Daily GK Updates - 30th April, 2019

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. US Withdraws from UN Arms Trade Treaty: US President Donald Trump stated that his administration is withdrawing the U.S. signature from the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, in response to concerns from gun rights activists that it could impinge on Americans’ right to bear arms. The treaty seeks to regulate international trade in conventional arms, including everything from tanks to small arms, specifically looking to “prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional arms and prevent their diversion.”

2. Nirmala Sitharaman attends SCO Defence Ministers' conclave at Bishkek: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' conclave (16th) at Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. During the conclave, ways to further boost defence and security cooperation among the member countries in the wake of evolving security challenges in the region were discussed. India is keen on deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure, which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence.

3. South Korea set to hold ASEAN maritime drills: A two-part maritime exercise by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its partnering countries is slated to start in South Korea's port city of Busan. The exercise aims to counter maritime crime, including illicit transactions of weapons and other banned items. The drills are scheduled to take place from 29 April to 2 May in South Korea, following which they will be held in Singapore from May 9 to May 13. The maritime exercise involves 18 countries of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting plus six other countries are slated to send military personnel. Naval forces from India, Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States are scheduled to practice rescuing ships hijacked by armed groups, amongst other maritime security operations.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Bajrang Punia To Become 1st Indian Wrestler to Fight at Madison Square Garden: Bajrang Punia is set to become the first wrestler from India to fight at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York. The 25-year-old has recently won the gold medal in the 65-kg category at the ongoing Asian Wrestling Championships. He is the first Indian wrestler to be invited by the American governing body. Punia will take part in the "Grapple at the Garden - Beat the Streets" fight night. 

2. WFI recommends Bajrang, Vinesh for Khel Ratna: The Wrestling Federation of India recommended Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat for the country's highest sporting honour the Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna award.  Bajrang (World no. 1) stamped his authority at the Asian Championship in Xi'an, China by clinching a gold medal in the men's 65kg freestyle event. Vinesh (24-year-old) won a bronze at the recent Asian Championship but considering that she fought in a new weight category of 53kg, it was seen as a good achievement. In 2018, Vinesh became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Games. WFI has also recommended names of Rahul Aware, Harpreet Singh, Divya Kakran and Pooja Dhanda for the Arjuna award.

3. Asian Wrestling Championship 2019 Concludes: India Finishes with 16 Medals, Iran Tops: India wrapped up their campaign at the Asian Wrestling Championships on a resounding note with 16 medals (1 Gold, 3 Silver & 4 Bronze) after Harpreet Singh settled for a silver in 82kg on the final day of competitions. Only Bajrang Punia won the gold medal after defeating Kazakhstan’s Sayatbek Okassov by 12-7 in 65kg men’s freestyle. Asian Wrestling Championship 2019 was held at Xi’an, China.

4. Liverpool’s Van Dijk wins England’s PFA Player of the Year award: Liverpool’s centre back 'Van Dijk' (27-years) was named Player of the Year by England’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA). Van Dijk has helped the title-chasing Merseysiders keep 19 clean sheets in the Premier League and they have conceded the fewest goals in the top flight so far this season. Van Dijk is the first defender to win the award since Chelsea centre-back John Terry in 2005. Arsenal’s Dutch forward Vivianne Miedema (22-years) claimed the women’s Player of the Year award. She helped the London club secure their third Women’s Super League title with her 22nd goal of the season.

5. Indian para-athletes clinch medals at Asian Road Para-cycling championships: Indian para-athletes came up with a brilliant performance to secure a silver and two bronze medals at the Asian Road Para-cycling championships at Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Divij Shah clinched silver while Asian Para Games bronze medallist Gurlal Singh and Hand cyclist Sudhakar Marathe claimed bronze.

6. China's Ma Long captures the third world title: China’s Ma Long (30-year) captured a third ITTF-World table tennis championships completing a dream comeback after six months on the sidelines with a knee injury. He defeated Sweden's Mattias Falck 4-1 in the final. Ma Long now joins the elite club of male paddlers, who have won the Worlds singles for three consecutive times: Victor Barna and China’s Zhuang Zedong being the others. Ma Long won the Worlds crown in 2015 (Suzhou), 2017 (Dusseldorf) and 2019 at Budapest.

7. New Zealand Open Badminton tournament 2019 begins in Auckland: The 2019 New Zealand Open Badminton tournament has begun in Auckland (30 April to 5 May 2019). Ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal will be aiming to win her second title this year. She will take on China's Wang Zhiyi in the Women's Singles first round tomorrow. Parupalli Kashyap, B Sai Praneeth, HS Prannoy, Subhankar Dey and Laskshya Sen will be seen in action in the Men's section.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Wipro Acquires Philippines' Largest Personal Care Company 'Splash': Wipro Consumer Care announced that it is acquiring personal care company 'Splash', which is based in the Philippines. Splash, the largest personal care player in the Philippines, recorded revenues worth $80 million in 2018. 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. PFA Awards 2018/19 Announced: Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and Arsenal Women Football Club's Vivianne Miedema were named Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Players' Player of the Year for the 2018-19 season.

PFA Player's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dyjk, Liverpool and Vivianne Miedema, Arsenal. PFA Young Player of the Year: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City and Georgia Stanway, Manchester City. PFA Special Achievement Award: Steph Houhgton: Former England and WBA

2. Golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar Wins Outstanding Achievement As a Player Award: Arjuna awardee and star Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar won the outstanding achievement as a player award at the fourth edition of the annual India Golf Industry Association (GIA) awards at the Delhi Golf Club. The GIA awards were held along with the 8th India Golf & Turf Expo (IGTE), South Asia's largest golf trade show. 

DEFENCE

1. India 4th Biggest Military Spender in 2018: SIPRI Report: India was the world’s fourth biggest military spender in 2018 behind the United States, China, and Saudi Arabia, according to new data think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). India was the fifth largest military spender in 2017. According to the SIPRI data, China was the second-largest military spender in 2018. India accounts for 3.7% of the global defence spending. 

2. GRSE To Build 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Watercraft For Indian Navy: The Defence Ministry has awarded a contract of worth Rs 6,311 croreto Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) to build eight anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft (ASWSWC) for the Indian Navy. As per the agreement, the first ship is to be delivered within 42 months from the date of signing of the contract and subsequently, two ships are required to be delivered per year. 

OBITUARIES

1. Youngest Best Director Oscar Nominee John Singleton Passes Away: John Singleton, an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker has passed away following complications from a stroke. He was best known for directing "Boyz N the Hood". Singleton became the first black filmmaker nominated for a Best Director Oscarfor his debut feature from 1991, "Boys N The Hood." He was only 24 at the time.

Daily GK Updates - 29th April, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Cultural Festival held in Guwahati City: South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) of Ministry of Culture, Government of India has organized a Madhya Dakshini Festival 2019 (from 25 to 28 April 2019) in four venues of Guwahati. The festival is being celebrated in collaboration with North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) in four venues of Guwahati. Around 100 folk artists from Central India, states from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Andra Pradesh have performed vibrant and colourful folk dances showing the rich cultural heritage of India.

2. "Orange Alert" issued in Gujarat due to heat wave conditions: The Gujarat health department has issued an 'Orange Alert' for two-days as the temperatures are likely to touch 44 degrees. All state’s bus stands and the municipal corporation has made arrangement for water at multiple points. Meteorological Centre (MC) Ahmedabad released warning for a heat wave in multiple regions of Gujarat for the next 48 hours.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sri Lankan govt bans two terror outfits NTJ, JMI following serial blasts: Sri Lankan President Maithripala ‘Sirisena’ has decided to ban the two fundamentalist terror networks National Thawheed Jamath (NJT) and Jamathei Milathu Ibrahim (JMI) linked with last attacks. The organizations have been banned under emergency provisions, which were imposed on 23rd after the attacks. All activities of those organizations as well as their property will be seized by the government. Earlier, NJT was named behind suicide attacks last Sunday which killed over 250 people including 42 foreigners. Over 100 suspects linked to the organizations have been taken into custody as a countrywide crackdown on the organizations continues.

2. China removes BRI map that showed J&K, Arunachal Pradesh as part of India: A map hosted on Chinese government’s MOFCOM (Ministry of Commerce’s website) displaying routes under China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative at odds with China’s own stand on these areas. Though India is boycotting the second Belt and Road Forum taking place in Beijing, the map also incorrectly showed India to be part of the BRI. The map did not clearly distinguish Pakistan Occupied Kashmir which is a core part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The display of the map on a prominent Chinese government site at a time when the Second Belt and Road Forum is ongoing is at odds with China’s stance.

3. UN and EU sign agreement to strengthen partnership in Counter-Terrorism Efforts: The United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) have signed a joint framework aimed at strengthening partnership in counter-terrorism efforts. The UN-EU initiative will focus on terrorism and violent extremism prevention in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as support victims and promote the reintegration of terrorism offenders.

4. International Dance Day is being observed today: International Dance Day is being observed globally on 29th April, created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI). The day strives to encourage participation and education in dance through events and festivals held on the date all over the world. The event takes place every year on 29th April on the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810), the creator of modern ballet. Every year (since its creation in 1982) an outstanding dance personality is selected to write a message for International Dance Day.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Japan's Kento Momota retains his Badminton Asia Championship: Japanese player Kento Momota (World number one) retained his Badminton Asia Championships title in Shanghai. He defeated Shi Yuqi (China) 21-12, 11-11, 21-18. Yamaguchi won the women's crown with an emphatic victory over home player He Bingjiao 21-19, 21-9.

2. Claire Polosak To Become First Female Umpire In Men's ODI: Australia's Claire Polosak (31-year) has become the first female umpire to stand in a men's one-day international (ODI) at the ICC World Cricket League Division Two match. Polosak has already stood in 15 women's ODIs, the first one in November 2016 between Australia and South Africa. She has also umpired the semi-final of the Women's T20 World Cup in 2018 between England and India and four matches at the 2017 Women's World Cup. Polosak has already blazed a trail -- she was the first woman to stand in a men's domestic fixture in Australia in her first List A match in Australia in 2017.

3. ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup 2019 Concludes: India Finishes Top: India ended their campaign at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup with a total of four medals, three golds and a silver. China was on the second position with 5 medals including 2 gold. The event was held in Beijing, China. Divyansh Panwar and Anjum Moudgil had won the first medal for India at the Beijing ISSF World Cup after clinching gold in 10m Air Rifle Mixed event. Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Choudhary won the gold medal in 10m Air Pistol Mixed event.

4. Petra Kvitova Wins Maiden Stuttgart's Porsche Grand Prix 2019: World number three tennis player Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) beat Anett Kontaveit (Estonia) to win Stuttgart's Porsche Grand Prix for her second title of the year. Kvitova is a two-time Wimbledon champion. The championship was held at Stuttgart, Germany. 

5. F1 Racer Valtteri Bottas Wins Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2019: Mercedes' Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas beat his English teammate Lewis Hamilton by 1.5 seconds to win Azerbaijan Grand Prix. With this, Mercedes became the first team to win the opening four races of an F1 season with one-two finishes. 

6. 23rd Asian Athletics Championships Concludes: Bahrain Tops, India Finishes 4th: The 2019 Asian Athletics Championships was the 23rd edition of the Asian Athletics Championships. The 4-day event was held from at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Bahrain topped the medal tally with 11 Golds followed by China (9 Gold) and Japan (5 Gold). India clinched the 4th spot with 17 total medals including 3 Gold. PU Chitra won gold in Women’s 1,500 metres race.

7. Dominic Thiem Wins Barcelona Open 2019: Dominic Thiem (Austria) won the Barcelona Open 2019 after defeating Daniil Medvedev (Russia). The Austrian became just the fourth player in the past 15 years to lift the title in Barcelona, joining Rafael Nadal, Kei Nishikori and Fernando Verdasco. Dominic Thiem is also the first Austrian winner at this event since Thomas Muster in 1996. Thiem now has 13 ATP Tour titles, nine of which have come on clay.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SBI launches Green Car Loan: State Bank of India announced the country’s first ‘Green Car Loan’ (Electric Vehicle) to encourage customers to buy electric vehicles. The new scheme will offer loan at 20 basis points lesser than the interest rate on the existing car loan schemes. The EMI per ₹1 lakh will be lower at ₹1,468 for 96 months against ₹1,622 for 84 months, based on the maximum tenor, in line with the existing scheme.

2. SEBI reduces minimum net worth requirements for clearing corp in IFSC: SEBI has reduced the minimum required level for clearing corporations operating in international financial services centre (IFSC). They should have at least Rs 100 crore net worth from three years of commencing operations. This net worth requirement in the form of liquid assets has been brought down from the earlier Rs 300 crore. However, the minimum net worth required to be held in liquid assets for clearing corporations on the commencement of operations remains the same as Rs 50 crore.

3. IRDAI Forms Panel to Review Microinsurance Framework: Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has set up a 13 member committee under IRDAI Executive Director Suresh Mathur to review the regulatory framework on microinsurance & recommend measures to increase the demand for such products. The committee has been formed in the backdrop of a less-than-desired offtake of microinsurance products despite their inherent benefits.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Indian Footballer Pungam Kannan Passed Away: Former India footballer Pungam Kannan passes away at age 80 years. Kannan played 14 matches for India & was the former Mohun Bagan & East Bengal forward. He won Santosh Trophy for Bengal twice in a row (1971-73) and was the top-scorer. He was known as the ‘Pele of Asia’. 

Daily GK Updates - 28th April, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Red Alert for Tamil Nadu as Cyclone Fani may land on 30th April: Meteorological department in Chennai issues a warning that a low-pressure system south of the ‘Bay of Bengal’ would turn into a cyclonic storm which has been named ‘Fani’. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’ in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for 30th April and 1st May 2019. A 'yellow alert' has been issued for Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Malappuram on 29th April 2019.

2. ICMR Launches Malaria Elimination Research Alliance: The Indian Council of Medical Research has launched the ‘Malaria Elimination Research Alliance (MERA) India which is a conglomeration of partners working on malaria control in order to eliminate the disease from India by 2030. The National Vector Borne Diseases Control Program (NVBDCP) of India has also developed a comprehensive framework to achieve the target of “Malaria free India by 2030”.

3. Indian Army Inks MoU with NHPC to Build Tunnels on China, Pakistan Borders: Indian Army signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited, to build four underground tunnels along China and Pakistan borders for storage of ammunition and other war-related equipment. Three tunnels will be built along the Chinese border and one tunnel will be built along the Pakistan border. The tunnel can store 175-200 metric tonnes of ammunition and the cost of this pilot project is around Rs 15 crore.

4. CPWD Constitutes 8-member Committee To Chart Out Design Policy: The Central Works Public Department (CPWD) has constituted an expert committee to formulate a design policy for building construction and infrastructure development.  The committee has been set up under the chairmanship of CPWD's Additional Director General M K Sharma. The move is aimed at reviving building construction and infrastructure development at all levels in the CPWD which comes under the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.The committee has been asked to submit its report to Director General Prabhakar Singh within 30 days.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sri Lanka suspends visa on arrival programme after serial blasts: According to Sri Lankan tourism ministry, Sri Lankan Govt. suspended plans to grant visa on arrival to citizens of 39 countries after the recent bombings in which 359 people were killed. Sri Lankan government did not want the facility to be misused as investigations found foreign links to the attacks on Easter. Last month, Sri Lanka had announced the plan to allow visa-free entry to tourists from 39 countries, including European Union members, Australia and the United States, during the low season from 1st May (not include China and India).

2. UAE based Etihad Airways becomes the first major airline to operate the plastic-free flight: UAE based flag carrier ’Etihad Airways’ has become the first major airline in the Gulf region to operate a flight without any single-use plastics on board. The objective is to raise awareness about pollution on Earth. The first flight named ‘EY484’ (without use of plastics) landed in Brisbane, Australia. Etihad Airways has pledged to reduce single-use plastic usage by 80% across the entire organization by the end of 2022.

3. NASA's InSight detects first likely 'quake' on Mars:  US space agency NASA's robotic Mars InSight lander has recorded a likely marsquake for the first time ever.  This is the first recorded trembling that appears to have come from inside the planet, as opposed to being caused by forces above the surface, such as wind. Scientists still are examining the data to determine the exact cause of the signal.

4. World Veterinary Day: 27 April: The World Veterinary Day 2019 is observed on 27th April. It is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of veterinarians to the health of animals and society. The theme for the day is the “Value of Vaccination”. The day is initiated by the World Veterinary Association.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Jhulan Goswami wins CSJS award for best sportsperson of 2018: Former captain of India national women’s cricket team ‘Jhulan Goswami’ awarded the “Sportsperson of the Year” at the Calcutta Sports Journalists’ club (CSJC) in Kolkata, West Bengal. Sukumar Samajpati (former India winger) and Sambaran Banerjee (Bengal’s Ranji Trophy winning captain) honoured ‘Lifetime Achievement’ awards.

 2. India bags one gold, two silver medals at Asian Boxing Championship: India bagged one gold and two silver medals at the Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok. Boxer Amit Panghal picked up his second successive gold medal of the year in the 52-kilogram category. Panghal defeated Korea's Kim Inkyu Korea. National champion Deepak Singh and Kavinder Singh Bisht in 56 kg category signed off with silver medals after close losses.  Deepak lost to Mirzahmedov of Uzbekistan while Bisht was also defeated by an Uzbek.

3. Pankaj Advani wins inaugural Asian Snooker Tour title: India's Pankaj Advani defeated Ehsan Heydari Nezhad of Iran 6-4 to claim the inaugural Asian Snooker Tour title. The Indian had earlier defeated Aung Phyo of Myanmar in the semifinal. Advani had earlier won the second leg of the Tour in China.

4. ISSF World Cup: Abhishek Verma Wins Gold In 10m Air Pistol: Abhishek Verma won the 10m air pistol gold medal at the ISSF World Cup at Beijing, China. He clinched the top spot with a total score of 242.7.  Russia's Artem Chernousov took silver. His brilliant performance in the Shooting World Cup Final also secured a fifth Olympic quota for India.

5.  Asian Boxing Championships: India Wins 13 Medals: India won 13 medals, including 2 gold, 4 silver, and 7 bronze at the Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok. Boxers Pooja Rani and Amit Panghal gave India 2 gold medals.  While the men won 1 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze, the women bagged 1 gold, 1 silver, and 4 bronze medals.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Siddhartha Mohanty takes over as COO of LIC Housing Finance: LIC Housing Finance appointed Siddhartha Mohanty as its chief operating officer. Prior to taking over as the position, he was executive director with LIC of India. Mohanty started his career as a direct recruit officer with LIC of India in 1985 and has risen through the ranks to this senior position.

2. Aegon Life Insurance has collaborated with MobiKwik to launch a smart digital insurance product: Digital financial services company ‘Mobikwik’ collaborated with Aegon Life Insurance (pioneer of digital insurance in India) to launch a Rs 20 smart digital insurance product. The main objective for this initiative is to improve the insurance penetration in India (currently at 3.7%) that is to drive financial inclusion for the masses. The company has created 3 variants of the amount assured between Rs. 1 lakh, Rs.1.5 lakh and Rs. 2 lakhs at no extra cost. The insurance product launched is termed as the Aegon Life Group Term Plus Plan.

3. Bimal Jalan panel on RBI's capital size to submit the report by June: A high-level panel led by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan, set up to decide the appropriate capital reserves that the central bank should maintain, is likely to submit its report by June. The six-member Jalan panel was appointed on December 26, 2018, to review the Economic Capital Framework for the RBI. The committee was to submit its report in 90 days from the first day of its meeting, which was held on January 8. The panel has got an extension beyond its three-month term.

4. RBI Introduces ₹ 20 Banknote In Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series: The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue ₹ 20 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, bearing the signature of Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India. The new denomination has the motif of Ellora Caves on the reverse, depicting the country's cultural heritage. The base colour of the note is Greenish Yellow. The dimension of the banknote will be 63 mm x 129 mm.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Microsoft Becomes World’s Third Company To Be Worth $1 Trillion: Microsoft has reached a valuation of one trillion dollars for the first time after posting an increase in profits. It makes the software giant only the third publicly-traded company in history to reach the threshold after Apple and Amazon passed it in 2018. Microsoft’s current valuation also means that it has again taken over Apple as the world’s most valuable company.

HONOURS AND AWARDS

1. Pakistan’s ‘Dawn’ journalist Cyril Almeida named IPI’s World Press Freedom Hero: The International Press Institute has declared Cyril Almeida (Dawn editor and columnist in Pakistan) the recipient of its 71^st  World Press Freedom Hero award. The institute lauded Almeida for his ‘tenacious coverage of the Pakistani state’s patronage of militant groups’. The awards will be presented in a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland on 5^th June 2019. Almeida is a Rhodes scholar with a law degree from Oxford University.

2. Salim, Helen and Bhandarkar get Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2019: The prestigious Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2019 was awarded to Madhur Bhandarkar (National Award-winning filmmaker), Salim Khan (scriptwriter) and Helen (dancing diva). This year, the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award for music and art has been given to classical dancer Sucheta Bhide-Chapekar. Anandmayee Puraskar was given to Pandit Suresh Talwalkar of Taalyogi Ashram. The event was organized by Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan charitable trust, Pune.

3. Rana Dasgupta Wins 2019 Tagore Literary Prize: The second edition of Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize was awarded to author Rana Dasgupta for his 2010 novel “Solo“, a tale of estrangement and the ultimate failure of material existence. The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize for social achievement was awarded to Yohei Sasakawa, for “his incredible efforts to uproot leprosy and great contribution to world peace”.

OBITUARIES

1. Mark Medoff, the writer of 'Children of a Lesser God' passes away: Mark Medoff (79-years) passed away in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Medoff wrote 30 plays and is best known for the groundbreaking Children of a Lesser God, the story of a young deaf woman and her love affair with her speech teacher.

2. Terry Rawlings, British Film Editor Passes Away:  Terry Rawlings, a British film and sound editor has passed away. He was an Oscar nominee for his work on Best Picture winner “Chariots of Fire”. He was born in 1933.  The 5-time BAFTA nominee also received a career achievement award from the American Cinema Editors society in 2006.

Daily GK Updates - 27th April, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Red Alert for Tamil Nadu as Cyclone Fani may land on 30th April: Meteorological department in Chennai issues a warning that a low-pressure system south of the ‘Bay of Bengal’ would turn into a cyclonic storm which has been named ‘Fani’. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’ in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for 30th April and 1st May 2019. A 'yellow alert' has been issued for Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Malappuram on 29th April 2019.

2. ICMR Launches Malaria Elimination Research Alliance: The Indian Council of Medical Research has launched the ‘Malaria Elimination Research Alliance (MERA) India which is a conglomeration of partners working on malaria control in order to eliminate the disease from India by 2030. The National Vector Borne Diseases Control Program (NVBDCP) of India has also developed a comprehensive framework to achieve the target of “Malaria free India by 2030”.

3. Indian Army Inks MoU with NHPC to Build Tunnels on China, Pakistan Borders: Indian Army signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited, to build four underground tunnels along China and Pakistan borders for storage of ammunition and other war-related equipment. Three tunnels will be built along the Chinese border and one tunnel will be built along the Pakistan border. The tunnel can store 175-200 metric tonnes of ammunition and the cost of this pilot project is around Rs 15 crore.

4. CPWD Constitutes 8-member Committee To Chart Out Design Policy: The Central Works Public Department (CPWD) has constituted an expert committee to formulate a design policy for building construction and infrastructure development.  The committee has been set up under the chairmanship of CPWD's Additional Director General M K Sharma. The move is aimed at reviving building construction and infrastructure development at all levels in the CPWD which comes under the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.The committee has been asked to submit its report to Director General Prabhakar Singh within 30 days.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sri Lanka suspends visa on arrival programme after serial blasts: According to Sri Lankan tourism ministry, Sri Lankan Govt. suspended plans to grant visa on arrival to citizens of 39 countries after the recent bombings in which 359 people were killed. Sri Lankan government did not want the facility to be misused as investigations found foreign links to the attacks on Easter. Last month, Sri Lanka had announced the plan to allow visa-free entry to tourists from 39 countries, including European Union members, Australia and the United States, during the low season from 1st May (not include China and India).

2. UAE based Etihad Airways becomes the first major airline to operate the plastic-free flight: UAE based flag carrier ’Etihad Airways’ has become the first major airline in the Gulf region to operate a flight without any single-use plastics on board. The objective is to raise awareness about pollution on Earth. The first flight named ‘EY484’ (without use of plastics) landed in Brisbane, Australia. Etihad Airways has pledged to reduce single-use plastic usage by 80% across the entire organization by the end of 2022.

3. NASA's InSight detects first likely 'quake' on Mars:  US space agency NASA's robotic Mars InSight lander has recorded a likely marsquake for the first time ever.  This is the first recorded trembling that appears to have come from inside the planet, as opposed to being caused by forces above the surface, such as wind. Scientists still are examining the data to determine the exact cause of the signal.

4. World Veterinary Day: 27 April: The World Veterinary Day 2019 is observed on 27th April. It is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of veterinarians to the health of animals and society. The theme for the day is the “Value of Vaccination”. The day is initiated by the World Veterinary Association.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Jhulan Goswami wins CSJS award for best sportsperson of 2018: Former captain of India national women’s cricket team ‘Jhulan Goswami’ awarded the “Sportsperson of the Year” at the Calcutta Sports Journalists’ club (CSJC) in Kolkata, West Bengal. Sukumar Samajpati (former India winger) and Sambaran Banerjee (Bengal’s Ranji Trophy winning captain) honoured ‘Lifetime Achievement’ awards.

 2. India bags one gold, two silver medals at Asian Boxing Championship: India bagged one gold and two silver medals at the Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok. Boxer Amit Panghal picked up his second successive gold medal of the year in the 52-kilogram category. Panghal defeated Korea's Kim Inkyu Korea. National champion Deepak Singh and Kavinder Singh Bisht in 56 kg category signed off with silver medals after close losses.  Deepak lost to Mirzahmedov of Uzbekistan while Bisht was also defeated by an Uzbek.

3. Pankaj Advani wins inaugural Asian Snooker Tour title: India's Pankaj Advani defeated Ehsan Heydari Nezhad of Iran 6-4 to claim the inaugural Asian Snooker Tour title. The Indian had earlier defeated Aung Phyo of Myanmar in the semifinal. Advani had earlier won the second leg of the Tour in China.

4. ISSF World Cup: Abhishek Verma Wins Gold In 10m Air Pistol: Abhishek Verma won the 10m air pistol gold medal at the ISSF World Cup at Beijing, China. He clinched the top spot with a total score of 242.7.  Russia's Artem Chernousov took silver. His brilliant performance in the Shooting World Cup Final also secured a fifth Olympic quota for India.

5.  Asian Boxing Championships: India Wins 13 Medals: India won 13 medals, including 2 gold, 4 silver, and 7 bronze at the Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok. Boxers Pooja Rani and Amit Panghal gave India 2 gold medals.  While the men won 1 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze, the women bagged 1 gold, 1 silver, and 4 bronze medals.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Siddhartha Mohanty takes over as COO of LIC Housing Finance: LIC Housing Finance appointed Siddhartha Mohanty as its chief operating officer. Prior to taking over as the position, he was executive director with LIC of India. Mohanty started his career as a direct recruit officer with LIC of India in 1985 and has risen through the ranks to this senior position.

2. Aegon Life Insurance has collaborated with MobiKwik to launch a smart digital insurance product: Digital financial services company ‘Mobikwik’ collaborated with Aegon Life Insurance (pioneer of digital insurance in India) to launch a Rs 20 smart digital insurance product. The main objective for this initiative is to improve the insurance penetration in India (currently at 3.7%) that is to drive financial inclusion for the masses. The company has created 3 variants of the amount assured between Rs. 1 lakh, Rs.1.5 lakh and Rs. 2 lakhs at no extra cost. The insurance product launched is termed as the Aegon Life Group Term Plus Plan.

3. Bimal Jalan panel on RBI's capital size to submit the report by June: A high-level panel led by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan, set up to decide the appropriate capital reserves that the central bank should maintain, is likely to submit its report by June. The six-member Jalan panel was appointed on December 26, 2018, to review the Economic Capital Framework for the RBI. The committee was to submit its report in 90 days from the first day of its meeting, which was held on January 8. The panel has got an extension beyond its three-month term.

4. RBI Introduces ₹ 20 Banknote In Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series: The Reserve Bank of India will shortly issue ₹ 20 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series, bearing the signature of Shri Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India. The new denomination has the motif of Ellora Caves on the reverse, depicting the country's cultural heritage. The base colour of the note is Greenish Yellow. The dimension of the banknote will be 63 mm x 129 mm.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Microsoft Becomes World’s Third Company To Be Worth $1 Trillion: Microsoft has reached a valuation of one trillion dollars for the first time after posting an increase in profits. It makes the software giant only the third publicly-traded company in history to reach the threshold after Apple and Amazon passed it in 2018. Microsoft’s current valuation also means that it has again taken over Apple as the world’s most valuable company.

HONOURS AND AWARDS

1. Pakistan’s ‘Dawn’ journalist Cyril Almeida named IPI’s World Press Freedom Hero: The International Press Institute has declared Cyril Almeida (Dawn editor and columnist in Pakistan) the recipient of its 71^st  World Press Freedom Hero award. The institute lauded Almeida for his ‘tenacious coverage of the Pakistani state’s patronage of militant groups’. The awards will be presented in a ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland on 5^th June 2019. Almeida is a Rhodes scholar with a law degree from Oxford University.

2. Salim, Helen and Bhandarkar get Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2019: The prestigious Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award 2019 was awarded to Madhur Bhandarkar (National Award-winning filmmaker), Salim Khan (scriptwriter) and Helen (dancing diva). This year, the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award for music and art has been given to classical dancer Sucheta Bhide-Chapekar. Anandmayee Puraskar was given to Pandit Suresh Talwalkar of Taalyogi Ashram. The event was organized by Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan charitable trust, Pune.

3. Rana Dasgupta Wins 2019 Tagore Literary Prize: The second edition of Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize was awarded to author Rana Dasgupta for his 2010 novel “Solo“, a tale of estrangement and the ultimate failure of material existence. The Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize for social achievement was awarded to Yohei Sasakawa, for “his incredible efforts to uproot leprosy and great contribution to world peace”.

OBITUARIES

1. Mark Medoff, the writer of 'Children of a Lesser God' passes away: Mark Medoff (79-years) passed away in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Medoff wrote 30 plays and is best known for the groundbreaking Children of a Lesser God, the story of a young deaf woman and her love affair with her speech teacher.

2. Terry Rawlings, British Film Editor Passes Away:  Terry Rawlings, a British film and sound editor has passed away. He was an Oscar nominee for his work on Best Picture winner “Chariots of Fire”. He was born in 1933.  The 5-time BAFTA nominee also received a career achievement award from the American Cinema Editors society in 2006.

Daily GK Updates - 26th April, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India extends a ban on import of Chinese milk products: The Union government has extended the ban on import of milk and its products, including chocolates, from China.  Food regulator FSSAI had recommended extending the ban until all labs at ports are modernised to test the chemical. The ban was first imposed in September 2008 and extended subsequently from time to time. The ban was imposed on apprehensions of the presence of melamine in some milk consignments from China. Melamine is a toxic chemical used for making plastics and fertilisers.

2. Maruti will stop making diesel cars from April 2020: According to the country’s largest car maker Maruti, it will phase out diesel cars from its line-up from April 2020. The reason of stopping is higher manufacturing cost on account of stricter BS6 emission norms that would make diesel vehicles significantly expensive for customers, pricing them out of the market. For Maruti, the share of diesel variants is 23% in total sales that stood at 17.5 lakh units last fiscal. In the just-ended 2018-19 fiscal. Currently, Maruti offers diesel on as many as eight models, with two of them ‘the Brezza’ and ‘S-Cross SUVs’ ‘carrying it exclusively (there’s no petrol variant currently).

3. HUDCO celebrates its 49th Foundation Day: Dr. M. Ravi Kanth (CMD, HUDCO) has inaugurated the 49th Foundation Day celebrations of HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation) at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The HUDCO Design Awards for innovative design solutions for disaster resistant housing, conservation of heritage, green buildings and landscape planning & design were also presented on the occasion.

4. Former Army Chief Dalbir Suhag appointed Indian envoy to Seychelles: Former Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag has been appointed as India's next high commissioner to the island nation ‘Seychelles’. Seychelles is a country which is of strategic importance to India in the Indian Ocean region. General (retired) Suhag was the Army chief from 31st July 2014, to 31st December 2016. He was also part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka in 1987. India is developing Assumption Island in Seychelles as a naval base to expand its footprint in the strategically-key region where China has been trying to enhance its military presence.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Preparedness underway in Nepal: Nepal’s Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota has inaugurated the 5th Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Preparedness in Kathmandu. The theme of the two-day summit is “Media Solutions for Sustainable Future: Saving Lives, Building Resilient Communities”. Over 200 participants including political leaders, representatives of UN agencies and NGOs, climate change and disaster management experts, scientists and media persons are attending the event.

2. World Intellectual Property Day being observed: The 'World Intellectual Property Day' is observed annually on 26th April to learn about the role that intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright) play in encouraging innovation and creativity. The Day is organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This year's theme of the day is ‘Reach for Gold: IP and Sports’. What is WIPO?

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a self-funding agency of the United Nations (UN) with 191 members states. Its mission is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international intellectual property (IP) system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all.

3. World Immunization Week 2019 Observed in April: The last week of April every year is observed as World Immunization Week (WIW) in order to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. The WIW 2019 observed from 24-3oth April, carrying the theme “Protected Together: Vaccines Work”. It was observed for the very first time in 2012.

OTHER UPDATES:

HONOURS & AWARDS

 1. Benny Antony conferred with the National IP Award 2019: Benny Antony (co-founder of Kochi-based Arjuna Natural Ltd) has been honoured with the National Intellectual Property Award for 2019 in the category of Top Individual for Patents and Commercialization. Along with the National IP Award, the Intellectual Property Office India and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) have jointly conferred the ‘WIPO Medal for Inventors’ also to Antony. Antony is the inventor of the world’s leading patented turmeric extract formulation “BCM-95”. Antony has over 80 international patents to his credit.

BANKING & FINANCIAL

1. RBI gives HDFC’s proposal for holding a 9.9% stake in Bandhan Bank: The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) has granted approval to HDFC Ltdfor holding up to 9.9% stake in Bandhan Bank following the Gruh Finance deal. Gruh Finance is the housing finance arm of HDFC Ltd and was taken over in January by Bandhan Bank in a share-swap deal. The scheme is yet to get approvals from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the shareholders of Gruh Finance and Bandhan Bank. The Gruh Finance deal will decrease the stake of Bandhan FinancialHoldings Ltd in Bandhan Bank from 82% to 61%.

SPORTS

 1. Shooting: India bag two gold at ISSF World Cup: India opened its medal account with gold each in 10 metres Air Rifle Mixed Team and 10 metres Air Pistol Mixed team events on the third day of ISSF World Cup in Beijing. Young shooters 'Manu Bhaker' and 'Saurabh Chaudhary' took the top spot in the 10 metres Air Pistol Mixed Team event. Anjum Moudgil and Divyansh Singh Panwar opened the country's gold account in the 10 metres Air Rifle Mixed Team event.

2. Asian Wrestling Championships: Divya, Manju win bronze medals: India's Divya Kakran and Manju Kumari bagged bronze medals for the country in the women's competition of the Asian Wrestling Championships in Xi'an, China. Asian Games bronze-medallist Kakran defeated Battsetseg Soronzonbold of Mongolia via fall in the playoffs of the 68-kilogram category. Earlier, Manju (In 59 kg) also secured a bronze medal in the day by beating Vietnam's Thi Huong Dao 11-2

Daily GK Updates - 25th April, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. IIM-Bangalore becomes only Indian institute to feature in QS EMBA Rankings 2019: The Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore (IIM-B) has once again made a mark at the global level. The institute's post-graduate programme in Enterprise Management (PGPEM) has secured the 12th rank in APAC listing and came 61st globally in the QS Executive MBA Rankings 2019. Now, IIM-B has become the only B-school in India to be a part of top 100 B-Schools globally and top 16 in APAC, for the second

2. Jio races ahead of Airtel to become India's 2nd largest telecom company: Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio (from September 2016) is reportedly the second-largest telecom company in the country. Jio overtaken Bharti Airtel in terms of customer base and now trails only Vodafone Idea. According to a report, Jio presently has 306 million customers, Vodafone Idea continues to lead the industry with 387 million subscribers, Airtel has 284 million subscribers.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World's 1st Malaria Vaccine Launched in Africa: The world's first-ever malaria vaccine was launched in a pilot project in Africa's Malawi. The country is the first of three in Africa in which the vaccine, known as RTS,S, will be made available to children up to 2 years of age. Ghana and Kenya will introduce the vaccine soon. About 93% of the world's malaria-related deaths in 2017 occurred in Africa.

2. Kazakhstan Sets Up Coordinating Council to Attract Indian Investments: Kazakhstan has set up Coordinating Council for attracting foreign investments including from India. A decision was taken to lay down the functions of Investment Ombudsman in order to venture for new approaches to improve the investment scenario in Kazakhstan. The meeting identified the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) as a Unified Center for the coordination of work on investment and promotion of the investment image of Kazakhstan.

3. Iran, Pakistan to Set up Border 'Reaction Force': Iran and Pakistan have agreed to set up a joint border "reaction force" to combat the attacks by militant groups on both sides their frontier.  Both the nations have decided to collaborate to form the joint quick reaction force by increasing cooperation between border forces and intelligence agencies.

4. Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un hold first-ever talks in Vladivostok: Kim Jong-Un (North Korean leader) and Vladimir Putin (Russian President) meet for their first summit talks in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok. The two leaders talked about the Korean peninsula's nuclear problem. Mr Kim is believed to be seeking support after failing to reach an agreement with US President Trump on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme at Hanoi earlier this year. The situation in the Korean peninsula had stabilised somewhat in recent months and Russia intends to help in any way possible to cement that positive trend.

5. World Malaria Day: 25 April: Every year on 25 April, people around the globe observe World Malaria Day (WMD) to raise awareness and funds for the treatment and prevention of the disease.  This year, the theme for the day is “Zero malaria starts with me” and it is being hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

OTHER UPDATES: 

1. MD Karnam Sekar Appointed as IOB's New MD & CEO: Former Dena Bank MD & CEO Karnam Sekar is set to take over as the new Managing Director and CEO of Indian Overseas Bank from July 1, 2019. He will take over from R Subramaniakumar. Earlier Sekar was the MD & CEO of Dena Bank till September 2018.

2. Shri Rajendra Kumar Nayak took Over as CGDA: Shri Rajendra Kumar Nayak (Indian Defence Accounts Service - 1983 batch) took over as the 52nd Controller General of Defence Accounts. He was Additional Controller General of Defence Accounts, Defence Accounts Department (DAD), and Ministry of Defence before taking over as the CGDA.

3. Uday Kumar Varma resigns from ASSOCHAM Secretary General Post: Uday Kumar Varma resigned from the post of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM) Secretary-General. He had succeeded D S Rawat who held the position for nearly 14 years. Currently, Assocham Deputy Secretary-General Saurabh Sanyal is the interim secretary general.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI Becomes The First APAC Central Bank to Begin Interest Rate Easing Cycle: The Reserve Bank of India has become the first central bank in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to begin an explicit interest rate easing cycle. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, cut rates in February and April. In the four months of 2019, the RBI has cut policy interest rates twice by 0.25% each to a one-year low of 6%. This is the first back-to-back rate cut since the MPC was formed in late 2016.

2. Kotak Bank Launches Debit Card-Based e-mandate On NPCI’s API Platform: Kotak Mahindra Bank (Kotak) has launched the first debit card-based authentication solution on NPCI’s (National Payments Corporation of India) e-Mandate (electronic mandate) API (Application Program Interface) platform. With this, it has become the first ever Destination Bank to go live with both Net Banking and Debit Card-based e-mandate authentication.

3. IndusInd Bank Receives NCLT Approval for Merger with Bharat Financial Inclusion: National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the merger of private sector lender IndusInd Bank with Bharat Financial Inclusion (BFIL), a microfinance company. Earlier, IndusInd Bank had received ‘No Objection’ from Reserve Bank of India, National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange. Bharat Financial will become a subsidiary of the private lender.

4. SEBI Reduces Minimum Subscription Requirement for REITs, InvITs: Markets regulator SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has reduced the minimum subscription requirement as well as defined trading lots for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs). SEBI has also increased the leverage limit for InvITs from 49% to 70%.

5. BuyUcoin Introduces First Indian Platform for Wholesale Cryptocurrency Trading: BuyUcoin, second oldest Cryptocurrency Exchange in India, has introduced a new and unique platform for wholesale cryptocurrency trading.  It is also known as OTC (Over-the-counter) Desk that allows users to trade on a large scale with low price fluctuations.

6. RBI Sells Entire Stake in NHB, NABARD to Government for INR 1,470 crore: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has divested its entire stake held in National Housing Bank (NHB), and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to the government, which now holds 100% stakes in these financial institutions. According to an RBI press release, it is based on the recommendation of the second Narasimham Committee. The transactions were completed in February (NABARD) and March (NHB). The RBI sold the entire stake worth 20 crore rupees in NABARD and 1,450 crore rupees in NHB in the last quarter of 2018-19.

7. RBI to buy Rs 25,000 crore of bonds in two installments via OMO in May: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plans to buy Rs 25,000 crore worth of bonds in two installments from the secondary market in May. The first such open market operations (OMO) for the fiscal year 2019-20, amounting to Rs 12,500 crore, will happen on 2nd May 2019. This is despite the central bank buying bonds worth Rs 3 trillion in the last fiscal year and infusing another about Rs 70,000 crore through two-dollar swaps. In the OMO, the central bank would be buying bonds maturing between 2020 and 2032, it said in its notification.

SPORTS

1. Asian Athletics Championships - India Finishes Fourth: Asian Athletics Championships 2019 held at Doha in Qatar. It was the 23rd edition of the Championships. India ended at the fourth spot in the medals tally with 3 Gold, 7 Silver and 7 Bronze. Bahrain topped the table with 11 Gold, 7 Silver and 4 Bronze. China was second while Japanwas third. Tejinder Pal Singh Toor (Shot put), Gomathi Marimuthu(800 metres) and P. U. Chitra (1500 metres) won gold for India. India had won 29 medals - 12 Gold, 5 Silver and 12 Bronze in the last edition in Bhubaneswar in 2017, topping the medal tally for the first time.