GK Updates - 4 April | Banking Quiz

R Gandhi appointed as Deputy Governor of RBI

1.R Gandhi was appointed as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India on 3 April 2014 for a period of three years. His appointment came into effect from 3 April 2014. Before being elevated to the position of Deputy Governor, he was serving the Reserve Bank as its executive director.

2.He has been appointed as the successor of Anand Sinha, who retired from the office on 20 January 2014. Till the time of retirement, Sinha was looking after the new bank licence process.

With this appointment, Gandhi will look after the following portfolios
• Department of Banking Operations and Development
• Department of Non-Banking Supervision
• Urban Banks Department
• Department of Expenditure and Budgetary Control
• Information Technology and Legal Department
• Premises Department and Risk Monitoring Department

D K Pathak appointed as the new Director General of BSF

1.Union Government on 2 April 2014 appointed senior IPS officer D K Pathak as the new Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF). BSF is country's largest border guarding force. His name for the post of DG was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Mamohan Singh. He is expected to continue till February, 2016.

2.Pathak is a 1979-batch officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre. Prior to the appointment of DG, he was posted as the Special DG and was also officiating as the DG since 1 March 2014.

3.The post of the DG of BSF was vacant since 28 February 2014 when Subhash Joshi retired from the post of DG.

4.Pathak had served in another paramilitary CRPF as its chief of operations in Jammu and Kashmir and he has also spent stints in various positions in his cadre states of Assam and Meghalaya.

Kaspersky launches real-time cyber threat map

1.Kaspersky Lab has launched a real-time interactive map. The map, which can be accessed at http://cybermap.kaspersky.com, gives country wise details of threats, and how they are ranked on different parameters of Internet security.

2.Users can rotate the globe using the mouse and can access the details of infections, viruses and intrusions that are marked in different colours.

3.“The types of threats displayed include malicious objects detected during on-access and on-demand scans, email and Web antivirus detections, as well as objects identified by vulnerability and intrusion detection sub-systems,” the Moscow-based Internet security solutions firm said here in a press release on Friday.

4.The firm said India emerged as the fourth most infected country in the world, while Russia topped the list. The United States is the third ranker in the list.

Microsoft, Micromax to offer Windows 8.1 OS phones

1.Tech giant Microsoft has partnered with India’s homegrown handset maker Micromax to offer Windows 8.1-powered operating system smartphones in the country, which is considered one of the leaders in emerging markets for smart devices. The deal is expected to intensify competition in the smartphone and tablets space.

2.Micromax, which is the second largest smartphone player in India, held about 16 per cent market share in Q4 2013. Some its top selling models were the entry level smartphones like A35 Bolt and A67, IDC data showed.

3.Besides, the software giant has also announced that it will offer its Windows OS free to smartphone and tablet makers, a move that will help the firm compete with Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS in the fiercely competitive smart devices market.

Suresh Arora appointed DGP of Punjab Police

1.Election Commission of India (ECI) approved on 3 April 2014 the appointment of Suresh Arora as Directorate General of Police (DGP) of Punjab Police. Suresh Arora is a 1982 batch IPS officer.

2.He is currently working as director general of Vigilance Bureau. He had worked as ADGP Intelligence in Punjab Police.

3.He was appointed in lieu of the post of DGP falling vacant due to incumbent DGP Sumedh Singh Saini going on 45 days leave.

4.In light of this development Punjab government forwarded the leave of Saini to the Election Commission. Accordingly, EC asked from the Punjab government to send the panel of names for the vacant post to look after the security arrangements in the State.

NIST launched world's most accurate clock, NIST-F2

1.The US Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the first week of April 2014 launched a new atomic clock, named as NIST-F2. The clock has been designed to serve the new US civilian time and frequency, along with the current NIST-F1 standard.

2.NIST has claimed that the NIST-F2 would neither gain nor lose a second in about 300 million years as it is three times as accurate as its predecessor NIST-F1. NIST-F1 has served as the standard, since 1999. Both these clocks use a fountain of cesium atoms to determine the exact length of a second.

3.The scientists of NIST claimed that according to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) data (NIST-F2) is the world’s most accurate time standard. BIPM is located near Paris, France. To produce the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the international standard time, the agency collates data from atomic clocks.

Europe launched a satellite, Sentinel-1A to monitor earth for climate change

1.Europe on 3 April 2014 launched a satellite named Sentinel-1A, designed to monitor Earth for climate change and environmental damage and help disaster relief operations. Sentinal-1 is the first in a constellation of hi-tech satellites and was lifted off aboard Soyuz rocket from Kourou, French Guiana of the European Space Agency (ESA).

2.The 2.2-tonne satellite will scan the Earth with cloud-penetrating radar and is the first of half a dozen orbital monitors that will be built and launched under the 5.19-billion US dollar (3.786-billion-euro) Copernicus project, a joint undertaking of ESA and the European Union (EU).

3.Sentinel-1A after taking off separated itself from the rocket’s upper stage and further will be followed by a partner, Sentinel-1B, which will be launched till end of the year 2015.

Qatar based Doha Bank announced it’s First branch in Mumbai

1.Qatar based Doha Bank announced on 3 April 2014 that it will be opening its first branch at Nariman Point in Mumbai in India. The branch in Mumbai will be opened as a full-fledged bank in May 2014.

2.Initially, branch will offer retail and corporate banking solutions with emphasis on off-branch banking. The Doha Bank has set a target of 5 billion dollars balance sheet by the third year of operations. Doha Bank got permission from the Reserve Bank of India to open the branch in December 2013.

3.Already Doha Bank runs a brokerage (Doha Brokerage) with 41 percent stake and the rest of the stake is held by local brokers of Kochi in India.

4.Bank of Bahrain & Kuwait, Abu Dhabi Bank are the two other banks from Arab countries to have operations in India before Doha bank.

Three day long Gangaur festival celebrated in Rajasthan

1.Famous Hindu festival of Gangaur was celebrated in Rajasthan. Tourists from various parts of the world visited to celebrate the three-day-long festival of Gangaur.

2.In the word Gangaur, Gan is the synonym for Lord Shiva whereas Gaur stands for Gauri or Goddess Parvati. The festival celebrates the companionship of Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati. It is believed that Parvati returned to her maternal home during Gangaur and, on the last day, she was escorted by Lord Shiva.

3.Gangaur is the festival on which married women fast for the happiness of their marital life and single women fast to find perfect partner.

HAL received the Most Efficient Navratna Award 2013

1.Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on 3 April 2014 recieved the Most Efficient Navratna Award for the year 2013. It received the award at the 5th Dalal Street Investment Journal Awards ceremony held in New Delhi. The award was collected by the Chairman of HAL, Dr. R K Tyagi.

2.The awards were presented to the various PSUs in different categories in recognition of their performance and contribution to the Indian economy.

3.The award was given to the company for the measure it has taken on various fronts such as R&D, modernization, customer initiatives, quality and thrust given on indigenization.

4.In the financial year 2013-14, HAL achieved its highest ever turnover. In 2013-14 it achieved a turnover of 15180 crore rupees surpassing the figure of 14324 crore rupees in 2012-13.

PSLV C24 successfully places India’s second navigation satellite

1.As it was nearing dusk, the rocket (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C24) carrying indigenous navigational systems roared in to the sky on the shores of Bay of Bengal from Sriharikota at 5.14 p.m.

2.The launch was historic for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), as it was the 25th consecutive successful launch of PSLV, the trusty workhorse of ISRO.

3.It was another copy book style launch of PSLV from the first launch pad here at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

4.After just over 19 minutes of flight, the PSLV-C24 put India's navigation satellite - Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS-1B) - into a perfect orbit to a huge round of applause at the Mission Control Centre and by the large section of newspersons gathered at the terrace of the media centre.

5.IRNSS-1B is the second of seven which comprise the first-generation Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).

6.The navigational system will provide accurate position information service to users within the country and up to 1,500 km from the nation's boundary line. It is similar to the global positioning system of the US, Glonass of Russia, Galileo of Europe, China's Beidou or the Japanese Quasi Zenith Satellite System.

India ranks 102 on social progress

1.India ranks 102nd among the 132 countries on the Social Progress Index, a measure of human wellbeing that goes beyond traditional economic measures such as GDP or per capita income.

2.Of the BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — only India ranked lower than the 100th position on the list of the Social Progress Index 2014 compiled by US—based non—profit group Social Progress Imperative.

3.China was next lowest of the five, in the 90th position, and Brazil was the highest, at 46th.

4.Using measures of access to basic human needs such as food and shelter and of equality of opportunity such as education and personal freedom, the index aims to measure quality of life throughout the globe.

5.Last year, the first Social Progress Index ranked 50 countries. This year, its ranking includes 132 countries around the world.’

3-day Cluster Awareness Programme

A 3-day Cluster Awareness Programme will be held, from April 4 to 6, at Maditssia hall in the city. The event is being jointly organised by Entreprenurship Development Institute, Tamil Nadu and Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (Maditssia). VS Manimaran, President, Maditssia, said in a release that the awareness programme is intended to familiarise the entrepreneurs with the concept of Cluster approach, Central and State Government schemes for cluster promotion, prospects in Madurai district, financial assistance for projects, preparation of projects for assistance and urged the entrepreneurs to associate with cluster development in the district.

Terumo Penpol gets new Chairman

C Padmakumar has been appointed the Chairman and Managing Director of Terumo Penpol, a Thiruvananthapuram-based manufacturer of blood bags and medical devices. The appointment is effective from April 1, a spokesperson for the company said. In his new capacity, Padmakumar will assume charge of the company’s business operations across the country. He was the Executive Director of Commercial Operations. He has handled various business functions ranging from project management, manufacturing, finance, human resources and sales to marketing through a career spanning close to 30 years, the spokesperson added.

BJP leader Joshi files nomination from Kanpur

1.Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi today filed his nomination papers from Kanpur parliamentary constituency which goes to poll on April 30.

2.Joshi filed four sets of nomination papers at the district collectorate amid tight security even as supporters shouted slogans hailing the senior leader along with other BJP heavy-weights Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani.

3.The BJP leader, who is contesting for the first time from the city against three-time sitting Congress MP Sriprakash Jaiswal, was accompanied by BJP MLA from Kanpur Salil Bishnoi, leaders Panna Lal, Surendra Maithani and Bal Chandra.

Liquid ocean found on Saturn's moon

1.A vast ocean of water could be lurking under the thick ice of one of Saturn’s moons, according to the findings published by Science magazine on Thursday.

2.A sea up to 10 kilometres deep lies beneath 40 kilometres of ice at the south pole of Enceladus, extending over most of its southern hemisphere, an analysis by NASA’s Cassini probe showed.

3.Water is considered one of the essential criteria for a planet or moon to support life. It has also been found in our solar system on Titan, also orbiting Saturn, and Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons.

4.Cassini has been exploring Saturn and its satellites since 2004. The spacecraft measured the gravity and movement of Enceladus during three flybys to calculate its internal structure.

5.It found that the ocean probably sits on a bed of silicate rock. This could leach phosphorous, sulfur, potassium and sodium into the water, essential elements for the formation of life as we know it, study co-author Jonathan Lunine of Cornell University said.

Europe launches environment satellite

1.Europe has launched the first in a constellation of hi-tech satellites designed to monitor Earth for climate change and environmental damage and help in disaster relief operations.

2.Sentinel-1A, a satellite designed to scan the Earth with cloud-penetrating radar, had lifted off at 2102 GMT aboard a Soyuz rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, the European Space Agency (ESA) said yesterday.

3.The 2.2-tonne satellite is the first of half-a-dozen orbital monitors that will be built and launched under the $5.19-billion Copernicus project, a joint undertaking of ESA and the European Union (EU).

4.Sentinel-1A separated from the rocket’s upper stage 23 minutes and 24 seconds after launch. It will be followed by a partner, Sentinel-1B, due to be launched towards the end of next year.

5.Operating 180 degrees apart, at an altitude of about 700 kilometres, between them the pair will be able to take a radar picture of anywhere on Earth within six days.

6.Radar scanning has a range of uses, from spotting icebergs and oil slicks to detecting rogue logging and ground subsidence.

Sri Lanka beats Windies to enter World T20 final

1.A dominant Sri Lanka today made it to the ICC World T20 final for the third time knocking out defending champions West Indies by 27 runs via the Duckworth Lewis method after thundershowers stopped proceedings in the 14th over of the second innings.

2.Batting first in the first semi-final, Sri Lanka scored an impressive 160 for six riding on important contributions from Angelo Mathews (40) and Lahiru Thirimanne (45). In reply, West Indies were 80 for four in 13.5 overs when a storm followed by heavy downpour ruled out any chances of a game.

3.The D/L par score at that point of time was 107 and the Caribbeans were well short of the target, struggling at 80 for four in 13.5 overs.

4.There was certainly no ‘Gayle-storm’ but the 15-minute ’Kalboisakhi’ (NorWesters), as they call in this part of the world, turned the ground into a lake. Umpires Richard Kettleborough and Rod Tucker had to wait as per rules before Sri Lanka were adjudged winners.

5.But the Lankans were the deserving winners considering that West Indies were never in the hunt during their chase except for the first over.

GE launches wind turbines for India

1.GE on Friday launched the 1.7-103 wind turbine, its first wind turbine, developed and engineered specifically for India’s low-wind speed conditions.

2.For wind farm operators, the turbine’s large 103-meter rotor will help deliver high-efficiency output and attractive project economics, a release from the company said.

3.The 1.7-103 also provides a 30 per cent increase in annual energy production compared to its predecessor 1.6-82.5, it added.

4.Banmali Agrawala, President and CEO, GE South Asia, said, “Our latest offering underscores the company’s effort to provide localised solutions to India.”

5.A 100 megawatt wind farm powered by 1.7-103 turbines can generate electricity required to fulfil the needs of 4,13,000 Indian homes per year, the statement added.