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.

DAILY GK UPDATES 18TH JULY 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 18TH JULY 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Three Indian sites listed among UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites: The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has listed Chandigarh's Capitol Complex and Sikkim's national park home to the world's third highest peak Mount Khangchendzonga among its World Heritage Sites, approving all three nominations linked to India this session.

 

2. India’s first e-court opened in Hyderabad: India's first e-court has opened at High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad. It is the common high court for the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

 

3. Government launches Transforming India portal: Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched a website 'Transforming India', a repository for real-time sharing of the impact of various governance initiatives with citizens.

 

4. Government releases Rs 100 crore towards co-contribution in APY: The Government has released Rs 100 crore towards its co-contribution for AtalPension Yojana (APY) for 2015-16. APY provides minimum guaranteed pension ranging between Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per month for the subscriber from the age of 60 years. The same amount of pension is paid to the spouse in the case of the subscriber's demise.

 

5. Commerce Ministry starts e-marketplace for goods procurement: The Commerce Ministry has launched an e-marketplace for online purchase of goods and services by various central government ministries and departments which aimed at bringing in more transparency and streamlining the government procurement of goods and services.

 

6. Vice President Hamid Ansari unveils Gandhi’s stone statue: Vice President Hamid Ansari has unveiled a stone statue of Mahatma Gandhi at PethubMonastery in the Mongolian capital which is seen as a symbol of India-Mongolia cultural and spiritual ties.

 

7. Pema Khandu was sworn in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh: Pema Khandu has sworn in as the ninth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh while Chowna Mein has sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister. With this, Mr. Khandu became the youngest Chief Minister in the country.

 

8. Delhi CM launches live interactive programme TalktoAK: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has launched a live interactive programme, titled 'TalkToAK', aimed at directly engaging with the Delhiites, where people from across the country can ask him questions over the phone, by sending text messages and through social media.

9. Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme opened for subscription: The fourth tranche of the Sovereign Gold Bonds scheme has opened for subscription. The bond can be purchased from the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange, besides all Bank branches, select Post Offices and the Stock Holding Corporation of India Limited.

10. Coimbatore-based Air Carnival commences operations: Low-cost airline with pink and white themed Air Carnival has launched its operations with its maiden flight from Coimbatore to Chennai. The airline, which is based in Coimbatore, will focus on short-haul services with ATR72-500 aircraft.

 

11. Dabur and DRDO unit tie up for high altitude medicinal plants: Dabur, a leading ayurvedic FMCG firm has tied up with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO's) unit DefenseInstitute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Leh, to promote sustainable cultivation of high-altitude medicinal plants in Ladakh.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 18th July: Nelson Mandela International Day observed: Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela's birthday. The day is aimed at inspiring individuals to take action to help change the world for the better.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

2. Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Saurav Ghosal clinch National Squash titles at the 73rd Senior National Squash Championship in the women and men category respectively.

 

3. Vijender Singh beats Kerry Hope to clinch WBO Asia Pacific title: Vijender Singh, the boxing star from India, has clinched the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title at the Thyagraj Stadium, New Delhi.

DAILY GK UPDATES 17TH JULY 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 17TH JULY 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Terrapin 3 Acquisition Corporation acquires Yatra Online for $218 million: Yatra Online, Inc. and Terrapin 3 Acquisition Corporation entered into a definitive merger agreement. The transaction values Yatra at an enterprise value of 218 million dollars (1458 crore rupees). Yatra in its statement said that it intends to be listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol"YTRA" following completion of the transaction.

 

2. Nalanda Mahavihara inscribed as 33rd World Heritage Site in India: The ruins of ancient NalandaMahavihara known as old Nalanda University of Bihar on got inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.With this, Nalanda University ruins became the second World Heritage Site in Bihar after Bodhgaya's Mahabodhi temple and 33rd such site in India.

 

3. ‘Ramayana Month’ begins in Kerala: Kerala on 16 July 2016 started observing Ramayana month in the temples. In Malayalam it is termed as the Ramayana Masam. The Ramayana Month starts with the commencement of Malayalam month ‘Karkidakam’.During this month the temples and homes of the state recites Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu written by medieval devotional poet Thunjath Ezhuthachan for the 30 days. Ezhuthachan is regarded as the father of Malayalam literature.

 

4. Rare Marbled Map butterfly sighted in Eastern Ghats: Rare Marbled Map butterfly was sighted in Eastern Ghats near PM Kota village of Maredumillimandal in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. This is the first time that the Marbled Map butterfly species, usually found in the north-east, was sighted in South India.

 

5. Rajesh Kumar Chaturvedi appointed as Chairman of CBSE.

 

6. K V R Murthy appointed as CMD of Jute Corp of India.

 

7. Supreme Court ordered restoration of NabamTuki Government in Arunachal Pradesh: For this purpose, it also quashed the Kalikho Pul government that came into power on 19 February 2016 after Governor J P Rajkhowa ordered dismissal of NabamTuki led government of the state.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Peru declares Zika emergency in 11 states: ThePeru Government declared Zika health emergency across the northern half of the country. The emergency was declared after 102 people have been confirmed to be infected with the virus, 34 of which are pregnant women.

OTHER UPDATES:

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

1. Book titled ‘Courage and Commitment’ authored by Margaret Alva released.

DAILY GK UPDATES 16TH JULY 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 16TH JULY 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. WHO declares India as Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus free: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared India as Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus free. In this regard, WHO presented certificates to the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda.

 

2. Over 14 lakh LPG connections released under PMUY: Over fourteen lakh LPG connections have been released to the women of BPL families under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the scheme is currently under operation in 487 districts of 17 states.

 

3. 74 schemes of 17 ministries and departments brought under DBT: The GOI has been brought 74 schemes of 17 Ministries and Departments under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Addressing the members of Consultative Committee of his Ministry in New Delhi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stated that DBT is a very important scheme as it transfers the benefit to the targeted beneficiaries.

 

4. Indian Naval ship visits Port Kelang, Malaysia: Indian Naval Ships Sahyadri, Shakti and Kirch have arrived at Port Kelang on a four day visit, as part of deployment of the Eastern Fleet to the South China Sea and Western Pacific.

 

5. Tata Advanced Systems signs deal with Bell Helicopter: Tata Advanced System (TASL) and Bell Helicopter, a Textron Company have signed an agreement to work together in support of India’s aviation and defense modernization initiatives. The agreement was inked with an emphasis on ‘Make in India’.

 

6. MP cabinet approves setting up of Happiness Department in State: In Madhya Pradesh, the Shivrajcabinet has given its nod to set up Happiness Department in the state. This department will work as knowledge resource centre on the subject of happiness. A state Happiness Institute will also be established under the Happiness Department.

 

7. Maharashtra CM launches virtual, digital classrooms across 32 ITIs in state: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has launched the facility of virtual and digital classrooms across 32 ITIs in the state on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day (15th July). According to him, the facility of virtual classrooms will bridge the urban-rural divide and open the doors of knowledge. Mr. Fadnavis asked students to master their passion, and assures that jobs will come in plenty due to the power of skill development.

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:​

1. RBI sets up an Inter-Regulatory Working Group on Fin Tech and Digital Banking: The group has been set up in view of the growing significance of Fintech innovations, and their interactions with the financial sector as well as financial sector entities. It will review and appropriately reorient the regulatory framework, and respond to the dynamics of the rapidly evolving Fintech scenario. The Working Group will be headed by Sudarshan Sen, Executive Director of RBI, and has 12 members. It has been asked to submit its report within six months from the date of its first meeting.

2. India and ADB sign 100 million USD loan agreement for Cauvery Delta Project in Tamil Nadu: The Union Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a 100 million US dollars loan agreement to strengthen key irrigation and drainage system and improve water management in the Vennarsub-basin of the Cauvery delta in Tamil Nadu.

3. RBI asks banks to exchange upto 20 soiled notes free of charge: The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to exchange up to 20 pieces of soiled currency notes with a maximum value of Rs. 5,000 over the counter free of charge in an effort to improve customer service. However, if the number of notes to be exchanged is more than 20, banks can levy service charge.

 

SPORTS:

4. Misbah-ul-Haq becomes oldest captain to score Test hundred: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has scored 110 against England at Lord's and with this, the 42 years and 47 days old cricketer became the oldest captain to score Test hundred. Misbah is also the oldest visiting player to play a Test on English soil in the last 31 years.

 

BOOKS AND AUTHORS:

5. Book titled ‘Who moved my interest rate’ authored by former RBI Governor DuvvuriSubbarao to be released on 27th July 2016.