DAILY GK UPDATE 1ST FEBRUARY

1.    RBI  suggests bank charge for cash withdrawals & deposit through cheques

i. RBI has suggested that banks should charge for cash withdrawal and deposit through cheques while the government agencies should do away with convenience charges for online payment of utility bills. 

ii. As per the discussion paper floated by RBI, high cash withdrawals and deposits of cash by individuals may also be charged in order to avoid increased dependence to cash-based transactions. 

iii. The other major suggestions include restriction on number of free cheque books, high fee on cheque books, mandatory online payment of credit card bills and ban on post-dated cheques.

iv. It also suggested that the government should discourage cheque collection boxes at public places.

NOTE: The suggestions, on which the RBI has invited comments from public by February 28, seek to encourage greater adoption of electronic mode of payment.

2.    India & Mauritius sign MoU in textile sector:

i. India and Mauritius have signed a number of MoUs to strengthen collaboration in textiles sector.

ii. The MoUs include one between Apparel Export Promotion Council and Enterprise Mauritius to establish cooperation in standards compliance and enhancing competitiveness of the apparel industry. 

iii. An official release said, the MoU between Northern India Research Association and Mauritius Standards Bureau aims to foster cooperation in standardization, quality assurance and conformity assessment activities. 

3.    India dropped to 140th Rank in the Latest World Press Freedom Index

i.India dropped nine places to 140th rank in the list of 179 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index 2013, which is the lowest since 2002.

ii. India got this lowly rank because of increasing impunity for violence against journalists and internet censorship. iii. Netherlands, Norway and Finland topped the list.

iv. The Press Freedom Index was released by World Press Freedom index for the year 2013.

v. China got 173rd rank.

vi. Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea were placed at the bottom of the list as has been in the last three years.

NOTE: i. As per the Press index report, there has been a decline in freedom of information in South Asia and the Indian subcontinent among Asia witnessed the sharpest deterioration in providing freedom and security for those involved in news reporting in 2012.

ii. In India considered as the world's biggest democracy, the authorities insist on censoring the Web and impose numerous kinds of restrictions, while violence against journalists was not punished and the regions like Kashmir and Chhattisgarh are getting increasingly isolated.

4.    NASA Marks 10th Anniversary of Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster

i. NASA on 1 February 2013 marks 10th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Columbia that perished into the atmosphere of the Earth upon its re-entry.

ii. Seven astronauts were aboard Columbia which disintegrated across southern United States. The debris of Columbia spread across 200-mile stretch from Texas to Louisiana.

NOTE: Columbia broke into pieces on re-entering the atmosphere of the Earth. The cause for its explosion was attributed towards the piece of foam which dropped from external rocket tank on launch, which eventually created a hole in the shuttle wing.

5.    P.R. Vasudeva Rao Appointed As the Director of the IGCAR

i. P.R. Vasudeva Rao became the Director of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) at Kalpakkam on 31 January 2013. He succeeded S.C Chetal, who has now retired.

ii. Dr. Rao was earlier the Director, Chemistry Group in IGCAR and is also a specialist in the field of actinide chemistry as well as a few areas of chemistry of nuclear fuel cycle. In IGCAR, Dr. Rao led various R&D programmes related to the field of chemistry.  

About Dr. Rao:

i. Dr. Rao did graduation from Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai in 1972.

ii. He later became a part of the Department of Atomic Energy after he graduated from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Training School, Trombay.

iii. In 1978, after resigning from BARC, he joined IGCAR. He played a crucial role in establishing Radiochemistry Laboratory in IGCAR. 

iv. Dr. Rao’s specialty is designing and developing breeder reactors.

6.    First Triangular India-US-Africa Partnership at Hyderabad

i. India and the United States inaugurated the first triangular India-US-Africa partnership in agricultural training at the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, on 6 January 2013 for 30 trainees from three African countries – Kenya, Liberia and Malawi.

ii. The three-year triangular partnership program aims to improveagricultural productivity, strengthen agricultural value chains, and support market institutions in Kenya, Liberia, and Malawi.

NOTE:  Supported by the U.S. Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture of India, and implemented by two of India’s leading agricultural training institutes - National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, and the Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), Jaipur.

7.    Zovi, the Online Fashion Retailer Acquired Rival Inkfruit

i. Zovi, the Bangalore-based online fashion retailer acquired its rival company Inkfruit in the last week of January 2013. ii. These two investors pumped in 10 million US dollar in Zovi after merger. After the third round of investment, the overall funding which was raised by Zovi came to 25 million US dollar.

NOTE: i. Inkfruit is the community-based customized fashion and accessories retailer.

ii. Zovi, after acquisition will offer products to a wider age group ranging from 16 years to 45 years.

8.    SurajKund Mela opens today:

i. The popular annual Surajkund crafts Mela begins today in the avatar of an international fair with 21 countries participating in the 15-day long cultural and handicrafts extravaganza.

ii. The festival this year has been upgraded to an international fair and 21 countries from Africa, Eurasia and SAARC nations would participate in it.

NOTE: The Mela will showcase the archaeological heritage of Karnataka, the traditional dance of Yakshagana with display of finest handicrafts and handlooms from across the country and abroad.

9.    Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting top IPL auction list:

i. Australia captain Michael Clarke and former captain Ricky Ponting attracted the highest base price in the list of 101 players that feature in the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction to be held in Chennai on Sunday.

ii. The Australian player got selected with highest reserve price of $400,000 (approx Rs.2 crore).

iii. Along with the two Australians, South African all-rounder Johan Botha ($300,000) and Indian medium pacer RP Singh ($100,000) form the list of four marquee players.

10.  Women’s WC: Sri Lanka shocks England

i. Sri Lanka today earned a one wicket victory in their first game in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2013 against defending champions England in a thrilling Group A encounter at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.

ii.  Sri Lanka's Dulani Manodara pulled Georgia Elwiss over mid-wicket for a superb six to complete their first ever win against England.

iii. Chasing 239 to a win, Sri Lanka started well with openers Chamari Atapattu and Yasoda Mendis putting on 103 runs for the first wicket. But, Lanka lost their next 4 wickets for just 55 runs. Then, Kaushalya Lokusooriya contributed a whirlwind 56 off 41 balls with three sixes and 5 fours and brought back her team near the target.