Daily GK Updates - 14th May, 2018

  NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Govt to link 200 more mandis to Enam : The government will link additional 200 wholesale mandis to the online trading platform eNAM this fiscal and also encourage inter-mandi transactions.Online trading on the eNAM platform can be done through the website, trading platform or the Mobile App.At present, 585 regulated ​mandis in 14 States are linked with the electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM) launched in April 2016.

2. ITBP to get more men and material : The Union government has decided to boost the manpower and infrastructure of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).Nine new battalions, a strategic sector headquarters on the front, a dozen patrol camps and 47 new border outposts along the China border over the next few years will be created.The Ministry of Home Affairs has given its in-principle approval.

3. IMD to add 30 Doppler radars in country : The India Meteorological Department (IMD) will add 30 Doppler radars in the next two-three years across the country.Doppler radars provide precise information about thunderstorms, dust storms, hailstorms, rainfall and wind patterns.With a radius of 250km, they help in issuing nowcasts 2-3 hours prior to severe weather events.The first Doppler radar was installed in Chennai in 2002.

4. India fast losing mangrove cover : According to the report, India has ranked ninth in the area of mangrove forests it lost between 2000 and 2015, but the rate of loss is only half the global average.The report has been published by the Woods Hole Research Center, a think tank based in Massachusetts, USA.While Malaysia, Myanmar, Brazil, and Thailand were other countries to lose maximum cover during the period of study.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. SAWEN’s 1st meeting in India : The South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN), an inter-governmental wildlife law enforcement agency, held its first-ever meeting in India.SAWEN was launched in Bhutan in 2011.In 2016 the Union Cabinet gave permission to adopt the statute of SAWEN.Its member countries are India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, Pakistan & Maldives.

2. Modi, Oli launch Janakpur-Ayodhya bus service : PM Modi & his Nepalese counterpart K P Sharma Oli has jointly inaugurated a direct bus service b/w Janakpur & Ayodhya – the two sacred cities for Hindus.Janakpur the birthplace of Sita will now be connected with Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram through the bus service.The places are significant in the Ramayana tourism circuit that falls under the Indian Govt’s Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. World Bank agrees to a grant for Bangladesh : The World Bank (WB) is going to provide Bangladesh with a grant to meet the basic needs of around one million Rohingyas who fled from Myanmar.A WB team will be visiting Bangladesh to discuss the issue with the government.As per the WB’s conditions, the entire fund that the WB has finally agreed to provide Bangladesh with will have to be spent for the Rohingyas only.

2. Fino Payments Bank to offer net banking : Fino Payments Bank launched a suite of digital products that can be accessed online and through mobile phones.Fino had launched its mobile banking app BPay in 2017.The latest initiatives include Unified Payments Interface (UPI), BHIM app- using which customers can access UPI and make P2P payments.

DEFENCE:

1. Army finalised ammunition project : The Army has finalised a mega ₹15,000-crore project under which a range of ammunition for its critical weapons and tanks will be produced indigenously.The implementation of the project is being monitored by the top brass of the Army and the Defence Ministry.The immediate aim of the project is to create an inventory of all major weapons to enable the forces to fight a 30-day war.

2. Coast Guard ship Vikram arrives in Mangaluru : Indian Coast Guard vessel Vikram, the first in the class of seven new-generation offshore patrol vessels under the union government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, arrived at Mangaluru.The ship is built with an integrated platform management system to enable special control capabilities.The ship is also designed to carry a twin-engine light and heavy helicopters.

3. Book released by Chief of Army Staff : Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff has released the book ‘Across the Bench – Insight into the Indian Military Judicial System’.The book is written by Lt Gen Gyan Bhushan, former Army Commander and Member ‘A’, Armed ForcesTribunal, Lucknow Bench.The book deals with military judicial system vis-a-vis command & management issues within the military establishments.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation have reported progress in the development of an environment-friendly propellant to power satellites and spacecraft.The effort is to replace the conventional hydrazine rocket fuel, a highly toxic and carcinogenic chemical, with a greener propellant.ISRO has started working on propellant blend based on hydroxylammonium nitrate.

  

SPORTS:

1. Lewis Hamilton wins Spanish Grand Prix : Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton has extended his lead at the summit of the Formula One championship after a crushing win at the Spanish Grand Prix.Finland’s Valtteri Bottas was second while the Dutch Max Verstappen stood third.It was the first one-two of the season for Mercedes, which had been slower than Ferrari in the past few races.

OBITUARIES:

1. Film-theatre actor Kalasala Babu passes away : Noted Malayalam film-theatre actor Kalasala Babu, known for a number of villainous and character roles, passed in Kochi.A multi-faceted actor, Babu had tried his hand in all three major formats of acting- theatre, movies and television serials, in his career spanning over three decades.Babu had started a troupe, ‘Kalasala,’ and came to be known in the industry as Kalasala Babu.

Daily GK Updates - 13th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Scheme for sexual assault, acid attack victims : Supreme Court has approved ‘Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/Other Crimes-2018’ a scheme for mandatory grant of compensation to victims of sexual assault & acid attack.The scheme has been prepared by National Legal Services Authority in consultation with Centre.A victim of gangrape would now get a minimum compensation of Rs 5 lakh up to a max of Rs 10 lakh.

2. TNAU seed centre bags award : The seed centre at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)  has bagged an award for excellence in research on seed technology.The best performance centre award was presented at the annual group meeting of the all-India coordinated research project on national seed projects.All agricultural universities under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research participated in the meet.

3. I&B ministry to set up web portal : The information and broadcasting ministry will set up a dedicated web portal to disseminate information on filming facilities available in the country.The portal will also provide an overview of such locations. Applications for shooting permission will be accepted through the site.The portal will allow online payments and issuing permissions.

4. UNDP to set up skill development centre : United Nations Development Programme will soon set up a skill development centre at ‘Bharosa,’ in Hyderabad.‘Bharosa,’ an initiative of Hyderabad City Police, is a state-of-the-art centre to support women and children who are victims of violence.The centre will empower vulnerable & marginalised women by imparting skills training

5. Maharashtra signs MoU with Centre’s GRIHA council : Maharashtra govt has signed a MoU with Centres Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Council to train state PWD officials to rate govt buildings.With this, Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to sign such a MoU.As per the agreement, the GRIHA Council would train PWD’s civil & electrical engineers & architects to rate govt buildings as per its parameters

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. China’s aircraft carrier begins sea trials : China’s first domestically developed aircraft carrier has begun sea trials.The 50,000-metric tonne vessel will become the country’s second aircraft carrier, and the first to be entirely built and designed inside of China.Few countries in the world have aircraft carriers. Besides India, the US, Russia, the UK, France, Italy,Thailand and China operate a total of 18 aircraft carriers.

2. North Korea pledges to dismantle nuclear site : North Korea will commence dismantling its nuclear test site later this month in a bid to uphold its pledge to discontinue nuclear tests.The tunnel complex located in the northeastern part of the country which was used for nuclear testing will be destroyed completely.The announcement comes after US President Donald Trump announced that he will hold a meeting with Kim Jong-un in Singapore.

3. World Migratory Bird Day : The World Migratory Bird Day is a two-day programme observed on the second weekend of the month of May to highlight the urgency to protect migratory birds and their habitats.The theme of the World Migratory Bird Day 2018 is “Unifying our Voices for Bird Conservation”.India sees over 200 species of birds migrate to the country during winters from the Asian and European regions.

4. UN’s top nuclear inspector resigns suddenly : UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency has informed that its top inspector, Tero Varjoranta, has quit with immediate effect.Varjoranta, who was in the role for almost 5 yrs, will be replaced by Massimo Aparo, an Italian nuclear engineer.The move comes just days after US President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord.

5. Nepal to hold BIMSTEC 2018 : Nepal’s PM, KP Oli has announced to host the 2018 Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical & Economic Cooperation summit. BIMSTEC is an international organisation of 7 nations of South & South East Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan & Nepal.BIMSTEC aims to enhance technological & economic cooperation among South & South East Asian countries.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Industrial output growth at 4.4% : Industrial output grew by 4.4% in March, the slowest in five months, due to a fall in capital goods production and deceleration in mining activity.Industrial growth measured by the Index of Industrial Production in 2017-18 too decelerated to 4.3% from 4.6% in the previous fiscal.The IIP grew by 4.4% in March 2017, the same as in March 2018 according to Central Statistics Office.

DEFENCE:

1. Indian Army tests ‘Air Cavalry’ concept : The Indian Army has tested in the desert terrain of Rajasthan the military concept of ‘Air Cavalry’.The ‘Air Cavalry’ concept was used by the US Army to locate and assault enemy ground forces during the Vietnam War.Under the ‘Air Cavalry’ concept, attack helicopters are fully integrated with tanks and mechanised ground forces.

SPORTS:

1. Kvitova won third Madrid Open title : Petra Kvitova outlasted her Dutch opponent Kiki Bertens 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-3 in the finals to clinch the third Madrid Open title.Kvitova, the victor in Spain in 2011 and 2015, becomes the first woman to win the tournament three times.Kvitova has now claimed four titles in 2018 after triumphs in St Petersburg, Doha and Prague.

Daily GK Updates - 12th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Customs & Postal department holds joint conference : Indian Customs & Department of India Posts held a First ever Joint Conference in New Delhi to deliberate on streamlining imports & exports by post.Imports & exports by post are the 6th highest cited citizen grievances under Centralized Public Grievance Redress & Monitoring System.Customs & DGFT have worked together since a year to liberalise, reform & align laws relating to imports by post

2. India’s first Lithium-Ion charger : President Ram Nath Kovind unveiled India’s first, indigenous lithium-ion battery charger, developed by Ampere Vehicles in New Delhi.

The lithium-Ion charger project is supported by Technology Development Board of the Ministry of Science and Technology as part of the Make-in-India initiative.The unveiling event took place on the occasion of National Technology Day.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. NASA to fly a helicopter on Mars : NASA will send a small helicopter to Mars, in the first test of a heavier-than-air aircraft on another planet.The Mars helicopter will be bundled with the US space agency’s Mars rover when it launches in 2020.The helicopter is specifically designed to fly in the atmosphere of Mars, which is 100 times thinner than Earth’.

2. Trump axes funding for NASA system : The Trump administration has eliminated funding for NASA’s research program that tracks greenhouse gases around the world.The Carbon Monitoring System (CMS), a $10m (£7m)-a-year project tracks the world’s flow of carbon dioxide from space.The US’s environmental policy has shifted under Trump administration, which wants to bolster the US’s fossil fuel industry.

3. Cholera vaccination campaign began in Yemen : The 1^st vaccine campaign against cholera in Yemen has started, a year & a half after an epidemic was triggered by war & a health and sanitation crisis.According to WHO, there have been more than 1 million cases of cholera in Yemen & 2,275 recorded deaths since Nov 2016.The oral vaccination campaign started in four districts in Aden aims to target around 350,000 people.

4. KISS Humanitarian Award 2018 : Nobel Peace award winner & the founder of Grameen Bank Prof. Muhammad Yunus has been conferred with the prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award 2018.Prof Yunus is the second Nobel laureate to be conferred the award.KISS Humanitarian Award is an international award given to someone who has made an exceptional contribution to the society in various fields relating to social issues.

5. India and Myanmar sign 7 agreements : India & Myanmar have signed 7 agreements during the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s visit to Myanmar.The 7 agreements signed included one on land border crossing that will enable people from both countries to cross the land border with passport & visa for accessing health & education services.MoU on training of Myanmar foreign service officers was also signed during the meeting.

6. International Nurses day celebrated : International Nurses Day is celebrated every year on May 12 with a view to create awareness among the public about the role and responsibilities of nurses.This year the theme of the day is ‘Nurses: A voice to lead – Health is a Human Right’.International Nurses day also marks the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

OTHER UPDATES: 

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. SEBI asks listed firms to split CMD post : SEBI has asked listed companies to split the post of Chairman and Managing Director by April 2020.SEBI has also made it compulsory for them to have six independent directors on board, including a women director.The changes, which were first recommended by Kotak Bank chief Uday Kotak-led committee on corporate governance in 2017, have now been accepted and notified by SEBI.

2. RBI puts Dena Bank under corrective action : RBI has initiated prompt corrective action against Dena Bank in view of high non-performing assets, restricting the bank from giving new loans & new hiring.Prompt Corrective Action comes after Dena Bank posted a loss for the third year in a row with net NPA’s close to 12%.Though several banks are under the PCA framework currently, Dena Bank is the first lender to have fresh lending curbed.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Kerala & NTPC sign MoU for solar power : The Kerala State Electricity Board has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Thermal Power Corporation for increasing solar power generation in the state.The MoU also includes an agreement to set up a 15 MW solar power unit at the NTPC complex in Kayamkulam.The possibility of setting up solar plants at reservoirs, open space & top of buildings will also be explored.

2. Tea industry records highest ever production : Achieving a historic feat, the Indian tea industry has recorded the highest ever production of 1,325.05 million kg as well as the export of 256.57 million kg during 2017-18.Total tea production in 2017-18 went up by 74.56 million kg or 5.96%, as compared to the corresponding figure in 2016-17.Growth in exports was majorly driven by 5 countries – Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, China & Russia.

3. Agreement in field of Renewable Energy : India and Peru have signed an agreement in the field of Renewable Energy at Lima, Peru.The pact was signed in the presence of Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and the Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva Arevalo.Vice President’s visit comes at a time when India is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations with Peru.

DEFENCE:

1. SpaceX launched most powerful Falcon 9 yet : SpaceX blasted off its newest & most powerful Falcon 9 rocket, known as the Block 5, carrying the first high-orbit communications satellite for Bangladesh.The satellite will provide broadband connectivity to rural areas throughout Bangladesh.Block 5 Falcon 9 is eventually meant to carry astronauts to the International Space Station, with the first launch tentatively planned for Dec 2018.

SPORTS:

1. Indian judokas win 3 medals : Indian judokas won 3 medals on the opening day of Asian Cadet Judo Championships in Lebanon.Rohini S Mohite from Maharashtra won a gold medal in the 40kg category while Tababi Devi Thanjam of Manipur emerged as a champion in the 44kg category.India has sent a 40-member team for the 12th Asian Cadet Judo Championships.

Daily GK Updates - 11th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Railways to pay compensation if person dies : The Supreme Court held that the Indian Railways must pay compensation in case of death or injury while boarding or deboarding trains.It added that in case of an accident or untoward incident, the Railways must pay compensation whether or not there has been a wrongful act, neglect or fault on the part of the administration.The railways cannot plead negligence on the part of the victims

2. India’s clean energy capacity touches 70 GW : Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has stated that India’s installed clean energy capacity has already touched 70 GW as per data compiled on March 31, 2018.100 billion units of electricity was generated through renewables during last fiscal, which also is the highest ever so far.R K Singh has reaffirmed government’s commitment to meet target of having 175 GW by 2022

3. Mrinalini Sarabhai’s 100th birth anniversary : Google Doodle on 11th May celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of Mrinalini Sarabhai, the renowned Indian classical dancer. Mrinalini married notable physicist Vikram Sarabhai who is considered to be the Father of the Indian Space Program.Mrinalini was awarded the Padma Shri in 1965 and Padma Bhushan in 1992.She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship New Delhi in 1994.

4. Pawan Kalyan unfurls ‘largest’ Indian flag : The largest Indian flag was unfurled at NTR Stadium in Hyderabad to pay tribute to martyrs of India’s First War of Independence of 1857.The flag, measuring 183 feet in length and 122 feet in breadth, was unfurled by Tollywood actor and Jana Sena party president Pawan Kalyan.The flag is prepared by an organisation called ‘Vibrants of Kala.

5. Arunachal’s biggest solar plant inaugurated : Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the state’s biggest solar power plant at Energy Awareness Park.The plant, with a capacity of one megawatt, was commissioned on April 1 at an estimated investment of Rs 8.50 crore.With the commissioning of the solar plant, import of energy from other states will reduce considerably.

6. 19th National Technology Day : The country observed 19th National Technology Day on 11th May to commemorate the successful carrying out of the nuclear test at Pokhran in Rajasthan.On the same day, India performed successful test firing of the Trishul Missile and test flying the first indigenous aircraft ‘Hansa-3’.The country started observing the day as National Technology Day every year since 1999.

7.Nirmal Singh elected JK Assembly speaker : BJP legislator & former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh has been elected as the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.Singh, who is an MLA from Billawar constituency in Jammu region, was elected as the Speaker by a voice vote in a one-day special session of the J&K Assembly.Singh defeated Congress MLA from Bandipora, Usman Majeed.

8. Green Ambassador of Sikkim : The Sikkim Government has nominated Bollywood singer Mohit Chauhan as the Green Ambassador of the state.Chauhan has been nominated as the Green Ambassador for promoting Sikkim as a Green Destination, nationally and internationally, on a voluntary basis.Sikkim is known for its rich biodiversity and abundant natural resources due to environment-friendly policies.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Israel launched airstrikes against Iran : Israel and Iran were engaged in their most direct confrontation to date after Iranian forces stationed in Syria fired nearly 20 missiles targeting Israel-occupied territory and Israel Defence Forces responded with airstrikes.This marks Israel’s most significant military action in Syria since the civil war started in 2011.The two countries have been engaged in a proxy war for years.

2. World’s second oldest rock is from Odisha : A rock sample was recovered nearly eight years ago from Champua in Odisha’s Kendujhar district.Scientists have found in the rock a grain of magmatic zircon (a mineral that contains traces of radioactive isotopes).It is an estimated to be around 4,240 million years old — a discovery of great promise to study the earth’s early years.

3. First SCO tourism ministerial meeting : 1^st tourism ministerial meeting between the members of Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held in Wuhan, China.The meeting approved an action plan that will serve as a guideline for tourism cooperation between SCO member states from 2019 to 2020.The plan specifies measures taken to improve tourist experience & safety, develop tourist products & promote smart tourism.

4. Mahathir Mohamad sworn in as Malaysia’s PM : Mahathir Mohamad has been sworn in as the Prime Minister of Malaysia again after a shock election victory.Mahathir’s coalition defeated the governing Barisan Nasional coalition, led by PM Najib Razak, which has been in power for more than 60 yrs.The victory capped a dramatic comeback for Mahathir, who ruled the country for 22 yrs.92 year old, Mahathir becomes the oldest PM in the world

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. New monetary limits for public sector banks :Monetary threshold for public sector banks to report frauds to departments of CBI for a probe has been revised.Frauds of min. Rs 3 cr & to Rs 25 cr have to be reported to either CBIs Anti-Corruption Branch or to Economic Offences Wing.According to RBI, cases of frauds involving more than Rs 25 cr & up to Rs 50 cr should be given to CBIs Banking Security & Fraud Cell.

SPORTS:

1. Nadal breaks record : Spanish world number one Rafael Nadal broke a 34-year-old record by winning his 50th straight set on clay, the most consecutive sets won by a player on a surface.Nadal eased past Argentine Diego Schwartzman 6-3 6-4 in the round of 16 of Madrid Open to storm into the quarter-final round and broke John McEnroe’s long-standing record in Open Era.Nadal is a Spanish professional tennis player.

Daily GK Updates - 10th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Stanford University to partner with UP : Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Sidharth Singh has said that the Stanford University in the United States will partner with UP to combat diseases like Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome.Companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin also want to set up their plants in India, Singh added.Singh had led a delegation to the US to get investments from the country.

2.Kerala Government to provide free internet : The Kerala Government will set up a Joint Venture company to launch its new optic fibre network.The Kerala Fibre Optic Network Limited will implement the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) project.The K-FON initiative is being implemented to provide speedy internet connectivity to government offices and educational institutions and to the public at an affordable rate.

3. Biggest City Gas Distribution Auction :  India has launched its biggest auction of city gas distribution networks, offering permits for selling compressed & piped natural gas in 86 geographical areas.The 9th CGD licensing round would help bring gas coverage to 174 districts in 22 states & UTs, covering 29% of the country’s area.The cities for which CGD licenses are on offer include Bhopal, Ahmednagar & Ludhiana among others.

4. India’s longest rail bridge on Brahmaputra : Bogibeel bridge, India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge on the Brahmaputra connecting Dibrugarh to Dehamji is expected to be open for public by October 2018.The bridge will boost defence logistics along the China border and reduce travel time for rail passengers and road users.The bridge will make Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh easily accessible from Dibrugarh.

5. Delhi government amended Minimum Wages Act : President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the Delhi government’s Bill to amend the Minimum Wages Act.Under the amended act, employers violating labour rules in the city will now face fine ranging from Rupees 20,000-50,000 and jail term between one to three years.For an unskilled worker, the minimum wages is Rs 13,350 per month while for semi-skilled, it is Rs 14,698.

6. Telangana govt to launch Rythu Bandhu scheme : Telangana Government launched the “Rythu Bandhu Scheme” (Farmers’ investment support scheme) at Karimnagar district on 10th May.Under the scheme, the farmers will get ₹4,000 each an acre in the Kharif and Rabi seasons to take care of the credit needs ahead of the farm seasons.The government has excluded about 11 lakh tenant farmers from the scheme.

7. Green licence plates for e-vehicles : To promote electric vehicles in India, the government has approved green licence plates bearing numbers in white fonts for private e-vehicles & yellow for taxis.The purpose behind distinctive number plates is their easy identification for preferential treatment in parking beside other proposed benefits like concessional toll.India at present has 1 to 1.5 lakh electric vehicles.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India, Panama signed two agreements : India and Panama have signed two agreements on the exemption of Visas for holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports and in the field of Agriculture.Two centres for Biodiversity and Innovation will be set up by India in Panama.Both the countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation in tax information, air services, traditional medicines, culture and space.

2. India, Ethiopia held bilateral talks : India and Ethiopia vowed to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as defence, counter-terrorism, and trade and investment during the 2nd Joint Committee Meeting between the two countries.External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Dr Gebeyehu led their respective delegations.Both sides also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.

Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia.

3. China launched new satellite : China successfully launched a hyperspectral imaging satellite for comprehensive observation of the atmosphere, including air pollution.The Gaofen-5 satellite was launched off the back of a Long March 4C rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province.It will help reduce China’s dependence on foreign hyperspectral satellite data.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. YES Bank to launch water-security programme :  YES Bank is all set to roll out a capacity building project with farmers in Haryana and Rajasthan under its ‘Livelihood and Water Security’ CSR initiative.The overall focus of the programme would be on sustainable agricultural practices and digital literacy.The programme would be rolled out initially across 15 districts (eight districts in Haryana and seven in Rajasthan).

2. Walmart to buy control of Flipkart : Walmart had agreed to pay $16 billion for about 77% stake in Flipkart.It will be the biggest ever acquisition in India by a foreign firm surpassing the about $13 billion Vodafone spent in 2007 for buying Hutchison’s Indian business.The Walmart entered India in a joint venture with the Bharti Group in 2007 & started cash-and-carry stores named ‘BestPrice Modern Wholesale’ in 2009.

DEFENCE:

1. Army’s Vijay Prahar exercise in Rajasthan ends : Indian Army’s ‘Vijay Prahar’ exercise in which over 25,000 troops of the Jaipur based South Western Command participated culminated in Rajasthan’s Suratgarh.Fighting equipments including tanks, attack helicopters, drones and fighter aircraft were used in the month-long exercise.The concept of ‘Air Cavalry’ employing attack & weaponized helicopters was also validated during the exercise.

2. India to station fighter planes in Andaman : India has decided to station fighter airplanes in Andaman & Nicober Islands to strengthen India’s hold over the crucial Malacca, Sunda, and Lumbok Strait.This is the first time fighter airplanes will be positioned in Andaman and Nicobar islands since World War II.The Malacaa, Sunda and Lumbok straits are narrow ocean passes that connect the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea.

SPORTS:

1. Six CWG stars join TOPS : Six Commonwealth Games medallists from the track and field, shooting and weightlifting disciplines were inducted into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)The objective of TOPS, launched by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is to identify & support the potential medal prospects for 2020 Olympic Games.The selected athletes are provided financial assistance for their training.

Daily GK Updates - 9th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. New sheep insemination technique developed : Scientists at the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), have come up with a new laparoscope-assisted insemination technique for sheep.The minor invasive laparoscopic technique involves passing a rigid fiber-optic laparoscope into the abdomen through a small incision.Scientists said the new technique would help achieve up to 60% survival in the birth of lambs.

2. Nisha Bhalla conferred with ‘WEF 2018’ award : Holistic coach and consultant, Nisha Bhalla was felicitated at the recently concluded Annual WEF 2018 Awards.Nisha was presented the ‘Excellent Woman of Excellence’ award for her spiritual service.Women Economic Forum is the largest global gathering of women entrepreneurs and leaders worldwide that recognises the most successful women across all fields.

3. First integrated smart cities control centre : Madhya Pradesh has launched country’s first Integrated Control & Command Centre for all the 7 smart cities of the state in Bhopal.The centre would enable authorities to monitor the status of various smart civic amenities in real-time through the sensors connected to it.Smart City Mission, is an urban renewal program by the govt that aims to develop 100 smart cities across the country.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. UN Chief announced climate summit for 2019 : UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has announced that a climate summit to review the Paris Agreement commitments will take place in September 2019 in New York.In March 2018, Guterres appointed former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as his Special Envoy for Climate Action who was tasked to support UN in its climate strategy.In 2017, US withdrew itself from the Paris Agreement.

2. Modi among the top 10 most powerful people : PM Modi has been ranked 9^th among the top 10 most powerful people in the world by Forbes.The list is topped for the first time ever by the Chinese President Xi Jinping, who dethroned Russian President Vladimir Putin as the most influential person on the planet.Forbes said that Modi has emerged as a key figure in the international effort to tackle climate change.

3. Nasa, Uber team up to get flying taxis : NASA and Uber have signed an agreement to explore putting flying taxis in the skies over US cities.NASA will begin simulations for so-called “urban air mobility” vehicles that also include delivery drones.NASA said the goal is to create a rideshare network that will allow residents to hail a small aircraft the same way Uber users can now use an app to call a car.

4. India, Guatemala to support each other : India and Guatemala agreed to support each other’s candidature for the non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).Guatemala will support India’s candidature for UNSC membership for 2021-22, while New Delhi will do so in 2031-32 for Guatemala.This is the first ever visit by an Indian Vice President to the Republic of Guatemala.

5. Beijing to hold World Robot Conference : The 2018 World Robot Conference will be held in Beijing from August 15 to 19.The event will see over 12,000 competing teams and 50,000 participants from more than 10 countries and regions.The conference will greatly stimulate passion and innovation in the robot industry as well as help with research and development.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Govt to come out with Producers’ Price Index : The government will come out with a Producers’ Price Index next month for 10 services, including telecom & railways on an experimental basis.The move will help track inflation in these services, which will also include ports, insurance, banking, transportation & air travel.2 major indices are used currently for tracking price movement – Wholesale Price Index  & Consumer Price Index.

DEFENCE:

1. India ranks 4th on Asia-Pacific Power Index : India has been ranked fourth out of 25 nations in the Asia-Pacific region on the Lowy Institute Asia Power Index that measures power across 25 countries.India has been pegged as a “Giant of the Future” while Japan has been pegged as a “Smart Power”.India is ranked fourth on the parameters economic resources, military capability, diplomatic influence and fifth on resilience.