Daily GK Updates - 19th June, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Om Birla Elected As 17th Lok Sabha Speaker: Om Birla, a two-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament (MP) from Rajasthan, is set to be unanimously elected as the 17th Lok Sabha Speaker. Om Birla was elected to the 17th Lok Sabha from the Kota-Bundi constituency.

Note: Sumitra Mahajan was 16th Lok Sabha Speaker.

2. IIT Bombay has emerged the country’s best university: QS Rankings: IIT Bombay has emerged the country’s best university for the second consecutive year in the 2019 QS World University Ranking. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was named the world’s best for a record eighth consecutive year. Twenty-three Indian institutes feature in the sixteenth edition of the QS World University Ranking in which IIT Bombay (152), IIT Delhi (182) and Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (184) are ranked in the global top 200. Asia’s top universities are the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University (both ranked 11th).

3. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare approves Cancer Institute at GMC Jammu: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has formally approved 120 crore rupee Cancer Institute at Government Medical College, Jammu for strengthening the tertiary level cancer services in the  

Earlier, one State Cancer Institute was approved for Shere Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura in Srinagar for which first grant-in-aid of 25 crore rupees has already been released.

4. Unemployed Graduates to Get Up To Rs 3,500 In Rajasthan: Unemployed youth having graduation or equivalent degree will be given unemployment allowance by Rajasthan government. Male applicants will get Rs 3,000/month, while the women and differently-abled will get Rs 3,500/month under Chief Minister Yuva Sambal Yojana from February this year. The applicants must be natives of Rajasthan and the amount will be given for two years or until they get employed.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Yury Trutnev Visits India: The Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Yury Trutnev addressed a gathering of businesspersons and industrialist in Mumbai and invited Indian Investments in the Russian Far East. India Russia business tie has been hugely tilted favouring defence sector traditionally. Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Yury Trutnev will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

2. Bangladesh's first iron ore mine discovered: For the first time in Bangladesh, iron ore mine has been discovered at Isabpur village in Dinajpur. The announcement was made by the Geological Survey of Bangladesh following extensive drilling over two months in the area. According to the Geological Survey, a 400-foot thick iron layer was found 1,750 feet beneath the surface stretched over an area of 6-10 square kilometre. The percentage of iron in the mine was 65 which indicates the high quality of the ore. In most other countries like Canada, China, Brazil Sweden and Australia the percentage is below 50.

3. International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict: International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflictis celebrated around the world on 19th June to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict related sexual violence. Panel Discussion: "The Importance of a Survivor Centred Approach".

Note: United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. It was founded on 24 October 1945. Mr Antonio Guterres of Portugal is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

4. World Sickle Cell Day: 19 June: World Sickle Cell Day observed every year on 19th June. It is observed each year to raise public awareness about the sickle cell disease and its treatment methods. Sickle cell disease is an inherited form of anaemia in which red blood cells are not able to carry adequate oxygen throughout the body.

5. United Nation's World Population Prospects Report 2019: United Nation released its "World Population Prospects Report 2019". Some findings of the report are: India will overtake China as the most populous country by 2027 and will have almost 1.64 billion inhabitants by 2050. The Central and the Southern Asia region is expected to see a 25% increase in population till 2050. The rate of population growth is the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, where the fertility rate stand at 4.6 births per woman over a lifetime. India is still among the countries where the working-age population (25-64 years) is growing faster than other groups.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Rashid Khan becomes most expensive bowler in World Cup history: Afghanistan leg spinner Rashid Khan recorded the worst bowling figures in a ICC World Cup Match after conceding 110 runs in 9 overs against England. Previous record of conceding 105 runs in 12 overs was held by New Zealand's Martin Snedden.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI sets up panel under UK Sinha to study MSMEs: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up an eight-member expert committee to suggest long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The committee will be headed by former chairman of SEBI UK Sinha. The committee will examine the factors affecting the timely and adequate availability of finance to the MSME sector.

The other members include development commissioner for MSME Ram Mohan Mishra; joint secretary at the department of financial services Pankaj Jain; SBI managing director PK Gupta; ICICI Bank executive director Anup Bagchi; IIM- Ahmedabad professor Abhiman Das; Ispirit Foundation founder Sharad Sharma and Dvara Trust chairperson Bindu Ananth.

2. RBI slaps Rs 1 crore fine on HDFC Bank for non-compliance of KYC norms: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on private sector lender HDFC Bank for non-compliance of Know Your Customer (KYC) norms and anti-money laundering norms, and for failure to report frauds. The penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Section 46(4)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, taking into account failure of the bank to adhere to the aforesaid directions issued by RBI.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Government to set up 51 incubators for aspiring entrepreneurs: The GoI will set up 51 new incubators for startups in the information and communications technology space across India as part of its Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (Tide) 2.0scheme. Tide 2.0 will offer financial and technical support to incubators supporting ICT startups that are involving usage of deep technologiesincluding artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, and internet of things in “pre identified areas of societal relevance". The scheme has categorized the selection of incubators into three categories: Group 1 Centre (G1C), G2C, and G3C.

2. India accounts for 6.3% of global fish production: Fisheries department: According to the Fisheries Department, India is the second largest fish producing country in the world as it accounts for 6.3 per cent of the global fish production. China is the largest producer of fish in the world. Rajni Sekhri Sibal, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, there is a huge potential in harnessing tuna and tuna-like species in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). She is addressing the 23rd session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), in Hyderabad.

Note: The 23rd session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), being held in Hyderabad, India from 17 to 21 June 2019.

DEFENCE

1. Diamond Jubilee of the Oldest Naval Air Squadron: Indian Navy's first Naval Air Squadron 550 celebrated its Diamond Jubilee at naval base Kochi after Completing 60 glorious years of yeoman service to the nation. The squadron has flown 14 different types of aircraft starting with the Sea land Aircraft to the Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraftbeing presently flown.

2. ICG co-hosts 12th ReCAAP ISC capacity building workshop: Indian Coast Guard (ICG) co-hosts 12th Capacity Building workshopwith Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre(ISC) in New Delhi.

Note: The ReCAAP is the first regional Government-to-Government agreement to deal with piracy and armed robbery at sea in Asia. Presently 20 countries are members of ReCAAP. India played an active role in the setting up and functioning of ReCAAPISC along with Japanand Singapore.