DAILY GK UPDATE: 21ST JANUARY

1.    Moody retains India's rating at existing Baa3 level:

i. Retaining India's credit rating at the existing level, global agency Moody's has cautioned that a high fiscal deficit could pull down the growth in the coming years.
ii. On the positive side, the global rating agency reaffirmed sovereign credit rating of India at Baa3, which indicates investment grade, with a stable outlook.

     NOTE: Moody's expect Indian economy to grow by 5.4 per cent in the current fiscal and 6 per cent in 2013-14. Last fiscal, the economy grew by 6.5 per cent.

2.    Deputy PM of Turkmenistan arrives in New Delhi:

i. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov arrived in New Delhi today.

ii. He is leading a delegation which will participate in the 4th meeting of the India-Turkmenistan Inter-Governmental Joint Commission on Trade, Eco, Scientific and Technological Cooperation in New Delhi tomorrow.

NOTE: Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed will lead the Indian delegation.

Turkmenistan has emerged as a potentially important partner in India's quest for energy security.

3.    India, Australia to hold first round of negotiation on Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement in March:

i. India and Australia today agreed to hold the first round of negotiations on Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement in March this year.The talks will be held in New Delhi.

ii. This was announced by External Affairs minister Salman Khurshid in a joint press conference at the end of bilateral talks with Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr in the National Capital.

iii. During the talks Indian and Australian negotiators will work towards concluding the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between the two countries. This will enable the export of Uranium from Australia to India.

iv. Australian Foreign Bob Carr said, both countries agreed to work towards strengthening regional and global institutions such as the East Asia Summit and G20 in particular ahead of Australia's chairmanship in 2014. 

4.    Increased railway fares comes into effect from today:

i. The increased railway fares have come into effect from today.

ii. The fare hike is expected to mop up an additional 6,600 crore rupees per year for the government. This is the first increase in rail fares in a decade's time. The proposals will rake in an additional 1200 crore rupees between January 21 and March 31 this year.

NOTE: Developmental charges on passenger tickets will be not applicable. All chargeable fares would be in multiples of five rupees. The fare hike also covered services like Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto type trains. However, it exempted platform tickets from any hike.

5.    Govt hikes import duty on gold, platinum to 6%:

i. The government on Monday hiked the import duty on gold and platinum to 6 per cent from 4 per cent with immediate effect - a move aimed at curbing imports of the precious metals to check the widening current account deficit.

ii. Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram said that: The government will link Gold Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) with gold deposit scheme, which will enable mutual funds to unlock their physical gold and invest in gold- linked schemes offered by banks.

iii. "The changes proposed to the Gold deposit scheme will make it attractive for individuals to deposit their idle gold with the banks under the Gold deposit scheme,"

NOTE: Gold imports in 2011-12 amounted to USD 56.5 billion and in the current financial year, till December, they are estimated at USD 38 billion.

6.    Naval Offshore Patrol Vesssel INS Saryu inducted into Indian Navy:

INS Saryu, Naval Offshore Patrol Vesssel (NOPV) indigenously designed in house and built by Goa Shipyard Limited was inducted today into Indian Navy by Air Marshall P K Roy, Commander in Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command at an impressive function at Goa Shipyard Limited at Vasco in Goa.

NOTE: i. INS Saryu would be the largest offshore patrol vessel to be operated by the force.

ii. The vessel equipped with all the sophisticated systems will carry out its responsibilities with all the challenges in the Indian waters.

iii. The primary role of the ship is to undertake surveillance of the exclusive economic zones, anti-piracy patrols, fleet support operations, providing security to offshore assets and carry out escort duties for high value assets.

iv. Weighing around 2,200 tonnes, the 620 crore Rupees has a complement of eight officers and 105 sailors and can carry a helicopter, which could either be a “Chetak” or an advanced light weight helicopter.

7.    India, Bangladesh to set up Joint Inspection team for successful implementation of Border Trade:

India and Bangladesh have decided to set up a Joint Inspection team for successful implementation of Border Trade along the International Boundary of Mizoram state and Bangladesh.

NOTE: i. The two countries have agreed to set up a Joint Inspection team under the leadership of Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Mrs. Pankaj Saran after a recent meeting with Bangladesh Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Mr.Dipankar Talukdar.

ii. The team will inspect the works including roads, transport of goods and services, identifying Integrated Land Custom Station and Integrated Check post along the Mizoram-Bangladesh border.

8.    President inaugurates new airport terminal:

i. President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday inaugurated a brand new integrated terminal in the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata which has a capacity to handle 20 million passengers annually as compared to the present 7.46 million.

ii. The state-of-the-art world class facility has been built by ITD Cementation India Limited in a joint venture with its parent Italian-Thai Development Public Co Ltd, Thailand.

iii. While underlining the economic importance of the terminal, Mukherjee praised the public sector units, including the Airport Authority of India, for doing an "exceedingly well-done" job.

9.    Government to launch '181' women helpline:

i. In a bid to check the increasing rate of crime against the feminine gender in the national capital, the Delhi Government will soon launch a round-the-clock helpline '181' for offering immediate help to women in distress.

ii. The number '181' can be dialled from landline and mobile phones.

NOTE: The helpline, which will operate from the Chief Minister's office in Delhi Secretariat, will be connected with all the 185 police stations across the city.

10.  Delhi raises cap on subsidized gas cylinders from 9 to 12 for BPL families:

i. The Delhi government has decided to raise the cap on subsidised cooking gas cylinders from the present 9 to 12 cylinders for BPL card holders.

ii. The decision, which will benefit about five lakh households, was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief minister Ms. Shiela Dikshit held in New Delhi today.

11.  MP CM announces Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarozgar Yojna.

In Madhya Pradesh, the State Government will start Mukhyamantri Yuva Swarozgar Yojna.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that “Under the scheme, the State Government will give bank guarantee for industries worth up to 25 lakh rupees and 5 percent loan subsidy for 5 years”.

12.  HAL to be lead integrator for production of combat aircraft:

i. The Defence Ministry today clarified that the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd,HAL, would be the lead integrator for producing 108 multi-role combat aircraft in the country.

ii. Dassault, which has bagged the IAF deal for supplying 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft, has asked the Ministry to define the role of HAL in the project.

iii. Speaking at the Aero India 2013 press conference in New Delhi,Secretary (Defence Production) R K Mathur said that the role of HAL is already defined in the Request for Proposal for the MMRCA project and the main body, aero-engines, air frame and the integration shall be done by the HAL.

NOTE: As per the tender, first 18 of the 126 aircraft are to be supplied by Rafale from its facilities and the rest 108 are to be license produced and integrated by the HAL at its facilities.

13.  Google-GETIT Entered into Partnership to Roll Out Digital Marketing for SMEs:

i. Digital marketing company GETIT Infoservices on 19 January 2013 rolled out DigiGains, a name give to platform for digital marketing, for the benefit of Small and Medium Entreprises (SMEs) in the region.

ii. The motto behind entering into partnership to furnish to the strong demands for digital advertising from SMEs and market Google AdWords products and as part of it they would develop, launch and manage digital campaigns for SMEs.

iii. Getit's key role is to provide an extensive pan-India reach with its strong field force and it is supposed to be involved in complete servicing the Google adwords campaign.

iv. The initiative is going to help Coimbatore, housing over 50000 SMEs, mainly in engineering, automotive components, textile machinery and pumps and motors, to reach a global level at lower cost with measurable results and personalization.

NOTE: It is evident that India is emerging as the third largest internet market and its E-commerce business likely to touch 4000 crore rupees in 2015 against present 1200 crore rupees, in that way SMEs withhold he capacity to exploit this cost-effective powerful media to enhance their business through digital marketing.

14.  58th Idea Filmfare Awards: Barfi! Bags Seven Awards:

i. 58th Idea Filmfare Awards were given away on 20 January 2013 at YRF Studio, Andheri, marking 100 years of the Indian Cinema.

ii. At the 58th Idea Filmfare Awards, Barfi!, the much-acclaimed film grabbed seven Black Lady awards while, Kahaani bagged five awards. The award for the Best Actor was given to Ranbir Kapoor for his deaf-mute performance in Barfi!

iii. Vidya Balan, on the other hand was adjudged as the Best Actress for Kahaani.

Barfi! was awarded with the Best Film award, while Kahaani’s director Sujoy Ghosh won the Black Lady for the

Best Director.

Iv. The lifetime achievement award was given away to Yash Chopra posthumously. Yash Chopra’s wife Pamela collected this award on his behalf.

Rest of the awards was as follows:

i. Best Lyricist: Gulzar for Challa (Jab Tak Hai Jaan)

ii. Best Music Director: Pritam for Barfi!

iii. Best Playback (Female): Shalmali Kholgade for the song ‘Pareshaan’

iv. Best Playback (Male): Ayushmann Khurrana for the song ‘Pani da Rang’

v. Lifetime Achievement Award -Yash Chopra

vi. Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female): Anushka Sharma (Jab Tak Hai Jaan)

vii. Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male): Annu Kapoor (Vicky Donor)

15.  Tamil writer M.S. Udayamurthy passes away:

i. Noted Tamil writer and social activist M.S. Udayamurthy died on Monday following cardiac arrest.

ii. Udayamurthy, 85, is survived by two sons and a daughter.

iii. Author of several books on self-improvement, Udayamurthy’s prominent works include Ennangal (thoughts) Unnal Mudiyum Thambi (You can, brother), nee than thambi mudhal amaichar (you are the chief minister).

NOTE: An environmental activist, Udayamurthy, founder of Makkal Sakthi Iyakkam (People’s Power Movement), actively pursued projects like linking of rivers. 

16.  Mercedes to Launch New Formula One Car in February 2013:

Mercedes decided to uncover its 2013 Formula One car for Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton on 4 February 2013 at the pre-season test start in Spain.

The new F1 car called F1W04 would be launched at Circuito de Jerez.

NOTE: Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 world champion joined Mercedes from McLaren, replacing Michael Schumacher, the 7-times champion. The team of Mercedes was positioned at number 5 in constructors list of 2012.

17.  Volkswagen launched its new ad Campaign, Fast Start :

The automobile company, Volkswagen in the third week of January 2013 unveiled its new advertising campaign called Fast Start to restate the strength, safety standards and new features in its car, Polo and Vento.

NOTE: The campaign has been designed with the motive of forwarding the brand’s core DNA and to meet the demands of the consumer, as well. This campaign has also been promoted in form of a Unique Promotional Campaign named LUCKY 13, a content designed for the buyers of Vento and Polo. Lucky 13 has been created to make 13 lucky for customers and change the pre designed perception.

18.  India back to No. 1 spot in ODIs

By defeating England by seven-wicket in Ranchi in the third ODI on Saturday and 127-run win at Kochi, the world champions are No. 1 in the ODI rankings with 119 points.

Their current opponents, England, are No. 2 with 118 points.

NOTE: India lost the first ODI at Rajkot though, which took England to the No. 1 spot ahead of South Africa.

After the Kochi defeat, England and South Africa swapped positions on the rankings table.

19.  Mumbai ease into Ranji Trophy final for the 44th time:

i. Mumbai on Monday showed why they are miles ahead of the other domestic outfits, making short work of Services en route their 44th appearance in the Ranji Trophy final.

ii. The 39-time champions will meet Saurashtra in the final to be played in Mumbai from January 26-30.

iii. Mumbai dismissed Services for 240 on the sixth day to take a huge first innings lead of 214 runs, which sealed a spot in the title round.