Daily GK Updates - 30th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Anti-Leprosy Day being observed today : The ‘Anti-Leprosy Day’ being observed every yea r 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 important information about the disease to help affected people.

2. Nation remembers Mahatma Gandhi on his 71st death anniversary :  Nation remembered the ‘father of the Nation’ Mahatma Gandhi on his 71st death anniversary.President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have paid tributes Bapu at Rajghat in New Delhi.Gandhi was the pioneer of non-violence and practised it throughout his life.Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Gandhi on 30th January 1948(at 5:17 P.M.) in the compound of Birla House (now Gandhi Smriti) by firing three bullets into his chest.

3. Telangana to set up 'Save Tiger Protection Force' : The Telangana government has decided to form a 'State Tiger Protection Force' to save the Tiger (Big Cat ) population in the State.The STPF armed (112-member) will be headed by an Assistant Conservator of Forests to protect the tiger population in Amarabadand Kawal Tiger Reserves.The State Forest Protection Committee headed by Chief Secretary S K Joshi took the decision to form the STPF at its meeting.The Committee decided to act tough against those felling forest trees and committing other related crimes.

4. Odisha announces Jiban Sampark Project : Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik has announced “Jiban Sampark” project for the welfare of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups at the annual Adivasi Mela-2019. The Jiban Sampark Project undertaken in association with UNICEF to generate awareness among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in Odisha.The focus areas of Jiban Sampark Project are skill development, empowering communities, cooperation and innovation among the groups.

5. Maharashtra govt launched a special scheme to curb infant deaths : The Maharashtra government has launched a special scheme to curb infant deaths.The scheme is applicable only for the first child and will benefit around four lakh women across the state.Each kit (Cost around Rs. 2000) contains a blanket, a small mattress, a towel, a thermometer, baby oil, shampoo, toys, nail-cutter, gloves, socks, among other things.Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde distributed baby-care kits to the children born in primary health centres and government hospitals.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Poonam Khetrapal Singh re-appointed Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia : Poonam Khetrapal Singh has been appointed as the Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia, for a second five-year term. She is the first woman to become regional director of WHO South-East Asia Region.Dr Khetrapal Singh started her five-year term as Regional Directoron 1 February 2014.

2. UAE & Saudi central banks launch common digital currency called 'Aber' :The central banks of the UAE and Saudi Arabia have launched a common digital currency called "Aber".It will be used in financial settlements between the two countries through Blockchains and Distributed Ledgers technologies.It will establish an additional means for the central financial transfer systems of the two countries and enable banks to directly deal with each other in conducting financial remittances.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. GST on Haj reduced from 18% to 5%: Naqvi : According to Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Goods and Services Tax (GST) on 'Haj' has been reduced from 18% to 5%This will significantly lower the airfare thus saving Haj pilgrims’ 113 crore rupees this year.First time since the independence, 2,340 women from India will go on 2019 Haj without Mehram.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. RBI to inject Rs 37,500 crore through OMO in February : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to conduct the purchase of government securities under Open Market Operations (OMOs) for an aggregate amount of Rs 375 billion (Rs 37,500 crore) in February this year to increase liquidity.Three auctions of Rs 125 billion each during the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week of February 2019(no auction during the first week).RBI has been monitoring the evolving liquidity conditions and durable liquidity requirements of the system.A central bank uses OMO as the primary means of implementing monetary policy.

SPORTS:

1.  ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2020 fixtures announced : The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced fixtures for the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 (Australia) in 2020.The men's event will take place later in the year from 18 October to 15th November.20The women's T20 World Cup will take place from 21st February to 8 March in 2019, culminating with the final on International Women’s Day.This edition marks the first occasion when the men and women tournaments will be held as standalone events in the same year and in the same country.

2. Jean-Luc wins round-the-World Sailing Race : French sailor Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (73-years) has won the round-the-world yacht race after 212 days alone at sea without modern instruments.He became the oldest to complete the 30,000-mile Golden Globe race.19 sailors who started out in July 2018, only 5 were still in the race.The race involves solo sailors navigating with a sextant and paper maps and communicating only occasionally with the outside world via short-wave radio.

Daily GK Updates - 29th January, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Beating Retreat ceremony held at Vijay Chowk, New Delhi :  Beating Retreat ceremony held at the historic Vijay Chowk (the victory square) in New Delhi. This year, 15 Military Bands, 15 Pipes and Drums Bands from Regimental Centres and Battalions are participating in Beating the Retreat ceremony. The event will end with the ever-popular tune of 'Sare Jahan Se Acha'. The 'Beating Retreat' ceremony is held here every year on 29thJanuary, marking the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Daycelebrations.

2. India’s second Tulip garden to come up in Uttarakhand : Uttarakhand Government has obtained the permission to develop the Tulip garden  in Pithoragarh district. It will be the second Tulip garden (first in Srinagar, J&K) in the country. The site was selected under the 13 districts, 13 new destinations’ scheme, to attract more tourists to Uttarakhand. It will be developed by ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation), under its CSR program in over 50 hectares of forest land near Chandak hilltop in Pithoragarh district at a cost of Rs. 50 cr.

3. Nagaland CM inaugurates state’s first AstroTurf football pitch :  Nagaland Chief Minister Mr Neiphiu Rio has inaugurated the state’s first Astro Turf Football Pitch (playfield size- 105x66 meters) at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima. The Astroturf has been installed under norms of FIFA. It will begin the process of sports development regarding football in Nagaland. The State Government is working on a strategic sports infrastructure development plan whereby every district will have quality sports facilities.

4. National Conclave on Technical Textiles at Mumbai :  Ministry of Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani has presided the National Conclave on Technical Textiles in Mumbai. Technical textiles are textile material and products manufactured primarily for technical performance and functional properties. The event will also be a curtain raiser for TechnoTex 2019. As per baseline survey of the technical textile industry in India, there are around 2100 units manufacturing technical textiles in the country.

5. D N Chakraborty gets Assam Republic Day Journalism award :  Assam Government has given the Republic Day Journalism Award 2019 to Veteran journalist Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty. Chakraborty has been honoured for his lifelong contribution to journalism in the state. The award comprises Rupees one lakh in cash, a citation, the Assamese ‘xoraai’ (the bell metal memento presented as an honour), ‘jaapi’ (headgear) and an angavastra.

6. ICAR's 'Kisan Gandhi' tableau wins first prize at R-Day parade :  The ICAR tableau in the Republic Day Parade has won the first prizefor its Kisan Gandhi theme. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research tableau with the theme "Mishrit Kheti, Khushiyon Ki Kheti" portrayed Gandhi with goats and a cow and Kasturba engaged with charkha and caring animals. The tableau showcased a view from Bapu Kuti at Wardha Ashram. Tripura bagged the first prize for the state tableau while tableau from Jammu and Kashmir was adjudged the second and Punjab won the third prize. The theme of Tripura's tableau was 'Empowering Rural Economy the Gandhian Way'.

7. Southern Railway won number one for cleanliness : The Southern Railway has bagged the number one position for cleanliness in all the 17 railway zones in the country. This achievement was under the category of other than Premium Category trains in the recent Trains Cleanliness Survey conducted by IRCTC on all India level. The survey is conducted once a year to periodically monitor the progress of ‘Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat’ mission.

8. Sugarcane juice declared ‘national drink’ of Pakistan :  Pakistan government conducted a Twitter poll and declared sugarcane juice as the “national drink” of the country. According to the poll, 7,616 people or 81% cast their votes favouring sugarcane juice, 15% voted for orange juice while 4% chose carrot. People were asked to decide on the country’s national drink with two other options (orange and carrot).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India signs an agreement with OECD for participation in PISA 2021 : Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry has signed an agreement with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for India’s Participation in Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2021.  The question to Indian students will be related to India's perspective only. The student assessment by PISA will ensure learning outcome through education.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Numaligarh Refineries receives 'Best Miniratna PSU' award :  The ‘Numaligarh Refinery Limited’ (NRL) has been awarded the best Miniratna PSU (public sector undertaking) in strategic performance (Financial Category). The award was presented to S K Barua (MD of NRL) by Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari and Poonam Dhillon at an award function held in New Delhi. The company was awarded for its efforts in the country's growth and strategic performance.

SPORTS :

1. ICC suspends Ambati Rayudu from bowling in International Cricket : Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu has been suspended from bowling in International Cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC), after having found his bowling action to be illegal.According to ICC, the suspension will remain in place until he is tested and can demonstrate he is able to bowl with legal action.Earlier, Rayudu had been reported for suspect bowling action during the first ODI match between India and Australia in Sydney.

Daily GK Updates - 28th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.2019 Jaipur Literature Festival : The 12th Edition of Jaipur Literature Festival has been concluded at royal Diggi palace Jaipur. It is an annual literary festival which takes place in the Indian city of Jaipur each January. It was founded in 2006, and from 2008 has been produced by Teamwork Arts.

2. Vande Bharat Express : India’s first indigenously built engineless semi-high speed train ‘Train 18’ has been named as ‘Vande Bharat Express’.Train 18 is an Indian semi-high speed intercity electric multiple unit. It was designed and built by Integral Coach Factory Chennai under the Indian government’s Make in India initiative over a span of 18 months.

3. Sur Jahan Festival : The three-day music festival Sur Jahan Festival will be held in Goa from February 6.Theme is ‘Music for all, music for peace’

4. Yuva Swabhiman Yojana Scheme : Madya Pradesh Govt. has launched employment scheme ‘Yuva Swabhiman Yojana’ for urban youth.Under this scheme, 100 days of employment will be provided to the weaker section of the society in urban areas of the state.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Be-Bound with BSNL India : French company Be-Bound and BSNL have signed an MOU to offer data connectivity through SMS in areas where there is no Internet connectivity or signal breaks.Be-Bound has developed technology that is embedded in mobile apps. This app used to send command to Be-Bound server if it doesn’t get data network for SMS-based connectivity.Be-Bound server will facilitate SMS connectivity after getting command from the app.

2. Swedish aerospace and defence company with Airports Authority of India : The MOU is for exploring air traffic management (ATM) solutions for airports operating under the UDAN Scheme, A regional connectivity scheme.UDAN-RCS, UDAN is a regional airport development and “Regional Connectivity Scheme” of Government of India, with the objective of “letting the common citizen of the country fly”, aimed at making air connectivity affordable.

3. India-South Africa Business Forum : India-South Africa Business Forum was organised jointly by Indian Industry Chambers CII, FICCI and Assocham.President: Cyril Ramaphosa .Capitals: Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein .Currency: South African rand

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1.  SBI with Etihad Airways : SBI Card and Etihad Guest will launch a travel specific Visa credit card.It is the first international co-brand partnership of SBI Card. Etihad Guest is the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways. Etihad Airways is the flag carrier and the second-largest airline of the United Arab Emirates. Its head office is in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, near Abu Dhabi International Airport. Etihad commenced operations in November 2003.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. IRDAI’s Panel to identify Systemically Important Insurers : IRDAI has constitued a panel which will identity Domestically Systemically Important Insurers (SII) and an improved regulatory framework for them there by putting them in place. IRDAI’s Panel will be headed by Praveen Kutumbe. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India is an autonomous, statutory body tasked with regulating and promoting the insurance and re-insurance industries in India.SIIs are those as insurers that are ‘too big to fail’.

2. BSNL with Tata Motors : BSNL has tied up with Tata Motors for a first-of-its-kind machine-to-machine communications deal by which BSNL will supply embedded SIM cards to transform the vehicles into smart cars.Tata Motors Limited is an Indian multinational automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Mumbai. It is a subsidiary of Tata Group, an Indian conglomerate. Its products include passenger cars, trucks, vans, coaches, buses, sports cars, construction equipment and military vehicles.Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is an Indian state-owned telecommunications company headquartered in New Delhi.

SPORTS:

1. New South Wales men’s Amateur Golf Championship : Kartik Sharma from India has won the New South Wales men’s Amateur Golf Championship in Australia. He defeated Nathan Barberie from Australia in the scheduled 36-hole final.

2. Nepalese batsman Rohit Paudel : Rohit Paudel from Nepal has become the youngest cricketer to score a half-century in international cricket at the age of 16 years and 146 days. He replaced Sachin Tendulkar’s Record against Pakistan at the age of 16 years and 213 days.

3. National Ice Hockey Tournament :  Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has won the National Ice hockey tournament defeating Indian Army in Ladakh. The Ice Hockey Association of India is the governing body of ice hockey in India. It became a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation on April 27, 1989. However, as of 2014 no teams from India participate in IIHF world championships. The current President of the Association is K. L. Kumar.

Daily GK Updates - 27th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Bharat Parv begins at Red Fort in Delhi : Director General of Ministry of Tourism Shri Satyajeet Rajan has inaugurated the six-day cultural extravaganza Bharat Parv (4th edition) at Red Fort in Delhi, As part of the Republic Day 2019 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 general public. The Bharat Parvis also hosting Theme State Pavilions where each State showcases its strength along with its tourism products.

2. Ministry of Defence launched ‘RDP INDIA 2019′ app : Ministry of Defence has launched a mobile app ‘RDP India 2019’ with the intent of making available the highlights of the Republic Day event (Parade on Rajpath) New Delhi.It is a new initiative in sync with the Digital India campaign of the Government.It also includes details of the tableaux presented by different States and Ministries, children cultural performances, fly past and names of recipients of Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2019.

3.  'Roshni’ to help visually impaired identify notes : The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar has developed an Android app ‘Roshni’ that would help the Visually Impaired to recognise currency notes in Chandigarh.The Roshni app can recognise both old and new notes and gives audio information as to which note you are holding in your hands.There are about 80 lakh visually impaired people in the country, who will benefit from the initiative.

4.  PM Modi lays foundation stone for AIIMS Madurai in Tamil Nadu : Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS) at Madurai in Tamil Nadu.He also inaugurated the super speciality blocks of Madurai's Rajaji Medical College and Thanjavur and Tirunelveli Medical Colleges through video conferencing.Mr Modi also dedicated a dozen Post Office Pass Port Seva Kendras to the nation.In Kerala, Mr Modi unveiled a plaque to dedicate to the nation an integrated refinery expansion complex of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and laid the foundation stone for a petrochemical complex in Kochi.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Brazil Dam collapse: Death toll rises to 58 with 305 people missing : According to Brazil’s Minas Gerais state civil defence agencyspokesman, the death toll from a burst tailing dam at an iron ore mine has risen to 58 people with 305 people still missing.Hundreds of people are still missing, and the extent of damage is still being calculated, especially in the mining town of Brumadinho.Rescue teams resumed their search for hundreds of people still missing.Earlier, the dam collapsed in Minas Gerais' Brumadinho municipality, triggering heavy mud floods.

2. Nari Shakti is Oxford Dictionary’s Hindi Word of the year 2018 : The Oxford Dictionaries has announced ‘Nari Shakti’ (women empowerment) as the Hindi Word of the Year 2018.The word was selected by the Oxford Dictionaries (India) with help of a panel of language experts.Nari Shakti (derived from Sanskrit), broken down, the word ‘nari’ means women and ‘shakti’ means power.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS:

 1. Novak Djokovic wins Australian Open 2019 men's title : Serbian professional tennis player Novak Djokovic (world No.1) defeated Rafael Nadal to win his 7th Australian Open Men's Singles title at Melbourne.He defeated Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in a largely one-sided match.The 2019 Australian Open (107th edition) was a Grand Slam tennis tournament that took place at Melbourne Park (Australia) from 14thto 27th January 2019.

2. Naomi Osaka wins Australian Open Grand Slam Singles title 2019 : Japan's Naomi Osaka has won her maiden Australian Open Grand Slam Singles title 2019 at Melbourne, Australia.In the Final, Osaka defeated Czech Petra Kvitova, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 to become the first Asian player to achieve the world number one ranking. Now, Osaka has become the youngest number one since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010.

3. Saina Nehwal wins first Indonesia Masters women’s title : Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal (India) has won the Indonesia Masters women’s singles title after Carolina Marin (Spain) limped out of the final due to a leg injury. Marin was leading 10-4 in the first game when she developed an injury in the knee. Anders Antonsen (Denmark) has won his first ever Indonesia Masters after defeating world number one Kento Momota (Japan) to claim the 2019 Indonesia Masters title.

Daily GK Updates - 26th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India celebrates 70th Republic Day today : India celebrates 70th Republic Day today honouring  the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935).President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa is the chief guest for this year's Republic Day parade.The Republic Day Parade Ceremony commenced with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate.As per the tradition, after unfurling of the National Flag by the President, the national anthem was played with a 21 gun salute.

2. Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika awarded Bharat Ratna : Former president Pranab Mukherjee, Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader Nanaji Deshmukh and singer Bhupen Hazarika were on 25 January 2019 conferred the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.In an official statement, the government said Deshmukh and Hazarika have conferred the award posthumously.Pranab Mukherjee, fondly known as 'Pranab Da', was the president between 2012 and 2017.The Bharat Ratna has been conferred after a gap of four years.

3.  Government announces Padma awards 2019 : This year 112 recipients have been selected for the prestigious awards. This includes 4 Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri awards.One of the highest civilian Awards of the country, the awards are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.The Awards are announced on the eve of the Republic Day every year.The recipients include veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar (posthumous), cricketer Gautam Gambhir, Indian choreographer Prabhu Deva, actor Kadir Khan (posthumous) among others.Teejan Bai an exponent of Pandavani was among the four Padma Vibhushan awardees, the Bachendri Pal is among the 14 Padma Bhushan recipients.

4. Government institutes Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar : The government has instituted an annual award titled Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar.It will be announced every year on 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.The Award carries a certificate and a cash prize of 51 lakh rupees.This year, 8th Battalion of National Disaster Response Force located at Ghaziabad has been selected for the Award for its commendable work in disaster management.

  

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. JNPT becomes India's only port to be ranked among world's top 30 : The government said the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has become India's only port to get listed among the top 30 global container ports."The JNPT, India's premier container port got listed amongst the top 30 container ports globally, as per the latest Lloyds Report.According to the shipping ministry, JNPT notched up five spots, to be 28th on the list, compared to its previous ranking.

2. India ranks 54th in 'Bloomberg Innovation Index’ of 60 economies : For the first time ever, India has been ranked in Bloomberg’s 2019 list of most innovative countries in the world.India has grabbed the 54th spot among 60 countries in the Bloomberg Innovation Index with a score of 47.93 out of 100.South Korea has topped the Bloomberg Innovation Index for the sixth time in a row with a total score of 87.38. Germany ranked second, Finland stood on the third spot.According to Bloomberg, the countries and sovereigns have been ranked on the basis of their overall ability to innovate considering seven-equal weighted metrics -- research & development intensity, manufacturing value-added, productivity, high-tech density, tertiary efficiency, researcher concentration, patent activity.

3. Malaysia elects new king, Sultan Abdullah : Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, the ruler of the Malaysia state of Pahang, was named the country's new king.The leaders of Malaysia's royal houses, known as the Conference of Rulers, elected the 59-year-old Sultan Abdullah to a five year term under a system of rotationalmonarchy that is unique to Malaysia.Sultan Abdullah will be sworn in as the nation's 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or head of state, in a ceremony on January 31.The Sultan is heavily involved in sports governance -- he is the current president of the Asian Hockey Federation and a council member of FIFA, the world football body.

5.  Burkina Faso appoints Christophe Joseph as new Prime Minister : Christophe Joseph Marie Dabiré has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Burkina Faso.Dabiré, a former commissioner representing Burkina Faso at the West African Economic and Monetary Union, served as a minister under former president Blaise Compaoré, with Roch Marc Christian Kaboré as prime minister between 1994 to 1996.He led the country’s Department of Health between 1992-1997 and oversaw the Department of Secondary, Higher Education and Scientific Research between 1997-2000.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1.  BSNL, French firm join hands to offer data services through SMS : State-run telecom firm BSNL has partnered with French company Be-Bound to offer data connectivity through SMS in areas where there is no Internet connectivity or signal breaks. Both the companies signed a business partnership agreement to jointly market the service in India.The technology will be embedded in mobile apps. The app will send a command to Be-Bound server in case it does not get data connectivity for SMS-based connectivity.“Be-Bound server will facilitate SMS connectivity after getting a command from the app.

Daily GK Updates - 25th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa to be Chief Guest at 2019 R-Day Parade : South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade 2019.To grace the celebrations, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa accompanied by first lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe and a high-level delegation including nine ministers, senior officials and a 50-member business contingent will have a two-day India visit.It will be Ramaphosa’s first India tour as the head of the state. He is the second President of South Africa after Nelson Mandela to be the Chief Guest at the parade.

2.  National Voters’ Day celebrated across the country : India is celebrating National Voters Day across the country.This year, India marks the 9th edition of the National Voters Day.The National Voters Day is celebrated all over the country on January 25 every year.The Indian Election Commission was set up on January 25, 1950. Therefore, since 2011, it has been decided to celebrate National Voters Day on this day.The day is celebrated especially to make young voters aware of voting and political response.In view of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, ‘No Voter to be Left Behind’ has been selected as the theme for the National Voters’ Day.

3.  Himachal Pradesh celebrates 49th Statehood Day today : Himachal Pradesh is celebrating its 49th Statehood Day.On 18 December 1970 the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament and the new state came into being on 25 January 1971 making it the 18th state of India.S. Parmar became the state’s first chief minister.While congratulating the people of the state with full State Day, the Chief Minister Jairam Thakur said that unprecedented development has taken place in the state during the last 48 years.

4. PM launches Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana : Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Pravasi Teerth Darshan Yojana’ under which a group of Indian diaspora will be taken on a government-sponsored tour of religious places in India twice a year.Prime Minister Modi, also inaugurated the Centers of Excellence at Deen Dayal Hastkala Sankul in Varanasi.He also released two books – 'Kashi: The Universe of Crafts and Textiles' and 'Indian Textiles: History, Splendour, Grandeur'.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  India ranks 80th on Global Talent Competitive Index 2019 : India ranked at 80th positions on the Global Talent Competitive Index (GTCI) 2019.The index is released by INSEAD business school in partnership with Tata Communications and Adecco Group.China emerged as the best performer among the BRICS countries, with an overall position of 45th.Switzerland topped the index which is followed by Singapore and the US.Last year in 2018, India was ranked at 81^st According to the report, India's biggest challenge is to improve its ability to attract and retain talent.

2.  India Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX)- 2019 to be held in Pune : Indian Africa Field Training Exercise (IAFTX)-2019 is scheduled to be conducted at Aundh Military Station and College of Military Engineering, Pune from 18 March to 27 March 2019.The joint training exercise is being conducted with more than a dozen African countries & India. It aims at synergizing humanitarian mine action and joint peace operations.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Ravneet Gill is new MD & CEO of Yes Bank : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Ravneet Gill as the MD & CEO of private sector lender Yes Bank.Gill must join the bank before March 1, the central bank has said.Gill is currently the India chief of foreign lender Deutsche Bank.He will replace present MD & CEO of Yes Bank Rana Kapoor whose term ends on January 31.

2.  Parthasarathi Mukherjee to head Lakshmi Vilas Bank for another two years : Private sector Lakshmi Vilas Bank has reappointed Parthasarathi Mukherjee as its managing director.He will hold the position another two years from January 25.Reserve Bank of India has approved his reappointment.Mukherjee joined the bank on January 25, 2016, for three years and had brought positive changes initially before the piling up bad loans hit profitability.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Indian economy may grow 7.6% in FY20: UN report : According to the UN's World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2019, India's GDP growth is expected to accelerate to 7.6 percent in 2019-20 from an estimated 7.4 percent in the current fiscal ending March 2019.The growth rate may come down to 7.4 percent a year later.India will continue to remain the world's fastest-growing large economy in 2019 as well as in 2020, much ahead of China, a UN report said.In the case of China, the growth is estimated to decelerate to 6.3 percent in 2019 from 6.6 percent in 2018. It may further go down to 6.2 percent in 2020.

2. India's GDP growth may improve to 7.3% in FY20-Crisil : According to the Crisil Ratings, India's growth rate is likely to inch up to 7.3 percent in 2019-20. India is expected to clock a growth rate of 7.2 percent in the current financial year, up from 6.7 percent in 2017-18."In fiscal 2020, Crisil expects GDP to grow 7.3 percent on assumptions- normal rains, oil prices lower than 2018, stable political outcome," the rating agency said in its 'India Outlook FY20'.

  

SPORTS:

1. Johan Botha retires from all forms of cricket : Former South Africa all-rounder Johan Botha has announced his immediate retirement from all forms of cricket. Botha's Australian Twenty20 league team, the Hobart Hurricanes, announced the news.The 36-year-old Botha, who received his Australian citizenship in 2016, failed to take a wicket during nine-wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers.Botha played for South Africa in five Test matches, 78 one-day internationals and 40 T20 Internationals from 2005 to 2012.

Daily GK Updates - 24th January, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.  Piyush Goyal named interim Finance & Corporate Affairs minister : Piyush Goyal was appointed interim finance minister a week ahead of the February 1 interim budget presentation, with Arun Jaitley undergoing surgery in the US.Currently the minister for railways and coal, Goyal will also be interim minister for corporate affairs, the government said.Arun Jaitley will remain a minister without portfolio.

2. National Girl Child Day being observed : The National girl child day is celebrated every year on 24th January as a national observance day for the girl child.The theme this year is 'Empowering Girls for a Brighter Tomorrow'.The Women and Child Development Ministry has organized an event in Delhi to observe the anniversary of 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme. Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi will be the Chief Guest.The day promotes the girl’s position in society to make their living better among society people.

3. Noted Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashashchandra awarded Saraswati Samman 2017 : Noted Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashashchandra has been awarded Saraswati Samman,2017, for his poetry collection in Gujarati named “Vakhar”.The award comprises of a citation and a plaque apart from award money of 15 lakh rupees.Yashashchandra, recipient of the Padmashri in 2006, is known for seamlessly blending history with poetry. He has explored politics of the times, the larger and more immediate human conditions in his award-winning work "Vakhar".

4. Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani to be conferred with Ashok Chakra : Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, who laid down his life during an anti-terror operation at Shopian in Kashmir in November last year, will be conferred with the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award.Wani, 38, hailed from Ashmuji in Kulgmam. He died on November 25 during a fierce gunfight.He was a militant, but later came into the mainstream. He joined the Army in 2004.Wani was part of a number of anti-terror operations in South Kashmir, officials said.

5. 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas concludes in Varanasi : 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) culminated on 23 January 2019, with the valedictory address of President Ram Nath Kovind in Uttar Pradesh.The President also conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards to persons of Indian origin for excellence in various fields.The three-day long convention was organized in Varanasi, the cultural and spiritual capital of India.The theme of PBD Convention 2019 was "Role of Indian Diaspora in building New India".

6. CBI files case against former ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochhar : The CBI has booked former ICICI Bank CEO and MD Chanda Kochhar, her husband Deepak Kochhar and Videocon group MD Venugopal Dhoot in connection with alleged cheating and irregularities in loans sanctioned by the bank to the group in 2012, officials said Thursday."It was alleged that the accused sanctioned certain loans to private companies in a criminal conspiracy with others to cheat ICICI bank," the CBI spokesperson said.

7. Uttar Pradesh celebrates its 69th foundation day today : Uttar Pradesh is celebrating its 69th foundation day today.To celebrate the occasion the main function was organized at Awadh Shilp Gram in Lucknow.Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath along with members of state cabinet grace the occasion.Uttar Pradesh was earlier known as United Province but through a Gazette notification, it got its name of Uttar Pradesh on January 24, 1950.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Venezuela announces breaking off diplomatic ties with the US : Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that the country has cut off diplomatic relations with the United States, giving American diplomats 72 hours to leave the country. The United States has rejected Maduro's move to break diplomatic ties, saying it did not think he had the authority to cut ties and it would conduct relations with a government led by opposition leader Juan Guaido. Earlier that day, US President Donald Trump said that the United States had recognized Juan Guaido as the Venezuela's "interim president," a move that came after Maduro was inaugurated as president of the Latin American country earlier this month.

2. India-set short film 'Period. End of Sentence' gets Oscars nomination : A film on menstruation, set in rural India, titled "Period. End of Sentence" has earned a nomination in the Documentary Short Subject category for the 91st Academy Awards.Award-winning filmmaker Rayka Zehtabchi has directed the short film, which has been produced by Guneet Monga's Sikhya Entertainment.The film came to being as a part of The Pad Project, started by students at the Oakwood School in Los Angeles and their teacher, Melissa Berton.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. PNB: Agyey Kumar joins as Executive Director : Agyey Kumar Azad joins Punjab National Bank as a new Executive Director.He was previously General Manager at Bank of India and was posted at Nairobi, Kenya, as Country Head.At present, PNB has two Executive Directors.The other existing Executive Director is LV Prabhakar.

2. YES Bank ties up with Maharashtra to onboard fair price shops as BCs : The Maharashtra government has partnered with private sector lender YES Bank, under its e-PDS State programme, to onboard fair price shops (FPS) as Business Correspondent Agents.“YES Bank will onboard close to 40 percent of all fair price shops in Maharashtra, spanning 12 districts such as Palghar, Thane, Pune, Kolhapur, Latur.As part of the initiative, the lender will engage fair price shops to provide banking services such as small-value cash deposits into any bank account, including domestic remittances and withdrawal from any bank account via Aadhaar-enabled payment system.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Bihar top state in terms of GDP growth in FY18 - Crisil report : Bihar has been ranked the top state in terms of GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) growth in financial year 2017-18, according to a report by Crisil.The state has topped the list by clocking 11.3 percent GSDP growth in fiscal 2018. It was ranked at eighth spot in fiscal 2017 with 9.9 percent GSDP growth.The second spot has been secured by Andhra Pradesh, whose GSDP growth in FY18 jumped to 11.2 percent. Gujarat listed third with growth of 11.1 percent.

2. Cabinet approves the creation of National Bench of GST Appellate Tribunal : The Union Cabinet approved the creation of a national bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT).The GSTAT will be presided over by its president and will consist of one Technical Member (Centre) and one Technical Member (State).The bench will be located in New Delhi.The creation of GSTAT's national bench will cost one-time expenditure of Rs 92.50 lakh while the recurring expenditure will 6.86 crore per year, said Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister of Law and Justice and Electronics and Information Technology.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. ISRO’s first mission of 2019 to put military satellite Microsat-R in space : The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch a students' satellite Kalamsat and an imaging satellite Microsat-R from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota today.The national space agency's workhorse rocket, PSLV C44, carrying the satellites, is scheduled for liftoff at 11:27 pm.Kalamsat is a payload developed by students and Chennai based Space Kidz India for the first time.