Daily GK Updates - 26th October, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Health Ministry to observe Vigilance Awareness Week: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will observe the Vigilance Awareness Week from 28th October to 2nd November 2019 with the theme “Integrity- a way of life”. Vigilance Awareness Week will commence with the administration of ‘Integrity Pledge’ to the officers/staff of the Ministry by the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, to fight against corruption and commit to highest standards of honesty and integrity. The week will be observed as per directions of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), Government of India.

2. Girish Chandra Murmu appointed first Lieutenant Governor of J&K: Expenditure Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Girish Chander Murmu has been appointed as the first Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. He will be administered the oath of office on October 31 in Srinagar after which he will be the administrative head of Kashmir and Jammu provinces.

3. Radha Krishna Mathur appointed the first Lt Governor of Ladakh: Former Chief Information Commissioner of India (CIC), Radha Krishna Mathur has been appointed the Lieutenant Governor of the union territory of Ladakh. The reorganization of Ladakh as UT will take effect from October 31, 2019. Radha Krishna Mathur was given the charge as the Chief Information Commissioner of India (CIC) in 2016 and he retired as CIC in November 2018. He has been the Union Defence Secretary, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Secretary of India and the Chief Secretary of Tripura. He has also served as the Development Commissioner in the Ministry of Textiles and the Chief Enforcement Officer in the Ministry of Textiles in the Central government.

4. Satya Pal Malik appointed new Governor of Goa: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Goa. He was appointed as the governor of undivided Jammu & Kashmir in August last year. In September 2017, he was appointed the governor of Bihar. Earlier, he was a member of the 9th Lok Sabha and represented Aligarh Constituency from 1989 to 1991. He was a member of Rajya sabha from Uttar Pradesh during the two-term of 1980-86 and 1986-1992.

5. Govt sets up panel to resolve contention between MeitY and Niti over AI: The government of India has formed a committee under the chairmanship of principal scientific advisor, K Vijay Raghavan to resolve the contentions between the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and the NITI Aayog over the ownership to implement the ambitious Artificial Intelligence Mission. The panel will specify the roles of different agencies in achieving the AI mission. The committee will also be represented by the secretary in the department of science and technology, the CEO of Niti Aayog and secretary of MeitY. The committee is tasked with rooting out duplication of work between various government arms, while clearly specifying the role of different agencies to fast-track the implementation of the AI mission. Earlier, Niti Aayog received clearance from the expenditure finance committee (EFC) for a budget of Rs 7,000 crore, while MeitY had sent a separate Rs 400 crore proposal to the EFC to set up a national AI programme.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. First Global Health Security Index 2019 released, India ranked at 57th position: The first comprehensive assessment of epidemic and pandemic threats globally ‘The Global Health Security Index 2019’ was released. Among the 195 countries, India got 57th position in the index while the United States of America (USA) topped the list, followed by the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Thailand and South Korea were among the best-performing countries in Asia. This is a project of the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, with research by The Economist Intelligence Unit

2. Evo Morales has been Re-elected as President of Bolivia. Evo Morales has narrowly won a controversial fourth presidential term just as tens of thousands of Bolivians marched in the administrative capital, La Paz, and cities across the country on the fourth day of protests decrying alleged voter fraud. With 99.99% of the official vote counted, Morales won 47.07%, fractionally clearing the 10-point margin he needed to avoid a second-round run-off against the main opposition candidate, Carlos Mesa, who won 36.51% of the vote. A spokeswoman for Bolivia’s electoral board said 0.01% votes have been voided in the region of Beni with new voting there scheduled for November. She said they were not enough to change the outcome.

Note: Bolivia Capital: La Paz, Sucre; Currency: Boliviano

3. Ruling Party Wins Botswana Elections: The Botswana Democratic Party shrugged off a spirited challenge from the opposition coalition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change, to keep intact its 53-year, uninterrupted rule. The BDP secured the 29 of 57 National Assembly seats required to form the next government. Botswana Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane declared BDP leader, Mokgweetsi Masisi, the country's president.

Note: Botswana Capital: Gaborone; Currency: Botswana pula

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Karnataka crush Tamil Nadu to win 4th Vijay Hazare Trophy: Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu by 60 runs (VJD method) to win the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the 4th time. KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal shared an unbeaten 114-run partnership after Abhimanyu Mithun took a hat-trick and completed a 5-wicket haul as Karnataka defeated Tamil Nadu to lift the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the 4th time. Karnataka were cruising towards a 253-run target before rain interrupted play. The final was eventually called off when Karnataka were 146/1 in 23 overs. With Rahul batting on 52 and Agarwal unbeaten on 69, Karanataka were declared winners by VJD method. Karnataka were well ahead of the VJD par-score, which was 87.

2. Jasprit Bumrah, Mandhana win Wisden India Almanack ‘Cricketer of the Year’ award: Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah and Batswoman Smriti Mandhana are the two Indian names among the five winners of the Wisden India Almanack Cricketer of the Year award. The other three winners are: Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman, Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne and Afghanistan Rashid Khan. Wisden India Hall of Fame– Stalwarts Gundappa Viswanath and Lala Amarnath. Wisden India Book of the Year– “Cricket Country: The Untold History of the First All India Team” by Prashant Kidambi.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Union Government grants 'Maharatna' status to Hindustan Petroleum and Power Grid Corporation: The Indian government has accorded 'Maharatna' status to state-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Power Grid Corporation Limited. In this regard, two separates orders were issued by the Department of Public Enterprises, under the Ministry of Heavy Industry and Public Enterprises. It will give both the enterprise greater operational and financial autonomy because the grant of Maharatna status will impart enhanced powers to their Boards to take financial decisions.

Note: Founded in 1974, the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited is a major petroleum company in India. Its headquarters is situated in Mumbai and Mr. Mukesh Kumar Surana is its Chairman and Managing Director.

Power Grid Corporation Limited is the countries largest power transmission company founded in 1989 and headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana. K Shreekant is the Chairman and Managing Director of Power Grid Corporation.

2. Indian Overseas Bank unveils health insurance policy with Universal Sompo: Public sector lender, Indian Overseas Bank unveiled a healthcare insurance policy through an online platform in association with Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Ltd. The policy offered on a real-time basis to customers at the branches of Indian Overseas Bank through the integration of technology of the two institutions. The co-branded healthcare policy designed by Universal Sompo General Insurance is offered with a sum insured from Rs 50,000 to Rs 15 lakh. The one of its kind family floater policy where the premium is charged as per the age of the proposer with no medical checkup up to the 50 years of age. Customers can avail of co-branded insurance at all IOB branches. Self, spouse, dependent children, dependent parents can be covered under this policy.

Note: Indian Overseas Bank Headquarters: Chennai, TN; MD and CEO is Karnam Sekar

While Universal Sompo General Insurance headquarters: Mumbai; Chairman: O N Singh

3. World Bank inks agreement project to support smallholder farmers in Odisha: The World Bank has signed a tripartite loan agreement worth $165 million with the Government of India and Odisha government to support 125,000 smallholder farmers in the 15 districts district of Odisha. Under this loan agreement, the project "The Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture" will be implemented in Odisha's rural areas which are vulnerable to droughts and largely dependent on rainfed agriculture. This project will diversify and improve the marketing of their produce, for increased income by managing 128,000 ha of agricultural land in Odisha.

Note: World Bank Headquarters: Washington, D.C; President: David Malpass

DEFENCE

1. Indo-French joint military Drill 'Exercise Shakti-2019' will be conducted from October 31st in Rajasthan: Indo-French joint military exercise ‘Ex-Shakti-2019’ will be conducted from October 31 to November 13 in the Mahajan field firing range in Rajasthan. The joint exercise will focus on counter-terrorism operations in the backdrop of semi-desert terrain under the United Nations mandate. In this exercise, a contingent of the Sikh Regiment of south-western command will represent the Indian Army, while the troops of the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment of the 6th Armoured Brigade will represent French Army. The aim of this exercise is to enhancing understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the two armies. In 2018 it was conducted at Mailly Le Camp, France. The biennial exercise between the armies of the two countries had started in 2011.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Gujarat CM Dilip Parikh passes away at 82: Former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Dilip Parikh passed away at the age of 82 years. Parikh served as the 13th Chief Minister of Gujarat between October 1997 and March 1998.