Daily GK Updates - 8th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Centre asks SC to take back its order on playing National Anthem in cinema halls: In a dramatic turnaround, the Centre told the Supreme Court to take back its order making it compulsory for cinema halls to play the National Anthem before screening a film and compelling patrons to stand up and show respect. On November 30, 2016, a Supreme Court Bench led by Justice Dipak Misra, before he became Chief Justice of India, had directed that “all cinema halls in India shall play the National Anthem before the feature film starts and all present in the hall are obliged to stand up to show respect to the National Anthem.”

2. Gujarat celebrates International Kite Festival, locals call it Uttarayan: The international kite festival which attracts kite flyers from across the country and the world began on Sunday in Ahmedabad. The international kite festival was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani at Sabarmati Riverfront. The state government-sponsored festival will culminate on January 14, which is celebrated as Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti).

3. Curbs on tobacco sale in Rajasthan: In a pioneering step to curb tobacco consumption, the Rajasthan government has introduced vendor licensing for the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products. A circular of the Dept of Local Self-Government has laid down rules for licensing and prohibited tobacco sale outlets from selling non-tobacco products.

4. Indian Railways to equip stations with Wi-Fi: All railway stations in India, nearly 8,500 in number, will be equipped with Wi-Fi facilities at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore. As part of the government’s ambitious Digital India initiative, it has currently commissioned Wi-Fi services at 216 major stations.

5. Arunachal to have India’s second FTII: Arunachal Pradesh would get its first Film and Television Institute, being set up by the Union Government as part of tapping the potential of the Northeastern region. This would be the second such institute in the country. The first Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) was set up in Pune, an autonomous institute operating under the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

6. Haryana launches HRP portal, the first state to do so: Haryana has become the first state in the country to launch high risk pregnancy (HRP) portal. This portal not only helps in early identification of high-risk pregnancy cases but also ensures their timely referral to the civil hospitals for further management and delivery by specialists.

7. India’s first National Park for differently-abled people in Telangana: Telangana State Government inaugurated India’s first National Park for differently abled people in Hyderabad. The park will have speech therapist, physiotherapist, vocational training instructors for the differently-abled children. An IT park on similar lines is coming up in the state.

8. HP govt to set up Gudiya helpline: Himachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said the government would set up ‘Gudiya helpline’ for reporting crime against women. Special women cells would be created in the state to deal with crime against women. ’Gudiya’ is a nickname given to the 16-year-old victim of rape and murder in Kotkhai town. The incident took place in 2017.

9. Bangla unveils official Emblem of the Bangla Government: Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee unveiled the official emblem of the state government, which was recently approved by the centre. The logo highlights the Ashoka emblem on the top with the theme of “Biswa Bangla” at the centre.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Golden Globe Awards 2018 announced: The 75th Golden Globe Awards ceremony was held in Los Angeles, the USA. Following are the winners. Best motion picture, drama: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama: Frances McDormand. Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, drama: Gary Oldman.

OTHER UPDATES

DEFENCE:

1. ICGS C-161 commissioned in Porbandar: Indian Coast Guard Ship C-161 was commissioned at Porbandar in Gujarat. The induction is a part of ongoing efforts by the Coast Guard to strengthen coastal security. It will strengthen the security umbrella of the west coast and also help augment patrolling to prevent illicit activities such as infiltration, smuggling, and illegal fishing.

SPORTS:

1. National Boxing Championship (Females) begins in Haryana: Over 300 top female boxers will be stepping into the ring during the second edition of the Elite Women’s National Boxing Championship. The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has indicated that the weeklong tournament will be seen as selection trials for 2018’s biggest boxing events – the Common Wealth Games and the Asian Games.

2. Switzerland won Hopman Cup Title: Switzerland won their third Hopman Cup as Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic beat Germany’s Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber. It was Federer’s second Hopman Cup triumph after victory in 2001 alongside then world number one Martina Hingis.

Daily GK Updates - 7th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Logistics performance index to be released: The commerce ministry will come out with a Logistics Performance Index (LPI) on January 8, ranking states in terms of the logistical support they provide to promote trade. The index will act as a dynamic tool for the ministry to identify bottlenecks in this area. The ranking is based on about eight parameters such as transportation facilities available in states and documentation procedures.

2. Lalu jailed for 3.5 years in fodder scam: RJD chief Lalu Prasad was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail and fined Rs 1 million by a special CBI court in a fodder scam case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 lakh. This is the second time that he has been jailed in the fodder scam. Prasad faces another three scam cases for illegal withdrawal from three other treasuries.

3. Chandigarh records the highest GER for girls: Chandigarh has recorded the highest Gross Enrolment Ratio or GER for females in all categories of higher education at 68.8 percent. Across India, according to the report, of the total number of colleges, only 9.3 percent are exclusively for girls and 15 universities for women. The overall GER of the country has increased from 24.5 percent in 2015-16 to 25.2 percent in 2016-17.

4. Mission Indradhanush - Over 2.55 crore children vaccinated and 68.7 lakh pregnant women reached: The four phases of Mission Indradhanush have enable the govt. to reach 2.55 crore children and around 68.7 lakh pregnant women in 528 districts across the country. MI is a vaccination programme to ensure that children under the age of 2 and pregnant women are immunised against seven life-threatening diseases. The word ‘Indradhanush’ represents 7 vaccines that are currently included in the Universal Immunisation Programme.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. NASA unveils 60th anniversary logo: NASA has released its logo for use in observing the 60th anniversary of its establishment. It has said that the logo represents its quest for knowledge. A crescent moon, a ringed planet and a field of stars amid a nebula of light blue represent the agency’s scientific underpinnings.

2. Pakistan blacklists Hafiz Saeed’s JuD: Pakistan interior ministry has blacklisted 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s organization Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD). The move comes a day after the US suspended about $2 billion in security aid to Pakistan for failing to clamp down on the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network. Pakistan’s financial regulatory body has also banned Saeed’s organizations from collecting donations.

OTHER UPDATES

SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY:

1. Chemical ban closes up ozone layer hole: With the declining levels of ozone-destroying chlorine, scientists have for the first time observed less ozone depletion. The findings showed that an international ban on chlorine has resulted in about 20% less ozone depletion during the Antarctic winter from 2005 to 2016.

2. NASA to scan the border of Earth and Space: A new NASA mission, GOLD, will examine Earth’s upper atmosphere to see how the boundary between Earth and space changes over time. GOLD stands for Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk, and the mission will focus on the temperature and makeup of Earth’s highest atmospheric layers. Another spacecraft, ICON (Ionospheric Connection Explorer) will also be launched later in 2018.

BANKING/ FINANCE:

1. As many as 1,463 accounts owe PSU banks Rs100 crore: As many as 1,463 entities account for bad loans of Rs100 crore or more in 21 public sector banks (PSBs), finance ministry data has shown. In State Bank of India (SBI) alone, 265 accounts had bad loans of more than Rs100 crore each, totalling Rs77,538 crore. Punjab National Bank topped the chart with 143 non-performing assets (NPA) accounts carrying over Rs100 crore each.

2. Centre introduces 7.75% savings bonds: The Centre has announced the introduction of 7.75% savings bonds designed to help citizens invest in a taxable instrument, without any monetary ceiling. The bonds are open to investment by individuals, including joint holdings and HUFs. The bonds will be issued at par, that is, at ₹100 and would be issued for a minimum amount of and in multiples of ₹1,000.

3. Android Trojan targets Indian bank apps: An Android Banking Trojan/Malware that targets around 200 apps, including those offered by Indian banks, has been detected. The malware is designed for stealing login credentials, hijacking SMS messages, uploading contact lists and SMS messages to malicious servers. The malware has targeted banking apps of Axis Bank, HDFC, ICICI, IDBI and Union Bank.

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. Venezuela to issue $5.9b cryptocurrency: Venezuela would issue 100 million units of its new oil-backed cryptocurrency in coming days. The announcement was made by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Each unit of the currency would be pegged to Venezuela’s oil basket, which this week averaged $59.07 per barrel.

SPORTS:

1. Gilles Simon wins Tata Open title: Gilles Simon of France has lifted the inaugural Tata Open Maharashtra Tennis trophy. He defeated Kevin Anderson in straight sets 7-6, 6-2. This tournament is India’s only ATP event. For the past 22 years, the tournament had been associated with the big metro cities, New Delhi hosting the inaugural edition in 1996.

Daily GK Updates - 6th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Budget 2018 to be presented on 1st February: This year’s Union budget will be presented on 1 February. The budget will be presented by finance minister Arun Jaitley. The Union Budget of India, also referred to as the Annual financial statement in the Article 112 of the Constitution of India, is the annual budget of the Republic of India.

2. World Book Fair begins in New Delhi: The Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar  inaugurated the nine-day World Book fair at Pragati Maidan New Delhi. Publishers from 40 countries of the world are participating in the book fair. This time the European Union has been given the status of the guest country.

3. Atal Pension Yojana reaches subscriber base of 80 lakh: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority of India (PFRDA) run Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has reached a subscriber base of 80 lakh and growing at a good pace. Uttar Pradesh is the highest contributing state at 11.41 lakh APY subscribers, followed by Bihar and Tamil Nadu. APY became operational from 1st June, 2015 and is available to all citizens of India in the age group of 18-40 years. Under the scheme, a subscriber will receive a minimum guaranteed pension of 1000 to 5000 rupees per month, depending on his contribution, from the age of 60 years.

4. Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) launched:  The central govt. has launched the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) to provide social security during old age, to protect elderly persons aged 60 and above against a future fall in their interest income due to uncertain market conditions. The scheme enables old age income security for senior citizens through provision of assured pension/return linked to the subscription amount based on government guarantee to Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). The scheme provides an assured return of 8% per annum for 10 years. The scheme is open for subscription till 3rd May 2018.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Pakistan Successfully Test-Fires ‘Harba’: The Pakistan Navy said it successfully test-fired the indigenously developed ‘Harba’ naval cruise missile. It was launched from a newly commissioned fast attack vessel off Karachi in the North Arabian Sea. The missile is capable of hitting its target from surface to surface and ground assault,

2. Himalayan Hydro Expo 2018 in Kathmandu: The Himalayan Hydro Expo 2018 kicked off at Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the exhibition. Delegates from various countries including India, China, Austria, Czech Republic and Norway are participating in the expo.

OTHER UPDATES

1. Endangered plant species discovered in China: Scientists have discovered a new endangered species of flowering plants in China. It was discovered in southwest Chinas Yunnan Province during a field survey. The species, Primula Zhui, known in Chinese as Zhu Hua Baochun, was named after Zhu Hua, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

BANKING/ FINANCE:

1. TIHCL gets RBI nod to operate as NBFC: The Telangana Industrial Health Clinic Ltd (TIHCL) has got RBI clearance to register and function as a non-banking finance company (NBFC). TIHCL will be the first state promoted and co-financing NBFC. It had won the SKOCH Platinum Award in September 2017 under the smart governance category in the MSME segment.

2. Fund for National Waterway-1 project: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for implementation of the Jal Marg Vikas Project at a cost of Rs 5369 crore. This project is geared towards capacity augmentation of navigation on the Haldia-Varanasi stretch of National Waterway-1 (NW-1). The project is spread across four states viz. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Bangla.

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. Income Tax Department launches online chat service: The Income Tax (IT) Department has launched an online chat service on its national website www.incometaxindia.gov.in, aimed at facilitating the taxpayers resolve their queries. A customer support executive having expertise in tax-related matters helps the users in resolving their queries online. The facility is available on all working days from Monday to Friday between 10 AM and 6 PM.

Daily GK Updates - 5th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Swachh Sarvekshan 2018-world’s biggest cleanliness survey launched: The world’s biggest cleanliness survey ‘Swachh Sarvekshan Survey 2018’ was launched in India. It will be conducted from the 4th of January to 10th of March. The cleanliness survey was launched in 2016 as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The main objective of Swachh Survekshan is to encourage large-scale citizen participation and create awareness.

2. Higher education in India improves, GER increases: According to the latest survey reports, the country’s Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education has registered an increase from 24.5% in 2015-16 to 25.2% in 2016-17. GER is a statistical measure for determining the number of students enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate and research level studies within the country.

3. Goa to ban PVC based plastic-Manohar Parrikar: Goa will ban PVC-based plastic from May 30, and no plastic packaging will be allowed in the State from December 19. Goa also plan to make littering a punishable offence soon.

4. India excludes Pakistan from SAARC Initiative: India has excluded Pakistan from the list of SAARC member countries with which it will be connecting its state-of-the-art National Knowledge Network. Through NKN scientific databases will be shared and remote access to advanced research facilities will be provided.

5. Goa to host 3rd edition of Science Film Festival: Goa will be hosting the third edition of the Science Film Festival of India in January 2018. The festival, titled SCI-FFI Goa, is being organised by the state-based Vigyan Parishad, Goa Department of Science and Technology. The competition aims to boost the culture of science films, all the films submitted should be related to science and technology.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. US puts Pakistan on watch list: The US State Department has placed Pakistan on a Special Watch List for what it claims are “severe violations of religious freedom”. The State Department said it has also re-designated 10 countries as “countries of particular concern”.

OTHER UPDATES

BANKING/ FINANCE:

1. RBI initiates PCA against Allahabad Bank: The Reserve Bank of India has initiated ‘prompt corrective action’ (PCA) against Allahabad Bank over its high bad loans. High net non-performing assets and a negative return on assets for two years in a row have prompted the action. Usha Ananthasubramanian is the MD & CEO of Allahabad Bank, which is headquartered in Kolkata.

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. Salman Khan appointed as brand ambassador of Emami: Emami Group said it has roped in Bollywood star Salman Khan as the brand ambassador for its edible oil business, which is a part of Emami Agrotech Ltd. The move is aimed at giving much needed recognition to the agri products of Emami.

SPORTS:

1. Meghalaya to host the 39th edition of National Games, 2022: Meghalaya signed the Host City Contract with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for hosting the 39th National Games in 2022. The tripartite contract was signed between the IOA, the Meghalaya State Olympic Association and the state government.

Daily GK Updates - 4th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Solar plants made mandatory in new buildings in Haryana: The Haryana government has mandated installation of Solar Photovoltaic Power plant in new buildings as per specified norms. This has been done in a move to conserve electricity and use it efficiently.

2. Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar Mela 2017-18 held in Assam: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar Mela 2017-18’ at a function held at Sarbananda Singha auditorium in Tinsukia, Assam. Under this scheme, people belonging to tea community who opened bank accounts during demonetisation will be credited Rs 2500 in their accounts.

3. Cabinet approves Zojila tunnel project: The government approved the Rs 6,809-crore strategic Zojila pass tunnel project in Jammu and Kashmir. The Zojila pass tunnel project in Jammu and Kashmir will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh. Zojila pass is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway.

4. New AIIMS in Bilaspur to be set up: The Union Cabinet gave its approval for the establishment of new AIIMS in Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh). It will be set up at cost of Rs.1351 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), AIIMS on the pattern of AIIMS, New Delhi have been established in Bhubaneshwar, Bhopal, Raipur, Jodhpur, Rishikesh, and Patna.

5. Assam launches free CT Scan service in Majuli: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched a free CT Scan service under at Shri Shri Pitambar Dev Goswami Civil Hospital in Majuli island. It is launched under ‘Chief Minister Free Diagnostic Services’. It is noteworthy that Majuli is world’s largest river island.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. UN Security Council welcomes 6 New Members: The U.N. Security Council has welcomed six new non-permanent members - Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Peru, and Poland. They voted on by the 193-member General assembly for two-year terms. Flags of the six new member countries were installed outside the council chambers in a ceremony arranged by Umarov.

2. World Braille Day observed: The World Braille Day is observed across the world every year on 4th January to mark the birth anniversary of Louis Braille. He was the inventor of Braille script or Braille code. Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired.

OTHER UPDATES

SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY:

1. Nanowire device to detect cancer with a urine test: Researchers centered at Nagoya University develop a nanowire device able to detect microscopic levels of urinary markers potentially implicated in cancer. In a new study reported in Science Advances, researchers centered at Nagoya University have developed a novel medical device that can efficiently capture extracellular vesicles (EVs), and potentially use them to screen for cancer.

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. RIL commissions world’s largest refinery off-gas cracker at Jamnagar: The Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has commissioned and achieved design throughput of the world’s largest refinery off the gas cracker at Jamnagar, Gujarat. This refinery will have a capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per annum along with downstream plants and utilities. The facility uses off-gases from two refineries of RIL at Jamnagar as feedstock.

2. NABARD sanctioned 372.51 crore to Odisha: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has sanctioned Rs 372.51 crore loan assistance to Odisha for irrigation and rural bridge projects. This loan has been sanctioned under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

BANKING/ FINANCE:

1. NABARD sanctioned 372.51 crore to Odisha: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has sanctioned Rs 372.51 crore loan assistance to Odisha for irrigation and rural bridge projects. This loan has been sanctioned under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

2. New Rs 10 note to be issued by RBI: According to reports, the Reserve Bank of India is all set to issue new Rs 10 notes under the Mahatma Gandhi series with chocolate brown colour as the base. According to News18, around 1 billion pieces of the new 10 rupee note has already been printed by the apex bank.

3. ‘Electoral Bonds’ Scheme launched: The Centre unveiled the ‘Electoral Bonds’ scheme, which seeks to ensure the flow of clean money to political parties, without revealing the donors’ names. The electoral bonds will be a bearer instrument in the nature of a Promissory Note and an interest-free banking instrument. The bonds can be purchased for any value in multiples of Rs1,000; Rs10,000; Rs1 lakh; Rs10 lakh; and Rs 1 crore.

Daily GK Updates - 3rd January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Former RAW chief Rajinder Khanna appointed Deputy NSA: Former chief of the country's external intelligence agency RAW, Rajinder Khanna has been appointed as the Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA). Mr. Khanna is at present Officer on Special Duty (Neighbourhood Studies) in the National Security Council Secretariat.

2. India’s second largest rooftop solar plant: State-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd today said it has commissioned the country’s second-largest rooftop solar power plant. The firm has installed a 5.76 MWp (Mega Watt peak) solar plant at its petrochemical complex at Pata in Uttar Pradesh. The plant over the roofs of warehouses covers a total area of 65,000 square meters.

3. A B Mathur appointed interlocutor for talks with ULFA: Government has appointed AB Mathur as the interlocutor on their behalf to hold talks with the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA). Mathur has already served as the former special secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). ULFA is a separatist outfit operating in Assam for the indigenous Assamese and seeks to establish a sovereign Assam with an armed struggle in the Assam conflict.

4. Karnataka to obtain electric vehicles: Karnataka would obtain electric vehicles under the Centre’s FAME-India scheme. Karnataka is set to procure and ply 40 electric buses, 100 four wheelers and 500 three wheelers along with setting up of charging infrastructure. Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric (FAME) vehicles, is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan, for promoting eco-friendly vehicles.

5. Nagaland declared as ‘disturbed area’: The entire Nagaland has been declared as “disturbed area” for six more months, till June- end, under the AFSPA. AFSPA empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior notice. Under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (No. 28 of 1958), the central government declared the whole of the said State to be a ‘disturbed area’.

6. Govt exempts cruise tourists with e-visa from biometric enrolment till 2020: According to the Shipping Ministry, the Home Affairs has exempted cruise tourists arriving with e-visa from the requirement of biometric enrolment for a period of three years to promote cruise tourism in the country. This will make immigration clearance of such passengers faster, leaving them with more time to spend on shore. E-Visa has been in place in the five major ports of Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Cochin and Chennai.

7. Parliament passes NABARD (Amendment) Bill, 2017: Parliament has passed the (NABARD)National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017 with the Rajya Sabha approving it. The Bill seeks to amend the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981. The Bill allows the union govt. to increase the authorized capital of the Bank from Rs. 5,000 crores to Rs. 30,000 crores. The capital can be increased further by the government in consultation with the RBI.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Turkey’s Bird Language in UNESCO’s List: The unusual and very efficient whistle language used as a means of communication by villagers in remote northern Turkey entered the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. UNESCO has accepted the “bird language” of Black Sea villagers as an endangered part of world heritage in need of urgent protection. The UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris.

2. Pakistan to use Chinese Currency Yuan: The central bank of Pakistan gave its green signal to using the Chinese currency, Yuan for bilateral trade with China.

The decision to cozy up to Beijing comes just a day after US President Donald Trump vowed to stop all aid to Islamabad. Adoption of the Yuan would mean that Pakistan & China would be able to replace the US dollar for transactions in China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects.

OTHER UPDATES

SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY:

1. New night frog species found in Kozhikode: Scientists have just discovered the “mewasinghi” Night frog, belonging to a genus endemic to the Western Ghats, from Kozhikode’s Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary. According to a scientific paper published in The Journal of Threatened Taxa, the new night frog “Nyctibatrachus Mewasinghi” is light brown in colour with an off-white underside.

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. JNPT wins “Samudra Manthan - Caring Organisation of the Year” award: India’s Premier Container Port, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has won the “Samudra Manthan - Caring Organisation of the Year” award. The port is fully committed to the welfare of its employees and their families.

Daily GK Updates - 2nd January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Devendra Fadnavis orders judicial inquiry into Bhima-Koregaon clashes: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said that a judiciary inquiry has been ordered into the violence that erupted at the bicentenary celebrations of the historic 1818 battle of Bhima-Koregaon. Around three lakh people had gathered (for the battle’s bicentenary celebrations).

2. Saubhagya Yojana launched by Jharkhand CM: Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das launched “Saubhagya Yojana”. It is a programme that would provide electricity to all the 29,376 villages in the state.

3. Parliament passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill: The objective of the Bill is to allow creditors to move to the National Company Law Tribunal incase of insolvency. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government has entered into an unchartered territory as far as Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code is concerned and would continue to modify the law dealing with the issue.

4. 2018 declared as Telugu promotion year by Andhra Pradesh CM: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu declared 2018 as Telugu promotion year. He made this announcement at 29th edition of Annual Book Exhibition of Vijayawada.

5. Surajkund crafts mela – UP declared as theme state: The Haryana tourism department disclosed that Uttar Pradesh would be the theme state for the 32nd Surajkund International Crafts Mela. It would be organized at Surajkund, Faridabad from February 2 to 15. Apart from all other states, about 24 countries would also participate in it.

6. NARI Portal launched: Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi inaugurated an online portal NARI in New Delhi for the empowerment of women. The portal will provide women with easy access to information on government schemes and initiatives for women. The portal summarises over 350 government schemes and other important information.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. US Prez Trump threatens to withhold aid to Pakistan: Donald Trump started the new year by threatening to withhold aid to Pakistan, a longtime US ally. He said that “Islamabad is giving us nothing but lies and deceit” and “thinking of our leaders as fools”. He believes that Pakistan is giving safe haven to the terrorists.

2. Saudi Arabia, UAE Introduces VAT: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates introduced value-added tax. This is first in the Gulf which has long prided itself on its tax-free, cradle-to-grave welfare system. The five percent sales tax applies to most goods and services and analysts project that the two governments could raise as much as $21 billion in 2018, equivalent to 2 percent of GDP.

3. California’s new law on cannabis use: California has become the largest state in the US to legalise recreational cannabis use. As of 1 January 2018, adults aged over 21 can possess up to an ounce (28 grams) of the drug and can grow up to six marijuana plants at home.

OTHER UPDATES

SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY:

1. Ginger species found in the northeast: Scientists have discovered two new species of Ginger in easternmost districts, Ukhrul in Manipur and Tuensang in Nagaland. Hedychium chingmeianum, the species discovered in Tuensang district, is an epiphytic plant and grows on tall trees, while Caulokaempferia dinabandhuensis was found growing in rock crevices. Two BSI scientists, Nripemo Odyou and Dilip Kumar Roy, found the plant.

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. Debit card transactions up to Rs 2,000 to be free: Customers will not have to pay any transaction charges for payments through debit card, BHIM app and other payment made for up to Rs 2,000. The move will have an impact of Rs 2,512 crore on the exchequer.

2. Pankaj Jain becomes IIFCL MD: Pankaj Jain, Joint Secretary in the Department of Financial Services (DFS), has assumed charge as the Managing Director of India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL).  IIFCL is a state-owned company focused on infrastructure financing and development.

SPORTS:

1. Shiv Kapur Wins Royal Cup at Pattaya: Indian golfer Shiv Kapur won the Royal Cup at Pattaya. The 35-year-old, who had just one win in almost 11 years till April 2017, has now won three times in last eight months. This latest title marks Shiv Kapur’s fourth Asian Tour win and sixth international title.