Daily GK Updates - 23rd May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. New scheme introduced by IRCTC : Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation has introduced VIKALP scheme for passengers in wait-listing to provide berth in another train.Under the scheme, passengers from all classes & trains can select 5 trains, however, the scheme does not guarantee a confirmed berth. Passengers should be prepared as they can be shifted to another train leaving even 12 hours prior to the booked one.

2. A historic moment for Arunachal Pradesh : A 42 seater ATR Aircraft of Alliance air landed in Arunachal Pradesh carrying CM Pema Khandu and 24 other passengers.This is a history in making since this is the state’s first commercial flight.This new commercial flight would develop new prospects of economic development in this region.The flights will be operated thrice a week.

3. Pravin Agrawal appointed BHEL director : Power equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited has appointed Pravin L Agrawal as the part-time official director on its board.An Indian Forest Service officer, Agrawal is presently joint secretary in the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI), Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.Established in 1964, BHEL is India’s largest power generation equipment manufacturer.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 3rd Mission Innovation Ministerial in Sweden : India will be participating in the 3^rd Mission Innovation Ministerial that will be held at Malmo-Sweden.Mission Innovation is a global platform of 23 countries & EU aimed at accelerating clean energy innovations through enhanced government funding, public-private sector partnership & enhanced global cooperation.India is the founding member of Mission Innovation & part of Steering Committee

2. 71st World Health Assembly held in Geneva : The 71^st Session of the WHO’s World Health Assembly will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 21 to 26 May 2018.The WHA will be attended by delegations from all WHO Member States, the Indian Delegation will be led by Union Health Minister of India, J P Nadda.The theme chosen for World Health Assembly 2018 is “Health for All: Commit To Universal Health Coverage

3. Indonesia’s active volcano shows danger signs : Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s active volcano on Java island has shown dangers with small eruptions.The last eruption from this volcano killed more than 350 people in 2010.Any public activity including hiking within 3km of radius has been prohibited and villagers nearby have been asked to leave.

4. Olga Wins Man Booker International Prize : “Flights”, a philosophical rumination on modern-day travel by the Polish author Olga Tokarczuk, won the Man Booker International Prize for works of translated fiction.The Man Booker International Prize is awarded by the same organization that gives the Man Booker Prize for fiction.It is for a single work of fiction that has been translated into English and published in the United Kingdom.

5. IAF Chief Dhanoa began 4-day visit to Israel : Chief of Air Staff BS Dhanoa has begun a 4-day visit to Israel with an aim to enhance cooperation between air forces of the two countries.He will attend a conference themed ‘Air superiority as a bridge to regional stability’ which is being organized as part of 70th-anniversary celebrations of Israel Air Force.Air forces of both the countries have been enhancing cooperation over the years.

6. NYSE to have its first female leader : The New York Stock Exchange has appointed Chief Operating Officer Stacey Cunningham as its first female president.Cunningham will replace Tom Farley as the head of NYSE.Cunningham became NYSE’s chief operating officer in June 2015.NYSE’s move means two of the top three US stock exchange operators are led by women.

7. Malaysia gets its first Sikh minister : Gobind Singh Deo, an Indian-origin Sikh politician in Malaysia, has become a cabinet minister.He is the first member of the minority community in Malaysia’s history to be appointed as a minister.He has been given the communications and multimedia portfolio.He is among the two politicians of Indian descent that have been included in the Pakatan Harapan coalition’s Cabinet.

8.International Day for Biological Diversity : International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated annually on May 22 to make people aware of the importance of biodiversity issues.This date commemorates the date of Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity at Nairobi on 22 May 1992.Theme chosen for International Day for Biological Diversity 2018 is “Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity”.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Finance Ministry ties with 40 entities : In order to extend loans under the Mudra scheme, Finance Ministry has tied up with 40 entities including Amul & Flipkart.These companies will identify people who need loans under Mudra Yojana, underwrite them and we will extend loans under the scheme.Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana was launched in 2015, for providing loans of up to Rs 10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.

2. BNPM to increase bank note paper production : The government’s Bank Note Paper Mill India (BNPM) has received green signal to increase the production of bank note paper at its Mysuru unit in Karnataka.The production of bank note paper has been increased from 12,000 tonnes per annum to 16,000 tonnes per annum.The raw material used for manufacturing of currency paper is 100% cotton sourced from neighbouring countries.

DEFENCE:

1. India became a major US defence partner : India’s status as a major defence partner of the US and strong US-India strategic partnership was affirmed by both nations at the Argentina Meet.Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires, the 2 nations discussed the agenda for the forthcoming 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.India and US also discussed opportunities to advance stability in Afghanistan.