DAILY GK UPDATE - 29th March

1.    SEBI gets back power to act against ponzi schemes

i. Finally, the capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has got back the power to act against ponzi schemes, illegal deposit schemes and assess call data records in securities-related offences, besides others.

ii. This has happened after the Finance Ministry managed to get the nod of the Election Commission and Cabinet on re-promulgation of the SEBI Ordinance and finally from the President.

iii. This Ordinance lapsed on January 17 after the Government failed in getting the Securities (laws) Amendment Bill passed in the monsoon, winter and extended winter session of the 15th Lok Sabha, which was adjourned sine die on February 21 and finally prorogued.

2.    Earth Hour is being observed today across the world.
i. People will turn off all non-essential lights to raise awareness about environmental challenges from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time.
ii. Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature to engages a massive mainstream community in a wide range of environmental issues.
iii. It was started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then it has grown to engage more than 7000 cities and towns worldwide

3.    Saudi King appointed half-brother Moqren as next heir to throne

i. Abdullah, the king of Saudi Arabia on 27 March 2014 appointed his half-brother Moqren (69) as the next heir to the throne. This step has paved a way for Moqren to become a future king of the world�s largest exporter of crude oil. 

ii. King Abdullah (90-year old) announced his decision in a royal decree. At present Moqren is the second deputy Prime Minister and has been named as the next crown prince. From 2006 to July 2012, Moqren headed the intelligence services before being named as the counselor and special envoy to King Abdullah. 

Succession of the King Rule in Saudi Arabia
As per the rules, power passes from brother to brother in Saudi Arabia under a right of primogeniture among the Sons of Abdul Aziz Saud, the person who is the founder of the kingdom. 
 

4.    India's forex reserves rise to $298.63 bn

i. India's foreign exchange (forex) reserves rose by $1.34 billion to $298.63 billion for the week ended March 21, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed.

ii. This is the fourth consecutive week of increase in the country's forex reserves as overseas investors poured in money in local bonds and stock markets.

iii. The forex reserves had jumped by $1.83 billion for the week ended March 14.

iv. According to the RBI's weekly statistical supplement, foreign currency assets, the biggest component of the forex reserves, rose by $1.58 billion to $271.39 billion.

v. India's reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dropped by $214.7 million to $1.80 billion.

5.    Heena wins silver in Fort Benning, one step closer to World No 1

i. She now has the maximum medals in a World Cup by any Indian pistol shooter.

ii. World number two air pistol shooter Heena Sidhu continued her impressive form as she clinched a silver medal at the ISSF World Cup in Fort Benning, USA, the feat taking her closer to the numero uno spot in her event.

iii. The 24-year-old shooter from Ludhiana shot an impressive 386 with rounds of 98, 96, 96, 96. Heena shot a good 200.8 in the finals to clinch the silver. She now has the maximum medals in a World Cup by any Indian pistol shooter.

iv. This was Heena�s third successive medal at the international stage, the first having come in the ISSF World Cup Final at Munich last November when she made the final world record followed by the Asian Airgun Championships in Kuwait last month. 

6.    India storm into WT20 semi final

i. Team India has qualify for the semifinals of the ICC World Twenty20 after routing hosts Bangladesh by eight wickets in a thoroughly one-sided Group II match in Mirpur.

ii. India restricted Bangladesh to 138 for seven, courtesy yet another dominating performance by their spinners and then the batsmen made short work of the target by crossing the line with nine balls to spare. 
iii. Leggie Amit Mishra (3/26) and off-spinner R Ashwin (2/15) shared five wickets between them to set up the win. 
iv. This is third successive victory in the competition for India and they are well on top of Group 2 with six points and a match to go against Australia, who are more or less out of semifinal race. 

Brief Scores: Bangladesh: 138 for 7 in 20 overs (Anamul Haque 44, Mahmudullah 33; Amit Mishra 3/26).

India: 141 for 2 in 18.3 overs (Virat Kohli 57 not out, Rohit Sharma 56; Mashrafe Mortaza 1/23).

7.    West Indies beat Australia by 6 wickets

i. Darren Sammy's twin sixes in the final over sealed a six-wicket win for the West Indies against Australia in the ICC World Twenty20 match.

ii. Opting to bat, Australia scored a competitive 178 for eight in 20 overs, riding on Glenn Maxwell's 45 and Brad Hodge's 35. West Indies got the runs with a couple of balls to spare.
iii. Needing 31 off the last two, Sammy (34 no, 13 balls) smashed Mitchell Starc for 19 runs in the penultimate over to bring the equation down to 12 in the final over bowled by James Faulkner. The skipper hit two fours and three sixes.

iv. The win brightened West Indies' chances for a semi-final berth while Australia will find it difficult to make a comeback in the tournament.

8.    ICC T20 Group 1 match: NZ beat the Netherlands by Six wickets

i. In the ICC World T20 Group 1 match at Chittagong today, New Zealand defeated the Netherlands by Six wickets.
ii. Set to score 152 runs for a win, the Kiwis achieved the target with six balls remaining. Earlier, sent in to bat, the Netherlands made 151 for four in the stipulated twenty overs.

The scores:- Netherlands: 151 for 4 in 20 overs. 

New Zealand: 152 for 4 in 19 overs. 

iii. With two victories and one defeat, New Zealand now have four points in Group One. Sri Lanka and South Africa also have four points each from their three games so far.