DAILY GK UPDATE 31ST JANUARY

1.     Cabinet approved key amendments to Lokpal Bill draft

i. The Union Cabinet has approved key amendments to the draft of the Lokpal Bill, the anti corruption legislation expected to be taken up in the forthcoming budget session on Parliament.
ii. The Cabinet approved 14 amendments out of 16 amendments recommended by the select committee to the bill.

NOTE: i. Minister of state for PMO, V Narayanasamy said that amendments regarding prosecution of government officials during investigation period and proposal regarding CBI official’s selection for conduting inquiry into allegations were not accepted.

ii. The cabinet also cleared a project related with distribution of Identity cards to all the citizens based on the National Population register.

iii. Both Houses will have to pass it for the Lokpal to become a reality.

iv. All states will have to form Lokayukta within 365 days of implimentation of Lokpal.

2.    Milos Zeman became Czech Republic’s First Directly Elected President

i. Milos Zeman became Czech Republic’s first directly elected President as per the Czech Republic Presidential election results declared on 25 January 2013.

ii. Milos Zeman is the first directly elected President in Czech history (and overall third President), with the presidential elections held prior to 2013 all being decided internally by the senate.

NOTE: i. Prior to this, he served as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 1998 to 2002.

ii. As leader of the Czech Social Democratic Party during the 1990s, he transformed it into one of the country's major political parties.

iii. He was also the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies- the lower house of the Czech parliament- from 1996 to 1998.

3.    NASA launches communication satellite

i. NASA today launched a new communication satellite (TDRS K) to stay in touch with its space station astronauts and relay more Hubble telescope images.

ii. An unmanned Atlas V rocket blasted into the starry night sky carrying the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite from Cape Canaveral.

NOTE: i. This is the 11th TDRS satellite to be launched by NASA. The space agency uses the orbiting network to communicate with astronauts living on the International Space Station.

ii. The first TDRS spacecraft flew in 1983. This newest third-generation TDRS carries the letter K designation.

iii. This is the 11th TDRS satellite to be launched by NASA. It will take two weeks for the satellite to reach its intended 22,300-mile-high orbit. Testing will last a few months.

iv. NASA estimates the satellite costs between 350 million US Dollars and 400 million US Dollars.

v. Another TDRS spacecraft, L in the series, will be launched next year.

vi. NASA wants at least seven TDRS satellites working in orbit at any one time. The one launched today will make eight.

4.    India Pledged Humanitarian Assistance of 2.5 Million US Dollars to Syria

i. India announced an assistance of 2.5 million US dollars to Syria on 30 January 2013 at the High-level International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria held in Kuwait.

ii. India has strongly expressed its concern on the steep escalation of violence and has called upon all sides in Syria particularly the Syrian leadership to abjure violence and resolve all issues peacefully through discussions taking into account the aspirations of the people of Syria.

NOTE: i. Syria continues to face acute crisis as the impasse has become explosive and could engulf the region.

ii. India considers that the only acceptable way to resolve the internal crisis in Syria is through urgent peaceful negotiations with participation of all parties taking into account the legitimate aspirations of all Syrians.

5.    CCEA approves OVL's $1 bn Azerbaijan acquisition

i. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday approved ONGC Videsh Ltd's acquisition of stake in an Azerbaijan oilfield for 1.001 billion dollars.

ii. The CCEA headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved OVL acquiring US energy major Hess Corp's 2.7213 per centstake in the Azeri, Chirag and the deep water portion of Guneshli fields in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea and 2.36 per cent interest in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline.

iii. The CCEA authorised "OVL to incur expenses so as to keep the total exposure up to the approved amount ie USD 1.001 billion at all times.

NOTE: i. OVL is present in 15 nations including Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, Russia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Vietnam.

ii. As part of the deal, OVL will also buy Hess' 2.36 per cent stake in BTC export pipeline.

iii. OVL's share of output would be over 19,000 bpd or a little less than one million tonnes per annum.

6.    U.P to kick-start Ashirwad Bal Swasthya Guarantee Yojna NRHM

i. In Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will kick-start the ambitious "Ashirwad Bal Swasthya Guarantee Yojna" being run in the state under NRHM programme.

ii. The massive health programmeaims to cover the rural children of 2 to 18 years of age by providing them a complete health checkup backed by medicinal provision.

iii. The ambitious health protection scheme of its kind will be launched from today in a phased manner.

iv.  About one crore students of government run schools are targeted in the first phase of the programme.

v. In the next phase children studying in government aided schools, Madarsas, Sanskrit Schools, Orphanages and Anganwadi Kendras will be covered.

7.    Four days stone fair begins in Jaipur

i. Four days stone fair India Stone Mart has begun in Jaipur from today. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated the fair.

ii. Turkey, Italy, Iran and China are participating in stone mart.

iii. Enterprnures from stone industry of 50 countries are expected to visit the fair.

iv. Four state Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Odhisha and Rajasthan are exhibiting different varieties of stones and stone technology in their pavilions.

8.    72nd session of Asom Sahitya Sabha begins in Assam

i. In Assam, the five day long 72nd session of Asom Sahitya Sabha began today at Biswaratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Samannay Kshetra at Barpeta Road in Barpeta district.

ii. At least 20 lakh visitors are likely to attend the biggest literary meet of the state from across the country.

iii. Special arrangements have been made to showcase traditional cultural events of several states under the aegis of Ministry of Culture and Sangeet Natak Academy.

9.    166th Sadguru Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana festival ends today in TN

i. In Tamil Nadu, the 166th Sadguru Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana festival at Tiruvaiyaruends today. The Aradhana festival which started last Sunday will end with Anjaneyar pooja tonight.

ii. Sadguru Thyagaraja is one of the great musical     trinity alongwith Muthusamy Dikshithar and Shyama Sastrigal.

iii. Today is Pusahya Bahula day when Sadguru Sri Thyagaraja attained the lotus feet of Lord Rama in 1847.

iv. Hundreds of musicians will sing in chorus pancharatna kritis of Sadguru Sri Thyagaraja.

10.  RIM Changed to Blackberry;

i. Research In Motion, popularly known as RIM and makers of Blackberry phone, on 30 January 2013 announced that it will formally be called Blackberry now.

ii. Research In Motion additionally launched two new devices under its own new operating system called Blackberry 10. These two devices are Z10 and Q10. Z10 is a touch-screen device while Q10 is the QWERY portrait keyboard device.

11.  Controversy over Kamal Haasan’s Tamil film Vishwaroopam

i. Vishwaroopam which was originally slated to be released on 25 January 2013 was once again banned by the Madras High Court on 30 January 2013. 

ii. Tamil Nadu government under Section 144 of the Indian Criminal Procedure Code banned the film because of allegations by certain Islamic organisations. Islamic organisations protested that the film displayed their community in negative light.

NOTE: i. Vishwaroopam is an Indian Tamil spy thriller movie which is written, directed and co-produced by Kamal Haasan.

ii. The theme of the film surrounds around Vishwanath (Kamal Haasan) who is a Muslim.  The film involves his encounter with the Afghani Al-Qaeda, the terrorist group.

12.  Dubai Desert Classic Golf Championship begins at Emirates Golf Club

i. Dubai Desert Classic Golf Championship got underway at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai today.

ii. 132 Golfers from all over the world are taking part in the event for the Coffee Pot trophy.

NOTE: i. India’s Jeev Milkha Singh is the brand Ambassador for the Dubai Desert Classic Golf tournament .

ii. The current World number one and two , Rory Mcllroy and Tiger Woods are not taking part in the tournament

13.  ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup:

i. India set a huge victory target of 285 runs for West Indies in the opening match of ICC Women's World Cup in Mumbai today.

ii. Put in to bat in the Group A fixture, the hosts made 284 for 6 in the stipulated 50 overs.

iii. Opener Thirush Kamini who was run out for 100, was the top scorer.

iv. It is India's highest score in a World Cup match.