Daily GK Updates - 10th August, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Lok Sabha passes bills to amend GST laws : The Lok Sabha passed four bills amending laws relating to the Goods and Services Tax (GST).The Central GST (Amendment) Bill, 2018, Integrated GST (Amendment) Bill, 2018, The Union Territory GST (Amendment) Bill, 2018 and the GST (Compensation to States) Amendment Bill, 2018 got the Lok Sabha’s nod.The provisions will allow taxpayers to amend their tax returns in order to rectify errors

2.Scheme to provide pulses to states for PDS : The Government decided to sell nearly 3.5 million tonnes of pulses to states at Rs 15 per kg lower price than the wholesale rate for distribution under public distribution system (PDS) and other welfare schemes.The decision in this regard was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.The Centre will provide 3.48 million tonnes of pulses to state governments from its stock.

3. ‘One District one Product’ Summit inaugurated : The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) Summit on August 10, 2018 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.The scheme aims at promoting one traditional industry in every district such as lock industry in Aligarh, silk-weaving in Varanasi and biscuit-making in Amethi.Under ODOP, Rs 250 crore loans will be disbursed to start-ups.

4. Jal Bachao, Video Banao, Puraskar Pao Contest : The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation announced the winners for the first fortnight of the ‘Jal Bachao, Video Banao, Puraskar Pao’ contest that was launched on 10th July 2018.The winners will be given prize amount of Rs 25,000/, Rs 15,000/- and Rs 10,000/- respectively.The objective of the contest is to spread awareness about water conservation.

5. NITI Aayog to host Investor Conference : NITI Aayog hosted an investors’ conference to attract investments for the development of eco-tourism on public private partnership basis in Andaman & Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands.The conference was inaugurated by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.NITI Aayog has been mandated to steer the Holistic Development of Islands program, along with the respective UT administration/ State Governments.

6. Rekha Sharma appointed chairperson of NCW : NCW member Rekha Sharma has been appointed as the chairperson of the National Commission for Women.Rekha Sharma was earlier a member of the Commission and was holding the additional charge of chairperson.The National Commission for Women is the apex national level organisation of India with the mandate of protecting and promoting the interests of women.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Cabinet approves MoU between India and Korea : The Cabinet gave its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Korea on Trade Remedy Cooperation.The MoU was signed in July 2018 during the State visit of President of South Korea to India.The MoU will promote cooperation between the two countries in the area of trade remedies viz. anti-dumping, subsidy and countervailing and safeguard measures

2. Cabinet approves MoU b/w India and Indonesia : The Union Cabinet approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Indonesia on health cooperation.The MoU paves way for cooperation in the areas of research and development; active pharmaceutical ingredients and IT-based medical equipment.It also covers human resource development; health services; and any other area as may be mutually agreed upon.

3. World Biofuel day observed on August 10 : World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th August.The aim is to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and to highlight the various efforts made by the Government in the biofuel sector.The World Biofuel Day is being observed by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas since 2015.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Ikea Opened its 1st India Store in Hyderabad : Ikea, the Swedish retail giant opened its first Indian store in Hyderabad on 9th August 2018.Ikea’s next store is planned to open in Mumbai in the summer of 2019, followed by another in Bangalore in 2020.The Swedish furniture retailer has already invested 4.5 billion euros ($5.2 billion) into India.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. PayPal enters into pact with HDFC Bank : PayPal, and HDFC Bank have entered into a partnership.The partnership will result in a safer, faster and more convenient payment experience for HDFC Bank cardholders and help drive incremental digital spend.HDFC cards will be presented as a payment option during enrollment and subsequent payments, with the ability for consumers to easily open PayPal accounts.

2. UAE top source of inward remittances : According to the Reserve Bank of India’s survey of inward remittances for 2016-17, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as the top source of inward remittances, while Kerala has received the maximum funds sent from abroad.UAE’s share in total remittances was 26.9%.More than half of remittances received by Indian residents were used for family maintenance, i.e., consumption.

SPORTS:

1. Neeraj Chopra to be India’s flag-bearer : Javelin thrower star Neeraj Chopra will be India’s flag bearer in the opening ceremony of the Asian Games 2018.Chopra, who won the gold medal in Commonwealth Games 2018 event in Gold Coast, will lead India’s contingent in the multi-sport event.The 2018 Asian Games will take place from August 18 to September 2 and will be held in Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang.

Daily GK Updates - 9th August, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.DNA Technology Regulation Bill introduced : The government introduced DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2018 in the Lok Sabha.The Bill seeks to provide regulation for the use and application of DNA Technology for establishing the identity of certain categories of persons including the victims, offenders, suspects, under trials, missing persons and others.

2. MoU signed between Tribal Affairs & AYUSH : Ministries of AYUSH and Tribal Affairs inked a MoU to promote Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and forest produce for livelihood development of tribal people.National Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Board will identify potential medicinal plant species of the tribal areas.The MoU will support training and awareness program on Good Agricultural Practices & Good Field Collection Practices.

3. 650 branches of IPPB to be launched on Aug 21 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 650 branches of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) on the 21st August, 2018.The IPPB has been setup under the Department of Post, Ministry of Communication with 100% equity owned by the Indian government.The IPPB will leverage the vast network of the Department of Posts with 1.55 lakh access points, three lakh postmen and Grameen Dak Sewaks.

4. Harivansh elected new RS Deputy Chairman : Harivansh Narayan Singh has been elected as the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman by defeating the joint Opposition candidate BK Hariprasad.Elections for the post of the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman were held on 9th August 2018.Harivansh, a journalist by profession, has worked as additional media adviser of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar.

5. AIIA signs MoU with IIT : All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology to boost research in traditional medicine and streamline hospital care facilities in the country.The MoU is aimed at upgrading the national institutes of traditional medicine at par with the IITs and IIMs.AIIA is a public Ayurveda medicine & research institution located in New Delhi.

6. S Gopakumar joins UIIC as Director & GM : Public sector non-life insurance firm United India Insurance Company announced the appointment of S Gopakumar as its Director and General Manager.Prior to taking up the new role, Gopakumar was serving GIC Housing Finance Ltd as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.Gopakumar began his career with public sector National Insurance Company.

7. Khangchendzonga in list of Biosphere Reserves : The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve has become the 11th Biosphere Reserve from India that has been included in the UNESCO designated World Network of Biosphere Reserves.Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim is one of the highest ecosystems in the world.The core zone – Khangchendzonga National Park was designated a World Heritage Site in 2016 under the ‘mixed’ category.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Supreme Court finalises new BCCI Constitution : The Supreme Court relaxed some of the key recommendations made by Justice Lodha panel relating to reform cricket administration in the country.Crucial modifications have been brought about in the ‘One State-One Vote’ policy and interpretation of the cooling-off period for BCCI office bearers.The Court also accorded full membership to Railways, Services and Association of Universities

2. Oscars introduces new ‘popular film’ category : The Academy which runs the Oscars ceremony has added a new category to honour popular films.The Academy also plans to set an earlier air date for the Oscars in 2020 — February 9 — and will be making that broadcast more “globally accessible.”The award show will also be capped at three hours long.

3. Ivan Duque sworn in as new Colombian prez : Colombia’s conservative Ivan Duque Marquez took oath as the country’s 60th president, succeeding Juan Manuel Santos, who had been in power since 2010.Duque defeated Petro, in a presidential run-off in June with 54% votes.Duque who formerly served as a senator was the presidential candidate for the Democratic Centre Party for the election in 2018.

4. Michelle appointed as Next UNHR Chief : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Michelle Bachelet as the Chief of United Nations Human Rights.Bachelet also served in 2010 as the first director of UN Women, the UN agency promoting gender equality worldwide.Also, she was Chile’s first woman president and served the post twice- 2006-10 and 2014-18.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. RBI to pay ₹ 50,000 crore dividend to govt  : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will transfer ₹50,000 crore of its surplus money to the government, the highest since 2015-16.The Reserve Bank, which follows July-June financial year, has paid about 63% higher dividend than the previous year (2016-17).Under the RBI Act, 1934, the Reserve Bank of India is required to pay the government its surplus fund.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1.Most distant radio galaxy discovered : An international team of astronomers has detected the most distant radio galaxy ever observed.The researchers determined that the galaxy is about 12 billion light-years away.This radio galaxy has been named ‘TGSS J1530+1049’, and it was initially discovered using the Giant Meter-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in India.

2. Forty-four new exoplanets discovered : Scientists have found 44 planets beyond our solar system in one go.Astronomers pooled data from NASA’s Kepler and the ESA’s Gaia space telescopes.The findings will improve existing models of solar systems, and may help researchers investigate exoplanet atmospheres.Four of the planets orbit their host stars in less than 24 hours,

Daily GK Updates - 8th August, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.M. Karunanidhi passes away : DMK chief M Karunanidhi died on 7th August 2018 in Chennai.Muthuvel Karunanidhi was an Indian writer and politician who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five terms and twenty years between 1969 and 2011.He has also made contributions to Tamil literature, having written stories, plays, novels, and a multiple-volume memoir.

2. Delhi HC decriminalises begging : The Delhi High Court decriminalised begging in Delhi, saying provisions penalising the act were unconstitutional and deserved to be struck down.The consequence of this decision would be that prosecution under the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, against persons alleged to have committed the offence of begging, would be liable to be struck down.

3. Goa gets its own app-based taxi service : Goa got its first and exclusive app-based taxi service called ‘Goamiles’.The app was launched by the Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar.Goamiles is said to be managed by a local Goan company called Frotamiles which is a subsidiary of the parent company Pitasys Software.The app can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple Store.

4. Parliament passes Immovable Property Bill : Parliament passed a bill to amend the regulations governing the compensation payable for acquisition of immovable property by the Centre for defence and security purposes.The bill seeks to amend a provision to allow the Centre to re-issue the notice of acquisition to ensure that the property owner gets an opportunity to be heard.the amendments included changing the year of the Bill.

5. MHADA to rope private landowners for PMAY : The Maharashtra government to rope in private landowners to collaborate with Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to implement the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (PMAY) in urban areas.Private landowners having more than 10 acres of land are eligible to participate in the scheme.The MHADA will construct houses for economically weaker sections and lower income groups.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Tokyo 2020 to use facial recognition :  A facial recognition system using artificial intelligence will be used at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.The Tokyo Olympics will be the first games to have this kind of security system using facial recognition technology.It is aimed at strengthening security and preventing terrorism, as well as shortening waiting times to lower athlete stress.

2. 3rd India-Nepal Coordination meeting in Delhi : The 3rd India-Nepal Coordination meeting was held in New Delhi on August 8, 2018.A seven-member delegation from Nepal, headed by Inspector General of Nepal Armed Police Force Shailendra Khanal will take part in the three-day meeting.Several important matters like security scenario along the border, coordination meetings at field level and training of police personnel will be discussed.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Government raises duty on textile products : India doubled import duties on 328 textile products to 20%, as the world’s largest cotton producer sought to curb soaring imports from China.The government in July had doubled import duty on over 50 textile products — including jackets, suits and carpets — to 20%.Import duty is a tax collected on imports and some exports by a country’s customs authorities.

2. Nikhil Nanda appointed as chairman and MD : Farm and construction equipment maker Escorts appointed Nikhil Nanda as the chairman and managing director (MD) of the company.The company’s board unanimously appointed Nikhil as the chairman and MD to succeed his late father, Rajan Nanda.Nikhil has been a key member of the company’s board since 1997.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1.SpaceX launches reusable rocket : SpaceX relaunched its newest version of its Falcon 9 rocket booster to send a communication satellite for Indonesia into the orbit.The so-called Block 5 booster, which SpaceX says will be able to fly as many as 10 times with routine maintenance.The booster first flew on May 11 2018, when it delivered the first Bangladeshi satellite into space.

2. New compound may reverse human cell ageing : Scientists have developed a novel compound which can reverse ageing in human cells, and may lead to “anti-degenerative” drugs.Researchers tested compounds designed to target mitochondria  the “power stations” of cells.The compounds – AP39, AP123 and RT01 – help the old or damaged cells to generate the ‘energy’ needed for survival and to reduce senescence.

SPORTS:

1. Indian Men’s hockey team rises to 5th rank : Indian men’s hockey team jump one spot to fifth in the latest FIH rankings chart.India is the only team which registered an upward movement among the top 10 teams.The Indian team, which now has 1484 points in its kitty, is above the likes of 2012 Olympic champions Germany, England and Spain.World champion Australia maintained its top spot with 1906 points.

Daily GK Updates - 7th August, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Government appoints 2 members to CBDT : The government appointed two members, Aditya Vikram, IRS (IT) 1981 batch & Pramod Chandra Mody, IRS (IT) 1982 batch, as members in the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).Their names were cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.CBDT is the apex policy-making body for income tax.

2. MoA signed for funding Irrigation Projects : A revised Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has been signed amongst Government of India, NABARD and National Water Development Agency.The MoA was signed to fund the central share of 99 prioritized irrigation projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).Under PMKSY, 99 ongoing irrigation projects were identified for completion in mission mode by December​ 2019.

 3.Thermal battery plant unveiled in Andhra : India became home to the world’s first-ever thermal battery plant, that was inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh on 6 August 2018.The thermal battery facility is owned by Bharat Energy Storage Technology Private Limited.Thermal batteries use thermal energy to operate, i.e., the energy created by temperature differences.

4. Govt extends e-visa facility to 165 countries : Seeking to promote tourism, the government has extended e-visa facility for citizens of 165 countries at 25 airports and five seaports.The government has launched the ‘Incredible India 2.0’ campaign, marking a shift from generic promotions to market-specific promotional plans.

A 24X7 toll free multi-lingual tourist helpline has also been put in place as part of the efforts.

 5. 3-judge SC Bench to hear Article 35A issue : Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra orally observed that the Supreme Court will consider whether Article 35A is violative of the basic structure of the Constitution.Article 35A gives special status to the State and people of Jammu and Kashmir.The basic structure is a collective term coined by a 13-judge Bench in the historic Keshavananda Bharati case.

6. Kannada writer Sumatheendra Nadig no more : Well-known Kannada poet and critic Sumatheendra R. Nadig passed away in Bengaluru on 7th August 2018.He was an important name in the modernist literary movement in Karnataka in the 60s and 70s.He also headed the National Book Trust.His important works include ‘Daampatya Geeta’ and ‘Panchabhoota’, collection of verses, besides critical works on Da.Ra. Bendre and Gopalakrishna Adiga.

7. NGT forms panel to monitor Ganga cleaning : The National Green Tribunal (NGT) constituted a committee for monitoring the rejuvenation project of Ganga from Haridwar to Unnao in Uttar Pradesh.The committee will be headed by a former Allahabad High Court judge.NGT has asked Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court to nominate a former judge who will head the committee.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.U.S. sanctions against Iran back in effect : The first set of U.S. sanctions against Iran that had been eased under the landmark nuclear accord have gone back into effect.An executive order by President Donald Trump reimposed the sanctions on financial transactions that involve U.S. dollars.U.S sanctions targeting Iran’s oil sector and central bank are to be reimposed in early November 2018.

2. Lithium-rich giant star discovered : Chinese scientists have discovered the most lithium-rich giant star ever known.The star has a mass almost 1.5 times our sun.The star is in the direction of Ophiuchus, north side of the Galactic disk, with a distance of 4,500 light years to Earth.The findings were realised with the help of The Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) located in northern China.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1.Indra Nooyi will step down as CEO : Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi will step down as the CEO of PepsiCo after 12 years in the position.Under her, PepsiCo began focussing on products that include fruits, vegetables,whole grains, nuts, and gave an emphasis on less sugar and fat.Ramon Laguarta will succeed Ms. Nooyi as CEO.Ms. Nooyi will step down as CEO on October 3, but will remain Chairman until early 2019.

DEFENCE:

1. Indo – Thailand Joint Exercise Maitree 2018 : Exercise Maitree is a joint military exercise between Indian Army and Royal Thai Army which started on 6 August and will end on 19 August 2018 in Thailand.It is a platoon level exercise which comprises of infantry component.The exercise will emphasize to hone the tactical and technical skills in joint counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations in rural and urban scenario.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. P is for Pie: Android’s latest version : Google launched the latest version of it’s Android operating system — Android Pie.Android Pie mostly focuses on behind-the-scenes improvements designed to make Android phones work faster while saving precious battery life.An over-the-air update to Android 9 will begin rolling out to Google’s Pixel phones.

Daily GK Updates - 6th August, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Startup India’s Academia Alliance Programme : To fulfil the Government of India’s mission to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country, Startup India launched the “Startup Academia Alliance programme”.The programme is a unique mentorship opportunity between academic scholars and startups working in similar domains.The programme aims to reduce the gap between scientific research and its industrial applications.

2. Fugitive Offenders Bill gets president’s nod : President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018, that will deter offenders to evade legal process in India and flee the country.The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 25 July 2018 and by the Lok Sabha on 19 July 2018.The Bill allows designated special court to declare a person as fugitive economic offender and and to confiscate his property.

3. Mughalsarai Junction renamed : The iconic Mughalsarai Railway Junction in Uttar Pradesh has been renamed as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Junction Railway station.A passenger train with an all-women crew and a goods train was also flagged off. Railway officials said it will be the first time in the country that an all-woman crew will run a train.

4. Guj to implement Ayushman Bharat programme : Gujarat government will implement the Centre’s Bharat Ayushman programme which is expected to roll out across the country this August 2018.The Ayushman Bharat- National Health Protection Scheme aims to provide medical coverage to over 10 crore poor families.The medical coverage is up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.

5. Govt approves projects under ‘IMPRINT-2’ : Government has approved 122 new research projects of 112 crore rupees under its Impacting Research Innovation and Technology ‘IMPRINT-2’ scheme.The initiative aims to advance research in energy, security, and healthcare domains in the higher education institutions.IMPRINT is MHRD supported Pan-IIT and IISc joint initiative to address the major science and engineering challenges.

6. Scheme for girl child launched : Bihar CM Nitish Kumar launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana’.The ambitious scheme will provide Rs. 54,100 from the birth of a girl child till she graduates.The ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana’ will be run by three departments — education, health and social welfare.Over 3.12 lakh girls will be covered under the scheme in the current financial year.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.China successfully tests hypersonic aircraft : China has successfully tested its first cutting-edge hypersonic aircraft, ‘Xingkong-2’ or Starry Sky-2.The aircraft could carry nuclear warheads and penetrate any current generation anti-missile defence systems.The hypersonic aircraft was designed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics in collaboration with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

2. Russia appoints Steven Seagal as US envoy : Russia has appointed martial artist and action film star Steven Seagal as a special envoy to improve ties with the United States.His responsibility will be to “facilitate relations between Russia and the United States in the humanitarian field, including cooperation in culture, arts, public and youth exchanges.”Seagal was also granted Serbian citizenship in 2016.

3. China launches exascale supercomputer : China has operationalised a prototype exascale computing machine, the next-generation supercomputer.The Sunway exascale computer prototype was put in operation on 5th August 2018 and helps to execute a quintillion calculation per second.The exascale computer is expected to be built in the second half of 2020 or the first half of 2021

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE:

1.Defence India Startup Challenge launched : Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched defence India startup challenge in Bengaluru.The highlight of the event was the launch of 11 challenges by MoD now thrown open to provide solutions in the startup ecosystem.The launch of challenges will provide the fillip to the innovation potential in the country, partnering with the best minds nationally and internationally.

2.  task force for making aircraft, UAVs formed : The Government of India has set up two task force to prepare the roadmap for manufacturing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles in India.One committee will explore the possibility of manufacturing aircraft in India.The other committee will explore the possibility of manufacturing unmanned aerial vehicles (Drones) in India.

SPORTS:

1. Momota 1st Japanese man to win Gold at BWF : Kento Momota became the first Japanese man to win the Badminton World Championships.Kento Momota of Japan defeated Shi Yuqi of China in the men’s final at the Badminton World Championships.Momota has won nine of 13 tournaments he has entered since returning from a 15-month gambling-related suspension.

2. Kuznetsova wins Washington WTA title : Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Croatia’s Donna Vekic and won her 18th career Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) title at the Washington Open.Svetlana Kuznetsova is ranked 128th in the world.Kuznetsova, the winner of the 2004 US Open and 2009 French Open, claimed a second Washington title to go with the one she won in 2014.

3. Netherlands won women’s hockey world cup : In Women’s hockey world cup, the Netherlands have been crowned the world champions for a record eighth time.Spain won the third-place match by beating Australia to claim their first ever World Cup medal.India finished the tournament at the 8th spot.