Daily GK Update 29th March, 2017

AAI, DRDO and Govt. of Jharkhand Signed a Tripartite MoU

i. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Government of Jharkhand signed an MoU for the development of the Deoghar Airport in Deoghar district of Jharkhand.
ii. The existing Deoghar Airport will be developed for operations of A-320 and C-130 Aircraft. The time frame given to develop and operationalize the Deoghar Airport is two years.

1st time India becomes Net Exporter of Electricity

i. As per Central Electricity Authority, the Designated Authority of Government of India for Cross Border Trade of Electricity, 1st time India has turned around from a net importer of electricity to Net Exporter of electricity.
ii. During the current year 2016-17 (April 2016 to February 2017), India has exported around 5,798 Million Units to Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar which is 213 Million units more than the import of around 5,585 Million units from Bhutan.

SBI launches 'Unnati' credit card

i. SBI Card launched a unique credit card ‘SBI Card Unnati’ targeted at all SBI customers, including Jan Dhan account-holders across the country.
ii. As per the statement of SBI Card CEO, Vijay Jasuja, any SBI customer with a balance of at least Rs 25,000 in his/her savings account with the bank would be eligible for the Unnati credit card without the need for any credit score or credit history.

Karnataka Bank’s PoS installations reach 10,000-mark

i. The total tally of PoS (point-of-sale) installations of Karnataka Bank Ltd has reached 10,000. The bank has been offering PoS services since 2011.
ii. This service enabled the merchant establishments to accept card payments and boost their business. The bank is also providing ‘PoS Manager’, an android mobile app to help merchants.

Paytm, The first e-commerce company to become ASCI member

i. The country’s fast-growing e-commerce industry Paytm is all set to become a member of the self-regulatory voluntary organization Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) from April, 2017.
ii. The move is significant because advertising violations by e-commerce companies, which are big spenders on television, print and digital media, have been on the rise in recent years.
iii. The Alibaba-backed Paytm has also set up a new company named Paytm Financial Services, which will sell financial products like insurance and mutual funds to its planned payments bank account holders.

IRDAI imposed penalty on ICICI Pru Life
i. The Insurance Regulatory and Development authority of India (IRDAI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 20 lakh on ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company on various charges.
ii. The charges include free look cancellations not being in line with regulations and delay in processing surrenders/partial withdrawals.

 INLCU L51 commissioned into India Navy

i. Indian Navy inducts surveillance ship INLCU L51, the first of the eight ships of the Landing Craft Utility MK IV Class, was commissioned into the India Navy in Port Blair.
ii. The commissioning of the ship adds a feather to the glorious chapter in the nation’s ‘Make in India’ initiatives and indigenisation efforts in the field of warship design and construction.

NTPC commissions 55 MW solar project at Bhadla
i. State-run power producer NTPC has commissioned 55 Mega Watt (MW) of Bhadla Solar Power Project in Rajasthan.
ii. With this, the installed capacity of Bhadla Solar Power project has become 260 MW and that of NTPC's solar power projects has become 620 MW.


Sima Kamil becomes first woman to lead a major Pakistani bank

i. United Bank Limited (UBL) has appointed Sima Kamil as the new president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the bank.
ii. She will take charge on June 1, 2017 by replacing outgoing CEO Wajahat Hussain. She is the first woman to head a major commercial bank in Pakistan.


UN appoints David Beasley to head World Food Programme

i. United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres has appointed former South Carolina Governor David Beasley to head the Rome-based World Food Programme (WFP).
ii. Beasley will run the affairs of the world’s largest humanitarian organization, serving more than 90 million beneficiaries in 80 countries.
iii. He has replaced Etharin Cousin, who has been the WFP executive director since 2012.

Anil Ambani inducted into the Atlantic Council
i. Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani has been inducted into the international advisory board of global think-tank the Atlantic Council.
ii. The Atlantic Council headquartered in Washington, DC. The Atlantic Council chaired by Jon Huntsman Jr.



Bhubaneswar to host men’s hockey World League Final 2017

i. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed Bhubaneswar as the venue for two of its major events the Men’s Hockey World League Final in December 2017 and the men’s World Cup in 2018.
ii. The Kalinga Stadium in the Odisha capital was confirmed as host after the state government signed a deal with FIH to sponsor the two events.

R Ashwin receives Sir Garfield Sobers trophy

i.India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin received Garfield Sobers Trophy for being named the ICC Cricketer of the Year as well as the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.
ii. With this Ashwin has become the third Indian and the 12th player overall to win the award after Rahul Dravid in 2004 and Sachin Tendulkar in 2010.


Important takeaways from above G.K. update are as follows:

1.Ravichandran Ashwin received Garfield Sobers Trophy

2.R Ashwin is the third Indian to receive this Trophy. Rahul Dravid was first (2004) and Sachin Tendulkar was second (2010)
3. Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy is a cricket trophy awarded annually by the ICC to its chosen world player of the year
4.The trophy is handcrafted by leading international crystal manufacturer Swarovski
5.The trophy is named after former West Indies cricket captain Sir Garfield Sobers.
6.South Carolina Governor David Beasley will head the Rome-based World Food Programme.
7.He has replaced Etharin Cousin who has been WFP Executive Director since 2012
8.Secretary-General of United Nations is Antonio Guterres
9.IRDAI headquarter is in Hyderabad, Telangana
10.IRDAI was established  in 2002
11.T S Vijayan is the chairman of IRDAI
12.Karnataka bank headquarter is in Mangalore, Karnataka
13.The bank was founded in 1924
14.Karnataka bank CEO is Polali Jayarama Bhat.
15.The bank is providing ‘PoS Manager’ mobile app to help merchants.
16.Indian Navy inducts INLCU L51
17.Chief of Naval staff (CNS) is Sunil Lanba the highest-ranking officer in the Indian Navy.
18.Paytm is the first e-commerce company to become ASCI member
19.Paytm is a 100% subsidiary of One97 Communications
20.Paytm has set up a new company named Paytm Financial Services
22.Vijay Shekhar Sharma is the founder and CEO of Paytm.
23.India becomes Net Exporter of Electricity for the 1st time
24.India has exported to Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan
25.AAI, DRDO and Govt. of Jharkhand Signed a Tripartite MoU for the development of the Deoghar Airport in Jharkhand
26.Minister of State for Civil Aviation is Sh. Jayant Sinha
27.Chief  Minister of Jharkhand is Sh. Raghubar Das.
28.Bhubaneswar to host  Men’s Hockey World League Final, 2017 and men’s World Cup in 2018
29.FIH headquarter is in Switzerland and its President is Narendra Batra
30.SBI launched 'Unnati' credit card for SBI customers
31.Chairman of SBI is Mrs, Arundhati Bhattacharya and is headquartered in Mumbai
32.Headquarter of SBI Card is in Gurugram and its  CEO is Vijay Jasuja
33.Piyush Goyal is Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines.
34.Sima Kamil appointed as new president and CEO of United Bank Limited
35.UBL headquarter is in Karachi, Pakistan
36.UBL bank was founded in 1959.

ఉగాది శుభాకాంక్షలు

అన్ని రాసుల వారికి
ఆదాయం "అంబాని" లాగా,
ఖర్చు "కామన్ మ్యాన్" లాగా,
రాజపూజ్యం "ఫుల్లుగా",
అవమానాలు "నిల్లుగా",
ఉండాలని కోరుకుంటూ
మీకు, మీ కుటుంబ సబ్యులకు
"శ్రీ హేవలంబి నామ" ఉగాది శుభాకాంక్షలు

QUIZ-29

Q1. The three day conference on NexGen Technologies for Mining and Fuel Industries was held in New Delhi, recently. It will cover areas like Innovative mining technology for sustainable development and advances in mine design, mine planning and recent advancement in drilling and blasting. The conference was inaugurated by _______________.
Answer: Union Science and Technology Minister, Mr. Harsh Vardhan

Q2. In a momentous occasion for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as well as India, a record ___________ number of satellites in a single rocket named PSLV-C37 was launched recently from the spaceport of Sriharikota of Andhra Pradesh.
Answer: 104

Q3. In Laureus Awards 2017, Eight-time Olympic sprint champion Bolt and four-time Olympic gold gymnast Biles were named sportsman and sportswoman of the year for their 2016 achievements. Laureus Awards 2017 were held in ________________.
Answer: Monaco

Q4. The International Coin Fair inaugurated at ____________ district of Kerala by the Kerala state Minister for Tourism, Cooperation and DevaswomsKadakampallySurendran.The three day exhibition(13-15 February 2017) has been organized by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), recently.
Answer: Thiruvananthapuram

Q5. The government has allocated Rs500 crore to India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) for the financial year 2017-18 as it gears up to set up 650 branches across the country by September 2017. The tagline of IPPB is ________________.
Answer: Aapkabank,aapkedwaar

Q6. India is reviving a three-decade-old plan to build its 14 seated first passenger aircraft as the South Asian country struggles to join an exclusive club of Asian nations that have advanced far ahead in creating their own home-made jets. What is the name of this aircraft?
Answer: Saras

Q7. Canara Bank on Thursday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to operationalise ______________.
Answer: Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA)

Q8. Which state government has recently signed Memorendum of Understanding 12 textile units with different companies for setting up 12 apparel units in the State entailing investment of Rs. 963 crores in all, recently, in CII partnership summit?
Answer: Andhra Pradesh

Q9. SoftBank Group Corp has agreed to buy Fortress Investment Group LLC for about $3.3 billion, looking to add investment expertise as it prepares to launch the world’s largest private equity fund. SoftBank Group Corp is ______________ based company.
Answer: Japan

Q10. In a major turn of events in Tamil Nadu, Mr Edappadi K Palaniswami has been invited to form the government by Governor of Tamil Nadu. Who is the governor of Tamil Nadu?
Answer: Vidyasagar Rao.

Q11. Mr. Vikas Swarup has been recently appointed as the new High Commissioner to Canada. He is Spokesperson in which one of the following Indian Ministry?
Answer: Ministry of External Affairs

Q12. Vice-President Hamid Ansari is set to embark on a five-day visit to Rwanda and Uganda, in a bid to strengthen ties with the African countries. Who is the Prime minister and what is the capital of Uganda, respectively?
Answer: Ruhakana Rugunda, Kampala

Q13. Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS II) has been flagged off recently from Safdarjung Railway station in Delhi. The SECAS II will culminate its journey at ________________.
Answer: Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Q14. Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan will  host the Hindi version of popular international show TED Talks. Star India will air the Indian version of TED Talks. What is the name of hindi version of show TED Talks?
Answer: India Nayi Soch

Q15. A Campaign against Drug Addiction was organized by Shimla Press Club in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. The campaign aims to make the state drug free. This campaign was inaugurated by _________________.
Answer: Governor Acharya Devvrat

Daily GK Update 28th March, 2017

Union Petroleum Ministry launches MoPNG e Seva

i. Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launched MoP&NG e-Seva. 

ii. It is a dedicated grievances redressal platform on Social Media for all queries and grievances relating to Oil and Gas Sector. 

ESIC launched Mobile Clinic Services in AP and Telangana

i. The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) launched Mobile Clinic Services for the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 

ii. Union minister of state for labour and employment Bandaru Dattatreya, launched the ESIC Mobile Clinic Services by flagging off 'Jan Suraksha Ambulances'. 

iii. It is for the first time in the country that the ESIC Mobile Clinic Services are launched in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Odisha becomes first state to bring banking to remote rural areas through SHG

i. Odisha became the first state in the country to carry financial inclusion and extend banking services to unbanked areas through Self Help Groups (SHGs).

ii. The state government signed an agreement with State Bank of India in this regard. The system would be of great help to people in rural areas under social security schemes.

KVB bags ‘best small bank’ award

i. Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) has been adjudged the ‘Best Small Bank for 2016’. 

ii. This is the eighth award won by KVB in the current fiscal.

Vijaya Bank inks MoU with Piaggio Vehicles

i. Vijaya Bank entered into an MoU with Piaggio Vehicles for providing financial support for the purchase of vehicles under Small Road Transport Operators (SRTO) scheme in Bengaluru. 

ii. Vijaya Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kishore Sansi flagged off the first batch of vehicles under the MoU in the presence of Piaggio Vehicles Vice-President Praveen Nagpal.

Syndicate Bank opens 40 ‘Ananya’ branches

i. Syndicate Bank digitally inaugurated 40 ‘Ananya’ transformed branches. Project Ananya is a two-year large-scale transformation project undertaken by the bank to provide customers with ‘best in class’ services while improving and modernizing the whole bank.

ii. The aim is to enhance customer experience, improve sales focus, and improve digital transactions through a dedicated digit zone. The bank also launched its first MSME hub in Bengaluru.

Bharat Dynamics, L&T sign up for torpedo export

i. Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), a defence public sector undertaking, signed an MoU with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for export of torpedoes.

ii. The torpedoes are designed and developed at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhaptnam and manufactured by BDL. 

ICICI Bank partners with Truecaller

i. ICICI Bank announced a partnership with mobile app firm Truecaller for a new UPI-based mobile payment service.The new feature called as Truecaller Pay, and it will allow users of the app to instantly create a UPI ID, send money to any UPI ID or a mobile number registered with the BHIM app.

ii. It will also enable users to recharge their mobile number from within the Truecaller app itself.

Truecaller partners with Google

i. Leading communication app Truecaller has tied up with Google to integrate the tech giant's video calling app Duo within the Truecaller app.

ii. According to the agreement, Truecaller integration with Google Duo will be available in the  Android and iOS as a permission-based service, where users will be able to opt-in and out at any time.

Indian-American Vanita Gupta appointed president of ‘Leadership Conference’

i. Indian-American Vanita Gupta has been appointed as president and CEO of ‘The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’, becoming the first woman to head the prestigious organization. 

ii. She will replace Wade Henderson who is stepping down after more than two decades. She will begin her new role on June 1, 2017.

Filmmaker Gurinder Chadha gets Sikh Jewel Award

i. Indian-origin British Director Gurinder Chadha has been honored with the Sikh Jewel Award for 2017 for her immense contribution to British cinema. 

ii. Chadha, whose films include Bhaji on the Beach, Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice, received the award from UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon. The event was organized by the British Sikh Association.

CCI imposes reduced penalty of Rs591 crore on Coal India for fuel supply pacts

i. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a reduced penalty of Rs 591 crore on Coal India Ltd for fuel supply pacts. 

ii. CCI asked Coal India to modify the Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs) and also ensure that uniformity between old and new power producers as well as between private and state power producers.

Minoru Kato appointed as new HMSI CEO

i. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) has appointed Minoru Kato as a new President and Chief Executive Office of the company effective from April 1, 2017. 

ii. He will be replacing Keita Muramatsu, the current President & CEO who spear-headed Honda’s Indian two-wheeler operations for the last six years. 

Eminent Jurist TR Andhyarujina Passes Away

i. Senior Advocate and eminent jurist Tehmtan R. Andhyarujina passed away. He was the Solicitor General of India from 1996 to 1998. 

Satwik-Chirag pair wins Vietnam Challenger

i. Promising Indian men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinched the $20,000 Vietnam Open International challenger badminton doubles title after defeating Thai pair of Trawut Potieng and Nanthakam Yordphaisong in a final in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Important Takeaways from above G.K. update are as follows

• BDL and L&T signed an MoU for export of torpedoes
• Torpedoes are cigar-shaped self-propelled underwater missile designed to be fired from a ship or submarine
• Bharat Dynamics Ltd headquarter is in Hyderabad
• BDL was founded in 1970
• KVB bank has bagged the ‘best small bank’award 2016
• KVB headquarter is in Karur, Tamil Nadu
• KVB bank founded in 1916
• KVB bank slogan is 'smart way to bank'
• Union Petroleum Ministry launches MoPNG e-Seva
• Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas is Shri Dharmendra Pradhan
• MoPNG dedicated grievances redressal platform on Social Media for all queries and grievances
• Odisha becomes the first state to bring banking to remote rural areas through SHG
• Self-Help Group (SHG) is a small voluntary association of poor people, preferably from the same socio-economic background
• Chief Minister of Odisha is Shri Naveen Patnaik
• Governor of Odisha is Shri S. C. Jamir
• Syndicate bank has digitally inaugurated 40 ‘Ananya’ transformed branches
• Headquartered in Karnataka, it was founded in 1925
• Syndicate bank CEO is Arun Shrivastava
• Slogan of Syndicate bank is 'Faithful Friendly'
• Vijaya bank entered into an MoU with Piaggio Vehicles
• Vijaya bank headquarter is in Bengaluru
• Vijaya bank was founded in 1931 by A.B. Shetty
• Vijaya bank CEO is Kishore Kumar Sansi.
• Senior Advocate and eminent jurist Tehmtan R. Andhyarujina passed away
• He authored 'The Kesavananda Bharati Case: The untold story of struggle for supremacy by Supreme Court and Parliament'
• ESIC launched Mobile Clinic Services for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
• Union minister of state for labour and employment is Bandaru Dattatreya
• ESIC day is observed on 24th February of every year
• Vanita Gupta has been appointed as president and CEO of ‘The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’
• She has replaced Wade Henderson
• She will begin her new role on June 1, 2017.
• Indian-origin British Director Gurinder Chadha has been honored with the Sikh Jewel Award for 2017
• Michael Fallon is UK Defence Secretary
• Y K Sinha is The High Commissioner of India to the UK
• ICICI bank partnered with mobile app firm Truecaller
• CEO of ICICI bank is Chanda Kochhar
• ICICI bank headquarter is in Mumbai
• ICICI bank was founded in 1994
• Truecaller has tied up with Google
• Google headquarter is in U.S.A.
• CEO of Google is Sundar Pichai
• Parent Company of google is Alphabet Inc.
• Google was founded in 1998.

QUIZ-28

Q1. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley has tabled the Economic Survey 2016-17 in Parliament budget session. The survey projects the economy to grow in the range of ___________ to __________ in the next fiscal year 2017-18 in the post-demonetisation year.
Answer: 6.75% to 7.50%

Q2. Who has been appointed as the new Police Commissioner of Delhi?
Answer: Amulya Patnaik

Q3. In city/cities India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has kicked off its operations by rolling out pilot services recently?
Answer: Raipur & Ranchi

Q4. Quebec City, where several people were killed and wounded in a shooting at a mosque recently, is situated in-
Answer: Canada

Q5. The Budget session of Parliament has begun on 31st January 2017 and President Pranab Mukherjee has address the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Who is present Speaker of Lok Sabha?
Answer: Sumitra Mahajan

Q6. How much surcharge for those whose annual income is Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore, announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Union Budget 2017-18?
Answer: 10%

Q7. Name the Former Union Minister, who has been passed away due to a cardiac arrest recently.
Answer: E Ahamed

Q8. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has pegged the total expenditure of budget 2017-18 at Rs ___________ lakh crore. 
Answer: Rs 21.47 lakh crore

Q9. In which state, the Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Narendra Singh Tomar has stated that the Ministry of Defence is set to open its Defence Unit recently?
Answer: Madhya Pradesh

Q10. How much amount will allocate for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in union budget 2017-18?
Answer: Rs. 19,000 crore

Q11. To augment income of farmers budget has proposed setting-up of a Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund with a corpus of ___________ over three years.
Answer: Rs 8,000 crores

Q12. Name the player, who has become the World No 1 Junior Badminton player?
Answer: Lakshya Sen

Q13. In which Indian cities Tech giant Apple has set up a manufacturing plant recently?
Answer: Bengaluru, Karnataka

Q14. As a core element of its transformation journey 'FutuReady', Tata Motors presented its new Passenger Vehicle strategy and introduced its new sub-brand TAMO. TAMO will premiere at the upcoming _______ Geneva International Motor Show on March 07, 2017.
Answer: 87th

Q15. India is expected to clock GDP growth of how much percent in 2017—18 as the country gets sufficiently remonetized and the schemes in the Budget play a supportive role, says an HSBC report.
Answer: 7.1 percent

AP Postal Circle Recruitment 2017

AP Postal Circle Recruitment 2017 – Apply Online for 1126 Gramin Dak Sevak Posts: AP Postal Circle has published notification for the recruitment of 1126 Gramin Dak Sevak vacancies in the Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle. Eligible candidates may apply online from 18-03-2017 to 19-04-2017. Other details like age limit, educational qualification, selection process, application fee & how to apply are given below….

AP Postal Circle Vacancy Details:
Total No. of Posts: 1126
Name of the Post: Gramin Dak Sevak
Name of the Division:
1. Anantapur: 24 Posts
2. Chittoor: 10 Posts
3. Cuddapah: 65 Posts
4. Hindupur: 42 Posts
5. Kurnool: 68 Posts
6. Nandyal: 42 Posts
7. Proddatur: 32 Posts
8. Tirupati: 57 Posts
9. Bhimavaram: 54 POsts
10. Eluru: 35 Posts
11. Gudivada: 42 Posts
12. Gudur: 23 Posts
13. Guntur: 16 Posts
14. Machilipatnam: 24 Posts
15. Narasaraopet: 33 Posts
16. Nellore: 63 Posts
17. Prakasam: 128 Posts
18. Tadepalligudem: 22 Posts
19. Tenali: 30 Posts
20. Vijayawada: 46 Posts
21. Amalapuram: 26 Posts
22. Anakapalle: 77 Posts
23. Kakinada: 20 Posts
24. Parvathipuram: 32 Posts
25. Rajahmundry: 22 Posts
26. Srikakulam: 54 Posts
27. Visakhapatnam: 03 Posts
28. Vizianagaram: 36 Posts

Age Limit: Candidates age limit should be between 18 – 40 years as on 19-04-2017. Age relaxation is applicable to 05 years for SC/ ST candidates, 03 years for OBC candidates & 10 years for PH Candidates.

Educational Qualification: Candidates should have pass 10th standard from approved state boards by the respective State Govt/ Central Govt with Computer Knowledge.

Selection Process: Candidates will be selected based on merit.

Application Fee: Candidates should pay Rs. 100/- for OC/ OBC Male candidates paid at any Head Post Office. No fee for All Female and SC/ ST candidates.

How to Apply: Eligible candidates may apply online through the website https://indiapost.gov.in or https://appost.in/gdsonline from 18-03-2017 to 19-04-2017

Instructions to Apply Online:
1. Before applying online candidates should have valid e mail id & password
2. Candidates log on the website in https://indiapost.gov.in or https://appost.in/gdsonline
3. Select the desired post & click on Apply Online or Registration
4. Read all instructions log in your self
5. Fill all the details & submit the form
6. Now take a print out of online application for future use.

Important Dates:
Starting Date to Apply Online: 18-03-2017
Last Date to Apply Online: 19-04-2017

For more details like computer knowledge, residence, furnishing of security & other information click on the link given below….

Click here for Recruitment Advt

Click here for Apply Online

Daily GK Update 27th March, 2017

Daily GK Update 27th March, 2017

World Theatre Day- 27th March

i. World Theatre Day is observed globally on 27th March every year. World Theatre Day was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI), France. 

ii. The first World Theatre Day Message was written by Jean Cocteau in 1962.

Environment Ministry official to chair animal welfare board

i. The government has notified that Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory advisory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) will now be permanently chaired by a senior MoEF official. 

ii. This step came into effect due to the recently held Jallikattu Protest in Karnataka. Central Government applies its preference now in the management of the organization by making a new Board of 18 members, chaired by Sharad Singh Negi, Special Secretary and Director-General (Forests).

CCEA approved closing of CHBL and ICBL

i. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved closure/winding up of CREDA HPCL Biofuel Ltd (CHBL) and IndianOil - Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) Biofuels Limited (ICBL). 

ii. Joint Ventures between CREDA HPCL Biofuel Ltd (CHBL) and IndianOil-CREDA Biofuels Limited (ICBL) were formed for carrying out energy crop (Jatropha) plantation and production of bio-diesel in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

AP tops in Aadhaar seeding of Jan Dhan accounts

i. The list of state with highest seeded Aadhaar numbers was topped by Andhra Pradesh which had linked 87.73 per cent of its Jan-Dhan accounts with Aadhaar numbers followed by Tripura at 87.08 per cent and Telangana 83.56 percent.

ii. Post demonetization of specified bank notes on November 8, 2016, more accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) have been seeded with Aadhaar numbers.

GIC to be first PSU general insurer to launch IPO

i. General Insurance Corporation (GIC Re) is likely to be the first PSU insurer to tap the capital market as the Finance Ministry has started scouting for merchant bankers to manage its Initial Public Offering (IPO), yet not officially released.

ii. The government holds 100 per cent stake in GIC Re, which provides reinsurance support to 54 general and life insurance companies, both public and private, in the Indian market.

 Karnataka Bank’s launched platinum card

i. Karnataka Bank has launched the ‘MoneyPlant RuPay International Platinum Debit Card’ to provide more privileges to its premium and HNI (high net worth individual) customers.

ii. The card can be used for domestic and international cash withdrawals and purchases. The card has a withdrawal limit of Rs5,000 and purchases limit ofRs2 lakh a day at point-of-sales terminals and e-commerce sites.

Repco ties up with NHB 

i. Repco Home Finance Ltd (RHFL) has signed an agreement with National Housing Bank (NHB) for implementation of a credit-linked subsidy scheme for the middle-income group.

ii. The scheme will be implemented for one year with effect from January 1, 2017, in all statutory towns. The scheme divides middle-income group into two categories with annual household income up to Rs12 lakh and Rs 18 lakh. 

iii. The subsidy will be available for the two brackets for a loan amount of Rs 9 lakh and Rs 12 lakh at the rate of 4 per cent and 3 per cent per annum, respectively, for a tenure of 20 years. The maximum subsidy amount for an individual beneficiary is Rs 2.35 lakh.

Pawan Hans ties-up with HAL to train helicopter pilots

i. State-run Pawan Hans has joined hands with public sector chopper maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to train helicopter pilots.

ii. Pawan Hans is a joint venture where state-owned ONGC holds 49 per cent.

BHEL commissions 250-MW eco-friendly unit in Gujarat

i. State-owned power equipment maker BHEL has commissioned a 250-MW eco-friendly unit using low-grade coal (lignite) as a primary fuel.
ii. The lignite-based thermal unit, based on circulating fluidised bed combustion (CFBC) technology, is the second such facility to be commissioned at Bhavnagar Energy Company’s (BECL) 2x250-MW thermal power project at Padva in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat.

Conference on 'Make in India' held in Houston

i. A first-ever Houston India conference on 'Make in India' was held in Houston, the USA, for bringing together various constituencies that have an interest in doing business in India and discussing the latest developments.

ii.  The two-day Houston India Conference was hosted by Asia Society Texas Center which began on 25th March 2017. The theme of the Conference is 'Make in India -The Inside Story'.

HDFC Bank's Aditya Puri named in world's 30 Best CEOs list

i. American financial magazine Barron's has listed the name of HDFC Bank Managing Director Aditya Puri’s name in its list of world’s 30 best CEOs. 

ii. He holds the 23rd position in the list beating social media giant Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg who is listed on the 30th spot.

iii. The top position has been secured by Mary Barra of General Motors.

Anupam Kher receives Kala Ratan Award from Vice President

i. Veteran actor Anupam Kher was honored with the Kala Ratan Award by Vice President Hamid Ansari at Punjab University, Chandigarh. 

ii. Anupam Kher was honored him the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution in the field of cinema and arts.

BSF gets first woman combat officer after 51 years

i. Tanushree Pareek became the first woman combat officer to be commissioned in the 51-year history of the BSF, the country’s largest border guarding force.

ii. A resident of Rajasthan’s Bikaner, she is the first woman to join the force in the officer rank after she was selected in the all-India exam conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in 2014.

World's largest capstone discovered by archaeologists in Telangana

i. The archaeology department of Telangana has discovered the world's largest capstone after excavating an ancient human burial site in Siddipet district, Telangana. The capstone of the menhir burial reportedly weighs about 40 tonnes. 

Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait retires from cricket

i. Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait has announced his retirement from international cricket. Tait who last played for Australia in a Twenty20 international against India in January 2016, cited his chronic elbow trouble as the reason for quitting the game. 

14-year-old becomes first girl to swim from Sea Link to Gateway of India

i. Gauri Singh, 14-year-old girl became the first girl to explore the route from Sea Link near Worli Koliwada to the Gateway of India. 

ii. The 36 km long distance route, which she started was completed in 6 hours and 30 minutes.

FIFA U-17 World Cup: Kolkata to host final

i. FIFA confirmed that the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata will be the venue of the final of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup to be held later in 2017.

ii. The World Cup gets underway from October 6, 2017 and the slogan of the tournament will be "Football Takes Over".