Daily GK Updates - 31st March, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Five varieties of Indian coffee have been awarded the GI tag : Five varieties of Indian coffee have been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, a move that will enhance their visibility globally and allow growers to get the right value. The 5 Varieties are: Coorg Arabica coffee from Kodagu district of Karnataka  Wayanaad Robusta coffee from Wayanad district in east Kerala Chikmagalur Arabica coffee from Chikmagalur district, Karnataka,   Araku Valley Arabica coffee from Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha region  Bababudangiris Arabica coffee from the central portion of Chikmagalur district

2. Ministry for Health added new ruled to the Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules : The Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare have added new ruled to the Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 with an aim to promote clinical research in the country. The new rules reduce the time for approving applications to 30 days for drugs manufactured in India and 90 days for those developed outside the country. The new rules state that in case of no communication from Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), the application will be deemed to have been approved. The new rules will ensure patient safety, as they would be enlisted for trials with informed consent and the ethics committee will monitor the trials and decide on the amount of compensation in cases of adverse events.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Red Cross to aid Venezuela in two weeks : The Red Cross announced that it is to aid Venezuela in two weeks. It also said it would not allow any political “interference” in the operation. Francesco Rocca, head of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent said that the organisation would begin distributing aid that President Nicolás Maduro has to date refused to allow into the country, leaving it stockpiled since mid-February on the borders with Colombia and Brazil. Venezuela Crisis: A crisis concerning who is the legitimate President of Venezuela has been underway since 10 January 2019, when the opposition-majority National Assembly declared that incumbent Nicolás Maduro's 2018 reelection was invalid and the body declared its president, Juan Guaidó, to be acting president of the nation.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Facebook banned White Nationalism, White Separatism on its Platforms : Facebook has banned praise, support and representation of white nationalism and white separatism on its platforms. This move had a qualified approval from the recent Christchurch mosque shooting. Facebook will also direct users who post or search content connected to these ideologies to an organization that helps people leave hate groups. Social Media platforms were under pressure and criticisms that they have failed to confront extremism.  White Supremacy is defined as a belief system with tenets like "whites should have dominance over people of other backgrounds, especially where they may co-exist; whites should live by themselves in a whites-only society, white people have their own 'culture' that is superior to other cultures; white people are genetically superior to other people.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.Centre to infuse Rs.5,042 crore into BoB : The Finance Ministry has decided to infuse Rs.5,042 crore into state-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) ahead of the merger of two other public sector lenders Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with BoB. The merger of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda would be effective from April 1

DEFENCE:

1. Indian Army inducted 4 indigenous Dhanush Howitzer guns : Indian Army inducted 4 indigenous Dhanush Howitzer guns. The induction of Dhanush Howitzer guns gives major fire-power boost to the Indian Armed Forces. Dhanush Howitzers Long Range Artillery Guns are the first ever indigenous 155 mm x 45 calibre long-range artillery guns. Dhanush Long Range Artillery Guns are equipped with inertial navigation-based sighting system, auto-laying facility, on-board ballistic computation and an advanced day and night direct firing system. The self-propulsion unit on Dhanush allows the gun to negotiate and deploy itself in mountainous terrains with ease. Dhanush is also electronically upgraded to enhance firing accuracies, laying speeds of the existing gun and to provide compatibility with various kinds of ammunition as well. 

SPORTS:

1. Justice D.K.Jain to be the Ethics Officer of the Indian cricket board : Supreme Court-appointed BCCI Ombudsman Justice D.K.Jain (retd) has been appointed to serve as the Ethics Officer of the Indian cricket board on an ad-hoc basis. According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), provisions in its constitution require an Ethics Officer to be appointed to determine and decide issues related to conflict of interest.

Daily GK Updates - 30th March, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Rajan’s Book titled ‘The Third Pillar -How Markets and the State leave the Community Behind’ ‘‘launched’’ :  Mr. Rajan was in conversation with N. Ram, Chairman, The Hindu Publishing Group, after the launch of his book The Third Pillar — How Markets and the State leave the Community Behind. The Third Pillar is an important contribution to understanding why, a decade after the crisis, the world’s politics and economics remain so brittle. Mr Rajan was the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India between September 2013 and September 2016.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Rima Das becomes Ambassador of Toronto International Film Festival :  Rima Das joined Toronto International Film Festival's Share Her Journey as their official ambassador. TIFF launched the 5-year campaign in 2017 with a view to increase participation, skills, and opportunities for women behind and in front of the camera.The woman behind 'Village Rockstars', India's Official Entry to Oscars 2019 would like to see more and more women in the industry break the glass ceiling.

2. Amartya Sen Awarded Oxford University’s Bodley Medal : Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen (85-years) has been awarded the prestigious Bodley Medal, the highest honour bestowed by the University of Oxford's world-famous Bodleian Libraries. The Medal is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the fields in which the Bodleian is active, including literature, culture, science and communication. Mr. Amartya Sen is the Thomas W Lamont University Professor at Harvard University and a member of faculty at Harvard Law School, received the Medal from Lord Patten of Barnes, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Bodley's Librarian Richard Ovenden.

3. India & Bolivia sign 8 MoUs in various fields including culture, mining, space : India and Bolivia have signed eight MoUs in the fields of culture, Visa waiver arrangement for diplomats, the exchange between diplomatic academies, mining, space, traditional medicine, the establishment of Centre of Excellence in IT and Bi-Oceanic Railway project. Mr Kovind was also conferred with the highest State honour of Bolivia, “Condor de Los Andes en el Grado de Gran Collar” during his visit to Bolivia. President of Bolivia Evo Morales awarded him the Honour at a function held in Santa Cruz.

4.  India, Australia to hold a joint exercise on maritime security from 2nd April : India and Australia are set to further deepen defence and strategic relationship with the third edition of the biennial, bilateral exercise AUSINDEX 19 from April 2 to April 16 at Vishakhapatnam. The upcoming exercise will focus on anti-submarine warfare and will see Australia's largest defence force deployment in India.This exercise is part of the strong and growing Australia-India strategic partnership.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Maruti Suzuki re-appoints Kenichi Ayukawa as MD & CEO :  The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) has re-appointed Kenichi Ayukawa as Managing Director (MD)and CEO for three years. The company's board appointed Ayukawa on the existing terms and conditions including remuneration. This would be Ayukawa's third three-year term (first time -March 2013) as MD and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India.

SPORTS:

1. Asian Airgun C'ship: Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary clinch gold :  Young pistol shooters Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary has clinched a gold medal each, their second in the competition, as India continued their domination at the 12th Asian Airgun Championships in Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei. Manu Bhaker has won the women's 10 metre Air Pistol at the 12th Asian Airgun Championships in Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei. Saurabh Chaudhary has clinched a team gold medal in the men's event. Abhishek Verma also won individual silver in the men's 10-metre Air Pistol.

Daily GK Updates - 29th March, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Former Governor's Book Titled ‘Indian Fiscal Federalism’ Launched  : The Chairman of 15th Finance Commission of India, N.K. Singh launched the book “Indian Fiscal Federalism”. The book has been written by Dr. Y. V. Reddy, former Governor of RBI and Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission of India along with Dr. G. R. Reddy, Advisor (Finance) to the Government of Telangana.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Israelis discover 'world's longest salt cave' : Israeli researchers have discovered the world’s longest salt cave named ‘Malham’. The cave stretches for over 10-kilometres (6.25 miles), through Mount Sodom (Israel's largest mountain) and spills out to the southwest corner of the adjacent Dead Sea. It was mapped out over two years by cavers from nine countries, led by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

2. Nepal Investment Summit 2019 commences in Kathmandu :  Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli has inaugurated "Nepal Investment Summit 2019" at ‘Hotel Soaltee’ in Kathmandu. Over 600 investors (265 from China, 120 from India) and delegates from 40 countries including India are participating in the two-day summit.The main objective of the event is to project Nepal as a favourable investment destination. Summit will unveil potential opportunities for investment in various sectors in Nepal including Hydropower, Tourism, Infrastructure, Industry, Transport, Agriculture and Information and Communication Technology.

3. India, Bangladesh start cruise service :  India and Bangladesh have started a cruise service that would take passengers through the Sunderbans to Dhaka. The objective of the move to strengthen inland waterway routes between the two countries.The MEA (External Affairs Ministry) official said, as the movement of goods starts using inland waterways, so goods from India can go in the cheapest possible form up to Narayanganj and Dhaka in Bangladesh. People would have the option to travel through the Sunderbans on luxury vessels up to Dhaka and back with border formalities being done at the crossing points in both countries.

4. Pakistan approves the proposal to open Sharda Peeth corridor :  The Pakistan government has approved a proposal to establish a corridor to visit Sharda Peeth in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Sharda Peeth is an ancient Hindu temple and cultural site in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It will be the second religious tract after Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-controlled territory that will connect the two neighbouring nations. The Sharda Peeth (130km from Srinagar) went under the control of Pakistan after Partition in 1947.

5. UN council passes a resolution to combat terrorist financing : The UN Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously passed the first-ever resolution ordering members to enforce laws against terror financing. It demands all states "ensure that their domestic laws and regulations establish serious criminal offences" to collect funds or financial resources to terrorist groups or individual criminals. The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression.

6. Venezuela′s Juan Guaido barred from public office for 15 years :  According to Venezuela's Comptroller General Elvis Amoroso, Venezuela has barred opposition leader Juan Guaido from holding public office for 15 years. The decision was taken following an investigation that shows irregularities in his financial records. The decision will be for the maximum period established in the decree with the scope, courage and strength of the law against corruption.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.Govt. decides to infuse around Rs 5000 Cr into Bank Of Baroda :  The Union Government has decided to infuse around 5,042 crore rupees into Bank of Baroda (BoB) ahead of the merger of two other public sector lenders Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda. The merger of Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda would be effective from 1st April 2019. In September 2019, the 'Alternative Mechanism' (AM) headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had decided to merge Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank with Bank of Baroda.

2. Bank of Baroda set to Develop Digital Agri Platform ‘Baroda Kisan’ : Bank of Baroda (BoB) has signed an MoU with agriculture services companies to develop an agriculture digital platform ‘Baroda Kisan’ for agricultural requirements solutions.The initiative is being executed by ITCoE of Bank of Baroda, in partnership with IBM India. Bank of Baroda (BoB) has signed the agreement with Skymet Weather Services, Weather Risk Management Services, BigHaat, Agrostar India, EM3 Agri Services, and Poorti Agri Services.

SPORTS:

1. Breakdancing makes next move to Olympic status at Paris 2024 :  The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recommended adding breakdancing, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games when the full membership meets in June. IOC President Thomas Bach said at a news conference in Switzerland that making the Olympics more affordable and responsive has been a key aim for the committee. He said the addition of these four sports to the Paris medal program offers the opportunity to connect with the young generation.

Daily GK Updates - 28th March, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India successfully conducts an anti-satellite missile test :  India conducted its first anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test successfully destroying a low earth orbit satellite in space by using a missile which covered a distance of 300 km to engage the target. Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared the test, called ‘Mission Shakti’, successful in a specially televised announcement. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed Ballistic Missile, Defence Interceptor Missile successfully engaged an Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a Hit to Kill mode from Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.

2. UGC prohibits imparting distance degree programmes in agriculture : The University Grants Commission (UGC) has prohibited imparting distance degree programmes in agriculture. The decision was taken by the higher education regulator. A degree programme in agriculture is technical in nature as it requires practical or laboratory courses. The Union agriculture ministry had referred the matter to the commission. However, no new enrolments will be permitted from the 2019 academic session.

3.All eight members of Lokpal takes the oath of office :  The Chairperson of the anti-corruption ombudsman Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose (country's first Lokpal) administered the oath of office to all eight members of the ‘Lokpal’. Former Chief Justices Dilip B. Bhosale, Pradip Kumar Mohanty, and Abhilasha Kumari and sitting Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court Ajay Kumar Tripathi are the judicial members who took the oath. Besides Chairperson, the President Ram Nath Kovind had appointed four Judicial members and four Non-Judicial members as Lokpal.

4. Goa - Dipak Pauskar sworn in as Cabinet Minister :  In Goa, Dipak Pauskar was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister by Governor Mridula Sinha at the Raj Bhavan in Dona Paula. Pauskar replaces deputy Chief Minister Sudin Dhavalikar (Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party) in the Council of Ministers. As two of the three MGP MLAs, Manohar Ajgaonkar and Pauskar merged their party’s legislative wing with the BJP, thereby isolating Mr Dhavalikar as the lone MGP legislator in the house.

5. Navin Chawla’s new book titled ‘Every Vote Counts’ launched :  Former Vice President of India Hamid Ansari has launched Navin Chawla’s (former Chief Election Commissioner of India) new book titled ‘Every Vote Counts’ in New Delhi. This book is about how the electoral machinery works in India. The book explains about India is on the cusp of change, and with its parliamentary elections coming up.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India-African Union sign MoU on strengthening cooperation in the healthcare sector :  An agreement has been signed between India and the African Union to establish an India-Africa health sciences collaborative platform. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that the MoU will pave the way for cooperation in research and development, capacity building, health services, pharmaceutical trade and manufacturing capabilities for drugs and diagnostics.The statement said, to carry forward the vision of a structured and concrete partnership in the health sector, the MEA partnered with Indian Council of Medical Research and had jointly organised the first India-Africa Health Sciences Meet in 2016 in New Delhi.

2. Oman signs agreement allowing the United States military to use its ports : Oman has signed an agreement with the United States that allow American ships and warplanes to take advantage of his ports and airports. The framework agreement is aimed at bolstering Omani-American military relations. The agreement will allow the US forces to take advantage from the facilities offered at some of the Sultanate's ports and airports during visits of the US military vessels and aircraft, particularly in the port of Duqm. Duqm port is in southern Oman on the Arabian Sea and around 500 kilometres from the Strait of Hormuz.

3. Comoros President Azali Assoumani re-elected with over 60% of votes : According to Electoral Commission of the Indian Ocean archipelago, Comoros President Azali Assoumani was re-elected. Azali (first took office in 2016) was way ahead of his closest rival Mahamoudou Ahamada, who garnered only 14.62% of the ballots cast. Comoros is a volcanic archipelago off Africa’s east coast, in the warm Indian Ocean waters of the Mozambique Channel.

4. Croatia honours President Kovind with the highest civilian award : President Ram Nath Kovind was honoured with Croatia's highest civilian award the ‘Grand Order of the King of Tomislav’. The civilian order is awarded to heads of state for their important contribution towards the development of state relations between Croatia and their respective countries. Kovind is in Croatia as part of his eight-day three-nation visit to Croatia, Bolivia and Chile.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Manu Bhaker and Saurabh bag Gold medal in 10m Air Pistol Mixed event :  Manu Bhaker (17-year) and Saurabh Chaudhary (16-year) have bagged a Gold medal in the 10-metre Air Pistol Mixed team event at the 12th Asian Airgun Championship at Taoyuan in Taipei. Manu and Saurabh shot a combined score of 784, breaking the record set by Russians Vitalina Batsarashkina and Artem Chernousov at the European Championships. The pair made it to the Final after smashing the world record in the qualification.

OBITUARIES:

1.Legendary singer-songwriter ‘Scott Walker’ passes away : The legendary singer-songwriter Scott Walker (76-years) passed away. Scott Walker shot to fame in the mid-'60s as the frontman of The Walker Brothers (Scott Walker, John Maus, Gary Leeds). The Ohio-born Walker is known for his baritone voice within the world of experimental music.

Daily GK Updates - 27th March, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Artificial Intelligence, Yoga to be part of the CBSE curriculum for 2019-20 session :  The CBSE is set to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI), Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE), and Yoga as skill subjects in the school curriculum for the upcoming academic session. A decision to introduce the three subjects was taken at a recent meeting of the board's governing body. The CBSE is introducing artificial intelligence as an optional 6th subject at Class IX from the session 2019-2020 onwards.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.World’s largest e-waste recycling facility opens in Dubai :  The world’s largest e-waste recycling plant has been opened in Dubai Industrial Park, Dubai by ‘Enviroserve’ company with a total cost of USD 5 million. It will recycle Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), IT asset disposition (ITAD), refrigerant gas and specialized waste. The processing capacity of this recycling hub is 100,000 tonnes of total integrated waste (per year), of which 39,000 tonnes is e-waste.

2. 27th March: World Theatre Day : The World Theatre Day (WTD) is observed globally every year on 27th March to generate awareness about the importance of theatre arts. World Theatre Day was created in 1961 by an international non-governmental organization International Theatre Institute (ITI), France. ITI was founded in 1948 by UNESCO and the international theatre community.

3. Neha Upadhyaya selected by Yale University among 2019 World Fellows : A social entrepreneur from India is among 16 persons selected by Yale University as the 2019 World Fellows. Neha Upadhyaya founded GUNA Organics in 2014 that provides ethically-sourced organic food products grown by rural female Indian farmers. Upadhyaya's work has also focussed on working with children suffering from various health issues including diabetes, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She has been the recipient of Future Leaders Connect (2018) and Social Impact India (2017) awarded by the British Council.

4. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport 12th busiest in the world :  According to Airports Council International (ACI) report, India’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has become the world's 12th busiest airport, moving up four places (in 2017- 16th spot). The preliminary world airport traffic rankings for 2018 has been released by the Airports Council International (ACI). The IGI airport saw 6.9 crore domestic and international flyers in 2018, which is 10.2% points higher than the combined passengers of 2017. ACI's World Airport Traffic Forecasts also predicts that India will represent the third largest aviation market, in terms of passenger throughput, after the US and China by 2020.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. RBI slaps Rs 2 cr penalty on PNB for violating SWIFT norms :  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has slapped a penalty of Rs. 2 crores on Punjab National Bank (PNB) for non-compliance of regulatory directions about ‘SWIFT’ operations. ‘SWIFT’ is a global messaging software used for sharing information on inter-bank transactions by financial entities. The massive Rs 14,000-crore fraud perpetrated by billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi at the PNB was a case of misuse of this messaging software.

DEFENCE:

1.  INS Kadmatt to participate in maritime and aerospace exhibition in Malaysia :  Indian Navy's frontline corvette INS Kadmatt reached Malaysian archipelago Langkawi. It will participate in the 15th edition of Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, LIMA-19. INS Kadmatt is an indigenous stealth anti-submarine warfare corvette and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in January 2016. The ship is fitted with state-of-the-art weapons, sensors and machinery.

OBITUARIES:

1. Malayalam writer Ashita passes away :  Renowned Malayalam writer and poet Ashita (63-year) passed away at a private hospital in Thrissur, Kerala. She did her graduation and post-graduation in English Literature from Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam. Ashita has been the recipient of several awards including the prestigious Edaserri Award (1986) and the Lalithambika Antharjanam Award (1994).

Daily GK Updtaes - 26th March, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Lalit Kala Academy announces the 60th National Academy Awards winners :  Lalit Kala Academy (LKA) has announced 15 winners of the 60th Annual Academy Awards.All the awardees will be honoured with a plaque, a shawl and prize money of Rs 1 lakh at the 60th National Exhibition of Art at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) and Sir JJ School of Art. The winners will also display their artworks at the exhibition.

2. Government notifies Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules 2019 : The Union Health & Family Welfare Ministry has notified the Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 to promote clinical research in the country. The new rules will change the regulatory landscape for the approval of new drugs and conduct of clinical trials in the country.These rules will apply to all new drugs, investigational new drugs for human use, clinical trial, bioequivalence study and Ethics Committee. It has reduced the time for approving applications to 30 days for drugs manufactured in India and 90 days for those developed outside the country.

3. Vice President to attend 16th Convocation of IGIDR in Mumbai :  Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will attend the 16th Convocation of Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research(IGIDR) in Mumbai. The Institute focuses on research on developmental issues from a multi-disciplinary point of view.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Kenyan teacher Peter Tabichi wins Global Teacher Prize 2019 :  Kenyan teacher Peter Tabichi (36-years) has won the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2019 during a ceremony in Dubai, presented by the Hollywood actor, Hugh Jackman.Mr. Tabichi is a maths & physics teacher at Keriko Secondary School in Pwani Village, in a remote part of Kenya’s Rift Valley. He donates most of his salary (80% of his monthly income) to help poorer students.

2. President Kovind to hold talks with his Croatian counterpart :  President Ram Nath Kovind will hold talks with his Croatian (former Yugoslavia) counterpart in Zagreb (It's capital) to strengthen ties in key sectors such as trade, investment and renewable energy. President Ram Nath Kovind is the first Indian President to visit Croatia. Several agreements will be followed by talks during his three-day visit.The President will also participate in the India-Croatia Economic Forum meeting.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. RBI appoints a five-member committee to deepen digital payments :  According to RBI Governor Mr. Shaktikanta Das, The Reserve bank of India (RBI) has appointed a 5-member committee under the chairmanship of Nandan Nilekani to further deepen digital payments and enhance financial inclusion through Fintech. The RBI has requested the committee to give recommendations in 3 months in this regard. Mr. Das was speaking at the inaugural event of Financial Technology (Fintech) Conclave being organized by NITI Aayog in New Delhi. The objective of the conclave is to shape India’s continued ascendancy in FinTech, build the narrative for future strategy and policy efforts, and to deliberate steps for comprehensive financial inclusion.

2. Naresh & Anita Goyal step down from Jet Airways Board :  Jet Airways founders Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita Goyal have stepped down from the board of the cash-strapped airline. The board has accepted their resignations. The board also approved the issue of 11.4 crore equity shares to the lenders upon conversion of Re 1 of the outstanding debt. The board also approved the constitution of an Interim Management Committee to manage and monitor the daily operations and cash flow of the company. Lenders will infuse up to Rs 1,500 crore via debt instruments.

SPORTS:

1.Govindaraj re-elected BFI president :  K. Govindaraj has been unanimously re-elected as the President of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) at its annual general-body meeting. A new six-team women’s league would be held inside the next three months. Mr. Govindaraj has declared to give its proposal in the next 45 days and intend to have a zone-wise competition before the final round.

2. India Open badminton tournament begins at IGI Stadium New Delhi :  PV Sindhu will play against compatriot Mugdha Agrey at the 2019 India Open Super 500 Badminton tournament starting in New Delhi (from 26th - 31st March 2019). The total prize money for this tournament is USD 350,000. This marque tournament was previously held at the Siri Fort Sports Complex for the last seven years. The 2019 India Open is a badminton tournament (eight- edition) which will take place at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium New Delhi in India.

OBITUARIES:

1. Noted Folk Artiste Anasuya Devi passes away :  Kala Prapoorna awardee Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi (99-years) passed away due to illness at Houston, USA. She was an eminent folk artist, radio commentator, harmonium player, music composer and an author. In 2018, her two books, Bava Geetalu, a compilation of Folk Songs was released. She was also an awardee of the Life Time Achievement Award in America and ‘Queen of Folk’ award in Paris.

2. Bangladeshi singer Shahnaz Rahmatullah passes away :  Renowned South Asian singer, Shahnaz Rahmatullah (67-years) passed away after suffering a heart attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh Her professional experience began at the age of 11, as a playback singer of Notun Shur (1963), and appeared on television from 1964. She was awarded the National Film Awards (best female singer) in 1990 and Ekushey Padak(in 1992).

Daily GK Updates - 25th March, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Financial Technology (Fintech) Conclave held in New Delhi :  NITI Aayog organised the Financial Technology (Fintech) Conclave 2019 on financial technologies at Dr Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi The Conclave was inaugurated by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das. The objective of the conclave is to shape India’s continued ascendancy in FinTech, build the narrative for future strategy and policy efforts, and to deliberate steps for comprehensive financial inclusion.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. WEF’s global Energy Transition index: India ranks at 76th position :  India has been ranked at 76th position among 115 countries in the global energy transition index. Overall, India has moved up two places from 78th last year. China is ranked even lower than India at 82nd position, though it ranks very high at seventh place in the world for regulation and political commitment. Sweden remains on the top in the index. Switzerland and Norway ranked at second and third position respectively in the index. Among major economies, the United Kingdom (UK) is ranked seventh. Singapore has been ranked thirteenth, while Germany, Japan and the US have bagged the seventeenth, eighteenth and the twenty-seventh place respectively.

2. Sri Lanka President hands over a proposal to declare Tripitaka as World Heritage :  Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena handed over a proposal seeking to declare the Theravada Tripitaka as a UNESCO World Heritage. The Theravada Tripitaka (sacred scripture of Buddhists) was declared as a National heritage of Sri Lanka by President in January this year. Buddha’s preaching was propagated through the word to mouth for generations till the Tripitaka was finally written down in Sri Lanka about 100 years BC.

3.  World’s Largest e-Waste Recycling Hub : The World’s Largest e-Waste Recycling Hub has opened at the Dubai Industrial Park, Dubai.This is 120 million dirhams project which is backed by the Swiss Government Export Finance Agency.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Disinvestment Target of Indian Government :  Government of India has exceeded its Disinvestment target for 2018-19 by 5000 crore and it has touched 85000 crore. The Government set a Disinvestment target of 90000 crore for the next fiscal year (2019-20). Disinvestment can also be defined as the action of an organisation (or government) selling or liquidating an asset or subsidiary. It is also referred to as ‘divestment’ or ‘divestiture.’ In most contexts, disinvestment typically refers to sale from the government, partly or fully, of a government-owned enterprise.

SPORTS:

1.Latest World Badminton Rankings :  Indian shuttlers Lakshya Sen at 76th and Riya Mookerjee at 94th are in the top-100 among Men’s and Women’s singles respectively. Kento Momota of Japan is leading the men’s single chart. Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei is leading the women’s single chart. KIDAMBI Srikanth at 7th is the Highest Ranked Indian.

Daily GK Updates - 24th March, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Vice Admiral Karambir Singh appointed as next Navy Chief :  Vice Admiral Karambir Singh has been appointed as the next Navy Chief. He will succeed Admiral Sunil Lanba who retires on 31st May 2019. Currently, Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is serving as the Flag Officer Commander -in- Chief of the Eastern Naval Command.He has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

2. CBSE launches new Shiksha Vani' app :  The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has launched a new podcast app 'Shiksha Vani'. This app will disseminate crucial information to students and parents in a timely manner. According to CBSE, its first episode, on the evaluation process of Class 10 and 12 board examinations, has been released on the platform. As the examinations proceed, the episode helps students understand how their completed papers will be evaluated.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Int'l Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade observed on 25th March :  The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed every year on 25th March to offer the opportunity to honour and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system. The theme of 2019 is “Remember Slavery: The Power of the Arts for Justice”.

2.Int'l Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members observed on 25th March  :  The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members is marked each year on 25th March the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a former journalist. His body was finally found in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in 2009. The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members has taken on even greater importance in recent years, as attacks against the United Nations intensify.

3. World Tuberculosis Day observed on 24th March :  The "World Tuberculosis Day" observed every year on 24th March to fight tuberculosis and eradicate this deadly disease that has been claiming millions of lives. World TB Day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO).The theme for World Tuberculosis Day 2019 is " It's time". Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB).

4. Italy, China ink new 'Silk Road' protocol :  Italy has signed a non-binding protocol with China to take part in Beijing's new Silk Road of transport and trade links stretching from Asia to Europe. Italy became the first G7 country to sign up for the project. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte both attended a ceremony in Rome for the signing of 29 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), which Italian media said were worth 5.6 to 8 billion US Dollars.

5. President Kovind to visit Croatia, Bolivia and Chile :  President Ram Nath Kovind will be on a 9-day visit to Croatia, Bolivia and Chile from 25th of this month to 2nd of April. Mr Kovind will meet his Croatian counterpart and Prime Minister of Croatia and discuss the issues of mutual interest. In Bolivia, the President will hold restricted and delegation level talks with his counterpart.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Govt exceeds disinvestment target for current fiscal by Rs 5,000 cr :  The Union government has exceeded its disinvestment target for the current fiscal by Rs 5,000 crore, taking the total proceeds to Rs 85,000 crore. This is the second highest disinvestment proceeds in a financial year after the government last fiscal mopped up a little over Rs 1 lakh crore in 2017-18. Last year it was helped by ONGC acquiring government's entire 51.11 per cent stake in oil refiner HPCL for Rs 36,915 crore. In the current fiscal, the government is eyeing Rs 14,500 crore by way of sale of its 52.63 per cent stake in REC to state-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC).

DEFENCE:

1.IAF inducts first four heavy-lift Chinook helicopters :  Indian Air Force (IAF) on March 25 inducted the four heavy-lift Chinook helicopters at Chandigarh's Air Force Station 12 Wing. It was announced by Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa during the induction at a ceremony held at Air Force base in Chandigarh. Chinook has been procured with India-specific enhancements and can carry out military operations even at night.

SPORTS:

1. Suresh Raina became first player to score 5000 runs in IPL :  Chennai Super Kings batsman Suresh Raina has become the first ever cricketer to reach 5,000 runs in Indian Premier League. During the ongoing IPL 2019 opener against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Raina achieved the feat as soon as he touched the individual score of 15. Raina is followed by India skipper Virat Kohli, who has 4,954 runs from 164 games, containing four hundred and 34 fifties.