Daily GK Updates - 2nd December, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Nagaland CM inaugurates Multi Media Exhibition: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting is organising a “Multi Media Exhibition” at World War II museum, Kisama in Nagaland. It has been organised to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The event aims to present Gandhian values and principles both to the people and through the people in contemporary idiom. During the event, late Natwar Thakkar was also remembered. Lt. Thakkar, is popularly known as Nagaland’s Gandhi, and has invoked on Gandhiji’s values and principles during his lifetime. He had worked tirelessly for the poor and people affected with disability. He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1999.

Note: Nagaland CM: Neiphiu Rio, Governor: Shri R. N. Ravi.

2. Govt launches drive to enroll 1 cr beneficiaries under two pension schemes: The government has launched a drive to enroll one crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) and the National Pension Scheme for Traders and Self Employed Persons (NPS-Traders) by March next year. Labour and Employment Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar launched the drive to mark the celebrations of Pension week. Stating that both the schemes are simple and hassle-free, an Aadhaar card number along with a savings bank account or Jan-Dhan account are needed for enrollments.

3. 35th anniversary of Bhopal gas tragedy being observed: National Pollution Control Day (NPCD) is observed every year on 2nd December (India) in the memory of those who have lost their lives in the Bhopal Gas tragedy on 2nd December 1984. The main objective is to make people aware, spread awareness in the industries that cause various pollution like water, air, soil, noise and affect the environment and obviously health. Several hundred people were killed, and scores of people were maimed for life when the Methyl Isocyanate gas was leaked from the pesticide plant of Union Carbide.

4. PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf: Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds the talk with King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The Swedish King and Queen Silvia arrived in New Delhi on a five-day visit to India. The Swedish King is leading a high-level business delegation for engagements with Indian counterparts. Several agreements on furthering bilateral engagement are likely to be signed between the two countries. India and Sweden have a bilateral trade turnover of 3.37 billion dollars and cumulative investments of about 2.5 billion dollars.

Capital: Stockholm; Currency: Swedish krona

5. India becomes the first country to make entire Haj process digital: India has become the first country to make the entire process for pilgrims going on Haj completely digital. This came after the minister signed the bilateral agreement for the pilgrimage with the Saudi Haj Minister in Jeddah. Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi signed the bilateral annual Haj 2020 agreement between India and Saudi Arabia with Haj and Umrah Minister of Saudi Arabia. An online application, e-visa, Haj mobile app, ‘e-MASIHA’ health facility, “e-luggage pre-tagging” providing all information in India itself regarding accommodation and transportation in Mecca and Madina will be provided to 2 lakh Indian Muslims going for Haj in 2020. This year, a 100-line information centre has been established at the Haj House, Mumbai for providing information regarding the entire Haj process.

Note: The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. It is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.

6. Nana Patole elected as Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly: Congress leader Nana Patole has been elected as the Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kisan Kathore withdrew his nomination. Maharashtra BJP legislature party leader Devendra Fadnavis was named Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. UN Climate Change Conference begins in Spain from Dec 2- 13: UN Climate Change Conference (known as COP25) gets underway in the Spanish capital, Madrid, under the Presidency of Chile. COP 25 is an important conference as countries prepare to move from the pre-2020 period under the Kyoto Protocol to the post-2020 period under the Paris Agreement. India's approach will be guided by principles and provisions of UNFCCC and Paris Agreement particularly the principles of Equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capability (CBDR-RC). India has been leading the world in its pursuit of enhanced solar energy capacity through International Solar Alliance (ISA). The Indian delegation led by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.

2. Saudi Arabia takes over G20 Presidency from Japan: The G20 Presidency has been taken over by Saudi Arabia from Japan. Saudi Arabia has become the 1st Arab nation to assume the G20 presidency. The Saudi G20 presidency is committed to continue the work from Osaka (Japan) and promote the multilateral consensus. The G20 presidency, which Saudi Arabia has taken over from Japan, will host world leaders for a global summit in its capital Riyadh in 2020.

3. India Ranks 12th among 61 nations in 2019 Global Diplomacy Index: China has overtaken United States in 2019 Global Diplomacy Index, for having more diplomatic posts across the world than any other country, as per the Australian think tank Lowy Institute. According to the Sydney-based Lowy Institute, China has 276 embassies and consulates worldwide, which is three more than the US. India is 12th among the 61 countries with 186 embassies and consulates worldwide. United States (273), France (267), Japan (247), and Russia (242) makes the top five nations in the index.

4. National University of Singapore tops QS World University Asia Rankings 2020: The National University of Singapore has been named Asia’s best university in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Asia Rankings 2020. From India, IIT Bombay is the top-ranked institute at 34th rank. IIT-Delhi (IIT-D) dis ranked at 43. India has 96 universities ranked. Nanyang Technological University is on second and the University of Hong Kong is on third.

5. International Day for the Abolition of Slavery: 2 December: The United Nations observes International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on 2nd of December every year. The Day was first celebrated in 1986. The day focuses on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) more than 40 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery. Also, more than 150 million children are subject to child labour, accounting for almost one in ten children around the world.

Note: The Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others was approved by the United Nations General Assembly on December 2, 1949.

Headquarters of United Nations: New York, USA; Founded: 24 October 1945; Secretary-General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. 13th South Asian Games Kicked Off in Nepal: The 13th edition of South Asian Games has officially kicked off after the opening ceremony at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal. The President of Nepal Bidhya Devi Bhandari declared the Games open at the three-hour programme, which showcases the rich culture and diversity of Nepal at the newly reconstructed stadium. Nepal is hosting the regional sporting extravaganza for the third time from 01st to 10th December 2019 in Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Janakpur.

2. Gurpreet Singh & Sunil Kumar clinch gold medals in Senior National C'ships: Gurpreet Singh & Sunil Kumar clinched gold medals at the senior national wrestling championships in Jalandhar. Gurpreet defeated Sajan Bhanwal by a 3-1 margin, in the 77-kilogram category. Sunil also managed an easy win over Punjab's Prabhal. The Railway's grappler used all his experience to crush the Punjab wrestler 5-1 in the 87 kg final. In the 55 kg category, Arjun, representing Services, won against Ajay by technical superiority. Punjab's Harpreet Singh (the Asian Games silver medallist) defeated Rajbir Chhikara of Railways 4-1 in the 82 kg category final. Railways finished on the top with 210 points ahead of Services (170 points) and Jharkhand (109 points).

3. Senior Wrestling National C'ships: Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik clinch gold: Star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik registered convincing wins in the finals to claim gold medals at the Senior Wrestling National Championships in Jalandhar. Phogat beat Haryana’s Anju 7-3 in the 55kg category. Olympic bronze medallist Malik defeated Radhika (Haryana) 4-2 in the 62kg category. In the 68kg category, Haryana wrestler Anita Sheoran stunned Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Divya Kakran. Punjab’s Gursharan Kaur claimed the title in the 76kg category, with a 4-2 win over Pooja of Haryana. In the 50kg category, Meerut's Sheetal Tomar dominated Nirmala to post a 7-3 win.

4. Priyam Garg to lead India at ICC U-19 World Cup 2020: Uttar Pradesh batsman Priyam Garg (19-year) will lead defending champions India in next year's Under-19 ICC Cricket World Cup (13th edition) to be held in South Africa (17th January to 9th February 2020). India (defending champions) are placed in Group 'A' with first-time qualifier Japan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Sixteen teams will be taking part in the tournament, split into four groups of four. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super League stage, with the bottom two teams in each group progressing to the Plate League.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Former RBI deputy governor H R Khan to head micro-finance panel CRL: Shri. H R Khan has been appointed as the first chairman of the steering committee of the Code for Responsible Lending (CRL) in micro-credit. HR Khan is a Former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN) and Sa-Dhan had jointly unveiled the ‘Code for Responsible Lending’ (CRL) for the micro-credit industry in September 2019. Members of the steering committee include Harsh Shrivastava of MFIN, P Satish of Sa-Dhan, Srinivas Bonam of IndusInd Bank and Sonia Krishnankutty of L&T Finance among others. A common ‘Code for Responsible Lending’ will restrict more than three lenders offering loans to a single borrower and cap the size of total lending to Rs 1 lakh per borrower.

DEFENCE

1. India-Sri Lanka joint exercise “MITRA SHAKTI” begins: The 7th edition of India-Sri Lanka joint exercise “MITRA SHAKTI” begins at Aundh Military Station, Pune. It aims to build and promote positive relations between armies of both the countries focusing subunit level training on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in the urban and rural environment. It is conducted annually as part of military diplomacy and interaction between armies of two nations.