Daily GK Potion – 24th and 25th January 2016

TranServ launches India’s first social mobile wallet Udio

TranServ, a leading digital payments company, has launched India’s 1st Social Mobile Wallet, Udio.
Udio Wallet integrates a social, community-driven aspect with anytime, anywhere accessibility to digital P2P (peer-to-peer) transactions via its secure and seamless payment structure, creating a ubiquitous ecosystem for both consumers and brands.
Udio enables squaring of dues, sharing dinner bills or a cab ride a hassle free task.
Every Udio wallet comes with a VISA Pre-Paid Card linked that is powered by Ratnakar Bank allowing Udio users to leverage the wallet’s payments facility with over 1 lakh merchants across the country.

Union Defence Minister unfurls India’s largest and tallest Tricolour in Ranchi

Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday hoisted India’s tallest and largest Tricolour atop the famous Pahari Mandir in Ranchi on the occasion of 119th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The Pahari Mandir is one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites in Jharkhand. The Tricolour is 66 feet in height, 99 feet in width and it is hoisted on a 293 feet tall pole.
The minister also laid online foundation of the Jharkhand Raksha Shakti University (defence universities).

Cabinet recommends President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh

The Union Cabinet on Sunday recommended imposition of President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh, which is facing a political turmoil.
Arunachal Pradesh was rocked by a political crisis on December 16 last year as 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to ‘impeach’ Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, in a move branded as “illegal and unconstitutional” by the Speaker.
Up in arms against Congress Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, 21 rebel party MLAs, including 14 disqualified a day before, with the help of BJP and independent legislators, congregated at a community hall after the state Assembly complex was ‘sealed’ by the local administration, and ‘impeached’ Rebia in an impromptu session chaired by deputy speaker T Norbu Thongdok.

ONGC gets environmental nod for Rs 53,000-crore KG basin infrastructure development

State-owned ONGC has received environmental clearance for drilling 45 development wells and other related infrastructure involving a cost of over Rs 53,000 crore in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin in Andhra Pradesh.
It is expected that the proposed development drilling and subsequent development of fields would lead to the production of 51.33 billion cubic metres of gas over a period of 16 years and 26.71 million cubic metres of oil in 12 years
ONGC has also been asked to use high-efficiency diesel generator sets, adopt conservation measures to protect marine life and develop waste minimisation plan
The proposed project, which would cost Rs 53,058 crore, will be implemented in the northern discovery area of NELP-I offshore block KG-DW N-98/2 that covers an area of 7,294.6 sq km and is located within 25-80 km from the nearest coast.

Maharashtra’s first Solar Power operated Mini-Water Supply Plant commissioned

Maharashtra’s first Solar Power operated Mini-Water Supply Plant has been commissioned in Hingna village of Mouda Taluka in Nagpur district.
The Solar Pump Unit has been installed on experimental basis by Rite Water Solutions under the supervision of the Zilla Parishad authorities.
The plant will facilitate villagers to get pure water supply for a very low cost, which can easily be borne by the Gram Panchayat.
The system runs completely on solar power for which 1800 Watt panels have been installed.
It delivers 10000 Litres of purified water every day and the nitrate content from water is completely removed so as to prevent the ill effects on the health of villagers.

Sushma Swaraj Arrives In Bahrain For First India-Arab Ministerial Meet

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Manama today for the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum to deepen the country’s ties with the 22-member grouping amid tensions between regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran
Ms Swaraj, who is Manama on a two-day visit, will also hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers of a number of Arab League countries, including her Bahraini counterpart Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
India and Arab League are expected to deliberate on the whole gamut of bilateral issues including trade and investment, energy and culture among others.

Election Commission of India Celebrated 6th National Voters’ ‘Day

Election Commission of India is celebrating 6th National Voters’ Day (NVD) across the country on 25th January.
The theme for the 6th National Voters’ Day is ‘Inclusive and Qualitative Participation’.
The National function of the NVD held in New Delhi and was presided over by President of India, Shri. Pranab Mukherjee.
Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Nasim Zaidi has released the book titled, ‘Belief in the Ballot’ and presented the first copy to the President.

Tabla maestro Pandit Shankar Ghosh passes away

Eminent tabla player Pandit Shankar Ghosh passed away on Friday night at a private city hospital here.
He was 80 years old.
The 80-year-old, amongst the most well-known tabla players in the country, was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the year 2000.
Sindhu wins Malaysia Masters title
Two-time World Championship bronze-medallist, India’s P.V. Sindhu made a rousing start to the new season as she clinched the Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold title after defeating Scotland’s Kristy Gilmour in straight games in the final in Penang on Sunday.
This is her second Malaysia Masters Grand Prix Gold title, having won it in 2013 as well. She also completed a hat—trick at the Macau Open Grand Prix Gold in November last year.

Amit Shah elected unopposed as BJP president for a 2nd term

Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah, who is credited with taking the party’s membership to a new high and leading it to power in four states, was today elected unopposed for a new term with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading party bigwigs in his endorsement.
Party veterans, including L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who have in past expressed their unhappiness with 51-year-old Shah’s stewardship, were conspicuous by their absence at its headquarters as its almost entire top national and state leaders lined up to greet him
Shah’s unanimous election for a three-year term is in line with the party’s tradition of choosing its president with a consensus, an outcome virtually guaranteed after Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the party’s ideological mentor which has always had a say in the matter, threw their weight behind his continuance.