Daily GK Updates - 22nd July, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India's Moon Mission ‘Chandrayaan-2’ launched from Sriharikota: India's landmark mission to the moon ‘Chandrayaan-2’ has been launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. Chandrayaan-2 onboard the heavy-lift rocket Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle GSLV-MkIII-M1 (nicknamed Baahubali). The lander-Vikram will land near South Pole of the moon on Sep 7, 2019. The total cost of the mission is worked out to be 978 crore rupees. Chandrayaan-2 carried 13 scientific satellites (weighs about 3.8 tonnes), explore the southern part of the Moon. The flight duration of Chandrayaan-2 from the earth to the moon has been reduced (due to the delay in the launch) from 54 days to 48 days by tweaking the flight path.

Note: ‘Chandrayaan-2’ would make India the 4th country to soft-land on the Moon, a feat achieved only by the space agency’s of the US, USSR, and China. It will have three modules — Orbiter, Lander (Vikram) & Rover (Pragyan).

2. Rajya Sabha MP D Raja appointed as CPI General Secy: Rajya Sabha MP (from Tamil Nadu) D Raja (70-years) has been appointed as the General Secretary of CPI (Communist Party of India). Raja was unanimously chosen as S Sudhakar Reddy’s successor at a three-day meeting of the CPI National Council, the top decision-making body of the party, earlier this week.

Note: The Communist Party of India (CPI) (formed - 26th December 1925) is the oldest communist party in India. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) separated from the CPI in 1964 following an ideological rift between China and the Soviet Union, continues to claim having been founded in 1925.

3. Rajnath Singh Inaugurates two bridges Ujh and Basantar in J&K: Under the Project ‘Sampark’, The Union Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the two strategically important bridges in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu & Kashmir for smooth mobility of security forces in the border areas. The Ujh Bridge (1000- meter) was inaugurated in Kathua district and Basantar Bridge (617.40-meter) in samba district.

Note: On January 1, 1965, Project Sampark was launched to develop and maintain the operational road infrastructure of Armed Forces in Border Areas of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

4. A new e-challan system, e-payment gateway launched for use of Delhi Traffic Police: Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik has launched the new e-challan system and the e-payment gateway for the use of Delhi Traffic Police. The E-challan devices are enabled with active GPS where the challan officer and the violator, both can be logged and tracked to a particular geo-location. This is an important tool for evidence to establish the credibility of the prosecution. The payment gateway will help the citizens with the flexibility to log in securely at their convenience and settle the pending violation notices with proof of payment. It also ensures that the citizen interface with police improves and becomes more transparent.

5. Lucknow to host DefExpo 2020: Lucknow will host the 11th biennial edition of DefExpo from February 5 to 8, 2020. The focus of the Expo will be on "Digital transformation of defence". The main theme of DefExpo India-2020 will be “India: the emerging defence manufacturing hub”.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Telangana govt, WEF Centre set to send medical supplies via drones: Telangana Government and the World Economic Forum's Centrefor the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network announced that they are set to launch an innovative project to deliver emergency medical supplies such as blood and vaccines via drones. This pilot project, called Medicine from the Sky, will run in partnership with the State Government and HealthNet Global Limited.

Note: CM of Telangana: K Chandrashekhar Rao; Capital of Telangana: Hyderabad; Governor of Telangana: ESL Narasimhan.

2. 5th International Police Expo 2019, New Delhi: The International Police Expo 2019, focused on everything related topolice forces, their welfare and fitness, also showcases the latest equipment required for safety and protection of society. Over 25 countries are showcasing advanced firearms, combat or armoured vehicles a plethora of disruptive technologies in cyber security, drones, homeland security, and safety and rescue at this Expo at Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi.

Note: The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) headquater: Lyon, France.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Vivek Kohli elected chairman of Commonwealth TT Federation: India’s Vivek Kohli and M.P. Singh have been elected as chairman and secretary-general respectively of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation (CTTF). Vivek Kohli defeated incumbent Alan Ransome (England) by securing 16 votes more than him. MP Singh (secretary-general at Table Tennis Federation of India) was unanimously elected as secretary-general of CTTF. The CTTF president’s post is already held by Dushyant Chautala(TTFI chief). It is for the first time that all three positions in CTTF are held by Indians.

2. Adam Peaty breaks 57 seconds barrier & 100m breaststroke world record: The Britain swimmer Adam Peaty has break the world record in themen’s 100 metre breaststroke at the World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. He smashed the previous record of 57.10 seconds that was set by him at last year’s European Championships, after winning the semi finals in 56.88 seconds. Adam Peaty has now swum the event 1.4 seconds faster than anyone else in history.

3. First Indian boxer to win gold at President’s Cup:  Shiva Thapa became India’s first gold-medallist at the President’s Cup boxing tournament after getting a walkover in the finals in Astana, Kazakhstan. Making his international debut in the newly-introduced Olympic category of 63kg. Thapa was to fight Kazakhstan's Zakir Safiullin in the summit clash.

Note: Kazakhstan PM: Askar Mamin; Capital: Nur-Sultan; Currency: Kazakhstani Tenge.

4. Shooting Junior World Cup: Aishwarya Pratap Singh clinches gold: Shooting Junior World Cup, Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar clinched gold with a junior world record in the final of rifle 3-position event in Suhl Germany. India finished the ISSF tournament on top of the table with 10 gold, nine silver and five bronze for a total of 24 medals.

5. Manny Pacquiao wins WBA welterweight title: Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao claimed the WBA welterweight championship after scoring a split-decision win against Keith Thurman. He ended the American Keith Thurman's undefeated run at the MGM Grand, where two judges had the fight 115-112 in favour of the 40-year-old Pacquiao.

6. Shane Lowry wins British Open: Irishman Shane Lowry wins British Open to claim his first major golfing title at Royal Portrush. He became the 2nd player from the Republic of Ireland, after Padraig Harrington in 2007 and 2008, to lift the Claret Jug.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. India's forex reserves fall by USD 1.113 bn to USD 428.797 bn: India's foreign exchange reserves declined by USD 1.113 billion to USD 428.797 billion in the week to July 12 - the first fall after four consecutive weeks of gains - due to a fall in foreign currency assets. According to the latest weekly RBI data, foreign currency assets, which are a major component of the overall reserves, slipped by USD 1.11 billion to USD 399.697 billion. The central bank said that despite an ongoing massive rally in gold prices, the country's gold reserves remained unchanged at USD 24.304 billion. It stated that the Special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund fell by USD 1.2 million to USD 1.450 billion. The country's reserve position with the fund also declined by USD 1.5 million to USD 3.345 billion.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Vocalist S Sowmya wins Sangita Kalanidhi award: Vocalist S. Sowmya has been chosen for the Sangita Kalanidhi award of the Music Academy. She will preside over the 93rd annual conference of the Academy. She holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry and Indian music and obtained a doctorate from the University of Madras. The Sangita Kalanidhi and other music awards will be conferred on the awardees at the Sadas of Music festival, on January 1, 2020.

OBITUARIES 

1. Former BJP Delhi President Mange Ram Garg passes away: Former BJP Delhi President, MLA and senior Sangh Associate Mange Ram Garg (83-years) passed away at Sri Balaji Action Hospital, North Delhi. He played a pivotal role in strengthening BJP in Delhi. Garg represented the Wazirpur Assembly constituency in the national capital between 2003 and 2008.