Daily GK Update [2nd April 2015]

1. Odisha Government launches Aahar scheme

i. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched his government’s much-hyped subsidised Aahar scheme on the occasion of the State’s Foundation Day.

ii. The scheme was launched in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela in the first phase.

iii. The Chief Minister launched the scheme in two towns — first at the Capital Hospital premises in Bhubaneswar followed by Government Hospital in Rourkela.

iv. Four Aahar outlets each have been opened in five towns where meal consisting of rice and Dalma is being provided at a subsidised rate with financial assistance from three State run corporations and Tata Steel.

2. Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approved Amaravathi as capital of the State

i. Andhra Pradesh Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu approved that Amaravathi will be the new capital city of the state. The capital will come up at Tullur in Vijayawada-Guntur region of the state.

ii. The name of Amaravathi as state capital was finalised in view of its historical, spiritual and mythological significance.

3. Indirect tax collection exceeds target by Rs 4,000 crore in FY15 

i. The collection of indirect taxes has surpassed the revised estimates by Rs 4,000 crore to reach Rs 5.46 lakh crore for the fiscal ended March 2015.

ii. The total collection as on March 31 is Rs 5,46,479 crore, based on the provisional report as against revised estimates of Rs 5,42,325 crore for 2014-15The total collection as on March 31 is Rs 5,46,479 crore, based on the provisional report as against revised estimates of Rs 5,42,325 crore for 2014-15.

4. Muhammadu Buhari claims victory in Nigeria's presidential elections

i. Former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari has become Nigeria’s president elect after defeating Goodluck Jonathan in the first democratic change of power ever in Africa's most populous nation.

ii. Mr Jonathan on Tuesday publicly conceded defeat, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to lead the nation.

iii. Mr Jonathan's defeat is the first time in Nigeria’s brief democracy that a sitting president has not won a second term or handed power to a nominated successor.

5. Punjab Government launches Padho Punjab- Khedo Punjab Mission

i. Punjab Government has launched ‘Padho Punjab- Khedo Punjab Mission’ i.e. Learn Punjab- Play Punjab Mission.

ii. It is a special mission launched to provide school students a separate period in the curriculum for playing along with studies.

iii. The purpose of the mission is to encourage more youngsters towards sports to produce quality players for the country. This will also inculcate the sportsmanship spirit and competitiveness amongst them.

6. Union Government launches FAME-India scheme to boost electric, hybrid vehicle sales

i. Union Government on 1 April 2015 launched Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles (FAME) – India Scheme.

ii. The scheme was launched as part of the National Mission for Electric Mobility to boost eco-friendly vehicles sales in the country.

iii. It's main objective is to support the hybrid or electric vehicles market development and its manufacturing eco-system in the country in order to achieve self-sustenance in stipulated period.

iv. The overall scheme is proposed to be implemented over a period next 6 years i.e. till 2020.

7. Gulshan Rai takes charge as India’s first cyber security chief

i. Gulshan Rai, the Director General of Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In), will take over as India's first Cyber Security chief.

ii. Rai, who also heads the eSecurity and Cyber Law division in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, has been involved in various capacities regarding cyber security for over two decades. He is part of the Department of Electronics and IT.

iii. Rai's appointment comes at a time when cyber security assumes importance in the backdrop of growing network intrusions and hacking attempts on not just businesses but also on the government. 

8. Isro IRNSS-1D Launch Puts India a Step Closer to Own GPS-Like System

i. India is set to operationalise its own navigational system with the succesful launch of IRNSS-1D, the fourth in the series of seven navigational satellites, onboard PSLV-C27 from Sriharikota.

ii. The expendable rocket had a single but important luggage, the 1,425 kg IRNSS-1D.

iii. The rocket blasted off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, around 80 km from Chennai.

iv. The IRNSS will provide two types of services - standard positioning service and restricted service. The former is provided to all users and the latter is an encrypted service for authorised users.