Daily GK 29th - 30th Dec 2016

National Affairs

1. PM Modi launches "BHIM App" for digital transaction

• Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched an Aadhaar-based mobile payment application "BHIM" (Bharat Interface for Money)" at the Digi Dhan Mela event in Talkatora stadium in New Delhi.
• After downloading the BHIM app from the Play store, the user has to register his/her bank account and set up a UPI Pin for it.
• The user’s mobile number will become the payment address.
• The user can send or receive money from friends, family and customers through a mobile number (payment address).
• This can be done using MMID and IFSC.
• The user can also collect money by sending a request and reverse payments if required.

Note:

• Earlier, the Mela was organised at Dehradun, Panaji, Gurugram and Ludhiana.
• As many as 100 such fairs will be organised throughout the country till 14th of April next year.
• The main purpose of the Mela is to boost digital modes of payments.

2. Railway Minister lays the foundation of Nadikudi-Srikalahasti project in AP

• The Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has laid the foundation via video conference from Delhi, for “Nadikudi-Srikalahasti railway project”.
• He also flagged off the Double-Decker train between Visakhapatnam-Tirupathi besides launching hi-speed wi-fi facility in Guntur RS and ETTC new hostel building in Vijayawada.

3. 1.5 crore LPG connections issued to BPL households

• The union Government has achieved its target of providing 1.5 crores free cooking gas (LPG) connections to poor households in less than 8 months under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
• The scheme is being implemented now across 35 states and Union Territories (UT).
• Earlier, PM Modi had launched PMUJ on 1st May from Balia (Uttar Pradesh) and aims to provide 5 crore free LPG connections to BPL families in three years.

4. Indian Railways announce 10% rebate in vacant train berths

• Indian Railways has announced 10% rebate for the vacant berths after finalisation of the reservation charts and the discount will be based on the basic fare of the last ticket sold in the train.
• It will be effective from 1st of January, 2017 on an experimental basis for six months.
• Now, a passenger can avail the rebate in basic fare (except reservation and super fast charge ) for availing the vacant berths in all reserved categories including AC and Sleeper class (SL) after the finalisation of the chart.

5. Ranveer Singh becomes new ambassador of Thumps Up

• Coca-Cola India has signed Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as the brand ambassador for its Thums Up brand.
• The company launched new campaign starring Ranveer Singh in its 'Toofani' series.

Note:

• Thums Up is a brand of cola in India and logo is a red "thumbs up".
• It was introduced in the year 1977 to offset the withdrawal of the Coca-Cola Company from India.
• The brand was later bought by Coca-Cola who re-launched it in order to compete against Pepsi.

6. Manish Sisodia releases Delhi Statistical Hand book

• The Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi  Manish Sisodia has released the Delhi Statistical Hand Book -2016 containing data relating to various socio-economic parameters in 23 broad chapters.
• The per capita income of Delhi has been recorded Rs. 2,80,142 and in national level is found to be  Rs. 93,293 during 2015-16.
• The Total number of new vehicles registered in Delhi increased from 5.34 lakhs ( 2014-15) to 8.77 lakhs (2015-16).
• There are 1131 health institutions with 48,131 beds in Delhi as on 31st December 2015.
• The total number of schools in Delhi were 5796 in 2015-16.
• Around 44.31 lakh children were enrolled at different levels during 2015-16 in these schools as compared to 44.13 lakhs during 2014-15.
• Under Ladli scheme 1.74 lakhs girls got financial benefits during 2015-16.

 Obituaries

7. Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher passes away

• American actress, writer, producer  Carrie Fisher (60-year) known for playing Princess Leia in the 'Star Wars' film series passed away in Los Angeles (USA).
• Fisher and her mother are the subjects of the 2016 documentary Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.Itpremiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.

National & International Appointment

8. S.P.Vaid appointed as  new J&K police chief

• The Jammu and Kashmir government has appointed Dr. Shesh Pal Vaid (1986-batch IPS officer) as new Director General of Police (DGP) of the state.
• He will succeed K Rajendra Kumar who was appointed in May 2014  and extended term of service ends on 31st December 2016.
• Presently, Mr. Vaid is working as Special DGP (Law and Order).

Banking & Finance

9. BoB Signs MoU with HFL to provide dairy loans to farmers

• Bank of Baroda (BoB) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Heritage Foods Ltd (HFL) to provide dairy loans to farmers through the lender’s branches across the country.
• This will increase former productivity and earnings BoB exhibited Highest Ever Loss by a PSB.
• Heritage Foods is in the business of procurement, processing and sale of milk and milk products.

10. Lakshmi Vilas Bank launches QIP to raise Rs 600 crore

• "Lakshmi Vilas Bank" has launched Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) to raise over Rs 599.88 crore by issuing 4.25 crore shares in domestic or international markets.
• In a meeting, the Committee of Directors for Capital Raising of the bank has approved the floor price for the QIP issue at Rs 141.15 per equity share.

Note: 

• Lakshmi Vilas Bank offers a wide range of services such as Deposits, loan, MSME, Online Services, NRI services, Wealth Management Services and Personal banking services etc.

11. RBI extends loan repayment window to 90 days

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked lenders to provide borrowers to 90 days (existing 60 days) for repayment of housing, car, farm and other loans worth up to 1 crore rupees.
• The dispensation will apply to dues payable between 1st November and 31st December.
• Now, borrowers together get 90 days from getting the account classified under non-performing asset (NPA) category.
• Last month, the RBI had provided additional 60 days for repayment of loans worth up to Rs 1 crore.

Sports

12. Ana Ivanovic announces retirement from Tennis

• Former world No1 and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic (29-year) from Serbia has retired from tennis.
• Ivanovic had held the top spot for 12 weeks in 2008, she also claimed her sole Grand Slam by winning the French Open.
• She was also the runner-up at the 2007 French Open and the 2008 Australian Open.