Daily GK Updates - 22nd October, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Culture Minister launches E-Portal, YouTube Channel of CCRT: Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (IC), Prahlad Singh Patel launched the E-Portal of Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) ‘Digital Bharat Digital Sanskriti’ and CCRT YouTube Channel in New Delhi. For this initiative, CCRT has tied up with Routes 2 Roots, an NGO, for connecting seamlessly all the CCRT Regional Centres i.e., Guwahati, Udaipur and Hyderabad. On this Occasion Union Minister also released a film ‘Rahas’ directed by Sunil Shukla. Rahas is basically Raaslila of Chhattisgarh. Subsequently, he released a book “Dewas ki Sanskritik Parampara” written by  Jeewan Singh Thakur.

Note: Director of CCRT: Rishi Kumar Vashist; CCRT Established: 1979.

2. World’s highest battlefield ‘Siachen glacier’ opens for tourism: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has announced that the Siachen Glacier (the world’s highest battlefield) is now open for tourism. The decision comes months after declaring Ladakh as a Union Territory. This is the first time that the area has been opened by the army for tourists. Now, you can travel from the Siachen Base Camp (altitude of 12,000 feet) to Kumar Post. The Siachen Glacier is on the eastern Karakoram Range in the Himalayas.

Note: The Siachen Glacier at the height of around 20,000 ft in the Karakoram range is known as the highest militarised zone in the world where the soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds. The Glacier came under the strategic control of India in 1984 following ‘Operation Meghdoot’.

3. Delhi becomes the first Asian city to get public transport feature from Uber: American multinational ridesharing company Uber has launched its public transport service in Delhi. With this feature, Uber users in Delhi would be able to use the public transport option that will appear on the app. Once the users use this option, Uber will show the best three routes for using metro or bus in the city. Uber has tied up with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the new service. Uber will show end-to-end directions from point A to point B.

4. WB Govt to invest Rs 540 Cr for infrastructural development of Calcutta Leather Complex: The West Bengal Government has decided to invest Rs 540 Cr for infrastructural development of Calcutta Leather Complex (renamed as Karmadiganta) situated at Bantala in South 24 Parganas District. The Karmadiganta complex is considered Asia’s first integrated leather complex. The West Bengal Government is aiming to raise the target to Rs 30,000 Cr in the next five years. At present, 385 tanneries and 40 leather Goods units are operational. The tanneries from Kolkata, Kanpur and Chennai are being shifted to the leather complex to take advantage of modern infrastructure.

5. NCRB releases Crime in India Report 2017: National Crime Records Bureau has released the annual “Crime in India Report 2017”. The report has been released after a delay of 2 years.

Key findings of the report are:

According to the report, 3.59 lakh cases of crime against women were reported in the country. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 56,011 cases followed by Maharashtra with 31,979 cases and West Bengal 30,002 in cases of crime against women. Majority of cases under crimes against women were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or his Relatives’ (27.9%) followed by ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (21.7%), ‘Kidnapping & Abduction of Women’ (20.5%) and ‘Rape’ (7.0%).

The NCRB report also cited 58,880 incidents of rioting in 2017. Maximum incidents of rioting were reported from Bihar (11,698), followed by Uttar Pradesh (8,990) and Maharashtra (7,743).

The incidents registered under the Scheduled Caste Prevention of Atrocities Act saw an increase from 5,082 incidents reported in 2016 to 5,775 in 2017.

The NCRB for the first time collected data on circulation of “false/fake news and rumours”. Under the category, maximum incidents were reported from Madhya Pradesh (138) followed by Uttar Pradesh (32) and Kerala (18).

A total of 28,653 murder cases were registered across the country in 2017 and enmity cited as the maximum triggers for such murders. Among Union Territories, Delhi recorded the most murder cases in 2017 at 487.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India-Bangladesh Stakeholders’ Meet begins in Guwahati: Today, India-Bangladesh Stakeholders’ Meet begins in Guwahati with trade and connectivity high on the agenda. A 70-member delegation from Bangladesh, including two Central ministers and two advisors of the Prime Minister, are participating in the meet. A similar top-level team from India, including Union ministers, will represent the host nation. The idea of the meet is to put Assam at the centre point of India’s trade expansion with ASEAN and Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal or BBN countries. Country’s first International multi-model hub will be set up at Jogighopa in Assam at a cost of 600 crore rupees.

2. China signs deal to lease ‘Tulagi’ island: A Chinese company has signed an agreement to lease an entire island in the Solomon Islands. Tulagi, an island about two square kilometres (0.8 square miles) with a population of 1,200. It is the site of a former Japanese naval base and was the scene of fierce fighting in World War II. The agreement with China Sam mentions developing a refinery on the island, but its potential for dual use as a Chinese military base is certain to raise concerns with the United States and Australia.

3. United Nations WFP launches ‘Feed Our Future’ cinema ad campaign: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a cinema advertisement campaign ‘Feed Our Future’ to raise awareness and take steps against hunger and malnutrition in India. This programme held in Facebooks Mumbai office, Maharashtra with support from UFO Moviez India Limited and Indian digital cinema distribution network. The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization committed to saving lives in emergencies and changing lives through sustainable development. In India, WFP has been working in partnership with the Government for more than 50 years to contribute to its efforts to achieve food and nutrition security.

Note:  Executive Director of WFP: David Beasley; Formed: 19 December 1961; Headquarters: Rome, Italy.

4. The 18th NAM Summit to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan: The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit has been scheduled to be held between 25 October and 26 October 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The 18th NAM summit 2019 will be preceded by Ministerial meetings and senior official meetings. The 18th Summit Conference of the NAM will be hosted by H.E. Mr Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Nepal PM Oli and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina will be attending the summit. The Non-Alignment Movement was founded in 1961. India is a founding member of the NAM summit. NAM was based on Bandung principles that were adopted at the Belgrade Summit, an Afro-Asian Conference, in 1955. The movement worked towards the attainment of independence for many countries. The principles of non-alignment constitute one of the basic tenets of Nepal’s foreign policy NAM. The 17th NAM Summit was held in 2016 at the Island of Margarita, Venezuela.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Raunak Sadhwani becomes India’s 65th Grandmaster: Raunak Sadhwani has becomes India’s 65th Grandmaster. He defeated Russian GM Alexander Motylev to become the Grandmaster at the age of 13 years, 9 months and 28 days. Sadhwani’s first GM norm came in the 2019 Aeroflot Open and the 2nd in the 2019 Porticcio Open and the final norm at FIDE-Chess Grand Swiss. With the victory, Sadhwani has joined the growing list of country’s teenaged GMs that includes enormously-talented Nihal Sarin, R. Praggnanandhaa and D. Gukesh, among others.

2. Denis Shapovalov wins the Stockholm Open: Canadian player Denis Shapovalov has won the Stockholm Open title. He defeated Filip Krajinovic by 6-4, 6-4 in the Stockholm Open final. Denis Shapovalov has become the first Canadian ATP singles champion since Milos Raonic won at Brisbane in January 2016.

3. Riya Bhatia wins ITF title in Nigeria: Riya Bhati has won the ITF women’s tennis tournament in Lagos, Nigeria. She defeated Slovenian player Nastja Kolar of Slovenia 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 in the summit clash of the $25,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament. This was the 3rd singles title in the professional circuit for Riya, who had won her last two titles in 2016 and 2017.

4. Rohit Sharma set a record of highest average in Test cricket: Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma smashed the former Australia cricketer Don Bradman’s record of highest average in Test cricket on home soil. He set the record on day two of the third Test match against South Africa. He broke the 71-year-old record that was previously held by Bradman by scoring an average of 99.84. Bradman, the legendary Australia cricketer had an average of 98.22.

5. RCB becomes the first IPL team to hire a woman in support staff: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has appointed Navnita Gautam as their Sports Massage Therapist. Navnita Gautam became the first Indian Premier League (IPL) team to have a woman in the support staff. Navnita will work with Evan Speechly, the Head Physiotherapist and Basu Shanker, Strength and Conditioning Coach. She will be responsible for performing specialized techniques pertaining to the preparation, motivation, overall supervision and all individual physical ailments relating to the team.

6. Ronaldo Singh wins the gold medal at Asian Track Cycling Championships: Indian cyclist Ronaldo Singh has won a gold medal in the men’s junior Keirin event at the Asian Track Cycling Championships at Incheon in South Korea. Earlier, Ronaldo Singh had created a Junior Asian record during the Track Asia Cup in September this year in New Delhi. Apart from Ronaldo, James Singh clinched a bronze medal in the event.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SBI Card launches contactless mobile phone payments facility: SBI Card announced the launch of ‘SBI Card Pay’, a feature which allows contactless payment using mobile phones at PoS terminals. Using SBI Card Pay, customers can make contactless payments at near field communication (NFC) enabled point of sale terminals with just one tap of their mobiles, without using the physical credit card or entering any PIN. SBI Card Pay is a payment feature based on Host Card Emulation (HCE) technology for faster, convenient and more secure card payments using mobile phones.

Note: CEO of SBI Card: Hardayal Prasad; Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana.

2. Govt rolls out 6th tranche of Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2019-20: The Union Govt rolls out 6th tranche of Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2019-20 (continue till 25th Oct 2019). The issue price of the Bond during this subion period is 3835 rupees per gram, with the settlement date of 30th of this month. The Centre, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has decided to allow a discount of 50 rupees per gram from the issue price to those investors who apply online and make the payment through the digital mode. For such investors, the issue price of Gold Bond will be three thousand seven hundred and eighty-five rupees per gram of gold. Government of India (consultation with the RBI) has decided to allow a discount of Rs 50 per gram from the issue price to those investors who apply online and the payment is made through digital mode.

The features of the Bond are:

No.	Item	Details
1	Product name	Sovereign Gold Bond 2019-20
2	Issuance	To be issued by Reserve Bank India on behalf of the Government of India.
3	Eligibility	The Bonds will be restricted for sale to resident individuals, HUFs, Trusts, Universities and Charitable Institutions.
4	Denomination	The Bonds will be denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold with a basic unit of 1 gram.
5	Tenor	It will be for a period of 8 years with exit option after 5th year to be exercised on the interest payment dates.
6	Minimum size	The minimum permissible investment will be 1 gram of gold.
7	Maximum limit	The maximum limit of subscribed shall be 4 KG for individual, 4 Kg for HUF and 20 Kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal (April-March) notified by the Government from time to time.

AWARDS

1.”Gully Boy” & “Delhi Crime” wins at Asian Academy Creative Awards: “Gully Boy” & “Delhi Crime” have won awards at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt-starrer “Gully Boy” won the best film from India award in the regional finals at the Asian Academy Creative Awards ceremony. Netflix series “Delhi Crime” has won in a number of categories at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. Delhi Crime won for Best Actress, Best Direction, Best Drama Series, Best Editing and Best Original Programme.

DEFENCE

1. DAC cleared indigenous projects worth Rs 3,300 crore: The Defence Acquisition Council has approved 3 projects worth Rs 3,300 crore of “indigenously designed and developed equipments”. The projects include 3rd generation Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) and Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for the T-72 and T-90 Tanks to be executed by the Indian industry. This is the first time the Ministry of Defence has offered complex military equipment to be designed, developed and manufactured by the Indian private industry. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

OBITUARIES

1. Dhyanchand award recipient Wrestler Dadu Chougule passes away: Dadu Chougule, wrestler and recipient of Major Dhyanchand award, passed away. In 1973, Chougule had won the titles ‘Rustum-e-Hind’ and ‘Mahan Bharat Kesari’ in national-level tournaments. In the 1974 Commonwealth Games, he won the silver medal. He won the ‘Maharashtra Kesari’ title twice in 1970 and 1971 and was awarded by the state government with ‘Shivchattrapati Puraskar’.

2. Oracle co-CEO Mark Hurd passes away: Oracle co-CEO (until last month) Mark Hurd (62-years) passed away. Mr. Hurd made his name as a strong-willed leader who helped revive the fortunes of two companies, including Hewlett Packard (HP), where he was CEO last decade. Earlier, Hurd had taken a leave of absence last month to focus on his health.

Daily GK Updates - 21st October, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Col. Chewang Rinchen Setu inaugurated in Ladakh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated Col. Chewang Rinchen Setu (Bridge) which has been constructed at an altitude of 14,650 feet in the forward area of Ladakh region. It is named in honour of Colonel Chewang Rinchen who was one of the highly decorated officers in Indian Army from Ladakh. He was also a Maha Vir Chakara awardee (1952). The Bridge, which is 1400 feet span, is constructed by the Border Road Organization. The construction of the Bridge was completed within 15 working months using 6900 cubic meters of concrete and 1984 metric tons of steel.

2. Odisha's biggest trade fair to begin on 12th November: Odisha’s biggest trade fair 'Bali Jatra' is scheduled to begin on 12th November this year. According to the Odia Calendar, the festival is celebrated every year from the day of (full moon day of the month of Kartika).  ‘Bali Jatra’ will be jointly organized by the Cuttack District Administration, District Cultural Council, and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC). The trade fair will continue for eight days.

Note: Baliyatra fair held in Odisha in the city of Cuttack at Gadagadia Ghata of the Mahanadi River. Ancient Sadhabas (Odia mariners) would set sail to distant lands of Bali, as well as Java (at the time of the voyage known as "Yawadvipa"), Sumatra, Borneo (all in Indonesia), and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) for trade and cultural expansion.

3. Tripura CM inaugurates daily Air-Asia flights to various cities: Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated daily Air-Asia flights from Agartala to Imphal (Manipur), Guwahati (Assam), Delhi and Kolkata (West Bengal) at Maharaj Bir Bikram Airport, Agartala. Currently, IndiGo and Air India are serving the Agartala route. Mr Deb marked the launching of flights for four destinations at one time as a historic one.

Note: Air Asia India is an Indian low-cost carrier headquartered in Bangalore, India. The airline is a joint venture with Tata Sons holding 51% stake in the airline and AirAsia Berhad holding 49% stake.

4. IIT Kharagpur graduate develops unique device “PM 2.5” to curb vehicular air-pollution: IIT Kharagpur graduate Debayan Saha has invented a device called “PM 2.5” which he claimed when fitted near the silencer pipe in vehicles will curb air pollution. The technology developed by uses a combination of electric energy and wave energy to influence the pollutants like PM 2.5 such that they act like a magnet attracting other particulate pollutants from the ambient atmosphere to get attached to it. This device can neutralise the pollution emitted from 10 cars in its vicinity.

5. Police Commemoration Day: 21 October: National Police Commemoration Day is observed every year on 21st October to remember remembering the brave policemen who sacrificed their lives while discharging their duties. The day commemorates the sacrifices of ten policemen while defending the borders with China in 1959.

Note: The Annual Conference of Inspectors General of Police of States and Union Territories held in January 1960 decided that 21st October will be observed as Commemoration Day in all Police Lines throughout India to mark the memory of these gallant personnel.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sri Lanka has removed from FATF’s Grey List: Sri Lanka has been removed from the “Grey List” of the international terror financing watchdog FATF. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), whose five-day plenary concluded in Paris, France stated that Sri Lanka made significant progress in addressing the strategic AML/CFT deficiencies identified earlier. In October 2016, the FATF announced that Sri Lanka will be subjected to a review of the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) of the terror financing watchdog to assess the progress of AML/CFT effectiveness in the country.

Note: FATF headquarters: Paris, France

Sri Lanka Capital: Colombo and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte; Currency: Sri Lankan rupee; Prime Minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe

2. World’s oldest known natural pearl discovered on Abu Dhabi Island: The oldest known natural pearl in the world has been discovered by Abu Dhabi archaeologists working at a Neolithic site on Marawah Island (just off the coast of Abu Dhabi). Dubbed the ‘Abu Dhabi Pearl’, it was found in layers that have been radiocarbon dated to 5,800-5,600 BCE, during the Neolithic period. The discovery is proof that pearls and oysters were being used in the UAE nearly 8,000 years ago and represents the earliest known evidence for pearling yet discovered anywhere in the world. Prior to the Abu Dhabi Pearl discovery, the earliest known pearl in the UAE came from a Neolithic site in Umm Al Qaiwain.

Note: United Arab Emirates Capital: Abu Dhabi; Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham

3. Upender Singh Rawat elected as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Nicaragua: The Ministry of External Affairs appoints Upender Singh Rawat (Indian Foreign Service: 1998), Ambassador of India designate to the Republic of Panama will be concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Nicaragua. He will replace Yogeshwar Varma.

Note: Capital of Nicaragua: Managua; Currency: Nicaraguan Cordoba.

4. World Statistics Day: 20 October: World Statistics Day is observed on October 20, once every 5 years. The next World statistics Day celebrates on 20 October 2020. The day acknowledges the fundamental importance of sustainable national statistical capacity. This year World Statistics day theme is “Better Data, Better Lives”. The first World Statistics Day was celebrated in 2010, as decided in resolution 64/267, and was deemed an overwhelming success, with activities organized in more than 130 Member States and by at least 40 international and regional organizations and entities.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Kuhoo Garg-Dhruv Rawat pair wins Egypt International mixed doubles title: Kuhoo Garg and Dhruv Rawat won the badminton mixed doubles title at the Egypt International 2019 in Cairo, Egypt. The unseeded Garg and Rawat held their nerves for a tight 21-16, 22-20 victory over the third seeds Utkarsh Arora and Karishma Wadkar in an all-Indian final.

Note: Capital of Egypt: Cairo; Currency: Egyptian pound.

2. Ronaldo Singh wins gold medal at Asian Track Cycling Championships: Indian cyclist Ronaldo Singh bagged a gold medal in the men’s junior Keirin event at the Asian Track Cycling Championships being held at Incheon in South Korea. Apart from Ronaldo, James Singh clinched a bronze medal in the event.

Note: South Korea Capital: Seoul; Currency: South Korean won.

3. Great Britain wins 9th Edition of Sultan of Johor Cup hockey Tournament 2019: Great Britain defeated India in the finals by 2-1 in the 9th edition of the Sultan of Johor Cup 2019, an international men’s under-21 field hockey tournament, was held at Johor Bahru, Malaysia. It was their 3rd title. India’s Shilanand Lakra with 5 goals emerged as a top scorer; Japan’s Kosei Kawabe was named as the Best Player of the tournament and Oliver Payne of Great Britain was named as the GoalKeeper of the tournament.

Note: The 2019 Sultan of Johor Cup (9th edition) was an international men's under–21 field hockey tournament held in Malaysia. As in previous editions, a total of six teams (Great Britain, India, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand) competed for the title.

Malaysia Capital: Kuala Lampur; Currency: Malaysian ringgit

4. Ethiopian Belihu wins Delhi Half Marathon men's race: Ethiopia's Andamlak Belihu (20-years) and Tsehay Gemechu defended their titles at the 15th Airtel Delhi Half Marathon at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. Belihu clocked a timing of 59:10 to defend his title. While Gemechu broke her event record and also produced her personal best with an impressive 66:00. In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Yelamzerf Yehualaw (clocked 1:06:01) to grab the second place, while zeineba yimer clocked 1:06:57 for the third place. Among the Indians, runners Srinu Bugatha (1:04:33) and Suriya Loganathan (01:12:49) topped in the men’s and women’s category respectively.

Note: Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) is an annual half marathon foot-race held in New Delhi, India, established in 2005. The event includes the half marathon, the 7 km Great Delhi Run, a 4.3 km run for senior citizens and a 3.5 km wheelchair race.

DEFENCE

1. Sudarshan Chakra Vahini War exercise begins in Jaisalmer: Two-day long manoeuvres by Sudarshan Chakra Vahini of Indian Army Started at Jaisalmer, field firing range in Rajasthan. In this war exercise, the army is going to exhibit its strength regarding Agni Missile and artillery. Artillery, Arms and mechanized forces, Army air defence and helicopters of army aviation are participating in this exercise to test mutual coordination. Endogenously manufactured light helicopter Rudra and self-propelled artillery gun system K-9 vajra are also taking part in this exercise.

OBITUARIES

1. Writer and philosopher K.B. Siddaiah passes away: Writer and philosopher K.B. Siddaiah passed away. He was one of the founder members of Dalitha Sangharsha Samithi (DSS) during the ’80s and co-authored many songs to inspire the movement.

1. Oracle co-CEO Mark Hurd passes away: Former Co-Chief executive Officer (CEO) of Oracle Mark Hurd, passed away. He was previously served as chairman, CEO, and president of Hewlett-Packard (HP). He was also in the Board of Directors of Globality and a member of the Technology CEO Council and board of directors of New Corporation.

Daily GK Updates - 20th October, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India Post Launches Commemorative Stamp on Centenary of NIN: Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare released a postal stamp to commemorate the centenary celebrations of the Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) on October 18, 2019 at Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in New Delhi. The stamps have been brought out under ‘Corporate My Stamp’ scheme of the India Posts. About 5000 stamps with a face value of Rs 5 per stamp have been printed. NIN is the oldest Institute under the ICMR.

2. Indian Army Launches Software OASIS to Digitize Records of its Officers: The Indian Army has launched new software “Officers Automated Structured Information System“(Oasis) to digitise the service and personal records of the Army officers. The new software will be hosted on Army’s intranet and can be accessed by the Army officers to check their details. Before this, the records were maintained manually by Manpower Planning (MP) Directorate, making the whole process of collecting the records, checking the records and keeping a track very cumbersome.

3. PM Unveils Book Titled “Bridgital Nation”: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled the book titled “Bridgital Nation: Solving Technology’s People Problem” during an event in New Delhi on October 20, 2019. The book has been written by Shri N Chandrasekaran and Ms. Roopa Purushottam. It talks about the importance of technology and also presents powerful vision on how technology and human beings co-exist in a mutually beneficial ecosystem.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo Sworn in for Second & Final Term: Indonesian President Joko Widodo was sworn in for a second and final five-year term as president on October 20, 2019. The 58-year-old, popularly known as Jokowi, took oath along with the 76-year-old vice president Maruf Amin. Amin replaces Jusuf Kalla, who was the vice president in Widodo’s first term.

2. India Ranks Third, China Tops Inaugural Hurun Global Unicorn List 2019: India has emerged as third largest ecosystem for more successful tech startups, in the inaugural Hurun Global Unicorn List 2019. The Hurun Global Unicorn List 2019 is a ranking of the world’s billion-dollar tech ‘start-ups’ founded in the 2000s and not yet listed on a public exchange. India has 21 unicorns, which is led by payments solutions platform One97 Communications ($10 billion) and followed by cab aggregator Ola Cabs ($6 billion); online educator Byju’s ($6 billion) and travel-stay finder OYO Rooms ($5 billion). The Hurun Global Unicorn List 2019 has been topped by China with the most number of Unicorns, 206. United States stands second with 203 Unicorns.

3. Bloomberg names 20 Countries that Will Dominate Global Growth in 2024; India on Second, China top: Bloomberg, based on the data of the International Monetary Fund has named 20 Countries that Will Dominate Global Growth in 2024. China is on top with 28.3% while India is on second with 15.5% share in global growth. United States is on third with 9.2% share in global growth. The data are based on Purchasing Power Parity. The share of the remaining 17 countries in the growth is 21.5%. Some are: Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, Japan and Egypt.

4. World Osteoporosis Day: 20 October: The World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) is observed annually on October 20 to raise global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. Each year the event is marked by launch of a year-long campaign with a specific theme. In 2019 the Global WOD Campaign theme is “THAT’S OSTEOPOROSIS”.

Note: Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Bengal Warriors wins Pro Kabaddi League title 2019: Bengal Warriors has won the Pro Kabaddi League title 2019 by defeating Dabang Delhi 39-34. The finals was held in EKA Arena by TransStadia in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Pardeep Narwal became the first ever player to reach 1000 points in the Pro Kabaddi League.

2. Prithvi Sekhar Claims Gold in World Deaf Tennis Championship 2019: India’s unseeded Prithvi Sekhar has won the men’s final gold at the World Deaf Tennis Championship 2019 in Antalya, Turkey. The 26-year-old from Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, beat third seed Jaroslav Smedek of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3 to claim the medal.

3. Asian Junior Championships: Indians bag 21 medals: Indian boxers packed quite a heavy punch at the Asian Junior Championships, clinching 21 medals- including six gold and nine silver- to end with the best medal haul among 26 competing countries in Fujairah, UAE. The Indian men’s squad fetched two gold, three silver and an equal number of bronze, while the women claimed four gold, six silver and three bronze medals to round off a stupendous performance on Thursday evening. The team ended top in terms of medals won but finished second behind Uzbekistan (20) which had a better gold count of eight. An unprecedented 26 countries competed in the continental event, which was open only to boxers born in 2003 or 2004. The number of participating pugilists stood at 239, including 170 men and 69 women.

4. 7th World Military Games begins in China: With an objective to improve its previous records, 54 players of Indian Armed Forces' sports contingent-- Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy are participating in the nine-day long Military Olympics.  India will participate in nine sports games in which athletes will be giving their best to bag the medals. The nine-game events are archery, boxing, diving, modern pentathlon, shooting, TRAC and field, gymnastics, wrestling and tennis. Indian athletes will be giving their best to bag the medals in these sports events. India won six medals in the last edition at South Korea in 2015 and Indian para-athletes won three medals in the previous editions. So far, India has taken part in three editions of the military games in 2007, 2011 and 2015. India is hoping to increase its medal count in the current World Military Games edition. In 2007, India had hosted the 4th edition of the games in Hyderabad with 101 nations participating in the event.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. No charges on digital payments made to large business establishments (turnover>Rs 50 crore) from Nov 1: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that system providers will not impose charges or Merchant Discount Rate on customers as well as merchants on digital payments made to establishments having a turnover in excess of Rs 50 crore from November 1. For this, amendments have been made in the income tax act as well as in the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007.

2. SBI’s Rajnish Kumar elected as Chairman of Indian Banks Association: Head of State Bank of India, Rajnish Kumar has been elected as the chairman of the Indian Banks Association for fiscal 2019-20. Indian Banks Association is a body comprising members from various banks and represents banks’ interests with the government and regulators. G Rajkiran Rai (of Union Bank of India), S S Mallikarjuna Rao (of Punjab National Bank) and Madhav Kalyan (of JP Morgan Chase Bank) have been elected as deputy chairmen.

AWARDS & HONOURS

1. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu Presents ‘Most Eminent Senior Citizen Award’ to Former Attorney General, Shri K. Parasaran: The Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu conferred the ‘Most Eminent Senior Citizen Award’ to veteran lawyer and former Attorney General of India, Shri K. Parasaran on October 20 at the India International Centre in New Delhi.

The 92-year-old Parasaran was honored for his exceptional contribution to the field of law and justice. He served as the Attorney General of India under Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. The award was presented during the annual day celebrations and also the Elder’s Day celebration of Age Care India, an organization working for the welfare of the elderly.

DEFENCE

1. India-Myanmar Naval Exercise IMNEX-2019 Commences in Visakhapatnam: The second edition of ‘India Myanmar Naval Exercise’ IMNEX-2019 began in Visakhapatnam. The IMNEX-2019 will have harbour phase and sea phase and will conclude on October 22, 2019. Myanmar naval ships UMS Sin Phyu Shin (F-14) and UMS Tabinshweti (773) are participating in the exercise. INS Ranvijay and INS Kuthar will be participating ships from India.

Daily GK Updates - 19th October, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurates 11th Nuclear Energy Conclave: The Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 11th Edition of Nuclear Energy Conclave 2019 in New Delhi. The theme of the Conclave: “Economics of Nuclear Power- Innovation towards Safer & Cost-Effective Technologies”. It was organized by India Energy Forum (IEF). Government is setting up the nuclear plants in other parts of the country. A nuclear plant is coming up in the Gorakhpur of Haryana.

2. Rajnath Singh approves the proposal for admission of girl children in Sainik Schools: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal for admission of girl children in Sainik Schools from academic session 2021-22 in a phased manner. The decision has been taken following the success of the pilot project started by the Ministry for admission of girl children in Sainik School Chhingchhip in Mizoram (2-years ago). The decision is in line with the objective of the government towards greater inclusiveness, gender equality, enabling greater participation of women in Armed Forces and strengthening the motto of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'.

Note: The Sainik Schools are a system of schools in India established and managed by the Sainik Schools Society under Ministry of Defence.

3. Anup Kumar Singh appointed as Director-General of NSG: A senior 1985-batch IPS officer of Gujarat cadre Anup Kumar Singh has been appointed as Director-General of the National Security Guard (NSG). He succeeds Sudeep Lakhtakia. The appointment of Mr Singh as the DG of the ‘black cats commando’ force was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The appointment will be from the date of joining the post and up to September 30, 2020. The NSG was raised as the federal contingency force to counter-terrorists.

Note: NSG was raised in 1984 as a federal contingency force with a specific aim to undertake counter-terror and counter-hijack operations and it was later tasked to protect high-risk VVIPs.

4. Sudhaker Shukla appointed as whole-time member of IBBI: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Sudhaker Shukla as Whole-Time Member, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI). He is a 1985 Indian Economic Service officer. His period of service is for 05 years or up to the age of 65 years.

Note: IBBI Established: 1 October 2016; Chairperson: MS Sahoo; Headquarters: New Delhi.

5. Viswanathan Anand authors book titled “Mind Master: Winning Lessons from a Champion’s Life”: Indian Chess player, Viswanathan Anand has penned a book titled “Mind Master: Winning Lessons from a Champion’s Life”. The book, published by Hachette India, is releasing on December 11. The book is based on the experience he had in the game of Chess. In the book, he revisits his greatest games and worst losses, his unique experiences of playing against the best minds, and the methods he employs to prepare for wins, cope with disappointments and, simply, stay in the game.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. United Nation General Assembly Elects 14 Member States to Human Rights Council: The United Nation General Assembly has elected 14 States to the 47 member body of UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The UNHRC is responsible for promoting and protecting all human rights around the globe. The Assembly elected Armenia, Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Libya, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Namibia, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Sudan and Venezuela. All 14 members will serve three-year terms beginning on 1 January 2020.

The newly-elected States are replacing the following outgoing members: China, Croatia, Cuba, Egypt, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Japan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia and the United Kingdom. The 14 new members were elected according to the following pattern: 4 seats for the African States; 4 seats for the Asia-Pacific States; 2 seats for the Eastern European States; 2 seats for Latin American and Caribbean States; and 2 seats for Western European and other States.

Note: President of UNHRC: Coly Seck; Formation: 15 March 2006; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

2. India to host Interpol General Assembly in 2022: India will host the 91st Interpol General Assembly in 2022 after a proposal received the overwhelming support of member countries at this year's congregation at Santinago in Chile. It will be held as part of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence. The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) had hosted the general assembly, where representatives of all member countries converge, in India in 1997.

Note: Interpol is an international police cooperation organisation with 194 member states and 100 years of experience of international cooperation in policing. Headquarters of Interpol: Lyon, France.

3. US Prez Trump will host next G7 Summit at his Doral resort: According to US President's acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, 46th G7 summit (10 to 12th June 2020) will take place in one of US President Donald Trump's Florida golf clubs. Climate change will not be on the agenda of next year's G7 summit. The attendees will include the leaders of the seven G7 member states (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States) as well as representatives of the European Union. The President of the European Commission has been a permanently welcome participant at all meetings and decision-making since 1981. The 45th G7 summit was held on 24–26 August 2019, in Biarritz, France.

4. US imposes record 7.5 bn tariffs on European goods: The US has slapped tariffs on a record 7.5-billion Dollars-worth of European goods. Airbus, French wine and Scottish whiskies are among the high-profile targets. The tariffs were imposed despite pleas from European officials for a last-minute reprieve and French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire warning of retaliation.

5. NASA Astronauts complete All-Woman Spacewalk: Nasa astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir have made history by completing the first-ever all-female spacewalk. They spent 7 hours outside the International Space Station (ISS) replacing a failed power control unit. Ms Koch had already carried out four spacewalks but it was the first such mission for Ms Meir, who became the 15th woman to walk in space. The US sent its first female astronaut into space in 1983 and has now had more women astronauts than any other country.

6. Former IMF chief Christine Lagarde appointed head of European Central Bank: European Union leaders confirmed the appointment of Christine Lagarde as the new chief of the European Central Bank. She will be replacing Mario Draghi (Italy) from November 1. Lagarde’s confirmation for a non-renewable term of 8-years. She served 8-years as the head of IMF since 2011.

Note: ECB headquarters: Frankfurt, Germany; Currency: Euro.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked as Pakistan’s Test and T20 captain: wicket-keeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed (32 years) was sacked as Pakistan’s Test and T20 captain with Azhar Ali and Babar Azam elevated to leadership roles for the upcoming tour of Australia. According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Batsman Azhar Ali would lead the Test side in the two Tests in Australia. While, Babar Azam (25-years) would be the captain in the three T20 matches. Sarfaraz has been captain in all three formats of the game since the last two years and led Pakistan to the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy title. 

AWARDS & HONOURS

1. Jennifer Aniston to receive People's Icon Award 2019: 'Friends' star Jennifer Aniston (50-years) to receive the People's Icon Award at the 2019 People's Choice Awards. The actress would be the second-ever recipient of the title. Last year, Melissa McCarthy accepted the trophy for the inaugural award. Aniston has played the most iconic, unforgettable characters and has conquered comedy and drama on both the small and big screen.

DEFENCE

1. Defence of Andaman and Nicobar Islands exercise 2019 (Danx-19): Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) has conducted the 2nd edition of Defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands 2019 (DANX-19). The components of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard carried out mobilisation and field manoeuvres to validate defensive plans of Headquarters ANC towards pursuance of the Command’s responsibility, namely ensuring the territorial integrity of the A&N Islands. In addition to internal forces from ANC, accretional forces from Mainland comprising ships and aircraft, Special Forces from the newly formed Armed Forces Special Operations Division (AFSOD), also participated in this edition.

OBITUARIES

1. Legendary Cuba ballet dancer Alicia Alonso passes away: Cuban ballet dancer Alicia Alonso passed away at 98. She is considered one of the greatest 20th Century ballerinas. In 1948, she founded the Alicia Alonso Ballet Company in Cuba’s capital. She formed the National Ballet of Cuba after the revolution.

2. Renowned painter Kalidas Karmakar passes away in Dhaka: Internationally acclaimed painter of Bangladesh Kalidas Karmakar passed away in Dhaka. He was born on January 10, 1946, in Faridpur district; he completed his graduation from the Government College of Fine Arts and Crafts in Kolkata in 1969. He was awarded Shilpakala Padak in 2016 and the Ekushey Padak in 2018 by the Government of Bangladesh for his contribution to fine arts. 

Daily GK Updates - 18th October, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Karnataka tops NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index 2019: NITI Aayog released the first-ever India Innovation Index (III) 2019, which looks into the innovation ecosystem of Indian states and union territories to help policymakers design policies to drive innovation across regions. The ranking is done in three categories: 'the Major States’, ‘North East and Hill States’ and ‘Union Territories (UTs)/City & small States. Major states category: Topped by Karnataka, followed by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra among. Union Territories/City-states/Small States category: Delhi has topped the list, followed by Chandigarh and Goa. North Eastern & Hill states region category: Topped by Sikkim followed by Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Note:

The Index has been developed by NITI Aayog with Institute for Competitiveness as the knowledge partner. It is developed on the lines of the Global Innovation Index (GII).

Chairperson: Narendra Modi; Vice Chairperson: Rajiv Kumar; CEO, NITI Aayog: Amitabh Kant.

2. NH No. 703AA in Punjab named as Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced the naming of new National Highway No. 703AA as “Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg.” The road starting from Kapurthala connecting Goindwal Sahib and terminating near Taran Taran in Punjab. The naming would be effective from next month. The decision has been taken to mark the 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev.

Note: CM of Punjab: Amarinder Singh; Governor: VP Singh Badnore.

3. Odisha’s first Robot Restaurant opens in Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s smart city Bhubaneswar gets it 1st Robo Chef Restaurant in Odisha. The Robot Restaurant opened at the Infocity DLF tower of Bhubaneswar claims to be the first restaurant in Eastern India where two indigenously developed robots, ‘Champa’ and ‘Chameli’ are engaged. The robots are developed at a Jaipur-based startup using SLAM technology, and It automatically navigates like humans, follows the routes and instructions. Not only this, after serving the food, the robots will also ask you for feedback in Odia that ‘Are you happy’. Earlier Chennai and Bengaluru had introduced smart restaurants with robots machines imported from China.

4. CM Kamal Nath inaugurates “Magnificent Madhya Pradesh Conference”: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath inaugurated the two-day Magnificent Madhya Pradesh Conference in Indore. CM Kamal Nath also inaugurated the Global Trade Exhibition at the Brilliant Convention Centre, Indore. Many well-known industrialists are attending this conference. Foreign investment proposals worth 4,385 crore rupees are in the process of consideration or final stage in Madhya Pradesh.

Note: Governor of Madhya Pradesh: Lal Ji Tandon; Capital: Bhopal

5. Tamil Nadu constitutes two panels over water disputes with Kerala: The Tamil Nadu government constituted two committees to deal over water disputes with Kerala relating to the Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP) and the Pandiyar-Punnampuzha project. Secretary of Tamil Nadu’s Public Works Department (PWD) K. Manivasan would lead both the committees constituted by the State government. Cauvery Technical Committee chairperson R. Subramanian is also part of both the panels.

Note: Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: Edappadi K. Palaniswami; Governor: Banwarilal Purohit; Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai.

6. Kerala extends maternity leave benefits to teachers, other staff: Kerala is extending maternity leave benefits to teachers and other staff of private educational institutions, including those in the unaided sector. The Union Government has approved the Kerala Government’s decision to bring these teachers and employees under the Maternity Benefit Act.

After the amendment to the Act comes into force, Kerala would become the first state in the country to provide maternity benefits in the private educational sector. Employees covered under the law can avail 26 weeks’ maternity leave with salary. Moreover, an employer has to provide an amount of 1,000 rupees as a medical allowance.

7. India's livestock population increases to over 535 million: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying released the 20th Livestock Census -2019. As per Livestock Census -2019, India's livestock population has increased to over 535 million, showing an increase of 4.6% over Livestock Census-2012. The share of cattle is around 36%, the goat (over 27%), buffaloes (over 20%), cow 18% (population - over 145 million) , sheep (around 14%) and pigs (around 2%). Among the states, West Bengal reported the highest increase of over 23% in livestock population, followed by Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

8. A new book titled “India in a Warming world: Integrating Climate Change and Development” set to release: A new book titled “India in a Warming World: Integrating Climate Change and Development” is set to release on November 2019. This book is featuring a collection of articles by climate experts including Sunita Narain, Anil Agarwal, Dr Friederike Otto & Shibani Ghosh, edited by Navroz K Dubash.  It is published by Oxford University Press (OUP). This book aims to bring together the many and growing, voices that seek to find the language and ideas with which to engage climate change and to do so from a perspective that resonates with broader Indian development policy discourses.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Italy set to introduce web tax on digital giants from 2020: Italy approved a new tax on digital companies, including U.S. tech giants, as part of its 2020 draft budget on October 16. The levy, due to be introduced from next year, will oblige companies such as Facebook, Google and Amazon, to pay a 3% levy on internet transactions, according to a text of the draft budget. The Italian scheme is expected to yield about 600 million euros ($662 million).

Note: President: Sergio Mattarella; Prime Minister: Giuseppe Conte; Capital: Rome; Currency: Euro.

2. India to gift 75,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan: According to Vinay Kumar (Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan), India will gift 75,000 metric tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan in November. The Indian envoy made these announcements while speaking at the 37th anniversary of the Afghan Red Crescent Society's (ARCS) Special Week. In October 2017, India sent its maiden cargo of wheat to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port in Iran, bypassing Pakistan. The Indian government has supplied 1.1 million tonnes of wheat for the people of Afghanistan on a grant basis. During the last four years, around 2000 Afghan children in the age group of 4 months to 18 years have been treated with India's assistance of USD 4 million.

3. World Steel Association elected Sajjan Jindal as vice Chairman: The World Steel Association (Worldsteel) has elected Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director, JSW Steel, as Vice-Chairman of the association for one year. The association has also appointed Tata Steel CEO and MD T V Narendran and Arcelor Mittal Chief L N Mittal as its members. The board also elected a 14-member Executive Committee.

Note: Chairman of World Steel Association: Andre Johannpeter; Formed: 10 July 1967; Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. England all-rounder Jennifer Louise Gunn announces retirement from international cricket: England all-rounder Jennifer Louise Gunn has announced her retirement from international cricket. Gunn, who is England’s most capped player in T20Is, made 259 appearances for her country, winning 3 World Cups and five Ashes series. She was a member of the England side that won the inaugural Women’s World T20 in 2009, and also featured in her country’s Women’s World Cup-winning campaign that same year.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Home Credit India join hand with Karur Vysya Bank for joint lending: Home Credit India (HCIN), a local arm of the international consumer finance provider, has tied-up with Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) for joint lending using end-to-end automated processing which will help the customer get real-time approval and disbursement. Under the agreement, HCIN and KVB will disburse loans in a single amount to customers. With this partnership and by leveraging the lower cost of funds of KVB, Home Credit India will be able to reach out to a new segment of customer. Home Credit India has operations spread over 179 cities across 20 States in India.

Note: Managing Director and CEO: PR Seshadri; founded: 1916; Headquarters: Karur, Tamil Nadu.

AWARDS & HONOURS

1. Hong Kong’s orchestra wins “Orchestra of the year award 2019” at Gramophone Awards: Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra has been named orchestra of the year at the 2019 Gramophone Awards. The group is the first Asian orchestra to win the award, a fact noted by its Dutch-born conductor Van Zweden, who has been its Music Director since 2012. The category is the only one of the classical music magazine’s awards open to the public vote. This award is often likened to the Oscars for the classical music world.

DEFENCE

1. India-Oman begin joint training exercise ‘EX EASTERN BRIDGE-V’: Indian Air Force (IAF) kickstarted its bilateral joint exercise with Royal Air Force Oman (RAFO), named ‘EX EASTERN BRIDGE-V’ at Air Force Base Masirah, Oman. The exercise will be held till October 26. The IAF contingent comprises of MiG-29 and C-17 aircraft. MiG-29 will be exercising with Royal Air Force Oman’s Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16 and Hawk. For the first time, MiG-29 fighter aircraft will be participating in an international exercise outside India. The exercise will enhance inter-operability during mutual operations between the two Air Forces and will provide an opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices. Last time, the bilateral exercise was held in 2017 at Jamnagar, Gujarat.

Oman Capital: Muscat, Currency: Omani rial.