DAILY GK BULLETS | JAN 19, 20, 21 & 22 | S W A G

1. The IMF projected 7.3 per cent GDP growth for India in 2015-16. IMF retains India’s growth forecast for the next two years and expects Indian economy to grow 7.5% in FY17 and FY18, the fastest among major economies.

2. The first flower ‘Zinnia’ has finally bloomed in outer space.

3. In an attempt to make governance more accessible to the public, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on 19 Jan 2016 has launched ‘Amma Call Centre’

4. Sikkim has formally become India’s first fully organic state of India on 18 Jan 2016 after it successfully implemented organic farming practices on around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land.

5. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on 18 January 2016 released the World Tourism Barometer, which reviewed trends in tourism at the regional and global level for 2015 and enumerated prospects for 2016.

6. Haryana offspinner Ajit Chandila was slapped with a life ban for his involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal, while Mumbai batsman Hiken Shah was handed a five-year suspension for making a corrupt approach to a fellow player as the BCCI disciplinary committee sealed their fate after a meeting in Mumbai on 18 Jan 2016.

7. Russia’s Ivan Popov suffered a surprise last-round loss but was not to be denied the 14th Delhi International Open chess title.

8. The world’s oldest man, a Japanese, died on 19 Jan 2016 at the age of 112 after suffering chronic heart problems.

9. Glenn Frey, the Grammy-winning Eagles guitarist and co-founder of the ‘Eagles’ band, known for hits including “Tequila Sunrise” and “Heartache Tonight,” has died. He was 67.

10. Renowned Kannada filmmaker and lyricist Geethapriya passed away after a battle with throat cancer in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He was 84.

11. Weighing in the environmental perspective for sustained growth, the Ministry of Shipping on 19 Jan 2016 has started ‘Project Green Ports’ which will help in making the Major Ports across India cleaner and greener.

12. India ranked 89th globally in Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) 2015 list of 109 countries in terms of talent competitiveness of its human capital.

13. Bihar Government on 19 Jan 2016 has formally approved 35 per cent reservation for women in government jobs in the state.

14. ICICI Bank has appointed Vishakha Mulye as Executive Director on its board effective January 19.

15. Union Government on 19 January 2016 sanctioned 33000 crore rupees for the development of infrastructure projects in Tamilnadu.

16. Maharashtra Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tata Trust for a skill training programme for the youth in the state.

17. PSLV-C31 successfully launched IRNSS-1E, the fifth satellite of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), SHAR, Sriharikota on 20 Jan 2016 morning.

18. Senior journalist and scholar Aroon Tikekar passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He was 72.

19. Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and beauty queen Priyanka Chopra have been brought on board as the new brand ambassadors of the ‘Incredible India’ tourism campaign.

20. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20 Jan 2016 has given its approval:

• The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Union Ministry of Power for amendments in the Power Tariff Policy 2006.
• The Union Cabinet has given its approval to Policy on Promotion of City Compost.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved development of the six laning of Aurangabad- Bihar/Jharkhand Border- BarwaAdda section on National Highway-2 in Bihar and Jharkhand.
• The Union Cabinet approved Rs. 5,050 crore of viability gap funding for 5,000 MW of grid-connected solar projects.
• The Union Cabinet has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Kingdom for Cooperation in the field Public Administration and Governance Reforms.
• The Union Cabinet has apprised of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research (KISR) on cooperation in the exploration of outer space and use of outer space technology for peaceful purposes.

21. The Government had released Rs. 274.48 crore for developing 32 Tier II and III cities in Tamil Nadu under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

22. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20 January 2016 released a book titled The Z Factor: My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time in New Delhi written by Subhash Chandra.

23. SEBI releases Narayan Murthy-panel report. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on 20 January 2016 released the first report of the Alternative Investment Policy Advisory Committee (AIPAC) for comments from the stakeholders.

24. The annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting has started on 20 Jan 2016 in Swiss resort of Davos, Switzerland with participation of political leaders and business from around the world.

25. Uttar Pradesh on 20 January 2016 won its maiden Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy with a 38-run win over two- time champions Baroda in the final played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

26. After Bhanu Athaiya, Satyajit Ray, Resul Pookutty, A.R. Rahman and Gulzar, another person of Indian origin has joined the list of Academy Award winners. Rahul Thakkar, a computer engineering graduate from Mumbai University, has won an Oscar for technical achievement. Mr. Thakkar shares the honour with Richard Chuang for “groundbreaking design” of the DreamWorks Animation Media Review System.

27. Noted danseuse and Padma Bhushan recipient Mrinalini Sarabhai passed away on 21 Jan 2016 in Ahmedabad. She was 97.

28. Jodhpur’s Umaid Bhawan Palace names the world’s best hotel of 2016. In the 14th edition of the travel site’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, the Umaid Bhawan Palace was named the best hotel of 2016, with a five out of five bubble rating among its 840 guests.

29. CorStone India Foundation on 20 Jan 2016 presented the outcomes of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) of its flagship ‘Girls First’ resilience program, which aimed to cultivate resilience among marginalized adolescent girls in India.

30. Senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) Officer Atulesh Jindal has been appointed chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

31. Noted environmentalist Ravi Chellam on 20 January 2016 took charge as the Executive Director of Greenpeace India, a Non-Government Organisation (NGO).

32. The fourth edition of India Africa Hydrocarbons Conference (IAHC) has begun on January 21, 2016 in New Delhi.

33. The nineteenth edition of National Conference on e-Governance has begun on 21 January 2016 in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

34. Moldovan parliament on 20 January 2016 appointed Pavel Filip as the Prime Minister. He would be the third prime minister of Moldova in less than a year.

35. Union Government has signed 250 million dollars Financing Agreement with World Bank for Bihar Kosi Basin Development Project on 21 Jan 2016.

36. Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) has signed a MoU with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) on 21 Jan 2016 to monitor the mining activities in the country through satellite technology.

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