Daily GK Updates - 31st January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. HPC facility named ‘Mihir’ launched in Noida: Union Minister for Earth Science, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan dedicated the High-Performance Computer (HPC) System named ‘Mihir’. Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that with this facility, India’s capacity in weather forecasting will improve. The Minister said that the HPC facility will be India’s largest HPC facility in terms of peak capacity and performance.

2. India Ranks 6th in the list of Wealthiest Countries: India has been ranked sixth in the list of wealthiest countries with the total wealth of 8,230 billion US dollars. The list was topped by the United States of America. It is according to New World Wealth report. India was the best-performing wealth market globally in 2017 as it registered a 25% growth.

3. Bill to hike judges salary gets approval: President Ram Nath Kovind gave his approval to a Bill that will more than double the salaries of Supreme Court and High Court judges.

In the Winter Session of Parliament, the Bill to increase salaries of judges was passed. Now after the President’s approval, the Chief Justice of India will draw a monthly salary of ₹2.80 lakh, up from the current ₹1 lakh.

4. Scheme for Power supply: Himachal Pradesh: Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur launched integrated power development scheme at Nagrota Bagwan to provide 24×7 power supply in 54 towns of the state. This will include strengthening of power distribution system, setting up new transformers. The scheme envisages to strengthen the basic infrastructure and upgradation of a power supply and substations.

5. Rajasthan gave 1% quota to MBC: Rajasthan has issued orders for granting 1% reservation to the Most Backward Classes, within the 50% ceiling mandated by the Supreme Court. The overall reservation in the State stood at 49% before the decision. Along with Gujjars, nomadic communities Banjara, Gadia-Lohar, Raika and Gadariya were included among the Other Backward Classes for quota in the govt jobs AND educational institutions.

6. Guru Ravidas Jayanti being celebrated across the country today: The birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas (the founder of Bhakti movement) was celebrated across the country. As per Hindu calendar, it is celebrated on full moon day of the Magh month (Magh Purnima). Ravidas was born in the village of Seer Govardhanpur, near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. International Bird Festival to be held in UP: A three-day international bird festival will be held at the Dudhwa National Park, Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh in February 2018. Nearly 200 leading ornithologists expected to attend. The purpose of the international bird festival is to promote eco-tourism in Dudhwa and to give it a distinct international identity besides highlighting its traditional Tharu arts, culture and heritage.

OTHER UPDATES

BANKING/ FINANCE:

1. SBI to launch credit card for farmers: The State Bank of India, through its subsidiary SBI Cards & Payments Services Pvt Ltd, will offer credit cards to farmers. The project has been initiated on a pilot basis in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and depending on the success of the pilot run, it will be launched nationally. The new credit cards for the farmers will have a credit limit with a credit period of 45 days

BUSINESS/ ECONOMY:

1. EPFO goes paperless: Taking another step towards going paperless, retirement fund body EPFO said it has launched facilities for employers to pay dues and update ownership details online. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has provided the facility of online submission of Form 5A (Return of Ownership), it said in a statement. EPFO added it has discontinued the physical submission of the form.

2. Shantanu Narayen to head USISPF Board: Indian-American Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen has been elected as the Vice Chairman of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum. It is a new organisation set up to enhance business relations between India and the US. The new representative body USISPF was set up to promote bilateral trade and work on creating meaningful opportunities that have the power to change the lives of citizens.

SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY:

1. Fossils of dinosaurs unearthed in Egypt: Scientists have unearthed in a Sahara Desert oasis in Egypt fossils of a long-necked, four-legged, school bus-sized dinosaur that lived roughly 80 million years ago. Researchers said the plant-eating Cretaceous Period dinosaur, named Mansourasaurus shahinae, was nearly 33 feet (10 metres) long. It was a member of a group called titanosaurs that included Earth’s largest-ever land animals.

DEFENCE:

1. Indian, Vietnamese to hold – VINBAX: Armies of India and Vietnam have begun a six-day-long military exercise in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. The exercise named ‘VINBAX’ is the first military exercise between the two countries. Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was in New Delhi to participate in the India-ASEAN Commemorative summit and attend the Republic Day celebrations.

2. Indian Navy launches 3rd Scorpene class submarine Karanj: Indian Navy has launched the third Scorpene class submarine Karanj, constructed by shipbuilder Mazgaon Dock Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. Now, the submarine will undergo rigorous tests for the next one year before it is commissioned.

SPORTS:

1. Sharath Kamal won TT Championship: Sharath Kamal beat top-seeded Anthony Amalraj to win the men singles title in the 79th edition of the 11Even Sports Senior Nationals in Ranchi, Jharkhand. He won the championship for the eighth time, equalling the feat of Kamlesh Mehta. Suthirta Mukherjee from West Bengal emerged the new women champion, beating Hyderabad Nationals winner Manika Batra.

2. First Khelo India School Games launched: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the first Khelo India School Games at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The Khelo India programme has been introduced to revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level. Talented Under-17 players identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels. The Games are being held from 31st January to 8th February 2018.

3. Melbourne to host Final of 2020 WT20: Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the final of both the men’s and women’s World Twenty20 when the tournaments come to Australia in 2020. It will mark the first time the tournaments are held as stand-alone events in the same year in the same country. The women’s final will coincide with International Women’s Day (8th March).

BOOKS & AUTHORS:

1. “Speaking Truth to Power” book launched: Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and P Chidambaram released a book titled “Speaking Truth to Power” authored by P Chidambaram in New Delhi on Jan 30, 2018. Former finance minister P Chidambaram urged the citizens of India to speak truth so that the nation can uphold the legacy of its founding fathers.

2. International Kolkata Book Fair 2018 held: The 42nd edition of the International Kolkata Book Fair 2018 is being held in Kolkata. The fair, touted to be world’s largest attended book fair, will be open for public from January 31 and will continue till February 11. The focal theme of International Kolkata Book Fair will be France. This will be France’s third appearance as partner country at the International Kolkata Book Fair.

Daily GK Updates - 30th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES

1. Nation pays tribute to Mahatma on Martyr’s Day: The nation today remembers Mahatma Gandhi, as it observes the 70th death anniversary of the father of the nation. Gandhi was shot dead 69 years ago on January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse. This day is also observed as ‘Martyrs Day’ by the nation. Gandhi's journey in India began in 1915 when he returned to India from South Africa. And by launching Satyagraha from Champaran, Bihar (the first non-violent) in 1917 resistance to the British rule.

2. Anti-Leprosy Day being observed today: The ‘Anti-Leprosy Day’ observed every year on the Martyrdom Day of Mahatma Gandhi to make people aware of the real need to fight the infectious disease. A campaign Leprosy Awareness Campaign ‘Sparsh’ has been organized in all the Gram Sabhas throughout the country by the Central Leprosy Division of the Health Ministry. The campaign carries the important information about the disease to help affected people. It includes free of cost multidrug therapy that is available at all government dispensaries, health centers, and hospitals to provide complete treatment.

3. Asha Bhosle to get Yash Chopra memorial award: Indian singer Asha Bhosle will be given the 'Yash Chopra Memorial Award' for her outstanding contribution to the Hindi film industry. The award will be presented to Asha Bhosle on 16th February. The name of Asha Bhosle is in the Guinness World Records for recording over 11,000 songs in 20 different languages.

4. Parl Group to confer Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards to five MPs: The Parliamentary Group has decided to confer Outstanding Parliamentarian Awards to five Members of Parliament. Dr. Najma Heptulla (Former Rajya Sabha MP) has been selected for this award for the year 2013 while the other awardees include Hukumdev Narayan Yadav (Lok Sabha MP) for 2014 and Ghulam Nabi Azad (Rajya Sabha MP) for 2015. Dinesh Trivedi (Lok Sabha MP) has been selected for 2016 while Bhartruhari Mahatab (Lok Sabha MP) has been chosen for Outstanding Parliamentarian Award for 2017.

5. Idukki dam to screen laser show: Officials are planning to screen a laser show depicting Kerala’s history on the Idukki dam, which is Asia’s oldest arch dam. “The laser show is planned to be screened on the dam wall surface, which is 500 feet high and 600 feet wide,” an official said. The Idukki Dam is a double curvature arch dam constructed across the Periyar River between two granite hills Kuravan and Kuravathi in Kerala.

6. First ever ‘Khadi Haat’ in Delhi: Marking the 69th Republic Day celebrations, Khadi and Village Industries Commission and New Delhi Municipal Council have launched the first ever ‘Khadi Haat’ in the country. The Khadi Haat was inaugurated on January 25 by Minister of State Giriraj Singh in Connaught Place.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES

1. India-Nepal relations’ revival - Swaraj to visit Nepal: In a bid to revive ties with Nepal, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Kathmandu from February 1 to February 2. The visit comes weeks after Nepal elected a Leftist coalition, which won the first historic poll under the new Constitution of the country. The visit by Ms. Swaraj will be the first big diplomatic engagement with the newly elected Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.

OTHER UPDATES

ECONOMY/ BUSINESS:

1. Economic Survey 2017-18 printed in pink: The Economic Survey 2017-18 tabled in Parliament is printed in pink to highlight gender issues amid economic development. The survey estimated that due to “meta-preference” for sons, India could have about 21 million “unwanted girls,” or girls whose parents wanted to have sons instead. It pointed out that most parents continued to have children until they got sons.

2. 5 Indian states account for 70% of exports: The Economic Survey 2017-18 has revealed that five states– Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Telangana, accounted for 70% of India’s exports for the first time. The survey found that states’ export performance and their standard of living were strongly interrelated. It also noted that India’s internal trade in goods and services accounted for an estimated 60% of GDP.

BANKING/ FINANCE:

1. 50% increase in indirect taxpayers: There has been a 50% increase in the number of indirect taxpayers. There has also been a large increase in voluntary registrations, especially by small enterprises that buy from large enterprises wanting to avail themselves of input tax credit. There were 9.8 million unique GST registrations, an increase by 3.4 million compared to the previous tax regime is seen.

SPORTS:

1. Prakash won Lifetime Achievement Award: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu conferred Badminton Association of India Lifetime Achievement Award to 1983 World Championship medallist Prakash Padukone. Naidu termed Padukone a “grand legend of a great game”, who inspired the nation through his “sheer passion, grit and determination”. The Mysuru-born had won gold medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games & the All England Championships in 1980.

2. 2018 India Open, starts: The 2018 India Open, is a badminton tournament which will take place at Siri Fort Indoor Stadium in Delhi from 30 January to 4 February 2018. The event will also feature 2014 champion Kidambi Srikanth beginning his new season after missing last week’s Indonesia Masters. Saina Nehwal bagged silver medal at Indonesia Masters recently. Saina clinched the India Open Super Series in 2015.

3. ICC U-19 World Cup: India beat Pakistan by 203 runs: India beat Pakistan by 203 runs to enter final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup cricket at Christchurch, New Zealand In the 2nd semi-final, India posted 272 for 9 and skittled out Pakistan for just 69 in 29.3 overs to enter the Final for the sixth time. Shubman Gill (102* run) was adjudged man of the match.

SCIENCE/ TECHNOLOGY:

1. 10,000-year-old ‘crayon’ discovered: Archaeologists have discovered one of the earliest examples of a ‘crayon’, possibly used by our ancestors 10,000 years ago. The ochre crayon was discovered near an ancient lake, now blanketed in peat, near Scarborough in England. The study was published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. The pebble and crayon could have been used for colouring animal skins or for decorative artwork.

Daily GK Updates - 29th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Vijay Keshav Gokhale takes charge as Foreign Secretary: Seasoned diplomat Vijay Keshav Gokhale (1981-batch Indian Foreign Service officer) took charge as the foreign secretary. He succeeded S Jaishankar. Currently, Mr. Gokhale is serving as the Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs. He had played a key role in negotiations to resolve the Doklam standoff between Indian and Chinese armies last year. He has also served as India's top envoy to Germany and worked in Indian missions in Hong Kong, Hanoi and in New York.

2. There is not a single Aadhar data breach in 7 years: Ajay Bhushan Pandey, UIDAI CEO, said that there hasn’t been a single incident of Aadhar data breach or data theft in seven years, during a live Q&A session on Twitter. He also added that the best technologies from different companies have been used for data protection.

3. Beating Retreat ceremony held at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi: Today, Beating Retreat ceremony held at the historic Vijay Chowk (the victory square) in New Delhi. This year, 18 Military Bands, 15 Pipes and Drums Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions are participating in the ceremony. The only western tune will be 'Abide by Me'. The 'Beating Retreat' ceremony is held here every year on 29th January, marking the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations. The ceremony traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands.

4. Himachal CM launches 'Shakti' app for Women's Safety: The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister ‘Jai Ram Thakur’ has launched the ‘Shakti’ app for women’s safety in the state. The app was developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) of the HP government, available in both Hindi & English languages with a panic button. The objective of the app to the helpline is to fight crimes against women in the state without internet connectivity. Mr. Thakur also launched the ‘GUDDIYA’ helpline number 1515 and the ‘Hoshiyar Singh’ helpline number 1090. The ‘Hoshiyar Singh’ helpline would be monitored by the CM’s office and the government would use information gathered on this helpline to come down heavily on the drug, forest and mining mafias.

5. AAI will invest Rs. 1,232 crore to construct new integrated international terminal in Guwahati: According to the Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathy Raju, the Airports Authority of India will invest 1,232 crore rupees to construct a new integrated international terminal in Guwahati. The new terminal building is expected to be complete by 2021. The proposed new integrated terminal building will be spread across 90,000 square meters with world-class facilities and have the capacity to handle 3,100 passengers during peak hour.

6. Republic Day - Maharashtra tableau wins 1st prize: According to the Ministry of Defence, the tableau on the coronation ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (presented by Maharashtra) has been awarded the first prize at the Republic Day parade this year in New Delhi. The tableau was created by well-known art director Nitin Desai and his team. The coronation ceremony was enacted on the tableau by 10 artists. The state also emerged the winner in the cultural category and the inter-state dance competition held as part of the parade. This year, 100-odd government agencies took part in the Republic Day parade preparations that will see the presence of 10 heads of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders. The theme of the tableau was ‘Khelo India’.

7. Finland's President Sauli Niinisto declares his re-election for new six-year term: Finland's moderate President Sauli Niinisto has declared his re-election for a new six-year term after securing a comfortable lead in the early results from the recent election. With about 86% of votes counted, Niinisto had won 62.1%, compared with 13.1% for closest rival Pekka Haavisto.

8. An Informal WTO Ministerial Gathering would be held in New Delhi: India announced that it will host an informal WTO Ministerial Gathering in March 2018. The meeting would be held in New Delhi on March 19-20. Trade ministers from various countries like Japan, Australia and Switzerland met for an Informal WTO ministerial gathering in Davos, Switzerland.

9. Usha Ananthasubramanian becomes 1st Woman IBA Chief: MD & CEO of Allahabad Bank ‘Usha Ananthasubramanian’ has been elected as the chairman (first woman) of Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) for the year 2017-18 by its Managing Committee. Chairman of State Bank of India Rajnish Kumar has been elected Deputy Chairman of IBA. IBA Chairman’s position fell vacant following the superannuation of Jatinder Bir Singh.

10. Proud moment as Kumbh Mela is given UNESCO Culture Heritage tag: President Ram Nath Kovind said that Kumbh Mela being recognized by UNESCO as the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ is a matter of pride for India. UNESCO also designated Ahmedabad as ‘Heritage City’ and Chennai was included in the list of ‘Creative Cities’ by UNESCO.

11. Foreign operators are showing interest in 49% Air India stake - Civil Aviation Minister: Gajapathi Raju, Civil Aviation Minister, said that a foreign operator has shown interest in buying 49% stake in Air India. Recently, the government allowed 49% FDI in Air India with prior government approval.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Trump says he would be tougher in Brexit talks than Theresa May: Criticising UK PM Theresa May regarding negotiating Brexit with the EU, Donald Trump said that he would take a “tougher” approach to the talks. He also said that EU is going to be a big upset.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Roger Federer won in men’s single in Australian Open 2018: Roger Federer won in the men’s single while Caroline Wozniacki won in the women’s single in Australian Open 2018. Caroline Wozniacki became the first Danish player to win a Grand Slam singles title.

2. Pakistan becomes world number 1 in T20I side: After beating New Zealand in the third and final T20I, Pakistan became top-ranked T20 side in international cricket. New Zealand is on second position while India is on the third.

3. Tai Tzu Ying Of Taiwan wins Indonesian Masters: Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying (world no.1) has defeated Saina Nehwal (India) in the finals of the Indonesia Masters in Jakarta. Tai Tzu Ying defeated Saina Nehwal 9-21, 13-21. Now, Tai Tzu has defeated Saina Nehwal nine times in their last 10 meetings.

4. Leander Paes wins his 25th ATP Challenger level doubles title: Indo-American pair tennis star Leander Paes (India) and James Cerretani have won his 25th ATP Challenger level doubles title. They defeated the duo of Denis Kudla and Treat Huey in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 in the 150,000 US Dollar hardcourt tournament.

5. India win the third Test Cricket against South Africa by 63 runs: India has won the third and final cricket Test against South Africa by 63 runs after bundling out the hosts for 177 in their second innings at Johannesburg. Chasing 241, South Africa were placed comfortably at 124 for two at one stage but their innings folded for 177 following a dramatic collapse. South Africa won the 3-match series 2-1.

6. Virat Kohli moved past Brian Lara in all-time Test rating points list: With 912 points, Virat Kohli moved from 31st position to 26th position surpassing Brian Lara, Kevin Pietersen, Hashim Amla and Michael Clarke. Don Bradman is on top of the list with 961 points while Steve Smith is second with 947 points.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. There is 50% increase in indirect tax payers post GST: According to preliminary analysis quoted by the Economic Survey 2017-18, there has been a 50% increase in the number of indirect taxpayers after the introduction of GST. The survey further revealed that Maharashtra, UP, TN and Gujarat are the sates with the most GST registrants.

2. India’s GDP growth to be 7-7.5% in 2018-19:  Economic Survey 2017-18, tabled by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Parliament, predicts India’s GDP growth at 7-7.5% in 2018-19. The survey added that retail inflation during 2017-18 averaged to the lowest in the last 6 years at 3.3%.

3. Intel warned Chinese firms about security flaws within its processor chips: The Wall Street Journal reported that Intel warned some customers, including several Chinese firms about security flaws within its processor chips before informing the US government.  An Intel spokesperson said the company wasn’t able to tell everyone because the news was made public earlier than expected.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Stressed loans of India declined for the first time since 2015:  At the end of September quarter last year, India’s banks’ stressed loans declined for the first time since 2015. Stressed loans shrink from record peak to Rs. 9.46 lakh crore. Stressed loans represent 12.2% of the total loans.

AWARDS/HONOURS:

1. ‘24K Magic’, Bruno Mars’ album - the winner of 7 Grammy awards: The album ‘24K Magic’ by Bruno Mars won seven awards including the Album of the Year and Best R&B Album at the 60th Grammy Awards this year. His single ‘That’s What I Like’ was named Song of the Year.

Daily GK Updates - 28th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Oxford chooses ‘Aadhaar’ as Hindi word of 2017: Oxford Dictionaries has chosen ’Aadhaar’ as the Hindi word of 2017. The word gained popularity due to the Aadhaar card, which was in the news last year and is likely to remain so this year as well. The announcement was made at a session “Oxford Dictionaries’ Hindi Word of the Year” during the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival here.

2. The lowdown on Doklam: Chinese side beefing up its military presence in the disputed Doklam area, where Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a two-month stand-off in the summer of 2017. Recent satellite images and intelligence reports show the Chinese have erected several permanent military posts. About 1,800 Chinese troops are stationed, even in deep winter, in the Doklam area, according to other reports. India has also strengthened its presence in the region. 

Strategic Location of Doklam:

Ø  Doklam, or Donglang in Chinese, is an area spread over less than a 100 sq km comprising a plateau and a valley at the trijunction between India, Bhutan and China. 

Ø  It is surrounded by the Chumbi Valley of Tibet, Bhutan’s Ha Valley and Sikkim. 

Ø  Despite several rounds of engagement between China and Bhutan, the dispute between the two over Doklam has not been resolved. It flared up in 2017 when the Chinese were trying to construct a road in the area, and Indian troops, in aid of their Bhutanese counterparts, objected to it, resulting in the stand-off. 

Ø  Doklam is strategically located close to the Siliguri Corridor, which connects mainland India with its north-eastern region. 

Ø  The corridor, also called Chicken’s Neck, is a vulnerable point for India. 

Ø  While India-Tibet trade flourished along the Siliguri corridor and Chumbi Valley, Doklam had very little significance. 

Ø   Even during British rule, Doklam did not command much attention. 

Ø   In recent years however, China has been beefing up its military presence in the Chumbi Valley, where the Chinese are at a great disadvantage militarily. Both Indian and Bhutanese troops are on a higher ground around the Valley.

3. Justice Vishwanath Shetty sworn in as Karnataka Lokayukta: Former Judge of Karnataka High Court Justice Vishwanath Shetty has sworn in as new Lokayukta of Karnataka by Governor Vajubhai R Vala. He succeeds N Bhaskar Rao who resigned the post in 2015 following his alleged involvement in his son's corruption case that involved using the Lokayukta office and residence for extortion. 

Details about Lokayukta:

Ø  The Lokayukta is an anti-corruption ombudsman organization in the Indian states.

Ø History: The Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) headed by Morarji Desai submitted a special interim report on "Problems of Redressal of Citizen's Grievances" in 1966. 

Ø  ARC recommended the setting up of two special authorities designated as 'Lokpal' and 'Lokayukta' for the redressal of citizens' grievances.

4. Banwarilal Purohit appointed as Governor of Meghalaya: The President Pranab Mukherjee has given Banwarilal Purohit (Governor of Assam) to the additional charge of Meghalaya and PB Acharya (Governor of Nagaland) to the additional charge of Arunachal Pradesh. Earlier, the President accepted the resignation of V. Shanmuganathan as Governor of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.

5. Dr. Vijay Bhatkar appointed new vice-chancellor of Nalanda University: The President Pranab Mukherjee has appointed Dr.Vijay Bhatkar as the chancellor of Nalanda University for three-year. He will succeed former foreign Minister of Singapore George Yeo, who resigned. Dr. Bhatkar is the architect of India’s first supercomputer the Param series. 

Details about Nalanda Unniversity:

Ø  Nalanda University is located in Rajgir near Nalanda, Bihar. 

Ø  The University began its first academic session on September 1, 2014.

6. Dr. G.N. Rao to be inducted into Ophthalmology Hall of Fame: Noted Indian eye doctor Gullapalli N. Rao has been selected to the 2017 Ophthalmology Hall of Fame instituted by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr. Rao is the founder and chairman of the LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. He will be honored at the ceremony in Los Angeles at the annual meeting of the ASCRS on 6th May 2017. The L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) was established in 1987 at Hyderabad as a not-for-profit, non-government eye care institution. “The Week-Nielsen” survey for rating the best hospitals in the country has declared LVPEI Hyderabad as third best eye hospital in India.

7. Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates 29th Kerala Science Congress: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has inaugurated the three-day 29th "Kerala Science Congress" at Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The event is jointly organized by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment and the Kerala Forest Research Institute. The Focal theme chosen for the Congress is “Genomics in Health and Disease”.

8. First Brahmaputra Literary Festival inaugurated in Guwahati: The first three-day Brahmaputra Literary Festival has been inaugurated by CM of Assam Sarabnanda Sonwal. The festival would be a great platform for interaction and exchange of ideas between readers and litterateurs across the country and abroad. Sixteen authors from 10 countries and many writers from within this country are participating in the festival.

9. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube content were covered by official action: A total of 1,329 social media URLs were blocked or removed on the recommendationof a government committee to deal with “objectionable content” last year till November 2017. This is an increase of nearly 38% from 964 social media URLs blocked or removed for the whole of 2016. URLs that were blocked or removed because of court orders during the same period came down from 100 in 2016 to 83 in January-November 2017, according to an internal note of the Ministry of Electronics and IT. The action covered Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

10. Four pacts between India and Combodia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cambodian counterpart, Samdech Hun Sen held talks to boost ties in key areas of defence, security and counter-terrorism. The two leaders called for concerted global efforts to eliminate terrorism, including blocking sources of terror financing and dismantling terrorist bases. The two countries inked four pacts, including the one to improve cooperation in the prevention and investigation of crimes and legal assistance in criminal matters and another on a line of credit from India to finance Cambodia’s Stung Sva Hab water resources development project for $36.92 million.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 95 dead, 158 injured in Kabul blast: Taliban claim responsibility for ambulance bomb. An explosives-packed ambulance blew up in a crowded area of Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 95 people and wounding 158 others, officials said. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, the second by the group within a week. The explosion triggered chaotic scenes as terrified survivors fled the area scattered with body parts and blood. Hospitals were overwhelmed by the large number of wounded. The assault comes as both the insurgents and the Islamic State have escalated attacks on the Afghan capital.

2. Beijing plans to spend $3 bn to reduce pollution:  Beijing is planning to spend over 19 billionyuan (about $3 billion) to reduce air pollution this year. The money will be used to control pollution sources such as coal, vehicles and dust, and to support projects to replace coal with clean energy, according to a draft of the 2018 Beijing budget report.

3. Honduran leader begins second term: Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was sworn in for a second term on Saturday as the opposition vowed mass protests over claims he fraudulently won November elections. Mr. Hernandez stood for re-election despite a constitutional ban on Presidents serving more than one term.

4. Pro-Russian Czech incumbent takes lead: Pro-Russian incumbent Milos Zeman took an early lead in the Czech presidential election on Saturday, outpacing his pro-European liberal rival Jiri Drahos by nearly 10%, partial results showed. Mr. Zeman took 54.49% of the vote against 45.5% for Mr. Drahos with 62.4% of ballots counted.

5. Elections in Finland: Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, a pragmatic pro-EU conservative, looks set to get re-elected for another six-year term on Sunday. Mr. Niinisto, 69, is running as an independent, placing himself above party politics to concentrate on his top priority: getting Finland under the protection of the U.S. missile shield without upsetting Russia.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. Serena Williams wins Australian Open 2017 women's title: American professional tennis player Serena Jameka Williams (35- years) has won the 2017 Australian Open Women's Singles title. She defeated her sister Venus Williams (36-years) in the final, 6–4, 6–4. This is also her a seventh Australian Open win and her 23rd Grand Slam victory since the game turned professional in 1968. 

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY:

1. ISRO successfully ground-tests Cryogenic Upper Stage engine meant for rocket GSLV-Mark-III: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully ground tested the Cryogenic Upper Stage engine meant for the rocket GSLV-Mark-III. The rocket fitted with the cryogenic upper stage is expected to lift off in the first quarter of this year, carrying a 4-tonne class communication satellite. It was tested for a duration of 50 seconds in its Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri in southern Tamil Nadu, demonstrating all the stage operations.

BOOK RELEASE: 

1. The Launch of “The book — The Tall Man Biju Patnaik”: A galaxy of political leaders across party lines paid rich tributes on Saturday to the former Odisha Chief Minister, Biju Patnaik, during an event to release a book on the veteran leader. The book — "The Tall Man Biju Patnaik", a pictorial biography by researcher Sundar Ganesan — was released by the former President Pranab Mukherjee in the presence of the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, the former Deputy Prime Minister and veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.

Daily GK Updates - 27th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. The leaders of 10 ASEAN countries got a glimpse of India’s indigenous military technologies that were displayed at the Republic Day Parade: At the head of the marching contingents were soldiers from Rajputana Rifles, bearing the ASEAN flag as well as those of the 10 nations whose leaders were the chief guests this year. Then came a series of weapon systems and critical technologies developed indigenously. These include the under-development Nirbhay, a long-range subsonic cruise missile, which made its debut this year. With a range of 1,000 km, it is equivalent to the U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile. Another débutant was Rudra, the weaponised Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which has already been inducted into service. The Akash Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SR-SAM) system and the BrahMos cruise missile developed with Russia were also on display. Several countries, including some ASEAN nations, have expressed interest in buying these systems, and discussions were under way.

2. Kolkata becomes first Indian metro to get a floating market: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has inaugurated Indian’s first Metro Floating Market located on the eastern fringes of Kolkata. The market will be located on a water-body with boats doubling up as shops. It will host at least 114 boats, each one accommodating two shops. The market will remain open from 6 am to 9 pm on all days, with a break in the afternoon.

3. Indian-origin boy Mehul Garg sets new Mensa record: A 10-year-old Indian-origin boy in the U.K. has become the youngest applicant in a decade to achieve the highest score in the Mensa IQ test, beating geniuses like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. Mehul Garg from the Reading Boys Grammar School in Reading, southern England, scored the maximum score of 162 to become a member of Mensa, the High IQ Society. His score is two points higher than Einstein and Mr. Hawking. Mehul, who enjoys solving the Rubik’s Cube in under 100 seconds, is also working towards his participation in the ‘Child Genius 2018’ show on Channel 4 after being shortlisted among the top 100 candidates for this year.

4. Punjab CM launches MGSVY for distressed sections of society: The Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh has launched 'Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Vikas Yojana'(MGSVY), aimed at the inclusive growth of the distressed sections of the society. The objective of the programme was to give the distressed sections the help they need, socially or economically or psychologically.

5. “Bharat Parv” begins at Red Fort in Delhi: Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma has inaugurated the six-day cultural extravaganza “Bharat Parv” at the Red Fort in Delhi, As part of the Republic Day celebrations. The objective of the event is to generate a patriotic mood, promote the rich cultural diversity of the country and to ensure wider participation of the people. Folk and Tribal Dances and Music from the different States will be showcased during cultural programmes. Bharat Parv will remain open for public from 12 Noon to 10 PM until 31st of this month.

6. Veteran Bengali film actress Supriya Devi passes away: Veteran Bengali film actress Supriya Devi (85-year) passed away in Kolkata. She had made her debut in Uttam Kumar-starer 'Basu Parivar' (in 1952) and never looked back after 'Sonar Harin' opposite Uttam Kumar (in 1959) 'Chowringhee', 'Bagh Bandi Khela' and 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' were among her classics. She received the Padma Shri and West Bengal government's highest civilian award Banga Vibhushan, besides the Filmfare East Lifetime Achievement Award.

7. Atal Pension Yojana: The union govt has allowed Small Finance Banks and Payments Banks to offer Atal Pension Yojana (APY). Ten Small Finance Banks and 11 Payment Banks have got the license from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start banking operations in the country. The Banks includes Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, Janalakshmi Small Finance Bank, Suryoday Small Finance Bank, India Post Payment Bank and Paytm Payment Bank. The scheme is available to the people in the age group of 18 to 40 years. Under the scheme, a subscriber would receive a minimum guaranteed pension of Rs. 1,000 to 5,000 per month from the age of 60 years depending upon the contribution. At present, over 84 lacs subscribers are registered under the APY scheme with an asset base of more than 3,194 crore rupees.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Italy organises ‘trial’ of dead king to mark Holocaust remembrance: Eighty years after Mussolini began persecuting Jews, Italy is putting the dead king who backed his racial laws on trial. The setting may be a theatre, but the prosecutor, witnesses and three judges meeting in Rome are real, their scrutiny of the controversial monarch part of events organised to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day. “The Trial” comes a few weeks after the remains of Victor Emmanuel III were discreetly returned to Italy. The king, who ruled from 1900 to 1946, fled in disgrace and died in exile in Egypt in 1948.

2. Heavy fine on foreign vessels for fishing in Sri Lankan waters: According to Sri Lanka’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera, Sri Lanka has increased by over 100 times the fine on foreign vessels to deter them from fishing in its waters. Now, any foreign fishing vessels entering Sri Lankan waters would be subject to a minimum fine of 6 million Sri Lankan Rupees and a maximum of 175 million Sri Lankan Rupees. The Foreign Fisheries Boats Regulation Act aims to prevent illegal fishing activities in the Sri Lankan waters and protect the fisheries and aquatic resources of the country's coastal belt.

3. India & Vietnam release first-ever Commemorative Stamps: India and Vietnam have released first ever set of commemorative postage stamps to mark the long-term friendly bilateral relationships between the two countries. The two set of stamps released carry picture of Sanchi Stupa and Thien Mu Pagoda.

4. Spain expels Venezuela envoy in tit-for-tat move: Spain on Friday ordered Venezuela’s Ambassador Mario Isea to leave in a tit-for-tat move, escalating a row a day after its diplomat Jesus Silva was kicked out by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime. Caracas on Thursday also accused Madrid of masterminding recent European Union sanctions on seven of Mr. Maduro’s key allies.

5. China to set up international courts to deal with BRI cases: China has decided to set up three international courts to deal with disputes related to its multi-billion Dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Chinese Supreme People's Court will set up international courts in Beijing, Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province and Shenzhen. The Xi'an court in Northwest China will handle cases related to the Silk Road and the Shenzhen court in South China with those related to Maritime Silk Road disputes. The courts will weigh litigation, arbitration, and mediation, providing legal support and solving initiative disputes. The BRI focuses on connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries, primarily with China.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

1. BCCI considers doubling fees of other international boards: The IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla has stated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has been considering a proposal to double the share of fees it offers to other international Boards for making overseas players available for the tournament.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Alpha wins Rs. 45 crore firing simulator order from Army: Alpha Design Technologies Ltd. has signed a Rs. 45-crore deal with the Ministry of Defence to supply to the Army indigenous simulators for gunnery and missile firing from BMP II vehicles. The BMP II is a Soviet-origin amphibious infantry fighting vehicle. The simulators will be used to train missile firing personnel. As many as 57 simulators would be manufactured at the company’s Bengaluru facility and supplied to the Army over two years, said Col. (retd.) H.S. Shankar, chairman and managing director, Alpha Design.

2. RIL aims to pare debt in 2018: India’s most indebted firm Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), with outstanding loans of Rs. 2.13 lakh crore, plans to deleverage as it nears the completion of its Rs. 3 lakh-crore capital expenditure cycle. However, with Moody’s Investors Service estimating that Reliance Jio likely to invest as much as $23 billion over three to four years as it expands beyond wireless services, a significant reduction in RIL’s debt may take longer to achieve. The company is also set to invest about $4 billion in acquiring telecom assets of Reliance Communications.

HONOURS/AWARDS:

1. Jyoti Prakash Nirala honored with Ashok Chakra posthumously: President Ram Nath Kovind had tears in his eyes when he conferred the Ashok Chakra to the widow of Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala at the Republic Day Parade. Ashok Chakra is the highest peacetime military decoration. Nirala was posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra. Nirala was an Air Force Garud commando posted in Jammu and Kashmir, when he was martyred. Corporal Nirala gave the supreme sacrifice of his life but not before gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora in November. President Ram Nath Kovind awarded India's highest peace time military decoration Ashok Chakra posthumously to Indian Air Force (IAF) Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala (from Bihar). The award was received by Corporal Nirala's wife Sushmanand and his mother Malti Devi at the majestic Rajpath.