Daily GK Updates - 17th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  “Elecrama – 2018”: The United Kingdom became the Indian electrical industry’s international partner for the  Elecrama 2018, which was held from March 10 to 14, at the World Utility Summit. Elecrama is the flagship showcase of the Indian Electrical Industry ecosystem and the largest congregation of power sector. The event enabled to share lessons on building a cleaner, smarter and more efficient power sector.

2.    FINE - Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship: President of India will inaugurate Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) and will present Gandhian Young Technological Innovation awards at Rashtrapati Bhawan on March 19, 2018. FINE is an initiative to recognise, showcase, reward innovations and to foster a supportive ecosystem for innovators. It is a platform for innovators for building linkages with potential stakeholders.

3.  SATHE Roadmaps:  NITI Aayog is all set to release comprehensive roadmaps and detailed timelines for its initiative ‘Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital in Education ’ project at NITI Aayog. SATHE will introduce System-wide Governance Transformation in School Education. These roadmaps present customized, action-oriented programmes, outlining interventions at the individual, district and State level.

4.   Ban on plastics in Maharashtra: Maharashtra has decided to ban the use of plastic from the Maharashtrian new year day “Gudi Padva” to be held on 18^th March 2018. The ban would cover the production, use, storage, sale, import and transportation of plastic. The plastic used to cover medicines, forest and horticulture products, the use of plastic in special economic zones for export purposes are exempted from the ban.

5.  OSDMA joins hands with RIMES: The Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) will collaborate with the Thailand-based Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) for strengthening its early warning services and enhancing preparedness for management of hazards in the State. OSDMA and RIMES would forge a partnership in the field of drought monitoring. RIMES is already working with the Tamil Nadu.

6.      Two-tier Panchayati Raj in Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal Pradesh Assembly passed a bill to remove Anchal Samiti, intermediate level of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, and set up a two-tier system in the state. In a two-tier system, the strength of elected members would be reduced. In a two-tier system, planning and execution of schemes would be faster as there would be a direct connection between Gram Panchayats and Zilla Parishad.

7.   Kerala’s State fruit or the official fruit –“Jackfruit”: The jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit known for its distinctive taste and aroma. Kerala will make an official declaration in this regard on March 21, 2018. The government plans to promote the ‘Kerala Jackfruit’ as a brand in markets across the country and abroad due to its nutritious and organic value.

8.   Arunachal to be the 4^th state to declare death for raping minors: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana have already prescribed the death penalty for those convicted of raping girls under 12 years. Arunachal Pradesh is to be such 4^th state. The State Assembly on 16th March passed the Criminal Laws (Arunachal Pradesh) Amendment Bill 2018. The bill seeks to amend, among others, section 354, 354 (B), 354 (D) of Indian Penal Code for harsher punishment.

9.  Inauguration of  “Women of India Organic festival-2018”: 1st Mumbai Edition of Women of India Organic festival in Mumbai was inaugurated on 16th March. The event will promote Women farmers & Entrepreneurs engaged in organic produce from across India. This year’s theme of the festival is “Good for Women; Good for India; Good for You”. “Women of India Festival 2018” is celebrated since 2015.

10. 8th Theatre Olympics to be hosted by NSD: The National School of Drama (NSD) will host the “8th Theatre Olympics” at Mumbai in later March. The Mumbai chapter of the 8th Theatre Olympics is organised by the NSD in collaboration with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Maharashtra. The eighth edition of this global theatre festival is being held in 17 cities. The theme for the eighth edition is ‘Flag of Friendship’.

11. Inauguration of Indian Science Congress in Imphal: Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 105th Indian Science Congress at Manipur University at Imphal. The theme of the Indian Science Congress is “Reaching the Unreached Through Science and Technology”. This is the second time in over a century that the Indian Science Congress is being held in the North-East.

12. ‘LaQshya’ programme by Union Health Ministry:  The Union Health Ministry announced the launch of LaQshya, a programme aimed at improving quality of care in labour room and maternity operation theatre. The programme will improve the quality of care maternity operation theatres, and obstetrics Intensive Care Units and High Dependency Units. The programme aims at implementing ‘fast-track’ interventions for achieving results within 18 months.

 INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.   Xi-Jinping got re-elected: China’s Parliament re-elected Xi Jinping as the country’s president and also the chairman of Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China on 17th March. On March 11, China passed a constitutional amendment to remove any term limits enabling Xi Jinping to hold presidential office beyond 2023. Wang Qishan was elected as Vice President of China.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.  Sanjivani Jadhav grabbed bronze: India’s long-distance athlete Sanjivani Jadhav bagged a bronze medal at the 14th Asian Cross-Country Championship held at Guiyang in China. Sanjivani clocked 28 minutes 19 sec in the senior women’s 8 km event to finish 3rd. In the team ranking, India finished 3rd in senior women’s event and bagged bronze medal with 28 points, finishing behind 1st placed Japan (12) and 2nd placed China (14).

2.    ‘Cricketer of the Year’ – Kannanur Lokesh Rahul: KL Rahul is the ‘Cricketer of the Year’ in the sixth edition of Wisden India Almanack. The Almanack pays a tribute to India’s women cricketers, with a wonderful cover picture of celebration at the World Cup. Shantha Rangaswamy, India’s first woman superstar, has been inducted into the Wisden Ind ia Hall of Fame. Priyank Panchal, Hasan Ali and Tamim Iqbal are the other Cricketers of the Year.

BANKING/ FINANCE:

1.   The Reserve Bank of India has issued a Prompt Corrective Action framework to maintain the sound financial health of banks:  The framework facilitates banks in breach of risk thresholds for identified areas of monitoring, such as capital, asset quality and profitability, to take corrective measures. The RBI, through corrective framework, encourages banks to abstain from riskier activities.

2.    INDIA and ADB Sign $120 Million Loan: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $120 million loan agreement with India to improve the operational efficiency of Indian railways. The loan amount will be used for doubling the railway tracks and electrification of tracks along high-density corridors. The investment program is targeting routes in the states of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY:

1.   India’s First Cloned Assamese Buffalo – ‘Sach Gaurav’ (Male Calf): He born for the first time at Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes in Hisar. The calf was born to a Murrah buffalo. It was also the first to be born in the field, 100 km from the cloning laboratory at Hi-Tech Sach Dairy Farm. This was the second cloned male buffalo after Hisar-Gaurav. Assamese buffaloes are found in north-east India.

Daily GK Updates - 16th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Citizen Services App launched by NCRB: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) launched a mobile app called ‘Citizen Services’ on the occasion of its 33rd Inception Day. The application has been developed in-house by the NCRB. It will offer various essential police related services to the citizens. The application comprises a bouquet of 9 police related services for the citizen.

2. 105th Science Congress inaugurated in Manipur: PM Modi inaugurated the 105th Indian Science Congress (ISC) in Imphal, Manipur. Theme for 2018 is "Reaching the unreached through science and technology". He is also scheduled to lay down the foundation stones of different projects at Luwangpokpa Multi Sports Complex at Luwangshangbam and Mary Kom’s Boxing Academy in Imphal West district.

3. TDP pulls out of NDA: The Telugu Desam Party has decided to quit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. The BJP and its Andhra ally TDP have been sharing a sour relationship over the issue of granting ‘Special Category’ Status to Andhra Pradesh. As the TDP quits the NDA, it has become the first party to leave the coalition since it came to power at the Centre in 2014.

4. Krishi Unnati Mela kicked off in Delhi: The three-day annual Krishi Unnati Mela began in New Delhi with a focus on doubling farmers’ income. The objective of the event is to create awareness among farmers about the latest agriculture-related technological developments. During the mela, latest agriculture and allied sector technologies will be displayed at more than 800 stalls.

5. Odisha to collaborate with RIMES for DM: The Odisha government will collaborate with Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) for strengthening its early warning services. The partnership will be forged between Odisha State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) and RIMES in field of drought monitoring and early warning. Both entities will ink Memorandum of understanding (MoU) for collaboration and evolve institutional mechanism between them for better coordination. The RIMES is an intergovernmental body registered under United Nations. It is owned and managed by 45 collaborating countries in the Asia Pacific and Africa.

6. India’s first cloned Assamese buffalo ‘Sach-Gaurav’ born: The Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes (CIRB) claimed that India’s first cloned Assamese buffalo male calf named Sach-Gaurav was born in Hisar, Haryana. It was born to Murrah buffalo, at Hi-Tech Sach Dairy Farm, 100 km from cloning laboratory, making it first buffalo calf to be born.

7. NITI Aayog releases SATH-E: NITI Aayog released comprehensive roadmaps and detailed timelines for its initiative ‘Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital in Education (SATH-E)’ project. Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog released the forward-looking blueprints. These roadmaps, which operate between 2018 to 2020, lay out detailed interventions which will be taken by the three participating States- Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha – aiming to become ‘Role Model States’ in school education.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Oklahoma, the first US state to use Nitrogen gas for execution: Oklahoma plans to start using nitrogen gas for executions, in what would be the first such method of capital punishment in the United States. The state is turning to nitrogen after it and other states became unable to acquire drugs required for lethal injections because of opposition from manufacturers to their products being used for capital punishment. Nitrogen is an odorless and tasteless gas that makes up about 78% of the air humans breathe but causes death when inhaled without any oxygen. Oklahoma has not carried out an execution since 2015.

2. Nepal Chief Justice, Gopal Parajuli, sacked: Nepal’s Chief Justice Gopal Parajuli has been sacked for faking his date of birth in order to remain in office longer. A judicial council concluded that Parajuli should have retired 7 months ago when he turned 65, the age of retirement for official positions in Nepal. Parajuli became Chief Justice last June after his predecessor Sushila Karki – the first woman to hold the position turned 65.

OTHER UPDATES

BUSINESS / ECONOMY:

1. Exports grow by 4.5% in Feb 2018: India’s exports grew by 4.5% in February-2018 to 25.8 billion dollars. It was 24.7 billion dollar during the same period in February-2017. This announcement was made by the Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia. During April to February period of the current fiscal, exports recorded a growth of 11% to $273 billion. Imports also rose by 10.4% to $37.8 billion during the last month.

2. Tata group Chief Ethics Officer Rajan quits: Tata Son’s Chief Ethics Officer Mukund Rajan will leave the group to evaluate entrepreneurial pursuits in the coming months. Rajan, who was the former MD of Tata Teleservices, was appointed as the group spokesperson and brand custodian in Feb 2013. Rajan who is also the brother of ex-RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan was the youngest director to be appointed on the boards of major Tata companies.

3. Future Group signs up as an associate sponsor for Vivo IPL: Future Group has been signed as an associate sponsor with Star India for the upcoming Vivo-IPL 2018. Future Group will be an associate sponsor by joining brands like Asian Paints, Dream 11, MakeMyTrip among others taking the tally to 8 brands. Vivo IPL 2018 will be presented in 5 regional languages along with English to a never-before 700 million viewers through multiple screens & languages.

BANKING / FINANCE:

1. ‘Digital Export Import’ payments by Yes Bank: Yes Bank has launched a robotics-based ‘Digital Export Import’ payments solution as a part of its Yes Transact Smart Trade product suite. It aims to bring over 1 lakh trade transactions going entirely digital, across major geographies including China, US. The product uses robotics process automation & helps in eliminating the requirement of documents submission for import & export payments.

SPORTS:

1. Baskaran Adhiban won Reykjavik Open: India’s Baskaran Adhiban clinched the title in the 33rd Reykjavik Open with an impressive performance that saw him win five of the nine games. Adhiban became only the second Indian after Abhijeet Gupta (in 2016) to win the prestigious Reykjavik Open. He was the 2008 World Under-16 Champion and the 2009 Indian champion.

2. Nepal gains ODI status in cricket: A six-wicket win over Papua New Guinea has rewarded Nepal with One-Day International (ODI) status for the first time ever. Nepal was awarded Affiliate status by the ICC in 1988, and was promoted to Associate rank in 1996. After Afghanistan, Nepal are taking quick strides in terms of developments.

Daily GK Updates - 15th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Asia Pacific Regional Conference (IACP) inaugurated: Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the two-day Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in New Delhi. The theme of the conference is "Challenges to Policing in 2020 - How is Cyber Space shaping our approach to Cybercrime and Terrorism, how do we perform within it and take advantage of it".

2. India offers Madagascar USD 80 million LoC: India has decided to offer Madagascar a USD 80 million Letter of Credit (LoC) for agriculture and mechanization. Madagascar is straddled in the Indian Ocean and alongside the strategic Mozambique channel. The island country is the fourth largest in Africa, in terms of size. Madagascar is also a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

3. India ranks 78th on energy transition index: India has been ranked at 78th among 114 countries on the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) energy transition index. The index listed countries based on their ability to balance energy security, environmental sustainability and affordability. The overall list was topped by Sweden, followed by Norway at the 2nd position and Switzerland at the 3rd rank.

4. IATA partners with civil aviation ministry: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the National Aviation University to enhance human resource availability in India’s aviation industry. The 3 parties to the MoU formalised this partnership on sidelines of Wings India 2018. India is expected to be 3rd largest aviation market in the world.

5. AYUSH Drug QOL-2C for Cancer Patients: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has undertaken the development of a coded drug AYUSH QOL-2C for cancer patients. The clinical studies were conducted at St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru and AIIMS, New Delhi in breast cancer patients. The study was also conducted at Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Jaipur in lung cancer patients.

6. Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between India and Iran: The Union Cabinet has approved an Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income between India and Iran. The Agreement will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to Iran & vice versa. The agreement will improve transparency in tax matters and will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. First-ever female director of CIA: Gina Haspel, the newly nominated first-ever female director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is a career intelligence officer with more than 30 years' experience. Ms. Haspel, 61, has extensive overseas experience and has served as chief of the station on several postings. Her leadership positions in Washington include deputy director of the National Clandestine Service - the CIA agent that co-ordinates clandestine operations - and chief of staff for the director of the National Clandestine Service.

2. India and Madagascar ink deal: India and Madagascar have signed an agreement under which, both the countries will explore various ways of co-operation in the field of defence. An amended air service agreement was also signed to support efforts towards improving connectivity between the two countries. The Madagascar President decorated President Ramnath Kovind with second highest civilian honour Grand Cross.

3. Damascus the cheapest and Singapore the costliest city in the world: New Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai are among the cheapest cities in the world, according to an Economist Intelligence Unit’s “The Worldwide Cost of Living” survey. Syria’s capital, Damascus is the cheapest city in the world. Singapore is the world’s most expensive city.

The Worldwide Cost of Living is a biannual survey that compares 400 individual prices across 160 products and services.

4. Finland is the happiest nation on earth-UN Report: Finland has overtaken Norway to become the happiest nation on earth, according to the UN’s 2018 World Happiness Report. Burundi in East Africa is the unhappiest place in the world. For the first time, the UN also examined the happiness levels of immigrants in each country. The World Happiness Report is an annual publication from the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

OTHER UPDATES

DEFENCE:

1. IAF lands its heaviest aircraft, C-17 Globemaster, in Arunanchal Pradesh: The Indian Air Force (IAF) for first time flawlessly landed its largest transport US-manufactured aircraft, C-17 Globemaster at strategic Tuting Advanced landing ground in Arunachal Pradesh. The landing of this aircraft is seen as part of IAF’s move to strengthen its overall operations in the border state. The aircraft is used for airlift missions, transporting troops and cargo.

BUSINESS / ECONOMY:

1. Amazon’s debit card launched: Amazon.com Inc launched its first-ever debit card in Mexico, part of a push to encourage shoppers without bank accounts to buy online. Part of the challenge is attracting consumers who are wary of online fraud and do not have access to credit and debit cards. Less than a third of adults in Mexico have credit cards, according to a 2017 government report.

Daily GK Updates - 14th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Finance Bill passed in Lok Sabha: With the passage of the Finance Bill and the Appropriation Bill, the budget exercise is complete in the lower house. A Finance Bill is presented in Parliament along with the Annual Financial Statement in lieu of fulfilling the requirement of Article 110 (1)(a) of the Constitution. The Finance Bill also contains other provisions related to the Budget can be classified as a Money Bill. It is noteworthy that a Money Bill can originate in Lok Sabha only.

2. Belagavi hoists India’s tallest flag: India’s tallest national flag was unfurled in Belagavi (also known as Belgaum) in Karnataka. The flag in Belgaum is much larger than the one at the India-Pakistan border at Attari in Punjab. The flag is reported to be 110 m high from the base plate to the top, with a size of 120×80 ft.

3. World Hindi Secretariat building opened in Mauritius: President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the World Hindi Secretariat building in Mauritius on his visit to the country.

He also launched the World Hindi Secretariat’s logo, an Early Digital Learning Programme and laid foundation stones of a social housing project and a large ENT hospital being built with Indian assistance.

4. Delhi Energy Dialogue 2018 starts: Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, will inaugurate the Delhi Energy Dialogue 2018, on March 14, organised by Ashden India Collective (AIC) in alliance with Climate Parliament. “Delhi Energy Dialogue” is an initiative to promote sustainable solutions for better lives. Established in 2010, AIC helps to increase access to energy for India’s rural poor.

5. India’s largest wind turbine generator S128 commissioned: Renewable solution provider Suzlon Group announced the installation and commissioning of its new product “S128” claiming it to be the largest wind turbine generator in India. The first prototype of S128 has been commissioned at the Sanganeri site in Tamil Nadu. This has the country’s largest single rotor blade measuring 63 metres and reduced levelised cost of energy.

6. Foreign law firms or foreign lawyers can’t practise in India: The Supreme Court ruled that foreign law firms or foreign lawyers cannot practise law in the country either on the litigation or non-litigation side. This means overseas lawyers or firms cannot open offices in the country, appear in courts or before any authority or render other legal services. But overseas lawyers can fly in, fly out for a temporary period to give advice.

7. IOC, Tata Motors flag off country’s first hydrogen-fuel bus: Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Tata Motors have launched the trial demonstration of the country’s first hydrogen fuel cell bus. The project is being executed with financial support from the Department of Science and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy. The vehicle will be fuelled at the hydrogen dispensing facility at IndianOil.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Pi Day celebrated: Google has dedicated a doodle to mark 30 years of “Pi Day”, a day first recognised by physicist Larry Shaw in 1988 to honour the mathematical constant. Pi is used in every field of science as it’s used for calculations involving the volume and surface area of spheres. The first Pi Day was held at a San Francisco Science Museum in 1988.

2. Bidhya Devi Bhandari gets second term as Nepal President: Nepal’s incumbent President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has been elected for a second term, extending the tenure of the Himalayan country’s first female head of state for another five years. With this President Bhandari is the first President of federal Nepal. She is also the first Nepali woman to be elected as the country’s president twice.

3. Saudi Arabia approves Nuclear Power Program National Policy: Saudi Arabia’s cabinet approved the national policy of its atomic energy programme as the kingdom prepares to award contracts for its first nuclear power plants. The policy insists on limiting nuclear activities to peaceful purposes and for enhanced safety measures and safe disposal of nuclear waste.

OTHER UPDATES

SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY:

1. Newton-Bhabha Fund for arsenic research: An India-UK Joint Team has won the Newton-Bhabha Fund for a project on Groundwater Arsenic Research in Ganga River Basin. The Department of Science and Technology has undertaken the project with the Natural Environment Research Council, UK, to find solutions to the water challenges faced in the arsenic-affected Ganga River. The project will begin from Bijnor and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

BUSINESS / ECONOMY:

1. BHEL secures order from NPCIL: Bharat Heavy Electricals has secured a significant order worth Rs.736 Crore for supply of Steam Generators from Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL). The Steam Generators will be used for a 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor to be installed at Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojna in Fatehabad district of Haryana. The Steam Generators will be manufactured at the Tiruchirappalli.

BANKING / FINANCE:

1. RBI discontinues LOUs/LOCs issuance: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has scrapped the issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LOUs) and Letters of Comfort (LOCs) for trade credit for imports with immediate effect. Banks will continue to issue guarantees and letter of credit for trade purposes which are the international norm. A letter of credit is secure because it has the details of the expiry date and the material purchase.

OBITUARIES:

1. Black Hole scientist ‘Stephen Hawking’ passes away: Stephen Hawking, the British Physicist and the black hole theorist have died on 14th March. Hawking’s redefined cosmology by proposing that black holes emit radiation and later evaporate. He is also the author of the best-selling book, “A Brief History of Time”.

Daily GK Updates - 13th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal formed: The Centre constituted a three-member Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal to adjudicate the dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over sharing the river's water. Supreme Court Judge AM Khanwilkar will be the Chairman of the tribunal, with Justice Ravi Ranjan of the Patna High Court and Justice Indermeet Kaur Kochhar of the Delhi High Court being the other two members.  The apex court had sought to refer the dispute to a Tribunal for adjudication under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

2. Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation: The Government has approved to institute the “Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation” to promote high professional standards of Investigation of Crime in the State/UT Police and Central Investigating Agencies. A total of 162 medals will be awarded every year. The names of awardees will be declared on 15th August every year.

3. Sitanshu Kar becomes the new PIB Chief: All India Radio’s News Services Division (NSD) director general Sitanshu Kar will be the next head of the Press Information Bureau (PIB). Kar, a senior Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, will take charge as PIB head on May 1. Doordarshan News DG, Ira Joshi will hold additional charge of DG of AIR’s NSD with immediate effect.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. A USD 100 m Line of Credit to Mauritius: India announced a new Line of Credit of USD 100 million for defense procurement by Mauritius as the two sides signed many agreements on the second day of President Ram Nath Kovind's visit. The agreements were signed after President Kovind held delegation-level talks with Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and members of his Cabinet. 

2. Anti-Defection Bill approved in Maldives: The Maldives Parliament has approved the anti-defection bill with retrospective effect amidst the boycott by opposition MPs. According to the bill, MPs elected on political party tickets will lose their seat if they leave their party, get expelled, or switch parties.  The bill would take effect from 13th July 2017, meaning that the 12 MPs that switched to the Opposition last year would lose their seats. The bill was passed with 35 votes as opposition MPs continued to boycott the settings.

3. Vietnam’s Nguyen crowned “Miss International Queen”: Vietnam’s Nguyen Huong Giang has been crowned this year’s “Miss International Queen” in Thailand at one of the world’s top beauty pageants for transgender women. The winner fended off 26 competitors, from different parts of the world, to clinch the coveted crown. The popular contest has been running since 2004.

4. World Ocean Summit 2018 concluded in Mexico: World Ocean Summit was held recently in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. The summit is for business, government and environmental leaders to talk about the problems faced by the world’s seas and to come up with solutions to protect the planet’s vast ocean resources. World Ocean Summit’s vision is of an ocean with robust health and vital economy.

OTHER UPDATES

SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY:

1. New planets found near our solar system: A new planet near the habitable zone around a bright cool star has been found. The scientists have confirmed the existence of 15 new planets – including one ‘Super-Earth’ that could harbour liquid water – orbiting small, cool stars near our solar system. These stars, known as red dwarfs, are of enormous interest for studies of planetary formation and evolution, the study states.

DEFENCE:

1. India tops list of arms and ammunition buyers: Arms import by India increased by 24% between 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 period as per data on international arms transfers released by International Peace Research Institute. India is followed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, China, Austrailia, Algeria, Iraq, Pakistan and Indonesia as the world top importers. The largest arms suppliers to India are Russia (62%), US (15%) and Israel (11%).

BANKING / FINANCE:

1. ICICI Bank launches online overdraft facility for MSMEs: ICICI Bank has launched instant overdraft ‘InstaOD’ facility for MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) customers in a completely online and paperless manner. Customers can get overdraft facility up to Rs 15 lakh for a year anytime, anywhere using the bank’s Internet and mobile banking app. The new facility will enable a few lakh of pre-qualified current account customers of the bank to instantly avail of the facility without visiting a branch and submitting physical documents. ICICI Bank will also offer the facility for instant online sanction of the overdraft facility to MSME customers of other banks shortly.

2. SBI reduces non-maintenance charges in Savings Accounts: The country’s largest lender, SBI State Bank of India slashed charges for non-maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) in savings accounts by nearly 75 percent. The revised charges will be effective from April 01, 2018 and will benefit over 25 crore customers. The charges for non-maintenance of AMB for customers in Metro and Urban centers have been reduced from a maximum of Rs 50 per month to Rs 15 per month. Similarly, for Semi-Urban and Rural centers, the charges have been reduced from Rs 40 every month to Rs 12 and Rs 10 GST charges will be applicable over and above the rates specified above.