Daily GK Updates - 2nd October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. AM Raghunath Nambiar takes over as AOC-in-C : Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar on October 1, 2018, took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Eastern Air Command.He is also a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and was the Project Test Pilot for the Light Combat Aircraft, ‘Tejas’.He had served as a Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at the IAF’s Eastern Air Command in the pas

2. Birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri : The nation celebrates the 114th birth anniversary of India’s second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on October 2.He was the 2nd Prime Minister of India and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress political party.Prime Minister visited the Vijay Ghat to pay tributes to the former prime minister.Shastri coined the slogan ‘jai jawan jai kisan’.

3. PPC launched on 2nd October 2018 : The Central government launched its People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) for panchayats from October 2, 2018, with the slogan “Sabki Yojana Sabka Vikas”.During the campaign, structured Gram Sabha meetings will be held for preparing Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) for the next financial year 2019-2020GPDP aims to strengthen the role of elected Panchayat leaders and Women.

4. HRD min gave ‘Swachhata Ranking Awards 2018’ : Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar announced the “Swachh Campus rankings” under 8 different categories on 1 October 2018.Haryana’s Maharashi Dayanand University has been ranked the cleanest government university by the HRD Ministry.Among the technical institutions, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in Coimbatore bagged the top rank.

5. 150 years of Gandhi: The nation today remembered Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat today. Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi also paid their tributes to Gandhiji. Every year, the nation pays homage to Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was fondly called Bapu, on his birth anniversary on October 2, which is also known as Gandhi Jayanti. Born in 1869 in Gujarat's Porbandar, Mahatma Gandhi had his early political training in South Africa while working among the local Indian community facing discrimination.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. U.S., Canada agree on free trade pact : Canada and the U.S. have agreed on a new free trade pact that will include Mexico.The new trade deal will be known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).USMCA replaces the nearly 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).The trade pact will come up for review every six years.

2. Int Day of Non-Violence observed on Oct 2 : The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October in honor of the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.The International Day of Non-Violence is a global observance that promotes non-violence through education and public awareness.On 15 June 2007 the United Nations General Assembly establish 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence.

3. India, Uzbekistan signed 17 agreements : India and Uzbekistan inked 17 agreements on 1 October 2018, including in the areas of defence, space, health and agriculture.They also signed an agreement on cooperation in combating illicit drug trafficking.Two agreements in the sectors of innovation, and health and medical science were also signed.The two countries also entered into a pact on cooperation in the pharma sector

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Govt releases agri census data for 2015-16 : The government of India released agriculture census for 2015-16 on 1 October 2018.The average size of operational holding declined to 1.08 hectares (ha) in 2015-16 compared to 1.15 ha in 2010-11.The percentage share of female operational holders has increased from 12.79% in 2010-11 to 13.87% in 2015-16.Agriculture census is conducted by Ministry of Agriculture for every five years.

2. Government took control of IL&FS : The government of India took control of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) on 1 October 2018.The government replaced its board and appointed new board members.Uday Kotak was named as non-executive chairman of the new board.The government moved the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for replacing the IL&FS Board.

3. Gita Gopinath appointed IMF Chief Economist : India-born economist, Gita Gopinath has been appointed chief economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).She will succeed Maurice Obstfeld, who announced his retirement in July.She is the second Indian economist to be appointed as IMF chief economist after Raghuram Rajan.She currently serves as professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. ADB and India sign $150 Million Loan : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $150 Million Loan.The loan amount will be used to improve road connectivity and efficiency of the International Trade Corridor in West Bengal and North-Eastern Region of India.The project will give a boost to India’s efforts to promote regional connectivity in South Asia.

SPORTS:

1. India’s flag-bearer at Youth Olympic Games : 16-year-old shooting star Manu Bhaker is named as the flag-bearer of the Indian contingent for the 3rd Youth Olympic Games at Buenos Aires.A contingent of 68 members, including 46 athletes, departed for Argentina to take part in games from October 6-18.Bhaker had won gold in 10m air pistol at Guadalajara World Cup as well as Commonwealth Games.

2. Mushtaque Ahmad- new Hockey India President  : Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad was is named as the new President of Hockey India (HI).Ahmad is currently serving as the post of Secretary General.He takes over President Rajinder Singh after being elected unopposed.Hockey India is the governing body having an exclusive mandate to conduct all activities for both men and women hockey in India.