Daily GK Updates - 25th December, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Petroleum Minister unveils India’s first long distance CNG bus: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveiled India's first long-distance Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus fitted with CNG cylinders at a function in New Delhi. It can travel around one thousand kilometers in a single fill. The first long-range interstate CNG bus will play from Delhi to Dehradun. Mahindra & Mahindra along with Agility Fuel Solutions of USA have partnered with IGL for introducing the new concept of lightweight Type IV composite cylinders in buses.

Note: The project has been executed by Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) and has been achieved through the design of Type IV Composite Cylinders in buses, replacing traditional very heavy Type-I Carbon Steel cylinders.

2. Rohtang tunnel in Himachal Pradesh named as Atal tunnel: Prime Minister Narendra Modi named Rohtang passageway in Himachal Pradesh as Atal Tunnel to mark the 95th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The tunnel has been named as a tribute to the former Prime Minister who took the historic decision of constructing this strategic tunnel. The strategic Atal tunnel will change the fortunes of this region and will help in promoting tourism in the region. The 8.8-kilometre-long tunnel is the world's longest tunnel above an altitude of 3,000 metres. After completion of the tunnel, it will provide all-weather connectivity to remote areas of Lahaul and Spiti Valley and reduce the distance between Manali and Leh by 46 Kilometres. It is a 10.5-metre wide single tube bi-lane tunnel with a fire-proof emergency tunnel built into the main tunnel itself.

Note: Himachal Pradesh CM: Jai Ram Thakur; Governor: Bandaru Dattatraya.

3. PM Modi unveiled Atal Bihari Vajpayee statue in Lucknow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Lok Bhawan in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The event coincides with the birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the co-founder of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also laid the foundation stone for the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical University in the Uttar Pradesh capital. Atal Bihari Vajpayee served three terms as the Prime Minister of India. He was the first Indian prime minister who was not a member of the Indian National Congress party to have served a full five-year term in office.

Note: CM of UP: Yogi Adityanath; Governor of UP: Anandiben Patel.

4. Good Governance Day: 25 December: Good Governance Day is observed in India annually on the 25th of December. In this day nation celebrates the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna and former-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Good Governance Day was established in 2014 to honour Prime Minister Vajpayee by fostering awareness among the Indian people of accountability in government. In keeping with this principle, the Good Governance Day has been declared to be a working day for the government.

Note: Atal Bihari Vajpayee had served as the Prime Minister between 1998 and 2004. He was born on December 25, 1924, and died on 16th August 2018 after a prolonged illness. He was conferred India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee in 2015.

5. Tamil Nadu tops ‘Good Governance Index’ launched by GoI: The Central Government has released the “Good Governance Index” on the occasion of Good Governance Day. The “Good Governance Index” was launched to assess the state of governance in Indian States and Union Territories. The prime objective of the GGI is to provide quantifiable data to compare the state of governance in all states and Union Territories, enable them to formulate and implement suitable strategies for improving governance and shift to result oriented approaches and administration. The Index was launched by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, and the Centre for Good Governance.

Some key results of the day:

Among the “Big States“, Tamil Nadu topped the Good Governance Index. The poor performers are Odisha, Bihar, Goa, and Uttar Pradesh with Jharkhand finishing last in the group.

Among the “North-East and Hill States“, Himachal Pradesh topped the index, followed by Uttarakhand, Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim. The worst performers in this group are Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, with Arunachal Pradesh finishing last in the group.

Among the “Union Territories“, Puducherry topped the index followed by Chandigarh and Delhi. Lakshwadeep is the worst performing UT.

6. National Consumer Day: 24th December: Every Year 24th December is observed as National Consumer Day with a specific theme in India. The theme of this year is “alternate consumer grievance/dispute redressal”. The objective is to highlight the importance of the consumer movement and the need to make every consumer more aware of their rights and responsibilities. On this day the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was enacted. The Act aims to provide consumers with effective safeguards against different types of exploitation, such as defective goods, deficiency in services and unfair trade practices.

Note: World Consumers Rights Day: 15 March.

7. Hemant Soren to take oath as Jharkhand CM on Dec 29: In Jharkhand, Grand Alliance leader Hemant Soren will take oath as Chief Minister on the 29th of this month. He was formally elected the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislature party leader. He was projected as the chief ministerial candidate by the JMM, Congress and RJD Alliance that gained the majority in the recently concluded Assembly polls.

Note: Governor of Jharkhand: Droupadi Murmu.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg steps down: Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has stepped down as the company is facing tough period following two fatal crashes. He will be replaced by Chairman David Calhoun effective January 13, 2020. He became the CEO of the world’s largest aerospace company in July 2015. The company's best- selling commercial jet was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after two fatal crashes killed 346 people.

Note: Headquarters of Boeing: Chicago,  United States.

2. IAF Chief to visit Egypt for bilateral talks: Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria is on a five-day visit to Egypt from December 24 to 28, 2019 to strengthen the long-standing bilateral relations between New Delhi and Cairo. Air Chief Marshal, scheduled to various operational and training establishments of the Egyptian Air Force, interact with senior officials of the Egyptian Armed Forces. Defence cooperation between the two Air Forces, as well as strengthening the long-standing bilateral relations between India and Egypt.

Note: KS Bhadauria is the current Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. He assumed office on 30 September 2019 after superannuation of Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. MS Dhoni named captain of CA’s ODI team of the decade: Former India skipper and wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni been named captain of Cricket Australia’s (CA) ODI team of the decade. CA announced the ODI team of the year and the line-up features three Indian players. Apart from Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have made the cut in CA’s team. Cricket Australia's ODI team of the decade: Rohit Sharma, Hashim Amla, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Shakib Al Hasan, Jos Buttler, MS Dhoni (c), Mitchell Starc, Trent Boult, Lasith Malinga, Rashid Khan.

2. Leander Paes to retire from Tennis in 2020: Indian tennis ace Leander Paes has announced that 2020 will be his last year as a professional tennis player. Leander, who made his Olympic debut in 1992, will look for one final flourish at Tokyo Olympics next year. He has won eight doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles.

3. Indian weightlifter Rakhi Halder creates two new national records: Indian weightlifter Rakhi Halder clinched a bronze medal in the women's 64kg weight category at the Qatar International Cup in Doha. She superseded the senior national record in both snatch and total lift with her personal best effort of 218kg (95kg in snatch + 123 kg in clean and jerk). India ended the Olympic qualifying silver level event with three medals. Former world champion Mirabai Chanu had won the gold on an opening day while teenager Jeremy Lalrinnunga had claimed silver in a power-packed performance.

AWARDS AND HONOURs

1. Kamareddy wins UNICEF-2019 Award for Swachh Bharat implementation: Kamareddy district of Telangana has secured the United Nations International Children’s and Education Fund (UNICEF)-2019 Award. The district has won the award for effective implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission in water sanitation and hygiene sectors. Kamareddy district was on top in the country among other districts in construction of individual sanitary lavatories, swachh darpan wall paintings, swachh survekshan, swachh sundar shouchalay and many other activities.

Note: Chief Minister of Telangana: K Chandrasekhar Rao; Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan.

2. Manushi Chillar is the 'Sexiest Vegetarian Personality' by PETA: Former Miss World Manushi Chhillar has been voted the Sexiest Vegetarian Personality by American animal rights organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Manushi is a strong advocate for vegetarianism and has expressed her views on the subject even on global platforms. Manushi has been roped in for Yash Raj Films' biggest historical drama 'Prithviraj' where she will be seen in the lead role opposite Akshay Kumar.

Note: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. Its slogan is "Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way."

OBITUARIES

1. England's football World Cup winner Martin Peters passes away: England World Cup winner Martin Peters (76-years) passed away Peters was part of the 1966 World Cup-winning side and scored in the final against West Germany. Peters is the fifth member of England's World Cup final team to have died, after captain Bobby Moore, Alan Ball, Ray Wilson and Gordon Banks. Peters joined West Ham in 1959 as a 15-year-old, made his debut in 1962 and was a key player in the side who won the 1965 Cup Winners Cup final at Wembley.

2. Renowned Hindi author Ganga Prasad passes away: Renowned Hindi author Ganga Prasad Vimal passed away in a road accident in Sri Lanka. He was born in 1939 in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. He wrote more than a dozen poetry collections, short story collections and novels. His last novel, Manushkhor, was published in 2013. He received several Hindi literary awards.