Daily GK Updates – 23rd March 2015
1. PM Modi Appointed as Chancellor of Visva Bharati University
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been appointed as the new chancellor of Visva Bharati University for the next three years.
ii. He replaced former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who stepped down recently.
iii. “The President in his capacity as the Visitor of Visa Bharati (Acharya) has been pleased to appoint Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Chancellor of Viswa Bharati for a term of three years,” said a University notification.
iv. The executive council of the university had passed a resolution in July last year to make Modi as the chancellor and had sent the resolution to the HRD Ministry.
v. While President of India is the Paridarsaka (Visitor) of the University, the West Bengal Governor is the Pradhana (Rector), and the Prime Minister the Acharya (Chancellor). The President of India appoints the Upacharya (Vice-Chancellor) of the University.
2. Nation observes Martyrs Day
i. March 23 is marked as the Martyr’s Day to honour the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev who were hanged to death on this very day in 1931. 
ii. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after his arrival in Amritsar headed straight for Hussainiwala by a helicopter where he paid his respects to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.
iii. It was in Hussainiwala that the three martyrs were unceremoniously cremated by the British after their hanging in Lahore on March 23, 1931.
3. World’s largest asteroid impact zone believed uncovered by ANU researchers in central Australia
i. Scientists have discovered a giant asteroid impact zone spanning 400km in the central Australian outback, the largest ever recorded.
ii. The impact was caused by an enormous meteorite that split into two 10km-wide chunks before it slammed into 
Earth around what is now the Warburton basin, lead researcher Andrew Glikson, from the Australian National University.
iii. Two huge bruises in the earth caused by the collisions were discovered 3km deep in the mantle and twin scars extending more than 190km long and 30km deep still mark the impact zone
iv. The easternmost scar was identified by chance in 2013 when geothermal drilling revealed traces of rocks that had been turned to glass by an extreme shock.
4. Urban Development Minister appeals for taking forward the land acquisition bill.
i. The new norms for land acquisition being proposed by the Government will be “pro-farmer” and development, according to M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs.
ii. “I appeal to all parties to enable taking forward this legislation. Let there be a national debate on advantages and disadvantages of the new land acquisition Bill and the old Bill of the then UPA Govt,’’ Naidu told newspersons at a press conference here on Monday. The amendments were finalised only after detailed consultations with 32 states and union territories, he added.
iii. The Government, which had issued an ordinance in this regard in December 2014, now wants to get the Bill passed by Parliament. “Bills on land acquisition, GST and black money are the next items for the second part of the Budget session.
iv. When asked on land-pooling for the new capital ofAndhra Pradesh, the Minister claimed that it was first time in history that so many farmers voluntarily came forward to surrender their land.
5. Andhra Pradesh to name the new capital city ‘Amaravati’
i. The Andhra Pradesh government is considering naming the new capital city planned in the Vijayawada-Guntur region as Amaravati, based on the historical Buddhist site along the Krishna River. While the government has taken a decision on the move to name the new capital as Amaravati, a formal announcement is likely to be made soon.
ii. Chandrababu Naidu government in Andhra Pradesh has initiated the land pooling process and has thus far managed to get consent for 33,000 acres for constructing the proposed new capital city. A Senior State Minister confirmed the proposed move.
iii. The master plan for the capital city, being prepared by Singapore-based firms, is likely to be ready by May-June this year and works are poised to commence in the second half of 2015.
iv. The State government seeks to name the new capital city on a small sleepy town known as a tourist spot, about 35 km from Vijayawada, and home to famous temple of Lord Shiva and a Buddhist Stupa.
v. As per historical data, Amaravati and nearby locations including Dharanikota served as capital of Satavahanas and later to other rulers.
6. Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew dies at 91
i. Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first prime minister, died on Monday aged 91, triggering a flood of tributes to the man who oversaw the tiny city-state’s rapid rise from a British colonial backwater to a global trade and financial center.
ii. U.S. President Barack Obama described Lee, who ruled Singapore for three decades, as “a true giant of history” whose advice on governance and economic development had been sought by other world leaders down the years.
iii. In his lifetime, Lee drew praise for his market-friendly policies, but also criticism at home and abroad for his strict controls over the press, public protest and political opponents.
iv.Lee had receded from public and political life over the past few years, but was still seen as an influential figure in the government of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, his eldest son.
7. Infosys, Accenture in last lap for Rs 900-crore deal in Australia
i. It’s raining IT deals. Infosys and Accenture have entered the final lap to clinch a Rs 900-crore ($150 million) IT outsourcing contract from Australia-based financial services provider Macquarie Group.
ii. The five-year contract will include application development, testing and infrastructure management services, said sources privy to the development.
iii. Macquarie provides banking, financial, advisory , investment and funds management services. It employs over 13,900 people in 28 countries.
iv. As of last September, Macquarie had 295 billion-euro worth of assets under management. When contacted by TOI, Infosys and Accenture, they declined to comment. Both Accenture and Infosys have engaged with Macquarie in the past.
8. SEBI bars 3 firms from mobilising public money
i. Continuing with strict action against entities raising public money illegally, SEBI has restrained Federal Agro Commercials, Kolkata Aryan Food Industries and Waris Agrotech from mobilising funds from investors.
ii. Besides, the Securities and Exchange Board of India has barred these three companies and their directors from accessing the securities market.
iii. The market regulator found that the companies had garnered capital from several investors through issuance of redeemable preference shares (RPS) and had “prima facie” violated various norms.
iv. SEBI observed that issues by these three firms were made to more than 50 people. Under the rules, that made them public issues of debt securities requiring compulsory listing on a recognised stock exchange.
9. Novak Djokovic won Indian Wells Open Tennis Men’s Singles title
i. Novak Djokovic of Serbia on 22 March 2015 won his fourth Indian Wells Open Tennis Men’s Singles title. In the final clash, Djokovic defeated Roger Federer of Switzerland 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2.
ii. This win at Indian Wells Open was the 50th tour-level title for Djokovic. With this fourth title in Indian Wells, he also became the 12th player in the Open Era to win 50 titles, surpassing his coach, Boris Becker, of 49 trophies.
iii. On the other hand, Simona Halep of Romania defeated former Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 to win her the Indian Wells Open Tennis Women’s Singles title. For Helep, this was the biggest title of her career.
iv. Halep is the first player to win three WTA titles in 2015. Earlier, she had won Shenzhen Open and Dubai Open in 2015.
10. Mallika-Srinivasan to receive Jehangir Ghandy Medal at XLRI
i. Xavier School of Management ( XLRI) one of India’s premier B-School, is all set to hold the 59th Annual Convocation on Saturday.
ii. The event is to hold at the Tata Auditorium, XLRI campus, Jamshedpur.
iii. This year XLRI would confer the prestigious Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial and Social Peace to Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & CEO, TAFE (Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited).
iv. Mallika Srinivasan has helped establish TAFE as a high-quality, mass manufacturer of tractors – a lean and resilient organisation that can effectively weather the cyclicality of the tractor business in a span of 25 years.
11. Sania Mirza ascends to world number three spot in doubles ranking
i. Sania Mirza jumped to her career-best rank of three in the doubles, following her stupendous title win at the BNP Paribas Open with Swiss great Martina Hingis.
ii. Sania now sits at number three with 6885 points, behind Italians Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani, who share the top spot with 7640 points each.
iii. Courtesy her win at the Indian Wells, Sania earned 1000 points and gained two places on the WTA chart. She had reached the final of the same tournament last year with Cara Black.
iv. “It’s thrilling to achieve my career-best rank. Being the number one is a dream and I hope I can get there some day,” Sania told PTI from the US.
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