Daily GK Updates - 30th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Nation pays tribute to Mahatma on Martyr’s Day: The nation today remembers Mahatma Gandhi, as it observes the 70th death anniversary of the father of the nation. Gandhi was shot dead 69 years ago on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse. This day is also observed as ‘Martyrs Day’ by the nation. Gandhi's journey in India began in 1915 when he returned to India from South Africa. And by launching Satyagraha from Champaran, Bihar (the first non-violent) in 1917 resistance to the British rule.

2. Anti-Leprosy Day being observed today: The ‘Anti-Leprosy Day’ observed every year on the Martyrdom Day of Mahatma Gandhi to make people aware of the real need to fight the infectious disease. A campaign Leprosy Awareness Campaign ‘Sparsh’ has been organized in all the Gram Sabhas throughout the country by the Central Leprosy Division of the Health Ministry. The campaign carries the important information about the disease to help affected people. It includes free of cost multidrug therapy that is available at all government dispensaries, health centers, and hospitals to provide complete treatment.

3. Asha Bhosle to get Yash Chopra memorial award: Indian singer Asha Bhosle will be given the 'Yash Chopra Memorial Award' for her outstanding contribution to the Hindi film industry. The award will be presented to Asha Bhosle on 16th February. The name of Asha Bhosle is in the Guinness World Records for recording over 11,000 songs in 20 different languages.

4. Parl Group to confer Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards to five MPs: The Parliamentary Group has decided to confer Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards to five Members of Parliament. Dr. Najma Heptulla (Former Rajya Sabha MP) has been selected for this award for the year 2013 while the other awardees include Hukumdev Narayan Yadav (Lok Sabha MP) for 2014 and Ghulam Nabi Azad (Rajya Sabha MP) for 2015. Dinesh Trivedi (Lok Sabha MP) has been selected for 2016 while Bhartruhari Mahatab (Lok Sabha MP) has been chosen for Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for 2017.

5. Idukki dam to screen laser show: Officials are planning to screen a laser show depicting Kerala’s history on the Idukki dam, which is Asia’s oldest arch dam. “The laser show is planned to be screened on the dam wall surface, which is 500 feet high and 600 feet wide,” an official said. The Idukki Dam is a double curvature arch dam constructed across the Periyar River between two granite hills Kuravan and Kuravathi in Kerala.

6. First ever ‘Khadi Haat’ in Delhi: Marking the 69th Republic Day celebrations, Khadi and Village Industries Commission and New Delhi Municipal Council have launched the first ever ‘Khadi Haat’ in the country. The Khadi Haat was inaugurated on January 25 by Minister of State Giriraj Singh in Connaught Place.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. India-Nepal relations’ revival - Swaraj to visit Nepal: In a bid to revive ties with Nepal, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Kathmandu from February 1 to February 2. The visit comes weeks after Nepal elected a Leftist coalition, which won the first historic poll under the new Constitution of the country. The visit by Ms. Swaraj will be the first big diplomatic engagement with the newly elected Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.

OTHER UPDATES

ECONOMY/ BUSINESS:

1. Economic Survey 2017-18 printed in pink: The Economic Survey 2017-18 tabled in Parliament is printed in pink to highlight gender issues amid economic development. The survey estimated that due to “meta-preference” for sons, India could have about 21 million “unwanted girls,” or girls whose parents wanted to have sons instead. It pointed out that most parents continued to have children until they got sons.

2. 5 Indian states account for 70% of exports: The Economic Survey 2017-18 has revealed that five states– Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Telangana, accounted for 70% of India’s exports for the first time. The survey found that states’ export performance and their standard of living were strongly interrelated. It also noted that India’s internal trade in goods and services accounted for an estimated 60% of GDP.

BANKING/ FINANCE:

1. 50% increase in indirect taxpayers: There has been a 50% increase in the number of indirect taxpayers. There has also been a large increase in voluntary registrations, especially by small enterprises that buy from large enterprises wanting to avail themselves of input tax credit. There were 9.8 million unique GST registrations, an increase by 3.4 million compared to the previous tax regime is seen.

SPORTS:

1. Prakash won Lifetime Achievement Award: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu conferred Badminton Association of India Lifetime Achievement Award to 1983 World Championship medallist Prakash Padukone. Naidu termed Padukone a “grand legend of a great game”, who inspired the nation through his “sheer passion, grit and determination”. The Mysuru-born had won gold medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games & the All England Championships in 1980.

2. 2018 India Open, starts: The 2018 India Open, is a badminton tournament which will take place at Siri Fort Indoor Stadium in Delhi from 30 January to 4 February 2018. The event will also feature 2014 champion Kidambi Srikanth beginning his new season after missing last week’s Indonesia Masters. Saina Nehwal bagged silver medal at Indonesia Masters recently. Saina clinched the India Open Super Series in 2015.

3. ICC U-19 World Cup: India beat Pakistan by 203 runs: India beat Pakistan by 203 runs to enter final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup cricket at Christchurch, New Zealand In the 2nd semi-final, India posted 272 for 9 and skittled out Pakistan for just 69 in 29.3 overs to enter the Final for the sixth time. Shubman Gill (102* run) was adjudged man of the match.

SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY:

1. 10,000-year-old ‘crayon’ discovered: Archaeologists have discovered one of the earliest examples of a ‘crayon’, possibly used by our ancestors 10,000 years ago. The ochre crayon was discovered near an ancient lake, now blanketed in peat, near Scarborough in England. The study was published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. The pebble and crayon could have been used for colouring animal skins or for decorative artwork.