Daily GK Updates - 18th August, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Jal Jeevan Mission scheme to be launched: Government to launch the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme. The scheme aims to bring piped water to households. The estimated cost of the project is more than Rs.3.5 lakh crore. The scheme functions under the Jal Shakti Ministry. It aims to work with state governments to ensure Har Ghar Jal to all rural households by 2024. Under the first phase of the scheme, the government is to focus on rainwater harvesting and water conservation in 256 districts and carry out other initiatives. It includes renovation of traditional water bodies and tanks, reuse of water and recharge structures, watershed development and intensive afforestation.

2. India’s Largest Rural Sanitation Survey Launched: Jal Shakti Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the Swachh Survekshan Gramin 2019 (SSG 2019). The scheme instituted from August 14 to September 30, 2019. SSG 2019 will cover 17,450 villages in 698 districts across India. It includes 87,250 public places namely schools, Anganwadi centers, public health centers, haat/bazaars/religious places. Around 2,50,000 citizens will be interviewed for the survey. Citizens will also be mobilised to provide feedback on sanitation relation related issues online using an application developed for the purpose. The independent survey agency will conduct the survey in all districts.

3. Tamil Nadu trifurcates Vellore district to form new districts: The MLAs (Member of the Legislative Assembly) and the general public, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu Shri Edappadi K Palaniswami made an announcement on trifurcation of Vellore district. Ranipet and Tirupattur will be the new districts carved out of Vellore. After the trifurcation, TamilNadu now has 37 districts. The K V Kuppam of Vellore district would be upgraded to a new taluka. In July 2019, Chengalpet and Tenkasi were made new districts carved out from Kancheepuram and Tirunelveli districts respectively. The district of Kalakurichi was carved out from Villupuram district.

4. Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurates Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences: On the first death anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Union Health Minister of India Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the medical college named after the late Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi. Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Choubey, Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Member of Parliament Meenakshi Lekhi and Department of Health and Family Welfare Secretary Preeti Sudan, who were also present on the occasion, paid their tributes to Vajpayee.

Note: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medic al Sciences (ABVIMS) started with 100 MBBS seats this year. It will be a state-of-art medical college with reputed faculties and world class infrastructure. The super specialty block has more than 550 beds and the new Resident Doctors' Hostel has 827 bed units

5. Odisha CM announces ‘Mo Sarkar or My Government programme’: Odisha’s chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced he will launch the ‘Mo Sarkar’ or My Government programme on October 2 to make state-run hospitals and offices and the police more accountable and responsive to people’s needs. Under the ‘Mo Sarkar’ programme he will call up people and enquire about the quality of services being provided at police stations and hospitals from October 2, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.

Note: Odisha Capital: Bhubaneswar; Governor: Ganeshi Lal

6. Indian Railways to get CORAS: Ministry of Railways and Commerce & Industry launched Commando for Railway Security (CORAS) of Indian Railways. It was launched by Shri Piyush Goyal. He also launched a new establishment manual for Railway Protection Force (RPF). The induction of CORAS was planned in RPF. The launch of CORAS is aimed at providing security to the Railway passengers. It has been launched to meet the challenges to Railway security. It also ensures to develop world level capabilities of specialized responder for any situation pertaining to damage, disturbance, disruption of train operations, attack/hostage/hijack, disaster situations in railway areas.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM is on a two day state visit to Bhutan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day state visit to Bhutan. The two leader will hold talks to further deepen the bilateral ties. This is PM Modi's second visit to Bhutan and the first since his re-election. India and Bhutan discussed steps to further expand the bilateral partnership across several sectors and the two countries signed 10 memoranda of understanding in space research, aviation, IT, power and education. Modi also launched RuPay Card in Bhutan by making a purchase at Simtokha Dzong, which functions as a monastic and administrative centre and is one of the oldest dzongs in Bhutan.

Note: Bhutan Prime minister: Lotay Tshering; Capital: Thimphu; Currency-Ngultrum

2. Fifth Meeting of BRICS Minister of Environment Held in Sao Paulo, Brazil: Fifth BRICS Minister of Environment Meeting held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is preceded by the 2-day meeting of BRICS Joint Working Group on Environment. The Indian delegation led by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar. While addressing the meeting, Mr. Prakash Javadekar stated that India has achieved its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under Paris Agreement, reduction of energy intensity by 25 %, increment of forest cover by nearly 15,000 sqkm , Swachh Bharat Mission initiative, Waste Management Rules. He appreciated the initiatives of BRICS countries and reaffirmed India’s support to BRICS cooperation. He also invited the BRICS Ministers delegations to join at 14th CoP (Conference of Parties ) scheduled to be held from  2-13 September 2019 and contribute to the efforts to combat desertification and land degradation.

Note: Brazil Capital: Brasilia, Currency: Brazilian real

3. Denmarks Jyske Bank unveiled world’s first negative interest rate home loan: Denmark’s third-largest bank Jyske Bank launched the world’s first negative interest rate mortgage. The bank handling out loans to homeowners where the charge is minus 0.5% a year. It has begun offering borrowers a 10-year deal at -0.5%. Jyske bank borrowers will make a monthly repayment, as usual, The amount still outstanding will be reduced each month by more than the borrower. Negative interest rates effectively mean that a bank pays a borrower to take money off their hands, so they pay back less than they have been loaned.
Note: Jyske Bank Founded: 1967; Headquarters: Silkeborg, Denmark; CEO: Anders Dam

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. New Delhi to host Indian Grand Prix on September 5: The Athletics Federation of India will organise the Indian Grand Prix-VI in the national capital on September 5 to give its track and field athletes one last chance to qualify for the World Championships . “The Indian Grand Prix which was scheduled for 5th September 2019 at Chennai will now be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi on same date. This will be the Indian Grand Prix - VI,” the AFI said in a circular to its affiliated units. Male athletes can compete in 400m hurdles, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, shot put, javelin throw and 4x400m relay. For women, the events will be 100m, 200m, 400m and the long jump.

2. Hima Das, Anas win gold in 300m in Czech Republic: This was Hima Das’ sixth gold in European races since July 2 though the field in most of them has been mediocre. Her last win was on July 20 when she clinched a gold in her pet 400m event at Nove Mesto in Czech Republic. Mohammad Anason the other hand, won the men’s 300m race in 32.41 seconds.

Note: Czech Republic Capital: Prague; Currency: Czech koruna

3. India win gold at U-12 Asian Tennis Team championship in Kazakhstan: India has won gold at the Under 12 Asian Tennis Team championship held in Kazakhstan. India defeated Chinese Taipei 2-1 in the summit clash to win the title. The team comprised Manas Dhamme, Arnav Paprakar and Tamil Nadu’s Pranav Rethin. Manas and Rethin won their singles matches.

Note: Kazakhstan Capital: Nur-Sultan; Currency: Kazakhstani tenge

4. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurates new hockey academy in Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, inaugurated a high-performance hockey centre Naval Tata Hockey Academy (NTHA). The main aim is to groom sports talent in the state. The newly opened centre will produce young Olympians. NTHA Odisha will be operated from the existing infrastructure that was set-up to host the Odisha Men's Hockey World Cup in 2018 in Bhubaneswar. Bovelander Hockey Academy from the Netherlands, founded by the European Champion, World Champion and three-time Olympian, Floris Jan Bovelander will be the technical partner in the programme.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Bajrang Punia to get Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2019: Ace wrestler Bajrang Punia is set to be awarded with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2019- the country's highest sporting honour. Punia will be rewarded with the award for his consistent showing in the field of wrestling and his contribution in bringing laurels to the country. Punia alongwith Vinesh Phogat were recommended by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for the prestigious award.

Note: Last year, Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu were awarded with the Khel Ratna Award. The first recipient of the award was Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, who was honoured for his performance in the year 1991-92.

DEFENCE

1. INS Tarkash participates in KONKAN bilateral exercise: The 14th Edition of KONKAN series of annual bilateral exercises between Indian Navy and Royal Navy of Britain is currently underway off the South Coast of UK. “KONKAN aims to promote mutual understanding and provide exposure to operating procedures, communication measures and best practices. This allows both Navies to develop greater confidence to operate together during maritime missions.

2. Fifth Army International Scout Masters Competition Concludes at Jaisalmer Military Station: Indian Army team comprehensively won the 5th Army International Scout Masters Competition. It is held at Jaisalmer Teams from Armenia, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Sudan and Uzbekistan participated. The Closing Ceremony of the Fifth Army International Scout Masters Competition 2019 held in Jaisalmer. Honorable Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh was the Chief Guest. The ceremony was attended by General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General SK Saini, Army Commander, Southern Command, delegations of participating countries, members of the International Organising Committee and several civil and military dignitaries.

OBITUARIES

1. Veteran DD News anchor Neelum Sharma passes away: Anchors of DD News and Nari Shakti awardee Neelum Sharma died on Saturday at the age of 50. The anchor of programmes such as ‘Badi Charcha’ and ‘Tejasvini’ was recently awarded with the Nari Shakti Puraskar.

Daily GK Updates - 17th August, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. High-level committee constituted to review Defence Procurement Procedure: Union government has constituted a 12-member high-level committee to revise and align the procedure of Defence procurement with the aim of strengthening the 'Make in India' initiative. The panel will be headed by the Director-General (Acquisitions). The panel has been tasked to review the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2006 and the Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2009. The committee will revise and align the procedures with the aim of ensuring seamless flow from asset acquisition to life cycle support.

2. “Aadi Mahotsav” begins in Leh-Ladakh: National Tribal Festival “Aadi Mahotsav” has begun in Leh-Ladakh. The theme of the festival is “A celebration of the spirit of Tribal Craft, Culture and Commerce”. The 9 day Adi Mahotsav will showcase traditional art and handicrafts and cultural heritage of the country. Tribal Affairs Ministry and Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has jointly organized the festival.

3. Tawlhlohpuan, Mizo Puanchei & Tirur betel vine gets GI tag: Tawlhlohpuan & Mizo Puanchei from Mizoram, and Tirur betel vine from Kerala has received the Geographical Indication tag. GI is an indication used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. The Geographical Indication comes under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.Some features of the products bestowed with the GI tag:

Tawlhlohpuan: It is a medium to heavy, compactly woven, good quality fabric from Mizoram. It is known for warp yarns, warping, weaving & intricate designs that are made by hand.

Mizo Puanchei: It is a colourful Mizo shawl/textile, from Mizoram and is considered as the most colourful among the Mizo textiles.

Tirur betel vine: This product from Kerala is valued both for its mild stimulant action and medicinal properties. It has many industrial and cultural usages and is considered as a remedy for bad breath and digestive disorders. 

4. Andhra Pradesh Launched ‘Village Volunteer System’: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jaganmohan Reddy has launched the state’s flagship program “Village Volunteers System”. The aim of this program is to provide government services at doorsteps of people. Each volunteer will be paid Rs 5,000 per month and the person has to ensure that benefits reach the people in the 50 households in the village.

5. ICMR launches India Hypertension Control Initiative: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in collaboration with World Health Organization and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has decided to expand its India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) across the country. This initiative was launched in November 2017, in which more than three lakh patients with high blood pressure enrolled in government health facilities in 25 selected districts in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, and Maharashtra. It will now be expanded to cover 100 districts across all states. The expansion is expected to accelerate the implementation of quality hypertension treatment for over 15 crore population over the next four years

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India contributes $1 million to UN fund: India has contributed $1 million to the UN Special Purpose Trust Fund for the Resident Coordinator System. The Special Purpose Trust Fund (SPTF) is a specific fund housed within the UN Secretariat. The fund was established to receive, consolidate, manage and account for all contributions and financial transactions of the new Resident Coordinator system in a transparent and effective way.

2. WTO likely to set up panel to decide on India’s sugar sops: Brazil, Australia and Guatemala have requested the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to set up dispute panels to rule on India’s sugar subsidies the second time round after India rejected the request at the last meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) last month. The request for dispute settlement panels put in by the three countries will be taken up at the DSB meeting. Since the second request made to the DSB cannot be rejected, panels are now likely to be formed at the WTO which will decide whether India’s sugar subsidies are valid or not. According to Australia, the amount of support to sugarcane producers in India exceeds the country’s product-specific de minimis level of 10 per cent for the product

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Ravi Shastri Appointment as India cricket coach for another two year: Former India cricketer and allrounder Ravi Shastri has been appointed as the coach of the Indian cricket team for second successive term. Three-member Cricket Advisory Committee- Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy- made the announcement. Shastri's new tenure has been extended till T20 World Cup, to be held in 2021 in Australia.

2. Indian cyclists win gold at World Junior Track Cycling Championships: Indian cyclists team have won the gold medal in the Team Sprint event at World Junior Track Cycling Championships held in Frankfurt, Germany. Indian team comprised of Esow Alben, Ronaldo Singh and Rojit Singh. This is India's first ever gold medal in a global cycling competition. The Indian team defeated Australia in the final, clocking 44.681 seconds to claim the top honours. Great Britain took home the bronze. The Indian men’s junior team is currently ranked No. 2, behind Malaysia.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. India's foreign exchange reserves at new life-time high of $430.57 bn: As per the latest data of Reserve Bank of India, country’s foreign exchange reserves surged by $1.620 billion to reach all time high at $430.572 billion. Expressed in dollar terms, foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation/depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the reserves. The country's gold reserves surged by $1.591 billion to $26.754 billion. Special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund were up by $6.7 million to $1.441 billion.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. President Awards Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman and the Certificate of Honour for 2019: The President Ramnath Kovind awarded the Certificate of Honour to the following scholars of Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Pali, Prakrit, Classical Kannada, Classical Telugu, Classical Malayalam and Classical Odiya for the year 2019.

List of winner:

Certificate of Honour
Sanskrit:	(1) ShriSripadaSatyanarayanamurthy; (2) Shri Rajendra Nath Sarma; (3) Prof. Ramji Thakur; (4) Prof. Chand Kiran Saluja;  (5) Dr. Shri Krishan Sharma; (6) Dr. V. Ramakrishna Bhatt; (7) Vidwan Janardana Hegde; ( 8) Dr. Kala Acharya; (9) Prof. (Dr.) Harekrishna Satapathy (10) Pandit Satya Dev Sharma; (11) Shri Banwari Lal Gaur;  (12) Dr. V.S. Karunakaran; (13) Prof. Yugal Kishor Mishra; (14) Pandit Manudev Bhattacharya; (15) Shri Subuddhi Charan Goswami
Pali:	Dr. Uma Shankar Vyas
Prakrit:	Prof. Kamal Chand Sogani
Arabic:	(1) Prof. Faizanullah Farooqi;  (2) Mohammad Iqbal Husain; (3) Dr. Mohd. Samiullah Khan
Persian:	(1) Prof. Dr. Iraq Raza Zaidi; (2) Prof. Chander Shekhar; (3) Mohammad Sidiq Niazmand
Classical Kannada:	Shri Hampa Nagarajaiah
Classical Telugu:	Prof. RavvaSrihari
Classical Malayalam:	Dr.C.P. Achuthan Unny
Classical Odia:	Pandit Dr. Antaryami Mishra
Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman
Sanskrit:	(1) Dr. Ashok Thapliyal;  (2) Prof. SujataTripathi; (3) Dr.Sanju Mishra; (4) Dr. Abhijit Hanmant Joshi; (5) Dr. Shara chchandra Dwivedi
Pali:	Ms. AnomaShriramSakhare
Prakrit:	Shri Ashish Kumar Jain
Arabic:	Dr. Fauzan Ahmad
Persian:	ER.M. ShahbazAlam
Classical Kannada:	(1) Shri G.B. Harisha; (2) Shri S. Karthik; (3) Dr. M. Byrappa
Classical Telugu:	(1) Dr. Addanki Srinivas; (2) Dr. V. Triveni; (3) Dr. D.K. Prabhakar
Classical Malayalam:	(1) Dr. Rajeev R.R.; (2) Shri Santhosh Thottingal

Note: Certificate of Honour: It is awarded to scholars aged 60 years and above. It carries a cash prize of Rs. 5,00,000.

Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman: It is conferred on persons once a year on the Independence Day (15 August) in recognition of their substantial contribution in the field of Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Pali, Prakrit, Classical Oriya, Classical Kannada, Classical Telugu and Classical Malayalam. The award is given to selected young scholars in the age group of 30 to 45 years. The Presidential award carries a certificate of honour, a memento and a one time cash prize of Rs.1 lakh

OBITUARIES

1. Padma Shri awardee Damodar Ganesh Bapat passes away: Damodar Ganesh Bapat from Chhattisgarh, a noted social worker and Padma Shri award winner, passed away. He was known for his social work in tribal areas in Chhattisgarh. He dedicated his life to the treatment and service of leprosy patients. For his service to the society, he was awarded the fourth highest civilian award of India i.e. Padma Shri award in 2018.

2. Renowned Bangladeshi novelist Rizia Rahman passes away: Renowned Bangladeshi novelist and the Ekushey Padak winning author Rizia Rahman (79) passed away in Dhaka. She wrote in all genres of creative work including short stories, poems, essays and children's fiction but she was renowned for her novels. Bong Theke Bangla, Rokter Okshor and Ghar-Bhanga-Ghar are among some of her more well-known novels. She received the Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1978 and was awarded Ekushey Padak this year.

Daily GK Updates - 16th August, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Inter-State Council reconstituted with Prime Minister as chairman: The Inter-State Council, which is mandated to investigate and advise on disputes between states, has been reconstituted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chairman and six Union ministers and all chief ministers as members. Union ministers who will be members of the reconstituted council are Amit Shah (Home), Nirmala Sitharaman (Finance), Rajnath Singh (Defence), Narendra Singh Tomar (Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj). The Article 263 of the Constitution provides for the establishment of an Inter-State Council. Inter-State Council is to inquire into and advise upon disputes which may arise between states, investigate and discuss subjects in which some or all of the states, or the Union and one or more of the states, have a common interest.

2. Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2017-18 says 33% of India’s skilled youth jobless: The ‘Skill India’ initiative launched by Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi seem to be mere a buzzword as recent survey ‘Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2017-18’, conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), found that 33% of India’s skilled youth are jobless. Nearly a third of trained young men and more than a third of trained young women were unemployed.

Some of the key findings of the survey are as follows: Nationally, only 1.8% of the population reported receiving formal vocational/technical training in 2017-18. 93% of the population did not receive any vocational/technical training from either formal or informal sources. About 42% of the youth (15-29 years) who received formal technical training were not part of the labour force. Around 33% of the formally trained youth was unemployed in 2017-18. Nearly a third of trained young men and more than a third of trained young women were unemployed. The unemployment rate among freshly trained youth, who completed training during the previous year, was even higher at 40%.

3. IIT-Madras researchers develop industrial and field robot ‘GraspMan’: IIT Madras researchers have develop a multi-modal robot with Industrial and field applications called ‘GraspMan’. This robot has various industrial applications and can be used in search-and-rescue operations. GraspMan consists a pair of graspers, which provide morphological adaptation, enabling it to conform to the geometry of the object being grasped. This allows the grasper to hold objects securely and manipulate it much like the human hand.

4. Harshad Pandurang Thakur appointed as NIHFW's director: Harshad Pandurang Thakur has been appointed as the director of National Institute of Health and Family Welfare. The proposal of appointment was approved by the appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister. The NIHFW is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It acts as an apex technical institute as well as a think tank for the promotion of health and family welfare programmes in the country.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ADB signs USD 500 million loan agreement with Pakistan: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a USD 500-million loan agreement with cash-strapped Pakistan to support the country’s trade competitiveness and exports. The Manila-based ADB also approved a USD 750,000 technical assistance package to support the preparation and implementation of the programme in the country. The agreement was signed by Economic Affairs Division Secretary Noor Ahmed and the ADB’s Country Director Xiaohong Yang in the presence of Minister for Economic Affairs Muhammad Hammad Azhar.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Liverpool beats Chelsea to win UEFA Super Cup: Liverpool defeated Chelsea in the finals to win UEFA Super Cup held in Istanbul. The match ended in draw with score 2-2 following the extra time. Later in the penalties, Liverpool beats Chelsea by 5-4. This was the fourth time Liverpool have won this competition.

2. Deepak Punia wins Junior World Championship title: Deepak Punia won the gold medal at the Junior World Championships held in Talinn, Estonia. He defeated Russia's Alik Shebzukov to win the 86 kg junior freestyle title. With the victory, he has become the 1st Indian in 18 years to win a Junior World Championship title. Another Indian wrestler Vicky Chahar also won the bronze medal in the 92 kg category after beating Mongolia's Batmagnai Enkhtuvshin.

3. Birmingham Commonwealth Games: Organisers firm on shooting exclusion: Commonwealth Games Federation has decided to exclude shooting from 2022 Commonwealth Game to be held in Birmingham. It is being decided despite a threat by India to boycott the entire event in protest. Regarding this Commonwealth Games chief Louise Martin has said that shooting will not be part of the 2022 edition in Birmingham. Shooting has been a high-yielding discipline for India, with shooters accounting for 16 of the country’s 66 medals, including seven golds, at last year’s Gold Coast Games. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra suggested that India boycott the Birmingham Games in protest at the decision.

4. Naomi Osaka returns to top spot in WTA rankings: US and Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka returned to the world number one spot in the WTA rankings The 21-year-old lost to Serena Williams in the quarter-finals of last week’s Rogers Cup but benefitted from the second round defeat of former number one Ashleigh Barty and the failure of Karolina Pliskova to reach the semis in Toronto.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI clarifies rules on ‘free ATM transactions’: The Reserve Bank of India has clarified rules on ‘free ATM transactions’ provided by banks to its customers. Banks provide certain number of free transactions at ATMs to their customers and beyond that impose charges. According to the Reserve Bank of India, the following transactions should not be counted as valid ATM transactions for the customer as the ‘free ATM transactions’: Transactions failed at ATMs due to technical reasons like hardware and software issues. Transactions failed due to non-availability of currency in ATMs. Use of ATMs for non-cash withdrawal transactions such as balance enquiry, cheque book request, payment of taxes, funds transfer.

2. SEBI to relax norms to allow smart cities issue funds through 'Muni Bonds': Capital market regulator SEBI is planning to ease its norms for 'Muni Bonds' to help smart cities and other registered entities working in areas of city planning and urban development work, like municipalities, raise funds through issuance and listing of their debt securities. The Securities and Exchange Board of India had issued its Issue and Listing of Debt Securities by Municipalites (ILDM) Regulations nearly five years ago. Since then seven municipalities have raised nearly ₹1,400 crore by issuing their debt securities, which are commonly known as 'Muni Bonds'.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. ISRO Chairman Sivan gets A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award: Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) K. Sivan, awarded Tamil Nadu government’s Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award. Under his leadership, the ISRO launched its Chandrayaan-2 mission. A native of Kanniyakumari district, Mr. Sivan is known popularly known as the ‘Rocket Man’. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami handed over the State government’s Kalpana Chawla Award for Courage and Daring Enterprise to P. Ramyalakshmi, Assistant Director of Fisheries (Marine) posted in Cuddalore.

OBITUARIES

1. Former India cricketer V.B. Chandrasekhar passes away: Former India and Tamil Nadu cricketer V.B. Chandrasekhar passed away. He represented India in 7 ODIs. V.B. Chandrasekhar was also a National selector from 2004 to 2006. He was a part of the last Tamil Nadu team which won the Ranji Trophy in 1988.

Daily GK Updates - 15th August, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India celebrates 73rd Independence Day: India is celebrating its 73rd Independence Day on 15th August. India attained freedom from the British rule on August 15 in 1947. Since then, August 15 is celebrated as India’s Independence Day. Addressing the nation on the occasion of the 73rd Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort in the national capital Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the government at the Centre has been tirelessly working towards fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people and decisions it has taken in the 10 weeks it has been in power are proof of it.

2. PM Modi Announce Government to invest Rs 100 lakh cr in infrastructure building: Addressing to the nation from the Red Fort on the occassion of Independence day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, the government has decided to invest 100 lakh crore rupees in infrastructure building. Because India can become a 5 trillion dollar economy in the next five years. Prime Minister called for improving exports to get more share in world economy. PM Modi said fundamentals of Indian economy are strong which will help the country to grow further.

3. MoHUA launched Swachh Survekshan 2020: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the Swachh Survekshan 2020t. It is the fifth edition of the annual cleanliness survey conducted by the Ministry. The scheme was launched by Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, the Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs. Swachh Survekshan 2020: The project Swachh Survekshan 2020 focus on sustaining and monitoring the ground and service level performance on cleanliness. The redesigned Swachh Survekshan will ensure and focus on sustaining the changed behaviours on key areas. The Ministry also launched Swachh Survekshan 2020 Toolkit, SBM Water plus Protocol and Toolkit, Swachh Nagar Mobile App and AI enabled mSBM App.

Swachh Survekshan 2020 Toolkit contains contains the detailed survey methodology and component indicators with scores. It aims to help the cities to prepare themselves for the final survey which will be released on January 2020.

SBM Water plus Protocol and Toolkit aims to ensure that no untreated wastewater is released into the environment thereby enabling sustainability of the sanitation value chain.
Swachh Nagar Mobile App have features to track waste collection by ULBs through route and vehicle monitoring, notify citizens, online collection of user fee for waste collection and an effective grievance redressal mechanism.

AI enabled mSBM App is a mobile aplication developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). It will help the beneficiary to get approval from the ULB nodal officer to verify and approve the application. It will reduce the processing time for applicants. 

4. State of Art Gallery at National Crafts Museum inaugurated: A Textiles Gallery at National Crafts Museum was inaugurated in New Delhi by the Union Minister of Textiles and Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani. The collection aims to help people explore, enjoy, and rediscover the world of Indian textiles through design and technology.
Collections in the gallery: The Gallery consists of more than 230 different types of textiles collections more than 30 traditions. Five zones were displayed in the gallery. Zones has been named as weaving, embroidery, dying (Ikatpatola), pattern (Bandhej, Kalamkari, and Leheria) and TanaBana based on the intricacies of the textiles. The gallery exhibits the fine Indian Craftsmanship to public. The rich collection displayed the importance of conserving India’s rich heritage of handlooms for the next generations. It will serve as a resource centre for the students of fashion technology, apparel sciences and textiles designing. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ADB invest to $23 Million to GR Infraprojects Limited to Expand Road Building Capacity in India: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed an agreement to invest $23 million in Non-Convertible Debentures being issued by GR Infraprojects Limited (GRIL) to help the company rapidly scale up its construction of roads and highways in India through the purchase of new building equipment. Supporting the growth of the transport sector is a key focus area of ADB’s private sector strategy in India.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. India won Physical Disability World Series 2019: India won the Physical Disability World Series 2019 in England after defeating the hosts in the final at the New Road Stadium in Worcester. India beat England by 36 runs. Ravindra Sante scored a quickfire half-century to star in India’s victory.  The six-nation tournament was organized by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. State Bank of India and BoB to link home loan product to RBIs repo rate: Bank of Baroda (BoB) planned to linked its home loan product to RBI’s (Reserve Bank of India) repo rate after State Bank of India (SBI). With this, home loans at BOB will be available at repo rate linked interest rate starting at 8.35%. This decision is following RBI reducing the key interest rate (repo) by 35 basis points to a nine-year low of 5.40%. Many other state-run banks, including Union Bank of India, Allahabad Bank, Bank of India and Syndicate Bank expressed their intention to launch loan products linked to an external benchmark.

2. Aditya Birla Health Insurance agreement with Axis Bank for bancassurance pact: Aditya Birla Health Insurance (ABHI), a stand-alone health insurer, has entered into a bancassurance partnership with Axis Bank, the country’s third largest private sector bank. Through this partnership, ABHI will offer health insurance solutions to the Axis bank’s customers across its 4,094 branches and digital channels.

Note: Axis Bank Headquarters: Mumbai

3. RBI launches regulatory sandbox for Fintech companies: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the final framework for regulatory sandbox (RS) for the startups, banks and financial institutions. The Fintech companies can now set up their own RS for live testing of innovative products in areas like retail payments, digital KYC and wealth management. The framework aims to enable innovations in the financial technology space. It will also foster responsible innovation in financial services, promote efficiency and bring benefit to consumers.
It will encourage innovations that are intended for use in the Indian market in areas where there is absence of governing regulations.

Note: Regulatory Sandbox (RS): A regulatory sandbox refers to live testing of new products or services in a controlled/test regulatory environment. The regulators can permit certain regulatory relaxations for the limited purpose of the testing.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Police Personnel were awarded the Union Home Minister Medal for Excellence: The Union Home Minister Medal for Excellence in Investigation for the year 2018 has been awarded to 101 Police personnel belonging to 25 States/UT/ Central Investigating Agencies. The aim of medal of Excellence in Investigation is to promote high professional standards of investigation of crime. The award also recognizes Excellence in Investigation by Investigating officers and well appreciable working too.

The Police personnel receiving the Awards about: 11 are from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra Police each, 8 are from Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh polic, 7 are from Tamil Nadu police, 9 are from CBI, Rest are from the other States/UT and Central Investigating Agencies. The awardees include twelve women police officers also.

2. Service and Gallantry Medals for 946 police personnel: A total of 946 police personnel have been awarded Service/Gallantry Medals on the occasion of the Independence Day, 2019. The awards were approved by the President of India. Among the awardees 72 are from CRPF, 61 are from J&K police, 23 are from Odisha, 9 are from Chhattisgarh and the remaining from the other States/UTs and CAPFs.

President Police Medals for Gallantry (PPMG) - 3 personnel; Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG) - 177 personnel; President's Police Medals for Distinguished Service - 89 personnel; Police Medal for Meritorious Service -677 personnel; 180 Gallantry awards:

DEFENCE

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August announced the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on impendence day announced the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) who will be above the three Service Chiefs. This is one the country’s biggest higher level military reform to bring in jointness and tri-service integration. The CDS is meant to be a single-point military advisor to the government, and to coordinate long-term planning, procurements, training and logistics of the three services (Army, Navi and Air force). As future wars become short, swift and network-centric, coordination among the three services is crucial.

2. GRSE launches fifth FPV for Coast Guard: Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) launched a fifth Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG). The name of the coast guard is Kanaklata Barua. The coast is named after a freedom fighter from Assam. This is the last of the five FPVs built by GRSE. The entire design of the ship was developed in-house by GRSE as per the requirement of the ICG. The vessel is 50 metres long and 7.5 metres wide with a displacement of around 308 tonnes. It is equipped with three main engines, advanced communication and navigation systems. The main aim is to design for a maximum speed of 34 knots, with an endurance of more than 1500 nautical miles at cruising speed of 12-16 knots. The first ship of this class is ICGS Priyadarshini commissioned on March 27.

OBITUARIES

1. Veteran actor Vidya Sinha passes away: Veteran Bollywood actress Vidya Sinha, known for her role in Basu Chatterjee’s film “Rajnigandha” (1974), passed away after a brief lung-cum-heart ailment.