DAILY GK
UPDATES - 7TH AUGUST 2015
NATIONAL
UPDATES:
I.Centre
liberalizes single-brand retail norms: India
might see a flurry of single-brand retailers entering,
with the government allowing them to operate across multiple platforms.
II.Ashish
Dasgupta assumes charge as Air India Engineering Services’ new Executive
Director.
III.Southern
States to set up Inter-State Coordination Council to resolve forest-related
issues: Forest Ministers of the Southern States
of India decided to set up a Southern Forest Ministers’ Inter-state
Coordination Council. Kerala Forest Minister T. Radhakrishnan will be the
president of the council for the 1st year.
IV.Delhi
Government reconstituted Urdu Academy: Dr.
Majid Deobandi was appointed as the Vice-chairperson of the academy.
V.Amitava
Ghosh appointed as Vice-President (Engineering) of Snapdeal: Ghosh
will head company’s technology innovation centre in Bengaluru and lead the
company’s future development of intuitive technology solutions.
VI.The
Charted Institute of Management Accounts, (CIMA) has conferred the prestigious
award of the ‘Most Influential CFOs of India’ on Rakesh Kumar, Director-Finance,
Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC).
VII.PM
Modi inaugurated first National Handloom Day on 7th August 2015: He
inaugurated the 1st National Handloom Day at the Centenary Hall of
Madras University in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, where he also unveiled ‘India
Handloom’ brand.
VIII.Snapdeal
tied up-with department store chain Shoppers Stop Ltd.
IX.Lok
Sabha passed Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Bill, 2015: The
bill provides for filing of Cheque bounce cases at the place where a cheque is
presented for clearance and not the place of issue. It will have implications
for over 18 lakh cheque bounce cases pending in various courts.
INTERNATIONAL
UPDATES:
I.Indo-American
Atul Keshap confirmed Ambassador to Sri Lanka: Indo-American
Atul Keshap has been confirmed as the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives,
becoming the second Indian-Origin diplomat to be posted to the region after
Richard Rahul Verma.
II.Ukraine
lifts ban on HIV positive visitors: It
has removed its restriction on entry and foreign travel for HIV positive people
as a part of growing efforts to improve relations with Europe after decades of
Moscow rule.
III.Egypt
launches Suez Canal expansion: Egypt’s
government has inaugurated an $8 bn expansion of the Suez Canal with an
elaborate ceremony hailing the project as a national achievement.
IV.India
and Myanmar inked agreement to set up CESDT in Myanmar: The
Centre of Excellence in Software Development and Training (CESDT) is to be set
up with the financial support through ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund and will be
implemented by C-DAC.
V.48th
ASEAN Foreign Minister’s meet held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The
meet was held under the theme ‘Our People, Our Community, Our Vision’ and was
chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Mr. Anifah Aman.
VI.IS
seizes central Syrian town of Qaryatain.
OTHER
UPDATES:
FINANCE/BANKING:
I.Banks
can shift; merge urban, semi-urban branches without approval: RBI: Reserve
Bank of India notified that banks can shift, merge or close urban and
semi-urban branches without its approval. This is to allow greater operational
freedom.
II.EPFO
makes stock market debut through SBI Mutual Fund: In
a historic move, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation has commenced
investing into Indian Stock markets, a move aimed at generating
inflation-beating returns in the long term.
III.LIC
is market leader in Bahrain, No. 3 in the UAE: India’s
top life insurer, LIC has emerged as the market leader in Bahrain, part of the
Gulf Cooperation Council. It has also emerged as the third player in the UAE
with a strong presence in cities like Dubai.
IV.SBI
Life Insurance launched Smart Humsafar Plan: It
is a unique plan which offers multiple benefits of savings and insurance cover
for husband and wife under a single policy.
SPORTS:
V.August Edition of FIFA World Rankings
released: Argentina maintained its No.1 position
followed by Belgium at No.2 and the World Cup winner Germany at No.3 position.
OBITUARIES:
I.Hollywood actor
George Cole passed away.
