Daily GK Update 29th September 2017

1. Madhya Pradesh Bags ‘Best Tourism State’ Award

i. Madhya Pradesh has won the ‘Best Tourism State’ national award for the third consecutive year. President Ram Nath Kovind handed over the award, named as ‘Hall of Fame Award’, to Minister of State for Tourism Surendra Patwa at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

ii. The state bagged total 10 awards in this programme, organised on the occasion of World Tourism Day (27 September). Madhya Pradesh also received a national award for Film Promotion Policy in the category of Best Film Promotion Friendly State/Union Territory. 

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan is the CM of Madhya Pradesh.
• Shri Om Prakash Kohli (Add. Charge) is the present Governor of Madhya Pradesh.

2. In a First, Saudi Arabia Issues Decree Allowing Women to Drive

i. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has issued a decree allowing women to drive for the first time. The order will be implemented by June 2018.
ii. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world to forbid women from driving. Saudi women remain largely under the whim of male relatives due to guardianship laws.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Riyadh is the Capital of Saudi Arabia.

3. India Jumps to 14th Rank as Best Country for Expats: HSBC Survey

i. India leapt up the global rankings by 12 places to take the 14th spot in terms of best country for expats to live and work in, according to the HSBC survey. The list has been topped by Singapore.

ii. The list is part of HSBC's latest 'expat explorer survey' that covered 27,587 expats from 159 countries and territories in March and April 2017. According to the survey, about 71 percent expats in India reported high levels of confidence in the local economy, while 58 percent exuded optimism on political stability.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• An Expat (expatriate) is a person who lives outside their native country.
• HSBC Headquarters in London, United Kingdom.
• HSBC was established in 1865 to finance trade between Europe and Asia.

4. India, Norway Extends Bilateral Cooperation

i. India and Norway have extended bilateral cooperation in the health sector through the Norway-India Partnership Initiative for a period of three years starting 2018. A letter of Intent was signed to this effect in New Delhi between the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

ii. The Partnership Initiative now extends to Jammu and Kashmir and four other States- Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are already covered under it.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Oslo is the Capital of Norway.
• Erna Solberg is the President of Norway.

5. $80-Million ADB loan to Himachal Pradesh

i. Multilateral lending agency Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of $80 million (about Rs 524 crore) for the modernization of Himachal Pradesh’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions.

ii. The total cost of the project is $100 million, with the Centre contributing $20 million. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• ADB headquarters in Manila, Philippines.
• Takehiko Nakao is the President of ADB.

6. VNL Signs Pact with BSNL for Disaster Management

i. Telecom equipment and solutions provider VNL has signed an MoU with BSNL to provide solutions for disaster management. The 'Relief 123' service will restore connectivity at disaster sites, help locate the affected and integrate information across platforms to enable informed decision-making for quick relief.

ii. The service is an integrated disaster response solution for first responders and public safety agencies. The solution is designed and manufactured by VNL and the backhaul connectivity will be provided by BSNL.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• The service has been designed to work in different scenarios, including natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms, floods and Tsunamis.
• Chairman & Managing Director of BSNL is Shri Anupam Shrivastava.

7. Air India Ties up with PNB, IndusInd

i. Air India has tied up with public sector lender PNB and private lender IndusInd Bank to secure loans to the tune of over Rs 3,000 crore for meeting working capital requirements.

ii. Recently, the disinvestment-bound Air India had floated tenders for availing Govt. guarantee backed INR short-term loans totalling up to Rs 3,250 crore in the first phase to meet its urgent working capital.    

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Shri Rajiv Bansal is the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India Ltd.

8. MoU Signed Between BSNL and ZTE

i. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese gear maker ZTE.

ii. Both the parties will work together and prove key technologies like Pre5G and 5G wireless systems to make a virtual network architecture of a 5G ecosystem for research and commercialization in India. 

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Chairman & Managing Director of BSNL is Shri Anupam Shrivastava.

9. Rajiv Sabharwal to Take Charge as Tata Capital CEO

i. Tata Capital announced the appointment of Rajiv Sabharwal as Managing Director & CEO designate of the company. Sabharwal will be joining Tata Capital in January 2018 and would be taking over from the company's current Managing Director & CEO Praveen P Kadle.

ii. Mr Kandle will be assuming other responsibilities in the Tata Group effective April 1, 2018. Sabharwal is currently a partner at True North Managers LLP, formerly India Value Fund Advisors.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• N Chandrasekaran is the Chairman of Tata Sons.

10. International Day for Universal Access to Information Observed Globally

i. The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) was observed globally on 28 September 2017. The celebrations and events for the Day are organised by UNESCO.

ii. The year 2017 marks the second year observation of 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information. From 27 to 30 September 2017, UNESCO hosted a Conference under the theme “Overcoming Divides and Achieving the SDGs in Africa” in Balaclava, Mauritius.

11. For the First Time, Five Indian Shuttlers in Top-20 of BWF Men’s Rankings

i. For the first time, Five Indians are in the top-20 of the BWF men’s singles rankings with H S Prannoy being the biggest gainer after his quarterfinal showing at the Japan Open. Prannoy has jumped four places to be world no.15.

ii. The 5 Indian Shuttlers in the top 20 BWF men’s singles rankings are-

1. Kidambi Srikanth (8th)
2. HS Prannoy (15th)
3. B Sai Praneeth (17th)
4. Sameer Verma (19th)
5. Ajay Jayaram (20th)

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• India’s leading ladies, PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, remain at the second and 12th spot respectively.

12. Etihad Airways appoints Tony Douglas as Group CEO

i. Gulf carrier Etihad Airways has appointed former Abu Dhabi airport chief Tony Douglas as its Group Chief Executive Officer following the exit of James Hogan.

ii. Douglas will take over the charge of the new position in January 2018.

Daily GK Update 28th September 2017

1. World Rabies Day: 28th September

i. World Rabies Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness about rabies prevention. This day also marks the anniversary of Louis Pasteur's death, the French chemist and microbiologist, who developed the first rabies vaccine.

ii. The 2017 World Rabies Day theme is 'Rabies: Zero by 30'.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• WRD is organised by WHO.
• WHO’s Constitution came into force on 7 April 1948, a date which is now celebrated every year as World Health Day.
• Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the Director-General of WHO.

2. World Maritime Day: 28 September

i. The World Maritime Day is celebrated across the world on 28 September. The theme for 2017 World Maritime Day is ‘Connecting Ships, Ports and People’.

ii. It aims to do so by focusing on helping International Maritime Organization (IMO) member states to develop and implement maritime strategies to invest in a joined-up, interagency approach.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• In 1948, an international conference in Geneva adopted a convention formally establishing IMO. 
• The body was originally named Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) but the name was changed in 1982 to IMO.

3. Important Cabinet Approvals- 27th September 2017

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals. The full list of Cabinet Approvals is given as follows.

ii. The Cabinet has approved-

1. Enhancement of age of superannuation of doctors other than Central Health Service (CHS) doctors to 65 years,

2. Signing of (i) Inter-bank Local Currency Credit Line Agreement and (ii) Cooperation Memorandum relating to Credit Ratings by EXIM Bank under BRICS Interbank Cooperation mechanism,

3. Agreement on “Cooperation in the field of Information, Communication and Media” between India and Ethiopia,

4. MoU between India and Belarus in the oil and gas sector,

5. Bilateral MoU between India and Afghanistan on Technical Cooperation on Police Training and Development.

4. ADB to Increase Annual Lending to India to $4 billion

i. The Asian Development Bank will increase its annual lending to India to a maximum of $4 billion between 2018 and 2022 to help fasten inclusive economic transformation towards upper middle-income status.

ii. The proposal was endorsed at new ADB Country Partnership Strategy for 2018- 2022. The new lending programme, which includes private sector operations, is much higher than the average $2.65 billion a year in loans extended during 2012 and 2016.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• ADB headquarters in Manila, Philippines.
• Takehiko Nakao is the President of ADB.

5. Russia, US Partner to Build 1st Ever Space Station Near Moon

i. Russian and US space agencies, Roscosmos and NASA, have agreed to jointly build a "deep space gateway", the first-ever astronaut-tended space station around the Moon.

ii. The gateway would help prepare for manned missions to deep space destinations including Mars. NASA and Roscosmos are two of the major partners in the $100-billion Earth-orbiting International Space Station (ISS).

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Robert M. Lightfoot Jr. is NASA Acting Administrator.
• NASA was established in 1958.
• NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

6. Twitter Announces Test Project Allowing Tweets to be Expanded From 140 to 280 Characters

i. Twitter has announced a test project allowing tweets to be expanded to 280 characters, double the existing limit in the latest effort to boost flagging growth at the social network. It aims to address a major cause of frustration for many users.

ii. Twitter, which became a public company in 2013, has never reported a profit even though it has built a loyal base of celebrities, journalists and political figures.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Twitter is based in San Francisco.
• Jack Dorsey is the chief executive officer of Twitter.

7. IBBI Registered National E-Governance Services Ltd as Information Utility

i. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) registered National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) as an Information Utility (IU) under the IBBI (Information Utilities) Regulations, 2017. With this NeSL has become the first IU registered by the IBBI and the registration is valid for five years from the date of registration.

ii. Information Utility stores financial information that helps to establish defaults as well as verify claims expeditiously and facilitates completion of transactions under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code in a time-bound manner.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Dr M. S. Sahoo is the chairperson if IBBI.
• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India was set up on 1st October 2016 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code).

8. Two US Lawmakers Introduce Legislation in House of Rep. to Support India’s Permanent Membership to UNSC

i. In the United States, two influential Democratic lawmakers have introduced a legislation in the House of Representative to support India’s permanent membership to the UN Security Council.
ii. Introduced by Congressman Ami Bera and Congressman Frank Pallone, the resolution would put the House officially on record in support of India’s bid. Ami Bera, Vice Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and longest-serving Indian-American in Congress stated that securing a permanent spot for India on the UN Security Council would strengthen democracy around the world.

9. BHU Appoints its First Woman Chief Proctor

i. The Banaras Hindu University has appointed Professor Royana Singh as its Chief Proctor. She will be the first woman to hold the post, as per an official of the 101-year-old central University.

ii. Mrs Singh is a professor in the Anatomy department of the Institute of Medical Sciences. She takes charge after O.N Singh resigned from the post of Chief Proctor taking “moral responsibility” for the incident of lathi charge on students who were protesting against the victim-blaming of a colleague who was molested in the campus. 

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Mrs Singh is also the chairman of the Women's Grievance Cell of the BHU. 
• Girish Chandra Tripathi is the Present Vice-Chancellor of BHU. 
• The Founder of BHU is Madan Mohan Malaviya.

10. ICICI Bank Launches ‘Cashback’ Home Loans

i. India’s largest private sector lender, ICICI Bank announced a new home loan scheme that offers borrowers the benefit of 1% cashback on every EMI, for the entire tenure of the loan. The offer will be valid for home loans with a minimum tenure of 15 years and the maximum tenure of 30 years.

ii. Customers can choose to adjust the cashback against principal outstanding of their home loan. The cashback will start to accrue from the first EMI itself. It will first get credited to the customer after completion of the 36th EMI.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• CEO of ICICI Bank is Chanda Kochhar.
• Headquarter of ICICI is in Mumbai.

11. Syndicate Bank Cuts Savings Account Interest Rate by 0.5%

i. Public sector Syndicate Bank has cut savings account interest rate by 0.50 percent to 3.50 percent for deposits up to Rs 25 lakh. The bank has revised rate of interest on savings bank deposits with effect from October 10 to 3.50 percent from 4 percent existing rate.

ii. For the deposits above Rs 25 lakh, the interest rate is unchanged at 4 percent.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Syndicate Bank was established in 1925 in Udupi, Karnataka.
• Mr Melwyn Rego is the Managing Director & CEO of Syndicate Bank.
• It Headquarters in Manipal, Karnataka.

12. India to host South Asian boxing Championship in Guwahati

i. India will host the South Asian Boxing Championship for the first time in Guwahati from December 6 to 10. Boxing Federation of India (BFI) after its executive committee meeting, stated that the country will also host the ‘India International Open tournament’ in New Delhi in the third week of January 2018.

ii. RK Sacheti has been unanimously elected as the new Executive Director of the federation. For the first time, it will initiate a grading system as well on the lines of AIBA’s star rating qualifications for coaches, referee judges.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Guwahati is the largest city of Assam and Northeastern India.
• LGB International Airport -Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, also known as Guwahati International Airport and formerly as 'Borjhar Airport' also situated in Guwahati.

13. Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner Passes Away

i. Playboy magazine founder and sexual revolution symbol Hugh Hefner has passed away. He was 91. He died at his home of natural causes.

ii. He founded the magazine in 1953. Hefner built a brand that defined the sexual culture of the second half of the 20th century.

Daily GK Update 27th September 2017

1. World Tourism Day: 27 September

i. The World Tourism Day is celebrated across the world on 27th of September.  Its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.  The theme for World Tourism Day 2017 is 'Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development'.

ii. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations agency is responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• On 22 December 2015, during its 70th session, the United Nations General Assembly designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

2. Kandla Port Renamed as Deendayal Port

i. The Kandla Port, one of the top 12 major ports in the country, has been renamed as Deendayal Port in the name of Hindutva icon Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.
ii. Kandla Port, located on the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat, is one of the twelve major ports in the country

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Kandla Port is the largest port of India by volume of cargo handled.

3. Bilal Dar from Srinagar becomes an ambassador for Swachhata Hi Seva 

i. Bilal Dar, a young boy from Srinagar has become the brand ambassador for Srinagar Municipal Corporation. Dar has been contributing to the  ‘Swachhta Abhiyan’ since the age of 12.

ii. 'Swachhta Hi Sewa’ campaign has turned out to be monetarily beneficial for residents and scrap buyers/dealers, besides helping in enhancing preventive measures against vector-borne diseases.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Swachhata Hi Seva, Cleanliness is Service, from 15th September 2017 to Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October 2017.

4. ’Incredible India’ Campaign Launched in Cairo

i. India launched a campaign to woo Egyptian travellers and make them aware of magnificent holiday options in the country. 

ii. The month-long "Incredible India!" campaign has been organised by the Embassy of India in Cairo.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt. 
• Sherif Ismail Mohamed is an Egyptian engineer who has been Prime Minister of Egypt since 2015. 

5. RIL World’s 3rd Largest Energy Firm: Platts Rankings

i. Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is the world’s third-biggest energy company behind Russian gas firm Gazprom and German utility E.ON, according to Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings.

ii. State-owned Indian Oil Corp (IOC) climbed to 7th position in the 2017 ranking, up from 14th rank in 2016. Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) was placed at 11th position in 2017 as against 20th in 2016.
iii. Coal India Ltd, the world’s largest coal producer, was the only Indian firm to have slipped in the ranking - 45 in 2017.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Russia’s Gazprom snagged the number 1 spot, ending US oil and gas giant ExxonMobil’s 12-year reign at the top of the list.

6. Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour (PENCIL) Portal Launched

i. The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh launched the Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour (PENCIL) Portal at the National Conference on Child Labour organised by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

ii. The PENCIL is an electronic platform that aims at involving Centre, State, District, Governments, civil society and the general public in achieving the target of child labour free society. Shri Rajnath Singh also launched the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the enforcement of legal framework against child labour.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• The Minister of State for Labour and Employment (I/C) is Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar.
• Shri Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Laureate and Child Right Activist was the Guest of Honour on the occasion.

7. Angola Swears in its First New President After 38 Years

i. Angola swore in Joao Lourenco as the country's President, making him the first new President of the country in 38 years. This comes after the previous president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, announced his retirement and chose Lourenco as his successor.

ii. Lourenco, who had served as Angola's Defence Minister earlier, vowed to attract more foreign investment.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Angolan kwanza is the Currency of Angolia.
• Luanda is the capital city of Angolia.

8. CISF Security at Mumbai Airport Rated Best in World

i. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) security at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) in Mumbai has been recognised as the best service in this domain by a global quality rating agency.

ii. The latest initiative of doing away with the tagging and stamping of hand baggage, handling increasing passenger footfalls smoothly, and feeling of being safe and secure by passengers, etc, were taken into account while deciding the award.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• The CISF has been providing security coverage to the CSIA, the second busiest and hypersensitive airport in India, since August 21, 2002.
• In July, a WQC survey adjudged CISF security cover at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport as best.
• O.P. Singh is the Director General of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

9. WEF’s Global Competitiveness Rankings: India Ranks 40th, Switzerland Tops

i. India remains the most competitive country in South Asia, appearing at No. 40 in the global competitiveness ranking of 137 countries by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The ranking is one lower than last year.

ii. According to WEF, India’s score is its highest ever according to the current methodology, which ranked Switzerland as the world’s most competitive economy. India ranks 3rd among BRICS nations.

iii. The world’s top three competitive economies are-

1. Switzerland,
2. The United States of America,
3. Singapore.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• China (27th) and Russia (38th) outshine India among the BRICS group of large emerging markets.

10. Maharashtra Govt Signs MoU with South Korea

i. The Maharashtra government has signed a MoU with South Korea for increased co-operation in infrastructure projects like development of smart cities, roads, airports and metros on the first day of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ visit to that country.

ii. This MoU is to help with implementation strategy, legal systems, policies, technologies and information in infrastructure development. Fadnavis embarked on a three-day tour to South Korea and Singapore.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Shri Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao is the present governor of Maharashtra.

11. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan Launched “Electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR) System”

i. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution launched the Web Portal of Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) & “Electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR) System” in New Delhi.

ii. e-NWRs have no chances of any tempering, mutilation, fudging, loss or damage and with no possibility of any multiple financing. These initiatives would revolutionise the marketing of agricultural commodities and help farmers realize better price for their produce which will be a step towards doubling the farmers’ income by 2022 as well as Digital India mission.

12. Minister of Communication Shri Manoj Sinha Launched First Ever India Mobile Congress 2017

i. The Minister of Communication Shri Manoj Sinha launched DoT’s first ever Mobile, Internet and Technology event in India – India Mobile Congress 2017 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

ii. Led by Department of Telecom as the nodal ministry, the India Mobile Congress is being organised by Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). The largest and first ever event also has the support of the other ministries like the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Skill Development and Entrepreneurship amongst others.

13. IDBI Bank Launches ‘Project Nishchay’ for Turnaround

i. IDBI Bank has launched ‘Project Nishchay’ in partnership with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to accelerate its turnaround program and improve financial performance.

ii. The project will be led by senior management at IDBI Bank along with BCG. BCG will assist the bank to identify areas for cost containment and revenue maximization leading to sustainable growth and profitability of the Bank.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Managing Director and CEO of IDBI Bank is Mahesh Kumar Jain.
• IDBI Bank Headquarters in Mumbai.

14. INS Tarasa Commissioned into Indian Navy

i. INS Tarasa, a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft intended for extended coastal and offshore surveillance and patrolling, was commissioned into the Indian Navy. Western Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Girish Luthra has commissioned the vessel. The vessel has been built in Kolkata.

ii. It is the fourth and last of the Water Jet FACs built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Kolkata. The first two, INS Tarmugli and INS Tihayu were commissioned in 2016 and are based in Vishakhapatnam. The third, INS Tillanchang, was commissioned in March 2017 and is based in Karwar. 

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Sunil Lanba is the Present CNS of Indian Navy.
• INS Tarasa is 50 metres long, powered by three waterjets which give it speed of over 35 knots (65 kmph), and is armed with a 30mm main gun and several light, medium and heavy machine guns.
• It is commanded by Lt Commander Praveen Kumar.

15. Former World’s Heaviest Woman Eman Abd El Aty Dies

i. Eman Ahmed, the world’s heaviest woman who made news when she arrived in Mumbai earlier this year for a weight-loss surgery, passed away in Abu Dhabi.

ii. She had lost more than 300kg (660lb) of her 500kg but had died from complications from other health conditions.

Important Takeaways from Above News-

• Eman Ahmed Abd El Aty was an Egyptian woman.