mishra as its Lokayukta.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. IMF, WB, UN and OECD form new group to stop tax erosion: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank has stated that they are going to join forces with the UN and OECD to cooperate on tax issues and develop new tools and standards to halt tax base erosion and evasion.

2. Communist Laos appoints new President and Prime Minister: The National Assembly of Laos elected the chief of the ruling Communist Party, B Vorachit, as President in a transition of power necessitated by the completion of the maximum permissible 10 years in office by the outgoing President C Sayasone. Foreign Minister T Sisoulith was elected as the Prime Minister.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBL Bank becomes first private sector bank to open dedicated branch for start-ups.

AWARDS:

2. Indian Diplomat Amitav Banerji honoured with Commander of the Order of Merit, the highest award of Cyprus for his work in a number of senior roles within the Commonwealth Secretariat for over two decades.

OBITUARIES:

3. Comedian, Singer and Writer Victoria Wood has passed away at the age of 62.