DAILY GK UPDATES 31ST DECEMBER 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES 31ST DECEMBER 2015

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Cabinet approved Raptor MoU for conservation of migratory birds of prey: The Union cabinet has given its approval to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on the conservation of migratory birds of prey in Africa and Eurasia. This MoU is also called as the ‘Raptor MoU’ under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS). With signing it, India will become the 54th signatory to the MoU.  

 

2. Union cabinet gives nod for India-Australia Civil Nuclear Cooperation: The Union cabinet chaired by PM Modi approved the India-Australia Civil Nuclear Cooperation deal that came into force on Nov 13, 2015.The deal along with the administrative arrangement for implementing the accord will bolster India’s energy security by supporting the expansion of nuclear power in the country.

 

3. Union Government approves constitution of 69 bridges on Trilateral Highway in Myanmar: It has approved the construction of 69 bridges including Approach Roads on the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section of the Trilateral Highway in Myanmar. 

 

4. Union Government unveils National Biotechnology Development Strategy 2015-2020: It was unveiled by the Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi to establish India as a world class bio-manufacturing hub.

 

5. Dr Gyanendra D Bandgaiyan appointed as the Director General of National Centre for Good Governance.

 

6. Union Cabinet approved MoU between India and Jordan for promoting cooperation in IT and Electronics: Its objective is to develop and strengthen industrial, technological and commercial cooperation between the two countries in Information Technology and Electronics (IT&E) sector. It also tries to implement institutional and capacity building cooperation programme aimed at fostering partnerships between the two countries.

 

7. Andhra Pradesh Government decided to hike wages of Anganwadi workers: The wages of Anganwadi workers will be increased from 4200 rupees to 7000 rupees and the wages of Anganwadihelpers will be hiked to 4500 rupees.

 

8. Airtel acquires 100 percent stake in AugereWireless.

 

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Japan and South Korea reached Agreement on Issue of Comfort Women: The agreement was reached after a meeting between Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Korea in Seoul. It aims to resolve a decades-old dispute over Korean women who were used as sex slaves by Japanese soldiers during World War II. 

 

2. World Bank offers $50 million loan for minority education: The Government of India and the World Bank signed a $50 million credit for the ‘Nai Manzil: The Education and Skills Training for Minorities Project’ to help young people from minority communities complete education and gain from market-driven training programmes with the aim of improving their employment outcome. 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS:

1. Sweden’s Bjorn Isberg named as Tournament Director of 2016 Hockey India League.

 

2. Lakshmi Ratan Shukla announced retirement from all forms of Cricket: He played for Bengal in the Ranji format and for the Kolkata Night Riders in the IPL.

 

3. Viral Kohli named BCCI Cricketer of the Year.

 

4. Ravichandran Ashwin named ICC’s No.1 test bowler, first Indian since Bishan Singh Bedi’s feat in 1973.

 

AWARDS:

5. Indian-origin Cancer Researcher Harpal Singh Kumar knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for being ‘hugely influential’ in his work on prevention and treatment of cancer.

OBITUARIES:

6. Former New Castle United goalkeeper PavelSrnicek died at the age of 47: The Czech Republic footballer suffered cardiac arrest.

 

7. Singapore’s Indian-origin Blind Champion of Disabled Ron Chandran-Dudley dies at the age of 81.

 

 

DAILY GK UPDATES 30TH DECEMBER 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES 30TH DECEMBER 2015

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sand Artist Sudarshan Pattnaik’s Santa Claus sculpture featured in Limca Book of Records: Pattnaik claimed that he had created 45 feet high sand Santa Claus at Puri beach on 24th December 2015, which was recognised as the largest sand Santa Claus as of today by the Limca Book of World Records.  

 

2. Cabinet clears formation of JVs between Indian Railways and states: The cabinet approved the formation of joint venture companies with various state governments to mobilise resources for undertaking rail infrastructure projects. The initial paid up capital of the Ministry of Railways will be limited to Rs. 50 crore for each state. The joint venture companies would be formed with equity participation from the Ministry of Railways and the state governments concerned.

 

3. Online virtual science lab for school students: Students, who have opted for the Science stream at the high school level, but have no access to physical labs now have the option to perform experiments in a virtual science-lab. Thanks to the educational technology initiative-‘Online Labs’-developed by Amrita CREATE (Centre of Research in Advanced Technologies for Education) in association with CDAC (Centre for Development of Advance Computing).

 

4. Indian Navy successfully test fires Barak-8 long range missile from INS Kolkata: Surface to Air missile having a range of nearly 70 km was test fired from INS Kolkata, paving the way for installation of the system, developed jointly by India and Israel, on board country’s frontline warships. 

 

5. HAL ties up with Russian firm Rostech to build 200 Kamov helicopters: Under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Russian firm Rostech State Corporation has tied up with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture 200 Kamov 226T light helicopters. The new fleet of Kamovs will replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

 

6. BHEL commissioned Prayagraj power project in Uttar Pradesh: State run Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited commissioned a 660 MW unit of PrayagrajSuper Thermal Power Project at Bara in Allahabad district of UP.

 

7. SpiceJet launched travel solutions platform SpiceVacations.com: The platform offers customised travel packages to customers who can avail various services while planning their holiday, at no added cost.

 

8. CCEA approved Amended Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme for textiles: The new scheme will give a boost to ‘Make in India’ in the textiles sector. It is expected to attract investment to the tune of one lakh crore rupees and create over 30 lakh jobs.

 

9. Satyavati Berera became first woman Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Big Four accounting firm in India.

 

10. Madhu S Nair assumes charge as CMD of Cochin Shipyard.

 

11. Jetha Bharwad elected as first Vice-Chairman of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation: The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change notified norms of emission standards for coal-based thermal power plants in India. Beginning 2017, thermal plants across India will have to cut particulate matter emissions by as much as 40% and reduce their water consumption by nearly one-third.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Giorgi Kvirikashvili elected as the Prime Minister of Georgia: He will succeed PM Irakli Garibashvili, who resigned recently.

 

2. Guinea free of Ebola, WHO announced: Guinea was declared Ebola free by the World Health Organisation two years after the virus’ deadliest-ever outbreak began in the country, killing more than 11000 people in the West African region. 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Rakhi Haldar, Kavita Devi bagged gold at National Weightlifting Championships: Haldar lifted 94 kg in the snatch and 119 kg in clean and jerk to come up with a total lift of 213 kg in Women’s 69 kg to grab the gold medal. In Women’s 75 kg category, Devi lifted 95 kg in snatch and 122 kg in clean and jerk for a total of 217 kg to win the top medal.

 

AWARDS:

2. Noted Gujarati writer Raghuveer Chaudharyselected for the 51st Jnanpith award. 

 

OBITUARIES:

3. Ian Fraser Lemmy Kilmister, founding member of British heavy metal band Motorhead died at the age of 70.

 

4. Veteran Singer Subir Sen passed away at the age of 81.

 

5. Iconic Marathi poet Mangesh KeshavPadgaonkar passed away at the age of 86.

 

DAILY GK UPDATES 29TH DECEMBER 2015

DAILY GK UPDATES 29TH DECEMBER 2015

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Government links LPG subsidy to income: Union Government has decided to link LPG subsidy to income of consumers in order to ensure that the subsidy benefits go to the targeted group. Henceforth, the LPG subsidy will not be available to LPG consumers if the consumer or his/her spouse has taxable income of more than ten lakh rupees.  

 

2. Ministry of Women and Child Development launches e-office: Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has introduced e-office, an initiative which will help provide efficient services to the people by digitizing more than 12000 files. It was launched by WCD minister Maneka Gandhi. Various modules of this e-office are Knowledge Management System, File Management System, Leave Management System and Tour Management System.

 

3. 18th India-Iran Joint Commission meeting held in New Delhi: The session was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Ali Tayebnia, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance of Iran.There were discussion about progress in trade and economic cooperation, possibilities in cooperation in railways. India stressed that connectivity afforded by Indian participation in Chahabar Port will facilitate linking Afghanistan and Central Asia with India.

 

4. Reports of Vijay Kelkar Committee on Revisiting & Revitalizing PPP Model released: The 9-member committee was headed by Former Finance Secretary Vijay Kelkar. The committee recognised the PPP Model in infrastructure as a valuable instrument to speed up infrastructure development in India.

 

5. Amitabh Kant got additional charge of CEO of NITI Ayog: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet gave Amitabh Kant the additional responsibility of being CEO of NITI Ayog. Kant will replace incumbent Sindhushree Khullar who is set to retire on 31st December 2015.

 

6. Bharat Petroleum commissioned Crude Distillation unit in Mumbai: It commissioned a new 6-million tonne Crude Distillation Unit at its Mumbai refinery, which will take the capacity of its oldest facility to 12 million tonne per annum.

 

7. Civil Aviation Ministry gave clearance for four Greenfield airports: The three airports will be located in Andhra Pradesh and one international airport at Dholera, Gujarat.

 

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. China launched Gaofen-4 dual use geostationary satellite: It successfully launched Gaofen-4 Earth observation satellite towards a geostationary orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. Launched as a part of the China High-resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS), Gaofen-4 can see an oil tanker on the sea with a huge CMOS camera.

 

2. Guinea free of Ebola, WHO announced: Guinea was declared Ebola free by the World Health Organisation two years after the virus’ deadliest-ever outbreak began in the country, killing more than 11000 people in the West African region. 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. Reserve Bank of India released report of Deepak Mohanty Committee on Medium-term Path on Financial Inclusion: The 14-member committee headed by RBI Executive Director Deepak Mohantywith an objective of working out a medium-term measurable action plan for financial inclusion.

 

2. HDFC Bank cuts lending rate by 0.05%.

 

SPORTS:

3. Gujarat clinched maiden Vijay Hazare trophy by defeating Delhi by 139 runs in the final played M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru: This was the 14thseason of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

 

OBITUARIES:

4. Oscar winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler passed away in California (US) at the age of 93: He had penned the script for the first Star Trek episode, The Man Trap.

 

5. Former Army Chief O P Malhotra died at the age of 93.