Daily GK Update 05th March, 2017

Daily GK Update 05th March, 2017

GST Council approves draft CGST and IGST Bills

i. The Centre and States approved the model draft Bills for Centre and Integrated goods and services tax (GST).The Council has also included a revised peak rate of 20 percent under GST, instead of the earlier 18 percent. This would mean that the total incidence of the tax could go as high as 40 percent.

ii. The next meeting of the Council will now be held on March 16, when it will finalize the draft Bills for State and Union Territory GST.

Punjab, J&K seal fresh deal on Shahpur Kandi project

i. A renewed agreement between Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir has been sealed for the completion of the Shahpur Kandi Dam project, work on which was halted two years ago following a dispute. This move comes days before its annual Indus Water Commission meeting with Pakistan in Lahore. 

ii. The 55.5-meter high Shahpur Kandi dam in Punjab, will help in providing irrigation facility to 5000 hectares of land in Punjab and 32173 hectares in J&K, besides generation of 206 MW power.

Google India inks MoU with Telangana government

i. Google India and Telangana government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at supporting the digitization efforts of the state.

ii. Google India will provide Google Cloud credits and access to all cloud platform products to eligible startups engaged with Telangana government’s T-Hub initiative and through its Developer Relations team provide technical mentor-ship and advisory support to various startups.

Hyderabad University research projects bags Rs113 cr funding

i. Strategic research projects at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) Centre-ARCHEM supported by the Defence Ministry will get a whopping Rs. 113 crore funding for the next five years.

ii. The University, among the top five in the country will very soon become the first public-funded University to house a 500 MHz NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), as a joint facility between the the Advanced Centre for Research in High Energy Materials (ARCHEM) and the School of Chemistry.

Former IFS and MP Syed Shahabuddin dies

i. Former IFS and MP Syed Shahabuddin dies at the age of 82 after suffering from prolonged illness.

ii. During his time, Shahabuddin had strongly opposed the demolition of the Babri Masjid and was the leader of the Babri Action Committee. Born in 1935, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Shahabuddin began working as a diplomat for the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), but later became a politician. He served three terms from 1979-1996 as an MP. He was the Joint Secretary in charge of South East Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific in the Ministry of External Affairs.

South Korea and United States Begin Annual Military Drill Foal Eagle

i. The United States and South Korean troops started their large-scale annual military drill named Foal Eagle.The month-long exercises will run last in April 2017 and will overlap with the Key Resolve exercise which will begin on March 13, 2017.

ii. The aim of the military exercise is to test their defense readiness against the threat from North Korea. North Korea conducted its first ballistic missile test of 2017 in February and views the Foal Eagle Exercise 2017 as preparation for war against it.

Cognizant buys Japanese digital firm Brilliant Service Co

i. American multinational corporation Cognizant has pocketed a deal to acquire Japanese digital firm Brilliant Service Co which is specialized in intelligent products and solutions, digital strategy, product design and engineering, the Internet of Things, and enterprise mobility.

ii. Subsequently, this acquisition will help cognizant to foster its digital transformation portfolio and capabilities to enable clients to build connected and collaborative businesses.

QUIZ-05

QUIZ-5

Q1. State-run gas company Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) has signed a time-swap deal with a trader company Gunvor to sell some of its US Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as the Indian firm tries to ease the burden of its costly foreign LNG supplies. Gunvor is ______________ based company.

(a) Austria

(b) Switzerland

(c) Japan

(d) Australia

(e) Denmark

Q2. The Indian navy has successfully test-fired an anti-ship missile for the first time from an indigenously built ______________, recently.

(a) Charlie class submarine

(b) Arihant class submarine

(c) Sindhughosh class submarine

(d) Kalvari class submarine

(e) Chakra class submarine

Q3. Name the district of Himachal Pradesh that has recently got approval to be its second capital.

(a) Shimla

(b) Solan

(c) Dharamshala

(d) Bilaspur

(e) Kullu

Q4. Angel Gurria is the present Secretary General of which of the following international organizations?

(a) IDA

(b) OECD

(c) WTO

(d) UNESCO

(e) ISI

Q5. Name the Indian University that has won the annual Visitor's Award for the 'Best University' 2017, recently.

(a) Jawaharlal Nehru University

(b) Banaras Hindu University

(c) University of Hyderabad

(d) King Georges Medical University

(e) University of Delhi

Q6.  Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) handed over three of its products namely Weapon Locating Radar (WLR), NBC Recce vehicle and NBC Drugs for induction into the Indian Army in a formal function. What is the name of Weapon Locating Radar (WLR)?

(a) DISHA

(b) NIRBHIK

(c) KIRAN

(d) MOHANTO

(e) SWATHI

Q7. Name the person, who has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of state-run telecom major Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), recently.

(a) J S Deepak

(b) Sandeep Jajodia

(c) Atul Tyagi

(d) P K Purwar

(e) Mohan Parawar

Q8. The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) have recently signed a technology transfer agreement with which one of the following Indian Companies for manufacturing High Nitrogen Steel (HNS).

(a) Essar Steel

(b) Bhushan Steels Ltd.

(c) Jindal Stainless Ltd.

(d) SAIL

(e) TATA Steels

Q9. The Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar has recently launched 'Swachh Shakti Saptah' to raise awareness on sanitation and cleanliness. 'Swachh Shakti Saptah' was launched in ________________.

(a) Bengaluru, Karnataka

(b) Gurugram, Haryana

(c) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

(d) Guwahati, Assam

(e) Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

Q10. Government’s biotech innovation BIRAC Regional Entrepreneurship Centre was set up in Bengaluru, recently. What does 'A' stands for in BIRAC?

(a) Assistance

(b) Asset

(c) Account

(d) Automation

(e) Aeronautical

Q11. World Wildlife Day, 2017 was globally observed on ____________.

(a) 13th February

(b) 10th February

(c) 1st March

(d) 3rd March

(e) 8th February

Q12. Name the country that has recently celebrated 25 years of diplomatic ties with India.

(a) Kuwait

(b) Saudi Arab

(c) Israel

(d) Iran

(e) UAE

Q13. Who is the head of RBI committee to review cyber security?

(a) A K Pandey

(b) Meena Hemchandra

(c) Sumit Bose

(d) Deepak Mohanti

(e) B N Goldar

Q14. Neil Fingleton passed away recently. He was famous ____________.

(a) Basketball Player

(b) Politician

(c) Film Director

(d) Musician

(e) Poet

Q15. What was the theme of World Wildlife Day, 2017?

(a) Living together with wildlife

(b) Grow with flora and fauna

(c) Listen to the Young Voices

(d) Create a healthy habitat

(e) None of the above themes are correct

                                                            ANSWERS

S1. Ans.(b)

Sol. State-run gas company Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) has signed a time-swap deal with Swiss trader Gunvor to sell some of its US Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as the Indian firm tries to ease the burden of its costly foreign LNG supplies.

S2. Ans.(d)

Sol. The navy successfully test-fired an anti-ship missile for the first time from an indigenously built Kalvari class submarine. The launch was a significant milestone in enhancing its “sub-surface” warfare prowess. The weapon was fired from the submarine, the first of India’s six Scorpene-class submarines which are being built under the Project 75.

S3. Ans.(c)

Sol. The Himachal Pradesh cabinet approved the proposal to make Dharamshala as the second capital of the state. The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

S4. Ans.(b)

Sol. José Ángel Gurría Treviño, also known as Ángel Gurría, is a Mexican economist and diplomat. He is the current secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) since 1 June 2006.

S5. Ans.(a)

Sol. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has won the annual Visitor's Award for the 'Best University', 2017. Deepak Pant from the Central University of Himachal Pradesh won the Visitor's Award for 'Innovation'.

S6. Ans.(e)

Sol. Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over three of its products for induction into the Indian Army in a formal function. The products are namely- (i) Weapon Locating Radar (WLR), SWATHI (ii) NBC Recce vehicle (iii) NBC Drugs.

S7. Ans.(d)

Sol. P K Purwar was appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of state-run telecom major Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved his appointment to the post for five years.

S8. Ans.(c)

Sol. The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) have signed a technology transfer agreement with Jindal Stainless (Hisar) Ltd. (JSHL), for manufacturing High Nitrogen Steel (HNS). HNS has higher ballistic strength. It is not only tough but also has good strength.

S9. Ans.(b)

Sol. The Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar has launched 'Swachh Shakti Saptah' in Gurugram, Haryana to raise awareness on sanitation and cleanliness. Mr. Tomar has decided to observe 'Swachh Shakti Saptah' from March 1 to 8, 2017 across the country.

S10. Ans.(a)

Sol. The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms – C-CAMP, technology, and innovation hub was set up to house the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) Regional Entrepreneurship Centre (BREC) in Bengaluru.

S11. Ans.(d)

Sol. On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March, the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.

S12. Ans.(c)

Sol. India and Israel are planning to hold a series of events to celebrate 25 years of establishment of their diplomatic ties. India had established full diplomatic relationship with Israel in 1992 though it had recognized the country in 1950.

S13. Ans.(b)

Sol. The formation of the standing committee comes in the light of the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Information Technology and Cyber Security headed by Meena Hemchandra that was formed by the central bank.

S14. Ans.(a)

Sol. Neil Fingleton (18 December 1980 – 25 February 2017) was an English actor and basketball player. He was the tallest British-born man and the tallest man in the European Union at 7 ft 7.56 inches in height and among the 25 tallest men in the world.

S15. Ans.(c)
Sol. On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March, the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). World Wildlife Day will be celebrated in 2017 under the theme “Listen to the Young Voices.”