Daily GK Updates - 25th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. IAF re-launches $2 billion global hunt for acquiring 6 mid-air re-fuellers:  The IAF on Thursday issued the RFI (request for Information) for the six flight refuelling aircraft or tankers and associated equipment. The formal tender or RFP (request for proposal) will be floated after the responses to the RFI are submitted by March 30. The IAF urgently needs the six new refuelling aircraft to double the strike range of its fighters and bombers.

2. Himachal Pradesh celebrates 48th Statehood Day today:  Himachal Pradesh is celebrating its 48th Full Statehood day. The Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has unfurled the tri-colour and take the salute from police, home-guards, NCC cadets, students at a state-level function in Aani Sub Division of Kullu district. In 1971, on this day Himachal Pradesh was declared as an 18th state of the Indian Union.

3. S Somanath takes charge as Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre's Director: ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) director S Somanath has taken charge as the new director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre(VSSC). He succeeded K Sivan who joined as ISRO's Chairman. Somanath was the associate director (Projects) of VSSC and also the project director of GSLV Mk-III Launch vehicle until June 2015

4.Jaipur Literature Festival begins today: The five-day Jaipur Literature Festival (11th edition) kicks off at Diggi Palace in the pink city Jaipur, Rajasthan. The ‘Kumbh of literature’ will feature over 200 sessions on a multitude of topics, trends, ideas and genres, ranging from fiction, poetry, nonfiction, gender equality, environmental protection, science, history, liberal arts, journalism, economics, travel, and cinema. The renowned personalities of literature, cinema, music, art, and culture will be attending the festival.

5. Government announces 4 new schemes to promote young scientists: The Union government has announced four new schemes (TARE, Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship of SERB, DIA, AWSAR) to promote young scientists and researchers in the country. The Teacher Associateship for Research Excellence (TARE) Scheme will connect the educators to leading public funded institutions like IIT, IISc or national institutions like CSIR to pursue research. The Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship offers support to 100 Ph.D. scholars for training in universities/laboratories abroad up to 12 months during their doctoral research.

6. 8th National Voters Day is being observed today: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is celebrating the 8th National Voters’ Day across the country for enhanced participation of citizens in the electoral process. President Ram Nath Kovind has given awards for best electoral practices to District Collectors, Superintendents of Police and other functionaries involved in election management.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Qatar in talks to buy Russia's S-400 systems: Qatar is in talks with Moscow to buy Russian S-400 missile air defence systems, Tass state news agency quoted the Qatari ambassador to Russia on Thursday as saying. Qatar is engaged in a deepening diplomatic row with some of its Gulf Arab neighbours, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), over allegations it supports terrorism, a charge Doha denies.

2. UK govt announces dedicated unit to combat fake news: The unit, which will be headed by the UK Cabinet office, will consistently flag false information on social media platforms. It will deter adversaries and help deliver on national security priorities.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Australian Open: Bopanna-Babos enter mixed doubles semis: The pair of India's Rohan Bopanna and Timea Babos (Hungary) has entered the semi-finals in the mixed doubles of the Australian Open Tennis tournament in Melbourne. In the quarterfinals, the pair beat the duo of Jean Sebastian Cobal (Columbia) and Abigail Spears (United States) 6-4, 7-6.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.Govt to infuse Rs. 88,000 cr in 20 state-run banks: IDBI Bank will get the most at Rs.10610 cr followed by Bank of India and SBI. This is the first batch of the Rs.2.11 lakh cr recapitalisation plan announced last year.