Daily GK Updates - 21st August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Government selects four investment banks for share sale in HUDCO: Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), the nodal agency under the finance ministry that coordinates government disinvestment programme has selected four investment banks for the proposed share sale in HUDCO (Housing & Urban Development Corporation Limited). These four banks include Nomura, SBI Caps, ICICI Securities and IDBI Capital.

2. China’s high speed train maker launches operation in India: China largest high-speed train maker has announced the launch of its first joint venture (JV) plant in India with USD 63.4 million investments to manufacture and repair railway locomotives. The joint venture, named CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation) Pioneer (India) Electric Co Ltd, is housed in Bavo Industrial District of Haryana between New Delhi and Bombay. The Chinese side holds 51% of the share.

3. NLC Ltd to add 6820 MW of power at cost of Rs 27,740 crore: Navaratnacompany NLC Ltd, which comes under the Ministry of Coal, is planning to add over 6,821 megawatt (Mw) of power, with an investment of over Rs 27,740 crore in these projects.

4. India pledges Rs 39.97 million for upgrading school in Nepal: India has pledged financial assistance worth 39.97 million Nepali Rupees for the construction of a new building and a hostel facility at a Sanskrit school in eastern Nepal.

5. Andhra Pradesh announces Rs 3 crore cash award, Group 1 cadre job for Sindhu: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has decided to felicitate the Olympic badminton star PV Sindhu with Rs. 3 crore reward in cash, a 1,000 sq yard site in the new capital city of Amaravati and a Group I cadre job in the State. The Cabinet also approved a Rs. 50 lakh cash reward to PullelaGopichand, the former badminton star and coach of Sindhu.

6. Andhra Pradesh police launches pilot project on DNA profiling:Andhra Pradesh Police has launched DNA Index System (DIS), the first-of-its-kind initiative that allows generation of DNA profiles from live samples like saliva and blood stains. The system uses the latest DNA technology tool called RapidHIT developed by IntegenX of USA.

7. India ranks 39^th in Asia Pacific on fixed broadband: India ranks a low 39th in terms of fixed broadband adoption among Asia-Pacific countries, with just 1.3% of its citizens subscribing to such a service in 2015, according to a study by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Hong Kong, New Zealand, Japan, Macao, Australia and Singapore topped the list of 53 countries.

8. Maneka Gandhi inaugurates Animal Birth Control Centre in Dehradun: Union Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Maneka Gandhi inaugurated the state’s first animal birth control centre (ABC) at Kedarpuram. The centre will take up birth control measures with stray dogs the population of which has been rising in the city and the state.

9. Sunil Mittal re-appointed as the Chairman of Bharti Airtel for 5 years: Sunil Bharti Mittal has been re-appointed as the Chairman of telecom giant BhartiAirtel for another 5 years, with effect from October 1, 2016.

10. Amul MD R S Sodhi appointed on board of India Post Payment Banks.

11. YogeshwarSangwan concurrently accredited as the Ambassador of India to Georgia.

12. India world’s third biggest tech start-up hub: Assocham: India is home to the 3rd largest number of technology-driven start-ups in the world, with the US and the UK occupying the top two positions.

OTHER UPDATES:

OBITUARIES:

1. Former international test umpire Subrata Banarjee died at the age of 71.

Daily GK Updates - 20th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi to be new brand ambassador of incredible India: Indian government’s Tourism Ministry has decided that instead of getting a brand ambassador for the Incredible India campaign, it will make Prime Minister NarendraModi the face of the campaign.

2. PM Modi’s monogrammed suit enters Guinness Records as ‘most expensive suit sold’: The monogrammed suit worn by Prime Minister NarendraModi during his meeting with American President Barack Obama last year, which created huge controversy, entered Guinness Book of World Records as ‘the most expensive suit sold’. The suit was sold at an auction for Rs 4.31 crore.

3. Two-day meeting of BRICS women Parliamentarian’s forum to begin in Jaipur today: The two-day meeting of the BRICS Women's Parliamentarian Forum will begin here on Saturday in which 42 delegates from member countries will participate. LokSabha Speaker SumitraMahajan will inaugurate the meeting which will have different plenary sessions.

4. Kerala Cabinet approves new debt relief scheme: Kerala government has approved a new debt relief scheme for low income and poor people who face the threat of revenue recovery proceedings after they fail to repay loans taken from various financial institutions under the government. The scheme, expected to cause an additional burden of Rs 40 crore to the exchequer, would benefit more than 10,000 persons.

5. BEL head bags top award: SK Sharma, Chairman and MD, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), has been awarded as the Most Enterprising CEO in Electronics Sector by the Indo Global Business Council (IGBC), a policy think-tank based in New Delhi.

6. Cipla, Godrej recognized in Fortune ‘Change the World’ list:India’s pharmaceutical giant Cipla Ltd and consumer goods conglomerate Godrej have been recognized by Fortune magazine in a list of global firms changing the world for the good and having a positive social impact through their activities. The list has been topped by British pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline and includes Swiss food products major Nestlé (5), India-born Ajay Banga-led Mastercard (7).

7. KVIC approves hike in wages of Khadi Artisans: Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has approved a wage hike along with a hike in Market Development Assistance. The KVIC has informed that spinners will now earn 5.50 rupees instead of 4 rupees per hank with an additional 10 percent Market Development Assistance.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian-American inducted in Texas Women’s Hall of Fame: RenuKhator, Indian-American woman academic, will be inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame for making significant contribution for the benefit of the US' second largest state.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. Urjit Patel appointed as the next RBI Governor: Urjit Patel is the new Reserve Bank of India Governor, the Finance Ministry announced.Patel will succeed RaghuramRajan as the RBI chair once he steps down on September 3, after his term comes to an end.

SPORTS:

2. P V Sindhu wins silver in women’s singles badminton: Rio Olympic 2016: India's P V Sindhu today created history by winning a silver medal in women's singles badminton event at Rio Olympics 2016. She is the first Indian female and first ever Indian shuttler to win Olympic silver.Carolina Marin of Spain beat P.V. Sindhu of India to take gold and Japan's NozomiOkuhara won bronze medal. She also became the fourth Indian to win silver at the Olympics.

3. Usain Bolt wins 200m to complete hat-trick: Jamaican's sprinter Usain Bolt has won the 200 metres final to add to his 100m title at the Rio Olympics 2016. Bolt eased to victory in the 200m final in 19.78 seconds.

Daily GK Updates - 19th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sachin Tendulkar adopts village in Osmanabad under SAGY: Former Cricketer and RajyaSabha MP Sachin Tendulkar has selected Donja village in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra for development under the SansadAdarsh Gram Yojna (SAGY).

2. IIT Kanpur adopts villages under NamamiGange: IIT-Kanpur has adopted 5 villages under the NamamiGange programme and will use its expertise to restrict the flow of sewage into the river. The task will be undertaken by the institute's civil engineering department.

3. Indian companies among top 200 carbon clean firms: Seven Indian companies have made it to a carbon-clean list of 200 largest companies worldwide ranked by their total clean-energy revenues. The list is topped by Japan's Toyota Motor. Indian companies are Suzlon Energy at 68 rank for its wind farms, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd at 106 for its wind electric generators and solar cells, Tata Chemicals at 114 for chemicals for biodiesel, solar energy, and fuel cells, Thermax Ltd is at 139, Exide Indus at 153 for electric storage batteries, IDFC Ltd is at 155 for its green infrastructure financing, Havells India at 166 for energy meters.

4. NMCG and IOC sign MoU for industrial use of treated water: National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) sign MoU for industrial use of treated water. This MoU helps in the establishment of STP in Mathura which will provide treated water for industrial use.

5. E-auction portal for power transmission: Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal launched the process of tariff-based reverse auction in the transmission sector and also inaugurated a portal for electronic bidding for transmission projects. Union Minister has launched “Tarang” mobile App, “e-Trans” and “DEEP” (Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price) e-bidding web portals developed by Rural Electrification Corp which reverse auction is being introduced in transmission sector on the lines of coal sector in order to facilitate better price discovery in such projects.

6. India Post Payment Bank incorporated, to start ops in 2017:India Post Payments Bank has come into existence after it received certificate of incorporation from the Registrar of Companies, setting the stage for the new bank to begin operations in 2017.

7. India inks deal to ferry oil through Bangladesh: India has signed a short-term route agreement with Bangladesh to allow transport of petroleum goods from Assam to Tripura through Bangladesh after heavy monsoon damaged roads and made the transportation between the two states difficult.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Alibaba Group launches ‘million books’ donation drive: Online and mobile commerce major The Alibaba Group, along with Crossword and RatnaNidhi Charitable Trust has launched ‘Mission Million Books’, a pan-India initiative inviting Indian citizens to donate textbooks and educational material for the underprivileged.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. SBI approves merger with associates: The board of country's largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI) has approved share swap ratio to merge 5 associate banks and BharatiyaMahila Bank (BMB) with itself. In the swap ratio an acquiring company will offer its own shares in exchange for the target company's shares during a merger or acquisition.

2. Doha Bank opens first branch in Kerala: Doha Bank QSC, one of the prominent banks in Qatar, is formally inaugurating its first branch in Kerala on August 27.

3. Federal Bank to use Chillr app: Federal Bank has partnered with Chillr, a mobile banking application that connects directly to a person’s bank account and enables instant money transfers, bill payments, phone recharge and e-commerce payments in a very secure environment.

AWARDS:

4. Hindi author Sunita Jain conferred VyasSamman Award: Hindi scholar and writer Sunita Jain was awarded the prestigious 25th VyasSamman 2015 for her poetry collection "Kshama". West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi conferred the award on the scholar.

OBITUARIES:

5. Love Story director Arthur Hiller passed away at the age of 92: The Canadian-born, dauntingly prolific Mr. Hiller ascended during the era of live television, and his versatility and workmanlike skill brought him a great deal of Hollywood work in TV and then film.

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.