Daily GK Updates - 3rd May, 2017

­­­­NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Madhya Pradesh becomes 1st state to shift to January to December financial year: Madhya Pradesh has become the first Indian state to switch to the January-December financial year from existing April-March cycle. A decision to this effect has been taken at the state cabinet meeting in Bhopal. This will break a 150-year old tradition of adopting the financial year from April to March.

2. India’s Second Tallest Flag Pole inaugurated in Kolhapur: India’s second tallest flag pole (303 feet high) in Kolhapur (Maharashtra). The pole has been constructed in the Police training academy garden as a part of the Kolhapur beautification project. The country’s tallest flag pole (360 feet high) is located at the Indo-Pak Attari Border.

3. AIIB grants $160 mn for Andhra Pradesh Power project: China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) approved USD 160 million loan for a power project in Andhra Pradesh, the first credit from the bank for an Indian project.

The AIIB, in which India is the second largest shareholder after China, has approved the project with the objective to strengthen the power transmission and distribution system in Andhra Pradesh, said a bank statement.

4. Indian army successfully test fires Block-III version of BrahMos cruise missile: Indian Army (IA) has successfully test-fired an advanced (Block-III) version of the BrahMos land-attack cruise missile from a mobile autonomous launcher (MAL)in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The missile has been developed by the ‘BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited’, a joint venture between the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroeyenia and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) India.

5. Govt. to set up Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra at Rajghat: The union government will set up ‘Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra’ under Swachh Bharat Mission at Rajghat in New Delhi. Under the mission, around four crore individual toilets have been created.

6. Mr. Anthony Lianzuala: New Controller General of Accounts: Anthony Lianzuala took over as the New Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, in New Delhi. A graduate from the Hindu College of Delhi University, he is highly credited for his IT initiatives in the North-Eastern Region.

7. Mallikarjun Kharge appointed as new chairman of PAC: Mallikarjun Kharge is the new chairman of the 21-member (14 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha) Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 'World Press Freedom Day' being observed today: The ‘World Press Freedom Day’ is observed on 3rd May every year across the world to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The theme of the year  2017  is ‘Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies’.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING & FINANCE

1. Infosys Finacle and the Commercial Bank of Qatar have completed a pilot on the “first ever” cloud-based blockchain network to process international remittances: The bank, along with its subsidiary Alternatifbank (ABank) in Turkey, and its associates National Bank of Oman and United Arab Bank in the UAE, have formed a grid for routing cross-border business transactions across the India-GCC corridor.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

2. IREDA to raise $300 million: The government’s principal clean energy financing arm, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) seeks to raise at least $150 million through Masala bonds. This issuance will have a Green shoe Option to retain over-subscription up to $150 million. The proceeds from the fund raise will be used for lending to renewable energy projects in accordance with IREDA’s Green Bond Framework, approved by the Climate Bonds Initiative, UK.

3. SEBI sets up panel on cyber security: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has set up a high-level panel on cyber security to suggest measures to safeguard the capital markets from attacks. The four-member committee would be chaired by Madhabi Puri Buch, whole-time member at SEBI. The panel will oversee and provide overall guidance on cyber security initiatives to the regulator and for the entire capital market.

4. UN report says India expected to achieve 7.1% growth this year: According to a UN report, the economic growth for India is projected to be stable at 7.1% in 2017 before edging up to 7.5% in 2018.

Daily GK Updates - 2nd May, 2017

­­­­NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar to launch Vidya - Veerta Abhiyan: Today, the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Prakash Javadekar has launched a nationwide ‘Vidya - Veerta Abhiyan’ to encourage Universities todisplay portraits of Param Veer Chakra-decorated soldiers at a function in New Delhi. The aim of this Abhiyan is to inspire a sense of patriotism and nationalism among students. The ‘Vidya-Veerta Abhiyan’ to create walls of heroes - displaying the portraits of the heroes in institutions of higher learning. The Vice Chancellors (VC) from Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU), Delhi University(DU), Jamia Milia Islamia, Jammu and IIT Delhi, among others, will receive the portraits from the Minister to put it in their educational institutions.

2. Jaitley hands over DRDO developed devices to forces:  The union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley handed over a number of devices like NDRF included 'E-Nasika', a hand-held equipment which is capable of rapid detection of chemical agents well below their toxic limits to National Security Guard (NSG), Delhi Police (DP) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The devices developed by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation).

3. DoT launches portal for info on mobile tower radiation: The Telecom Minister 'Manoj Sinha' has launched a 'Tarang Sanchar' portal that will allow people to track radiation emitted from mobile towers within a locality and check their compliance with the stipulated norms. The site will help in clearing "myths and misconceptions" about mobile towers and emissions from them. The portal will empower consumers to know the towers working in a particular area, and whether they are compliant to the Electromagnetic field (EMF) emission norms defined by the government.

4. HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar launches Vidya-Veerta Abhiyan: The Minister for Human Resource and Development, Prakash Javadekar has launched Students for soldiers- a nationwide Vidya – Veerta Abhiyan to encourage Universities and educational institutions across the country to display portraits of Param Veer Chakra-decorated soldiers. The portraits of Param Veer Chakra decorated soldiers were handed over to the Vice Chancellors of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Jamia Milia Islamia, Jammu and IIT Delhi, among others, to put it in their educational institutions. The “wall of heroes” depicting portraits of brave soldiers who showed exemplary bravery in defending the nation is expected to instil a sense of patriotism and nationalism among students

5. Department of Telecommunications launches Portal for Information on Mobile Tower Radiation: The Department of Telecommunications has launched a web portal called the ‘Tarang Sanchar’ web portal that will allow tracking of radiation emitted from mobile towers within their locality and check for their compliance with the Electromagnetic field (EMF) emission norms defined by the government. The web portal is aimed at myths and misconceptions about mobile towers and emissions from them.

6. Tejas Express: New Premier Train between Mumbai and Goa: Indian Railways is expected to launch a new 20 coach premier train called the Tejas Express connecting Mumbai and Goa in June. The Tejas service aims to provide comfort to passengers in the inter-city journeys. Once the Mumbai-Goa run becomes operational, the Railways is likely to extend the Tejas service in Delhi-Chandigarh route. The Tejas service was promised in the Union Railway Budget 2016-17.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India & Turkey sign three agreements: India and Turkey have sign three agreements on diplomacy, cultural exchange and on telecommunication during delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Erdogan. It is the first official trip at the presidential level from Turkey to India in seven years. The visiting dignitary held wide-ranging talks with President Pranab Mukherjee on key bilateral and regional issues.

2. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro calls for new constituent body: Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro will form a new constituent National Assembly with powers to rewrite the constitution. The new body will be made up of pro-government worker's groups along with civic society groups. Only half of the 500-member assembly, or less, would be elected and political parties would not participate.

3. India-Turkey inks Three Agreements: India and Turkey have signed three agreements following delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This is Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s first foreign visit after winning the April 16 referendum that will transform Turkey into a presidential form of democracy. The previous visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to India was made in 2008. In total three agreements were signed by both the sides in the fields of ICT, training and culture.

Ø  An agreement for a cultural exchange programme for the years 2017-2020 was signed.

Ø  A MoU was signed between the Foreign Services Institute (FSI) of India and the Diplomacy Academy of Turkey.

Ø  A MoU was signed for cooperation in the area of information and communication technologies (ICT).

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had also assured India of Turkey’s full support in the fight against terrorism and for India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. During his visit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was conferred the Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Jamia Millia Islamia university for “his contribution to strengthen international cooperation, peace and diplomacy as well as for his extraordinary humanitarian aid to millions of refugees.”

OTHER UPDATES: 

SPORTS:

1.  Hockey India recommends Sardar Singh for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna: Hockey India has recommended senior player and former captain Sardar Singh for India's highest sporting honor, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna. SV Sunil, Dharamvir Singh, and Deepika have been recommended for the Arjuna Award while RP Singh and Sumrai Tete have been recommended for the Dhyan Chand Award. Coaches Sandeep Sangwan and Romesh Pathania have been recommended for the Dronacharya Award.

A committee of Sports Ministry will decide on the recommendations made by the respective sports federation.

2. Joshna Chinappa becomes first Indian to win Asian Squash title: Joshna Chinappa has become the first Indian to clinch the Asian Squash title with a thrilling win over Dipika Pallikal Karthik in the women's final in Chennai. Chinappa held off a fighting Pallikal 13-15, 12-10, 11-13, 11-4, 11-4 in 78 minutes to win the title.

NATIONAL APPOINTMENT:

3. Shobana Kamineni is the new CII President: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has announced Ms. Shobana Kamineni (Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd.) as the new President of CII for the year 2017-18. She takes over from Dr. Naushad Forbes (Co-Chairman, Forbes Marshall Limited). Shobana is an active member of CII and has been a recipient of prestigious national awards for Entrepreneurship and Leadership. Ms. Kamineni holds a B.A. in Economics from Stella Maris College, Chennai and an accelerated Diploma in Hospital Administration from Columbia University, New York.

4. Anthony Lianzuala takes over as Controller General of Accounts: Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) Officer (1982-batch) Anthony Lianzuala took over as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Department of Expenditure, Union Ministry of Finance, in New Delhi. He is the First person from the North-Eastern Region to hold this position. Shri Lianzuala's earlier roles include positions in Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and Ministries of Information & Broadcasting, Consumer Afairs, Food & Public Distribution, Commerce, and Rural Development.

OBITUARIES:

5. Sufi legend Begum Yaman passes away: Famous Sufi singer ‘Begum Yaman K. Khan’ (52-year) passed away after multiple organ failures. She was the daughter of legendary Sitar Maestro (late) ‘Ustad Vilayat Ali Khan’. Begum Yaman used to sing all forms of Indian semi-classical music and was probably the only female singer in India of Sufi style of music in its purest form. She was the recipient of ‘Hasrat Amir Khusrao Award’ by Urdu Press Club International and an award for her excellence and contribution to semi-classical and Sufiana kalam by Balkan-Ji-Bari International.

HONORS & AWARDS:

6. Andhra Pradesh CM ‘Chandrababu Naidu’ bags USIBC award: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister ‘Chandrababu Naidu’ has been selected for the  Transformative Chief Minister Award' in recognition for his role in advancing the US-India partnership at the state level. The award would be presented at the USIBC West Coast Summit in the Silicon Valley on 8th May 2017. Last year’s recipient of this award was CEO of Niti Aayog Amitabh Kant.

Daily GK Updates - 1st May, 2017

­­­­NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1.  Real Estate Act, aims at protecting interests of buyers, comes into effect: The ‘Real Estate Act’ which aims to protect the interests of homebuyers by ensuring transparency has come into effect. This act will ensure the much-desired transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the crucial real estate sector. 

2. Railways to use RFID tags to track wagons, coaches: The Indian Railways will use radio-frequency identification tags (RFID) for tracking of wagons, coaches, and locomotives to ensure effective and transparent functioning. Using RFID devices, it will be easier for the railways to know the exact position of wagons, locomotives, and coaches. Railways had implemented the RFID system on the Vishakhapatnam-Talcher-Paradeep section as a pilot project.

3. Haryana govt to set up 15 solid waste management clusters: The Haryana state Govt. has decided to set up 15 integrated solid waste management clusters to deal with solid waste in urban areas. Electricity would be generated from solid waste in three clusters and manure from the remaining 12 clusters. A solid waste management plant is being set up at Faridabad at a cost of Rs. 330 crore.

4. India to launch South-Asia satellite on May 5: The “South Asia satellite” for use by countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region will be launched on May 5. This was stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his latest ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address. The Prime Minister has hailed the satellite as an invaluable gift of India to South Asia and has further stated that the satellite “will go a long way in addressing South Asia’s economic and developmental priorities.” During the 2014 SAARC summit that held in Nepal, the plan for the satellite was announced and subsequently all SAARC countries have joined it except Pakistan. Hence, the beneficiaries of the satellite will be Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives. The total cost of launching the satellite (around Rs 235 crore) would be met by the Government of India.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India to give Rs 35 cr to children of freedom fighters in Bangladesh: India will give Rs. 35 crore rupees to children of freedom fighters in Bangladesh under the new ‘Muktijodha scholarship’ scheme in the next five years. Under the scheme, students at higher secondary level will get a one-time grant of Tk 20,000 (Rs 15,370) and students at the undergraduate level will get a grant of Tk 50,000 (Rs 38,430). In addition, all freedom fighters will be eligible for multiple entries on Indian visa for a period of five years. Also, every year 100 of them will be entitled to free medical treatment in Indian hospitals.

2. Deputy PM & Home Minister of Nepal Bimalendra Nidhi resigns: The Deputy Prime Minister & Home Minister of Nepal Bimalendra Nidhi has resigned from his post in protest of impeachment motion registered against Nepal's first female chief justice Sushila Karki. At least 249 MPs signed the motion which is over the required number to open an impeachment investigation. It comes after the Supreme Court overturned the government's choice of chief of police.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Valtteri Bottas wins first ever F1 race at Russian GP 2017: Finnish racing driver Valtteri Bottas (with Mercedes) has won his first Formula One victory at the 2017 Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom Russia. Bottas won the race by 0.617 seconds over Sebastian Vettel, the smallest winning margin since the 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel finished in second and Mercedes's Lewis Hamilton stood fourth.

2. Paes-Lipsky win Tallahassee Challenger title of men's doubles: Indo-American tennis player Leander Paes and Scott Lipsky has won the Tallahassee Challenger title of the men's doubles. They defeated Argentine third seeds Leonardo Mayer and Maximo Gonzalez 4-6, 7-6(5), 10-7 in the summit clash. Earlier, Paes had won the Leon Challenger in Mexico with Adil Shamasdin.

3. Aizawl FC become first Northeastern club to win I-league: Aizawl FC has won its maiden I-League title against Shillong Lajong in their final game of the league season. Aizawl ended the league on 37 points and became the first club from the Northeast to bag the title. Mohun Bagan defeated Chennai City FC 2-1 and finished second in the League with 36 points.

4. Leander Paes Wins Tallahassee Challenger Title: The top-seeded Indo-American pair of Leander Paes and Scott Lipsky defeated Argentine third seeds Leonardo Mayer and Maximo Gonzalez to win the Tallahassee Challenger title of the men’s double. This title win is Paes’ 2nd Challenger level title of the season. The 2017 Tallahassee Tennis Challenger was played on green clay courts between 24 and 29 April 2017.

5. Aizawl FC become First Northeastern Club to Win I-League: Aizawl FC has won its maiden I-League title against Shillong Lajong in their final game of the league season to become the first ever club from the northeast to win the I-League title. This was the 10th edition of the I-League held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, The victory of Aizawl FC with a shoe-string budget against Shillong Lajong is considered as one of the biggest achievements in Indian football history. Aizawl ended the league with 37 points.

BANKING:

6. RBI asks ARCs to have a minimum net corpus of Rs100 crore by 2019: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked all the existing asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) to have a minimum net owned fund (NOF) of Rs100 crore by March 2019. This decision has been taken by RBI in accordance with its last bi-monthly monetary policy in which it had proposed to stipulate a minimum NOF of Rs100 crore taking into consideration the enhanced role and greater cash based transactions carried out by ARCs. As per amended SARFAESI Act, 2016, ARCs cannot carry on the business of securitisation or asset reconstruction without having NOF of not less than Rs 2 crore or any other amount stipulated by the RBI. As per the notification of RBI, the existing ARCs not meeting the minimum NOF criteria need to achieve the minimum NOF of Rs100 crore latest by 31 March 2019.

7.  SBI reduces term deposit rates by up to 50 bps: The State Bank of India (SBI) has cut its term deposit rates by up to 50 basis points for various maturities. The rates have been revised for medium and long term deposits and for the amount below Rs. one crore. Now, SBI will offer a rate of 6.25% as compared to 6.75% earlier for two to less than three year deposits, For the similar maturity, the deposit rates for senior citizen have been cut to 6.75% from 7.25%. The rates have been lowered by 25 basis points to 6.50% for deposits maturing between three years and 10 years. The bank is offering highest rates of 6.90% for one year to 455 days term deposits.

INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENT:

8. Yusra Mardini appointed UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador: The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees) has appointed Syrian refugee and Olympic athlete 'Yusra Mardini' (19-years) as a Goodwill Ambassador to help raise awareness about the plight of refugees. Mardini has participated in the first ever Olympic refugee team at the Rio de Janeiro games 2016. Mardini studying in Berlin will go soon on a UNHCR mission to Tokyo, venue of the 2020 Summer Games.

IMPORTANT DATES:

9. International Labour Day observed on 1st May: The 'International Labour Day' is a celebration of laborers and the working classes, promoted by the international labour movement, anarchists, socialists, and communists. It takes place every year on 1st May which also matches with the Celtic spring festival. The day marks the victory of workers' movement for eight hours of work. It also aims to pay tribute to workers sacrifices in achieving economic and social rights all over the world. The date was chosen for International Workers' Day by the Second International to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago on 4^th May 1886.

Daily GK Updates - 30th April, 2017

­­­­NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Uma Bharti launches Water Conservation Programme for Bundelkhand: Union Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Sushri Uma Bharti today launched Bundelkhand water conservation program at Bandri in Sagar District of Madhya Pradesh (MP). The objective is to effectively improve ground water conditions in stressed blocks, ensure sustainability of resource both quantitatively and qualitatively.

2. Today – Day of Remembrance for all victims of Chemical Warfare: The Day of remembrance of all victims of chemical Warfare was observed on April 29 by the United Nations (UN). This commemoration will provide an opportunity to pay tribute to the victims of chemical warfare, as well as to reaffirm the commitment of the Organization.

3. E-Taxi trial run to begin in Nagpur: India’s first electric taxi (e- taxi) trial in the country would be launched in Nagpur from May 24. Mahindra and Mahindra are set to provide 200 taxis for the initiative. Electric car taxi is one of the ambitious projects and forms as a part of its United Nations Development Program (UNDP) millennium goals to tackle pollution.

4. IOC to build new oil terminal in Bihar: The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has planned to build a new oil terminal at Motihari in Bihar to supply fuel to Nepal via the planned pipeline up to Amlekganj in Nepal. The 69-km Motihari-Amlekganj pipeline will be built at a cost of Rs.325 crore. In August 2015, India and Nepal signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a product pipeline.

5. ISRO to launch five satellites by 2017- end to boost communication capability: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch five communication satellites by the year-end. The satellites launched by the ISRO and their purposes in the areas of weather forecasting, disaster management, space exploration, geo-spatial applications, education, and agriculture.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. North Korea once again test-fires ballistic missile: North Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile defying global pressure and warnings from the United States and its mainly, China. The test was conducted from the Pukchang region present in the north of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. The missile launched is expected to be a medium-range weapon known as a KN–17 and appears to have disintegrated within minutes of taking off.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING & FINANCE

1. Paytm to invest 10,000 crores in banking, financial services: Paytm will invest Rs 10,000 crore in its banking and financial services in the next three years and hopes to get the final approval for its payments bank operations. The Paytm operates a mobile wallet and e-commerce marketplace over 1.5 billion transactions on its platform, the company now aims to cross the 4.5 billion mark this year.

2. Google CEO Pichai was paid 1,285 cr as compensation in 2016: Google CEO Sundar Pichai received a compensation package of $200 million (1,285 crore) from parent firm Alphabet in his first year at the helm of the company. Pichai received a salary of $650,000 in 2016 besides a $198.7 million stock award, roughly double of his stock in 2015.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

3. Hero MotoCorp named Indian MNC of the Year: World’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp was adjudged the ‘Indian MNC of the year' by All India Management Association. Brand Hero has expanded to 35 countries spread across Asia, Africa and Central and South America in a very short span of time since charting its solo journey in 2011. Hero’s manufacturing plant is situated in Vila Ricca, Colombia.