Daily GK Updates - 18th June, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 4th Meeting of Governing council – NITI Aayog : The 4th meeting of governing council of NITI Aayog was held in New Delhi chaired by PM Narendra Modi.The meeting aimed to double the farmers’ income and progress of flagship scheme such as Ayushman Bharat, National Nutrition Mission and Mission Indradhanush.It planned for a 3 year action plan to develop a new agenda for “New India 2022.

2. Yoga Camp at Muktinath Temple : The 4th international Yoga day in Nepal was celebrated by locals by participating at Yoga camp at Muktinath Temple at a height of 12500 feet above sea level.The yoga camp was organised by Indian embassy in Kathmandu.The International yoga day is celebrated on 21st June each year since 2015 and was declared unanimously by United Nations General Assembly.

3. AP’s largest petroglyph site at Kandanathi : Dr. Raghu of Yogi Vemmana university has discovered Andhra Pradesh’s largest petroglyph site at Kandanathi.The site has nearly 200 engravings, peckings that belong to Mesolithic, Neolithic period.The petroglyph at Kandanathi reveal the presence of the Boya community divided into groups – Mandla (herdsmen) and Yenubothula (buffalomen).

4. Universities to hold convocation every year : The HRD Ministry has written to all universities mandating them to hold convocation every year after few universities were found skipping the event.“The event carries a huge significance for graduating students and is a moment of pride for their families,” officials said.Interestingly, Jawaharlal Nehru University recently held its second convocation, 46 years after its first convocation.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Ivan Duque became Colombia’s President : Colombia has chosen Ivan Duque to be its next president after a long and divisive campaign that often centred on a controversial peace process with leftist rebels the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).Duque, who will turn 42 just before taking office will be Colombia’s youngest ever President.Bogota is the capital of Colombia.

2. India to open 4 new air gateways to Nepal : India has agreed to open 4 new air gateways to Nepal in the eastern and western part of the country, aimed to facilitate international traffic.The eastern part would connect Patna and Kolkata of India with Kathmandu and Dhaka while the western part would connect Kathmandu with Delhi.

The routes will be operational till 2019.

3. Sushma Swaraj on a 7 day tour to 4 Countries : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is on a 7 day tour of 4 European countries – Italy, France, Luxembourg and Belgium, which is aimed to strengthen trade ties and revamp pending EU-India free trade pact.During her visit she would celebrate 20th anniversary for India – French Partnership.She would also be the 1st ever external affairs minister to visit Luxembourg.

4. India excluded from UK’s relaxed student visa : India has been excluded from the UK’s new list of countries considered “low risk”, whose applicants will undergo reduced checks while applying for student visas.The countries on the list include the US, Canada and China among others.Students from these countries would face reduced checks on educational, financial and English language skill requirements to study at UK universities.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. US pips India as top greenfield FDI place : The USA has surpassed India as top greenfield FDI destination with a total FDI of USD 87.6 billion.The number of greenfield FDI projects sharply fell by 21% during this year in case of India as compared to previous year.China received a total FDI of USD 50.3 billion in the year 2017 while India received an FDI of 25.1 billion in 2017.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Northeast India’s first small bank opened : Northeast India’s first small bank, North East Small Finance bank (NESFB) started its services.Rashtriya Gramin Vikas Nidhi (North East) Microfinance Limited received the Small Finance Bank License from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on March 31, 2017.Tata Trust chairman Ratan Tata and Assam’s finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the first 28 branches of the bank.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. ISRO clears GSAT – 11 for Launch : ISRO has cleared GSAT – 11 for launch, which was recalled from Kourou in French Guinea for checks, after another satellite GSAT 6A, had lost contact which was launched earlier.The 5,700 Kg Satellite was to launch on 26 May 2018 from Kourou, site in South America which India uses to launch heavy satellites. Arianespace is the space agnecy that launches India’s Satellite from this site.

SPORTS:

1. Brooks Koepka wins US open 2018 : Brooks Koepka wins US Open 2018 by defeating Tommy Fleetwood at Shinnecock Hills becoming first player in 3 decades to successfully defend his title.Earlier the record was in name of Curtis Strange who won back to back titles in 1988 and 1989.The victory comes less than 2 months after Koepka returned from left wrist injury that kept him out of action since Jan 2018.

2. Roger Federer wins Mercedes Cup : Roger Federer wins Mercedes Cup 2018 in Stuttgart by beating Milos Raonic of Canada.He had already secured number one in the world ranking by defeating Nick Kyrgios in the semi- final and this is his 98th tour title.He will be competing at Halle Open in June 2018