GK Update 16 August 2016

1. Bihar Assembly unanimously passes GST bill

i. The Bihar state assembly has unanimously passed the crucial Goods and Services Tax Bill (GST Bill).
ii. With this, it has become the first non-Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state to ratify the GST, Last week, Assam became the first state to ratify the Bill.
iii. The GST Bill needs to be ratified by at least 15 state legislatures before the President can notify the GST Council, which will then decide the new tax rate and other issues.

2. Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa announces hike in pension to freedom fighters

i. Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa has announced Rs 1,000 increase in the freedom fighters pension from Rs 11,000.
ii. The announcement came during her address after unfurling national flag at Fort St. George on the occasion of Independence Day.

3. Odia becomes Official Language in Odisha from today

i. Odia language will be used as the official language in all government offices in Odisha from today onwards.
ii. According to the amendment of the Orissa Official Language Act 1954, all government letters, files will be carried in Odia language.
iii. Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has prepared a panel to ensure mandatory use of the Odia as the State language in all Government offices across the state.

4. India extends $ 1 million grant to Zimbabwe

i. India has provided One million US Dollars grant to Zimbabwe in the wake of El Nino induced drought disaster.
ii. External Affairs Ministry said, last week, Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe handed over the assistance to Zimbabwe.
iii. Accepting the grant, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr. Misheck Sibanda thanked for the quick response by India to an international appeal made by his country. 

5. Nuclear suppliers’ insurance policy unveiled

i. New India Assurance Co and india nuclear insurance pool (INIP) will issue the policy and administer the claims on behalf of the pool.
ii. INIP is the 27th global nuclear insurance pool which was launched by General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), in association with non-life
iii. This pool provides capacity for insurance coverage to operators and suppliers for any nuclear liability towards third party.

6. CLRI scientist bags A P J Abdul Kalam award

i. Central Leather Research Institute's (CLRI) Principal Scientist P Shanmugam has bagged the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award for meritorious services in the Higher Education Department of Tamil Nadu (TN).
ii. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa presented the award comprising a certificate, Rs. 5 lakh cheque and 8 gram gold medal.

7. Singapore ranked 6th in Global Innovation Index

i. India climbed 15 spots, from 81 last year, to 66 in the Global Innovation Index (GII) and maintained the top spot in the Central and South Asia regions, according to the rankings released by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
ii. Switzerland, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America and Finland have been placed ahead of Singapore as the top 5 in the index, while Ireland, Denmark, Netherlands and Germany follow, including in the top 10 most innovative economies.

8. L&T bags contract to convert Nagpur into integrated smart city

i. Larsen & Toubro has been identified as Implementation Partner to convert Nagpur, into the country's first large-scale integrated Smart City as per a Letter of Intent that was handed over in the auspicious presence of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis.
ii. The goal of building a smart city is to improve the quality of life by using technology to improve the efficiency of services and meet residents’ needs. 

9. Tata AutoComp to acquire TitanX

i. Tata AutoComp Systems, the Tata Group-owned auto-component conglomerate, will acquire TitanX, a leading global engine cooling supplier. It is currently owned by EQT Opportunity and Fourier transform.
ii. TitanX supplies engine and powertrain cooling solutions to the commercial vehicle industry having plants across North America, South America, Europe and China with sales of approximately $200 million.

10. China successfully launches world's first quantum satellite

i. China today successfully launched the world's first quantum satellite which boasts of establishing hack-proof communications between space and the ground as it is equipped with security features to prevent wiretapping and intercepts.
ii. The satellite nicknamed "Micius" was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
iii. Quantum communication boasts of ultra-high security as a quantum photon can neither be separated nor duplicated. It is hence impossible to wiretap, intercept or crack the information transmitted through it.

11. Minda forms JV with Chinese firm for auto components

i. Auto component maker Spark Minda group flagship firm, Minda Corporation Ltd has formed a joint venture (JV) with China's Shandong Beiqi Hai Hua Automobile Parts Co (SBHAP).
ii. The 50:50 joint venture, to be known as Minda China Plastic Solutions Ltd, is being formed between Minda KTSN, a 100% subsidiary of Minda Corp and the Chinese partner, the company said in a BSE filing.
iii. The total investment of the JV will be $1.25 million (around Rs 8.35 crore).

12. China begins operating bullet trains at 350 kmph speed

i. China began operating its indigenously designed bullet trains which can clock 350 kmph speed, the country's first passenger train using Electric Multiple Units technology.
ii. The China Railway Corporation announced that Train No G8041 departed from Dalian for Shenyang, capital of northeast China’s Liaoning.

13. First Speaker of Delhi Assembly Charti Lal Goel passes away

i. Charti Lal Goel, the first speaker of the Delhi Assembly has passed away today after prolonged illness.
ii. Charti Lal, 89, breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

14. Usain Bolt wins gold in men's 100 meters in Rio Olympics

i. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has won gold in the 100-metre final in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ii. With this win, Bolt became the first man to win the event 3 times at consecutive Olympic Games.
iii. Bolt won the race in 9.81 seconds, followed by USA’s Justin Gatlin at 9.89 seconds and Canada’s Andre De Grasse at a personal-best 9.91 seconds.
iv. De Grasse is also the first Canadian male athlete to win a medal in Rio.