DAILY GK UPDATES 19TH JULY 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 19TH JULY 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. CBDT signs 7 advance pricing agreements to cut tax litigation with Indian taxpayers: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has signed seven Unilateral Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers in a moving design to reduce tax litigation.

 

2. Parliament passes Regional Centre for Biotechnology Bill, 2016: The bill seeks to establish a Regional Centre for Biotechnology, an institution of education, training and research, under the auspices of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the National Capital Region. It also confers upon it the status of an institution of national importance.

 

3. Rs 28,000 crore released under MGNREGA: The Centre has released more than Rs. 28,000 crore so far this year to States under MGNREGA to clear the last year’s liabilities and for running the programme in the on-going year.

 

4. Herbalife associates with IOA as Nutrition Partner: Herbalife International India, a global premier nutrition company, has entered into a two-year exclusive partnership with Indian Olympic Association to be the official nutrition sponsor of the Indian Olympic contingent to Rio De Janeiro.

 

5. Dabur acquires South African cosmetic firm Discaria Trading: Homegrown FMCG major Daburhas stated that it has acquired South Africa-based Discaria Trading (PTY) Ltd for an undisclosed amount. The South Africa based firm is engaged in manufacturing and trading of cosmetics.

 

6. Tata STRIVE skill development centre launched in Hyderabad: Tata STRIVE, an initiative of Tata Community Initiatives Trust, has been launched its first Skill Development Centre (TSSDC) centre. The centre will equip the youth in the State with skills in BPO, banking, financial services, insurance and retail industries to make them employable. The 17,000-sq ftfacility in Kukatpally was inaugurated by Telangana IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao.

 

7. Odisha-born bureaucrat Guruprasad Mohapatraappointed as chairman of AAI.

 

8. Navjot Singh Sidhu resigns as Rajya Sabha MP: Navjot Singh Sidhu, former Indian cricketer and Member of Parliament has resigned from his RajyaSabha seat on the first day of the Monsoon Session. Sidhu’s resignation was accepted with immediate effect by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. NASA announces discovery of 104 new planets outside solar system: NASA has announced the discovery of 104 new planets outside our solar system including four that could have Earth-like, rocky surfaces. Scientists discovered the exoplanets in Hawaii using Kepler space telescope.

 

2. SpaceX launched space station docking port: US space firm SpaceX has launched supplies to the International Space Station, including a crucial docking port for future American commercial crew vehicles. The SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft lifted off on the company's Falcon 9 rocket on time from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

3. World Bank Group appoints Paul Romer as Chief Economist: World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim has appointed Paul Romer as World Bank Chief Economist with effect from September 2016. Romer is a widely respected economist and a successful entrepreneur.

3. Malcolm Turnbull sworn in as Australia’s PM.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:​

1. Government allocates Rs 22,915 crore capital to 13 PSU banks for FY17: The Narendra Modigovernment has allocated Rs 22,915 crore capital to meet the capitalization needs of 13 Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in the current fiscal. This is in line with its Indradhanush initiative, aimed at restoring banking sector health. The maximum capital infusion will be for State Bank of India (SBI) at Rs 7,575 crore and the least for Allahabad Bank at Rs 44 crore.

SPORTS:

2. Pakistan’s Yasir Shah scales number one spot in ICC Test Rankings: Wrist spinner Yasir Shah has scaled the number one spot in the ICC Test rankings becoming the first Pakistani bowler to do so since Mushtaq Ahmed in December 1996.

 

OBITUARIES:

3. Legendary singer Mubarak Begum Shaikh passed away at the age of 80: Rajasthan-born Mubarak Begum is known for the evergreen song 'Kabhitanhaiyon mein hamari yaad ayegi' from the 1961 movie 'Hamari Yaad Aayegi', which is, till this day, regarded as a classic rendition.