DAILY GK UPDATES 19TH MAY 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 19TH MAY 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Moody’s pegs India’s growth rate at 7.5% in 2016 and 2017: Global rating agency, Moody’s has forecast a growth rate of about 7.5% for the Indian economy in 2016 and 2017.

 

2. Centre to postpone NEET by a year: Buckling under pressure, the centre has decided to defer the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical college admission by a year through an ordinance or executive order.

 

3. Bonded labour rehab to be made Central sector scheme: Labour Minister (Independent) BandaruDattatreya stated that the centre is revising the rehabilitation of bonded labour scheme, bringing it into the Central sector, and plans to raise financial assistance from Rs 20,000 to Rs 100000.

 

4. Government approves three pharma FDI proposals worth Rs 60.73 crore: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has approved Rs 60.73 crore worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals of Wockhardt, Aurobindo Pharma and Advanced Enzyme Technologies.

 

5. Apple announces opening of its map development centre in Hyderabad.

 

6. Ola signs MoU with government to benefit ‘SafaiKaramcharis’: It has signed a MoU with the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) established under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to focus on building a sustainable framework by supporting entrepreneurship, skill development training and self-defence courses for Safai Karamcharis and Scavengers.

 

7. BHEL commissions 250 MW Thermal Unit at Parli Thermal Power Station located in Beeddistrict in Maharashtra.

 

8. TATA Power bags 100 MW solar projects in Pavagada Solar Park in Tumkur district of Karnataka.

 

9.  Japanese financial company Nomura exits joint venture with Life Insurance Corporation.

 

10. Five Indian cars namely Renault Kwid, MarutiSuzuki Celerio and Eeco, Mahindra Scorpio and Hyundai Eon failed crash tests by the Global New Car Assessment Programme (Global NCAP).

 

11. Ola signs MoU with KIAB: App-based cab service provider Ola has launched a unique initiative for travellers arriving at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). The move will help users to get an Ola cab in less than three minutes.

 

12. Rakesh Kumar Mishra appointed as the Director of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB).

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Scientists developed world’s first Zika virus clone: Scientists from the University Of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) have developed world’s first genetically engineered clone of the Zika virus strain. 

 

2. UN-habitat releases World Cities Report 2016, Urbanization and Development: Emerging Futures: As per the UN reports, India is projected to add 300 million new urban residents by 2050 and it will also need to build Climate Friendly Cities to deal the challenge of accommodating the needs of the Population growth.  

 

3. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon appoints Patricia Espinosa Cantellano as Executive Secretary of UNFCCC.  

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. SBI seeks to take over 5 associate PSBs, BhartiyaMahila Bank: The country’s largest lender State Bank of India has decided to merge its five associate public sector banks and the Bhartiya Mahila Bank with itself.

 

2. Nepal SBI launches payment gateway to facilitate online trade and non-trade transactions between the Himalayan nation Nepal and India.

 

3. PNB tops list of worst losses in Indian banking history: Public sector lender Punjab National Bank has reported the largest net loss of Rs 5,367.14 crore for the 4th quarter ended on 31st of March against the backdrop of a surge in bad loans.

 

SPORTS:

4. Sevilla Football club wins the 3rd consecutive Europa League title by defeating Liverpool 3-1 in the final played in Basel: He was named as the Test Player of the Year, Limited Overs Player of the Year and Fan’s Player of the Year at the England’s annual award ceremony.

AWARDS:

5. Indian-American bio-technologist Rupa Iyerreceived the University of Houston’s highest teaching award for her sustained and significant contributions to education in the US.

DAILY GK UPDATES 17TH MAY 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 17TH MAY 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Bank approves $625 m loan to support rooftop solar programme in India: The project will finance the installation of at least 400 MW grid connected rooftop solar photovoltaic (GRPV) across India which will provide clean renewable energy and reduce GHG emissions by displacing thermal generation.

 

2. Government launches Swacch Office Drive across India: The government launched a 15-day ‘SwachhOffice Drive’ across India to ensure cleanliness at government-run offices.

 

3. Union Government launches e-PACE, INFRACON and up-Scaled INAM PRO for Road Transport Sector: These three innovative IT initiatives are aimed at making the road building procedure faster, more transparent and more efficient.

 

4. India ranks 3rd in ‘Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index’ with China at 2nd position and the US on top.

 

5. India, US hold first Maritime Security Dialogue: The dialogue was held between the officials of Defence and External Affairs ministries and their US counterparts. It was created as a part of the maritime security objectives under the India-US Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.

 

6. NTPC forms joint venture with Coal India: State run power generating firm NTPC has signed a joint venture agreement of 50:50 contribution with state-run Coal India to revive plants run by the Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL).

 

7. Indian short film ‘Beti’ to be screened at the 42ndSeattle International Film Festival, Washington DC.

 

8. New CJs of Rajasthan HC, Tripura HC and Chhattisgarh HC have sworn in: Justive NavinSinha-CJ of Rajasthan HC, Justice T Vaiphei-CJ of Tripura HC and Justice Deepak Gupta-CJ of Chhattisgarh HC.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Hypertension Day being observed today: The World Hypertension Day is being observed across the world on 17th May 2016 to increase awareness about hypertension. The theme for the WHD is ‘Awareness of high blood pressure’.

 

2. NASA launches super pressure balloon from New Zealand: It launched a super pressure balloon from New Zealand’s South Island Wanaka Airport to conduct near-space scientific investigations.

 

3. China launches Yaogan-30 Remote Sensing Satellite.

 

4. British Royals launches Heads Together Campaign to tackle stigma of mental health: The campaign launched by Prince Harry and Princess Kate aims to change the national conversation on mental health and wellbeing.

 

5. Pfizer to buy Anacor Pharma in a $5.2 billion deal.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. RBI authorises 29 agency banks to accept payments of IT due: Tax payers can now use the facility of online payment or use alternate channels like the authorised agency banks. Some of the agency banks authorised by RBI to collect tax include Allahabad Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank, etc.

 

2. DBS Bank to set up new technology hub in Hyderabad.

 

3. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to shut down its operations in India.

 

SPORTS:

4. Archers Deepika Kumari, Bombayla Devi and Laxmirani Majhi named for Rio Olympics 2016.

 

AWARDS:

5. South Korean author Han Kang wins 2016 Man Booker International Prize for her novel ‘The Vegetarian’.

 

6. J K Rowling received highest French civilian honour- ‘French Legion of Honour’. 

 

OBITUARIES:

7. Discoverer of Neptune’s rings, French Astrophysicist Andre Brahic died at the age of 73.

DAILY GK UPDATES 16TH MAY 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 16TH MAY 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ‘Dhan Wapasi’ Income Declaration Scheme for domestic black money to commence from June 1: Individual willing to declare their black money in the country will have to pay tax and a penalty, totalling 45%, to come clean.

 

2. Union Minister J P Nadda lays foundation stone for three medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir: The three new medical colleges will be opened at Rajouri, Anantnag and Baramulla districts in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

3. India Posts goes High-tech, Geo-tags post offices on Bhuvan: The postal department of India, India post is going hi-tech by geo tagging the post office on Bhuvan and has begun monitoring timely clearance of letter boxes through a mobile app.

 

4. Centre approves proposal to set up KalinganagarNational Investment Manufacturing Zone in Jajpurdistrict of Odisha.

 

5. Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation positive for 1st time in 18 months: Wholesale prices rose for the first time in 18 months, posting an annual gain of 0.34 per cent, driven up by higher costs for food and manufactured items.

 

6. India successfully test fires Interceptor missile from the Odisha coast: The missile is capable of destroying hostile ballistic missile and will help in strengthening India’s Missile Defence System.

 

7. BHEL wins Rs 1600-crore order from the joint venture of NTPC and SAIL to set up a coal based thermal power project in Odisha.

 

8. India and Bangladesh power ties with 21st-century nuclear deal: India and Bangladesh has concluded a nuclear agreement with each other to engage the bilateral neighbourhood relationship.

 

9. United Nations to honour 4 Indian peacekeepers and a civilian: They have died while serving on peacekeeping missions last year. The names of the awardees are Head Constable Shubhkaran Yadav, Rifleman Manish Malik, Havildar Amal Deka, NaikRakesh Kumar and Gagan Punjabi. All of these will be honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal on May 19, International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

 

10. Justice Mukul Mudgal appointed as the Deputy Chairman of FIFA’S Governance Committee.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 2016 Red Flag Aerial Combat exercises concluded in US: The multilateral Red Flag Aerial Combat exercises between US, NATO and allied forces and Indian Air Force (IAF) concluded in Alaska (US).

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS:

1. Indian women’s squash team led by JoshnaChinnappa clinched silver at Asian Squash Championship held at Taipei.

 

2. Andy Murray defeated Novak Djokovic to list his maiden Rome Masters title 2016.

 

3. Serena Williams defeated Madison Keys to win her 4th Rome Masters title.

 

4. Sudha Singh breaks 3000m steeplechase national record by clocking 9 min and 26.55 sec.

 

5. FC Barcelona crowned La Liga Champions for the 24th time.

 

6. Mirza and Hingis win Rome Masters Women’s doubles title.

 

7. Max Verstappen becomes the youngest Formula 1 winner by defeating Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.

 

AWARDS:

8. Former ISRO Chairman U R Rao becomes first Indian to be honoured with International Astronautical Federation (IAF) ‘Hall of Fame’ Award.

 

9. Celina Jaitley honoured by Harvey Milk Foundation for her contribution to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) equality as a United Nations Equality Champion. 

 

OBITUARIES:

10. Former Test Cricketer Deepak Shodhan passed away at the age of 87.