Daily GK Updates - 31st December, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Annual bird census to begin from Jan 4 : Annual bird census in Chilika lake is slated to be carried out on 4 January 2019. Chilika lake is the biggest brackish water lake in the country. Experts from organisations like Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Wild Odisha, National Board of Wildlife, Regional Museum and Natural History, Chilika Development Authority (CDA) will take part in the census.

2. Govt extends import restrictions on peas : The commerce ministry extended the import restrictions on peas for another three months till 31 March 2019. Such measures help in curbing cheaper imports and boost local prices. The restrictions were imposed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT. India is the largest producer of pulses in the world.

3. Telangana govt hospital enters Guinness Book : Telangana government’s MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre entered the Guinness Book of World Records.It organised the largest men’s Health Awareness programme on prostate cancer on a single day. Besides the Guinness World Record, the hospital also received recognition from ‘High Range Book of World Records.

4. Swachh Surveksahan award for GHMC : The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation was awarded Best Capital City in the Solid Waste Management in the Swachh Survekshan 2018 rankings. The Swachh Survekashan survey ranks cities on various sanitation parameters. The GHMC was also at the 27th place among 4,041 cities. Swachh Survekshan 2019 was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in January 2016.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Sheikh Hasina wins the election : Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secured her third consecutive term on 29 December 2018. Her ruling party Awami League and its allies have won 288 of the 300 parliamentary seats contested, surpassing its previous election wins. Bangladesh’s parliament has 350 seats in total, 50 of which are reserved for women and allotted proportional to the overall vote.

2. ESAF is now ‘scheduled bank’ :  ESAF Small Finance Bank Ltd has received the RBI’s approval for inclusion in the second schedule of the RBI Act, 1934. Now the bank can seek funds from trusts, associations, religious institutions, and mutual funds.

It will also enable the bank to avail higher refinance facility. R Prabha is the Chairman of ESAF Small Finance Bank. The headquarters of the bank is in Thrissur, Kerala.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Banks recover Rs.40,400 crore from defaulters : According to RBI, in the fiscal ended March 2018, banks recovered ₹40,400 crore worth of bad loans as against ₹38,500 crore recovered in FY17. The various channels through which lenders recovered their bad loans include the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), SARFAESI Act, Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) and Lok Adalats. The amount recovered through SARFAESI was ₹26,500 crore in FY18.

SPORTS :

1. Smriti won the ICC ‘Women’s Cricketer’ award : India women’s cricket vice-captain Smriti Mandhana won the ‘Women’s Cricketer of the Year’ and the ‘Women’s ODI Player of the Year’ by the International Cricket Council (ICC). She won the ‘Women’s Cricketer of the Year’ for scoring 669 runs in 12 ODIs along with 622 runs in T20 Internationals in 2018. She became only the second India woman player to win an ICC award after Jhulan Goswami.

2. ICC name Women’s ODI and T20I team of the year : International Cricket Council (ICC) announced women’s ODI and T20I teams of the year 2018. New Zealand’s Suzie Bates was named as captain of the 50-over side and Harmanpreet Kaur of India appointed captain of the T20 team. The teams have been selected by Voting Academy comprising of members from media and broadcast.

OBITUARIES:

1.Noted film maker Mrinal Sen passed away : Legendary filmmaker Mrinal Sen passed away in Kolkata on 31 December 2018. He is a Padma Bhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke awardee. He made his directorial debut with ‘Raat Bhore’ in 1955.He is known for making films that focussed on socio-political issues He was also a member of the Indian People’s Theatre Association.

Daily GK Updates - 30th December, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Sudhir Bhargava appointed new chief information commissioner :  The Union government has appointed Sudhir Bhargava as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), along with four information commissioners in the Central Information Commission. Four new information commissioners are Yashwardhan Kumar Sinha (IFS officer), ex-IRS officer Vanaja N. Sarna (the only woman), Neeraj Kumar Gupta (1982-batch IAS officer) and Mr Suresh Chandra(former law secretary).

2.Delhi Metro’s Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 corridor opens :  Union Minister Hardeep S Puri & Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia jointly flag off Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 section of Pink Line of Delhi Metro Around ten-kilometre stretch is the extension of 59 kilometres long Majlis Park-Shiv Vihar corridor. The section has five stations namely Vinoba Puri, Ashram, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Mayur Vihar -I and Mayur Vihar Pocket-1. It will be a major boon for the commuters of prominent areas like Ashram and Mayur Vihar.

3.PM Modi renames Ross, Neil & Havelock Islands in Andaman and Nicobar :  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the renaming of three islands of Andaman and Nicobar on 75th anniversary of Tricolour hoisting by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Port Blair.The Ross Island has been renamed as Netaji Subhas Chandra BoseDweep.Now, The Neil Island would be known as Shaheed Dweep andHavelock Island as Swaraj Dweep.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bangladesh Elections: Awami League registers landslide victory :  Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's (71-years) Awami League has registered a landslide victory in Parliamentary elections. The ruling Awami League-led grand alliance bagged 266 seats and its ally Jatiya Party secured 21 in the 300-member House.The opposition National Unity Front (UNF) with BNP being its key partner got only seven seats and Independent candidates won in two seats.

2.The United Arab Emirates reopens its embassy in Syria : The United Arab Emirates (UAE) resumed its diplomatic services at its embassy in Damascus (Syria) after six years of suspension. In February 2012, The UAE broke ties with Syria as the repression of nationwide protests demanding regime change was escalating into a devastating war. The decision follows a careful reading of the latest developments and a conviction that the next phase requires Arab involvement to protect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Government infuses Rs 2159 Crore in United Bank of India : According to The United Bank of India, the Union government has decided to infuse Rs 2,159 crore in the bank. The government has decided to pump Rs 28,615 crore into seven public sector banks (PSBs) through recapitalization bonds soon. Bank of India is likely to get the highest amount of Rs 10,086 crore

SPORTS:

1Luka Modric wins Balkan Athlete of the year award 2018 : Croatia soccer star Luka Modric has been chosen Balkan athlete of the year 2018. Now, He became only the second soccer player to scoop the prize after Bulgaria’s former European Footballer of the Year Hristo Stoichkov in 1994. Tennis great Novak Djokovic of Serbia was second in the Balkan poll, and Romania's Simona Halep third.

2. Saurabh Chaudhary sweeps men's air pistol national trials : Indian Shooter Saurabh Chaudhary has won the 10m air pistol trials at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range by winning the second National trial competitions in both the men's and junior boy's categories. Asian Games and Youth Olympic Games champion Earlier, Saurabh had won the first trial in both events as well and in one final shooting event way above the existing world record score.

3. 3rd Edition of Women's national boxing championships begins : The third edition of women's national boxing championships begins in Vijayanagara, Karnataka. Country's top boxers will be vying for top honours as the tournament will be held at the JSW Sports-owned Inspire Institute of Sport till 6th of the next month.

OBITUARIES:

1. Veteran filmmaker Mrinal Sen passes away : Legendary filmmaker Padma Bhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke awardee Mrinal Sen(95-years) passed away due to age-related ailments in Kolkata. He was the recipient of 12 international film awards including Cannes Film Festival. Mrinal Sen was also a member of the Indian People’s Theatre Association.

Daily GK Updates - 29th December, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Arunachal touches record high revenue generation : The Arunachal Pradesh government has created a record of a total revenue generation of Rs 1,598.49 crore in 2017-18, reaching a new high in the last 30 years. The revenue generation had crossed the Rs 1,000 cr mark for two consecutive years since Arunachal Pradesh attained statehood in 1987. The source of revenue generation by the state government includes share of central taxes, state taxes among others. Chief Minister Pema Khandu had said at a recent meeting, "The state has witnessed faster change, greater transparency and unprecedented development in all sectors.

2.All Indian airports set to install body scanners from 2019 : Airports in India will be able to use body scanners from next year and spare “clean” passengers physical frisking.The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is soon going to come out with technical specifications of these scanners and then airports can install and machines meeting those norms.The scanners to be used in India will need to be customized for Indian ‘conditions’ so that it can penetrate the layers of clothes unique to the country — like chunnat (front fold) of a sari, lungiand pallus.

3. Internet access in India has crossed 50 crore milestone : The number of internet connections in India has grown by 65% from March 2016 to cross the 50 crore mark in 2018, in line with the target set by the Narendra Modi government three years ago.As per the latest information from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), by the end of September 2018, there were 56 crore narrowband and broadband connections in India.Just five states - Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), Gujarat and Maharashtra — account for 20 crore or 36% of all internet connections in India.

4. Train 18 to begin operations in Jan 2019 : According to the sources, Train 18, India's fastest train, will begin operations in January 2019 at a curtailed speed of 130 kmph.Train 18, which is set to replace the Shatabdi series, has the potential to run between 160 kmph to 200 kmph.At trials, it breached the 180-kmph mark."Train 18 is likely to run in January after the report of the Chief Commissioner Railway Safety (CCRS) is approved by the board.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.India pips China in FDI inflows for the first time in 20 years : For the first time in two decades, India has been getting more foreign investment than its neighbor China. In 2018, India saw more than $38 billion of inbound deals compared with China’s $32 billion. India’s foreign direct investment (FDI) was the highest ever with 235 deals amounting to $37.76 billion this calendar year, according to data from Dealogic, a global M&A and capital markets data provider, beating China, which has historically been the favorite for emerging market bets.China’s trade standoff with the US is seen as a major reason for the slowdown.

2. Michelle Obama, America’s most admired woman : After Hillary Clinton, US former first lady Michelle Obama tops the list of America’s most admired woman.Former President Barack Obama was the most admired man for the 11th year in a row while President Donald Trump finished second for the fourth consecutive year.According to Gallup’s report of the most admired man and woman in the world, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama hold the topmost positions.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.Bank-led resolution of NPAs set to begin : Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) has set up an oversight committee with a former deputy governor from Reserve Bank of India to kick-start bank-led resolution of stressed assets under the inter-creditor agreement. The association has now asked the 34 lenders to initiate and send the resolution proposals under the scheme. A senior IBA official said banks have been told to provide forensic reports and credit rating of the borrower along with the resolution plan “Under Project Sashakt, an overseeing committee (OC) is to be set up to look into these resolutions.

2. New ED for Corporation Bank :The Centre has appointed Birupaksha Mishra as an Executive Director of Corporation Bank. He has taken over the charge on December 26. Mishra is a Post Graduate and a Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB). Prior to this appointment, he was General Manager in Central Bank of India.

Daily GK Updates - 28th December, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Divya Patidar Joshi Crowned Mrs. India 2018 Title : Divya Patidar Joshi of Madhya Pradesh was crowned with the prestigious India 2018 Title. The Mrs. India My Identity Beauty Pageant 2018 finale was held in Delhi on 25th Dec 2018. Divya won the crown of Mrs India this year from among 24 promising contestants. She won all the rounds of Beauty with Brain contest along with Best Cat Walk title.

2. Railways introduces technology to eliminate manual examination of trains : The mechanical branch of Central Railways' Nagpur division has introduced a new state-of-the-art technology called Automated Train Examination System (ATES) for the enhancement of train safety. The system, developed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, eliminates manual examination of trains and measures axle box temperature, wheel disc temperature and records the under-gear of rolling stock of running trains through infrared and other cameras.

3.Govt bans Khalistan Liberation Force : The government has banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) for its involvement in several killings, bombings, and other terror activities during its violent campaign for "secession of Punjab". The decision to ban the outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) comes in the backdrop of agencies unearthing several KLF modules in recent months which has led to apprehensions that it is attempting to revive militancy in the state. The Khalistan Liberation Force and all its manifestations have been declared outlawed under the under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a Home Ministry order said on Wednesday, adding it will be the 40th organization to be prescribed under this law.

4.Triple Talaq Bill passed in Lok Sabha : The Lok Sabha on 27th Dec 2018 passed The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, after a heated debate.Before the start of the voting, Congress and AIADMK staged a walkout from the House opposing certain provisions of the bill that makes instant triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat a criminal offense, with a jail term of up to three years with a fine.The Bill will replace the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance-2018.

5.Virudhunagar district is Tamil Nadu most improvement district: Niti Aayog : Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant released the Second Delta Ranking of the Aspirational Districts Programme. The ranking details the incremental progress achieved by the districts during June to October this year across six key development sectors.Nuapada district in Odisha ranked second. Siddarthnagar in Uttar Pradesh ranked third.

6.Madhya Pradesh: Kuno notified as a national park : Madhya Pradesh forest department notify Kuno as a ‘national park’. The state government has declared Kuno National Park with the inclusion of an area spread along 404.0758 sq.km in addition to the earlier notified area of 344.686 sq km making a total of 748.7618 sq km area. The move is expected to pave way for translocation of lions from Gir in Gujarat to Kuno.

7.The 26th National Childres's Science Congress inaugurated in Odisha : The 26th National Childres's Science Congress has been inaugurated by the Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar.Inaugurating the Congress session, Shri Patnaik has said that the progress of science is essential for the National growth and healthy Nation. Odisha government is organizing various programmes for the development of scientific temper among students.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Colin completed Solo trek across Antarctica : Colin O’Brady, an American adventurer, has become the first person to complete a solo trek across Antarctica without the assistance of any kind. He took 54 days to complete the nearly 1,000-mile (1,600-km) crossing Antartica. He arrived at the finish point on the Ross Ice Shelf on the Pacific Ocean. In 1996-97, a Norwegian explorer, Borge Ousland, made the first solo crossing of Antarctica.

OTHER UPDATES:

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY :

1. Russia ‘successfully’ tests hypersonic missile : According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia has become the first country to complete the development of hypersonic weapons.The Intercontinental, nuclear-capable hypersonic missile system will enter service in Russia’s military next year, President Vladimir Putin added.The weapon, dubbed “Avangard,” successfully hit a target 6,000 kilometers from launch, according to a separate statement from the Kremlin. The Avangard is invulnerable to intercept by any existing and prospective missile-defense means of the potential adversary.

Daily GK Updates - 27th December, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Andhra Pradesh gets its own High Court in Capital Amaravati : President Ram Nath Kovind on 26 December 2018, issued orders for the creation of a separate high court for Andhra Pradesh. The new high court will start functioning from 1 January 2019 from Amaravati. With the creation of the new high court, the country will have 25 high courts. According to the notification issued by the Law Ministry, Justice Ramesh Ranganathan, who is at present the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court,  will head the new high court.It will have 15 other judges besides the chief justice.

2. India’s largest cancer institute in Haryana’s Jhajjar to open in January 2019:

Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that the largest cancer hospital in India, the National Cancer Institute in Haryana’s Jhajjar district, would be opened to public by the third week of January. The institute, being considered as a landmark in the field of cancer research in the country, shall lessen the deficit of tertiary cancer care in the northern region. The institute will have 710 beds, out of which 200 beds will be dedicated for translational research on India-specific cancers.

3. Tamil Nadu: Tribal community Baduga celebrates annual Heddaiyamman festival : The tribal Baduga community in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu celebrated their annual Heddaiyamman festival on 26^th Dec 2018. People observe 48 days fast and walk in religious processions, holding up a holy shaft which symbolizes the miracle of the traditional Badaga goddess. The Badagas are an indigenous tribal group in the Nilgiris and occupy more than 400 remote hill villages in the district.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Three islands in Andaman and Nicobar to be renamed after Netaji Subash Chandra Bose : The Centre has decided to rename three islands of Andaman.According to reports, the three islands - Ross Island, Neil Island and Havelock Island will be renamed Netaji Subash Chandra Bose island, Shaheed dweep, and Swaraj dweep, respectively. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to make the announcement during his visit to Port Blair on 30 December. 30 December 2018 marks the 75th anniversary of Netaji's visit to the islands.

2. Bhutanese PM to begin 3-day India visit today : Prime Minister of Bhutan Dr. Lotay Tshering will arrive today in New Delhi on a three-day official visit to India.The visit of the Bhutanese Prime Minister is taking place during the Golden jubilee year of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries.Foreign Secretary Vijay K Gokhale will call on the visiting dignitary on Thursday.During his visit, Bhutanese PM will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

3. India Takes Over Iran's Strategic Chabahar Port : Indian firm India Ports Global Limited took over the operations of the Shaheed Behesti Port at Chabahar on the southeastern coast of Iran, being jointly developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan. he company opened its office following the first meeting of the follow-up committee for implementation of the trilateral Chabahar Agreement between India, Afghanistan and Iran. "It was agreed to allow cargo movement at Chabahar using TIR Convention provisions."

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Bimal Jalan to head expert panel on Economic Capital Framework : The Reserve Bank of India has formed an expert committee under former governor Bimal Jalan to decide the appropriate level of reserves that the regulator should hold.The six-member panel has former deputy RBI governor Rakesh Mohan as its vice chairman and comprises economic affairs secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, RBI central board members Bharat Doshi and Sudhir Mankad and deputy governor NS Vishwanathan.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.  RBI launches survey to capture retail payment habits in 6 cities : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will capture payment habits of individuals in six cities, including four metropolitan towns. For the purpose, the central bank has launched a ‘Survey on Retail Payment Habits of Individuals (SRPHi)’. The survey will cover a sample of 6,000 individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds across six cities -- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Guwahati.

DEFENCE:

1.China successfully tests Russia's S-400 missile air defence system : China has successfully tested the advanced S-400 air defence system imported from Russia for which India also signed-up recently despite concerns over threat of sanctions from the US.S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system. China was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014 to procure the lethal missile system.

SPORTS :

1.Former Australia captain Ponting inducted into ICC Hall of Fame : Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting was formally inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on 26 Dec 2018.Ponting was named in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame along with former India captain Rahul Dravid and England woman wicketkeeper-batter Claire Taylor during the ICC Annual Conference in Dublin in July.

2. CA Kuttappa takes over as India's chief boxing coach : Dronacharya awardee C A Kuttappa has taken over as India's chief boxing coach. The 39-year-old Kuttappa is credited with shaping some of the country's most successful boxers such as Vijender Singh, M Suranjoy Singh and Shiva Thapa, among others. He replaced veteran coach SR Singh.

Daily GK Updates - 26th December, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Government approves Rameshwaram-Dhanushkodi project : The government has approved laying a new broad gauge railway line connecting Rameshwaram with Dhanushkodi, which is believed to be the starting point of Ram Sethu and a major pilgrim destination.The 17-km line will cost around Rs 208 crore and it has been included in the umbrella work for new lines in the current financial year.Dhanushkodi railway station was destroyed and abandoned after the 1964 Rameshwaram cyclone and it remains unattended. The new railway line will be a boon to pilgrims visiting the place. Hindu pilgrimage at Rameshwaram gets completed only after taking a dip in Dhanushkodi.

2.PM Modi innaugrates Paika Rebellion chair in Utkal university : The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, visited Odisha on 24th December, 2018.At the IIT Bhubaneswar campus, the Prime Minister released a commemorative stamp and coin on the Paika Rebellion.The Paika Rebellion, also called the Paika Bidroha, was an armed rebellion against British East India Company's rule in Odisha in 1817.The Paikas were the traditional militia of Odisha who served as warriors. The setting up of a Chair on the Paika Rebellion, in Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, was announced.

 3.UIDAI: Aadhaar not mandatory for admission in schools : The Unique Identification Authority of India has asserted that schools cannot make the 12-digit biometric identifier a pre-condition for student admission.UIDAI's clarification comes at a time when admissions to nursery and entry-level classes have begun in over 1,500 private schools in Delhi.UIDAI has asked schools to ensure that no child is denied admission for lack of Aadhaar.In September, the Supreme Court had upheld the constitutional validity of Aadhaar but clipped the scope of the biometric identity project

4.Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana launched in Uttarakhand : Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana' has been launched in Uttarakhand.Under the scheme, each household in the state will be able to avail medical treatment of up to 5 lakh rupees annually.The scheme will benefit 23 lakh households and cover 1,350 critical diseases. Launching the Yojna in Dehradun yesterday, Chief Ministe Trivendra Singh Rawat distributed scheme-related golden cards to beneficiaries. All the households have been included under the scheme.

5.CM Yogi Announces to Install 25-feet High Vajpayee's Statue in UP Secretariat : A 25-feet high statue of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be installed in Lok Bhawan, the Uttar Pradesh government secretariat here, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on 25^th December 2018. Adityanath made the announcement at a ceremony held to celebrate Vajpayee's 94th birth anniversary. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, also the local MP, and Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik also attended the function.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

6.Japan decides to withdraw from IWC : Japan has decided to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and will resume commercial whaling July next year. However, Japan will not be able to continue the so-called scientific research hunts in the Antarctic that it has been exceptionally allowed as an IWC member under the Antarctic Treaty. The withdrawal also means Japan joins Iceland and Norway in openly defying the IWC's ban on commercial whale hunting.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.RBI to soon release new Rs 20 note : The Reserve Bank of India will soon introduce Rs 20 notes with additional features. The reserve bank has already issued new-look currency notes in the denominations of Rs 10, Rs 50, Rs 100, and Rs 500, besides introducing Rs 200 and Rs 2000 notes after demonetisation.The new notes are being introduced under the Mahatma Gandhi series.The new currency notes are different in size and design compared to issued previously.

DEFENCE:

1.Indian Navy commissions Naval hospital INHS Sandhani : The Indian Navy has commissioned INHS Sandhani, its tenth Naval hospital, at the Naval station Karanja in Uran near Mumbai. Preeti Luthra, President of NWWA (Navy Wives Welfare Association), Western Region, unveiled the commissioning plaque of the hospital. Indian Naval Hospital Ship (INHS) Sandhani is the tenth naval hospital of the Indian Navy, said an official.

SPORTS :

1. International golfer Jyoti Randhawa arrested for poaching in Uttar Pradesh : International golfer Jyoti Randhawa has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department for poaching. Interrogation and further legal action is being carried out by the Divisional Forest Officer of Katarniaghat and his team. As per preliminary information received, Jyoti Singh Randhawa and Mahesh Virajdar have been arrested in a poaching case in Motipur Range of Katarniaghat. A vehicle, weapon and other equipment, along with wildlife articles, have been seized. A skin of wild boar, Range Finders, binoculars and a gun registered in Randhawa's name have also been recovered from his vehicle

Daily GK Updates - 25th December, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Rs 100 coin in memory of Vajpayee launched : A commemorative coin worth Rs 100 in honour of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was launched on 24 December 2018.The coin features the Emblem of India on the front side. The reverse side of the coin features a portrait of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The years 1924 and 2018 are inscribed below Vajpayee’s portrait to mark the year of his birth and death respectively.

2.MSAMB appoints officers to facilitate trade : Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to appoint out-of-state trade representatives. The Maharashtra State Agriculture Marketing Board (MSAMB) appointed six trade representatives to  promote trade in semi-perishable commodities. They will also collect relevant market information. They have been posted in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu.

3. Book on Maharaja Jagatjit Singh launched :  Punjab’s Chief Minister Amarinder Singh released a book on former ruler Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala on 24 December 2018. The title of the book is ‘Prince, Patron, and Patriarch – Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala’. It is co-authored by Brigadier (Retd) Sukhjit Singh and Cynthia Meera Frederick.

4. Good Governance Day-25 December : Good Governance Day is observed annually on 25th December, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.Good Governance Day was established by the government of India in 2014.The aim of the day is to make people aware of the government’s commitment to providing a transparent and accountable administration in the country.

5. Longest rail-cum-road bridge inaugurated : India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge – Bogibeel Bridge was inaugurated in Assam on 25 December 2018. The Bridge is situated 17 km downstream of Dibrugarh city in Assam. It crosses the Brahmaputra river and will connect Assam’s Dibrugarh town with Dhemaji. The bridge will also facilitate faster movement of army troops and supplies to Arunachal Pradesh.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Hamilton awarded Drivers’ Driver of the Year : On 22 December 2018, Lewis Hamilton won the ‘Drivers’ Driver of the Year’ award.For the first time, voting was done to determine the winner of the award. He won the award after he claimed the 5th World Drivers’ Championship. Lewis Hamilton is the third man in history to secure the 5th world title. Max Verstappen was placed in the 2nd position and Fernando Alonso got the 3rd place.

2. Belgium tops FIFA rankings : Belgium ended the year at the top of the FIFA rankings for December released on 20 December 2018.They are one point ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup champions France. Belgium has 1,727 points by FIFA’s calculations and France has 1,726 points. France was ranked second. France is followed by Brazil, Croatia, and England.

3. Turkmenistan launches first messaging app : Turkmenistan launched its first messaging app on 24 December 2018. The name of the messaging app is ‘BizBarde’.The app will allow the exchange of messages, files, photos, and videos. The application is available via the Google Android platform as well as Apple’s iOS and Microsoft Windows.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.Bharathi appointed as head of Corporation Bank : P V Bharathi has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation Bank on 24 December 2018.She is at present Executive Director of Canara Bank. She will take over the charge on or after 1 February 2019 and remain in the post till March 31, 2020 – the date of her superannuation.

2. PNB launches special card for Kumbh Mela : Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched a special card for Kumbh Mela 2019.The bank has partnered with the Uttar Pradesh government to create a model for digitization at Kumbh Mela 2019.For convenient and hassle-free transactions at these shops, the bank has created the ‘PNB Rupay’ card which works even without the internet.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1.SpaceX launches new GPS satellite : SpaceX successfully launched the US Air Force’s first Global Positioning System (GPS) III satellite, nicknamed ‘Vespucci’, on 23 December 2018. The new GPS satellites, built by Lockheed Martin, will provide three-times better accuracy than the current system of GPS and will be eight times better at anti-jamming. The GPS is owned by the U.S. military and operated by the U.S. Air Force. 

2.‘Super-Earth’ in ‘Cassiopeia’ discovered : Researchers have discovered a new exotic planet outside the solar system in the constellation ‘Cassiopeia’. The planet has been named ‘HD219134 b’. It is located 21 light years away from earth. It has a mass of almost five times that of Earth, which is considered a so-called ‘super-Earth’.It is rich in calcium and aluminum alongside magnesium and silicon.

Daily GK Updates - 24th December, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Odisha govt announces Rs 10,000 crore scheme for development of farmers : Odisha state cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has approved the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme, worth over Rs 10,000 crore, for the development of farmers in the state. An amount of Rs 10,000 per family at the rate of Rs 5,000 each for Kharif and Rabi seasons shall be provided as financial assistance for taking up cultivation The KALIA will further accelerate agricultural prosperity in the state and reduce poverty.

2.Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launches IFC-IOR at IMAC in Gurugram :The Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has launched the Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) at the Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) in Gurugram. The objective of having an IFC-IOR is more for partners equals to work towards keeping the global commons safe and democratically available for all. The IFC-IOR will help interface and integrate, wherein, the country will benefit from each other’s best practices and expertise.IFC - IOR shall be a collaborative construct that will work with partners, countries as well as international agencies to enhance maritime security and safety.

3.Mamata Banerjee is the Skoch Chief Minister of the Year : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been awarded the Skoch Chief Minister of the Year Award 2017 for her contribution in the overall development of the state and emerging as the best chief minister in the country. West Bengal has won 31 Skoch Awards this year for its performance in different fields and for executing unique projects. The state's Kanyashree scheme for the girl child has earned Banerjee much acclaim and the highest public service honour from the United Nations

4. National Consumer Day-24 December : National Consumer Day is observed in India every year on 24 December.The theme for 2018 National Consumer Day is ‘Timely Disposal of Consumer Complaints’.On this day the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 had received the assent of the President.The Consumer Protection Act aims to provide consumers with effective safeguards against different types of exploitation.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Gitega named as the new capital of Burundi : Burundi government has declared Gitega as the country’s new political capital. Previous capital Bujumbura will serve as the economic capital of the country. Gitega’s population is around 30 000 as compared to Bujumbura’s 1.2 million. The political system of Burundi is that of a presidential representative democratic republic. Recently Burundi (156th) was ranked as the world’s least happy nation in the World Happiness Report 2018.

2.Tsunami kills over 280 in Indonesia : In Indonesia, the death toll from a volcano-triggered tsunami has risen to 222 and around 800 people injured. The possible cause of the tsunami was undersea landslides following the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano.The Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sadness to Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the loss of lives and destruction and offered condolences to the bereaved families.

           

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. RBI shortlists Wipro, TCS, 4 others for PCR : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shortlisted six major IT companies to set up a digital Public Credit Registry (PCR) The IT companies are TCS, Wipro, IBM India, Capgemini Technology Services India, Dun & Bradstreet Information Services India, and Mindtree Ltd.PCR will be capturing details of all borrowers and wilful defaulters. It will strengthen the credit culture in the economy.

SPORTS :

1.India's Vedangi Kulkarni becomes fastest Asian to cycle the globe : Indian woman Vedangi Kulkarni (20-year) has become the fastest Asian to cycle the globe. Vedangi cycled into Kolkata in the wee hours, completing the 29,000 kilometres' distance required to qualify as bicycling across the globe. She spent 159 days peddling up to 300 kilometres a day in 14 countries. Now, She will be flying back to the Australian city to complete the record by cycling a 15-kilometre distance to reach the same place from where she started.

Daily GK Updates - 23rd December, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.PM Modi launches Rs 100 commemorative coin in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's honour : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released Rs. 100 commemorative coin in honour of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi. Atal Bihari Vajpayee's anniversary will be celebrated tomorrow (25thDecember) as Good Governance Day. Mr’ Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister thrice and led the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government from 1998 to 2004. Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on 16th of August this year at the age of 93 at the All India Institute of Medical Science, AIIMS in New Delhi.

2. PM inaugurates projects worth around 15K cr rupees in Odisha : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the projects worth around 15,000 crore rupees in Odisha, during his day-long visit to the state. The projects are related to health, road and highways, higher education and culture. Prime Minister Modi also dedicated the new campus of IIT-Bhubaneswar at Aragul built at a cost of 1,660 crore rupees. He will also inaugurate ESIC hospital in Bhubaneshwar costing over 73 crores.He also inaugurated the Lalitgiri Archaeological Museum which houses huge sculptures of the Buddha and various Buddhist deities.

3.  India’s first music museum to be set up in Thiruvaiyaru : According to State Minister for Culture and Tamil Development Shri K Pandiarajan, Country’s first music museum will be set up with assistance from the Central government in Thiruvaiyaru, Tamilnadu.Thiruvaiyaru is the birthplace of Saint Tyagaraja (one of the Trinities of Carnatic music). The Tyagaraja Aaradhana Music Festival which is held annually in January in Thiruvaiyaru attracts musical talents from all over the world.

4. Suresh Prabhu confers Skoch Golden Jubilee Challenger Award : The Union Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu gave away the Skoch Golden Jubilee Challenger Award at the 55th Skoch Summit in New Delhi.Mr. Prabhu was awarded for his contribution to reforms, particularly in the power sector reforms. A book titled India 2030 was also released on the occasion. The Skoch Challenger Awards are the highest independently instituted civilian honours.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.China launched its first Satellite for Space-based Broadband Services : China has launched its first communication satellite to offer broadband internet services to users worldwide. It is CASIC’s (China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation) first satellite launch under China’s Hongyun project.  Under this project, China plans to give broadband internet connectivity to users all over the world by building a space-based communications network.The satellite aims to rival Google and other companies which have similar plans for providing Internet services worldwide.

 2.Patrick Shanahan to replace James Mattis as US Defense Secretary : United States President Donald Trump has announced that he will replace Defence Secretary Jim Mattis with his deputy Patrick Shanahan as acting Pentagon chief . Earlier, US Defence Secretary (26th) Jim Mattis has resigned from his post due to policy differences with President Donald Trump.The Secretary of Defense is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and is by custom a member of the Cabinet and by law a member of the National Security Council.

3.India-China Film Festival begins in New Delhi : India-China Film Festival has begun at the Siri Fort auditorium in New Delhi.Three-day long Film Festival is being organized during the 1st India-China High-Level Mechanism on Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges. Seven films including four Chinese and three Indian Films will be screened during the Festival. The opening film of the Festival was ‘CZ12’ also known as ‘Chinese Zodiac’.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. GST Council cuts rates on 17 items, 6 services : The Goods and Services Tax Council has cut rates on 17 items and six types of services during its 31st meeting on 22 December 2018.The GST rate on cinema tickets above ₹100 was cut from 28% to 18% and on tickets up to ₹100 from 18% to 12%. The Council decided that 5% GST would be levied on renewable energy devices and parts for their manufacture.

DEFENCE:

1.India successfully test-fires Agni-IV ICBM from Odisha coast : India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable long-range Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile Agni-IV, with a strike range of 4,000 km. The test was part of a user trial by the Army. Agni-IV missile is equipped with advanced Avionics, 5th generation On Board Computer and distributed architecture. Ballistic missiles like Agni-I, II and III and Prithvi have already been inducted in the arsenal of the armed forces.It has the latest features to correct and guide itself for in-flight disturbances.