DAILY GK UPDATES 17TH AUGUST 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 17TH AUGUST 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Jharkhand assembly convened today to ratify GST Bill: Jharkhand Assembly has been convened today to ratify Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill passed by both Houses of Parliament. Now Jharkhand became the third state to ratify the bill.

 

2. Four states to get new Governors: BanwarilalPurohit has replaced Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharyaas the Governor of Assam. V.P. Singh Badnore has been appointed as Governor of Punjab. Jagdish Mukhi has been appointed as Governor of Andaman and Nicobar. Former Union Minister Najma Heptulla has been appointed Governor of Manipur.

 

3. Gujarat Government to implement 7th Pay Commission from 1st Jan 2017: Gujarat government has approved the implementation of the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission, raising salaries of over 8.5 lakh state employees and pensioners, from 1st Jan.

 

4. Uttar Pradesh cabinet approves Metro Rail for Allahabad: The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a Metro Rail project for Allahabad. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. The state cabinet also approved a scheme to provide free school bags and books to students till class VIII in government schools.

 

5. Telangana gets highest gallantry medals in country: Telangana State has received the highest number of gallantry medals for police personnel in the country on the eve of Independence Day. It was the only State unit to secure the President’s police medal for gallantry (PPMG).

 

6. Tata Power Solar commissions 100 mw project in Andhra Pradesh: Tata Power Solar has commissioned a 100 mw solar project for NTPC in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, the biggest solar project commissioned using domestically manufactured solar cells and modules.

 

7. Over 1000 year old camping site discovered in Ladakh: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered an ancient camping site dating 8500 BC in Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), indicating humans were camping in the area 10,500 years ago.

 

8. Reliance Brands inks pact with Scotch and Soda: Reliance Brands, a part of Reliance Industries Group, today announced a long-term master franchise agreement with Amsterdam-based fashion brand Scotch & Soda.

 

9. Unilever acquires Blueair: Unilever, the parent company of Hindustan Unilever (HUL), has acquired Swedish firm Blueair, a leading player in mobile air purification technology, for an undisclosed sum.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:​

1. RBI imposes penalty on four cooperative banks: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed penalties on four cooperative banks for violation of various norms. Cooperative banks are:  Cooperative City Bank, Guwahati – Rs 5 lakh, Indapur Urban Cooperative Bank, Indapur – Rs 2 lakh, ShriDadasaheb Gajmal Cooperative Bank, Pachora – Rs 1 lakh and Model Cooperative Urban Bank, Hyderabad – Rs 1 lakh.

SPORTS:

2. Virender Sehwag becomes MCC’s honorary life member: Virender Sehwag, former India batsman, has been awarded the honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club.

 

AWARDS:

3. A R Rahman honoured with Tamil Ratna Award: Oscar-winning music maestro A.R. Rahman has been honoured by the America Tamil Sangam with its Tamil Ratna Award.

 

OBITUARIES:

4. Malayalam screenwriter TA Razaq passed away at the age of 58.

 

5. Punjabi writer Gurdial Singh passes away at the age of 83.

DAILY GK UPDATES 16TH AUGUST 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 16TH AUGUST 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bihar Assembly unanimously passes GST bill: The Bihar state assembly has unanimously passed the crucial Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST Bill). With this, it has become the first non-Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state to ratify the GST, last week; Assam became the first state to ratify the Bill.

 

2. Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa announces hike in pension to freedom fighters: Amil Nadu Jayalalithaahas announced Rs 1,000 increase in the freedom fighters pension from Rs 11,000. The announcement came during her address after unfurling national flag at Fort St. George on the occasion of Independence Day.

 

3. Odia becomes Official Language in Odisha from today: Odia language will be used as the official language in all government offices in Odisha from today onwards.

4. India extends $ 1 million grant to Zimbabwe: India has provided One million US Dollars grant to Zimbabwe in the wake of El Nino induced drought disaster. 

5. Nuclear suppliers’ insurance policy unveiled:New India Assurance Co and India nuclear insurance pool (INIP) will issue the policy and administer the claims on behalf of the pool. 

 

6. L&T bags contract to convert Nagpur into integrated smart city: Larsen & Toubro has been identified as Implementation Partner to convert Nagpur, into the country's first large-scale integrated Smart City as per a Letter of Intent that was handed over in the auspicious presence of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis

7. Tata AutoComp to acquire TitanX: Tata AutoComp Systems, the Tata Group-owned auto-component conglomerate, will acquire TitanX, a leading global engine cooling supplier. It is currently owned by EQT Opportunity and Fourier transform.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Singapore ranked 6th in Global Innovation Index:India climbed 15 spots, from 81 last year, to 66 in the Global Innovation Index (GII) and maintained the top spot in the Central and South Asia regions, according to the rankings released by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

2. China successfully launches world’s first quantum satellite: China today successfully launched the world's first quantum satellite which boasts of establishing hack-proof communications between space and the ground as it is equipped with security features to prevent wiretapping and intercepts.

 

3. Minda forms JV with Chinese firm for auto components: Auto component maker Spark Mindagroup flagship firm, Minda Corporation Ltd has formed a joint venture (JV) with China's Shandong Beiqi HaiHua Automobile Parts Co (SBHAP). 

4. China begins operating bullet trains at 350 kmphspeed: China on Monday began operating its indigenously designed bullet trains which can clock 350 kmph speed.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Usain Bolt wins gold in men's 100 meters in Rio Olympics: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has won gold in the 100-metre final in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

AWARDS:

2. CLRI scientist bags A P J Abdul Kalam award.

 

OBITUARIES:

3. First Speaker of Delhi Assembly Charti Lal Goelpasses away: Charti Lal Goel, the first speaker of the Delhi Assembly has passed away today after prolonged illness. Charti Lal, 89, breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAILY GK UPDATES 15TH AUGUST 2016

DAILY GK UPDATES 15TH AUGUST 2016

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Minister launches clean cooking fuel scheme for BPL women in West Bengal: Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has launched the Pradhan MantriUjjwalaYojana (PMUY) in West Bengal, which is a scheme to provide clean cooking fuel to the women belonging to the 'Below Poverty Line' (BPL) households across the country.

 

2. IISc bags maximum number of INSA Medals for Young Scientists: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has bagged the 5 Medals for Young Scientists award 2016.

 

3. Smart Ganga City programme launched in 10 cities: Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti has jointly launched 'Smart Ganga City' programme in 10 cities located along Ganga to set up Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and improve drainage network there on hybrid annuity mode on public private partnership basis.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Microsoft acquires gaming start-up Beam: Microsoft has acquired Beam, an interactive livestreaming start-up that lets viewers watch and play along with game streamers in real time and did not disclose financial terms of the deal. Beam, launched in January this year, has 24 employees.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:​

1. South Indian Bank, SBI Card to launch co-branded credit card: Kochi Based leading private sector Lender South Indian Bank, leading private sector bank, and SBI Card, one of India's leading Credit Card issuers, announced the launch of co-branded credit cards for the customers of South Indian Bank.

 

2. UBI launches USSD based mobile app for basic banking needs with NPCI: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) ties up with Union Bank of India to launch an USSD based *99# mobile application for their customers.

 

3. IRDAI Slaps Rs 35 Lakh Fine On Bharti AXA General Insurance: Insurance watchdog, IRDAI has imposed Rs 35 lakh fine on Bharti AXA General Insurance Co Ltd for violation of various norms including outsourcing activities and corporate governance guidelines.

 

 

SPORTS:

4. Indian ace wins Australian Open squash: India squash queen Dipika Pallikal won the Australian Open squash title by beating Mayar Hany of Egypt by 0-12, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4.

 

AWARDS:

4. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sonam Kapoor win top awards at IFF Melbourne: Bollywood star actors Sonam Kapoor and Nawazuddin Siddiqui bagged the best actress and best actor awards at the Indian Film Festival (IFF) of Melbourne 2016.