Daily GK Updates - 25th March, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. NCERT launches dedicated portal for supply of textbooks: National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) decided to supply the required number of textbooks to all Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools for the academic session 2018-19. Discussing the issue of publishing and providing textbooks with the CBSE, NCERT has launched a dedicated web portal (www.ncertbooks.ncert.gov.in) for the supply of textbooks to schools and individuals. It has also enlarged its distribution network of vendors across the country. The details of such (895) vendors have been uploaded on the NCERT website for the convenience of the schools and parents. 

2. The 5th India Maize Summit held: Union Agriculture Minister, Radha Mohan Singh had addressed the 5th India Maize Summit in New Delhi. The aim of the summit was to harness the potential of maize, technological innovations, promoting producer aggregation and linkages that are required.

3. Chattisgarh wins the “Water Digest Award”: Chhattisgarh bagged the National 'Water Digest Award' for Water Conservation-Diversion and for increasing the irrigation capacity in the State. This is the first time that Chhattisgarh Water Resources Department had been given national Award during the past 17 years. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Venezuela to eliminate 3 zeros from currency: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has decided to eliminate three zeros off the country’s inflation-ridden currency, the bolivar. This new monetary denomination, which replaces the one he established in January 2017, will help the government fight the “economic war of financial persecution”. 500 bolivars, the new maximum denomination of the country’s bills will amount to only $0.01.

2. US launches WTO challenge against China: US has launched a challenge at World Trade Organization against China over intellectual property breaches. US is taking action at WTO to address China’s unfair technology practices that run counter to WTO rules. This comes just as the US prepares to impose tariffs of 25% on imported steel & 10% on aluminum – sanctions that are meant to hit China for flooding world with cheap steel & aluminum

3. Pakistan gets first woman opposition leader: Pakistani lawmaker Sherry Rehman made history by becoming the first woman Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. Rehman of Pakistan Peoples Party was declared as the Leader of the Opposition after she secured support of majority 34 opposition senators in the house of 104. She has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US from 2011 to 2013 and was elected to the Senate in 2015.

OTHER UPDATES

DEFENCE:

1. Warship INS Ganga decommissioned: INS Ganga, an indigenously built frigate of the Indian Navy, was decommissioned in Mumbai after over three decades of service. It was Commissioned in December 1985, the ship represented a big step forward in the nation's warship building capability. The special guest of honor for the ceremony was Vice Admiral (Retd) K K Kohli, the first Commanding Officer of INS Ganga.

BANKING / FINANCE:

1. UCO Bank to merge branches in Hong Kong: Following RBI’s ban on letters of undertaking, UCO Bank is planning to merge its two branches in Hong Kong. The ban on LoUs has affected the business of foreign branches & the bank says one branch is enough to cater for customers’ needs.

BUSINESS / ECONOMY:

1. Ahmedabad airports is the ‘Most Improved Airport’ in Asia Pacific region: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad has received the award for the Most Improved Airport in the Asia Pacific region. It is the 1st international award for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport that has over 200 flight movements per day. In 2016-17, it handled over 7.4 million passengers making it the 8th busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic in India.

SPORTS:

1. Smriti creates record for scoring the fastest fifty by Indian woman in T20 Internationals: Smriti Mandhana created history after smashing the fastest fifty by an Indian player in women’s T20I cricket. Mandhana, who was opening the innings for India, achieved the feat in just 25 balls bettering her previous best in 30 balls. The overall record for the fastest fifty in women’s T20Is belongs to Sophie Devine (18 balls) of New Zealand.

2. Pankaj Advani wins Asian Billiards Championship title: Pankaj Advani defended his Asian Billiards Championships title in by demolishing his partner B Bhaskar 6-1. With this win, Advani remains the reigning Indian, Asian & world champion in billiards for 2017-18. This is Advani’s 11th gold medal at Asian level of cue sports. His continental billiards title tally has gone up to 7, in addition to back-to-back Asian Games gold medals in 2006 & 2010

3. Vettel wins Australian Grand Prix: Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel pipped the defending Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton to win the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. It was the 100th podium of Vettel’s career and it came in his 200th Formula One race. He becomes the fourth driver to claim 100 podium finishes, joining Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost.

4. Yuki Bhambri advances in Miami Open: Ace Indian tennis player Yuki Bhambri moved to the second round of Miami Open after beating Bosnia's Mirza Basic 7-5, 6-3.  The Indian Davis Cupper will now face world number 11 and eighth seed American Jack Sock in the next round.  This will be the first meeting between the two after 2013 when Bhambri had beaten Sock in a Challenger event.  Yuki, ranked 107 had qualified for the ATP 1000 series main draw with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Sweden's Elias Ymer in the second and final qualifying round.  Yuki, of late, has created excellent results against top players as he registered the biggest win of his career, shocked world number 12 Lucas Pouille in the second round of Indian Wells Masters.

5. Ball tampering scandal of Australian cricket team: Australian skipper Steve Smith & batsman Cameron Bancroft have admitted to charges of ball-tampering during the 3rd day of the third Test match against South Africa in Cape Town. Bancroft was caught on television cameras appearing to rub a yellow object on the ball during the match. Australia captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner have decided to relinquish their leadership duties.