Dear Friends,
Welcome to the Quick Gyan (QG) Section of D2G. QG is just a glimpse of what happened today all over the world.
Only For Serious Candidates : We strongly recommend you to read the Current Affairs in detail. For your convenience, we have provided quick links under the updates. Make use of it.
Always Keep Yourself Updated!!!
APPOINTMENTS
Rohit Sharma named global ambassador of Nissan
Japanese car manufacturer Nissan named Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma as their new global ambassador. In its partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC), Nissan also named West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell and New Zealand women’s team captain Suzie Bates as its ambassadors. In addition to an advertising campaign, the ambassadors will be active on social media across the World T20, supporting fan focused initiatives of Nissan. Rohit, Russell and Bates join South African pacers Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada in the Nissan cricket family, who were recently announced as ambassadors in their home country.
Quick Link – Rohit Sharma as global ambassador
INDIAN AFFAIRS
Karnataka government announces housing scheme for transgenders
Karnataka government has announced housing scheme for transgenders, who are facing social boycott, in Bengaluru. Bengaluru Development Minister, KJ George, announced the housing scheme for over 600 transgenders living in the city and facing social exclusion. The scheme will come up on 50 acres land on the outskirts of the city where the government is building a township for the economically weaker sections of society. The word “Karnataka” is derived from the Kannada words “Karu” and “Nadu” which means “Elevated Land”. The Land area of Karnataka is 191,791 sq. km. Karnataka holds 8th position in area wise. In Karnataka, 83% and 11% population are Hindu and Muslim respectively and remaining others includes Christian, Jain and Buddhist, etc. The Official Language of Karnataka is Kannada.
Quick Link – Housing scheme for transgenders
Promotion of Payments through cards and digital means
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of steps for promotion of payments through cards and digital means. The move aims at reducing cash transactions. Promotion of payments through cards and digital means will be instrumental in reducing tax avoidance, migration of Government payments and collections to cashless mode, discourage transactions in cash by providing access to financial payment services to the citizens to conduct transactions through card/ digital means and shifting payment ecosystem from cash dominated to non-cash/less cash payments.
Quick Link – Payments through cards and digital means
Agreement between India and Maldives
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing of an Agreement between India and Maldives for the avoidance of double taxation of income from international air transport. The Agreement provides for relief from double taxation for airline enterprises of India and Maldives by way of exemption of income derived by the enterprise of India from the operation of aircraft in international traffic, from Maldivian tax and vice-versa. Under the agreement, profits from the operation of aircraft in international traffic will be taxed in one country alone. Accordingly the taxing right is conferred upon the country to which the enterprise belongs. The Agreement will provide tax certainty for airline enterprises of India and Maldives.
Quick Link – India & Maldives
IRCTC ties up with OYO Rooms for accomodation
In a bid to provide standardised accommodation options to train travellers through a convenient booking platform, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has tied up with OYO Rooms. The partnership is expected to provide a more user-friendly hotel booking window for rail travellers, as OYO Rooms will show their available inventory of rooms through the IRCTC website itself, along with the promise of offering standardised amenities to the train passengers. This means that very soon, travellers will be able to prepare their entire itinerary by booking both the train tickets and the preferred type of accommodation through a one-stop window.
Quick Link – IRCTC tied up with OYO Rooms
Cabinet approves Atal Innovation Mission
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for establishment of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Self Employment and Talent Utilisation (SETU) in NITI Aayog with appropriate manpower. Establishment of AIM and AIM Directorate would result in implementation of Mission activities in a focussed manner. This would be a focal point for innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. In order to give substantial boost to the innovation ecosystem and to catalyse the entrepreneurial spirit in the country, Finance Minister in his Budget Speech 2015-16 announced the government’s intention to establish AIM and a mechanism to be known as SETU in NITI with an initial sum of Rs 500 crore and Rs 1,000 crore, respectively.
Quick Link – AIM
Rail Budget Headlines
In the Rail Budget 2016, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu announces a capital plan of Rs. 1,21,000 crore for 2016-17; claims action initiated on 139 budget announcements made last year. No hike in passenger fares. Action has been initiated on 139 budget announcements made last year. Eliminate all unmanned level crossings by 2020. Swacch Bharat: 17000 biotoilets and additional toilets in 475 stations before the close of this financial year. Increased quota for senior citizens and women travellers this year. Wifi at 100 stations this year and 400 stations next year.
Quick Link – Railway budget
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Royal Enfield opens first showroom in Thailand
Royal Enfield has opened its first exclusive store in Thailand. It has been set up in the Thonglor area of Thailand by the General Auto Supply Co. Ltd. The Eicher owned company has announced its complete range of motorcycles, apparel and accessories at the launch of its first exclusive store along with the price. Royal Enfield has been expanding its global retail footprint across the UK, Europe, Latin America, the Middle- East and now in South East Asia as part of its strategy to become a leader in global mid-sized motorcycle segment. It had recently launched in Indonesia. Last year, the company had announced its entry into Thailand, the fifth largest two-wheeler market in the world.
Quick Link – Royal Enfield in Thailand
Afghan cyclists nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Afghanistan’s National Women’s Cycling Team has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by members of the Italian parliament. The team has used the bicycle as a vehicle for social justice, enduring violence and social stigma. In 2013, it became the first Afghan women’s team to compete on the international stage, at the Asian Cycling Championships in Delhi. Afghanistan had a women’s team as early as 1986, but that program was scuttled during Soviet and subsequent Taliban control of the country. It was reborn in 2011 when Abdul Sediq, coach of the Afghan men’s national team, founded a team around his daughter, Marjan “Mariam” Sedequi.
Quick Link – Nobel Peace Prize
FOREIGN RELATIONS
India approves $150 million credit line for Iran’s Chabahar port
India has approved a $150 million credit line for the development of Iran’s Chabahar port. The port in southeast Iran is central to New Delhi’s efforts to circumvent arch-rival Pakistan and open up a route to landlocked Afghanistan where it has developed close security ties and economic interests. Under the agreement signed last year between the two countries, India will equip and operate two berths in the first phase of development at Chabahar Port and extend a credit line of $150 million through its external lending arm. Both berths will commence operations within 18 months of the signing of a final contract.
Quick Link – Iran’s Chabahar port
India and UK sign MoU for research in crop science
Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology and a consortium of top UK research institutions signed an MoU for establishment of a joint India-UK collaboration programme in crop science. The aim of the agreement is to enhance collaborative research, promote knowledge exchange, and support capacity building to develop resilience in food security. This collaboration builds on the close links already established between leading researchers in the United Kingdom and India.
Quick Link – India & UK in crop science
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Rabishield – World’s first fast-acting Anti-Rabies drug to be launched in India
The first fast-acting anti-rabies drug of the world, which instantly deactivates the rabies virus and provides immediate protection in severe dog bite cases, is set for a launch in India this year. The drug, rabies human monoclonal antibody (RMAb), has been developed by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) and US-based Mass Biologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. It has been found safe and effective during various phases of human clinical trials spanning nine years in India and abroad.
Quick Link – Rabishield
ENVIRONMENT
Sea sponges were Earth’s First Animals : Research
The first animal to appear on Earth was very likely the simple sea sponges. According to researchers at the world-famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), sea sponges pre-date the Cambrian explosion, an evolutionary period that began around 540 million years ago, during which a large number of new animals appeared. The researchers confirm that sea sponges are the source of a curious molecule found in rocks that are 640 million years old. One rare molecule in particular, 24-Isopropylcholesterol, or 24-IPC, has been found in rocks that are 640 million years old. It’s also known to be produced by sea sponges.
Quick Link – Sea sponges
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