Daily GK Updates - 28th July, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Odisha to implement its own food security act : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced that the state government would implement its own food security act from October 2 this year.Odisha’s own food security act would cover nearly 34.44 lakh people who have been left out from the National Food Security Act (NFSA).Earlier, Odisha had launched a scheme to provide rice to poor at Rs 2 per kg in 2008.

2. HRD minister releases AISHE Report 2017-18 : The Ministry of HRD organized a National Conference of Vice Chancellors & Directors of Higher Education Institutions of India in New Delhi on Guru Purnima.The theme of the conference was “Research and innovation in Higher Education”.The Minister released the All India Survey of Higher Education (AISHE) Report 2017-18, Higher Educational Profile 2017-18, and Swachh Campus Manual.

3. National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme : A National Viral Hepatitis control programme was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the World Health Organisation.The programme was launched on World Hepatitis Day with an aim to combat viral hepatitis and reduce mortality and morbidity associated with it.It has been launched in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), 2030.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Nepal-India Think Tank Summit : The first ‘Nepal-India Think Tank’ summit will begin in Kathmandu to foster greater knowledge-sharing among the think tanks of the 2 countries.The summit, proposed to become an annual feature for the participating organisations, will be hosted alternatively each year in Nepal & India.The summit aims to support networks & promote mutual understanding through institutional collaboration.

2. BRICS nations adopt Johannesburg Declaration : The heads of state and government of all five BRICS nations convened for the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.The BRICS leaders came together and discussed various international and regional issues of common concern and adopted the ‘Johannesburg Declaration’ by consensus.The declaration comes as the United States and China remain deadlocked in a trade war over tariffs.

3. Shivangi scales Mount Kilimanjaro : Shivangi Pathak has scaled the Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro in 3 days.Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro measures 5,895 meters in height.She is from Haryana and is also the youngest Indian woman to reach the peak of Mount Everest.

4. Longest Lunar eclipse of the century : Skywatchers around the world have witnessed the longest “blood moon” eclipse of the 21st Century.The eclipse lasted for one hour 43 minutes, and was visible in Europe, West Asia, Africa, Australia, most of Asia and South America.A total lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, and covers the Moon with its shadow.

5. World Hepatitis Day 2018 : Every year on 28 July, the world comes together to commemorate World Hepatitis Day.World Hepatitis Day is an initiative of the WHO to spread awareness about this liver disease and minimise the burden of hepatitis globally.Viral hepatitis, be it hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C, are a group of diseases that affect the liver.

5. Invest India and UAE Ministry sign MoU : Invest India & UAE Minister for Artificial Intelligence has signed a MoU for India – UAE Artificial Intelligence Bridge in New Delhi.The MoU will spur development across areas like Blockchain, AI and Analytics as data and processing will be a catalyst for innovation and business growth.It will generate an estimated $20 billion in economic benefits during the next decade for both countries.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. ONGC presented with INFRA Icon Award : ONGC has been bestowed with INFRA Icon Award in the ‘Global Energy’ category at the mid-day ‘INFRA Icons’.ONGC has received the top corporate level award in recognition of its valuable contribution in upgrading the country as a whole.ONGC is the second largest exploration and production (E&P) company in the world.

2. ICICI Bank reports loss for the first time : ICICI Bank, India’s largest private sector lender by assets, has reported a net loss of ₹120 crore on a stand-alone basis for the June quarter.This is the first time that the bank has reported losses from its India operations.The bank had taken a mark-to-market hit of ₹218 crore on its investments in government securities during the quarter.

  

BANKING/FIANANCE:

1. Paytm Payments Bank CEO Renu Satti resigns : Paytm Payments Bank CEO Renu Satti has resigned from the role and will now head Paytm’s new retail initiative.In the past, she has built businesses ground up that include marketplace, movie ticketing and Paytm Payments Bank.Under the ‘New Retail’ model, consumers will soon be able to discover nearby pharmacies, groceries and other shops to place an order and get instant deliveries.

DEFENCE:

1. Made in India’ engines for the Army : Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has formally handed over two types of indigenously built high-power multi-fuel engines to the Army.The first engine V92S2 engine powers T-90 Bhisma Tank, the second engine V-46-6 engine powers the T-72 Ajeya Tank and its variants.The Engine Factory under the Make in India programme manufactured the two engines with 100 percent local parts.

OBITUARIES:

1. Cherkallam Abdullah passes away : Senior IUML leader and former Kerala Minister, Cherkallam Abdullah, passed away after a prolonged illness.He was 76 and was undergoing treatment for heart ailment.He was a prominent leader of the Opposition Congress-led UDF in north Kerala and is survived by wife, two sons and two daughters.He entered the parliamentary politics in 1987.