Daily GK Updates - 24th May, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. President signs ordinance keeping state boards out of NEET this year: The ordinance on NEET is aimed at partially overturning a Supreme Court order that had taken into account the multiple medical entrance exams by states and private colleges as well as allegations of corruption.

2. Indigenously built INS Tarmugli commissioned into Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

3. India imposes ban for travel to Libya in view of prevailing security situation: India has banned its nationals from travelling to Libya, irrespective of the purpose of the visit, in view of the prevailing security situation in that country.

4. NALCO signs MoU with Iran Government to set up smelter plant in Chabahar: The National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) has signed a MoU with the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organisation (IMIDRO) to explore the possibilities of setting up a smelter on joint venture in Iran.

5. Sumitra Mahajan to inaugurate 3-day NERCPA Conference: The Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will inaugurate the three day conference of the Northeast Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (NERCPA) in the Assembly house on 30^th of May.

6. BJP leader Sarbananda Sonowal takes oath as Chief Minister of Assam.

7. Odisha Official Language (Amendment) Ordinance, 2016 promulgated: The Ordinance empowers the state government to formulate laws to implement the Odisha Official Language Act 1954. This will facilitate use of Odia language in transaction of official businesses of the Government.

8. National Green Tribunal (NGT) bans over 10-year old light and heavy diesel vehicles in six Kerala cities namely Thiruvanathapuram, Kochi, Kollam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur.

9.  13 new Smart cities namely Lucknow, Warangal, Bhagalpur, Raipur, New Town Kolkata, Chandigarh, Faridabad, Ranchi, Agartala, Imphal, Port Blair and Panaji unveiled by Government.

10. ‘E-Municipal Council’ building to come up in Bundi, Rajasthan: An ‘e-municipal council’ office equipped with solar panels and biometric entry and exit to provide files at a click, and detailed digital mapping of the city with a database of its demographical and geographical information.

11. S K Sharma appointed as the CMD of Nuclear Power Corporation of India.

12. Lt. General S K Saini appointed as the new Commandant of Indian Military Academy (IMA).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India, Thailand and Myanmar to be connected through a 1400-km road: The three countries will soon be connected by a 1400-km highway to boost the trade and cultural exchanges among them.

2. World Bank launches $500 million insurance fund to fight pandemics: The World Bank group has launched Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility and launched a $500 million fund to fight Pandemics in poor countries and creating the world’s first insurance market for pandemic risk. It will accelerate both global and national responses to future outbreaks with pandemic potential.

3. UK grants asylum to Maldivian Ex-President Mohamed Nasheed. 

4. US lifts embargo on sales of lethal weapons to Vietnam.

  

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. India Post payments bank will be functional by March 17: Union Communication and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has stated that the India Post’s payment bank will start functioning from March 2017 and serve as a wider platform to implement financial inclusion programmes.

SPORTS:

2. FIFA’s acting Secretary General Markus Kattner dismissed over bonus payments.

3. The Sports Ministry has stated that the medal winners from the Rio Olympics 2016 will be considered for Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards.

OBITUARIES:

4. Veteran CPI(M) leader K Anirudhan passed away at the age of 92.

Daily GK Updates - 23rd May, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India’s first reusable space shuttle, RLV-TD launched from Sriharikota: ISRO has successfully launched its maiden indigenous winged Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh. The Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator is considered as the first step towards realising a Two Stage to Orbit (TSTO) fully reusable vehicle.

2. India and Iran sign 12 bilateral agreements in various areas: Both the countries have signed 12 MoUs and agreements in various fields including building and operating the Chabahar port by India. The other agreements include cooperation in culture, science and technology, library sciences, cooperation between the EXIM Bank of both the countries etc.

3. India and Oman signed 4 MoUs/Agreements on defence cooperation: India and Oman have signed 4 MoUs in Muscat during the visit of Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to Oman. The MoUs are in the field of Defence Cooperation between Ministry of Defence of Sultanate of Oman and Ministry of Defence of India, MoU between the Royal Oman Police (Coast Guard) and Indian Coast Guards in the field of Marine Crime Prevention at Sea, etc.

4. Government constitutes IEPF Authority: Government has constituted the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF) Authority, moving ahead with efforts to further strengthen the framework for safeguarding the interest of investors.

5. AIADMK Chief J Jayalalitha sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the 6^th term.

6. Himachal Pradesh launches artificial propagation programme of Mahseer fish for conservation: Himachal Pradesh fisheries department has started an artificial propagation programme for rehabilitation and conservation of Golden Mahseer Fish. Under the programme, a hatchery has been set up in the state with an outlay of Rs 6 crore to rear Mahseer fish and release its fingerlings into the wild.

7. Gujarat CM launches ‘Smart Village’ program: The state government will select 300 villages for Smart Village Program that will get 80 lakh to 2 crore rupees cash assistance to improve public facilities in the village.

8. Kiran Bedi appointed as the Lt Governor of Puducherry.

9. Five Indian cars namely Renault Kwid, Maruti Suzuki Celerio and Eeco, Mahindra Scorpio and Hyundai Eon failed crash tests by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India-Pakistan school Students Exchange Program gets innovation award: India-Pakistan school Students Exchange Program has won innovation award as in the program, the students have been interacting with each other through handwritten letters, audios and visual recording that are reflective of a shared history of the two neighbours before partition.

2. Ken Loach’s film ‘I, Daniel Blake’ wins Palme d’Or at the 69^th Cannes Film Festival held in France.

  

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Ajay Shirke elected as BCCI Secretary as Former secretary Anurag Thakur was elected as the BCCI President.

2. China wins Uber Cup Badminton tournament for the 14^th time defeating South Korea 3-1.

3. Mohun Bagan football club beats Aizwal FC 5-0 to lift 14^th Federation Cup title for the 14^th time.

4. Denmark wins first Thomas Cup Badminton tournament defeating Indonesians 3-1.

5. R Ashwin jumped to 2^nd place in ICC Test Bowlers ranking while England’s Stuart Broad leads the ranking.

6. Pankaj Advani creates history by winning Asian 6-Red Snooker title.

AWARDS:

7. Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling conferred with Nepal’s literary award ‘Yug Kavi Siddhicharan’ for his commendable contribution in promoting Nepali literature in India.

OBITUARIES:

8. World’s oldest Olympic champion, Sandor Tarics passed away at the age of 102: He was born in Budapest, Hungary but later shifted to San Francisco where he worked as a University Professor.

Daily GK Updates - 22nd May, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Ratan P Watal appointed as Principal Adviser for Social Sector in NITI Aayog: Former Finance Secretary R P Watal appointed as Principal Advisor (Social Sector) in NITI Aayog for 3-years.

2. SEBI tightens P-notes norms to check money laundering: Market regulator SEBI tightened the norms for investing in Participatory Notes (P-Notes). It has been mandatory for P-Notes users to follow the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

3. Union Cabinet approved ordinance to keep states out of NEET for one year: The Union Cabinet approved an ordinance to exempt the State Boards from the purview of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for one year.

4. Kayakalp Fortnight initiative launched at AIIMS New Delhi by JP Nadda: The aim of Kayakalp Fortnight is to intensify Kayakalp initiative under the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan. Under the initiative, various activities towards cleanliness will be undertaken during the fortnight.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian Journalist Philip Abraham elected as the Deputy Mayor of Loughton Town in United Kingdom.   

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. SBI seeks to take over 5 associate PSBs, Bhartiya Mahila Bank: The country’s largest lender has decided to merge its five associate banks and the Bhartiya Mahila Bank with itself.

SPORTS:

2. Anurag Thakur unanimously elected as BCCI President.

AWARDS:

3. Indian American Rakesh K Jain received US National Medal of Science 2015 from Barak Obama. 

Daily GK Updates - 21st May, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 27^th India and Indonesia CORPAT concludes in Belawan: The 27^th edition of the India-Indonesia CORPAT (Coordinated Patrol) has concluded in Belawan, Indonesia. The exercise is being carried out to keep the vital part of the Indian Ocean Region safe and secure for commercial shipping and international trade.

2. After liquor, Bihar government bans gutka and pan masala: The ban on both packaged and unpackaged edible items containing tobacco content will remain effective for a period of one year.

3. Indigenous faecal incontinence management device ‘Qora’ launched: The technology for the medical device was developed by Consure Medical, New Delhi, to address ‘a new level of care for patients outside the ICU’.

4. World Bank arm IFC to invest $68 million in Apollo health: World Bank subsidiary arm International Finance Corporation (IFC) is planning to invest US$68 million (about INR 460 crore) in Apollo Health and Lifestyle Ltd.

5. International Finance Corporation (IFC) will invest $20 million in Future Consumer Enterprise Ltd through equity-linked instruments.

6. Cairn India CEO Mayank Ashar quits because of personal reasons.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. G-7 Summit: Finance Minister and Central Bank Governors meet in Sendai: Finance Ministers and central bank governors from the group of seven developed nations kicked off the first day of their meeting in Sendai, Japan.

2. US House of Representatives gave nod to bolster defence ties with India on par with NATO: In this regard, an amendment to the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDDA) was approved by the house. The amendment is dubbed as ‘Enhancing Defence and Security Cooperation with India’.

3. Binali Yildirim all set to become the Prime Minister of Turkey. 

4. United Nations appoints Irish President Mary Robinson and Kenyan Diplomat Macharia Kamau as special envoys for El Nino climate.

5. 42 year old woman Lhakpa Sherpa has become the 1^st lady to climb the Mount Everest for the seventh time.

6. HiFire hypersonic superjet technology successfully tested in Australia.   

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. HSBC Bank to shut down half of its branches in India, 300 jobs to go.

SPORTS:

2. Belgian Mourad Laachraoui wins European Taekwondo title.

3. Rodger Federar withdraws from French Open after failing to recover from a back injury.

OBITUARIES:

4. Emmy Award winning actor Alan Young died at the age of 96.

Daily GK Updates - 20th May, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Five State Assembly Elections 2016 Results: The 2016 Kerala Assembly Elections has won by the CPI (M) led Left Democratic Front (LDF) by the absolute majority by winning 91 seats (44.94% votes) of the total 140 seats. So, as a result Pinarayi Vijayan is set to become the next CM of Kerala. In Assam, BJP and its alliance partners have won an absolute majority by winning 87 seats out of 126. Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is all set to become the CM. In West Bengal, the ruling TMC has won the elections. Ruiling AIADMK Party under the leadership of J Jayalalitha has emerged victorious. The Congress managed to wrest power in the union territory of Puducherry in alliance with the DMK winning 17 of the 30 assembly seats.

2. President inaugurates Intelligent Operations Centre in Rashtrapati Bhavan: He also launched a mobile application ‘Monitor’ for transformation of President’s Estate into a smart township. The President announced that the estate will work around the ‘4H’ theme of humane, Hi-Tech, Heritage and Happy Township.

3. Cyclonic storm    ROANU to strike Andhra Pradesh coast as per IMD.

4. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare launched Centre for Environmental Health in New Delhi to access environmental impact on health.

5. Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh launches PEHAL Programme: The programme aims to expedite development works and government schemes through effective implementation at grass-root level.

6. ‘Medicine with the Red Line’: A public awareness campaign was launched by the Union Government to curb irrational use of anti-biotics.

7. India and Slovenia signed Double Taxation Avoidance convention in the capital city of Ljubljana.

8. TATA Power acquires 30 MW wind farm in Sangli district of Maharasthra.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Buddhist Conference begins in Nepal: A two day international Buddhist Conference has begun in Nepal to celebrate the 2,560^th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. The theme of the conference is ‘Lumbini, Nepal: the birth place of Lord Buddha and the fountain of Buddhism and world peace.

2. Beijing-New Delhi Yoga Conference opens in China: The five day conference is featuring activities including courses from Indian yoga masters and yoga introductions for communities.

3. Indian Journalist Philip Abraham elected as Deputy Mayor of Loughton town in United Kingdom. 

4. Tsai Ing-wen sworn in as the first woman President of Taiwan.   

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. India loose to China in the semi-final of Uber Cup: Indian women’s team settled for a bronze medal after suffering a 0-3 defeat at the hands of defending champions China in the semi-finals of the Uber Cup Badminton Championship held at Kunshan in China.

AWARDS:

2. Mukesh Ambani awarded with Othmer Gold Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

OBITUARIES:

3. CBS News Journalist Morley Safer passed away at the age of 84.

4. Veteran Gujarati folk singer Diwaliben Bhil passed away at the age of 80.

Daily GK Updates - 19th May, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Moody’s pegs India’s growth rate at 7.5% in 2016 and 2017: Global rating agency, Moody’s has forecast a growth rate of about 7.5% for the Indian economy in 2016 and 2017.

2. Centre to postpone NEET by a year: Buckling under pressure, the centre has decided to defer the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical college admission by a year through an ordinance or executive order.

3. Bonded labour rehab to be made Central sector scheme: Labour Minister (Independent) Bandaru Dattatreya stated that the centre is revising the rehabilitation of bonded labour scheme, bringing it into the Central sector, and plans to raise financial assistance from Rs 20,000 to Rs 100000.

4. Government approves three pharma FDI proposals worth Rs 60.73 crore: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has approved Rs 60.73 crore worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals of Wockhardt, Aurobindo Pharma and Advanced Enzyme Technologies.

5. Apple announces opening of its map development centre in Hyderabad.

6. Ola signs MoU with government to benefit ‘Safai Karamcharis’: It has signed a MoU with the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) established under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to focus on building a sustainable framework by supporting entrepreneurship, skill development training and self-defence courses for Safai Karamcharis and Scavengers.

7. BHEL commissions 250 MW Thermal Unit at Parli Thermal Power Station located in Beed district in Maharashtra.

8. TATA Power bags 100 MW solar projects in Pavagada Solar Park in Tumkur district of Karnataka.

9.  Japanese financial company Nomura exits joint venture with Life Insurance Corporation.

10. Five Indian cars namely Renault Kwid, Maruti Suzuki Celerio and Eeco, Mahindra Scorpio and Hyundai Eon failed crash tests by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP).

11. Ola signs MoU with KIAB: App-based cab service provider Ola has launched a unique initiative for travellers arriving at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). The move will help users to get an Ola cab in less than three minutes.

12. Rakesh Kumar Mishra appointed as the Director of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Scientists developed world’s first Zika virus clone: Scientists from the University Of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) have developed world’s first genetically engineered clone of the Zika virus strain.

2. UN-habitat releases World Cities Report 2016, Urbanization and Development: Emerging Futures: As per the UN reports, India is projected to add 300 million new urban residents by 2050 and it will also need to build Climate Friendly Cities to deal the challenge of accommodating the needs of the Population growth. 

3. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon appoints Patricia Espinosa Cantellano as Executive Secretary of UNFCCC.   

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. SBI seeks to take over 5 associate PSBs, Bhartiya Mahila Bank: The country’s largest lender State Bank of India has decided to merge its five associate public sector banks and the Bhartiya Mahila Bank with itself.

2. Nepal SBI launches payment gateway to facilitate online trade and non-trade transactions between the Himalayan nation Nepal and India.

3. PNB tops list of worst losses in Indian banking history: Public sector lender Punjab National Bank has reported the largest net loss of Rs 5,367.14 crore for the 4^th quarter ended on 31^st of March against the backdrop of a surge in bad loans.

SPORTS:

4. Sevilla Football club wins the 3^rd consecutive Europa League title by defeating Liverpool 3-1 in the final played in Basel: He was named as the Test Player of the Year, Limited Overs Player of the Year and Fan’s Player of the Year at the England’s annual award ceremony.

AWARDS:

5. Indian-American bio-technologist Rupa Iyer received the University of Houston’s highest teaching award for her sustained and significant contributions to education in the US.

Daily GK Updates - 18th May, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World’s largest single Rooftop Solar Power Plant inaugurated in Amritsar: In Punjab, Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal inaugurated the world’s largest Single Rooftop Solar Power Plant with the capacity of 11.5 Megawatt (MW) at Dera Baba Jaimal Singh at Beas, in Amritsar district.

2. Union Government opened Tatkal window to expedite examination of patent application: It has opened a Tatkal window to expedite examination of patent applications by start-ups as well as entities choosing India for the first filing of patent.

3. CCEA gives approval to the proposal for offering improved VRS package: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to the proposal for offering an Improved Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) package based on 2007 notional pay scales for the employees of Hindustan Vegetable Oil Corporation, HVOC.

4. Draft National Policy for Women, 2016 unveiled: It will replace the National Policy for Empowerment of Women, 2001. It will also guide Government action on Women’s issues over the next 15-20 years.

5. Five member committee headed by Former Revenue and Expenditure Secretary N K Singh to give recommendations on Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management.

6. India successfully test fired its indigenously developed Prithvi-II missile from Chandipur, off Odisha coast.

7. Odisha to launch Green Passage Scheme for Orphan students: The Odisha Government has decided to launch Green Passage Scheme for orphan students to ensure that they get free of cost higher education in the state.

8. Trial run of Delhi Metro’s new driverless trains flagged off by CM ArvindKejeriwal.

9. Belgium based company Barco appoints Rajiv Bhalla as MD for India.

10. Manzil Saini becomes first women SSP of Lucknow.

11. IndiGo names Rohit Philip as its new CFO.

12. Shell India appoints Nitin Prasad as its new India head.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World’s first robot lawyer ROSS hired by US law firm Baker Hostetler: ROSS has been built by ROSS Intelligence and it is built upon IBM cognitive computer Watson. With the support of Watson’s, lawyers can ask ROSS their research question.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. England Cricketer Joe Root bags top three England cricket award: He was named as the Test Player of the Year, Limited Overs Player of the Year and Fan’s Player of the Year at the England’s annual award ceremony.

2. IOC to ban 31 athletes from competing in Rio after their sample from Beijing Olympics found tainted.

AWARDS:

3. 15-year old Indian-American student Syamantak Payra wins prestigious Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award: He won the prize for developing a low cost electronic device for people who cannot talk well through disease or injury.