GK UPDATE 18TH MARCH

GK UPDATE 18TH MARCH

1.    UAE Inaugurated World’s Largest Solar Power Plant named “Shams 1”

  i.    The oil-rich United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 17 March 2013 officially opened the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant. This plant is the 600-million dollar project which is aimed at providing electricity to 20000 homes.

ii.    The solar power station which is named Shams 1 was inaugurated in Madinat Zayed by the President of UAE and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

iii.    The solar power plant was constructed over a three-year period by an international conglomerate, with UAE’s Masdar having 60 % stake, France’s Total having a 20 % interest and Spain’s Abengoa which has a 20 % stake.The plant covers 2.5 sq. kilometers (0.96 sq. miles) and has 768 panels with the capacity to produce 100 MW of clean energy.

2.    Nepal and United States Decided to Conduct Joint Military Exercises Called ‘Shanti Prayas-2’

  i.    Nepal and United States decided to conduct the military exercises jointly in the last week of March 2013.The joint military exercises will also include other countries such as India.

ii.    The joint military exercises are called Shanti Prayas-2 or Peace Initiatives and these will be conducted in Panchkhal, 50 km east of Kathmandu from 25 March 2013 to 7 April 2013.

iii.    The Armies of Nepal and the US, apart from other countries announced participating in this drill, which is said to be the latest in Asia-Pacific region. This drill is designed for promotion of security as well as regional peace, while also enhancing the peacekeeping capabilities as well as capacity of the nations which participate in Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI). GPOI is the initiative of G8 nations for increasing the operations for peace support across the worldwide.

iv.    The training which will be conducted during the joint military exercises will include- vignette based staff training exercise as well as field training exercise.

3.    China became the World's Fifth-Largest Arms Exporter

  i.    A Swedish think tank, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in the Month of March 2013 mentioned China as the world's fifth largest arms exporter. The reason of China Being top most arms exporter is evident from the fact that the volume of Chinese weapons exports rose by 162 % in the five years 2008-2012, compared to the previous five-year period. Earlier the country was eighth in ranking and it climbed to fifth with an increase in international arms exports from 2 % to 5 %.

ii.    The report also revealed that the largest buyer of Chinese weapons was Pakistan, which accounted for 55 % of the country's exports, followed by Myanmar with 8 % and Bangladesh with 7 %.

iii.    The US with 30 % of global export volume remains the world's top arms exporter during the 2008-2012 periods. Russia stands in Second Position with 26 % export while at third and fourth is Germany and France with 7 and 6 % export volume.
Another major evident as per the report is that Asia dominated the global imports of weapons, with the top five importers all located in that region.

iv.    The top 5 arms importers in 2008-2012 (share of international imports)
1. India -12 %
2. China - 6 %
3. Pakistan - 5 %
4. South Korea - 5 %
5. Singapore - 4 %

4.    UNDP Report: South Asia Lead the World in Improvements in Human Development

  i.    The United National Development Programme (UNDP) on 14 March 2013 at Georgetown Club, United States released its UNDP Human Development Report 2013. The report in its findings revealed that South Asia leads the world in improvements in human development. The report clarified that the South Asian Countries achieved widespread gains in terms of human development across the developing world from 2000 to 2012.

ii.    The report titled The Rise of the South Human Progress in a Diverse World also identified investment in Education and taking care of the environment as the two key factors that can contribute in the making of the healthy development. It also indicated that although Afghanistan experienced several rapid gains but it lagged far behind in the race of development.

iii.    The growth in Human Development achieved by different Nations
• Afghanistan and it was 3.9 % (fastest)
• Pakistan achieved 1.7%
• Indian 1.7%
• Sri Lanka 0.7% (least growth achieved)

NOTE:-The findings of the report are based on the analysis of more than 40 developing countries that achieved striking human development gains in recent past..

5.    Food inflation a credit negative for India: Moody’s

  i.    Global rating agency Moody’s on Monday said India’s high food inflation is credit negative for the country as it hurts government finances and curtails the ability of the RBI to deal with monetary issues.“Sustained food inflation is credit negative because it exacerbates India’s macroeconomic challenges of slowing growth, high inflation and large fiscal and current account deficits,” Moody’s Investors Service said in credit outlook report.

ii.    The Wholesale Price Index for February showed that food prices increased by 11.4 per cent year-on-year, raising overall inflation for the month to 6.8 per cent, despite a deceleration in core inflation to 3.8 per cent.

6.    B Ashok Reddy Elected As the Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry

  i.    B Ashok Reddy, the Infotech Enterprises President(Human Resources and Corporate Affairs), was elected asthe new chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Andhra Pradesh, for 2013-14.

ii.    C Suresh Rayudu, the Srinivasa Hatcheries Group Managing Director was elected as the vice-chairman of CII, AP. Both of them were elected on 16 March 2013 in Hyderabad.

iii.    Earlier, B Ashok Reddy served as the Vice-Chairman, CII Andhra Pradesh.CII-AP also commemorated the annual day on 16 March 2013.

                                                                         

7.    State Bank of India (SBI) plans to open about 1,200 branches in the country and another eight branch offices overseas, including China and the UK, in the next fiscal.

  i.    Plans are afoot to open two branches each in Bangladesh and the UK and one each in China, the Netherlands, South Korea and Sri Lanka. In the case of South Korea, the existing representative office of SBI would be upgraded into a full-fledged branch. The move to open branches in offshore locations is aimed at catering to Indian businesses and Non-Resident Indians.

ii.    With addition to these eight branches, SBI's offshore network will increase to 59. SBI, India's largest bank, has 14,677 branches across the country.

iii.    Under the bank's domestic expansion plans, about 100 branches would be opened in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

8.    UPSC notification kept in abeyance after uproar in Parliament

  i.    The Government on Friday kept in abeyance the recently issued controversial notification of the UPSC which gave more weightage to English in the Civil Services exams.The announcement was made in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy after an impromptu debate on the issue following repeated uproar and three adjournments with members demanding immediate revocation of the 5^th March notification.

ii.    After the hour-long debate, Narayanasamy said Government has taken note of the views expressed by the members on the notification of the UPSC. "Government will call a meeting of the UPSC to discuss and resolve the issue. In the meanwhile, we will keep the notification in abeyance and Status quo ante will be maintained,". Seeking a rollback of the decision, he said the UPSC may be a constitutional body but it was not above the government and Parliament.

9.    Indore to host SAARC journalists' summit

  i.    Journalists from India and abroad will deliberate over the role of media in public movement and other issues during a three-day SAARC journalists' convention that Indore will host beginning from 28th March. "Besides SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) member countries, delegates from USA, Germany and Dubai will take part in the deliberations in different sessions," Indore Press Club president Praveen Khariwal said.

ii.    As many as thirty media experts from abroad and 100 experts from different parts of the country will take part in five main.

iii.    Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari will inaugurate the convention on March 29.

10.  Sexual harassment at Workplace Bill passed by Parliament

Parliament passed a bill under which cases of sexual harassment at workplace, including against domestic help, will have to be disposed of by in-house committees within a period of 90 days failing which penalty of Rs 50,000 would be imposed.

  i.    Repeated non-compliance of the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal ) Bill, can lead to higher penalties and even cancellation of licence or registration to conduct business.

ii.    The Bill, which has already been passed by Lok Sabha, was unanimously passed by Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, with Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath promising to follow up the legislation with strict rules for its implementation.

iii.    The bill brings in its ambit even domestic workers and agriculture labour, both organised and unorganised sectors. As per the Act, sexual harassment includes any one or more of unwelcome acts or behaviour like physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favours or making sexually coloured remarks or showing pornography.

iv.    The Bill makes it mandatory that all offices, hospitals, institutions and other workplaces should have an internal redressal mechanism for complaints related to sexual harassment.

v.    The Act defines domestic worker as a woman employed to do household work in any household for remuneration whether in cash or kind, either directly or through any agency on temporary, permanent, part time or full time basis, but does not include any member of the family of the employer.

vi.    A Parliamentary Standing Committee, which had examined the Bill, had held the firm view that preventive aspects reflected in it has to be strictly in line with the Supreme Court guidelines in the 1997 Vishaka case.

vii.    The apex court's judgment in the case not only defines sexual harassment at workplace but also lays down guidelines for its prevention and disciplinary action.

11.  Goa Legislative Assembly Completed 50 Years of Its Inception

  i.    The Goa Legislative Assembly on 18 March 2013 decided to have year-long celebrations for marking 50 years of its inception. The Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Rajendra Arlekarmade an announcement of the celebrations.

12.  NASA’s Swift Satellite Discovered one of the Youngest-known Supernova Remnants

  i.    NASA's Swift satellite in the Month of March 2013 discovered one of the youngest-known supernova remnants which is believed to be less than 2500 years old - in our Milky Way galaxy. It was discovered while performing an extensive X-ray survey of our galaxy's central region. Looking after the coordinates of its sky position it has been designated G306.3-0.9. As per the analysis by the scientist it was indicated that G306.3-0.9 is likely less than 2500 years old, making it one of the 20 youngest remnants identified.

ii.    Using an estimated distance of 26,000 light-years for G306.3-0.9, the scientists determined that the explosion’s shock wave is racing through space at about 2.4 million km/h.

13.  India beat Australia by six wickets in the third Test in Mohali

  i.    In a tight finish on the final day, skipper Mahendra Dhoni smashed three consecutive fours to earn victory with 15 balls remaining.

ii.    India's victory had been built upon a fantastic innings by man-of-the-match Shikhar Dhawan, who scored the fastest century on debut in Test cricket 

iii.    India, who now lead the four-match series 3-0, had been set 133 to win after bowling out Australia for 223 in their second innings.

14.  Muradian Khalmuratov Clinched Gold in Men's Category of Hero Asian Cycling Championship

  i.    Muradian Khalmuratov of Uzbekistan clinched second gold by winning the 156.2 km individual road race event in the men's category of Asian champion's title on final day of Hero Asian Cycling Championship on 17 March 2013.

ii.    The overall tally for Kazakhstan was three gold, four silver and two bronze. On the other hand, Hong Kong and China completed the tournament with two gold and a bronze. Uzbekistan won two gold in the tournament.

iii.    In 2014, Asian Cycling Championship will take place at Astana, Kazakhstan

15.  Pakistan draw 2-2 against Championship will take place At Astana, Kazakhstan

  i.    Pakistan ended their campaign at this year's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament with a 2-2 draw against Korea on Saturday.

ii.    The draw meant both Pakistan and Korea finish their league engagements with five points each.

16.  India jumps 24 places to be in 143rd in FIFA rankings

  i.    Despite its unimpressive performance in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers earlier this month, the India football team jumped 24 places to occupy 143rd in the FIFA Rankings issued on Thursday.

ii.    India earned 79 points this month for a total of 177 points and a jump from 167th to 143rd.

iii.    Thursday’s ranking is the best in more than two years, after the 142nd at the end of 2010.

iv.    The country is now ranked 22nd among Asian countries and highest-ranked in South Asia.

17.  18 Nadal moves up in ATP rankings

  i.    Freshly-crowned Indian Wells champion Rafael Nadal climbed from fifth to fourth in the latest men’s tennis rankings issued on Monday by the ATP.