GK Updates - 23 April | Banking Quiz

Point Wise GK

A new book on Sachin Tendulkar.‘Greater than Bradman: celebrating Sachin, the greatest batsman in Test history’. This is the title of a new book on cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar by Rudolph Lambert Fernandez, a Chennai-based author.Tendulkar’s 41st birthday — his first after retirement — falls on April 24 and the author believes the book would present the Indian maestro as the greatest.

Tamilnadu Government Announces Holiday Tomorrow under section – 135 B. Tamil Nadu Government today made it clear that employers and commercial establishments must grant holiday with wages for their employees tomorrow on account of polling for the 39 Lok Sabha seats in the State.

World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day (also known as International Day of the Book or World Book Days) is a yearly event on 23 April, organized by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. In the United Kingdom, the day is instead recognised on the first Thursday in March.World Book Day was celebrated for the first time on 23 April 1995.

India and Bhutan signed an agreement for the development of hydropower projects in Thimphu, Bhutan on 22 April 2014.

Chitra Magimairaj of India won the World Women’s Senior Snooker Championship on 22 April 2014 at Leeds, Britain. She played the final match against Alena Asmolava of Belarus.

Cadbury India Limited on 22 April 2014 announced to change its name to Mondelez India Foods Limited. Cadbury India Limited is a subsidiary of Mondelez International Inc.

Asia-Pacific navies of 22 countries including India signed Maritime Communication Agreement on 22 April 2014. The agreement was reached by the Naval Chiefs of these countries at the biennial conference of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS). The symposium is being held from 21 - 25 April 2014 in Quingdao, the Eastern port city of China.

RBI for two-stage verificationfor online transactions. The RBI report on ‘Enabling Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in Payment System Applications’ said banks should also inform customers about risks associated with different types of online banking transaction.Internet banking applications of all banks should mandatorily create authentication environment for password-based two-factor authentication as well as PKI-based system for authentication and transaction verification in online banking transaction.

Abbott wins patent battle against Glenmark.US-based Abbott Labs has won a patent battle against Glenmark Pharmaceuticals related to generic launch of Abbott's version of anti-hypertension drug, Tarka ((trandolapril/verapamil hydrochloride). On Monday, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a lower court's order, saying Glenmark infringed Abbott's patent on the drug by launching a copycat in June 2010.According to analysts, Glenmark will have to pay a penalty of $16 million, following the latest verdict.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has allowed the use of portable electronic devices, including cellphone, in flight/airplane mode, during all phases of flight.

The Central Railway plans to run a weekly express special train between Yesvantpur-Mumbai (CSTM)-Yesvantpur (Train Nos 02697/02698) for nine trips in each direction to clear the extra rush.Accoridng to a South Western Railway release, Train No 02697 Yesvantpur-Mumbai (CSTM) special train will depart Yesvantpur at 12.10 a.m. on Tuesdays, commencing from April 29 to June 24 and reach Mumbai (CSTM) at 11.30 pm., on the same night.En route, the special train will arrive/depart at Tumkur, Arsikere, Kadur, Davangere, Haveri, Hubli, Dharwad, Belgaum, Ghatprabha, Miraj, Pune and Lonavala.

Grant Thornton in India has appointed Vidya Rajarao as Partner to head the firm’s forensic services practice.

RBI puts curb on using ECB to repay domestic loans.The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has barred companies from repaying domestic loans through funds raised through external commercial borrowings (ECBs) from foreign branches of Indian banks.RBI told banks to put restrictions on their foreign branches in terms of giving guarantees to offshore joint ventures/subsidiaries of Indian companies to avail of foreign currency loans to repay rupee credit.The central bank said it had observed banks were extending non-fund-based credit facilities such as guarantees/stand-by letters of credit on behalf of foreign joint ventures and subsidiaries (of Indian companies) for purposes not connected to their businesses.

RBI group wants use of public key infrastructure for safe payment system.As consumer banking frauds are on the rise, a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) group has suggested the use of public key infrastructure (PKI) in order to ensure a safe and secure payment system in the country. The central bank has launched a series of initiatives to improve technological infrastructure to support payment and settlement systems (RTGS) — which are termed as PKI — such as real time gross settlement, national electronic fund transfer (NEFT), etc.Acknowledging that non-PKI payment systems such as magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) or non-MICR clearing, electronic credit system, credit and debit cards contributed 75 per cent in volume terms but only 6.3 per cent in value terms in 2012-13 in banking transactions, the group has called for using PKI to provide a safe, secure payment system and ensure legal compliance.

Bengaluru FC crowned champions on I-League debut.First-timers Bengaluru FC wrote a new chapter in Indian football by clinching the I-League title in their debut season courtesy a 4-2 away win over Dempo Sports Club here, with captain Sunil Chhetri fittingly netting the final goal.

Railways launches new mobile app to track train schedules.Now rail users can get information on expected arrival and departure timings of a particular train on their mobile phones besides tracking its position on a real time basis.Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), the information and technology arm of railways, has launched a new mobile application which can be used for various enquiries including train timings.