DAILY GK UPDATE - 23rd March

1.    Give customers a free copy of credit profile: RBI 

i. Customers should be given a free copy of their credit profile as it would help in promoting financial discipline among loan seekers, an RBI report says. 

ii. "The Committee has suggested that providing customers with a free copy of their Credit Information Reports (CIRs) would help create awareness about the need to have credit discipline, enable customers to correct their behaviour and improve their score well before they plan to avail fresh credit of any kind...," the report said. 

iii. Report of the 'Committee to recommend Data Format for Furnishing of Credit Information to Credit Information Companies (CICs)' has been put up on RBI's website for comments. 

iv. The panel, headed by Aditya Puri, Chairman of HDFC Bank, also recommended use of common data formats and a common data quality index that could assist credit institutions in determining the gaps in data. 

v. Low usage of credit information by member institutions and other specified users needs to be addressed by requiring CICs to populate their databases with requisite credit information so that enquiries by specified users yield desired information, it added. 

vi. The Credit Information Bureau (India) (CIBIL) was incorporated in 2000.

2.    Dalai Lama releases book on former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri

      i. Dalai Lama on Sunday released 'Lal Bahadur Shastri: Lessons in Leadership', a biography that encapsulates former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri's life.

      ii. The book presents a recollection of Shastri's childhood, his adult and public life poignantly narrated by his son, Anil Shastri and perceptively interpreted by Pavan Choudary.

      iii. Launched just a few weeks before the country decides on who it wants for its prime minister, the book contains an account of how Shastri handled questions of governance and politics even as he dealt with crises like the 1965 war with Pakistan.

      iv. The book speaks of how Shastri answered charges of 'indecision' and handled "unresponsive officials" in episodes which almost seem to mirror some of the political circumstances which the Congress-led UPA government found itself facing during its 10-year tenure.

3.    Jeev nominated for Asian Tour�s �Player of the Decade� award

i. Ace Indian golfer Jeev Milkha Singh said he was immensely proud on being named as one of five golfers nominated for Asian Tour�s �Player of the Decade� award.

ii. The 42-year-old Indian, a two-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion and a winner of six tournaments, was named alongside Korea�s K.J. Choi and Y.E. Yang and the Thai duo of Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant as the five players nominated for the prestigious award.

iii. The winner will be revealed on April 22 at Asian Tour�s Award Night in Jakarta.

4.    ICC Twenty-20: Pakistan defeat Australia with 16-run

i. Pakistan brought their campaign back on track as they rode on Umar Akmal's scintillating 54-ball 94 to register a 16-run victory over tournament favourites Australia in the ICC World T20 in Mirpur on Sunday.

ii. In the end, Glenn Maxwell's belligerent 33-ball-74 wasn't enough for Australia to chase down the formidable total in this group league encounter. After posting 191 for five, Pakistan bowled out Australia, who were in the chase till the 15th over, for 175. 

iii. The turning point was the 18th over bowled by Ajmal in which he gave only one run and also dismissed Aaron Finch (64, 55 balls), who was still carrying on the chase. 

5.    ICC Twenty-20: India beat West Indies by 7 wickets

i. India defeated West Indies by 7 wickets in their second Group match of the ICC Twenty-20 Cricket World Cup at Dhaka last night. Put in to bat, West Indies posted 129 for 7.

ii. In reply, India overhauled the target with 2 balls to spare and 7 wickets in hand.

iii. Amit Mishra was adjudged man of the match for bagging 2 wickets, and conceding just 18 runs from 4 overs. Mishra was named man of the match in India's opening Group match against Pakistan on Friday, which the Men in Blue won by 7 wickets.

iv. In the other Group-II match yesterday, Pakistan beat Australia by 16 runs in a thrilling match at Dhaka.

v. Meanwhile, in the ICC Women's T-20 World Cup, the Indian Women's team will clash with Sri Lanka in their opening group match at Sylhet today.

6.    Air India defends title in Senior Men National C'ship

i. Defending champions Air India Sports Promotion Board retained their title after beating Comptroller & Auditor General of India 4-1 in an exciting final of the fourth Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2014 (Division A) in Lucknow on Sunday.

ii. Air India was high on confidence from the start as Gaganpreet Singh, bagging a penalty corner opportunity in the 14th minute, pounded the ball to the net for the first goal of the match.

iii. The second goal was yet again a penalty corner which was again converted by Gaganpreet in the 29th minute. Going in the break the team was leading 2-0 at the Major Dhyan Chand Hockey Stadium in New Delhi. 

7.    RSPB lift senior women hockey national title 

i. Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) shocked defending Champions Haryana 4-0 to clinch the 4th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship (Division A) in Bhopal on Sunday.

ii. Coming into the match as the favorite for the title, Haryana could not live upto the expectations and allowed the pressure to seep in. 

iii. In a one-sided match Jharkhand ruled the entire session of the match playing for the 3rd position against Punjab. 

iv. With this Jharkhand is placed in the 3rd position and Punjab in the 4th position.