Daily GK Updates : 1st April, 2017

­NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India becomes associate member of IEA: India, world’s 3rd largest energy consumer has joined International Energy Association (IAE) as associate member. India will also now have a greater say in global energy issues. With India as a associate member, IEA now formally covers 70% of the world’s energy consumption, thus increasing its relevance.

2. Cabinet approves ratification of 2 ILO conventions on prohibiting child labour: The Union Cabinet has given its approval for ratification of two fundamental conventions of International Labour Organization (ILO) concerning with Child Labour. They are Minimum Age Convention (No 138) and Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No 182). Now these conventions will be legally binding.

3. Barmer-Munawab, Pipad Road-Bilara rail routes declared as Green Corridors: The North Western Railway has declared the Barmer-Munawab and Pipad Road-Bilara rail routes in Rajasthan as Green Corridors. With this total number of green corridors has increased to five. The 114-km-long Manamadurai– Rameswaram stretch of Southern Railway was India’s first ‘Green corridor’. Okha-Kanalus and Porbandar-Wasjaliya railway sections of Gujarat also have been declared green corridors.

4. CCEA approves amendments in Mega Power Policy 2009: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved amendments in the Mega Power Policy, 2009 to push 31 GW stranded projects entailing an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore. The initiative mainly aims at bringing down power tariff for making electricity more affordable and achieving the ambitious goal of 24X7 power for all.

5. CCEA allows unrestricted export of all certified organic agricultural products: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved removal of all quantitative ceilings on individual organic products and allowed unrestricted exports of all organic and organic processed products. The removal of quantitative ceilings will be irrespective of any existing or future restriction/prohibition on the export of their basic product (non-organic). However, in respect of organic pulses and lentils, the quantitative ceiling on exports will continue but enhanced from the existing 10,000 MT per annum (MTPA) to 50,000 MTPA. in view of their acute shortage in the country.

6. CCEA approves amendment to New Urea Policy-2015: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval for amendment in Para 5 of New Urea Policy (NUP), 2015. The amendment is related to the production beyond Re-Assessed Capacity (RAC) and inclusion of Para 8 in NUP 2015 to protect the production beyond RAC by urea units and boost indigenous urea production in the country. 

7. Government launched two mobile apps- echallan and mParivahan: The government has launched two mobile apps, echallan and mParivahan, that provide access to various services and information, and enable citizens to report any traffic violation or road accident. 'eChallan' is an integrated enforcement solution to manage traffic violations. 'mParivahan' is an empowering app for the citizen which provides access to various services, information and utilities related to the transport sector.

8.  Vanaja N. Sarna - New Chairperson of CBEC: Vanaja N. Sarna (Internal Revenue Service:1980) has been appointed as the Chairman of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC). She has replaced Najib Shah. Sarna has served Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) in several capacities over the last 36 years.

9.  IIT-Madras signs MoU with Indian Army: The Indian Army has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M). The objective of the agreement is to identify and enhance the critical technological areas that can be enhanced in the armed forces.

10. Govt decides to liberalize e-visa regime from existing 30 days to 4 months: Today, India has decided to liberalize e-visa regime by increasing the time limit for seeking the entry permit from existing 30 days to a maximum of four months. The duration of stay for foreigners, coming into the country through select categories of e-visa, has also been extended to two months.  The liberalization of the visa regime will considerably facilitate entry of foreigners into India for tourism, business, and medical purposes. Under the new simplified visa regime, three new sub-categories (e-tourist visa, e-business visa, and e-medical visa) for grant of e-visa.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Mega-conference of world parliamentarians begins in Dhaka: Today, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the 4-day mega Conference of world parliamentarians in Dhaka. She has also released a commemorative stamp and launch the IPU web television. Around 687 members of 131 national parliaments around the world are participating in the conference. The conference promising to focus on ways and means to end political & economic inequality and uphold democracy and human rights. The Conference will also adopt a resolution to guarantee the financial inclusion of women as drivers of development.

2. Japan commits 371 bn yen assistance for infra projects in India: Japan has committed an 'Official Development Assistance' (ODA) of 371.345 billion yen (about Rs 21,590 crore) under 2016-2017 for various infrastructure projects, including the dedicated freight corridor, in India. The notes in this regard were exchanged in New Delhi between S Selvakumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs and Kenji Hiramatsu, Ambassador of Japan to India.

3. Radhamohan Singh to inaugurate International center for Foot and Mouth Disease: Today, the Union Agriculture Minister 'Radha Mohan Singh' has inaugurated an International research centre for Foot and Mouth disease of cattle and buffalos at Argul,(Khurda district) Odisha. The research center has been constructed in joint collaboration of UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation & Indian Council of Agricultural Research to conduct research on the viral disease of cattle and buffaloes. The research center has the facility for safe handling and storage of live Foot and Mouth disease virus that essentially is required for control of the disease. This center will also serve as a regional resource laboratory for countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

                       OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS & FINANCE:

1. RBI to set up separate Enforcement department: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will set up a separate enforcement department to monitor banks in case they violate regulations. The Enforcement Department will start operations from 1^st April, 2017. The department will develop a broad policy for enforcement and initiate action against the regulated entities for violation consistent with such policy.

2. Withdrawal of service charge on e-tickets of train extended till 30th June: According to Railway ministry, the withdrawal of service charge on online booking of train tickets has been extended upto 30^th June 2017 to promote the use of digital modes of payment. Earlier, the union government had decided to give incentive to the passengers for booking tickets online by withdrawing service charge on them from 23^rd November, 2016 to 31^st March, 2017.

3. India signs First Loan Agreement with New Development Bank: India has signed a loan agreement with the New Development Bank (NDB) for USD 350 million funding for a project involving development and up gradation of major district roads (approx 1,500 km) in Madhya Pradesh. The objective of the project is to up gradation of major district roads in the state to improve connectivity with the national and state highway networks. This is the first loan agreement for the New Development Bank assisted project in India.

4. Karnataka Bank & SBI Card launch co-branded credit card: The Karnataka Bank Limited and SBI Card have launched co-branded credit cards ‘Karnataka Bank Platinum SBI Card’ and ‘Karnataka Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card’ for the customers of Karnataka Bank.‘Karnataka Bank Platinum SBI Card’ has been designed keeping in mind the premium customers, offers features in line with their lifestyle and spending patterns. ‘Karnataka Bank SimplySAVE SBI Card’ is aimed at value-conscious consumers and offers rewards and features that enable customers to maximise their savings on their regular spends.

 

HONOURS & AWARDS:

5. Awards for Transformation Leadership: Chandrababu Naidu selected for US-Business Council award of  "Transformative Chief Minister." The electronics and IT secretary Aruna Sundarrajan would also receive Transformation leadership awards at the Summit.

6. 'Barmer-Munawab' & 'Pipad Road-Bilara' rail routes declared as Green Corridors: The North-Western Railway has declared the ‘Barmer-Munawab (119 km)’ and ‘Pipad Road-Bilara (41 km)’ in Rajasthan, rail routes as Green Corridors. The trains in the section have been equipped with bio-toilets to ensure zero discharge of human waste on the rail tracks under the ‘Swachh Rail-Swachh Bharat’ initiative. Now, the total number of green corridors has increased to three.

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Daily GK Updates - 31st March, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 'Namami Brahmaputra' starts in Assam: It is  India’s biggest river festival. This is a festival to be organized across 21 districts in Assam from 31^stMarch to 4^th April, 2017. President Pranab Mukherjee has inaugurated India's largest river festival “Namami Brahmputra“ in Assam. The basic objective of the festival is to show case the trade and commerce, culture, skill, industry, and tourism of Assam to the world.

2. An initiative for Child cancer patients in Mumbai: The Union Shipping Minister “Mr. Nitin Gadkari” has inaugurated a residential facility for child cancer patients in Mumbai. The Centre aims to help cancer patients by providing clean accommodation and transport so that there is no fear of any secondary infection.

This Child Care Centre for patients of Tata Memorial Hospital has been developed by Mumbai Port Trust as part of its corporate social responsibility.

3. Release of a Postage Stamp on Cub Scouts: The Union Minister of Communications Manoj Sinha has released a Postage Stamp on Cub Scouts to commemorate the Centenary year of Cub Scouts in India and abroad. Cub Scouting is meant for children of age group between 8 to 11 years and Cubbing involves games, stories, play acting, handicrafts and also work through the Star tests and Badges. Scouting was developed for youth between the ages of 11 and 17 to engage in activities in public parks, open spaces and wherever they found a suitable place.

4. ‘Kanha tiger reserve’ becomes first in India to get official mascot: The ‘Kanha tiger reserve’ (Madhya Pradesh) has become the first tiger reserve in India to officially introduce a mascot “Bhoorsingh the Barasingha" to create a better connection with its visitors. The Barasingha or swamp deer is the state animal of Madhya Pradesh. The mascot was chosen among four variations by the Madhya Pradesh forest department.

5. Launch of Online Film Certification System: The union Information & Broadcasting Minister ‘M Venkaiah Naidu’ has launched the online film certification system, 'e-CinePramaan' with an aim to the elimination of middlemen and promote clean cinema. The new system of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) will make the entire process of certification transparent and efficient. This will make the process for films to obtain a certificate fully digital and will include QR Codes to check fraudulent certificates.

6. Government announces regional aviation routes and airlines under UDAN scheme: The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has announced regional aviation routes and airlines after the first round of bidding under UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) Scheme. In the first round, as many as 128 routes connecting 70 big and small airports across the country were selected and all flights will become active within 4-6 months.

7. Government launch e-challan and m-parivahan apps for enforcement of traffic rules: The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has launched two mobile applications —e-challan and m-parivahan to provide a comprehensive digital solution for enforcement of traffic rules. These applications will provide access to various services and information, and enable citizens to report any traffic violation or road accident. 

8. Government unveils online vigilance clearance system, e-service book:  The Union Government has launched the Online Vigilance Clearance System and e-Service Book in New Delhi. It was launched by Union Minister Jitendra Singh in New Delhi. The online system aims to fast track process of cases of vigilance clearance for senior-level appointments in central government.

9. Government, NDB ink $350 million loan pact: India has signed its first loan agreement with the New Development Bank (NDB)/BRICS Bank for $350 million to be used in the development and upgradation of district roads in Madhya Pradesh. The objective of the project is the upgrade major district roads in Madhya Pradesh to improve road connectivity of the interior areas of the state with the national and state highway networks. The project will include upgradation, reconstruction and rehabilitation of approximately 1,500 km of district roads to intermediate lane, all-weather standards. It will also have road safety features and improved road maintenance and management.

10. IIT Madras, Indian Army ink MoU to strengthen critical technological areas:The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM) and Indian Army have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to identify the critical technological areas that can be enhanced in the armed forces. The MoU was signed by IITM Director Bhaskar Ramamurthi and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (P&S) Lt. Gen. Subrata Saha in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Venezuelan Opposition alleges coup as Supreme Court seizes power: Opposition leaders branded Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a "dictator" after the Supreme Court stripped the Opposition-dominated National Assembly of its powers on Thursday. "Nicolas Maduro has staged a coup d'état," National Assembly President Julio Borges said after the ruling. The three branches of the Venezuelan government will now be controlled by the ruling United Socialist Party.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. BCCI to felicitate Indian cricket's 'Fab Five' at IPL opening ceremony: The IPL Governing Council has decided to felicitate five legends (Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag) during the opening ceremony of the cash-rich league in Hyderabad on 5^th April 2017. The former India women's cricketers, who will be getting one-time ex-gratia payment will be handed over their cheques at their local IPL venue during the matches.

2. Pakistani cricketer Irfan banned for one year for failing to report approach: Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Irfan has been banned from all forms of cricket for a year and a fine of USD 1000 after he pleaded guilty to failing to report details of two approaches to corrupt the game. His ban is effective from the day he was provisionally suspended on 14^th March. Irfan has played four Tests, 20 Twenty20 format matches and 60 one-day internationals(ODI), where he grabbed 83 wickets at an average of 30.71.

3. India’s S.V Sunil named Asian Hockey Player of Year for 2016: In the senior Hockey men's category, Indian forward ‘V Sunil’ has been named the ‘Asian Player of the Year 2016’ by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF). In the junior Hockey men's category, drag flicker ‘Harmanpreet Singh’ has been named the Asian Promising Player of the Year 2016. Sunil played a vital role in India's successful outing at the FIH Champions Trophy in London where the team earned a silver medal.

4. Tamil Nadu beat India 'B' to win ‘Deodhar Trophy’: Tamil Nadu beat India ‘B’ by 42 runs in the final to clinch the ‘Deodhar Trophy’ at Visakhapatnam. Tamil Nadu had scored 303/9 but in reply, India B were bowled for just 261. Dinesh Karthik (Tamil Nadu) scored 126 off 91 balls with the help of 14 boundaries and 3 sixes.

BANKING & FINANCE:

5.  Truecaller partners with ICICI Bank for UPI-based mobile payment: Truecaller partners with ICICI Bank to launch its new Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based mobile payment service “Truecaller Pay”. It will allow users to send money to any UPI id or a mobile number registered with the BHIM app.

The non-ICICI bank users can use it by registering on to Truecaller Pay app.

Daily GK Updates - 30th March, 2017

­­­­NATIONAL UPDATES:

 1. Govt. announces regional aviation routes & airlines under UDAN scheme: The union Civil Aviation Minister ‘Ashok Gajapathy Raju’ has announced regional aviation routes and airlines after the first round of bidding under UDAN. The first phase of the UDAN scheme for regional aviation will include 45 airports and about 70-odd routes.

2. Suresh Prabhu inaugurates high-speed rail wire Wi-Fi facility: Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu  inaugurated the high-speed rail wire Wi-Fi facility at National Rail museum in New Delhi. The free Wi-Fi service built over the fiber network of Rail Tel is designed to offer High- Speed Broadband like experience to users. Mr. Prabhu also launched a book " Indian Railways- The Weaving of a National Tapestry". The book has been authored by Bibek Debroy, Sanjay, and Vidya Krishnamurthi.

3. SC bans sale, registration of BS-III vehicles: The Supreme Court has banned the sale and registration of Bharat Stage (BS)-III emission norm-compliant vehicles from April 1, 2017, when environmentally friendly BS-IV emission norms will come into force across the country.

4. Lok Sabha passes 4 GST Bills: Lok Sabha has passed four Bills relating to the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). It paves way for implementing a new, consolidated indirect tax regime from the proposed date of July 1, 2017. The four bills passed were Central GST Bill, Integrated GST Bill, GST Compensation Bill, and the Union Territory GST Bill, 2017. These Bills were passed as Money Bills, thus eliminates the role of Rajya Sabha.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1.  Turkey's Abeylegesse stripped of 1 world silver, 2 Olympic silver medals: Turkish runner Elvan Abeylegesse (34-year) was stripped of two Olympic silver medals and one world silver after a re-analysis of an in-competition doping test dating back to 2007.

2. Srinath Narayanan set to become India's 46th Grandmaster: Srinath Narayanan (23-year) is all set to become India's 46th Grandmaster after he defeated David Anton Guijarro (Spanish Grandmaster) at the ongoing Sharjah Masters 2017 chess tournament. He had become India's youngest FIDE rated player in 2002 when he was just eight and also finished as joint winner in the Under-12 World Championship in 2005 in France.

BANKING & FINANCE

3. SBI launches 'Unnati' credit card: ‘SBI Unnati card’ is a credit card offered those SBI customers who have a minimum account balance of Rs. 25,000 in their accounts. The annual fee of Rs.499 is waived off for the first four years.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

4. Amazon makes entry in UAE by acquiring Souq.com: The USA based e-commerce giant Amazon made its entry in UAE by acquiring the Middle East’s largest online retailer Souq.com. Souq.com is the largest e-commerce platform offering more than 400,000 products in the Arab world, currently delivers to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar.

Daily GK Updates - 29th March, 2017

­­­­NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India becomes net exporter of power for the first time: According to Central Electricity Authority (CEA), under Union Power Ministry, India for the first time has become a net exporter of electricity during the April-February period in fiscal 2016-17. During this period, India exported around 5,798 million units of electricity to Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. It is 213 million units more than the import of around 5,585 million units from Bhutan.

2. Indian Navy inducts surveillance ship INLCU L51: Indian Navy has commissioned latest indigenously developed surveillance ship INLCU L51. It was commissioned at a ceremony held in Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Command of Navy INLCU L51 is the first of the eight ships of the LCU Mk IV Class.

3. IAF launches Aviation Turbine Fuel Digital Issue and Payment: Indian Air force has formally launched web based e-billing system Aviation Turbine Fuel Digital Issue and Payment (ATF DIP). It was unveiled by Chief of Air Staff (CoAS), Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa in New Delhi and it will be implemented from April 1, 2017.

4.  Union Govt. imposes 10 % import duty on wheat & Tur dal: The Union Government has imposed 10% import duty on wheat and tur dal to protect farmers’ interest amid projection of a record crop this year.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  British PM Theresa May signs letter to trigger Brexit from EU: British Prime Minister Theresa May has signed the letter that will trigger Britain's exit from the European Union. Official notification to other 27 European Union members that Britain has invoked Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, will be delivered to European Council President Donald Tusk. Britain would be able to leave the economic bloc by 29th March, 2019.

2. UN appoints David Beasley to head World Food Programme:  United Nations General Secretary Antonio Guterres has appointed David Beasley as head of the Rome-based World Food Programme (WFP).

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Gauri Singh becomes the first girl to swim from Sea Link to Gateway of India: Gauri Singh (14-year) has become the first Indian girl swim from Sea Link near Worli Koliwada to the Gateway of India in the Arabia Sea. She took over 6 hours 30 minutes to complete the 36-km long distance route. Gauri Singh is a class 8^th student from Udaipur (Rajasthan).

2. Bhubaneswar to host 2017 Men's Hockey World League final: Today, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has confirmed that the ‘Men’s Hockey World League Final 2017’ and ‘Hockey Men’s World Cup 2018’ will be held in Bhubaneswar, (Odisha) India.

HONOURS & AWARDS

3. R Ashwin receives Sir Garfield Sobers trophy: Indian off-spinner ‘Ravichandran Ashwin’ has received the ‘Garfield Sobers Trophy’ for the ‘ICC Cricketer of the Year 2016’ as well as the ‘ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2016’ from former India captains and ICC Cricket Hall of Famers Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.

OBITUARIES:

4. Renowned playwright Arun Sarma passes away: Noted playwright & Sahitya Akademi Award winner Arun Sarma (86-year) passed away after a brief illness. He won the Sahitya Akademi award in 1998 for the novel Ashirbadar Rong (The Hues of Blessing). He has won the Assam Sahitya Sabha's Best Playwright Award for two consecutive years and also has the rare distinction of having won the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2003 for his contributions to drama and the Sahitya Akademi award in 1998 for literature. He was also the recipient of the Assam Valley Literary Award in 2005.

5. South African anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada passes away: Veteran South African’s Indian-origin anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada (87-year) passed away. Kathrada was among eight African National Congress activists sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964. He spent 26 years and 3 months in prison, including 18 years on the infamous Robben Island. He was one of Nelson Mandela’s closest aides in his struggle to end the white minority