Daily GK Updates - 4th November, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Delhi's Signature Bridge opens for public : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has inaugurated the iconic ‘Signature Bridge’ over river ‘Yamuna’. in Delhi.The Signature Bridge (675 metres long) is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge, spans Yamuna river at Wazirabad section, connecting Wazirabad to East Delhi.The pylon of the Signature bridge is the tallest structure in Delhi and is double the height of Qutb Minar, with 154-metre high viewing box, which acts as selfie points for people.It is the country's first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge.

2.Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation announces Swachh Bharat World Toilet Day Contest  : The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has announced Swachh Bharat World Toilet Day Contest for districts and States.The purpose of the Contest is to encourage all districts in India to re-intensify the sanitation movement with a special focus on Open Defecation Free-ODF Sustainability. Top 10 District Collectors, top 3 State Mission Directors and State Secretary in-charge of Sanitation will be recognized and awarded by the Swachh Bharat Mission.The Contest does not apply to the five States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram

3.National Seminar on Entrepreneurship & Business Development in Ayurveda begins in New Delhi : A two-day National Seminar on Entrepreneurship and Business Development in Ayurveda has begun in New Delhi.The seminar has been organised by the AYUSH Ministry.The seminar is expected to develop awareness among stakeholders about business opportunities, encouraging young entrepreneurs to use modern technologies and highlight opportunities at the global level.

4. Noted Malayalam writer M Mukundan wins Ezhuthachan award : Noted Malayalam writer M Mukundan (76- years) has been selected for the highest literacy prize ‘Ezhuthachan Puraskaram 2018’. The award is being given for his overall contributions to the language and literature.

5. Super 30 founder Anand Kumar to be honoured with education award in Dubai : Veteran Mathematician 45-year old Anand Kumar (Super 30 founder) will be awarded for his ‘pioneering’ contribution to the field of education and illuminating the lives of many talented students (on 8^th November).Mr Anand will be honoured with 'Global Education Award' by 'Malabar Gold & Diamonds', a flagship company of Malabar Group, a leading Indian business conglomerate

6.IIT-Madras creates ‘Shakti’, India’s first microprocessor : The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IITM) have designed and booted up India’s first icroprocessor ‘Shakti’.An open-source high-level synthesis language ‘Bluespec’ was used in making the chips.The Shakti microprocessor can be used in low-power wireless systems and networking systems besides reducing reliance on imported microprocessors in communication and defence sectors.It could be used in mobile computing and other devices.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.18th Indian Ocean Rim Association Council of Ministers Meeting Held in Durban : The 18th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers Meeting was held in Durban, South Africa. Gen. (Dr.) VK Singh (Retd.), Minister of State for External Affairs, attended the IORA Council of Ministers Meeting.

This meeting took place during the on-going celebrations of the 150th year of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 100th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela.The Indian Ocean Rim Association is an inter-governmental organisation which was established on 7^th  March 1997.

2.  Indo-French Conclave held in Nagpur : Indo-French Conclave signed 12 agreements worth 200 million euro held in Nagpur, Maharashtra.The Indo-French Conclave was organized by Indo French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) and the Embassy of France in India.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Kolkata leads Ease of Moving Index 2018 : The union minister Nitin Gadkari has released the Ola Mobility Institute’s(OMI), India's first Ease of Moving Index, 2018.As part of report findings, Kolkata ranks the highest in terms of affordability of public transportation with 80% of commuters finding Kolkata's public transport reasonable and affordable.Ola Mobility Institute (OMI) is the research and outreach arm of Ola.

DEFENCE:

1. Offshore patrol vessel ICGS Varaha launched : According to Defence Ministry, The Indian Coast Guard has launched a new offshore patrol vessel called ICGS Varaha from a corporate shipyard near Chennai.The vessel has been designed and built indigenously.This is the third in a series of seven similar ships to be handed over to the Coast Guard. The timeline for the delivery of all the vessels is March 2021.ICGS Varaha will soon be fitted with advanced navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery.

SPORTS:

1. Indian badminton player Subhankar Dey has won the SaarLorLux Open at Saarbrucken in Germany : He defeated fifth-placed Rajiv Ouseph (Britain), in straight games, 21-11, 21-14.This is Subhankar's first title of 2018.Earlier, he had finished runner-up in the Kabal International tournament at the Czech Republic.

Daily GK Updates - 18th October, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. M J Akbar resigns as minister of state for external affairs : The Minister of State for External Affairs Mobashar Jawed Akbar has resigned from his post in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment made by several women against him.The resignation comes in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment against him.Mr. Akbar has already filed a criminal defamation case in this regard. Veteran Indian journalist M J Akbar is Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha (In July, 2015) from Jharkhand.

2.  NITI Aayog launches guidelines for Public-Private partnership in NCDs : NITI Aayog has launched the model guidelines for Public-Private partnership in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).As per the guidelines, the private partner will invest in upgrading, building and deploying human resources, responsible for operational management and service delivery.The guidelines will help streamline private participation and encourage world-class infra & patient care in the health sector.The state governments will provide the required physical space.It is suggested that the tariff structure for the services offered under the NCD care facility may be linked to the existing state and Central Government Health Insurance Scheme.

3.Shahi litchi’ of North Bihar gets Geographical Indication (GI) tag :The famous ‘Shahi litchi’ of North Bihar has got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag after Jardalu mango, Katarni rice and Magahi paan from the state.GI is a name (sign) used on products to certify that they possess certain qualities for being made or produced as per traditional methods or enjoy a certain reputation due to its geographical origin.A total of 3 lakh metric tonnes of different varieties of litchi were produced in Bihar in 2017-18, out of which 60 percent were Shahi litchis.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit begins in Brussels :The two-day 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit begins in Brussels, Belgium.Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu will lead the Indian delegation at Europa Building for Opening Ceremony of ASEM Summit.The theme this year is, 'Global Partners for Global Challenges'.The summit will prioritize issues related to connectivity, trade and investment, sustainable development, climate change, terrorism, migration, maritime security and cyberspace.

2. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrives in New Delhi : Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit to India.He will hold wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his stay.India is among the top four investors in Sri Lanka with cumulative investments of over one billion dollars since 2003.The investments are in diverse areas including petroleum retail, IT, financial services, real estate, and telecommunication.Trade between the two countries grew rapidly after the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement in March 2000.

3. Bhutan: General elections are being held : The third General elections of National Assembly (the lower house of Parliament) in Bhutan being held today.The voters will seal the fate of total 94 candidates, 47 each from both the parties.The Election Commission has deputed over 5,300 officials in 865 polling stations across the country.Out of four lakh 38,000 registered voters, more than three lakhs are expected to exercise their franchise through EVMs.

4. Putin, al-Sisi sign strategic co-operation treaty : Vladimir Putin (Russian President) and Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (Egyptian President) have signed a strategic co-operation treaty to increase trade, military and other ties in Sochi.Mr al-Sisi hailed his talks with Mr. Putin and termed the agreement as a new chapter in the history of the countries' bilateral relations.Mr. Putin and the Egyptian President discussed expanding arms trade and military ties

5. Canada becomes the 2nd country to legalize recreational cannabis:Canada has become the second country (first Uruguay) to legalize possession and use of recreational cannabis.Now, Canadians can grow up to four plants in their own home and carry up to 30 grams of dried cannabis for personal use.Cannabis possession first became a crime in Canada in 1923 but medical use has been legal since 2001.

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE:

1.  ESA to send spacecraft to Mercury in a first-of-its-kind mission : UK-built spacecraft will set off for Mercury to determine whether the plant, which is the closest to the Sun (contains water).The European Space Agency's (ESA) BepiColombo mission will send two orbiters to explore the planet where the surface temperatures reach about 450 degrees Celsius.The space agency hopes to get answers to the questions raised by the previous missions such as whether the planet holds water.On 20^th October, Spacecraft will launch from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.It will take seven years to reach Mercury, arriving in 2025.

SPORTS:

1. Akash Malik claims India’s maiden archery silver at Youth Olympics : Akash Malik (15-year) became India’s first silver-medallist in archery at the Youth Olympic Games.He lost one-sided final to Trenton Cowles of the USA 0-6.Currently, Akash is enrolled by the Olympic Gold Quest and trains under South Korean coach Kim Hagyong at the Army Sports Institute in Pune.India concluded with 3 gold, 9 silver, and 1 bronze at the event that was launched in 2010.

Daily GK Updates - 28th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. EC plans to discuss about unpublished roll : The Election Commission will soon examine the New Zealand model, which allows eligible people to vote even if their names are not on the printed roll for valid reasons.The concept of a ‘unpublished’ (confidential) roll will also be discussed.‘Unpublished’ roll is for those who fear making their details available on the printed roll for security reasons.

2. ‘Clean Air India Initiative’ launched : Prime Minister of Netherlands Mark Rutte launched the ‘Clean Air India Initiative’ in Delhi.The campaign aims to curb air pollution in Indian cities by promoting partnerships between Indian start-ups and Dutch companies.The Clean Air India Initiative is a project between Get In The Ring, a platform for start-ups, the Government of the Netherlands, Start-up India, and INDUS Forum

3. Bill to allow Hindu widows to remarry : A landmark Bill allowing Hindu widows to remarry has been passed by the assembly of Pakistan’s Sindh Province.The bill allows Hindu widows to remarry out of their own free will but only after a period of six months has lapsed after their husband’s death.The bill also grants Hindu women the right to file a petition for dissolution of a marriage if they want to terminate their marriage.

4. UP-Mumbai freight corridor open from August : The first phase of India’s longest freight corridor connecting Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai is set to be inaugurated on August 15, 2018.This was disclosed by the chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani, who inspected the 190km-long Ateli-Phulera section of the dedicated railway freight corridor between Dadri in UP and Mumbai.It is part of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor.

5. Tripura govt to phase out plastic carry bags : The Tripura government has set August 15 as the deadline to phase out plastic carry bags.The government, as part of the ‘Himalayan Cleanup’ programme, urged people to replace their plastic bags with biodegradable ones.The Himalayan Cleanup campaign has been launched by a Delhi-based organization in 12 mountain states in the country to end plastic pollution in the hilly areas.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Nasir Ul Mulk to be the interim Prime Minister : Pakistan has appointed former Chief Justice Nasir Ul Mulk as interim Prime Minister until general elections are held on July 25, 2018.Mulk has also served as the interim chief of the Election Commission of Pakistan.The interim administration usually does not make any major decisions until the new government is elected.

2. Queen Maxima of Netherlands arrives India : Queen Maxima of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who is also the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development arrived in New Delhi on a four-day visit to India.Netherlands is the 5th largest investor in India.During Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s visit to India, the former became an official partner of the International Solar Alliance.

3. China invites Iran to attend SCO summit : China has invited the Iranian President to participate in the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit being organised in June 2018.The summit will be the first after the inclusion of India and Pakistan as members of the organisation in 2017.Iran, Mongolia, Afghanistan, and Belarus have been granted observer status.

4. India to attend WTO members meet in Paris : India and other key members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) will discuss ways to combat growing protectionism across the world at an informal meeting of select Trade Ministers at the OECD meet in Paris.India has been invited to participate in the informal Ministerial meeting hosted by Australia in Paris.The OECD meet is taking place between May 31 and June 3.

5. India launches its second IT corridor in China : India has launched its second IT corridor in China to cash in on the booming Chinese software market.NASSCOM has now set up one more digital collaborative opportunities plaza, also known as the SIDCOP platform, in China’s Guiyang.In December 2018, the NASSCOM established its first SIDCOP platform in the Chinese port city of Dalian, which is India’s first IT hub in China.

6. Oldest Indian woman to scale Mount Everest : Sangeeta Bahl, at the age of 53 has become the oldest Indian woman to scale the Mount Everest.She scaled the peak on May 19, 2018, with the help of 2 Sherpas and was felicitated at the Indian embassy in Kathmandu.She carried a banner to the peak advocating early detection of breast cancer in women & funding for the same.She has already conquered 6 out of the 7 highest peaks of the world.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. RBI appoints Sudha as its first CFO : National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) executive Sudha Balakrishnan has been appointed as the first chief financial officer (CFO) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).Balakrishnan, a chartered accountant, was until recently a vice-president at the NSDL, India’s first and largest depository.She will be the 12th executive director at RBI, and will serve a three-year term.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. Mountain ranges discovered beneath Antarctica : Mountain ranges and valleys have been discovered by scientists deep beneath the Western Antarctic ice region.This discovery will contribute to the rising global sea levels.Three valleys were discovered by the researchers linking the two major parts of Antarctica, out of which, one is 217 miles long.

SPORTS:

1. Chennai Super Kings lift their 3rd IPL title : Chennai Super Kings lifted their third Indian Premier League title after defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in Mumbai.Shane Watson’s century helped Chennai to defeat Hyderabad.Shane Watson was declared as Man of the Match

2. BCCI, UN Environment sign agreement : The BCCI and UN Environment have signed an agreement to promote ‘green’ Cricket in India.The partnership aims to spread greater awareness about key environmental challenges facing the country, and highlight alternate and more sustainable solutions.The partnership will also focus on phasing out single-use plastic across stadiums in the country.

Daily GK Updates - 21st November, 2017

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. World Fisheries Day observed today:  The World Fisheries day is being celebrated throughout the world by the fisher-folk communities to highlight the importance of maintaining the world's fisheries. The Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh inaugurated the World Fisheries Day celebrations in New Delhi. The theme of 2017 is “2022 Ka Hai Sapna … Kisan Ki Aay Ho Dugna - Sankalp Se Siddhi”.

2. Manipur Sangai Festival in Imphal: President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated the Manipur Sangai Festival at Palace Compound in Imphal, Manipur. A two-day North-East Development Summit was also opened by the President as a part of the festival. As many as 175 delegates including official representatives of foreign countries and multi-national corporate firms are also attending the Summit.

3. Nabaneeta Dev Sen Won the 2017 Big Little Book Award: Popular Bengali writer Nabaneeta Dev Sen has been has been declared winner of the 2017 Big Little Book Award in the “Author in Bengali Language” category for her contribution to the children’s literature. The Big Little Book Award, a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, seeks to recognise and honour authors and illustrators who have contributed to children’s literature that are global in appeal and contextual in nature. The award has been instituted under ‘Parag’ initiative of Tata Trusts to promote children’s literature.­

4. India has been ranked 51st globally in  the 2017 IMD World Talent Ranking: India has been ranked 51st globally in terms of ability to attract, develop and retain talent while Switzerland topped the list compiled by leading global business school IMD. The annual IMD World Talent Ranking covered 63 countries and assessed the methods the countries adopted to attract and retain talent. The rankings are based on a country’s performance in three main categories – investment and development, appeal, and readiness – and India was ranked 62nd, 43rd and 29th on these terms. Globally, Europe continues to dominate the rankings, with Switzerland, Denmark, and Belgium being the most competitive countries. Austria, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Sweden and Luxembourg made up the top 10.

5.  India-Myanmar joint Army exercise begins in Meghalaya: The week-long Army warfare exercise by India & Myanmar has begun at the Joint Warfare Centre at Umroi near Shillong in Meghalaya. The exercise aims to train the officers of Myanmar Army in various United Nations Peacekeeping roles and tasks. The exercise code-named India-Myanmar Bilateral Army Exercise (IMBAX) is aimed at building and promoting closer relations with armies of the neighbouring countries. This is the first military exercise between India and Myanmar.

6. Journalist Manik Banerjee Gets Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) Award: Veteran journalist Manik Banerjee, who is also an acclaimed mountaineer was presented with the ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF). Banerjee was presented the award in recognition of his achievements in mountaineering over a period of four decades. She has made an invaluable contribution in promotion of mountaineering and allied adventure activities.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. Sarajevo Haggadah manuscript in UNESCO’s Memory of the World: Sarajevo Haggadah, the 14th- century richly illuminated Hebrew manuscript, has been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. Sarajevo Haggadah has been kept at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1894. In Hebrew, Haggadah means a handwritten story (on parchment). It is read by family members on the occasion of the Jewish feast of Passover.

2. World Television Day observed on 21st November: In December 1996 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day. It commemorates the date on which the first World Television Forum was held in 1996.

The UN acknowledges that television can be used to educate many people about the world, its issues and real stories that happen on the planet.

3. Beyonce is the highest-paid woman in music industry: American singer Beyonce has been named the highest-paid woman in music in 2017 by the Forbes. Her earnings, mainly from album ‘Lemonade’ and Formation World Tour, have been estimated to be $105 million. Adele, with earnings of $69 million came second while Taylor Swift, with earnings of $44 million, was ranked third on the list.

4. NASA tests Supersonic Parachute for Mars 2020 mission: National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency (NASA) has successfully tested a supersonic landing parachute that will be deployed in its Mars rover mission set to launch in 2020.The mission will rely on a special parachute to slow the spacecraft down as it enters the Martian atmosphere at over 5.4 kilometers per second. The Mars 2020 mission will seek signs of ancient Martian life by investigating evidence in place and by caching drilled samples of Martian rocks for potential future return to Earth.This is the first of several tests in support of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission.

                             

5. Anuk Arudpragasam bags 2017 DSC Prize: Sri Lankan author Anuk Arudpragasam’s “The Story of a Brief Marriage” has bagged the $25,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2017. Bangladesh Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith presented the award to Arudpragasam. “The Story of a Brief Marriage” is a touching tale of a young man trapped on the frontlines between the Sri Lankan Army and the Tamil Tigers.

OTHER UPDATES

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. RBI sets rupee reference rate at 65.0386 against US dollar: The Reserve Bank of India today fixed the reference rate of the rupee at 65.0386 against the US dollar and 76.3878 for the euro. The corresponding rates were 65.0565 and 76.3633.

2. Hyderabad Airport installs waste recycling machines: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad has become the first airport in the country to commence installing waste recycling machines as a pilot project. The machines have been installed to crush plastic PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles, steel/aluminium cans and plastic bags in an eco-friendly way.

SPORTS:

 1. Shardul Vihan grabs four gold in sensational show at Shotgun Nationals: 14-year old Shardul Vihan of Uttar Pradesh produced a sensational performance as he won four gold on a single day in the 61st National Shooting Championship.Shardul won gold in the senior and junior men’s double trap individual and team events to completely dominate the day at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.

2. Vijender Singh to take on British boxer Rocky Fielding in 2018: Vijender Singh is scheduled to fight British boxer Rocky Fielding for the British and Commonwealth Super middleweight title. A press release said that Fielding has been ordered to defend his title against Vijender come March 30, 2018. Fielding had won the title on September 30 with a win over David Brophy in Liverpool.