Daily GK Updates - 12th August, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Chhattisgarh: 15-km long national flag unfurled in Raipur: Thousands of students and members of several social organisations unfurled a 15-km long national flag by forming a human chain in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The event, organised by Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam Foundation, entered the Champions Book of World Records (for the longest tricolour). Thousands of people and students from various schools created a human chain while holding the 15-km long tricolour from Amapara Chowk to Pt Ravishankar Shukla University.

Note: CM of Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel; Governor of Chhattisgarh: Anusuiya Uikey.

2. CBSE hikes exam fees for SC/ST by 24 times, general to pay double: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has increased the fees of Class 10 and 12 board examinations for SC and ST students from Rs 50 to Rs 1,200. According to the revised norms, the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students will have to pay Rs 1,200 for five subjects, while earlier they were supposed to pay Rs 50 for the same, a hike of 24 times. The general category students, who were paying Rs 750 earlier, will now pay Rs 1,500 for five subjects. The students enrolled in CBSE schools abroad will have to pay Rs 10,000 for five subjects for both Class 10 and 12. Earlier it was Rs 5000.

Note: The students appearing for the Class 10 board exams are registered for it when in Class 9, and those appearing for Class 12 are registered when in Class 11.

3. Eid-ul-Azha being celebrated with religious fervour & gaiety: The festival of sacrifice ‘Eid-ul-Azha’ is being celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across the country. The faithful will offer Eid prayers in Eidgahs and mosques. The festival is an ode to the virtues of devotion, faith and sacrifice and inspires feelings of brotherhood, compassion and unity. In the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts for three days. In the international (Gregorian) calendar, the dates vary from year to year shifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.

Note: Eid al-Adha also called the "Festival of the Sacrifice", is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year (the other being Eid al-Fitr) and considered the holier of the two. It honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God's command. But, before Abraham could sacrifice his son, God provided a lamb to sacrifice instead. In commemoration of this intervention, an animal is sacrificed ritually and divided into three parts. One share is given to the poor and needy, another is kept for home, and the third is given to relatives.

4. Dr Vikram Sarabhai's 100th Birth Anniversary”: The country is celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of scientist and innovator Dr Vikram A Sarabhai. He is considered as the father of India's space program. The lander of Chandrayaan-2, India's second mission to the moon, is named 'Vikram' to honour the late Dr Vikram Sarabhai.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. South Korea will remove Japan from preferred trade list: South Korea has decided to remove Japan from its preferred trade list. South Korea has taken this decision because Japan has failed to uphold international principles while managing its export controls on sensitive materials. Preferred trade list is a list of nations receiving preferential treatment in trade.

Note: Japan Capital: Tokyo; Currency: Japanese yen; PM: Shinzo Abe. South Korea Capital: Seoul; Currency: South Korean won.

2. International Youth Day: 12 August: The International Youth Day (IYD) is observed every year on 12th August (first in 2000) to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. The theme for International Youth Day 2019 is “Transforming education”. International Youth Day 2019 will examine how Governments, young people and youth-led and youth-focused organizations, as well as other stakeholders, are transforming education and how these efforts are contributing to the achievement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Note: On 17 December 1999, the International Youth Day (IYD) was instituted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by passing resolution 54/120.

3. World Elephant Day: 12 August: The World Elephant Day (WED) is celebrated on 12th August every year to raise awareness about the Elephant. The goal of International Elephant Day is to create awareness of the urgent plight of African and Asian elephants and to share knowledge and management of captive & wild elephants. On 12 August 2012, the first international Elephant Day was celebrated.

Note: As per the census conducted in 2017, the Elephant population in India is estimated at 29,964.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Rafael Nadal wins Montreal Masters title: Rafael Nadal wins in Montreal to win 35th Masters crown. He defeated Russian Daniil Medvedev by 6-3, 6-0. With the win, he also extended his record haul of Masters 1000 titles. Nadal has successfully defended a hard court title for the first time in his career.

2. Chennai Lions beat Dabang Delhi to win UTT:  Chennai Lions wins the Ultimate Table Tennis league. They defeated Dabang Delhi in the finals by 8-1. Chennai Lions collected the winner’s share of Rs. 75 lakh while Delhi settled for Rs. 50 lakh. Petrissa Solja, Tiago Apolonia, Sharath Kamal and Petrissa starred for the Chennai Lions.

3. Indian junior shuttlers win 6 medals at Bulgarian Open: Indian junior shuttlers have won six medals (gold-3, silver-1 and bronze-2) at the Bulgarian Junior International Championships which concluded in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria. The gold medals were won by Samiya Imad Faruqui in women's singles, the duo of Edvin Joy and Shruti Mishra in Mixed Doubles and pair of Tanisha Crasto and Aditi Bhatt in women's doubles. Men's doubles combination of Ishan Bhatnagar and Vishnuvardhan settled for the silver medal. Malvika Bansod and Meiraba Luwang won a bronze each in other singles events.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBL Bank launches India's first health-focused credit card: Private sector bank, RBL Bank and digital healthcare platform Practo have partnered to launch an industry-first co-branded health credit card. This credit card is powered by Mastercard. RBL Bank's new credit card offers benefits like online consultations with doctors and a free health check-up.

Note: Managing Director & CEO of RBL Bank: Vishwavir Ahuja; Headquarter: Mumbai.

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

1. Reliance Jio & Microsoft partners to offer cloud infrastructure for businesses: Reliance Jio and Microsoft announced a partnership to accelerate the digital transformation in India. Under this deal, Microsoft will bring in the Azure Cloud on Jio Network and target the enterprise and business users seeking a technological shift.

Note: Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft: Satya Nadella. Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited: Mukesh Ambani.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Lionel Messi Wins UEFA Goal of the Season Award 2018-19: Barcelona's Lionel Messi has been awarded UEFA's Goal of the Season award 2018-19for his free-kick against Liverpool. Cristiano Ronaldo was runners-up in the UEFA award for the goal he scored for Juventus against his former team Manchester United.

OBITUARIES

1. Singer-songwriter David Berman passes away: Singer-songwriter David Berman (52-years) who formed the indie group 'Silver Jews' in the 1990s passed away. Berman had suffered from drug addiction for years and had survived several overdoses and one suicide attempt. The 'Silver Jews' that recorded six studio albums between 1994 and 2008 rarely performed live. Berman also authored two books of poetry, 'Actual Air,' and 'The Portable February.