GK UPDATE 19TH MARCH

GK UPDATE 19TH MARCH

1.  RBI cuts interest rate by 0.25 per cent: CRR unchanged

i. In its mid-quarter policy review today, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to reduce the key repo rate by 25 basis points from 7.75 per cent to 7.5 per cent with immediate effect.

ii. Consequently, the reverse repo rate stands adjusted to 6.5 per cent and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 8.5 per cent with immediate effect. 

iii. The RBI has left the cash reserve ratio (CRR) unchanged at 4 per cent.

iv. However, the apex bank said that high current account deficit (CAD) and inflationary expectations limit possibility of further easing of rates.

v. RBI has retained the growth and inflation forecast at 5.5 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively for the current fiscal.
NOTE: This is the second policy rate cut by the RBI this calendar year to help revive a faltering economy, taking comfort from moderating core price pressures and the government's commitment to trim the fiscal deficit.

CURRENT RBI RATES:

1. CRR – 4%                                
2. Repo Rate – 7.5%           
3. Reverse Repo Rate – 6.5%

4. MSF – 8.5%     
5. Bank Rate – 8.5%        
 6. SLR – 23%

2.    Sugathakumari Selected For Saraswati Samman 2012

i. Sugathakumari, the Malayalam poetess was chosen for the Saraswati Samman 2012 for the poetry collection Manalezhuthu, which means The Writing on the Sand in English.

ii. The Saraswati Samman is constituted by K. K. Birla Foundation. 

iii. Saraswati Samman is awarded annually for outstanding literary work in any Indian language in past 10 years.

About Sugathakumari

i. Sugathakumari has 15 volumes of poetry credited to her.

ii. Sugathakumari is also the passionate environmentalist. 

iii. She was also the head of Kerala’s State Women’s Commission.

iv. She also has six collections of prose. Her career spans over a duration of five decades. 

About Saraswati Samman

i. Saraswati Samman is constituted by K. K. Birla Foundation.

ii. The award carries cash prize of 10 lakh Rupees, a plaque as well as a citation. 

iii. This award is given every year to the literary work in any Indian language which is the part of Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

iv. Apart from this award, K. K. Birla Foundation also constituted other two awards which include Bihari Puraskar for Hindi and Rajasthani writers and Vyas Samman for Hindi.

3.    'Paan Singh' best film, Irrfan best actor at National Film Awards2013

i. 'Paan Singh Tomar', Tigmanshu Dhulia's biopic on the athlete-turned-dacoit, was named the best picture at the 60th National Film Awards while its male star Irrfan Khan shared the best actor trophywith veteran Marathi actor Vikram Gokhale.

ii. For the first time a thirty two year old Kashmiri film maker has won best award in nonfiction category.

iii. 'Shepherds of Paradise' a documentary produced and directed by Raja Shabir Khan has been adjudged the best film in this category. 

iv. Shabir has also won the best Cinematographer award for the same filim which he has also shot and edited himself.

Here are the lists of the winners:

i. Best Actor: Irfan Khan for Pan Singh Tomar and Vikram Gokhale for Anumati (Marathi).

ii. Best Actress: Usha Jadhav for Marathi film 'Dhag'.

iii. Best Hindi Feature Film:  - Paan Singh Tomar.

iv. Best Film for Wholesome Entertainment: Vicky Donor & Ustad Hotel (Malayalam).

v. Best Song: Bolo Na (Chittagong).

vi. Best Tamil film: Vazhakku En 18/9

vii. Best Film on Social Issues: Spirit (Malayalam).

viii. Best Hindi Film: Filmistan

ix. Best Telugu film: Eega

x. Best Film on Environment: Black Forest (Malayalam).

xi. Best Non-Feature Film: Shepherd's of Paradise.

xii. Best Direction - Shivaji Lotan Patil (Dhag - Marathi Film).

About National Film Awards

i. The National Film Awards are most prominent awards given away to the film fraternity. 

ii. These awards were established in 1954. 

iii. Annually, the national panel is appointed by Government of India which selects the winner. The awards are presented by the President of India in the official ceremony.

4.    India and Egypt sign 7 key pacts

i. India and Egypt today signed seven key pacts in the areas of cyber security, Information technology, services, electronics, small and medium enterprises, manufacturing,fertilisers, and renewable energy. 

ii. The agreements were signed following delegation level talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the visiting Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in New Delhi.

iii. The Prime Minister said he and Morsi agreed to foster productive partnerships in socio-economic development programmes, skill development, higher education, agriculture and health care.

5.    DMK quits UPA govt over Sri Lankan Tamils issue

i. Giving a jolt to the Congress, the DMK pulled out of the UPA government at Centre on Tuesday. 

ii. DMK chief M Karunanidhi today snapped his party's nine-year long association with UPA and also decided to withdraw his ministers from the government.

iii. DMK chief Karunanidhi said, "When a situation has been created that will not benefit Ealam Tamils, it will be a big harm to the Tamil race for DMK to continue in government. Therefore it has been decided that DMK will withdraw from the Cabinet and the coalition." 

iv. Slamming the government, he said its failure to understand the depth of the Tamils issue or not supporting them or remaining neutral "will close down the democratic ideals propounded by Mahatma Gandhi and (Sri Lankan Tamil veteran) Chelvanayagam." 

v. The DMK also wants the Parliament to adopt a resolution against Sri Lanka. 

NOTE: i. This is the second instance within a year that an ally has pulled out of the Congress-led UPA government at Centre.

ii. Earlier, the Trinamool Congress had quit the UPA on the issue of economic policies pursued by the Centre. 

iii. There are 18 DMK MPs in Parliament. Half way mark is 271. If DMK pulls out then the Congress will be left with the support of just 232 MPs in Parliament. In that case they will be completely dependent on the ouside support of the Samajwadi Party, the BSP, RJD and JD(S). 

6.    MP bagged Awards for Best Civic Management of a Tourist Destination

i. Madhya Pradesh bagged two national tourism awards: One for the best civic management of a tourist destination and other for the most innovative and unique tourism project in the 23rd National Tourism Award.

ii. Madhya Pradesh which is known for tourism hotspots received the awards from President Pranab Mukherjee at a function held for National Tourism Awards 2011-12 in New Delhi, at Vigyan Bhawan.

iii. The state received the award in category-‘B’ city for Municipal Council of Mandu in Dhar district. 

iv. It also got another award for most innovative and unique tourismproject-Air Taxi.