Monday, February 16, 2015

Daily GK Update - 16th February 2015

1. Modi, Sirisena hold joint press conference
i. With a promise for a “new beginning” in India-Sri Lanka ties, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in New Delhi.
ii. While investment will be a key theme, it is learnt that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which New Delhi has been pushing for, did not figure in the round of discussions.

Agreements between Both countries
  • Agreement between Sri Lanka and India on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. 
  • Programme of Cultural Cooperation between Sri Lanka and India for the years 2015 - 18. 
  • MoU on the Establishment of Nalanda University. The MoU would enable Sri Lanka to participate in the Nalanda University Project.
  • Work-Plan 2014-2015 under the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture between India and Sri Lanka.

2. January WPI inflation dips to - 0.39%
i. Inflation dropped to a five and a half year low of - 0.39 per cent in January on falling prices of manufactured and fuel items.
ii. Inflation measured on wholesale price index (WPI) was at 0.11 per cent in December. The data for November was revised downwards to a negative - 0.17 per cent, from the provisional estimate of zero.
iii. Inflation in ‘fuel and power segment’ was negative at -10.69 per cent, while in manufactured products it was 1.05 per cent.
iv. RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, in the monetary policy review earlier this month, kept key interest rate unchanged saying the apex bank wanted more comfort on inflation front as it awaited cues from Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s first full year Budget.

3. ED slaps Rs 425 crore FEMA notice on BCCI, IPL
i. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has slapped a Rs 425 crore show cause notice against BCCI, IPL, their officials and private multimedia firms for alleged contravention of forex laws in awarding a media rights contract in 2009.
ii. The notices have been issued to close to ten individuals and entities, which include former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief N. Srinivasan, the then-IPL chairman Lalit Modi, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sunder Raman.
iii. The ED stepped in this case in 2009 and began a probe under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to investigate allegations that payment of Rs 425 crore facilitation fees by MSM Singapore to WSG Mauritius was made in an alleged unauthorised manner.

4. BS Ispat wins coal mine in Maharashtra
i. On the third day of the coal auction, BS Ispat won a mine in Maharashtra. BS Ispat gets Marki Mangli 3 at (Rs.) 918 (per tonne).
ii. Three mines on the offer in Monday’s auction are Mandla North (MP), Marki Mangli III (Maharashtra) and Trans Damodar (West Bengal).
iii. After the Supreme Court cancelled allocation of 204 mines in September, the government decided to auction the blocks. It is putting up 19 blocks on sale in the first tranche.

5. 293 firms commit to generate 266 GW renewable energy in 5 years
i. As many as 293 companies have committed to generate 266 GW of renewable energy in the next five years under the government’s ambitious RE-Invest programme unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
ii. Country’s largest power producer NTPC has also said it would generate 10,000 mw of power through green sources in the next five years.
iii. Renewable energy companies including Suzlon and Gamesa have committed to manufacture equipment to help generate 11,000 mw and 7,500 mw of power respectively to be used in the non conventional energy side.
iv. Among others are Welspun Energy with a target to generate 11,000 mw renewable energy, followed by ReNew Power 11,500 mw capacity, Reliance Power 6,000 mw, Hindustan Powerprojects 10,000 mw and Sun Edison 15,000 mw.
v. Country’s biggest lender SBI has said it will finance 15,000 mw renewable energy over the next five years.

6. IPL-8 player auction
i. Some of the notable Purchases were - 
PLAYERS
TEAM NAME
PRICE
Murali Vijay -
 Kings XI Punjab
3 crore
Angelo Mathews -
Delhi Daredevils
7.5 crore
Kane Williamson -
Sunrisers Hyderabad
60 lakh
Yuvraj Singh -
Delhi Daredevil
16 crore
Kevin Pietersen
Sunrisers Hyderabad
2 crore
Dinesh Karthik -
Royal Challengers Bangalore
10.5 crore
Aaron Finch -
Mumbai Indians
3.2 crore
Amit Mishra -
Delhi Daredevils
3.5 crore
Eoin Morgan -
Sunrisers Hyderabad
1.5 crore
Michael Hussey -
Chennai Super Kings
1.5 crore
S. Badrinath -
Royal Challengers Bangalore
30 lakh
James Neesham -
Kolkata Knight Riders
50 lakh
Chris Morris-
Rajasthan Royals
1.4 crore
Darren Sammy-
Royal Challengers Bangalore
2.8 crore
Laxmi Shukla-
Sunrisers Hyderabad
30 lakh
Ravi Bopara -
Sunrisers Hyderabad
1 crore
Praveen Kumar -
Sunrisers Hyderabad
2.2. crore
Trent Boult -
Sunrisers Hyderabad
3.8 crore
Jaydev Unadkat -
Delhi Daredevils
1.1 crore
Sean Abbott -
Royal Challengers Bangalore
1 crore
Adam Milne -
Royal Challengers Bangalore
70 lakh
Pragyan Ojha
Royal Challengers Bangalore
50 lakh
Rahul Sharma -
Chennai Super Kings
30 lakh
Brad Hogg -
Kolkata Knight Riders
50 lakh
David Wiese
Royal Challengers Bangalore
2.2 crore
Kyle Abbott
Chennai Super Kings
30 lakh
Mitch McClenaghan 
Mumbai Indians
30 lakh
Gurinder Sandhu -
Delhi Daredevils
1.5 crore



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