Daily gkbytes 21/05/15

1. SBI partners with PayPal
   
   i. The country's largest bank announced a partnership with digital payments firm, PayPal so that the Customers of State Bank of India (SBI) can now use their debit cards on PayPal for buying products from overseas websites.
   
2. India continues to lead in global confidence index
   i. India continued to lead the global confidence index in anticipation of improvement in the economy through reforms and stimulus announced by the central government.
   ii. India’s consumer confidence score rose to 130 followed by Indonesia (123) and Philippines (115).
   
3. Meghalaya, Tripura governors sworn-in
   i. Senior BJP leader V Shanmuganathan was today sworn-in as the Governor of Meghalaya at the Raj Bhavan.
   ii. Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court Uma Nath Singh administered the oath of office to Shanmuganathan at a solemn ceremony attended by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and most of his cabinet colleagues.
   
   
   
   
   iii. Tathagata Roy on 20 May 2015 was sworn in as the 16th Governor of Tripura in Agartala.
   Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court Mr. Jc. Deepak Gupta administered the oath of office to him as per the provisions of Article 159 of Constitution of India.
   iv. He replaced Padmanabh Balkrishna Acharya, Governor of Nagaland, who had held the additional charge of Tripura.
   
4. Infosys is first Indian company to join RE100 global renewable energy campaign
   i. The Climate Group announced that Infosys, one of India's largest Information Technology corporations has become the first Indian company to join RE100, a global platform for major companies committed to 100% renewable power.
   
5. Yamuna Expressway becomes India’s first road runway after IAF Mirage 2000 jet successfully lands
   Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh had become India’s first road runway after Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage 2000 fighter jet successfully landed as part of trials to use national highways for emergency landing. The first of its kind initiative in India’s aviation history took place on Yamuna Expressway near Mathura with active support from Uttar Pradesh government, Yamuna Expressway Authority. It should be noted that Yamuna Expressway is the longest Greenfield expressway in the country.
   
6. ISIS militants take control of Syria’s ancient city of Palmyra
   Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants have taken complete control of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra. The city is a UNESCO designated World Heritage site and home to some of the world’s most magnificent ancient ruins.
7. Maharashtra government to allow women to work in night shifts
   
   Maharashtra Government has decided to allow women employees to work in night shifts. In this regard, state government is going to amend Section 66(1) (c) Factories Act 1948, thus making the way for women employees to work in night shifts. At present, section 66(1) (c) of Act does not allow women employees from working at a factory between 7 PM and 6 AM. However, after amending the 67-year old Act, the factory managements will have to ensure security of women working in night shifts.
   
8. Akhil Amar appointed to key administration post by US President Barack Obama
   
   Akhil Amar, an Indian-American professor from Yale University has been appointed as a member of the
   prestigious National Council on Humanities of US by President Barack Obama.
   
9. Astra missile successfully test-fired from Sukhoi-30 MKI in Odisha
   
   Indigenously-developed beyond visual range air-to-air Astra missile was successfully test fired at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha.
10. President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurates 50th anniversary of India’s first historic climb of Mt. Everest in 1965President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the 50th Anniversary of India’s first historic climb of Mt. Everest in 1965 at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This function was organized by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) to celebrate the historic climb of Mt. Everest in 1965 by an Indian team led by Captain Mohan Singh Kohli.