Saturday, 16 July 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 15TH JULY 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 15TH JULY 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India becomes 1st country to become YAWS-freeIndia achieves yet another public health milestone, becomes first country to be declared free of Yaws, an infection of the skin and bones, much ahead of WHO global target year of 2020.

 

2. President to inaugurate India Skills Competition todayPresident Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the first edition of India Skills Competition today, on the occasion of the World Youth Skills Day in New Delhi. Skill India will be celebrating its first anniversary on the occasion.

 

3. Vice President Hamid Ansari reached UlaanBaatar to attend 11th Asia-Europe Meeting-AESM-SummitVice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari has reached Ulaan Baatar, the capital of Mongolia. He is leading the India delegation for two days 11th Asia-Europe Meeting- ASEM-Summit starting from today. The theme for the summit is "20 Years of ASEM: Partnership for the Future through Connectivity".

 

4. Congress announces Sheila Dixit as Chief Ministerial candidate for UP Assembly electionsThe Congress has announced the Senior Congress leader Sheila Dikshit name as the Chief Ministerial candidate by the party for upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

 

5. Government revises time schedule for making payments under Income Declaration Scheme 2016The Government has revised the time schedule for making payments under Income Declaration Scheme 2016. As per the revised schedule, a minimum amount of 25 % of the tax, surcharge and penalty can be paid by 30th of November this year and the further amount of 25 % by 31st of March next year. The balance amount can be paid on or before 30th of September.

 

6. SIT on black money recommends ban on cash transactions above 3 lakh rupees: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money has recommended ban on cash transactions of above 3 lakh rupees in a day and a separate law to declare such transactions as illegal and punishable. It has also suggested upper ceiling of cash holding at 15 lakh rupees to curb illegal wealth in the economy. The SIT felt that the cash transaction limit can only succeed if there is a limitation on cash holding. The panel said, in case any person or industry required holding more cash, it may obtain necessary permission from the Commissioner of Income Tax of the area. The SIT headed by retired Justice M B Shah, submitted its fifth report to the Supreme Court.

 

7. Centre approves projects involving investment of over 19 crores for Mewat and Sirsa districts of HaryanaThe Central Government has approved the projects involving an investment of 19 crore 50 lakh rupees for Mewat and Sirsa districts of Haryana, under Multi-Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP). These districts include SirsaPalwalMewatYamunanagarFatehabad and Kaithal.

 

8. West Bengal government sets target to construct toilets across all villages of the state by March 2019The West Bengal government has set a target to construct toilets across all villages of the state by March 2019 to enable open defecation free (ODF) rural Bengal.

 

9. Maharshi Dayanand University signs MoU for collaborative studies with GVF: Maharshi DayanandUniversity (MDU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with non-profit public organization namely Global Village Foundation (GVF) for collaborative studies and research on social and economic public policies.

 

10. Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi appointed as the CBSE Chairman.

 

11. BHEL commissions 250 MW power plant at Bhavnagar district in Gujarat.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

2. GM Harika Dronavalli wins Fide Women’s Grand Prix trophy in ChinaIndia's Grand Master Harika Dronavalli has won the Fide Women’s Grand Prix trophy in Chendu in China.

 

3. India jumps 11 places to 152nd in football rankingsIndia made a big leap of 11 places to occupy 152nd spot in the latest world football rankings issued by FIFA. India beat Laos 6-1 and 1-0 in the home and away play-off matches to make it to the 2019 Asian Cup qualifying tournament.

 

OBITUARIES:

5. India’s Olympic Silver Medallist Joe Antic passed awayHockey Olympian Joe Antic has passed away in Mumbai. He was 90 years old. He represented the country in the Rome Games where Pakistan won the final between the arch-foes 1-0. Mr. Antic was also a part of the hockey squad that finished runner-up, again to Pakistan, in the Asian Games which held at Jakarta.

DAILY GK UPDATES 14TH JULY 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 14TH JULY 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Operation ‘Sankat Mochan’ launched to evacuate Indian citizens from South SudanThe Union Government has launched ‘Operation Sankat Mochan’ to evacuate the Indians from South Sudan. Two C17 aircraft of Indian Air Force left for Juba with Minister of State for External Affair VK Singh onboard.

 

2. Ashok Patnaik appointed new National Intelligence Grid ChiefSenior IPS officer Ashok Patnaik was appointed CEO of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID).

 

3. Cabinet approves revised cost estimate of Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project in BhutanThe Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendra Modi has also given its approval for Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of Rs. 7290.62 crore for the ongoing 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (HEP) in Bhutan.

 

4. Cabinet approves revival of defunction Fertilizer Units in Gorakhpur, Sindri and BarauniThe Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri NarendraModi has approved the revival of defunct Fertilizer Units in Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni. These include two closed urea units of Fertilizer Corporation India Limited (FCIL) at Sindri (Jharkhand) and Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Barauni (Bihar) unit of Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Limited (HFCL).

 

5. Cabinet approves official amendment to the Bill for change of name to ‘Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural UniversityThe Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also given its ex-post facto approval for the Official amendment to the Rajendra Central Agricultural University Bill, 2015 for change of name from “Rajendra Central Agricultural University” to “Dr.Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University”.

 

6. HAL, Safran to set up support centre in India for helicopters: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and French firm Safran Helicopter Engines have agreed to establish a support centre in India for national and international rotorcraft customers.

 

7. Cabinet allocates Rs 12,000 crore to impart skill training to 1 crore people over the next 4 yearsThe Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendra Modi has approved the Pradhan MantriKaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) with an outlay of Rs.12000 crore to impart skilling to one crore people over the next 4 years (2016-2020).

 

 

 

 

8. Indian-American Professor named US university deanHe received his doctoral degree from De Montfort University in England, a master of science in mechanical computer aided engineering from Strathclyde University in Scotland and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from University of Rajasthan in India.

 

9. Kerala launches ‘world’s first’ digital student incubator: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched SV.CO, purportedly world’s first digital student incubator, as a digital makeover of the StartupVillage in Kochi. SV.CO will constitute the second phase of development of Startup Village and is designed to help thousands of college-goers make an early start in entrepreneurship, according to a spokesman.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Theresa May takes over as Britain’s Brexit PM, appoints Boris Johnson as Foreign SecretaryBritish politician, Theresa May  became Prime Minister of United Kingdom (UK) after meeting Queen Elizabeth II. She succeeds David Cameron, who had resigned in the wake of Brexit referendum that ended his six-year-long stint as the Prime Minister of BritainShe became UK’s second-ever female Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher (in office from 1979-1990).

 

2. Emirates named world’s best airline in 2016 Skytrax awardshe top 5 best airlines: Emirates (1st), Qatar Airways (2nd), Singapore Airlines (3rd), Cathay Pacific (4th), ANA All Nippon Airways (5th).

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. BSE introduces ‘Paperless SIP’Leading stock exchange BSE is introducing 'Paperless SIP' (systematic investment plans) that would allow mutual fund investors to make transactions through various modes of payments. The additional feature on BSE's mutual fund platform - StAR MF - would allow MF distributors to register SIPs for their clients, who can pay SIP amounts through various modes.

DAILY GK UPDATES 13TH JULY 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 13TH JULY 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. INS Karna commissioned by Indian NavyIndian Navy has commissioned INS Karna, an independent base of Marine Commandos (MARCOS) at Bheemunipatanam Naval Base, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It was commissioned by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba at the commissioning ceremony held at Bheemunipatanam Naval Base.

 

2. Najma Heptulla and G M Siddeswara quit ModicabinetUnion ministers Najma Heptulla and GM Siddeshwara resigned. Dr Heptulla, the Minority Affairs Minister, was replaced by Minister of State Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who has been given independent charge. The portfolio held by Mr. Siddeshwara - junior minister for Heavy Industries - will be taken over by Babul Supriyo, who was the junior minister for Urban Development.

 

3. Bangladesh and India sign Rampal Power Plant construction agreementBangladesh and India have signed a landmark deal for the construction of a 1,320-megawatt coal-fired power plant, the biggest project under bilateral cooperation that would mark the transition from electricity export to generation level.

 

4. Pokhra-New Delhi direct bus service launchedThe first direct bus service between Pokhara (Nepal) and New Delhi (India) was launched to connect South Asia’s two important cities. This bus service was flagged off by Nepal Home Minister Shakti BahadurBasnet and India’s ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae from Pokhara (Nepal’s famous tourist spot).

 

5. K V R Murthy appointed as the new CMD of Jute Corporation of India Ltd. 

6. SRK, Akshay Kumar join Taylor Swift in Forbes highest paid celebrity list: Bollywood stars ShahrukhKhan and Akshay Kumar were the only Indian celebrities to make way for the Forbes list of world’s highest paid celebrityMusician Taylor Swift with $170 million in her earning bag seized the top spot on the list. Football star Cristiano Ronaldo sparked in the Forbes list after claiming Euro cup title for Portugal under his captainship and got 5th rank in the list with earnings of 88 Million dollars.

 

7. IDFC Bank acquires Grama VidiyalIDFC Bank has announced it had acquired Tamil Nadu-headquartered microfinance institution Grama Vidiyalin an all-cash deal.

 

8. Cabinet approves stake sale in NBCC IndiaThe Centre has cleared a proposal to sell its stake in state-owned construction company NBCC India with an aim to meet the Rs. 56,500-crore PSU disinvestment target in 2016-17.

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:

1. SBI signs MoU with IIT Bombay to promote start-upsIndia’s top public sector bank, State Bank of India (SBI), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), (IIT) Bombay’s technology business incubator, to promote innovation by start-ups in the financial sector.

 

2. HDFC Bank to sell Masala Bonds: Housing Development Finance Corp (HDFC) is set to become the first Indian company to sell masala bonds, a rupee-denominated bond sold to foreign investors and listed on an overseas exchange.

 

SPORTS:

3ICC has released Test, ODI and T20I RankingsThe International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the official ICC men’s Team Rankings from Test, One Day International (ODI) and T20I cricket. India held the second position in the latest ICC Test rankings with 112 rating points followed by Pakistan and England. Australia leads the Test rankings with 118 rating. Top 3 teams in ICC ODI Rankings: 1. Australia 2. New Zealand 3. IndiaTop 3 teams in ICC T20 Rankings: 1. New Zealand 2. India 3. West Indies.

 

OBITUARIES:

4William H McNeill, the prize-winning world historian died at the age of 98.