Daily GK Potion – 7th January 2015
- Russia’s Popov Ivan wins Chennai Open Chess title
- Top seed Grandmaster Popov Ivan of Russia clinched the seventh Chennai International Open Grandmaster Chess title.
- Champion Popov Ivan (Russia) was awarded the cash purse of Rs. 200000, while Runner-up second placed Uzbek GM Dzhumaev Marat got Rs 150000. Third placed GM Mozharov Mikhail (Russia) secured a cash award of Rs. 115000.
- PM Modi releases commemorative coin on Jamsetji Tata’s birth anniversary
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative coin on Tuesday to mark the 175th birth anniversary of Tata group founder Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata.
- Jamsetji Tata founded the Tata group in 1868.
- The translation of his vision led to creation of India’s first integrated steel plant (Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur plant—1907), hydroelectric power plants that service Mumbai’s needs till today (Tata Power’s Khopoli plant—1910), and the Indian Institute of Science (1909).
- The reverse face of the coin bears the image of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata in the centre, with the inscription “175 वा जन्मदिवस” in Devnagri script.
- Amitabh Bachchan to be brand ambassador of Andhra Pradesh health department
- Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan will be the brand ambassador for the medical and health department of Andhra Pradesh, health minister Kamineni Srinivas said.
- Indian weight lifters end campaign with 14 medals
- Indian weightlifters ended their campaign on a high by bagging a total of 14 medals, including six gold in the 17th Asian Youth (boys & girls), 22nd Junior Women and 29th Junior Men Asian Weightlifting Championships at Doha, Qatar.
- High-level panel suggests single window system for green nods
- A high level committee has suggested setting up of a ‘single window’ clearance system for green projects to significantly reduce the processing time.
- A four-member panel headed by former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian has recommended setting up of a full-time expert body, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), at the Centre, and State Environmental Management Authority (SEMA) to evaluate project clearance in a time bound manner.
- Nilesh Shah quits Axis Capital
- Nilesh Shah, the MD and CEO of Axis Capital, has resigned.
- He will be joining Kotak Asset Management Company as its new MD and CEO.
- Google’s Larry Page named as business person of the year for 2014
- Google’s Larry Page has emerged as the ‘business person of the year’ for 2014.
- Page is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-founder of Google.
- Ordinance to amend Citizenship Act promulgated
- Government today promulgated an ordinance that seeks to merge Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) schemes, by which PIOs will also get life-long Indian visa.
- The President has signed the Citizenship Ordinance.
- The amendments through the ordinance to the Citizenship Act will benefit PIOs and will give them benefits like life-long visa and exemption from appearing before the local police station on every visit.
- 500 Firms Approach Ministry to Make PF Optional
- As many as 500 companies have approached the Ministry of Labour to consider revamping of the laws governing salary payment and granting employees a choice in how they are paid their salary. The petition asks the government to give employees the choice to decide on three issues.
- Firstly, whether to make their 12 per cent employee contribution to Provident Fund or opt out of it
- Secondly whether to pay 12 per cent employer contribution to the Employee Pension Scheme or to an individual account opened with the National Pension Scheme.
- And thirdly, whether to pay their ESI contribution to the ESI corporation or purchase insurance from any IRDA regulated insurance company.