Daily GK Potion – 7th November 2014

  1. RBI makes SMS alerts mandatory for cheque based transaction
    • As per latest RBI instructions, Banks will now start sending SMS alerts to payer and drawer in cheque transactions as soon as the instruments are received for clearing. RBI notified the instructions to address the cheque related fraud concerns.
    • “The rise in the number of cheque-related fraud cases is a matter of serious concern. It is evident that many of such frauds could have been avoided had due diligence been observed at the time of handling and/or processing the cheques and monitoring newly-opened accounts,” RBI said.
    • Banks have been asked to ensure any cheque above Rs. 2 lakh is scanned under ultraviolet lamp that will highlight any tampering before sending any alert to customer.
    • RBI has also directed the banks to take special attention on the quality of equipment and personnel deployed for cheque clearing.
  2. Goa CM Manohar Parrikar will be Union Defence Minister
    • He will resign on Saturday as the Goa Chief Minister after meeting with the 21 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators and will also discuss the names of his successor.
  3. Indian Navy vessel sinks off in Visakhapatnam
  4. Economy will grow at 5.6% in 2014-15, India Rating & Research says
    • Earlier it has predicted 5.7% growth which it revised to 5.6%.
    • “This is mainly because we now expect the industrial sector growth to be 4.6% as compared to 5.1% forecast earlier,” the agency said.
  5. India and Bhutan signs MoU on establishment of Nalanda University
    • Both sides agreed to develop Nalanda University in Bihar as an international centre of excellence.
    • The Nalanda University will be located at Rajgir in Bihar and will have the power to confer degrees, diplomas and certificates.
    • The MoU states that the objectives and functions of Nalanda University includes the establishment “of an international institution of learning that will bring together the brightest and the most dedicated students from all countries irrespective of gender, caste, creed, disability, ethnicity or socio-economic background.”
    • As per MoU, India will provide required visa to students, faculty and staff to travel to India to work or study.
  6. Prime Minister Modi adopt Jayapur village on his visit to Varanasi
    • PM Modi adopted village Jayapur as a part of Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.
    • It was his first visit to his parliamentary constituency since he votes in power.
    • “People should not rely on schemes alone for the development of villages, they should also take initiatives: I want to create a mentality to work for development of people who have helped us move forward,” the Prime Minister said.
    • He also urged people to end the practice of female foeticide.He said “If we kill girl child in the mother’s womb, then what will happen to the world. If only 800 girls are born against 1000 boys, then 200 boys will remain unmarried. Will government do this job?,”
  7. Bihar imposes ban on use of tobacco
    • Bihar government has announced the ban on tobacco and its product.
    • PM Jitan Ram Manjhi announced the ban on zarda, paan masala and other tobacco products on Tobacco prevention day.
  8. Union Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman adopts two villages in AP
    • she adopted Pedamainavanilanka and Toorputallu which will be developed into ‘ideal villages’ within one year.
  9. Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar unveils his book “Playing It My Way”