Daily GK Updates - 25th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa to be Chief Guest at 2019 R-Day Parade : South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade 2019.To grace the celebrations, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa accompanied by first lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe and a high-level delegation including nine ministers, senior officials and a 50-member business contingent will have a two-day India visit.It will be Ramaphosa’s first India tour as the head of the state. He is the second President of South Africa after Nelson Mandela to be the Chief Guest at the parade.

2.  National Voters’ Day celebrated across the country : India is celebrating National Voters Day across the country.This year, India marks the 9th edition of the National Voters Day.The National Voters Day is celebrated all over the country on January 25 every year.The Indian Election Commission was set up on January 25, 1950. Therefore, since 2011, it has been decided to celebrate National Voters Day on this day.The day is celebrated especially to make young voters aware of voting and political response.In view of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, ‘No Voter to be Left Behind’ has been selected as the theme for the National Voters’ Day.

3.  Himachal Pradesh celebrates 49th Statehood Day today : Himachal Pradesh is celebrating its 49th Statehood Day.On 18 December 1970 the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament and the new state came into being on 25 January 1971 making it the 18th state of India.S. Parmar became the state’s first chief minister.While congratulating the people of the state with full State Day, the Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said that unprecedented development has taken place in the state during the last 48 years.

4. PM launches Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana : Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana’ under which a group of Indian diaspora will be taken on a government-sponsored tour of religious places in India twice a year.Prime Minister Modi, also inaugurated the Centers of Excellence at Deen Dayal Hastkala Sankul in Varanasi.He also released two books – 'Kashi: The Universe of Crafts and Textiles' and 'Indian Textiles: History, Splendour, Grandeur'.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  India ranks 80th on Global Talent Competitive Index 2019 : India ranked at 80th positions on the Global Talent Competitive Index (GTCI) 2019.The index is released by INSEAD business school in partnership with Tata Communications and Adecco Group.China emerged as the best performer among the BRICS countries, with an overall position of 45th.Switzerland topped the index which is followed by Singapore and the US.Last year in 2018, India was ranked at 81^st According to the report, India's biggest challenge is to improve its ability to attract and retain talent.

2.  India Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX)- 2019 to be held in Pune : Indian Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX)-2019 is scheduled to be conducted at Aundh Military Station and College of Military Engineering, Pune from 18 March to 27 March 2019.The joint training exercise is being conducted with more than a dozen African countries & India. It aims at synergizing humanitarian mine action and joint peace operations.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Ravneet Gill is new MD & CEO of Yes Bank : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Ravneet Gill as the MD & CEO of private sector lender Yes Bank.Gill must join the bank before March 1, the central bank has said.Gill is currently the India chief of foreign lender Deutsche Bank.He will replace present MD & CEO of Yes Bank Rana Kapoor whose term ends on January 31.

2.  Parthasarathi Mukherjee to head Lakshmi Vilas Bank for another two years : Private sector Lakshmi Vilas Bank has reappointed Parthasarathi Mukherjee as its managing director.He will hold the position another two years from January 25.Reserve Bank of India has approved his reappointment.Mukherjee joined the bank on January 25, 2016, for three years and had brought positive changes initially before the piling up bad loans hit profitability.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Indian economy may grow 7.6% in FY20: UN report : According to the UN's World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2019, India's GDP growth is expected to accelerate to 7.6 percent in 2019-20 from an estimated 7.4 percent in the current fiscal ending March 2019.The growth rate may come down to 7.4 percent a year later.India will continue to remain the world's fastest-growing large economy in 2019 as well as in 2020, much ahead of China, a UN report said.In the case of China, the growth is estimated to decelerate to 6.3 percent in 2019 from 6.6 percent in 2018. It may further go down to 6.2 percent in 2020.

2. India's GDP growth may improve to 7.3% in FY20-Crisil : According to the Crisil Ratings, India's growth rate is likely to inch up to 7.3 percent in 2019-20. India is expected to clock a growth rate of 7.2 percent in the current financial year, up from 6.7 percent in 2017-18."In fiscal 2020, Crisil expects GDP to grow 7.3 percent on assumptions- normal rains, oil prices lower than 2018, stable political outcome," the rating agency said in its 'India Outlook FY20'.

  

SPORTS:

1. Johan Botha retires from all forms of cricket : Former South Africa all-rounder Johan Botha has announced his immediate retirement from all forms of cricket. Botha's Australian Twenty20 league team, the Hobart Hurricanes, announced the news.The 36-year-old Botha, who received his Australian citizenship in 2016, failed to take a wicket during nine-wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers.Botha played for South Africa in five Test matches, 78 one-day internationals and 40 T20 Internationals from 2005 to 2012.