Daily GK Updates - 18th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. UP announces Rani Laxmi Bai award for Sakshi Malik: The UP govt will honour wrestler Sakshi Malik with the coveted Rani LaxmiBai award. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 3.11 lakh.The 23-year-old won the bronze in the 58-kg category wrestling.

2. Government slaps Rs 2500 crore penalty on Reliance Industries: Govt has slapped a penalty of USD 380 million on Reliance Industries and its partners for producing less than targeted natural gas from KG-D6 fields. The total penalty for missing the target in 5 fiscal years beginning April 1, 2010, now stands at USD 2.76 billion.

3. Kerala Government allots Rs 10000 crore for government schools: Kerala govt has earmarked Rs 10,000 crore for state-run and aided schools for the next 5 years. As part of the drive, around 60,000 new hi-tech class rooms will be set up in all govt and aided schools.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India and Bangladesh to jointly make films on 1971 war, Sheikh Mujibur: ndia and Bangladesh will jointly produce a documentary on the 1971 War of Independence of Bangladesh. India will also facilitate the production of a "mega movie" by Bangladesh to mark the 100th birth anniversary of its Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh MujiburRahman in 2020.

2. World’s longest, highest glass brigade to open in China: The world's longest and highest glass bridge will open to visitors. The bridge concreted with 99 panes of three-layer transparent glasses, hangs between two steep cliffs 300 metres altitude is maintained from the ground.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. Federal Bank starts distributing MMTC gold coins: Federal Bank has become the first private sector bank to start distributing gold coins made by government-controlled Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India (MMTCI). The Indian gold coins are of 24 karat purity, 999-fineness and has the National Emblem of Ashok Chakra engraved on one side and the face of Mahatma Gandhi as in currency notes on the other.

SPORTS:

2. Wrestler Sakshi Malik wins bronze for India in Rio 2016: India's Sakshi Malik won a bronze medal in the wrestling 58kg category in Rio Olympics 2016. She beat AisuluuTynybekova 8-5 in the bronze medal bout. The 23-year-old became the 4th Indian woman to have ever won an Olympic medal.

OBITUARIES:

3. Former FIFA President and IOC member dies aged 100: Former FIFA President Joao Havelange has passed away at Samartino Hospital, Rio de Janeiro. He was 100 years old. He was 7th head of international football’s governing body FIFA from 1974 to 1998.

4. Noted Odia film actor and director Gobind Tej passed away at the age of 88.

Daily GK Updates - 17th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Jharkhand assembly convened today to ratify GST Bill: Jharkhand Assembly has been convened today to ratify Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill passed by both Houses of Parliament. Now Jharkhand became the third state to ratify the bill.

2. Four states to get new Governors: BanwarilalPurohit has replaced PadmanabhaBalakrishnaAcharya as the Governor of Assam. V.P. Singh Badnore has been appointed as Governor of Punjab.JagdishMukhi has been appointed as Governor of Andaman and Nicobar. Former Union Minister NajmaHeptulla has been appointed Governor of Manipur.

3. Gujarat Government to implement 7^th Pay Commission from 1^st Jan 2017: Gujarat government has approved the implementation of the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission, raising salaries of over 8.5 lakh state employees and pensioners, from 1st Jan.

4. Uttar Pradesh cabinet approves Metro Rail for Allahabad: The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a Metro Rail project for Allahabad. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.The state cabinet also approved a scheme to provide free school bags and books to students till class VIII in government schools.

5. Telangana gets highest gallantry medals in country: Telangana State has received the highest number of gallantry medals for police personnel in the country on the eve of Independence Day. It was the only State unit to secure the President’s police medal for gallantry (PPMG).

6. Tata Power Solar commissions 100 mw project in Andhra Pradesh:Tata Power Solar has commissioned a 100 mw solar project for NTPC in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, the biggest solar project commissioned using domestically manufactured solar cells and modules.

7. Over 1000 year old camping site discovered in Ladakh: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered an ancient camping site dating 8500 BC in Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), indicating humans were camping in the area 10,500 years ago.

8. Reliance Brands inks pact with Scotch and Soda: Reliance Brands, a part of Reliance Industries Group, today announced a long-term master franchise agreement with Amsterdam-based fashion brand Scotch & Soda.

9. Unilever acquires Blueair: Unilever, the parent company of Hindustan Unilever (HUL), has acquired Swedish firm Blueair, a leading player in mobile air purification technology, for an undisclosed sum.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. RBI imposes penalty on four cooperative banks: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties on four cooperative banks for violation of various norms. Cooperative banks are:  Cooperative City Bank, Guwahati – Rs 5 lakh, Indapur Urban Cooperative Bank, Indapur – Rs 2 lakh, ShriDadasaheb Gajmal Cooperative Bank, Pachora – Rs 1 lakh and Model Cooperative Urban Bank, Hyderabad – Rs 1 lakh.

SPORTS:

2. VirenderSehwag becomes MCC’s honorary life member: VirenderSehwag, former India batsman, has been awarded the honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club.

AWARDS:

3.A R Rahman honoured with Tamil Ratna Award: Oscar-winning music maestro A.R. Rahman has been honoured by the America Tamil Sangam with its Tamil Ratna Award.

OBITUARIES:

4. Malayalam screenwriter TA Razaq passed away at the age of 58.

5. Punjabi writer Gurdial Singh passes away at the age of 83.

Daily GK Updates - 16th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bihar Assembly unanimously passes GST bill:The Bihar state assembly has unanimously passed the crucial Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST Bill). With this, it has become the first non-BharatiyaJanata Party-ruled state to ratify the GST, last week; Assam became the first state to ratify the Bill.

2. Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa announces hike in pension to freedom fighters: Amil Nadu Jayalalithaa has announced Rs 1,000 increase in the freedom fighters pension from Rs 11,000. The announcement came during her address after unfurling national flag at Fort St. George on the occasion of Independence Day.

3. Odia becomes Official Language in Odisha from today: Odia language will be used as the official language in all government offices in Odisha from today onwards.

4. India extends $ 1 million grant to Zimbabwe: India has provided One million US Dollars grant to Zimbabwe in the wake of El Nino induced drought disaster. 

5. Nuclear suppliers’ insurance policy unveiled:New India Assurance Co and India nuclear insurance pool (INIP) will issue the policy and administer the claims on behalf of the pool. 

6. L&T bags contract to convert Nagpur into integrated smart city: Larsen & Toubro has been identified as Implementation Partner to convert Nagpur, into the country's first large-scale integrated Smart City as per a Letter of Intent that was handed over in the auspicious presence of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, DevendraFadnavis

7. TataAutoComp to acquire TitanX:Tata AutoComp Systems, the Tata Group-owned auto-component conglomerate, will acquire TitanX, a leading global engine cooling supplier. It is currently owned by EQT Opportunity and Fourier transform.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Singapore ranked 6^th in Global Innovation Index:India climbed 15 spots, from 81 last year, to 66 in the Global Innovation Index (GII) and maintained the top spot in the Central and South Asia regions, according to the rankings released by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

2.China successfully launches world’s first quantum satellite:China today successfully launched the world's first quantum satellite which boasts of establishing hack-proof communications between space and the ground as it is equipped with security features to prevent wiretapping and intercepts.

3.Minda forms JV with Chinese firm for auto components:Auto component maker Spark Minda group flagship firm, Minda Corporation Ltd has formed a joint venture (JV) with China's Shandong BeiqiHaiHua Automobile Parts Co (SBHAP). 

4. China begins operating bullet trains at 350 kmph speed:China on Monday began operating its indigenously designed bullet trains which can clock 350 kmph speed.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Usain Bolt wins gold in men's 100 meters in Rio Olympics: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has won gold in the 100-metre final in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

AWARDS:

2. CLRI scientist bags A P J Abdul Kalam award.

OBITUARIES:

3. First Speaker of Delhi Assembly ChartiLalGoel passes away: ChartiLalGoel, the first speaker of the Delhi Assembly has passed away today after prolonged illness.ChartiLal, 89, breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Daily GK Updates - 15th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Minister launches clean cooking fuel scheme for BPL women in West Bengal:Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas DharmendraPradhan has launched the PradhanMantriUjjwalaYojana (PMUY) in West Bengal, which is a scheme to provide clean cooking fuel to the women belonging to the 'Below Poverty Line' (BPL) households across the country.

2. IISc bags maximum number of INSA Medals for Young Scientists:Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has bagged the 5 Medals for Young Scientists award 2016.

3. Smart Ganga City programme launched in 10 cities:Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti has jointly launched 'Smart Ganga City' programme in 10 cities located along Ganga to set up Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and improve drainage network there on hybrid annuity mode on public private partnership basis.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Microsoft acquires gaming start-up Beam: Microsoft has acquired Beam, an interactive livestreaming start-up that lets viewers watch and play along with game streamers in real time and did not disclose financial terms of the deal. Beam, launched in January this year, has 24 employees.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. South Indian Bank, SBI Card to launch co-branded credit card: Kochi Based leading private sector Lender South Indian Bank, leading private sector bank, and SBI Card, one of India's leading Credit Card issuers, announced the launch of co-branded credit cards for the customers of South Indian Bank.

2. UBI launches USSD based mobile app for basic banking needs with NPCI: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) ties up with Union Bank of India to launch an USSD based *99# mobile application for their customers.

3.IRDAI Slaps Rs 35 Lakh Fine On Bharti AXA General Insurance: Insurance watchdog, IRDAI has imposed Rs 35 lakh fine on Bharti AXA General Insurance Co Ltd for violation of various norms including outsourcing activities and corporate governance guidelines.

SPORTS:

4. Indian ace wins Australian Open squash: India squash queen DipikaPallikal won the Australian Open squash title by beating MayarHany of Egypt by 0-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4.

AWARDS:

4. NawazuddinSiddiqui, SonamKapoor win top awards at IFF Melbourne: Bollywood star actors SonamKapoor and NawazuddinSiddiqui bagged the best actress and best actor awards at the Indian Film Festival (IFF) of Melbourne 2016.

Daily GK Updates - 14th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. No Rail Budget from next fiscal: The 92-year-old practice of presenting a separate Rail Budget is set to come to an end from the next fiscal, with the Finance Ministry accepting Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu’s proposal to merge it with the General Budget.

2. 6,900 km gas pipelines to connect Bangladesh, Myanmar, and India: The government has ambitious plan to lay 6,900 km of gas pipelines linking Bangladesh, Myanmar, most north-eastern states, and West Bengal.

3. Fifth Generation signs pact with Anna University: Fifth Generation Technologies, a multi-national research and innovation company with specialisation in building “real time intelligence” solutions and products to the manufacturing industry, has entered into an agreement with Anna University, Chennai, for conducting research to arrive at a useful prediction of the remaining life of critical equipment that are working in high temperature environments.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. Kotak Mahindra Bank starts Innovation Lab, open to investing in start-ups: More than 1 Cr. central government employees will get a pay hike after the Cabinet approved the implementation of the recommendations of the Seventh Central Pay Commission.

2. E-verifying without net banking: More banks to follow PNB,UBI: After Punjab National Bank and United Bank of India, more banks are likely to soon start a facility wherein an account holder can verify his income tax return on e-filing site even without having netbanking.

SPORTS:

3. USA wins 1,000th Olympic gold medal: Simone Manuel anchored the U.S. women's 4x100 metres medley relay team to the 1,000th gold medal in her country's summer Olympic history, and the second of her career.

OBITUARIES:

4. Famous Lyricist Na Muthukumar passed away: Na Muthukumar passed away in Chennai at the age of 41 years.He won two national awards for the songs AnandaYazhaiMeetukiral in ThangaMeengal and AzhageAzhage in Saivam.

5. Former minister S.P. SargunaPandian passed away: Former DMK Minister S.P SargunaPandian, who began her political career as a platform speaker, died. She was 75 years old.

6.Akshardham founder Pramukh Swami passes away:Pramukh Swami, the 95-year-old founder of Akshardham temples and a saint of the Swaminarayan sect, passed away after prolonged illness at the Sarangpur temple.

Daily GK Updates - 13th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Railway Budget set to be merged with Union Budget from next fiscal:Ending a 92-year-old tradition which started during the colonial era, Railway Budget will be merged with the General Budget from 2017-18 onwards. 

2. Govt sets up National Committee on Trade Facilitation:The Centre has constituted the National Committee on Trade Facilitation following India’s ratification of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in April. 

3. Nasscom launches operations of its startup warehouse in Visakhapatnam: The apex IT industry body in the country, National Association of Software and Services (Nasscom) has launched operations of its startup warehouse at Sunrise Startup Village at Rushikonda in Visakhapatnam, AP.

4.Nadda inaugurates AMRIT outlet at Safdarjung hospital:Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda has inaugurated an AMRIT pharmacy at the city-based Safdarjung hospital in New Delhi.The new AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) Pharmacy, the 10th such in the country, will sell drugs at highly discounted rates.

5. Rajasthan signs MoU with India Trade and Exhibition Centre: Rajasthan government led by VasundharaRaje has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India Trade and Exhibition Centre (ITEC), Dubai for the promotion of skill development, investment and tourism sectors.

6. Manipal Technologies acquires CrossFraud detection solution from Bengaluru Company:Manipal Technologies Ltd (MTL), which is a secure print solutions organization, has announced that it has acquired CrossFraud - an advanced fraud detection and anti-money laundering solution from Bengaluru-based Saraansh Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd for an undisclosed amount. 

7. Cipla names UmangVohra as MD & Global CEO: Indian's multinational pharmaceutical company Cipla Limited has appointed UmangVohra as the managing director (MD) & global chief executive officer (CEO) of the company effective September 1, 2016. 

8. ManjulaChellur is the new chief justice of Bombay high court: The Ministry of Law and Justice has notified the appointment of Justice ManjulaChellur as the next Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sri Lanka and China sign a tripartite agreement to construct Financial City Centre in Colombo: Sri Lanka and China have signed a tripartite agreement to proceed with the construction of a Financial City Center in capital Colombo.  However, Sri Lanka's Urban Development Authority, the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development and the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd signed the agreement for the development of Colombo International Financial City (CIFC) formerly known as the Colombo Port City.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. Syndicate Bank launches Project Ananya aimed at digital banking: India's major commercial banks of India, Syndicate Bank has launched a program called "Project Ananya" that focuses on improved customer service and offering the latest in digital banking services. 

2. SBI, Korea Development Bank joins hands for biz opportunities:The Country's largest public sector lender State bank of India and Korea Development Bank have signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance business synergies. 

3. Saraswat Cooperative Bank appoints it new Chairman – GautamEknath Thakur.

SPORTS:

4. Lionel Messi announces to continue to play for Argentina:Lionel Messi has announced that he will play on for Argentina, reversing his decision in June to retire from international soccer. 

5. Ethiopian sets world record in 10,000 metre run:Ethiopian runner AlmazAyana ran 10,000 metres in 29:17.45 minutes, to set a new world record and win the gold medal at the Rio Olympics.

OBITUARIES:

6. Former Chief Secretary Sudhanshu Mishra passes away:Former Odisha chief secretary SudhanshuBhushan Mishra has passed away in Bhubaneswar. He was suffering from cancer. Mishra was 76 years old and a 1965 batch IAS officer. 

Daily GK Updates - 12th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India’s first touch-and-feel garden for visually impaired: A first-of-its-kind touch and feel garden for the visually impaired people in the country was inaugurated near Calicut University campus by Kerala Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan. The garden has nearly 70 aromatic, medicinal and herbal plants brought from various parts the country.

2. President approves six new IITs across the country and one NIT in AP: President Pranab Mukherjee has given his nod to set up six new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in places like Jammu, Tirupati, Palakkad (Kerala), Goa, Dharward (Karnataka) and Bhilai (Chhattisgarh) and also passed a law regarding the same.

3. Badal inaugurates first ‘Sewa Kendra’ in Punjab: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has inaugurated city’s first Sewa Kendra at Ladhewali today where people will be able to avail services under one roof.

4. Assam becomes the first state to ratify GST: Assam has become the first state to ratify the Goods and Services Tax Constitutional Amendment Bill. The Parliament had earlier cleared the bill to usher in a uniform tax regime throughout the country, and it now awaits the ratification of at least 15 states to make it a law.

5. 12-day long Krishna Pushkar festival begins on grand note in Telangana and AP: A 12-day long Krishna Pushkar festival began in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on a grand note today. The festival comes once in every 12 years. Telangana government has made elaborate arrangements as over three crore people expected to turn up for a holy dip at various places in Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts on the banks of the sacred river.

6. Hindustan Copper Limited inaugurates country’s first facility to produce nickel:The new facility - Nickel, Copper, and Acid Recovery Plant is located at the company's Indian Copper Complex (ICC) at Ghatshila in Jharkhand.

7. Flipkart now on Kotak Mahindra Bank’s mobile banking app: The private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB) has announced the availability of Flipkart’s mobile site in its mobile banking app to gives the customer a secure in-app shopping environment.

8. Birender Singh Yadav appointed as next High Commissioner of India to Ghana.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Apple rehires Flipboard co-founder for Health Software role: Apple Inc has rehired Flipboard Co-founder Evan Doll to work on health-related software after he quit Apple to found the digital news magazine app Flipboard. Doll had worked as a software engineer at Apple from about 2003 to 2009 and had helped develop the first iPhone operating system.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. RBI transfers Rs 65,876 crore surplus to government: The Reserve Bank will transfer to the central government its surplus profit of Rs 65,876 crore which is marginally lower than the amount given last year.

2. NABARD sanctions Rs 26.06 crore to Punjab: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 26.06 crore to the Punjab government. The fund has been sanctioned for tackling waterlogging by constructing lift schemes in low-lying areas, village ponds, and other allied works.

SPORTS:

3. Phelps 3^rd to win Gold in the same event at four Olympics: Michael Phelps won the gold medal in the 200m individual medley to become only the third athlete to win an individual Gold in the same event at four Olympics. This was Phelps 22nd Olympic Gold and 4th consecutive in 200m individual medley starting 2004.