GK Update : 17th August, 2016 (English)
By: D.K. Choudhary
Bihar Assembly unanimously passes GST bill

ii. With this, it has become the first non-Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state to ratify the GST, Last week, Assam became the first state to ratify the Bill.
iii. The GST Bill needs to be ratified by at least 15 state legislatures before the President can notify the GST Council, which will then decide the new tax rate and other issues.
Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa announces hike in pension to freedom fighters

ii. The announcement came during her address after unfurling national flag at Fort St. George on the occasion of Independence Day.
Odia becomes Official Language in Odisha from today

ii. According to the amendment of the Orissa Official Language Act 1954, all government letters, files will be carried in Odia language.
iii. Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has prepared a panel to ensure mandatory use of the Odia as the State language in all Government offices across the state.
India extends $ 1 million grant to Zimbabwe

ii. External Affairs Ministry said, last week, Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe handed over the assistance to Zimbabwe.
iii. Accepting the grant, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr. Misheck Sibanda thanked for the quick response by India to an international appeal made by his country.
Nuclear suppliers’ insurance policy unveiled

ii. INIP is the 27th global nuclear insurance pool which was launched by General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), in association with non-life.
iii. This pool provides capacity for insurance coverage to operators and suppliers for any nuclear liability towards third party.
CLRI scientist bags A P J Abdul Kalam award

ii. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa presented the award comprising a certificate, Rs. 5 lakh cheque and 8 gram gold medal.
Singapore ranked 6th in Global Innovation Index
ii. Switzerland, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America and Finland have been placed ahead of Singapore as the top 5 in the index, while Ireland, Denmark, Netherlands and Germany follow, including in the top 10 most innovative economies.
L&T bags contract to convert Nagpur into integrated smart city

ii. The goal of building a smart city is to improve the quality of life by using technology to improve the efficiency of services and meet residents’ needs.
Tata AutoComp to acquire TitanX

ii. TitanX supplies engine and powertrain cooling solutions to the commercial vehicle industry having plants across North America, South America, Europe and China with sales of approximately $200 million.
China successfully launches world’s first quantum satellite

ii. The satellite nicknamed “Micius” was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
iii. Quantum communication boasts of ultra-high security as a quantum photon can neither be separated nor duplicated. It is hence impossible to wiretap, intercept or crack the information transmitted through it.
Minda forms JV with Chinese firm for auto components

ii. The 50:50 joint venture, to be known as Minda China Plastic Solutions Ltd, is being formed between Minda KTSN, a 100% subsidiary of Minda Corp and the Chinese partner, the company said in a BSE filing.
iii. The total investment of the JV will be $1.25 million (around Rs 8.35 crore).
China begins operating bullet trains at 350 kmph speed

ii. The China Railway Corporation announced that Train No G8041 departed from Dalian for Shenyang, capital of northeast China’s Liaoning.
First Speaker of Delhi Assembly Charti Lal Goel passes away
i. Charti Lal Goel, the first speaker of the Delhi Assembly has passed away today after prolonged illness.
ii. Charti Lal, 89, breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
i. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has won gold in the 100-metre final in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ii. With this win, Bolt became the first man to win the event 3 times at consecutive Olympic Games.
iii. Bolt won the race in 9.81 seconds, followed by USA’s Justin Gatlin at 9.89 seconds and Canada’s Andre De Grasse at a personal-best 9.91 seconds.
iv. De Grasse is also the first Canadian male athlete to win a medal in Rio.