Daily GK Update- 30th May, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sanjay Kumar inaugurates Summer Fiesta 2024: Secretary of Department of School Education and Literacy, Sanjay Kumar has inaugurated the month-long “Summer Fiesta 2024” at the National Bal Bhavan, New Delhi. Summer Fiesta is a month-long camp comprising over 30 types of different activities for children aged between 5 to 16 years.It promises a myriad of engaging and innovative activities in the fields of Creative and Performing Arts, Science, and more, ensuring that every child finds something intriguing to explore and learn.The event will also feature eminent artists and guests who will participate in these special programmes, sharing their experiences and delivering captivating performances to inspire the children.

 

2. FICCI organized India Cold Chain and Logistics Summit in New Delhi: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) organized a summit in New Delhi to enhance India’s cold chain and logistics sector. The summit’s aims to promote collaboration and innovation to develop an integrated, sustainable, and efficient cold chain ecosystem for India’s perishable goods industry. The discussions aim to redefine logistics mechanisms across various sectors, including Pharma, Food, Oil, and Flowers.

 

3. Rakesh Ranjan appointed as Chairman of SSC: IAS Pradip Kumar Tripathi has been appointed as Secretary to Lokpal till 30th June. The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet has also approved the appointment of IAS Rakesh Ranjan as Chairman of Staff Selection Commission (SSC). IAS Amit Yadav of 1991 batch has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty in the department of Social Justice and Empowerment department. He will take over as Secretary after superannuation of incumbent secretary Saurabh Garg on 31st of July.

 

4. Vijay Khanduja appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to Cameroon: Diplomat Vijay Khanduja has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to Cameroon. Khanduja is presently posted as the Ambassador of India to Zimbabwe.

 

5. NARCL board recommends P Santhosh as MD & CEO: The board of National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL) has recommended P Santhosh for the post of managing director and chief executive officer of the state-owned bad bank. Santhosh has been interim CEO of NARCL since January, soon after N Sundar abruptly resigned as the CEO ahead of his term. Santhosh has been recommended for a three-year term by the NARCL board.

 

6. 30 May – Hindi Journalism Day: Hindi Journalism Day is observed every year on 30 May to honour the start of Hindi journalism that has enabled each person of the country to have access to proper information. The journey of Hindi journalism began on May 30, 1826, with publication of the first Hindi newspaper, ‘Udant Martand,’ started by Pt. Jugal Kishore Shukla. This day is dedicated to the special contribution of Hindi journalists working for public welfare, imbued with truth & courage. The Hindi publication of Udant Martand was a milestone in the history of Indian journalism. Udant Martand was published in Calcutta. The date of publication was May 30, 1826. Hindi Journalism has existed in the country for about 198 years.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian mountaineer Satyadeep Gupta becomes first person to scale Mt. Everest and Mt. Lhotse twice in one season: Indian mountaineer Satyadeep Gupta has scripted history by becoming the first person to scale Mt. Everest and Mt. Lhotse twice in one season. He also set another record by being the first Indian to traverse from Mt. Everest to Mt. Lhotse in 11 hours and 15 minutes.

Gupta conquered the 8,516 metre-high Mt. Lhotse, followed by towering 8,849 metre-high Mt. Everest. This historic achievement marks the first Double Dual Ascent of the world’s highest and the fourth highest peaks in a single season. Gupta had previously summited Mt Everest on May 21 and Mt Lhotse on May 22.

 

2. India offers $1 million aid to disaster-hit Papua New Guinea: The Government of India has granted $1 million as immediate assistance for Papua New Guinea, which has been hit by a devastating flood and landslip that has so far killed 2,000 people. As a close friend and partner under the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) and as a gesture of solidarity with the friendly people of Papua New Guinea, GoI extends an immediate relief assistance of $1 million to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

 

3. India assumes Chair of Colombo Process for 2024-26: India assumed the Chair of Colombo Process for 2024-26, for the first time since its inception. India looks to promote safe, orderly and legal migration. Colombo Process is a Regional Consultative Process of migrant worker origin countries from South and South East Asia. It serves as a forum for exchange of best practices on overseas employment.

 

4. 30 May – International Day of Potato: The first ever International Potato Day is observed this year. In December 2023, General Assembly announced that May 30 will be observed as International Potato Day every year. Theme 2024 – Harvesting Diversity, Feeding Hope Potatoes rank among the top five staple food items used throughout the world. The day will be celebrated to highlight the significance of potatoes from the Andean region to the world. The first ever International Potato Day will be observed this year on May 30.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. DRDO Successfully Tests RudraM-II Missile: The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flight-tested the RudraM-II air-to-surface missile. The missile was fired from a Su-30 MK-I aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) off the coast of Odisha. The missile’s performance was validated through data captured by various range tracking instruments, including electro-optical systems, radar, and telemetry stations set up by the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur and on an on-board ship. RudraM-II is a solid-propelled air-launched missile designed for air-to-surface operations, capable of neutralizing various enemy assets. It incorporates advanced technologies developed by several DRDO laboratories.

 

SPORTS

 

1. India bags seven medals at the Asian Armwrestling Championship 2024: In Arm Wrestling, the Indian contingent has clinched a total of seven medals including one gold and six bronze at the Asian Championship, 2024 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Shrimant Jha, who participated in two categories, was the top performer for India. He won the gold medal in the left-hand para category, while he won the bronze medal in the right-hand para category. In the Masters category, Laxman Singh Bhandari secured two bronze medals, while Sachin Goyal won the bronze medal in the competitive right-hand Senior category. Meanwhile, in the Women’s Right and Left-hand categories, Ibi Lollen from Arunachal Pradesh clinched two bronze medals.

 

2. ICC Players of the Month for April 2024 announced: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the winners of the ICC Player of the Month awards for April 2024. West Indies’s Captain Hayley Matthews has been named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for her exceptional all-round performances that spearheaded the West Indies’ success in Pakistan across both ODI and T20I series. It is the third time that Matthews has claimed the monthly ICC award, with the star all-rounder adding the success in April to previous wins in November 2021 and October 2023. Ash Gardner (four times) is the only player to have won the women’s monthly award on more occasions than Matthews.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. NASA Launches Small Climate Satellite to Study Earth’s Poles: NASA has successfully launched the first of two climate satellites into orbit, designed to study heat emissions at Earth’s poles. The satellite, part of the PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment) mission, was carried by Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from the company’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The PREFIRE mission consists of two shoebox-size cube satellites, or CubeSats, that will measure the amount of heat Earth radiates into space from the coldest and most remote regions on the planet.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC Bank to stop SMS alerts for small UPI payments: HDFC Bank will stop sending SMS alerts for UPI transitions up to Rs 100 from June 25. The private lender said that SMS alerts won’t be pushed for incoming payments up to Rs 500 from the said date either. UPI transactions require the authorisation of a Personal Identification Number (PIN), a 4-6 digit pass code set by the customers as a security measure to ensure safe and approved transactions. For normal UPI the transaction limit is up to Rs 1 Lakh per transaction. India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions reached an all-time high in 2023, with a total volume of 117.6 billion transactions and a value of Rs 183 trillion.

 

 

Daily GK Update- 29th May, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Fischer Medical Ventures makes India’s first indigenous MRI system: Chennai-headquartered Fischer Medical Ventures (FMVL) has manufactured its magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems domestically, claiming to be the first company in the country to achieve this. The company is developing its MRI systems at a production facility in the Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) in Visakhapatnam. AMTZ, India’s premier medical technology park, provides a conducive environment for production, with access to facilities and a skilled workforce.

 

2. Sterlite Technologies partners with Connexin for gigabit broadband: Sterlite Technologies Ltd partnered with UK-based Connexin to help deliver gigabit broadband connectivity in Nottinghamshire. This partnership is part of a £58 million government contract awarded to Connexin under Project Gigabit, aimed at bringing ultrafast broadband to rural areas. The company will utilise its smart fibre deployment services to connect approximately 12,000 hard-to-reach premises in Nottinghamshire, including areas such as Kirkby in Ashfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Annesley, and Newark on Trent. The initiative is expected to provide residents with broadband speeds of up to 1 Gbps, per the company.

 

3. Reliance Industries to begin construction on India’s first multimodal logistics park near Chennai: Conceptualised 12 years ago, India’s first Multimodal Logistics Park at Mappedu near Chennai will see the limelight as Reliance Industries starts construction in June. In 2022, the company beat Adani Group to win the bid for the Rs 1,424 crore project on 184.27 acres of land in Tiruvallur district. The project aims to facilitate efficient, cost-effective and value-added logistics services such as cargo aggregation and disaggregation, distribution, intermodal transfer, sorting, packing, and repacking. In 2022, the Centre awarded the contract to Reliance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the foundation stone on May 26, 2022.

 

4. Apurva Chandra appointed as chairperson of Committee A Of 77TH WHA Event: Apurva Chandra, Union health secretary, Government of India, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Committee A at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) by the WHO. Committee A is tasked with facilitating crucial discussions on a range of programmatic topics. These include universal health coverage, public health emergency preparedness and response, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and sustainable financing for the World Health Organization (WHO).

India’s leadership in Committee A underscores its growing influence in global health governance. The World Health Assembly features sessions from three main committees: Plenary, Committee A, and Committee B.

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. WHO Organizes ‘Walk The Talk’ Yoga Session Event: For the upcoming occasion of International Yoga Day, Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in Geneva and World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday organised a ‘Walk the Talk’ Yoga session event at Place des Nations. Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra joined by Director General of WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other senior officers of India delegation joined the event and re-energised themselves with yoga aasanas.

 

2. Purnima Shrestha conquers Mount Everest thrice in a single season: A 32-year-old mountaineer from Gorkha, Nepal, Purnima Shrestha has made history as the first woman in the world to climb Mount Everest three times in the same season, all in just 13 days. Her exceptional triple ascent beats the previous record of any woman summiteer to climb Everest thrice in a single season. She has climbed Everest four times, with a prior summit in 2018.

 

3. Nepal celebrated Its 17th Republic Day: Nepal has celebrated Its 17th Republic Day on 28 May.

Republic Day is associated with people’s movement and aspiration for change from monarchy to make Nepal a republic nation. The Nepal Army, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force conducted march-past and cultural pageants on the occasion. A Nepal Army helicopter displayed a banner reading ‘Republic Day, 2081’ and cascaded flowers in Tundikhel. After then CPN Maoist’s armed conflict and seven parties’ peaceful movement, then King Gyanendra Shah had restored the House of Representatives on April 24, 2006, thereby returning the rule to the people’s representatives.

 

4. Gaurav Banerjee appoints as new CEO of Sony India: Japan’s Sony has appointed a Walt Disney executive, Gaurav Banerjee, as its new India chief executive to lead its television and other media businesses. Banerjee has resigned from Disney’s India unit where he was the head of content for its streaming service, Hotstar, and head of business for the company’s TV channels in Hindi-speaking markets. Last week, Sony said it was looking for a successor to its current India chief executive, N.P. Singh, who had decided to move on. Sony runs 26 channels in India, from general entertainment to sports and movies, and also a streaming service.

 

5. 29 May – International Day of the UN Peacekeepers: International Day of the UN Peacekeepers is observed every year in 29 May. This day is observed to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of over 4000 peacekeepers who have lost their lives while trying to bring peace in strife-torn areas of the world. Theme 2024 – Fit for the future, building better together. The day also urges the global community to join and strengthen the global movement for peace. The first International Day of the UN Peacekeepers was observed on 29 May 2003.

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. France successfully test fired ASMPA Missile: The French General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) conducted a successful test firing of the enhanced medium-range air-to-surface strategic missile (ASMPA-R). The Air-Sol Medium Range (ASMP/ASMP-A) is an air-launched land-attack supersonic cruise missile that carries a nuclear payload. ASMP-A, an upgraded version of the ASMP, arrived into French service in 2009. This version had an extended range of up to 500 km, and supported a new 300 kt thermonuclear warhead.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Wipro to develop AI driven tech to reduce risks of cardiovascular disease: Wipro has partnered with the Centre for Brain Research (CBR) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru to develop a personal care engine to reduce and manage the risk of cardiovascular disease by utilizing AI. The collaboration will develop new technologies for prevention and management of long-term health disorders and to provide precision support for these diseases. The personal care engine will focus on reducing and managing the risk of cardiovascular disease and correlated neurodegenerative disorders, by using AI to personalize its interaction with users, optimizing for their long-term health and wellbeing.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI unveils Pravaah portal, Retail Direct Mobile App and FinTech Repository: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched three major initiatives: PRAVAAH portal, Retail Direct mobile app and a Fintech Repository. These initiatives are aimed at enhancing regulatory processes, facilitating retail investment, and providing comprehensive data on the fintech sector.

 

2. Poonawalla Fincorp launches Co-Branded Credit Card with IndusInd Bank: Poonawalla Fincorp Limited, in collaboration with IndusInd Bank, has launched the co-branded ‘IndusInd Bank Poonawalla Fincorp eLITE RuPay Platinum Credit Card’, a card designed to redefine and elevate the banking experience of customers. With this co-branded credit card launch, Poonawalla Fincorp marks a significant milestone in their ongoing commitment to providing tailored financial solutions to meet the evolving needs of their valued customers. Objective – To enhance engagement with our existing customers digitally while also extending our reach to new customers.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Major Radhika Sen receives UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award: Major Radhika Sen, an Indian peacekeeper deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has been named the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year for 2023. The prestigious award recognizes her outstanding service and efforts to empower local communities, especially women and girls, during her tour of duty from March 2023 to April 2024. Serving with the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO as the Commander of the Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion i

 

 

Daily GK Update- 28th May, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. First Hydrogen plant of GAIL inaugurated in Vijaipur, MP: The government of India-owned GAIL(India) Limited’s first green hydrogen plant has become operational at Vijaipur in Madhya Pradesh. This marks the entry of India’s largest natural gas transmission and distribution company in the green fuel business. The 10-megawatt proton exchange membrane electrolyser for the green-hydrogen producing unit at the Vijaipur complex has been imported from Canada.

The plant will produce about 4.3 tonnes of green hydrogen per day, with a purity of about 99.999 per cent by volume. It uses electricity produced from renewable sources such as the sun’s solar energy, to split water to produce green hydrogen.

 

2. Telangana government enforces Statewide ban on gutka and pan masala: The Telangana government has issued a one-year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco and nicotine throughout the State, effective immediately. The restriction has been imposed in light of a legitimate concern for public well-being. As indicated by the order from the Food Safety Commissioner, the restriction will be upheld under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The order passed by the Food Safety Commissioner stated that, “Telangana state hereby prohibits the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of Gutkha/Pan masala which contains tobacco and nicotine as an ingredient which are packed in sachets/pouches/package/containers etc.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ghana ties up with Reliance Jio arm, others for building 4G, 5G telecom infra: Ghana has signed deals with a Reliance Jio subsidiary, Tech Mahindra and other vendors to build 4G and 5G infrastructure as the African country aims to enhance its telecom capabilities. Ghana’s state-backed Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC) has partnered with Jio’s arm Radisys, Tech Mahindra and Nokia to build the necessary infrastructure for delivering affordable 5G mobile broadband services. NGIC has been allocated 5G spectrum and local telcos will be utilising the shared infrastructure to roll out the services in the next six months. As per reports, the overall contract is over $200 million.

 

2. WHO launches first-ever investment round for sustainable funding: The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched its first investment round to sustainably finance its Health for All mandate. The move comes as the organization seeks to transform the way it is funded by 2028. The investment round is part of a broader plan to reform the WHO’s funding architecture and make it more sustainable amid an era of climate change, mass migration, pandemics, an ageing world population, and turbulent geopolitics. The high-level event, which was held alongside the G20, will help member states and donors declare their support for the strategy and make commitments.

3. Gitanas Nauseda elected as the president of Lithuania: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has won re-election, securing about 75% of the vote against PM Ingrida Simonyte. This marks the second presidential victory over Simonyte, having previously defeated her in 2019 with 66% of the votes. Lithuania is a country in the Baltic region of Europe.

 

4. 28 May – World Hunger Day: World Hunger Day is observed every year on 28 May. This day raises awareness about the urgent issue of global hunger. It’s time to acknowledge the millions suffering from malnutrition and the need for sustainable solutions to end hunger for good. Theme 2024 – Thriving Mothers, Thriving World In 2011, The Hunger Project, a global organisation dedicated to ending hunger and poverty, established World Hunger Day as a yearly event.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. DRDO chairman Samir V. Kamat gets one year extension: The tenure of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) chairman Dr Samir V Kamat was extended for another year by the Centre. As per a government order, Dr Kamat will continue in his present position as the DRDO chief till May 31, 2025. He was appointed to the highest post in the DRDO in August 2022 and was slated to retire on May 31, 2024. Dr Kamat completed his B.Tech (Hons) in Metallurgical Engineering from IIT-Kharagpur in 1985 and PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University, USA in 1988 and joined DRDO in 1989.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Classic Football Academy bag AIFF U17 title: Classic Football Academy retained the All-India Football Federation Under 17 Elite Youth League 2023-24 Title beating Sudeva Delhi FC 2-1 at the Nagoa Panchayat Ground, Goa. Played on the well-maintained turf of Nagoa in Goa, the two teams dished out a lively display of attacking football, much to the delight of the sparse crowd.

 

2. Ravi Shastri joins Cricket Australia’s Multicultural Initative: Cricket Australia named former Pakistan and Indian stars Wasim Akram and Ravi Shastri among the 54 representatives of its ‘Multicultural Ambassadors Program’. Cricket Australia is proud to launch its Multicultural Ambassador Program, naming 54 people with diverse background and experience across government, business, sport, media and community as the as the inaugural representatives. Inaugural ambassadors include Usman Khawaja, Mel Jones, Wasim Akram, Ravi Shastri, Lisa Sthalekar, Kishwar Chowdhury, Alana King, Peter Varghese, Swati Dave and Fawad Ahmed.

 

 

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. TCS gets core banking transformation deal from Kuwait’s Burgan Bank: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has bagged a deal to modernize the core banking technology of Burgan Bank, a leading commercial bank in Kuwait. TCS will help Burgan Bank consolidate multiple standalone legacy applications into a contemporary universal banking solution that drives innovation and strengthens customer relationships. Burgan Bank is one of the youngest commercial banks in Kuwait, with a regional network of over 160 branches and 360 ATMs.

 

2. Goldman Sachs raises India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.7 percent for FY24: Global investment bank Goldman Sachs has raised India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.7 percent for calendar year 2024. The latest data released by the bank said, they expect a sustained growth momentum with additional fiscal space on account of a bumper dividend transfer from the RBI. In India, growth momentum remains strong and core inflation is expected to bottom out in April-June.

 

3. RBI imposes ₹1-crore penalty on ICICI Bank, ₹91 lakh on YES Bank: The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a penalty of ₹1 crore on ICICI Bank for non-compliance with certain directions on ‘Loans and Advances – Statutory and Other Restrictions’. The statutory inspection of the bank for FY22 revealed that the bank had sanctioned term loans to certain entities in lieu of or to substitute budgetary resources envisaged for certain projects, and without undertaking due diligence on the viability and bankability of the projects to ensure that revenue streams from the projects were sufficient to take care of the debt servicing obligations.

 

4. Govt to get Rs 3,662 crore from LIC as dividend: The Government of India will get Rs 3,662 crore as dividend for being Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India’s largest shareholder. This comes after the country’s largest insurer declared an interim dividend of Rs 6 per share. The government owns 96.5 percent stake in the insurer or 6,10,36,22,781 shares. Gross non-performing asset (GNPA) stood at 2.01. percent against 2.56 percent in the year-ago period, LIC said

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Payal Kapadia Scripts History; All We Imagine as Light Wins Grand Prix at Cannes: Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia made history by winning the country’s first ever Grand Prix Award at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Her Malayalam-Hindi film All We Imagine as Light stars Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha as nurses working in Mumbai. The movie also stars Chhaya Kadam and Hridhu Haroon. The Grand Prix is the festival’s second-highest honour after the Palme d’Or which went to Sean Baker’s Anora. After Shaji Karun’s Swaham, which competed for the Palme d’Or at the 1994 Cannes, Kapadia’s film was the first Indian title in 30 years to be selected for the prestigious Competition section. Kapadia is also the first Indian woman to be nomination in the category.

 

2. NHPC honoured with ‘The Economic Times HR World Future Ready Organization Award 2024-25’: NHPC, India’s premier hydropower company has been conferred with the prestigious ‘The Economic Times HR World Future Ready Organization Award 2024-25’. The Award was received by Uttam Lal, Director (Personnel), NHPC along with Lucas Guria, Executive Director (HR) and a team of NHPC officers at the Awards Ceremony held in Mumbai. The Award has been given to NHPC in recognition for its future preparedness in the areas of upskilling of its employees, ESG interventions, DE&I initiatives, constant technological upgradations, Employee Engagement processes, robust Corporate Governance strategies etc. which establishes it as a trusted brand amongst all its stakeholders.

 

 

Daily GK Update- 27th May, 2024

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. WB govt plans new AI and ML-focused data centre: The West Bengal state government will set up a powerful, high-capacity data centre that will allow 2,300 concurrent users to run artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications. This facility will enable the practical application of data science by providing infrastructure to support advanced data analysis. This initiative will unveil at the Data Science 2024 Conference.

 

2. Jetha Ahir appointed as chairman of NAFED: Shehra BJP MLA Jetha Ahir has been elected uncontested as the chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED). Ahir was elected unopposed by the board comprising 21 directors, of which two are from Gujarat, including Kundariya. Ahir is also the chairman of Panchmahal’s Pancharmrut Dairy as well as the Panchmahal District Cooperative (PDC) Bank.

 

3. Justice Najmi Waziri appointed as Chairperson of Equestrian Federation Of India’s Ad-Hoc Administrative Committee: The Delhi High Court has appointed its retired judge, Justice Najmi Waziri as the Chairperson of ad-hoc Administrative Committee constituted to supervise the administration of the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI). Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju also directed that the committee will also comprise of former Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr SY Quraishi as the observer. Justice Waziri, famously known as the “green judge” of Delhi for his efforts to enrich the greenery of the national capital by asking litigants to plant 3.7 lakh trees in several cases, demitted office last July.

 

4. 27 May 2024 – National Memorial Day: National Memorial Day is observed every year on last Monday of the month of May. This year, National Memorial Day falls on May 27. National Memorial Day is dedicated to the lives and glory of those military personnel who lost their lives in protecting the country. During the Civil War, women began the pattern of decorating the graves of the fallen warriors. Three years after the war finished, on May 5, 1868, the leader of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR); a group of Union veterans declared that annually, a day must be dedicated to the fallen fighters.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cyclone Remal bring heavy rains in part of WB and Bangladesh: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning that a low depression in Bay Bengal has developed into a severe cyclonic storm Remal. Cyclone Remal is the first cyclone of the season to develop in the Bay of Bengal region. The name Remal has been given by Oman which means sand in Arabic. The Remal cyclone is expected to have a wind speed of 100-120 km per hour, bringing heavy rain and thundershowers in parts of West Bengal and Bangladesh. Tropical cyclones are quite common in India during the months of May-June and October-November.

2. Jyoti Ratre becomes India’s oldest woman to Conquer Mount Everest: Jyoti Ratre, an entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast from Madhya Pradesh, has etched her name in history by becoming the oldest Indian woman to conquer Mount Everest. Ratre’s remarkable achievement was realized as part of a 15-member expedition team organized by 8K Expeditions, led by the renowned Bolivian climber David Hugo Ayaviri Quispe. Ratre’s triumphant ascent to the summit of the world’s highest peak comes precisely six years after Sangeeta Bahl, at the age of 53, earned the title of ‘India’s oldest woman to climb Mount Everest’ on May 19, 2018.

 

3. Allamaye Halina named new PM of Chad: Chad’s newly elected president, Mahamat Idriss Deby, has been sworn in to succeed his late father after three years as an interim leader under military rule in the northcentral African country. Shortly after, the country announced that Allamaye Halina would assume the post of prime minister after Succes Masra announced his resignation from the position this week.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh takes Command of NDA: Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh assumed the appointment of Commandant, National Defence Academy from Vice Admiral Ajay Kocchar in Pune. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy (Khadakwasla), he was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1st July 1990. Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh has held several appointments, both afloat and ashore. As a specialist in Gunnery and Missiles, he has served onboard Indian Naval Ships Ranjit and Prahar.

 

SPORTS

 

1. India’s Simran Sharma wins Gold Medal at World Para Athletics Championship: India’s Simran Sharma has won a Gold medal in the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan. Simran clinched the gold in the women’s 200m T12 event, achieving a personal best time of 24.95 seconds on the competition’s final day. India concluded their World Para Athletics Championships journey with remarkable achievements, securing a total of 17 medals, including six golds, propelling them to the sixth position in the standings.

 

2. KKR wins their third IPL title beating SRH: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) cricket team won their third Indian Premier League (IPL) title by beating Sunriser Hyderabad (SRH) in the final of the 17th IPL. The final was played at the M A Chidambaram stadium in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. They defeated the Sunrisers by eight wickets to lift the trophy for the third time. Player of the Match: Mitchel Starc of KKR. Some important awards and winner amount of the IPL 2024 are as follows.

Winner (Rs. 20 crore) – Kolkata Knight Riders Runner Up (Rs. 12.5 crore) – Sunrisers Hyderabad

 

3. Dipa Karmakar clinches India’s first-ever Gold Medal in Asian Championships: Dipa Karmakar scripted history clinching India’s first-ever gold medal at the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The 30-year-old Olympian registered an average score of 13.566 in the women’s Vault final. This is the first time that an Indian gymnast has won a gold medal in any event at the Asian Championships. She is the first female gymnast from India to compete in the Olympics, and at Rio 2016, she put on the best performance of any gymnast competing in the Summer Games, placing fourth in the women’s vault.

 

4. Charles Leclerc wins Monaco Grand Prix 2024: Charles Leclerc becoming the first Monegasque driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix since Louis Chiron in 1931. The Ferrari driver’s victory, his first since the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix, came after a chaotic race that saw two standing starts and several first-lap collisions. The 26-year-old driver, who had previously failed to secure a podium finish in six previous attempts at the iconic race, started from pole position and controlled the race from the outset. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished second, 7.1 seconds behind after a race that saw little overtaking on the narrow street circuit. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz secured third place.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Cyber Security Conclave organized in New Delhi: Cyber Security Conclave was organized in the country’s capital New Delhi. During this conclave, important strategies for cyber security were discussed. It was organized with joint efforts by CSC and United Service Institution. During this, MoU was signed between CSC and USI to strengthen cyber security. As cyber security has become a serious and sensitive matter, cyber threats are increasing rapidly across the world, with the number of data breaches increasing every year.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Chidanand and Anasuya Sengupta create history at Cannes FF: Chidanand Naik and Anasuya Sengupta created history at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, which is being held in Cannes, France.

Chidanand Naik’s film ‘Sunflowers Were the First to Know’ won the La Cinef Award for Best Short Film, while Anasuya Sengupta became the first Indian to win the Best Actress award for her film Shameless. Chidanand Naik’s short film ‘Sunflowers Were the First to Know’ won the La Cinef Award for Best Short at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Chidanand Naik made the film a part of his coursework at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.

 

 

Daily GK Update- 26th May, 2024

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. COVID-19 Erases Decade of Life Expectancy Gains: According to a study from the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a big drop in life expectancy around the world. The results show that the average life expectancy is now 71.4 years, which is much lower.

 

2. CERT-In Warns of Critical Flaws in Google Chrome: The Center’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) just sent out a warning about major security holes found in Google Chrome. CERT-In’s warning note, CIVN-2024-0170, talks about this worry and stresses how important it is for users to update their browsers.

 

3. Antibiotic Protocol needed in all Indian Hospitals: In hospitals, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) like central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia are main concerns. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) makes these infections much worse because the pathogens involved are not easily killed with regular medicines. Reports.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World’s first 100% biodegradable pen launches in India: Saurabh H Mehta from New Delhi has introduced the world’s first fully biodegradable pen, named the NOTE pen (No Offence to Earth). The pen features a recycled paper refill, and non-toxic ink, and comes in options of metal, paper, or bamboo exteriors. This innovation aims to reduce plastic waste, a significant issue as over 50 billion ballpoint pens are discarded annually.

 

2. ICC names Shahid Afridi as Men’s T 20 WC 2024 Brand Ambassador: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi as the brand ambassador of the forthcoming 9th ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The tournament will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States of America from 1 to 29 June 2024. Shahid Afridi joins Indian Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle of West Indies, and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt as brand ambassadors for the event. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup start on 1 June, with the USA team taking on Canada at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, the United States of America. India will take on Pakistan on 9 June in New York.

 

3. 25-31 May – International Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories: The UN commemorates International Week of Solidarity with Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories annually from May 25 to May 31. This day aims to request the administering Powers to protect and respect the rights of the peoples in these territories to their natural resources and their property rights. The UN describes a Non-Self-Governing Territory as a territory “whose people have not yet gained a complete degree of self-government.” From 1960 to 2002, 54 territories attained self-government. At present, there are 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories remaining. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999.

 

4. Myanmar Junta Revives $3.6 Billion Chinese-Backed Dam Project: With help from China, Myanmar’s junta is starting up again the $3.6 billion Myitsone dam project that was put on hold before. This move is a big change in policy from when it was first put on hold in 2011 ..

 

5. Philippines to Attract More Indian Medical Students: The Philippines recently made major changes to its laws that allow foreign medical students, including those from India, to work as doctors in the Philippines after they graduate with a Doctor of Medicine degree. Because of this change, there will.

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Chinese Military Drills Intensify Near Taiwan After Lai Inauguration: China started large-scale military training near Taiwan soon after William Lai Ching-te became president of Taiwan on May 20, 2023, under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In his inauguration speech, Lai promised to protect Taiwan’s freedom and told China to ..

 

2. Army Conducts Survey On Agnipath Scheme, May Recommend Changes: The Indian government started the Agnipath plan in June 2022. It was a new way to hire people for the Armed Forces. People who are hired as Agniveers are in service for four years. Up to 25% of these people.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Dinesh Karthik announced retirement from IPL: Indian wicketkeeper and Royal Challengers Bengaluru star player Dinesh Karthik has announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League. The veteran wicket-keeper batter was given a guard of honour by RCB players. Dinesh Karthik, an accomplished Indian cricketer, debuted internationally in 2004 and has played over 300 T20 matches. Karthik served as captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders between 2018 & 2020 and has also been a commentator for Sky Sports.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Spacex Mega-Rocket Starship’s Next Launch On June 5: SpaceX recently announced that the next test flight for Starship, the world’s most powerful rocket, will take place on June 5, 2024. If the government gives the go-ahead, this event will start at 7:00 a.m. local time at the Starbase ..

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI approves appointment of Pradeep Kumar Sinha as Part-time Chairman of ICICI Bank: The Reserve Bank of India has granted its approval for the appointment of Pradeep Kumar Sinha as the Part-time Chairman of ICICI Bank. Sinha is set to assume this role for a term of three years, starting from July 1, 2024. Sinha will step into the position vacated by G. C. Chaturvedi, who is due to retire as Non-Executive Part-time Chairman on June 30, 2024, at the close of business hours. Sinha has been a Government Nominee Director in numerous major Public Sector Undertakings like ONGC, IOCL, HPCL, BPCL, GAIL, etc.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Anasuya Sengupta Wins Best Actress at Cannes: The 77th Cannes Film Festival gave Best Actress to Anasuya Sengupta for her part in “The Shameless.” She is a very good actress from Kolkata. This win is important because it shows that Indian filmmaking is present and growing in.