Daily GK Updates - 24th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. 2025 – The end of TB in India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a campaign to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) from India by 2025, five years ahead of the globally-set deadline. After inaugurating the Delhi End-TB Summit Modi launched the TB-free India Campaign to take the activities under the National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination forward in a mission mode for ending the epidemic by 2025. A target has been set to end TB globally by 2030. Mr. Modi stated that India has targeted to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025.

2. Rakesh Bhatnagar appointed BHU Vice Chancellor: JNU professor Rakesh Bhatnagar has been appointed as the vice-chancellor of the Banaras Hindu University. He will take charge from BHU Registrar Neeraj Tripathi, who had been holding the additional charge of the top post since October last year. He is a JC Bose National Fellow and has won the ICMR award for developing a recombinant vaccine against anthrax.

3. m-Kerala app launched: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan launched M-Kerala, a unified app for all government services at #FUTURE 2018. It is a first-of-its-kind digital tech summit in the state. Kerala also becomes the state with the largest public Wi-Fi deployment in the country. The internet penetration in the state is at 52%. #FUTURE is Kerala's first-ever Global Digital Summit and was inaugurated by P Vijayan in Kochi.

4. Lingayats community gets minority status: The Karnataka Government declared minority status to the Lingayats community. This comes days after the CM Siddaramaiah-led government accepted the suggestions of Nagamohan Das committee to grant a separate religion status to the Lingayats community. The decision was critised by the Veerashaiva Lingayat Samanvaya Samiti and termed as politically motivated move.

5. India-Egypt Joint Commission Meeting held: The 7th India-Egypt Joint Commission Meeting led by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry was held in New Delhi.  Both the sides reviewed the progress in the areas of political, trade & investment, S&T, cybersecurity, capacity building, security, space, and culture. India and Egypt are two of the world's oldest civilizations that have enjoyed cordial relations based on commonality of views on regional and international issues.

6. Andhra Government launches Naipunya Ratham: Andhra Pradesh Govt has launched, NAIPUNYA RATHAM or World on Wheels, a multi-utility vehicle that aims to bring technology to remote corners. It will facilitate & look to improve digital literacy, digital skills & create an awareness on various govt schemes that are underway in Andhra Pradesh. Govt has allotted Rs 300 crore for the project & will be setting up 1000 skill development centres.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. World Tuberculosis Day observed: Each year we commemorate World Tuberculosis Day on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of tuberculosis (TB) and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB. The theme of World TB Day 2018 - “Wanted: Leaders for a TB-free world”.

2. John Bolton selected as the US National Security Adviser: The 45th President of USA Donald Trump announced that the former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will be the New US National Security Adviser. He would replace present National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.

3. Vizcarra sworn in as Peru’s new president: Martin Vizcarra was sworn in as Peru’s new president after his predecessor Pedro Pablo Kuczynski abruptly resigned over a corruption scandal. He had earlier served as Peru’s first vice president and his country’s ambassador to Canada. Vizcarra, while taking oath, has vowed to eliminate economic corruption from the country.

OTHER UPDATES

BANKING / FINANCE:

1. Allahabad Bank gets the nod for ABFL merger: According to the officials of Allahabad Bank, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has allowed the amalgamation of its wholly own subsidiary - All Bank Finance Ltd (ABFL)-with the lender.  The bank's board had approved the proposed merger in December 2016. The ABFL offers a basket of fee-based financial services such as trusteeship services, investment advisory and portfolio management services, distribution of Mutual Funds schemes and other corporate services including valuation of security and so on.

BUSINESS / ECONOMY:

1. ISRO ties-up with BHEL to manufacture Li-ion cells: ISRO has entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA) with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), to transfer the technology for the manufacture of space grade Li-Ion cells. The TTA was signed at ISRO Headquarters, Bengaluru. ISRO uses Li-Ion batteries as power sources for satellite and launches vehicle applications due to their high energy density, reliability and long cycle life. This Li-ion cell Technology Transfer will enable BHEL to produce space grade Li-Ion cells which can meet the country’s space programme requirements.

2. Balesh Sharma is the new CEO of Vodafone Idea India: Vodafone Group Plc’s Indian unit and Idea Cellular, which are in the process of merging their operations to create the country’s biggest telecoms carrier, named Vodafone veteran Balesh Sharma as the new chief executive for the combined venture. Sharma is currently the chief operating officer at Vodafone India. Akshaya Moondra, the current chief financial officer at Idea, will become the finance chief at the combined firm. Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of Idea’s parent Aditya Birla conglomerate, will be the non-executive chairman of the merged telecoms company.

3. Jio, Saavn to create digital music platform: Reliance Jio Director Akash Ambani, has signed an agreement for merging the digital music service Saavn with JioMusic to create a digital media platform with global reach. The total value of the deal will be over $1 billion. As part of the deal, additionally, Reliance will be acquiring a partial stake from the existing shareholders of Saavn for $104 million.