Daily GK Updates - 19th July, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India saw 211 tuberculosis cases per 1 Lakh : According to the ‘World Health Statistics 2018’ released by World Health Organisation (WHO), India saw an estimated 211 cases of tuberculosis (TB) per 1,00,000 people in 2016,Nepal and Bhutan recorded fewer number of TB cases per 1,00,000 population than India.India has pledged to eradicate tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the global target set by WHO.

2. Swraj Paul wins lifetime achievement award : NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul has received a lifetime achievement award for his contributions towards promoting brand India in UK.The founder of Caparo Group of industries, Paul was recognised at a UK & Asia Business Awards ceremony, organised by World Consulting & Research Corporation.He has also served as the deputy speaker of the Lords & was appointed to the Privy Council in 2009

3. India Post customises affordable life policies : India Post plays an important role in financial services, reaching out in the rural areas with its large and efficient network.Postal Life Insurance extended insurance cover to the rural population under the banner ‘Rural Postal Life Insurance’ (RPLI) in 1995.This scheme is primarily meant for people residing in rural areas, especially women and small and marginal farmers.

4. TN to build India’s next generation aircraft : The Aeronautical Development Agency has set the ball rolling for building the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft by extending an invitation to private players in Tamil Nadu (TN).It is the first time an indigenous military aircraft programme is seeing the involvement of private players.It is also the first time a defence plane development project is proposed to be executed outside Bengaluru.

5. Ramalingam appointed as Chief Justice : Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar was sworn-in as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur.The acting Governor of Manipur Jagdish Mukhi administered the oath of office to Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar.Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar was appointed as Chief Justice of Manipur High Court by the President of India.

6. Centre launches clean-up drive for beaches : The Union Environment Ministry has launched a drive aimed at cleaning 24 beaches and water bodies as well as 24 polluted river stretches in the run-up to the World Environment Day on June 5.The theme of the World Environment Day, to be hosted by India this year, is ‘Beat plastic pollution’.The Ministry has formed 19 teams to implement the campaign.

7. Lalit Kala Akademi gets new Chairman : Artist and sculptor Uttam Pacharne has been appointed as the chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi.Currently, he is ​a member of the advisory committee, Kala Academy, Goa.He is the recipient of National Lalit Kala Award and Maharashtra Gaurav Puraska from Government of Maharashtra.The Lalit Kala Akademi or National Academy of Art is India’s national academy of fine arts.

8.  Youngest woman to scale Mt. Everest : Shivangi Pathak from Haryana has become youngest women of the country to scale Mt Everest.16-year-old Shivangi climbed the Mt Everest to spread the message that women could overcome any obstacle to achieve their goals.In 2014, 13-year-old Malavath Poorna from India had climbed Mt Everest from Tibet side and became the youngest girl in the world to the summit at Everest.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. CIA’s first female director : US Senate has approved Veteran spy Gina Haspel as CIA’s first female director.She replaces former CIA chief Mike Pompeo who was recently made Secretary of State.Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian foreign intelligence service of US federal government that analyses national security information from around the world.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Indian economy to grow 7.6% in 2018-19 : According to the UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP), India’s economy is projected to grow 7.6% in the fiscal year 2018-19, remaining one of the fastest growing economies in the world.This is a substantial recovery from the 6.7% growth India registered in the year 2017.The report also said that the recovery in private investment remains a crucial challenge in India.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. MPC to meet for three days from June 4 : The Reserve Bank of India has advanced the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting by a day to June 4 and also increased the duration to three days.It is for the first time that the MPC will meet for three days.The six-member MPC, headed by the RBI Governor, sets the benchmark interest rate.MPC was set up by amending the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, through the Finance Act 2016.

SPORTS:

1. Himanta elected Vice-President of BAC : The President of Badminton Association of India (BAI), Himanta Biswa Sarma was elected as the Vice-President of Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC).The election took place during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the continental body in Bangkok, Thailand.Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma became president of the Badminton Association of India in April 2018.