Daily GK Updates - 1st October, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Rajnath Singh launches a website of DefEXpo: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched the website of 11th edition of DefEXpo, to be held in Lucknow (5th to 8th February 2020). The website ‘www.defexpo.gov.in’ provides online services to exhibitors, besides hosting informative content about the product profile of Defence Public Sector Undertakings and Ordnance Factories. Exhibitors can avail early bird discounts by booking space on the website before the 31st of next month. The website enables exhibitors to register and book space online as per their requirements on the first-come-first-serve basis, make online payments, book conference halls and venues for Business-to-Business meetings.

2. Kerala tops NITI Aayog’s School Education Quality Index: Kerala has topped the “School Education Quality Index” launched by NITI Aayog. Uttar Pradesh was ranked at the bottom of the list. Chandigarh has topped the list of Union Territories. The School Education Quality Index assesses States on the basis of learning outcomes, access, equity and infrastructure and facilities, using survey data, self-reported data from States and third-party verification. Tamil Nadu was the top performer in access and equity outcomes, while Karnataka led in learning outcomes. Haryana had the best infrastructure and facilities.

3. Gandhi Film Festival to be organised in Mumbai: Film Division in association with India Tourism will organise a “Gandhi Film Festival” in Mumbai from 2nd to 6th October, 2019. This film festival is a part of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary celebration and will focus on Gandhiji’s message of non-violence and Swachh Bharat. The select documentaries and feature films will be screened at the Films Division Complex, including: The Making of Mahatma, Gandhi, Gandhi My Father and Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara.

4. K S Dhatwalia appointed as chief spokesperson of govt: An Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, Kuldeep Singh Dhatwalia (1984-batch) has been appointed as the 28th principal spokesperson of the Union government. He has replaced Sitanshu Kar. Mr. Dhatwalia has been posted as the new principal director general of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the publicity wing of the central government. Currently, Mr Dhatwalia was serving as the Director-General (DG) Training and Research in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, besides holding the charge of the DG of the Indian Institute Mass Communication (IIMC).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Day of Older Persons: 1 October: The United Nations observes 1 October every year as International Day of Older Persons. The International Day of Older Persons is an opportunity to highlight the important contributions that older people make to society and raise awareness of the opportunities and challenges of ageing in today’s world. 2019 Theme: ‘The Journey to Age Equality’. The theme focuses on pathways of coping with existing and preventing future old age inequalities.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Wilson-Satish pair wins gold at Asian Age Group Championships: India’s N. Wilson Singh and Satish Kumar Prahapati won the gold medal in the 10m platform synchronised diving event at the Asian Age Group Championships held in Bengaluru. The duo of Wilson and Satish scored 290.19 score to beat Uzbekistan’s Zaynetdinov Marsel and Khasanov Botir, who scored 280.53 points. Thus, India extended their total tally to 60 medals (17 gold, 23 silver and 20 bronze) in the prestigious championships, which is the largest aquatic event in Asia.  The bronze medal went to Mojtaba Valipour and Masood Vakili of Iran with a score of 266.16.

2. Fraser-Pryce wins World Championship 100m gold: Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won gold medal in 100m race of 2019 IAAF World Championships held in Doha. This was her 4th women’s 100 metres world title. She defeated Britain’s European champion Dina Asher-Smith who took silver medal while Marie-Josee Ta Lou finished 3rd.

3. Fencer Bhavani Devi wins silver medal at Tournoi satellite competition in Belgium: Indian fencer Bhavani Devi wins the silver medal in the women’s sabre individual event at the Tournoi satellite competition in Belgium. She lost 15-10 to Anna Bashta of Azerbaijan in the final.

Note: Capital of Belgium: Brussels; Currency of Belgium: Euro.

4. Annu Rani qualifies for Javelin Throw Final at World Athletics C’ships: Indian javelin thrower Annu Rani (27-years) has become the first Indian to qualify for Women's Javelin Throw final at World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. She smashed her own national record during the qualification round of the Championships with the best attempt of 62.43 metres. Annu Rani is the current national record holder, with a record of 62.34m in March 2019. Those who touch the automatic qualifying mark of 63.50m or 12 best performers from Group A and Group B taken together will qualify for the final round.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI appoints Jai Bhagwan Bhoria as administrator for PMC Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Jai Bhagwan Bhoria as the PMC bank's administrator with all powers of the board. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has superseded the Board of Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank Limited, Mumbai. According to an official release, the amount of withdrawal from the bank allowed to depositors has been increased from one thousand to ten thousand rupees. The RBI's directives will remain in force for a period of six months.

Note: As per RBI’s Notification, The PMC Bank was placed under All-Inclusive Directions on account of major financial irregularities, failure of internal control and systems of the bank and wrong/under-reporting of its exposures under various off-site Surveillance.

2. SBI becomes first Indian bank to have office in Australia’s Victoria: The State Bank of India opened its Melbourne office and becoming the first Indian bank to have a branch in the Australian state of Victoria. The Melbourne office will assist the growing trade and investment relations between Victoria and India and is the outcome of the state’s 10-year India Strategy. This investment by India’s largest commercial bank is a testament to our thriving financial services sector and our highly skilled workforce.

Note: SBI Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 July 1955.

3. RBI announces contests to promote innovations, ideas in payment: Reserve Bank of India has announced two contests to promote innovations and ideas in the payment and settlement systems. Shortlisted participants will get an opportunity to present their ideas before a jury of eminent persons while outstanding innovators will be awarded prizes and citations. The contest will be organised through the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), Hyderabad. While individuals, groups, entrepreneurs, companies, start-ups and similar entities can participate in ‘Payment and Settlement Systems Innovation Contest’, students at the undergraduate or above levels can participate in ‘Payment and Settlement Systems Innovative Ideas Competition’.

DEFENCE

1. DRDO test-fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile: DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization) successfully test-fired a land-attack version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from Chandipur coast in Odisha’s Balasore district. BrahMos is the world’s fastest supersonic missile, which can fly at almost three times the speed of sound. It has been fitted with increased indigenous equipment and is a version used by the Army. On 11th March 2017, the first extended version of the missile was successfully tested.

Note: The BrahMos is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarine, ships, aircraft, or land. It is a joint venture between the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroyeniya and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who together have formed BrahMos Aerospace. The name BrahMos is a portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.

OBITUARIES

1. INA veteran from Tamil Nadu V Ganesan passes away: Indian National Army (INA) veteran V Ganesan passed away. He joined Netaji’s INA at the age of 18 and received six months of military training in Singapore. While participating in the battle against the British Army in Myanmar, he was arrested and was imprisoned for 10 months in Yangon jail and was later repatriated to India. He was honoured by the President of India in 2012 at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

2. Legendary Singer Jose Jose passes away: Legendary Mexican singer Jose Jose (71-years) passed away at a hospital in Florida. Jose Jose was often called ‘El Principe de la Cancion’ or ‘The Prince of Song’. His most successful album, Secretos was released in 1984. In a career of more than four-decade, the singer sold millions of albums and picked by 6 Grammy nominations.

3. Celebrated opera singer Jessye Norman passes away: Renowned international opera star Jessye Norman (74-years) passed away at New York hospital in the USA. She established herself in Europe in the 1970s and made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1983. Norman earned many prestigious Kennedy Center Honor (in 1997), a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (in 2006); a National Medal of Arts (in 2009) and France's Legion d'Honneur.