Daily GK Updates - 10th October, 2017

                 NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Jagdish Mukhi takes oath as Governor of Assam: Prof. Jagdish Mukhi (74-years) has been administered the oath of office by Gauhati High Court Chief Justice, Ajit Singh at a function in Gauhati.Earlier, Prof Mukhi served as the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.The governors of the states have similar powers and functions at the state level as that of the President of India at Union level.The governor acts as the nominal head whereas the real power lies with the chief ministers of the states and their councils of ministers.

2. J&K govt launches Aadhaar enrolment drive for students: The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) govt. has started an Aadhaar enrolment drive for nearly 14 lakh school children in the state.Aadhaar enrolment centres have been set up in Phase-1 in six districts of the state which includes Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag, Dodha, Kishtwar, and Samba.The rest of the districts will be covered in Phase-2 for which the necessary equipment, machinery, and other measures are being undertaken.

3.Haryana government to provide 50 pc subsidy on onion seed: Haryana Govt. has decided to provide 50% subsidy on onion seed on the first-come-first-serve basis to encourage farming of kharif onion in the state.The maximum amount limit of subsidy on the onion seed is 500 rupees per kg seed or 50%, whichever is less would be provided.The maximum quantity of seed provided is 10 kg per hectare per farmer.Now, farmers can obtain the seed of different varieties of kharif onion from seed sales centres of Haryana Seed Development Corporation and National Horticultural Research and Development Foundation by just depositing their share of the amount according to rules.

4. Vice President inaugurates 3rd International Conference on Yoga: Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has inaugurated the third International Conference on Yoga in New Delhi.The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Yoga for Wellness’.Experts will deliberate on the scope of yoga in integrated medicine, and control of cancer, depression, gynecological disorders and pain management.Around 500 delegates from 44 countries are attending the conference to provide a common platform to AYUSH and allopathy practitioners, researchers, academicians, policymakers and students.

5. UP Cabinet approves digitalization of land maps: Uttar Pradesh state Cabinet presided by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has approved digitalization of land maps in 70 districts of the state.Rs. 5.21 crore has been made available for the digitization work.The maps will be available online and help check malpractices in a big way.

                INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India’s rank at 8th in the world’s most valuable nation brands: India has been ranked 8th out of 100 countries on a list of most valuable nation brands, according to Brand Finance’s Nation Brands 2017 report. The list is topped by US, followed by China, Germany, Japan and United Kingdom. In terms of valuation, India’s National Brand Value in 2017 is $2.04 trillion, down one percent from last year’s $2.06 trillion. However, India’s brand rating has improved from ‘AA-‘ to ‘AA’. Despite a rating improvement, India does not feature in the list of 10 best performing nation brands. Iceland topped the ‘Top 10 best performing nation brands’ list. Brand Finance measures the strength and value of the nation brands of 100 leading countries using a method based on the royalty relief mechanism employed to value the world’s largest companies.

                              OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Commerce & industry ministry okays eight industrial licenses for explosives: The commerce and industry ministry has approved eight industrial licenses for explosives.These industrial licenses for explosives with proposed investment of 51 crore rupees are likely to create 1,171 jobs.Industrial licensing was abolished for most of the industries but permits are needed for defense and explosives segments.

2. Gujarat cuts VAT on petrol, diesel by 4%: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has announced to reduce 4% VAT on petrol and diesel prices.Petrol price has been cut by Rs 2.93 per litre, while diesel price has been slashed by Rs 2.72 a litre.Reduction in VAT will cost the state exchequer around Rs 2,316 crore annually.Now, the current 24 % VAT on petrol and diesel will now come down to 20%.

3. IIT-Kharagpur  has signed a MoU with Samsung for digital academy: IIT-Kharagpur has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Samsung India for the setting up of a digital academy on the institute’s campus. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the institute will host the Samsung Innovation Lab and train students on the Internet of Things (IoT) through Tizen-based operating systems, commonly used by the company for its mobile phones and home appliances. The academy was a part of Samsung’s corporate social initiative that aims at bridging the digital divide in the country by imparting skills to students on cutting-edge technology, Through this partnership with IIT-KGP, the academy planned to train over 100 students in the next three years. The course would be taught over 14 weeks through classroom lectures, assignments, lab room sessions, self-study and mini projects.

Daily GK Updates - 9th October, 2017

                 NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. GoM Set Up to Review Composition Scheme:  A group of ministers (GoM) has been set up under Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to make the composition scheme more attractive and also revisit GST rates on restaurants. The GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had constituted the GoM.With only 15.50 lakh businesses out of the total 98 lakh registered under the goods and services tax (GST) regime opting for the composition scheme, the GST Council has decided to set up the GoM to examine measures to make it more attractive.

                   INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Rajesh Nath has been conferred the ‘Cross of the Order of Merit’, the highest civilian honour of Germany: Rajesh Nath, the managing director of VDMA India, has been conferred the ‘Cross of the Order of Merit’, the highest civilian honour awarded to individuals for their services to Germany. The award, also known as Bundesverdienstkreuz or Federal Cross of Merit was instituted in 1951 and is Germany’s only honour that is awarded to both Germans and foreigners for achievements in the economic, social, political or intellectual realms.

                                OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. PNB MetLife Appoints Ashish Srivastava as MD & CEO: PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Ltd (PNB MetLife),a life insurer, has appointed Ashish Srivastava as a new Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the company.Prior to this elevation, Srivastava was an interim CEO at PNB MetLife. Srivastava joined PNB MetLife in 2013 as the Head of HR for the India business.

SPORTS:

1.India's Anupama Ramachandran wins World Open U-16 Snooker Championship: Anupama Ramachandran (India) has won the World Open Under-16 Snooker Championship title at St. Petersburg in Russia.In the Girls category, she defeated top seed Keerthana Pandian 3-1.In boy category, Dylan Emery of Wales has claimed the title.Total 73 cueists from across the world have participated in this championship.

2.Rafael Nadal wins 2107 China open title: Top-ranked 16-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal (Spain) has won 2017 China 0pen title in Beijing.Rafael Nadal defeated Nick Kyrgios (Australia) 6-2, 6-1 to win his 6th ATP title of the year.In the women’s event, Caroline Garcia (France) defeated world no.1 Simona Halep(Romania) in straight sets of 6-4, 7-6 .

Daily GK Updates - 8th October, 2017

                 NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian Air Force celebrates 85th anniversary: Air Force Day 2017 is being observed annually on 8th October across India.This is the 85th celebration of the Day that began in 1932.The Indian Air Force has displayed various Aircraft at Air Force Station Hindan air base near Delhi with parade and air display.

2.Prime Minister launches Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) at Vadnagar in Gujarat.Through this programme, the union govt. aims to reach each & every child under two years of age and all those pregnant women who have been left uncovered under the routine immunization programme.The special drive will focus on improving immunization coverage in select districts and cities to ensure full immunization to more than 90% by December 2018

3.President Kovind launches Rs.100crore clean water initiative:President Ram Nath Kovind launched spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi Math’s Rs.100crore clean water initiative for rural India in Kerala’s Kollam.He inaugurated Jivamritam filtration system which will provide drinking water to 1crore villagers across India.

                

                    INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Kim Jong-un promotes sister to centre of power: Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, was made an alternate member of the politburo – the top decision-making body over which Kim Jong Un presides.Twenty Eight year old Yo-Jong was blacklisted along with other North Korean officials by the US treasury in January this year over severe human rights abuses.

2.World Post Day is being observed: World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9th October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern.It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969.Since then, countries around the world participate annually in the celebrations.

                              OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1.Magicbricks launches India’s first online property bidding platform: Magicbricks announced the launch of India’s first online bidding platform for residential and commercial properties and tied-up with developer M3M for the inaugural ‘My Bid, My Home’.Magicbricks has been recently awarded the standardization, Testing, and Quality Certification (STQC) by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, making it the country’s only real estate portal eligible for a biding platform for properties.

SPORTS:

1. Samiya wins gold at U-15 Asian Junior Championship: Indian shuttler Samiya Imad Farooqui clinched the gold medal at the Under-15 women's singles competition at the Asian Junior Championship in Yangon, Myanmar.She defeated Indonesia's Widjaja Stephani 15-21, 21-17, 21-19.Earlier, P V Sindhu had won the gold in U-19 Asia Junior championship in 2012 at Gimcheon, South Korea.

2. RMV Gurusaidutt has won the 2017 men singles title at the Bulgarian International Future Series Tennis tournament: Commonwealth Games bronze medallist RMV Gurusaidutt has clinched the men’s singles title at the Bulgarian International Future Series tournament on October 9, 2017. Gurusaidutt, who has been out of action since the US Open in July 2016 due to an injury, defeated Muhammed Ali Kurt in the final by 21- 17, 21-16.

AWARDS/HONOURS:

1. Richard Thaler wins 2017 Nobel prize in economics : The Nobel economics prize 2017 has been awarded to Richard Thaler (72-years)of the University of Chicago for his contributions to behavioural economics.Thaler is an American economist & the Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.The 9-million-kronor (1.1 million US Dollars) prize was awarded to the academic for his understanding the psychology of economics.Behavioural economics, a research field in which insights from psychological research are applied to economic decision making.

 

Daily GK Updates - 7th October, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao led to improvement in sex ratio at birth: According to the union govt., there has been an improvement in sex ratio at birth in 104 districts selected for the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme.Out of the total 161 districts where the programme is being implemented, an increasing trend in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) is visible in 104 districts.Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme aims at checking female infanticide and educating the girl child.Now. Ministry of Women and Child Development plans to extend this programme to all the districts of the country with the focus on the 56 of the total 161 districts that have shown a decline in SRB.­­

2. World Dental Show-2017 opens in Mumbai: The three days international exhibition 'World Dental Show 2017' has been opened in Mumbai, showcasing the evolving global technologies and techniques in dentistry.Indian Dental Association (IDA) hosted the exhibition which has witnessed participation from the international exhibitors are displaying their latest dental wares in 250 well-furnished stalls.Through WDS 2017, an unparalleled opportunity to learn, share knowledge, socialize and to experience the state-of-the-art technology and equipment related to the world of dentistry

3. ISRO to set up research center in Guwahati: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will set up a research center for start-ups, academicians, environmentalists, and entrepreneurs in Guwahati, Assam.ISRO will explore the possibility of using geospatial technology, which includes data generated through global positioning system (GPS), geographical information systems (GIS) and satellite remote sensing for expediting the development of Assam.

4. Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya & UP Sign MoU to boost culture and tourism: Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh & Meghalaya have signed a MoU under the ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ program to boost cultural ties.Under the program, the states will connect with each other to know more about the culture, heritage, and traditions of each other.The programme will enhance the interaction between people of diverse cultures living in different states and union territories, with the objective of promoting greater mutual understanding among them.

                 

                   INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.US approves sale of THAAD missiles to Saudi: The US State Department has approved the sale of missile system worth over $15 billion to Saudi Arabia.The deal includes 44 THAAD launchers and 360 missiles along with five control stations and radars.

2.Govt reduces GST rates on 27 products and services: The govt introduced a 0.1% GST rate for merchant exporters, offering relief from the full-applicable GST rates.GST on products like sliced dried mangoes and services like zari work is reduced from 12% to 5%.

                              OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1.Vijaya Bank inks MoU with HPCL for Digital Payments: Vijaya Bank has joined a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) for enabling all HPCL retail outlets with BHIM/UPI merchant solutions.This rollout will empower all petrol pump attendants and LPG delivery personnel to accept digital payments.Customers can make payments by scanning a payment QR code (using BHIM Vijaya or any BHIM app) that supports payments via UPI.

SPORTS:

1. John Hastings retires from the Test & ODI Cricket: Australian fast bowler ‘John Hastings’ (31-years) has called it quits from Test Match and ODIs, citing recurring injuries as the reason.Hastings wants to solely focus on T20 cricket.He has represented Australia in 1 test, 29 ODIs and 9 T20Is.In 2016, Hastings was the world's leading ODI fast bowler after picking up 29 wickets in 15 matches.

OBITUARIES:

1.Filmmaker Kundan Shah passes away: The Director Kundan Shah (69-year) passes away due to heart attack in Mumbai.Mr. Shah best known for films like 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron' (1983), 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa' (1993) and TV shows like 'Nukkad' (1986) and 'Wagle Ki Duniya' (1988).

2.Former union minister Purushottam Lal Kaushik passes away: Former Union minister and socialist leader Purushottam Lal Kaushik (87-years) passed at his home in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district.He had served as tourism and civil aviation minister (1977- 1979) and Information and Broadcasting Ministry (July 1979-January 1980).