Daily GK Updates – 3rd March 2016
1. Hindujas acquire historic Old War Office in London
i. The Hinduja Group has completed the acquisition and taken possession of the historic Old War Office building 
opposite Downing Street, from where former prime minister Winston Churchill took key decisions during World War II.
ii. Acquired on Tuesday with Spanish company Obrascon Huarte Lain Desarrollos (OHLD) on a 250-year lease from the ministry of defence, the plan is to convert it into a hotel and luxury residences. The ministry said the sale of the Old War Office was for “in excess of £350 million following a competitive marketing process”.
iii. The heritage building, completed in 1906, contains around 1,100 rooms across seven floors, linked by more than two miles of corridors.
iv. The two groups will restore the historic fabric of the Old War Office and revitalise a location that has an unparalleled place in Britain’s social and political history.
2. India at 90th rank in terms of energy security, access: WEF
i. India has been ranked at the 90th place in a list of 126 countries compiled by WEF on the basis of their ability to deliver secure, affordable and sustainable energy, which was topped by Switzerland.
ii. The latest Global Energy Architecture Performance Index Report, explored the energy architecture of 126 countries based on their ability to provide energy access across three dimensions of the “energy triangle” — affordability, environmental sustainability, security and access.
iii. The list was topped by Switzerland followed by Norway and Sweden in the second and third place, respectively.
iv. Others in the top 10 include France (4th), Denmark (5th), Austria (6th), Spain (7th), Colombia (8th), New Zealand (9th) and Uruguay (10th).
3. NHAI ties up with business school for skill development of its manpower
i. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has tied up with Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad for management competencies of its technical and managerial manpower.
ii. There is a need for effective leaders who can understand and take on the multidisciplinary challenges that need to be addressed at multiple levels.
iii. The programme on “Leadership Programme in Infrastructure Management” in ISB aims at developing skills and competencies relating to multiple disciplines : Strategic Planning, Finance, Economics, Law, Social and Environmental issues, Public Policy etc. in Infrastructure Management.
4. Chennai gets India’s first self-cleaning smart toilets
i. In most Indian cities, public sanitation remains woefully inadequate, with rampant public urination and toilets being either dirty or too few.
ii. In a first of its kind project in India, over 180 self-cleaning public eToilets have been installed in the southern Indian city of Chennai.
iii. Spread over 35 square feet, each automatic unmanned toilet cleans itself before entry and after use. They come equipped with sensors for exhaust fan and light to ensure that they consume less water and power than conventional toilets.
iv. The toilets are programmed to flush with only 1.5 litres of water after 3 minutes of use, and with 4.5 litres if the usage period is longer. It also washes the floor automatically after five or ten rounds.
5. Government of India and World Bank Sign US$ 300 Million Agreement to Improve Learning Outcomes for Over 3 Million Students in Madhya Pradesh
i. The Government of India, the Government of Madhya Pradesh and the World Bank today signed a US$ 300 million credit agreement for the Madhya Pradesh (MP) Higher Education Quality Improvement Project to improve student learning outcomes in select government-run higher education institutions in Madhya Pradesh, particularly for the disadvantaged groups.
ii. The project will also help increase the overall effectiveness of the higher education system in Madhya Pradesh.
iii. The credit agreement for the project was signed by Raj Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs on behalf of the Government of India.
iv. K K Singh, Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education, on behalf of the Government of Madhya Pradesh; and Onno Ruhl, World Bank Country Director, India on behalf of the World Bank.
6. Parliament passes Carriage by Air amendment Bill, 2015
i. Parliament has passed the Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to empower Union government to revise the limits of liability for airlines and compensation as per the Montreal Convention which India accepted in 2009.
ii. The bill was first passed by the Lok Sabha in December 2015 and later it was passed by the Rajya in March 2016. Now it will go for the Presidential assent as per Article 111 of Constitution.
iii. The Bill seeks to amend the Carriage by Air Act, 1972 to revise the limits of liability for airlines and compensation in order adhere with the global counterparts.
iv. Empowers Union government to revise the limits of liability for airlines and compensation as per the Montreal Convention.
7. Government plans to set up more nuclear power plants
i. To meet the country’s growing needs, the government plans to set up nuclear power plants in in Bihar, Haryana and Punjab, Lok Sabha was informed today.
ii. Government aims to increase nuclear power generation capacity by three times in ten years. If it is 4,780 MW today, the same would go up to 13,480 MW, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha.
iii. He said new places are being explored for setting up plants to generate nuclear power which would be a big source for meeting the growing energy needs.
iv. With regard to nuclear power programme, Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, said the government is considering setting up new plants in areas not covered before.
8. Three British scientists win 2016 Brain Prize
i. Three British scientists have won a prestigious 2016 Grete Lundbeck European Brain Research Prize (also known as Brain Prize) for giving vital insight how the human brain remembers, learns and navigates.
ii. He is a visiting worker at the Crick Institute in London. Graham Collingridge: He is professor of neuroscience in anatomy at the University of Bristol. He is also head of the Department of Physiology at the University of Toronto.
iii. Shown how neurons in the hippocampus collaborate and provide a basis for understanding how humans remember. Hippocampus is located deep in the centre of the brain. It is the brain’s learning portal that enables us to store information.
9. IFC launches Uridashi Masala Bonds
i. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank has launched its first Uridashi Masala Bonds (Japanese bonds).
ii. These masala bonds were launched to mobilise 30 crore rupees from Japanese retail investors and will be sold to Japanese household investors.
iii. The proceeds from these bonds will be used for promoting private sector development in India. JP Morgan is the sole arranger of the bonds and Daisen Hinomaru Securities is its distributor.
10. Government cancels IRB contract
i. The government has cancelled the contract for the Rs.10,050 crore ($1.5 billion) Zojila Pass Tunnel Building Project, India’s most expensive and biggest national highway (NH)project, after Opposition parties alleged irregularities in bidding.
ii. Mumbai-based IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd (IRB Infra) emerged as the sole bidder for the project which would have provided crucial all-weather connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir and Leh–Ladakh.
iii. The company has received a communication from Ministry of Road Transport & Highways that they have decided to cancel the bid process for the project and cancelled the said LoA without assigning any reason.
iv. An IRB statement said. IRB Infra won the contract in January to build a tunnel for a distance of 14.08 km in Jammu and Kashmir after it emerged as the sole bidder.
11. South Korea lawmakers pass contentious anti-terror bill after record filibuster ends
i. Lawmakers approved South Korea’s first anti-terrorism legislation Wednesday after outnumbered opposition members ended more than a week of nonstop speeches in the National Assembly aimed at delaying the vote.
ii. Nearly 160 parliament members voted for the bill, with one voting against it. Opposition lawmakers apparently boycotted.
iii. The 38 liberal lawmakers who filibustered said the bill threatens personal freedoms and privacy. They took turns speaking for more than 193 hours in the filibuster beginning Feb. 23, reportedly making it one of the longest of its kind in world politics.
iv. They stopped their marathon speeches out of concern that a continuation might cause a public backlash ahead of April parliamentary elections.
12. Poet Dr Bhagwati Lal Vyas selected for 2015 Bihari Puraskar
i. Eminent poet Dr Bhagwati Lal Vyas has been selected for the 2015 Bihari Puraskar for his anthology of Rajasthani poems ‘Katha Sun Aawe Hai Sabad’ published in 2010.
ii. Dr Vyas through his poetry has highlighted the increasing tendencies of commercialization and degradation of human values.
iii. Dr Vyas was born on July 10, 1941 in Gilund village in Raj Samand district of Rajasthan. His literally works reflect the unpleasant changes in human relations, social disparity and loss of human values although positivity and his faith in human life.
iv. His best known works includes compendium of poems titled ‘Shatabdi Niruttar’ (1977), ‘Footpath Par Chiriya Nachti Hai’ (1984) and a collection of short stories ‘Suraj Leelti Ghatiyan’ stand out.
13. Martin Crowe dead: New Zealand cricket legend dies aged 53 after losing cancer battle
i. Former Black Caps captain Martin Crowe has passed away aged 53.The cricket great had been suffering from lymphoma since September 2014.
ii. When he announced his chances of survival beyond 12 months were less than 5%. He was first diagnosed with cancer in 2012 before getting the all-clear a year later.
iii. It is with heavy hearts that the family of Martin Crowe, MBE, advise of his death,” his family said in a statement.
iv. Diagnosed in September 2014 with terminal double-hit lymphoma, he passed away peacefully, Thursday 3 March in Auckland surrounded by family.”
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