Daily GK Updates - 24th October, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Cabinet approves merger of BSNL and MTNL: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the merger of loss-making telecom firms BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) and MTNL (Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited)  as part of a revival package. The revival package includes raising sovereign bonds, monetising assets and voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for employees. The revival package for BSNL and MTNL includes raising of Rs 15,000 crore sovereign bonds and monetising Rs 38,000 crore of assets in next 4 years. Under the package, 4G spectrum worth Rs 20,000 crore will be administratively allotted to the two firms.

Note: Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) is a state-owned telecommunications service provider in the metro cities of Mumbai and New Delhi in India and in the island nation of Mauritius in Africa. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is an Indian state-owned telecommunications company headquartered in New Delhi.

2. Deepika Padukone, PV Sindhu named as ambassadors for ‘Bharat Ki Laxmi’ initiative: Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone and Indian badminton player PV Sindhu were named the ambassadors for Bharat Ki Laxmi. It is an initiative by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The aim of this initiative is to celebrate the contribution & accomplishments of women of the nation for the public good. The hashtag for the initiative is #BharatKiLaxmi.

3. A new book entitled “Ten Studies in Kashmir: History and Politics” released: An Indian historian, educationist and Padma Shri recipient, Kashi Nath Pandit’s new book entitled “Ten Studies in Kashmir: History and Politics”, published by Academic Foundation. A new book looks at the riveting history of Jammu and Kashmir from the time of its political and geographic consolidation to the abrogation of the state’s special status. The book, which comes after the scrapping of Article 370 provisions in August, will shed light on the happenings from 1947 till the revocation of the special status of the state.

4. ITBP celebrated its 58th Raising Day: Indo-Tibetan Border Police celebrated its 58th Raising Day on 24th October 2019. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy took the salute of the Raising Day Parade ITBP’s Headquarters in Greater Noida. The Parade comprised of all Frontier Contingents of the Force including women, Commando, Skiing, mountaineering and paratroopers’ contingents besides the dog squad & mounted columns. The parade showcased valour and courage of various contingents.

Note: Indo-Tibetan Border Police was raised on 24 October, 1962 in the wake of Chinese aggression on Indo-China border.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Kais Saied sworn in as new president of Tunisia: Kais Saied (61-years) has been sworn in as Tunisia's new President. He succeeds Beji Caid Essebsi , who died in office on July 2019. Saied won just over 72% of the votes, with about 27% of ballots cast for his media-mogul opponent Nabil Karoui.

Note: Tunisia is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east; Capital: Tunis ; Currency: Tunisian dinar

2. President Kovind lays foundation stone for Sri Sathya Sai Sanathana Samskruti Project in Japan: President Ram Nath Kovind laid the foundation stone for Sri Sathya Sai Sanathana Samskruti Project at Sai no Sato, Kakegawa, Japan. Sai no Sato will be developed as a temple on the lines of Akshardham and Swaminarayan Temple to promote Indian traditional culture.  Earlier, President Kovind also attended a banquet hosted in his honour by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan.

3. India set to sign agreement on Kartarpur corridor with Pakistan: India and Pakistan will sign a pact to operationalize the Kartarpur corridor.  The pact would be signed by the officials of both the countries at Zero point at Dera Baba Nanak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the corridor in November this year.

Note: The corridor will connect ‘Dera Baba Nanak’ (in Gurdaspur district-India) to the ‘Gurdwara Darbar Sahib’ (in Kartarpur in Narowal district of Pakistan). The Kartarpur Gurudwara (Darbar Sahib Kartarpur) is situated on the banks of river ‘Ravi’, considered to be the first gurdwara ever built.

4. Amazon’s male white bellbird is the world’s loudest bird:The male white bellbird is the world’s loudest bird which hits 125.4 decibels. This study was published in the journal Current Biology. This was recorded by Biologist Jeff Podos at Brazil in the mountains of the northern Amazon. The call by the bird is made as part of their mating rituals and it’s mating call is about three times louder than screaming phias. The screaming phias (Lipaugus vociferans), also an Amazonian species, previously held the record of being the world’s loudest bird.

5. World Development Information Day: 24 October: The United Nations observes World Development Information Day on 24 October every year. The General Assembly in 1972 established World Development Information Day to draw the attention of the world to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them. The General Assembly decided that the date for the Day should coincide with United Nations Day i.e. 24 October.

6. United Nations Day: 24 October: 24th October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. The United Nations was founded in 1945 to support collective action to realize peace, development and human rights for all. United Nations will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations in 2020 with inclusive global conversation on the role of global cooperation in building the future we want. The UN75 initiative seeks to spark dialogue and action on how we can build a better world despite the many challenges we face.

Note: In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly had declared 24th October as the United Nations Day by adopting Resolution 2782.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Praveen Kumar wins gold in Wushu World Championship: Praveen Kumar has become the 1st Indian man to win a gold medal at the Wushu World Championships. He defeated Philippines’ Russel Diaz by 2-1 in the men’s sanda event in the 48kg category of the 15th World Wushu Championships held in Shanghai. Among other Indians, Poonam in women’s 75kg category and Sanathoi Devi in women’s 52kg category secured silver medals while Vikrant Baliyan bagged the bronze in the men’s 60kg category. India finished third overall in the championship in event with a gold, two silvers and a bronze.

Note: Wushu is a Chinese martial art which combines full-contact kickboxing, including close-range punches and kicks, with wrestling, takedowns, throws, sweeps and kicks catch.

2. Abhishek Nayar retires from all forms of cricket: Veteran Mumbai all-rounder Abhishek Nayar has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He represented India in 3 One Day Internationals but his record as a First Class player is more promising. He played 103 first-class games, most of them for Mumbai, and scored 5749 runs with 13 centuries and 32 fifties while taking 173 wickets in a career spanning a decade and a half. He also played 99 List-A games in which he amassed 2145 runs and picked 79 wickets.

3. Rohit Sharma becomes 3rd Indian batsman to reach top 10 in all formats: The 'Hitman' Rohit Sharma has become the third Indian batsman to reach the top 10 in all three formats (Test, ODIs & T20). The 'Hitman' has held a career-high ranking of second in ODIs in February 2018 and seventh in T20 in November 2018. Rohit's player of the series effort of 529 runs helped him make huge strides from 44th place before the series. He remains the third-best Indian batsman in terms of Test rankings after Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Vreedhi Financial Services receives an NBFC licence from RBI: Vreedhi Financial Services (VFS) has secured a non-banking finance company licence from the Reserve Bank of India. The objective of the licence is to provide credit and other services to micro-enterprises operating in tier two-three cities and small towns. The company will create a digital lending model by the next financial year. It will address the gap between the addressable and viable credit in the micro-enterprises space which is $123 billion as per the study conducted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Note: Governor of RBI: Shaktikanta Das; Headquarters: Mumbai.

2. GeM and Federal Bank sign MoU for payment related services: The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Federal Bank to offer a number of services including transfer of funds through GeM Pool Accounts (GPA), advising of Performance Bank Guarantees (e-PBG) and Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) to the registered users on the portal. The MoU will facilitate a cashless, paperless and transparent payment system on the portal and would create an efficient procurement system for government entities.

Note: MD & CEO of Federal Bank: Shyam Srinivasan; Tagline: Your Perfect Banking Partner; Headquarters: Kochi, Kerala.

3. Vijaya Bank Museum inaugurated in Bengaluru: The Vijaya Bank Heritage Museum has been inaugurated at the headquarters of the erstwhile Vijaya Bank i.e. Bengaluru. The museum has a rare collection of photos through which the growth of the bank is showcased. The memories of the erstwhile Vijaya Bank can now be refreshed at a museum dedicated to its history. Vijaya Bank was one of the premier nationalised banks in the country. The erstwhile Vijaya Bank, along with the erstwhile Dena Bank, was amalgamated with Bank of Baroda on April 1, 2019.

4. World Bank Report: India takes Huge Strides in improving Ease of Doing Business: As per the World Bank’s latest Doing Business Report 2020 (DBR), India has recorded 63rd rank (rank of 77 in 2019) among 190 countries assessed by the World Bank. India's leap of 14 ranks in the Ease of Doing Business ranking is significant considering that there has been continuous improvement since 2015. India has improved its rank in seven out of 10 indicators and has moved closer to international best practices (Distance to Frontier score). Significant improvements have been registered in ‘Resolving Insolvency’, 'Dealing with Construction Permits', ‘Registering Property’, ‘Trading across Boards’ and ‘Paying Taxes’ indicators.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Mohun Bagan confers life membership to Abhijit Banerjee: The Mohun Bagan Athletic Club has conferred life membership to Nobel laureate Abhijit Banerjee. The club handed him the First Day Cover of 1911 and the maroon green jersey with his name written on it. He was also given a book on the history of the club. In 1911, Mohun Bagan became the first Indian club to win the Indian Football Association (IFA) Shield beating the East Yorkshire Regiment of the British Army in the final.

2. Panchayati Raj Minister confers National Panchayat Awards 2019: Minister of Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar conferred the national Panchayat Awards, 2019 at a function in New Delhi. 246 Awards were given to awardee Panchayats and States in various categories for their best performance at different levels, including the delivery of services. 195 awards were conferred under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar category, 20 Gram Panchayats in Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar category and 3 Gram Panchayats in Gram Panchayat Development Plan Award category. 22 Gram Panchayats were awarded in Child-Friendly Gram Panchayats Award and six states were awarded under e-Panchayat Puraskar category.

Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been incentivizing the best performing Panchayats as recommended by the State Governments since 2011-12. According to Narendra Singh Tomar, in 14th Finance Commission, over two lakh crore rupees have been allocated to Gram Panchayats as against 65,000 crore rupees given under 13th Finance Commission. The Minister also launched the ‘Gram Manchitra’ app which is a Geo-Spatial based decision support system for panchayats.

DEFENCE

1. Indian Army to conduct 2019 “Sindhu Sudarshan” exercise 2019 in Rajasthan deserts: The Indian Army (IA) is to conduct exercise codenamed “Sindhu Sudarshan” for the year 2019 in the deserts of Rajasthan from November 29 to December 4, 2019. The aim of this exercise is to evaluate the capability of the defence services in an integrated air-land battle. In the Sindhu Sudarshan exercise, operational efficiency of the Strike Corps fighting in the desert terrain will be assessed and the Indian Air Force (IAF) will provide support in terms of destruction of targets and airlifting troops. The exercise showcasing a high degree of synergy between the Army and Air Force will be reviewed by Lieutenant General SK Saini.

Note: Chief of the Army Staff: General Bipin Rawat; Air Chief Marshal: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.

OBITUARIES

1. Belgian Paralympian Marieke vervoort ends life through euthanasia at 40: Marieke Vervoort, Belgian Paralympic athlete has ended her life at the age of 40 through euthanasia (the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering). She was suffering from a muscle disease that caused her constant pain, paralysis in her legs. She was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 14, after which she made her life in the sport and took part in basketball, swimming and triathlon in a wheelchair. She won gold in the 100 meters and silver in the 200 meters at the 2012 London Games, while at the Rio Games 2016 she managed to win silver in the 400 meters and bronze in the 100 meters. She signed euthanasia documents in 2008, to allow a doctor to end her life.

Daily GK Updates - 23rd October, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian Railways install Electronic Interlocking System on Grand Chord route: Indian Railways has installed the most advanced Electronic Interlocking System on the Grand Chord route. The measure is expected to help Indian Railways speed up trains and achieve the objective of reducing the travel time between Delhi and Howrah to about 12 hours from the existing 17 to 19 hours. Grand Chord is part of the Howrah-Gaya-Delhi line and Howrah-Allahabad-Mumbai line. The new Electronic system has replaced outdated 65-year old mechanical signalling system at Tundla Junction in Uttar Pradesh on the route.

2. IIM Kozhikode & MRPL to support women entrepreneurs: IIM Kozhikode and Mangalore Refineries and Petrochemicals Ltd. have announced a special drive Labelled as “La Eve (meaning The Woman)” to support women entrepreneurs in the country. The initiative aims to identify innovative, promising women-founded start-ups to provide a comprehensive start-up support programme. The initiative would be steered by the institute’s entrepreneurship development centre, Laboratory for Innovation, Venturing and Entrepreneurship or IIMK LIVE. Under the drive “La Eve” IIMK LIVE would identify women-founded, innovation-led start ups and provide incubation that would provide access to the institutes intellectual, network and infrastructural resources. MRPL would provide seed fund assistance from the start funding initiative under start-up India Program.

3. No govt. jobs in Assam for people with more than two children: The State Cabinet of Assam has decided to make government jobs out of bounds for people with more than 2 children. The policy will come into effect from January 1, 2021. The decision comes two years after the State Assembly on September 2017 passed the ‘Population and Women Empowerment Policy of Assam’ to encourage small families. The Cabinet also adopted a new land policy that will make the landless indigenous people eligible for 3 bighas (43,200 sq. ft.) of land for farming and half a bigha for constructing a house. The beneficiary will be able to sell the given land only after 15 years of use.

4. AYUSH, Defence ministries ink MoU to provide traditional medicine services: The AYUSH ministry has signed an MoU with the Defence Ministry to provide traditional medicine services at the armed forces’ hospitals and dispensaries. Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik inaugurated an Ayurveda Palliative Care Unit at the Base Hospital in the Delhi Cantonment. Under the MoU, Ayurveda units will also be established at palliative care centres at the Army Research and Referral Hospital, Air Force Hospital, Hindon in Ghaziabad and five identified ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinics in Delhi–NCR.

5. IIT Bombay tops QS India university rankings 2020: The latest 2 edition of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) India University Rankings 2020 released. The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) has topped the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) India University Rankings 2020 released. Six other IITs have also made it to the list of top 10 institutes. Bengaluru’s Indian Institute of Science has been ranked second followed by the IITs in Delhi, Madras, Kharagpur, Kanpur, Roorkee, and Guwahati. The University of Hyderabad (8) and the University of Delhi (7) are the only two central varsities among the top 10 institutes.

Note: Headquarters of Quacquarelli Symonds (QS): London, United Kingdom; Founded: 1990; Founded by Nunzio Quacquarelli, QS is a British company specialising in education.

6. Ashok Malik appointed as Policy Advisor in MEA: Ashok Malik has been appointed as the Policy Advisor in the External Affairs Ministry in the rank of Additional Secretary. The Distinguished Fellow of the prominent think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) will have a 2-year tenure. Ashok Malik has previously served as the Press Secretary to President Ram Nath Kovind from August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2019.

7. Union Govt. appoints Pankaj Kumar as UIDAI chief: The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved the appointment of multiple ministries and departments. Pankaj Kumar (1987 batch IAS officer) has been appointed as CEO of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Currently, Pankaj Kumar is the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Braj Raj Sharma (1984 batch officer) has been appointed Chairman of Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Tuhin Kanta Pandey (Odisha cadre IAS officer) Secretary Department of Investment and Public Asset Management. Sanjeev Nandan Sahai (1986 batch officer) will be the new Power Secretary. Pramod Kumar Das (and Madhya Pradesh Cadre IAS) has been appointed Minority Affairs Secretary.

Note: Headquarters of UIDAI: New Delhi.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Justin Trudeau wins 2nd term as Prime Minister of Canada: Justin Trudeau (47-years) has won the second term as the Prime Minister of Canada after his Liberal Party won 157 seats of the total 338 seats. The ‘Conservative Party’ led by Andrew Scheer has won 121 seats and remained the Official Opposition. The New Democratic Party led by ‘Jagmeet Singh’ has won 24 seats. However, Mr Trudeau’s party failed by 13 seats to form a majority government. This means Trudeau will have to work with other parties in order to govern the country.

Note: Canada Capital: Ottawa; Currency: Canadian dollar

2. President Kovind attend Japan's Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony: President Ram Nath Kovind arrived in Tokyo after concluding his five-day state visit to the Philippines. Mr. Kovind also attended the enthronement ceremony of Japan's Emperor Naruhito. Naruhito is the 126th monarch according to Japan's traditional order of succession. The president visited a Buddhist temple in Tokyo where he planted a Bodhi sapling, which he carried from India. This is the first presidential visit to Japan from India after a gap of 29 years.

Note: Japan Capital: Tokyo; Currency: Japanese yen

3. Godavarthi Venkata Srinivas elected as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Cabo Verde: The Ministry of External Affairs notified that Godavarthi Venkata Srinivas (IFS:1993), presently Ambassador of India to the Republic of Senegal, has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Cabo Verde. He will replace Rajeev Kumar.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Graeme Smith has been elected as MCC Honorary Life Member: Former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith has been elected an Honorary Life Member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Smith has an impressive record in One-Day International, scoring 6,989 runs including ten centuries and also became South Africa’s youngest ever captain at 22. Former Australian off-spinner Tim May was also awarded Honorary Life Membership in recognition of his outstanding achievements in cricket. The pair follows Paul Collingwood, AB de Villiers, Mitchell Johnson and Adrian Morgan in being awarded Honorary Life Membership of MCC in 2019.

2. Anandan wins 2 golds at the 7th CISM World Military Games: Para-athlete Anandan Gunasekaran has won 2 gold medals at the 7th CISM World Military Games held in Wuhan, China. He won the medal in the disabled men’s 100m and 400m IT1 events. Gunasekaran finished the 100m race in 12 seconds and won India’s 1st medal in the ongoing Games. He clinched his 2nd gold clocking 53.35s in the disabled men’s 400m IT1 event.

3. 2024 Olympic Games logo unveiled in Paris: The logo for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games unveiled at a ceremony in the French capital. The circular design with Paris 2024 in the art deco style which was in vogue in 1924 when Paris last hosted the Games also incorporates the lips and outline of Marianne, the personification of the French Republic since the revolution in 1789.

Note: President of France: Emmanuel Macron; Capital: Paris; Currency: Euro, CFP Franc.

4. Rajasthan Royals appoints Andrew McDonald as new head coach: Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals have appointed Australian coach Andrew Barry McDonald (38-year) as new head coach for three years. The former Australian all-rounder has outstanding credentials and has coached Leicestershire, Victoria, and the Melbourne Renegades. Earlier, McDonald has played for Delhi Daredevils in 2009 IPL before being signed up by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2012-2013.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. IRDAI imposes a penalty of Rs 1.01 crore on Cholamandalam MS GIC: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) have imposed penalties of Rs 1.01 crore on Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Ltd. The insurer was penalised for violations observed during an inspection. The penalty of Rs 1 crore is for violation of Clause 15 of Schedule I of IRDA (Health Insurance) Regulations, 2013 which clearly specifies that no commission shall be payable to any intermediary on the acceptance of a ported policy. The other penalty of Rs 1 lakh is for motor insurance and was for violating the outsourcing guidelines by agreeing to payment terms not in the interests of the insurer.

Note: Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Ltd is an Indian insurance firm and a joint venture between the Murugappa Group (Indian conglomerate) and the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group (Japanese insurance company).

IRDAI Chairman: Subhash Chandra Khuntia; Headquarters: Hyderabad.

2. Global Wealth Report: India contributes 7% to global wealth rise: As per CSRI’s (Credit Suisse Research Institute) Global Wealth Report (10th edition), the global wealth has risen by USD 9 trillion to USD 360 trillion in 2019. India has made a contribution of USD 625 billion (nearly 7% of total) to global wealth. The biggest contribution has come from the US at USD 4 trillion (45% of total) and China at USD 1.9 trillion (21% of total). Wealth per adult for India at USD 14,569 (globally USD 70,849) is nearly 80% below the global average. The US and Europe have the highest wealth per adult at USD 417,694 and USD 153,973, respectively. According to the Wealth Report, personal debt for India is estimated to be at USD 1,345, or 8% of gross assets.

DEFENCE

1. DRDO starts work on ‘next-gen’ hypersonic weapon: The Defence Research and Development (DRDO) have started work to produce hypersonic weapon missiles that travel at 5 times speed of sound, or a little over a mile every second. A wind tunnel to test and fine-tune the technology will be operational soon. Hypersonic weapons are specifically designed for increased survivability against modern ballistic missile defence systems. These missiles are capable of delivering conventional or nuclear payloads at speeds not imagined hiterto over long ranges.

2. IAF fires two BrahMos missiles at Trak Island in Andaman Nicobar: Two BrahMos surface to surface missiles were fired by Indian Air Force at Trak Island in the Andaman Nicobar group of islands. The twin firings have been carried out as a part of the routine operational training. The missile engaged the designated mock targets close to 300 Kilometres away. A direct hit on the target was achieved in both cases. The firing of the missiles has enhanced Air force capability to engage the grounds targets with pinpoint accuracy from a mobile platform.

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.