Daily GK Potion – 14th January 2015

  1. DRDO chief Avinash Chander sacked to bring in young people
    • The Union government sacked DRDO chief Avinash Chander who was serving on a contract basis.
    • “I recommended this. We need someone young and didn’t want somebody on contract to be in such a senior post,” Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
  2. Arvind Panagariya takes charge as Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog
    • NITI Aayog‘s first Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya today suggested making India a zero-tariff country — soon after taking charge at the newly-created government think-tank.
  3. Idukki becomes first dist to have high-speed rural broadband
    • The Centre is working on a policy on setting up Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) centres in mofussil towns to empower rural population and boost economic development, Union Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
    • Launching the country’s first hi-speed rural broadband network in Kerala’s high-range Idukki district at a function here, he said the IT Department had been asked to prepare a “proper policy on BPOs”.
  4. Bengaluru FC bag maiden Federation Cup title
    • Bengaluru FC lifted their maiden Federation Cup football tournament title when they edged past 10-man Dempo FC 2-1 in the summit clash.
    • Bengaluru FC defender Curtis Osano was declared the Hero of the Match and was awarded Rs 10,000.
  5. H S Brahma to be India’s next Chief Election Commissioner
    • Former bureaucrat Harishankar Brahma will be taking over as the Chief Election Commissioner after present CEC Veeravalli Sundaram Sampath retires.
  6. Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka meets PM Modi; dedicates $250 million to innovate in India
    • Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and disclosed that his company will spend $250 million (over Rs 1,500 crore) to fund innovations in software and services in India.
    • Infosys will develop software for managing the kumbh mela scheduled in Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) in 2016.
  7. Canara Bank bags 3 MSME awards
    • Canara Bank has bagged three awards at the annual flagship event “MSME Banking Excellence Awards-2014” organised by Chamber of Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (CIMSME).
    • Canara Bank has been adjudged as the “Best Bank Award-Winner” among other awards.