Daily GK Updates - 22nd March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley launched ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ and ‘Unified Package Insurance Scheme’.

2. Government further relaxes Atal Pension Yojana norms: It has further relaxed the norms for the Atal Pension Yojana to give an option to spouse to continue to contribute for the balance period on premature death of a subscriber.

3. Akhilesh Ranjan Committee on Taxation of e-Commerce submitted its report to the Union Government: The report provides the view of the committee on issues related to taxation of e-commerce and recent international developments in this area.

4. Ashok Leyland (a Hinduja Group company) to partner with US firm Lockheed Martin to develop defence systems such as light specialist vehicle and light armoured multi-purpose vehicles. 

5. Ashok Lahiri committee constituted to review excise duty imposed on different jewellery articles in Budget 2016-17.

6. Telangana and French Aviation Company Aero Campus Aquitaine and Bordeaux Metropole signed MoU to set up aviation training institute in Hyderabad.

7. India to host 8^th BRICS Summit in October in Goa: The logo of the summit is a lotus having colours from all the five member countries and a traditional ‘namaste’ in the centre.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Water Day observed on 22^nd March 2016 across the world with theme ‘Water and Jobs’.

2. Ali Mohamed Shein declared winner of Presidential elections of semi-autonomous region Zanzibar.

3. Scientists from University of Hawaii revealed that year 2014 recorded highest anthropogenic carbon release in past 66 million years.

4. Nepal signed agreement with China to extend the strategic Tibet rail link to Nepal

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka won BNP Paribas Open Men’s and Women’s title respectively.

2. Indian wrestler Hardeep Singh won silver medal in Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

AWARDS:

3. Renowned Malayalam writer M Sukumaran chosen for CV Kunhiraman Literary Prize.

4. 5^th National Photography Awards presented in New Delhi by Arun Jaitley: Lifetime Achievement Award-Bhawan Singh, Professional Photographer Award-Javed Ahmed Dar, Amateur Photographer-Himanshu Thakur.

OBITUARIES:

5. Former Inter Chairman and CEO Andrew Grove died at the age of 79.

Daily GK Updates - 21st March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Andhra Pradesh Government signed MoU with Cisco to launch AP Fibre Net: The Fibre Net Project is aimed at providing broadband connectivity at affordable rates to all households and institutions in the State.

2. Fashion Designer Ritu Beri appointed as Advisor to Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

3. Government allows 49% FDI in Insurance under automatic route: The Government has relaxed FDI norms for the insurance sector by permitting overseas companies to buy 40% stake in domestic insurers without prior approval, which is another effort to bring more foreign players into India’s vast insurance market.

4. BHEL commissions its 2^nd 270 MW thermal unit at Goindwal Sahib coal-fired power project in Punjab: The unit has been commissioned at the GVK Power and Infra Ltd in Tarn District near Amritsar. 

5. Hinduja Brothers top Britain’s ‘Asian Rich List’: India-born brothers S P Hinduja and G P Hinduja have topped the ‘Asian Rich List 2016’.

6. Cisco to invest $100 million in India to train over 250,000 students.

7. Mumbai’s Wilson College adopts railway station for cleanliness: One of Mumbai’s oldest college, Wilson College has adopted the Charni Road station here for cleanliness and upkeep as a part of the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2016 observed across the world on 21^st March 2016 with the theme ‘Challenges and Achievements of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

2. International Day of Forests observed on 21^st March 2016 with theme ‘Forest and Water’: The theme highlights the importance of forests in sustaining planet’s supply of freshwater, which is essential for life.

3. United Nations appoints Red from ‘Angry Birds’ as Honorary Ambassador for Climate Change.

4. Obama embarks on Historic Cuba visit: US President Barack Obama embarked on a historic trip to Cuba more than a year after Washington reset its foreign policy towards the island following decades of cold war animosity that almost led to a nuclear war. He will meet Cuban President Raul Castro here.

5. Prince Harry begins 5-day trip to Nepal to mark the 200^th anniversary of bilateral ties.

6. General Lori Robinson nominated as 1^st US Female Combatant Chief.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. H S Prannoy won 2016 Swiss Open Men’s single title of Badminton organised in Basel, Switzerland defeating Marc Zwiebler of Germany.

2. SSP Chowrasia won Hero Open title of Golf held at New Delhi.

3. Lionel Messi named as Huawei Global Ambassador.

4. Bangladesh bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny suspended by ICC for illegal bowling action.

AWARDS:

5. Cairn India bags five awards at FICCI Excellence Awards: The awards, which are dedicated for best safety and occupation health systems act as motivation and catalyst for adopting best safety practices and systems in the manufacturing sector.

6. Indian-origin student Geetakshi Arora wins first Noor Inayat Khan Prize in London.

OBITUARIES:

7. Former Danish PM Anker Joergensen died in Copenhagen at the age of 93.

Daily GK Updates - 20th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Narendra Modi launched Kisan Suvidha mobile app: It will provide information on the subjects such as weather, market prices, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and agriculture machinery.

2. Government launches mobile app ‘Pusa Krishi’: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh launched a new mobile app ‘Pusa Krishi’ for farmers in order to take the technology to farm fields. It was launched during the Krishi Unnati Mela in New Delhi.

3. NMDC signs MoU to revive Mahila Haat: In its latest bid to revive the ‘Mahila Haat’, an ambitious project of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation to provide space and impetus to women entrepreneurs, the corporation has signed a MoU with the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO). With an objective of serving as a marketplace for women artisans and entrepreneurs, the Haat will also serve as a culture centre.

4. Bing ties up with FreeCharge to offer redeemable points for searches. 

5. Ola and Maharashtra Government sign MoU to skill one lakh youth.

6. Paytm ties up with PVR to sell online moving tickets.

7. Union Government notified new Plastic Waste Management Rules to curb 6000 tonnes of plastic waste.

8. Indian Air Force successfully conducted Exercise Iron Fist in Pokhran: The day-night exercise was aimed at demonstrating IAF’s combat and fire power and reassure the nation about its commitment and capabilities in safeguarding the national interests.

9. India’s Agasthyamala among 20 UNESCO world biosphere reserves: India’s ‘unique’ Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats is among 20 new sites added by UNESCO to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

10. PM Modi conferred National Krishi Karman Awards 2014-15. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 10^th edition of Earth Hour was observed globally from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm local time on 19 March 2016.

2. World Sparrow Day was observed across the world on 20^th March 2016: The theme for this year was ‘Rise for the SPARROW-Experience the power of one.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Yogeshwar Dutt clinched gold medal in Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament held at Astana in Kazakhstan.

2. Gurmeet Singh became the first Indian to win gold medal in Asian 20 km Race Walk.

Daily GK Updates - 19th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Krishi Unnati Mela in New Delhi: PM Modi inaugurated three-day ‘Krishi Unnati Mela’ providing information on new farm schemes and technologies that will help farmers double their incomes within the next five years.

2. Supreme Court allows pictures of Governors, CMs and Ministers in Government in advertisement.

3. India and Bangladesh enter new era of Bilateral Petroleum Trade: India and Bangladesh entered into a new era of petroleum trade with a special goodwill train loaded with High Speed Diesel rolling down from India to Bangladesh.

4. India and Australia ink pact to avoid Double Social Security Contribution: India and Australia ink pact to avoid double social security contribution. Under this agreement, employees of India deputed to Australia and vice versa will not have to make double social security contribution. 

5. Tata Steel expects Rs 20,000 crore investment in Gopalpur SEZ in Odisha.

6. Sudhir Raheja has been given extra charge as Airport Authority of India (AAI) Chairman.

7. Indian Professor T V Paul took over as the 56^th President of International Studies Association.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Turkey and EU reach landmark deal on refugees: Turkey and EU have reached a controversial deal which European leaders hope will stop the flow of refugees to the continent in return for political and financial concessions for Ankara.

2. Russia gets its own rating firm-ACRA: Vladimir Putin’s home-grown credit-ratings firm is up and running and foreign competitors are already feeling the heat. ACRA stands for Analytical Credit Rating Agency.

3. Tikka Shatrujit Singh knighted with Knight of the Legion of Honour award of France. 

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Indian Overseas Bank has become the 1^st bank to sell Indian Gold Coins.

AWARDS:

2. Skoch Lifetime Achievement Award conferred on Venkaiah Naidu: He was selected for the award for his contribution to inclusive growth and towards poverty alleviation in India.

OBITUARIES:

3. US Actor Larry Drake passed away at the age of 66.

Daily GK Updates - 18th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Sufi Forum: PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate four-day conclave: PM Modi will inaugurate the World Sufi Forum in New Delhi, where more than 200 Indian and international delegates, including Sufi Shuyukh, spiritual leaders, scholars, academicians and masters of Sufism, are participating.

2. India has signed $35 million loan agreement with The World Bank for MP Project: The Government of India has signed a loan agreement with the World Bank for Neeranchal National Watershed Project in Madhya Pradesh.

3. Arun Jaitley to inaugurate National Community Radio Sammelan in New Delhi: The theme of the conference is ‘Community Radio in India: Towards Diversity and Sustainability’.

4. Indian Railways tied up with ISRO for route surveys: The agreement will leverage the space technology for providing passenger information in all trains. 

5. Denmark firm to set up pumps manufacturing unit near Hyderabad: Desmi Technology a leading international manufacturer of pumps and pump solutions to set up a plant on the outskirts of Hyderabad shortly.

6. Vijay Mallya quits as RCB Director.

7. TCS named Virgin Money London Marathon as official tech partner for London Marathon.

8. Surat is the cleanest railway station in the country followed by Rajkot and Bilaspur (Chattisgarh), according to an Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) survey; Varanasi is among the dirtiest one.

9. Hitachi to setup ATM making firm in India.

10. Amar Abrol appointed as the new CEO of Air Asia India.

11. Freecharge allows payments via chat in 5 seconds: Mobile wallet and digital payments player FreeCharge has announced the launch of its ‘Chat and Pay’ feature.

12. Ex Wipro CFO Suresh Senapathy has been appointed the new chairman of Honeywell Automation.

13. Union Minster Ram Vilas Paswan launched FCI’s Depot Online System.

14. Goa Government classified its country liquor, Feni as Heritage Spirit of Goa.

15. Llyod’s appointed Shankar Garigiparthy as Country Manager for India.

16. Pfizer India names S Sridhar as Managing Director.

17. Ramesh Iyer re-designated as vice-chairman at Mahindra Finance.

18. India, ASEAN Plus multilateral military exercise FORCE 18 concluded in Pune.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 10^th Asian Film Awards announced in Macau; The Assassin won maximum awards: Best Film: The Assassin, Best Director: H Hsiao-Hsien for the Assassin, Best Actor: Lee Byung-hun for The Inside Men, Best Actress: Shu Qi for The Assassin.

2. Bangkok to impose curfew during Songkran festival, the world’s biggest water festival.

3. 90% of domestic workers excluded from Social Protection: It was revealed by the International Labour Organisation in its Social Protection Paper 16 entitled Social Protection for Domestic Workers: Key Policy Trends and statistics.

4. Glenmark Pharma received final approval from US Food and Drug Administration for Frovatriptan Succinate tablets for Migraine.

5. My Biosphere, My Future campaign launched in Lima.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. 5600 wilful defaulters owe banks Rs 60K crore: According to the data from credit information bureau CIBIL, more than 5600 borrowers who owe banks close to Rs 60,000 crore have been declared wilful defaulters by lenders as on December 31.

2. Interest rate in Public Provident Fund cut to 8.1% from 8.7% and to 7.8% from 8.7% in KVP schemes.

SPORTS:

2. UN suspended Maria Sharapova as goodwill brand ambassador after doping allegations.

3. Vijender Singh registers fourth straight win in Pro Boxing beating Hungary’s Alexander Horvath.

4. Sri Lankan Cricket Board constituted Arvinda de Silva-led National Cricket Selection Panel.

AWARDS:

5. India-based software engineer Abdulqadir Rashik won first prize in UN #LinksSDGs Data Visualisation Challenge.

6. Priyanka Kakodar and Raksha Kumar won Chameli Devi Jain Award for their work that clubs social concern and compassion with pioneering reportage and analytical skills.

OBITUARIES:

6. US Actor Larry Drake passed away at the age of 66.

7. Renowned Singer and Actor K Mani passed away at the age of 45 following a liver ailment.

8. American Actress Nancy Reagan died at the age of 94.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

9. Book titled ‘Gandhi: An illustrated Biography’ authored by Pramod Kapoor was in news recently.

Daily GK Updates - 17th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. National Research and Development Corporation (NRDC) signed License Agreement with Kudos Laboratories for commercialisation of anti-diabetic drug Ayush-82.

2. Punjab Government notified Swine Flu under Epidemic Disease Act.

3. PM Modi to join world leaders in wax at Madame Tussauds.

4. RUSA Scheme to be implemented to improve equity, quality of higher education: Central Government is implementing the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) for providing financial support to proposals contained in State Higher Education Plan (SHEP) approved by the State Higher Education Councils in order to achieve the objectives of equity, access and quality.

5. Bharti Airtel buys Videocon Telecom for Rs 4428 crore.

6. India Aviation Show 2016 begins in Hyderabad: It is the 5^th edition of the biennial series of this international exhibition and was inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee at the Begumpet Airport.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. US President Obama nominated Merrick Garland for Chief Justice of US Supreme Court.

2. India became the second biggest investor in London: London & Partners, the official promotional company for London announced that India has emerged as the second biggest investor in London after the US.

3. TIME magazine released 30 Most Influential People on the Internet list: The list has been topped by the artist and entrepreneur Kayne West. India’s PM Narendra Modi stood at 15^th in the list. 

4. United Nations Development Programme appointed Michelle Yeoh as Goodwill Ambassador.

5. United Nations Population Fund appointed Ashley Judd as Goodwill Ambassador: Judd is an acclaimed humanitarian, actor, writer and political activist.

6. Fazle Kabir appointed as Governor of Bangladesh Bank.

7. United Nations Social Development Network (USDN) released World Happiness Report 2016 in Rome: The fourth edition of the report was released ahead of the UN World Happiness Day which will be observed on 20^th March 2016. India ranks 118^th out of 156 countries and the list is topped by Denmark.

8. UNESCO released e-Atlas of Gender Inequality in Education: The e-Atlas shows gender gaps from primary to tertiary education and educational pathways of girls and boys in more than 200 countries and territories. The gender disparity remains highest in Arab States.   

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBI likely to pay Rs 57,000 crore in dividends to the Government in 2016-17.

SPORTS:

2. FIFA admits taking bribe for Hosting World Cup.

AWARDS:

3. British Mathematician Sir Andrew Wiles won 2016 Abel Prize: He won the prize for solving a centuries-old hypothesis, Fermat’s Last Theorem.

OBITUARIES:

4. American singer Frank Sinatra Junior died at the age of 72.

5. Shehnai exponent Ustad Ahmed Ali Hussain Khan died at the age of 77.

6. Paul Daniels, TV Magician died at the age of 77.

Daily GK Updates - 16th March, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 7^th Governing Board Meeting of Indo-German Science and Technology Centre held in New Delhi: The meeting was chaired by Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences. During the meeting he highlighted the achievements and progress of IGSTC in accelerating the bilateral Science and Technologies Collaboration.

2. Singareni 600 MW power unit synchronised in Telangana.

3. MoU signed between Ministry of Tourism and Ecotourism Society of India for Responsible and Sustainable Tourism.

4. Union Government and Jammu & Kashmir Government signed MoU on UDAY Scheme: J&K will be the 9^th state to join the scheme. 

5. Lok Sabha passed Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2015: The bill aims at protecting the interests of the large number of aspiring house buyers and enhances the credibility of construction industry. It was earlier passed by Rajya Sabha on March 10.

6. Reliance Industries and Tata Motors among top 10 sustainable firms: Sustainable Plus survey.

7. Lok Sabha passed Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016: The proposal relates to the inclusion of certain communities, modification and removal of area restriction in respect of certain communities and exclusion of certain communities in the case of State of Odisha.

8. India’s first education focused accelerator programme Edugild started at MIT, Pune.

9. Maharashtra Assembly passed amendment to Public Trusts Act, 1950: The bill provides for de-registration of long-defunct trusts among other things.

10. Punjab passed Punjab Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal land (Transfer of Proprietary Right) Bill, 2016: The bill is an attempt to divest its neighbouring states from getting share from Punjab’s river waters.

11. Career Guidance Counselling Centres launched in Delhi to improve employment opportunities for women.

12. Union Government imposed anti-dumping duty on plastic-processing imports.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. March 15 celebrated as World Consumer Rights Day across the world: The theme for this year was ‘Antibiotics off the menu’.

2. World Kidney Day observed on 16^th March 2016 across the world with theme ‘Kidney disease and Children. Act early to prevent it’.

3. 90% of domestic workers excluded from Social Protection: It was revealed by the International Labour Organisation in its Social Protection Paper 16 entitled Social Protection for Domestic Workers: Key Policy Trends and statistics.

4. Glenmark Pharma received final approval from US Food and Drug Administration for Frovatriptan Succinate tablets for Migraine.

5. My Biosphere, My Future campaign launched in Lima.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. ICICI Bank launched NFC-based mobile payment solution Touch & Pay: This solution is based on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and will enable the bank’s customers to make secure contactless payments at retail stores using smartphones.

SPORTS:

2. UN suspended Maria Sharapova as goodwill brand ambassador after doping allegations.

AWARDS:

3. India-based software engineer Abdulqadir Rashik won first prize in UN #LinksSDGs Data Visualisation Challenge

4. Priyanka Kakodar and Raksha Kumar won Chameli Devi Jain Award for their work that clubs social concern and compassion with pioneering reportage and analytical skills. 

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

5. Book titled ‘Gandhi: An illustrated Biography’ authored by Pramod Kapoor was in news recently.