Daily GK Updates - 26th November, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Constitution Day: 26^th November: The Constitution Day of India is being observed on 26th November to spread awareness of Indian Constitution. On this day in 1949, constitution of India was adopted and came into force on January 26, 1950 marking the beginning of a new era in the history of free India. This year it is second edition of the Constitution Day. On this occasion Prime Minister Narendra has released two books on Constitution ‘Making of Constitution’ and ‘New Version of Constitution of India’.

2. Centre forms committee to push cashless transactions: The Union Government has constituted a new committee to form a strategy to expedite the process of transforming India into a cashless economy. The committee will be headed by Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.

3. Rajiv Gandhi assassin Nalini Sriharan to release book on prison life: Nalini Sriharan who has remained in prison for more than 24 years acclaiming the title as the longest serving women prisoner in India, has finally given a nod to release a book about her prison life. In it she explains about the torture she went through inside the prison and her surprise meeting with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.The book titled, ''Rajiv Gandhi assassin, hidden truths, Priyanka meeting Nalini'' was written by Egalaivan with Nalini's permission.

4. Culture ministry releases coins to mark 500^th anniversary of Hindu saint: Shri Narendra Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Culture released a Commemorative Non-Circulation Coin of Rs.500 and a Circulation Coin of Rs.10 on November 25, 2016, to mark a year-long celebration of “500th Anniversary of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s coming to Vrindavan”.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. South Indian Bank launches contactless debit card: The Kerala-based South Indian Bank has launched contactless debit card which is based on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. Customers can also use this card as contact chip card.

SPORTS:

2. Mary Kom to receive ‘Legends Award’ from International Boxing Association: Celebrated Indian boxer M C Mary Kom is all set to add another honour to her glittering career when she receives the 'Legends Award' from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) on its 70th anniversary on December 20.

OBITUARIES:

3. Senior Journalist Dileep Padgaonkar passes away at the age of 72: Noted journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of the ‘Times of India’, Dilip Padgaonkar passed away on 25 November 2016, following a heart attack and multi-organ failure.

4. Cuba’s former President Fidel Castro passes away at the age of 90: He was commander in chief of the 1959 Cuban revolution 1959 and had successfully built a communist state on the doorstep of the United States during Cold War.

5. Co-creator of Mig-29 Ivan Mikoyan dies aged 89:He was a lead engineer at MiG Aircraft Corporation's design bureau, founded by his uncle Artyom Mikoyan. He awarded the USSR State Prize twice for his contributions to the MiG project and remained a company adviser until his death.