Daily GK Updates - 18th July, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Smriti Irani gets additional charge of Information and Broadcasting: Textile minister Smriti Zubin Irani has been given the additional charge of information and broadcasting. he gets the additional charge as Venkaiah Naidu resigned from the post following his nomination as National Democratic Alliance’s vice-presidential candidate.

2. Mayawati resigns from Rajya Sabha: Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati has resigned from Rajya Sabha. Decision came after the chair of the upper house asked her to restrict her impromptu speech on anti-Dalit violence in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

3. J& K government launches weekly festival at Dal Lake: Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) govt. has organized first ever weekly cultural program ‘Culture of Cruise' at Dal Lake to bring artists from various fields on one stage. In the festival, the organizers would hold regular interactions with cross sections of the society and tourists who visit the lake to ensure broader discourse on cultural moorings of the state.

4. Tata Motors develops India’s first Bio-methane bus: Tata Motors has developed India’s first Bio-CNG (bio-methane) bus which was unveiled recently at a bio-energy programme, ‘Urja Utsav’. Tata Motors has designed and developed bio-methane engines (5.7 SGI & 3.8 SGI) for LCV, ICV & MCV buses.

5. Low-cost “Made in India” microwave printed circuit boards developed: The Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), Thrissur, has developed low-cost microwave printed circuit boards. The boards are required in strategic applications such as space, defence, and atomic energy.

6. SOHUM, low-cost indigenously developed hearing screening device for new borns, launched by the Government: The science & technology ministry has launched a low-cost indigenously developed hearing screening device ‘Sohum’ for newborns. ‘Sohum’ uses brain-stem auditory evoked response technology which is recommended as best screening choice.

7. Abdul Kalam’s memorial by DRDO to be inaugurated on July 27^th: PM Modi will open the national memorial for former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam at Peikarumbu near Rameswaram on July 27. The national memorial is set up by DRDO in 2.11 acres at a cost of Rs 20 crore. 27^th July is the death anniversary of Dr. Kalam.

International UPDATES:

1. Nelson Mandela International Day observed globally: ‘Nelson Mandela International Day’ celebrated every year on 18thJuly in honour of Mandela's birthday. Nelson Mandela was the first elected president of a free South Africa. The day is observed annually with the slogan ‘Take Action! Inspire Change’.

2. LG unveils device that disinfects handrails of escalators: South Korean company LG designed a steriliser that uses ultraviolet light to continuously disinfect the rubber handrailing of escalator. The device charges itself by converting escalator movement into electricity.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING & FINANCE:

1. SBI launches SBI Realty to assist home buyers: State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a one-stop integrated website 'SBI Realty' (www.sbirealty.in) for home buyers. Customer will choose their dream home from 3,000 SBI approved projects spread across 13 states and Union Territories covering 30 cities including metros, semi metro, and towns.

2. HDFC bank launches national “digital-only marketing campaign”: HDFC Bank has launched a national digital-only marketing campaign, reinforcing its position as ‘India’s No. 1 Bank’ in products like credit cards, personal loans. It aims to connect with customers by asking them to #StartDoing and talk to India’s No. 1 Bank, to fulfill all their needs.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY:

3. RIL joins TCS’ league, crosses Rs 5 lakh crores market-cap: Reliance Industries has attained a market valuation of over Rs 5 lakh crore, becoming the 2nd firm after TCS to achieve this milestone. Market capitalisation of RIL stood at Rs 5,04,458.09 crore, making it the most valued company in the country.

SPORTS:

4. In the under 15 category, Neel Joshi & Ananya Dabke win Dutch Open: Neel Joshi and Ananya Dabke bagged the under-15 (boys & girls) titles in the Dutch Open Junior Squash Championship in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

5. Bharat Arun to be Team India’s new bowling coach: BCCI has named former Indian cricketer Bharat Arun as the Indian cricket team’s bowling coach. He will join Indian team on a 2 year period until end of the 2019 ICC World Cup.