DAILY GK UPDATE 1ST MARCH

1.    Manik Sarkar to be Tripura CM for 5th time:

i. Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar set to assume office for a 5th time after leading the Left to a huge electoral win, is the son of a tailor who still washes his own clothes.

ii. An unassuming man, the 64-year-old got down to work no soon than he was declared the winner from Dhanpur constituency.

NOTE: The Left front won an overwhelming majority of 50 seats in the 60 member house.

2.    Petrol price hiked by Rs 1.40

i. Petrol price was hiked on Friday by Rs 1.40 per litre, the second big increase in rates in as many weeks.

ii. A rise in international oil prices and depreciation in rupee have necessitated a Rs 1.40 per litre increase in price of petrol with effect from Friday midnight, said a statement by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

iii. The hike is excluding local sales tax or VAT and the actual increase in rate for consumers will be higher after including the tax incidence.

NOTE: The previous petrol price hike was Rs 1.50 a litre excluding VAT on 16th February.

3.    India and UK Signed MoU on in Earth Sciences

i. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and UK to strengthen their cooperation in Earth Sciences and environmental research on 1 March 2013 in New Delhi.

ii. The MoU will allow the two countries to share information on meteorology, hydrology and climate variability.

Major points of the MoU signed:

i. The MoU inked between India and UK will allow the two to share information on meteorology, hydrology and climate variability.

ii. The MoU will also help in promoting exchange of scientific and technical capabilities.

iii. The MoU was signed between the Earth System Science Organisation of the Ministry of Earth Sciences and Natural Environment Research Council of UK. Science and Technology Minister of India, S Jaipal Reddy was also present.

NOTE: The Memorandum of Understanding will help India in improving the forecasting capability of various weather and climate-related phenomena by sharing the expertise and knowledge. This advance forecasting will help people associated with the agriculture sector, which is the main sector of the India’s economy.

4.    BJP conclave begins

i. BJP conclave begins in New Delhi from today.

ii. The internal security situation, economic slowdown and relations with Pakistan will be some of the issues that will figure prominently at the BJP conclave begins in New Delhi from Friday.

iii. This conclave is crucial as it will be the first such meeting after the election of Rajnath Singh as the BJP chief.

5.    Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal is the New Director General of Indian Coast Guard

i. Vice Admiral Anurag G Thapliyal on 28 February 2013 took over as the twentiethDirector General of the Indian Coast Guard.

ii. He is the successor of the outgoing Vice Admiral MP Muralidharan

6.    Job opportunities in plywood industry: Forest Min

i. Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Mrs.Jayanthi Natarajan today said, there is employment opportunity for 8 lakh people in the plywood industry. 

ii. Speaking to newspersons in Chennai on the sidelines of the General Body Meeting of the Indian Plywood Industries Research and Training Institute, the Minister said that 12 plant species have been introduced for improving agro- forestry in Tamil Nadu. 

7.    K. T. Irfan finishes 5th in IAAF Race Walking

i. National record holder Kolothum Thodi Irfanfinished a creditable fifth in a top-class field in the IAAF 20km Race Walking Challenge event held at Taicang (China) on Friday.

ii. Irfan, who finished 10th in 2012 London Olympics with a national record, clocked one hour 20 minutes and 59 seconds, the second best timing of his career.

iii. Sun Huanhuan of China won in 1:27:36, while compatriot Lu Xiuzhi finished 22 secs behind.