Daily GK Updates - 14th February, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Cabinet approves Patna Metro Rail project : The Union Cabinet approved the Patna Metro Rail Project to boost transport facilities in the capital city of Bihar.The Cabinet has also hiked the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Raw Jute by Rs 250  to Rs 3950 per quintal for 2019 -20 season.The MSP is expected to ensure appropriate minimum prices to the farmers and step up investments in jute cultivation.

2. Cabinet approves the proposal for extension of tenure of NCSK beyond March 2019 : The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for Extension of tenure of the National Commission for Safai Karmacharis (NCSK) beyond 31st of March 2019 for three years.The Union Cabinet approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Saudi Arabia on cooperation and mutual assistance in Customs Matters.

3. Rajasthan passes 5% quota bill for Gujjars, four other communities : Rajasthan government has passed a Backward Classes, Amendment Bill, 2019 to provide 5% quota in jobs and educational institutions to ‘Gurjars’ and four other communities.The state government has also decided to increase the ceiling of creamy layer from Rs. 2.5 lacks to Rs. 8 lacks.

4. Bihar govt announces universal old age pension scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension Yojna’ : Bihar government has announced a universal old age pension scheme - Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension Yojna (MVPY) for all people above 60 years of age (except retired senior citizens of govt. service).Currently old age pension scheme is applicable to only the BPL category. All will be eligible for RS. 400 monthly Pension irrespective of caste, religion or community. The Scheme will come into force from the 1st of April 2019.

5. AYUSH Minister launches e-AUSHADHI portal : Shripad Yesso Naik (Minister of State (IC) for AYUSH) has launched the e-AUSHADHI portal, for online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and related matters at New Delhi.The new ‘e-AUSHADHI portal’ is intended for increased transparency, improved information management facility, improved data usability and increased accountability.This e-portal is an acronym for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy Automated Drug Help Initiative.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.British Academy Film Awards announced : The film "The Favourite" won seven honours in British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA)- 2019 in London.The Favourite won best actress for Olivia Colman and best supporting actress for Rachel Weisz, Outstanding British Film, Original Screenplay, Costume Design, Production Design, Makeup and Hair.Also, Netflix production 'Roma' also had a successful night picking up four prizes - best film, best director, best cinematography and best film not in the English language.

2. Women with four children to get life tax exemption in Hungary : According to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, women in the country with four children or more will be exempted for life from paying income tax.The move aims at boosting the country’s population.For women who raise at least four children, a subsidy of USD 8,825 will be given for the purchase of a seven-seat vehicle.A low-interest loan of 35,300 US dollars for women under the age of 40 who are marrying for the first time will be introduced.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. RBI penalises banks for violating various norms : The Reserve Bank has imposed a monetary penalty of two million rupees each on HDFC Bank, IDBI Bank and KotakMahindra Bank for non-compliance of various Know Your Customer/ Anti-Money Laundering norms.RBI also imposed a monetary penalty of 1.5 Crore rupees each on Allahabad Bank, Bank of Maharashtra and Indian Overseas Bank for non-compliance of norms related to monitoring end use of funds, exchange of information, classification and reporting of frauds and on the restructuring of accounts.A penalty of 1 crore rupees was imposed on Andhra Bank for the same reason.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Retail inflation declines to 2.05 per cent in January : As per data released by the ministry of statistics and Programme Implementation, the Retail Inflation declined marginally to 2.05% in January over the last month on the continued decline in food prices.The retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Dec 2018 has also been revised downward to 2.11% from the earlier estimate of 2.19%

In January 2018, inflation was 5.07%.

SPORTS:

1. ‘Clouded Leopard’ to be Mascot for National Games 2022 : Clouded Leopard (Meghalaya's state animal) will be the mascot for the National Games 2022, coinciding with the 50th year of the creation of the state.This decision was taken at the 1st National Games 2022 executive committee meeting chaired by Meghalaya Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh.The clouded leopard is one of the wild cats that live throughout the forests of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills. An estimated 14,450 athletes and officials are expected to visit Meghalaya during the Games.

Daily GK Updates - 13th February, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Let’s Talk On Air: Conversations with Radio Presenters’ released :The book titled “Let’s Talk On Air: Conversations with Radio Presenters” has been released on World Radio Day (WRD-2019) in Mumbai.The book has been authored by Rakesh Anand Bakshi.This book is depicted as a comprehensive guide on radio-presenting in India.This book explains the lives of 14 popular radio presenters in India from the legendary Ameen Sayani to present-day RJs who have been entertaining us via the airwaves.

2. Dera Baba Nanak land check post designated as an immigration centre : As per Home ministry notification, The Union Government designated Dera Baba Nanak land Check post in Gurdaspur districtof Punjab as an authorised immigration checkpoint to exit and entry for visiting Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan.All classes of passengers with valid travel documents can exit or enter through the post.The government also appointed the Chief Immigration Officer as the Civil Authority for the purpose.Earlier (On 26th November 2018), Vice President M Venkaiah Naidulaid the foundation stone of the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib Corridor at an event at Mann village in Gurdaspur district.

3. I&B Ministry organizes the first annual conference of Media Units :  The  Information and Broadcasting Ministry has organized the first annual conference of Media Units in New Delhi.The conference has been chaired by Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore.The objective of the conference to give a unique platform to the officers of the Indian Information Service working in different Media Units to converge at an All-India level.

4. PM Narendra Modi addresses CREDAI YouthCon -19 in New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the CREDAI YouthCon -19at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.The theme for this YouthCon is Next Generation.Mr. Modi also visited the exhibition organized by Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India (CREDAI).The annual conference will bring together the next generation of real estate builders and developers to enlighten their young minds and share their thinking and approach.

5. Meghalaya Govt. to rename Dikkibandi stadium after P A Sangma : The Meghalaya state Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has decided to rename the Dikkibandi Stadium in Tura town after P. A. Sangma (former Lok Sabha Speaker & CM Meghalaya).The Dikkibandi Stadium was formerly known as MP stadium.Earlier, the recommendations received from the state naming authority tasked with the job to name roads and institutions after personalities.

6. 'Sapta Shakti' Command of Indian Army conducting 'Exercise Rahat' in Jaipur :Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise `Exercise Rahat´ concluded in Jaipur, Rajasthan.Indian Army was represented by Jaipur based Sapta Shakti Command.The exercise was conducted in three places, in Jaipur it was in the form of a tabletop exercise and at Kota and Alwar it demonstrated on-ground capability and coordination among various stakeholders.With a view to co-operating efforts for humanitarian assistance and Disaster Relief operations, NDMA coordinated the exercise.

7. Himachal’s first mega food park inaugurated in Una : The Union Minister of Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal has inaugurated the mega food park at Village Singha in Una District, Himachal Pradesh.This is the first Mega Food Park operationalized in the State of Himachal Pradesh at a cost of Rs 107.34 crore.It will boost to the food processing sector by adding value and reducing food wastage at each stage of the supply chain with a particular focus on perishables

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian Historian Sanjay Subrahmanyam wins Israel’s Dan David Prize 2019 : Noted Indian historian Sanjay Subrahmanyam has won Israel's prestigious Dan David Prize 2019 for his work on inter-cultural encounters between Asians, Europeans and people of North and South America during the early modern era.He shares the USD 1 million award in this category with Prof Kenneth Pomeranz of the University of Chicago.The award in the "Present" category was won jointly by Reporters without Borders and Professor Michael Ignatieff for "Defending Democracy”.

2. 13th February: The World radio day : The World Radio Day (WRD) is celebrated every year on 13th February to celebrate radio as the medium for entertainment, information and the mode of communication.The theme for this year is "Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace ".In 2012, the day was celebrated following its declaration by the UNESCO General Conference.

3. India and Norway launched an initiative to Combat Marine Pollution : The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change signed a Letter of Intent establishing the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative together with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Earlier, Both countries have signed MoU (Memorandum of understanding) to establish the India-Norway Ocean Dialogue during the Norwegian Prime Minister’s visit to India in January.Both the governments launched the first Joint initiative under this new partnership.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Jeremy Lalrinnunga clinches silver in men's 67-kg category : Youth Olympics gold medallist Jeremy Lalrinnunga (16-years) has won the silver in men's 67-kilogram category in the EGAT's Cup International Weightlifting Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.Lalrinnunga lifted 131 kilograms in the snatch and 157 kilograms in clean and jerk for a total of 288 kilograms.The promising Mizoram weightlifter is, however, far behind the gold winner, Deni (Indonesia) total lifted 303 kilograms and won the Gold medal.

Daily GK Updates - 12th February, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Deepa Mehta to receive Lifetime Achievement Award from Canadian Academy : Indo-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.Mehta was born in India, but she had moved to Canada (in 1973) after her marriage to documentary filmmaker Paul Saltzman. Currently, Mehta is working on a Netflix series Leila. Mehta is best known for her Elements Trilogy – ‘Fire’, ‘Earth’ and ‘Water’.

2. Foundation stone of mega food park laid in Mathura : The Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal laid the foundation stone of a Mega Food Park in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.It will prove to be a big boost to the growth of the food processing sector in Uttar Pradesh.

3. Great Indian Bustard announced as the New Mascot for COP-13 : The Union Environment Minister Dr. Harsh Vardha has announced the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) as the mascot for the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS).The 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) will be held in Gujarat in 2020.He also revealed that the bird has been fondly named by the ministry as ‘Gibi‘.

4. Himalayan Cloud Observatory has been set up in Tehri district, Uttarakhand : The Observatory has been established in the SRT campus Badshahithaul and is currently in the testing period.The observatory will receive forecast and monitor cloudburst incidents in the Himalayan region and help minimise the damage.Cloudburst incidents are very frequent in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand, resulting in a huge loss of life.

5. President unveils a life-size portrait of Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Central Hall of Parliament : President Ram Nath Kovind unveiled the life-size portrait of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Central Hall of Parliament.The President sai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee contributed in establishing India as a peace-loving but powerful nation.Vajpayee became the Prime Minister for the first time in 1996 for 13 days, then for 13 months (1998 to 1999) and then from 1999 to 2004.

6. 12th February: National Productivity Day : National Productivity Day is observed every year on 12th February.The main observance of the day is organized by the National Productivity Council (NPC) for encouraging all stakeholders in the implementation of productivity tools and techniques with contemporary relevant themes.‘Circular Economy for Productivity & Sustainability’ has been selected as the theme for the National Productivity Week -2019

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. The 61st annual Grammy award highlights : The 61st annual Grammy Awards were announced at Staples Center in New York, the United States.Former First Lady Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance at the start of the 2019 Grammys.The award show was hosted by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys.Cardi B became the first woman to win best rap album as a solo artist.Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” won four awards and Gaga’s “Shallow,” from the movie “A Star Is Born,” won two awards.

2. Ruchira Kamboj appointed India’s Ambassador to Bhutan : Ruchira Kamboj (1987-cadre Indian Foreign Service) has been appointed as the Ambassador of India to Bhutan.Currently, she is serving as the High Commissioner of India to South Africa.Earlier, Kamboj has served as the Ambassador/PR to Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO, Paris.

3. Abu Dhabi declaring Hindi as an official language in courts : Abu Dhabi (capital of the United Arab Emirates) declared Hindi as the third official language (Arabic and English) in its courts to make the justice delivery system simple.It will help Hindi speakers to learn about litigation procedures, their rights and duties without a language barrier.It will also make the justice delivery system simpler and more accessible to Indian expatriates in that country.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1.Jamie Chadwick becomes the first female driver to win MRF Challenge title : British driver Jamie Chadwick (20-years) has become the first female driver to win the MRF challenge title after scoring a triple win in the final round in Chennai.Earlier, Chadwick became the first woman to win a British F3 race.Now, Chadwick will focus on the inaugural Womens' Series, which has been backed by former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard.

2. Senior National Badminton Championships begins in Guwahati : the 83rd edition of the Senior National Badminton Championships has begun with the qualifiers in the Assamese city of Guwahati. The top eight singles players will be placed directly in the pre-quarterfinals. Similarly, the top four teams in the doubles will start their campaign from the quarters.

Daily GK Updates - 11th February, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi Inaugurates Visakhapatnam Strategic Petroleum Reserve Facility  : Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the 1.33 million metric ton capacity Visakhapatnam Strategic Petroleum Reserve facility at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. He also inaugurated Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited’s Vashishta and S1 development project located in the Krishna-Godavari Offshore Basin.Mr Modi also laid the foundation stone for setting up of a new terminal of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) at Krishnapatnam.

2. Centre allocates Rs 59 crore for Asiatic Lion conservation in Gujarat's Gir : The Ministry of Environment launched a three-year Asiatic Lion Conservation Project in collaboration with the state of Gujarat. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) allocated Rs 59 crores, which will focus on better management of the lion habitat, disease control and veterinary care for them.Gujarat government also implemented Rs 80 crore that will be spent on specialised veterinary hospitals and full-fledged ambulances for lions.

3. Himalayan Cloud Observatory Set Up In Tehri : A Himalayan Cloud Observatory is set up in Tehri district of Uttarakhand with a motive to forecast and monitor cloudburst incidents in the Himalayan region and help to minimize the damage.The Observatory is established in the SRT campus, in Tehri and is in the testing period. This is the second observatory in the country to monitor cloud activities by the Indian Science and Technology Department and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur that can function in high-altitudes.

4. Great Indian Bustard Announced As The New Mascot For COP-13 : Union Environment Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, announced the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) as the mascot for the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) to be held in Gujarat in 2020. He also revealed that the bird has been fondly named by the ministry as 'Gibi'.CMS-COP 13 is a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory species and their habitats. It has over 120 participating countries. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.INS Trikand Participates In Exercise ‘Cutclass Express 2019’ : INS Trikand, the frontline warship of the Indian Navy, participated in a multi-national training exercise ‘CUTCLASS EXPRESS 2019’. The annual Exercise Cutlass Express is sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) and conducted by Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF). It is the eighth iteration of the annual multinational maritime exercise and was held in the vicinity of Djibouti, Mozambique and Seychelles.

2. Hindi Included As 3rd Official Court Language in Abu Dhabi : Abu Dhabi has decided to include Hindi as the third official language used in its courts, alongside Arabic and English, as part of a move designed to improve access to justice. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) announced that it has extended the adoption of interactive forms of statement of claims filed before courts by including Hindi.

3. Multinational Maritime Exercise ‘Aman 19’ Commenced In Karachi : The 5-day multinational maritime exercise ‘AMAN-19’ in which 46 nations participated from all over the world was formally commenced at Pakistan Navy Dockyard, with a colorful flag hoisting ceremony.Principal aim to conduct this exercise is to facilitate a forum of understanding of each other’s maritime concepts and operation cultures and to produce ways and means to confront common threat at sea.

4. BAFTA Awards 2019 Announced : Netflix drama 'Roma' won the top prize at the 72nd edition of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts or BAFTA awards. However, with seven BAFTAs in its kitty, director Yorgos Lanthimos's The Favourite emerged the top winner in 2019.

5. Grammy Awards 2019 Announced : The 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held at Staples Center in Los Angeles.The show was hosted by Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. MOU Signed Between EIL and Mongolia for Project Management Consultancy For Oil refinery : An MoU was signed between Engineers India Limited (EIL) and Mongolia for Project Management Consultancy for oil refinery. EIL is a PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of PETROTECH-2019 event at Greater Noida, UP. The MoU is for Project Management Consultancy services for construction of an oil refinery plant in Mongolia by EIL. 

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. ADB Debuts In Offshore Philippine Peso Bond MarketThe Asian Development Bank :  (ADB) has raised 5.2204 billion Philippine pesos ($100 million) from a new issue of local currency bonds in the international market. Currency-linked bonds are denominated in the local currency but settled in US dollars. The bonds pay a fixed interest rate of 5.25% and have a final maturity of 4 years. ADB issued bonds in the Philippine domestic capital market in 2005 and 2007 but this issue is the first time it has mobilized Philippine peso funding from international investors through a currency-linked structure.

SPORTS:

1. Corentin Moutet Clinched Chennai Open ATP Challenger Title : In Tennis, France’s Corentin Moutet has clinched the Chennai Open ATP Challenger tournament title after beating Andrew Harris of Australia in the singles final.It was the second Challenger title for Moutet, who received 80 ATP points, while Andrew got 48 ATP points.

Daily GK Updates - 10th February, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.PM Narendra Modi inaugurates PETROTECH-2019 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formally inaugurated the three-day International Oil and Gas Conference ‘PETROTECH-2019’ (13th) at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The ‘PETROTECH-2019’ is being organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India. India is the 3rd largest consumer of crude oil and petroleum products.

2. 1st of 15 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters arrived in India : According to Boeing (the maker of Chinooks), the first of the fifteen Chinook heavy-lift helicopter ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) received at the Mundra Port in Gujarat. Now  Chinooks  (carry around 10 tonnes of load) will be transported to its home base at Chandigarh.Chinooks have a unique twin-engine, tandem rotor design which has become one of the most visibly recognised symbols of the American armed forces.

3. PM Narendra Modi lays the foundation for Sela Tunnel : Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the strategically important Sela Tunnel Project  (costing - Rs 687 crore) in Arunachal Pradesh.It will give a fillip to the overall development of the area as it will provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang and other areas.This tunnel will cut across and reduce the distance between Dirang and Tawang by 10 km.The project is being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation(BRO) in the next three years.

4. Festival of Basant Panchami is being celebrated across the nation : Basant Panchami festival (Saraswati Puja) is being celebrated every year on the fifth day of the month of 'Magha' and marks the beginning of the spring season.On this day, Hindus wearing yellow clothes visit temples and pray to Goddess Saraswati (the goddess of knowledge).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Egypt's President El-Sissi elected as chairman of the African Union : Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi (65-years) has been elected as the chairman of the African Union at the continental body's summit in Ethiopia.El-Sisi's election brings an end the one-year chairmanship of Rwanda's President Paul Kagame.

2. Multinational Maritime Exercise ‘Aman 19’ commenced in Karachi : The five-day Multinational Maritime Exercise "AMAN-19"commenced in Karachi with the slogan “Together for Peace”.The flag of 46 countries including Pakistan presented a march-past.According to Pakistan Vice Admiral Amjad Khan Niazi, it is a step to enhance cooperation, take benefit from mutual advantage and understand each other. Ambassadors and delegates of various countries are also present in the inauguration ceremony.

3. 10th February: World Pulses Day : The first-ever World Pulses Day was celebrated on 10th February 2019.The day designated United Nations global event to celebrate pulses worldwide and continue the important gains made with the 2016. International Year of Pulses.Pulses are a type of leguminous crops that are harvested solely for the dry seed and does not include crops that are harvested green.

4.  International Day of Women and Girls in Science being observed : International Day of Women and Girls in Science is being observed to highlight the work of female scientists throughout its divisions and agencies.The Theme of 2019 is "Investment in Women and Girls in Science for Inclusive Green Growth".At present, less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women.Globally, female students’ enrolment is particularly low in ICT (3%), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5%) and in engineering, manufacturing and construction (8%).

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Spin legend Shane Warne named brand ambassador of Rajasthan Royals : Australia spin legend Shane Warne has been named the brand ambassador of Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the Indian Premier League (IPL)-2019.Warne went on to captain Rajasthan Royals for four seasons until 2011, after which he retired from all forms of cricket.Besides, the Rajasthan Royals has also decided to change its jersey colour from blue to pink this year.

2. India's young paddlers clinch four medals : India's young paddlers clinching four medals (1-gold, 2- silver and 1- bronze) at the Bahrain Junior and Cadet Open Table Tennis tournament in Manama, Bahrain In the final, The India-A team of Suhana Saini and Anargya Manjunath proved too strong for India-B and clinched the Gold.In the Junior girls' competition, the Indian team of Manushree Patil and Swastika Ghosh beat three teams before losing to eventual champions Russia to settle for a Silver.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. RBI slaps fine of Rs 1 crore on State Bank of India : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has slapped Rs 1 crore penalty on the country's largest lender State Bank of India  (SBI) for not monitoring the end use of funds in respect of one of its borrowers.RBI in the exercise of powers conferred under Section 47 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 has levied a penalty.SBI does not share details of the borrower and the loan amount given to the borrower.