Daily GK Updates - 26th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. President appoints Odisha, Mizoram governors : President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed new Governors of two states – Odisha and Mizoram.President Kovind appointed Professor Ganeshi Lal as the Governor of Odisha while Kummanam Rajasekharan has been appointed as the Governor of Mizoram.Rajasekharan will replace incumbent Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma.

2. Indian Navy commissioned the fourth LCU : Indian Navy has commissioned IN LCU L54, the 4^th ship of Landing Craft Utility MK-IV, into its fleet at Port Blair.It has been indigenously designed & built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers.It can be deployed for multi-role activities like disaster relief operations and evacuation from distant islands.A total of 8 vessels in the class are planned to be built for the Indian Navy

3. Panel for health sector : The 15th Finance Commission has constituted a high level group to explore and give recommendations for a balanced expansion of the health sector.The group will be headed by AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria.It will suggest ways to optimize the use of existing financial resources & to incentivise state governments’ efforts towards fulfillment of well-defined health parameters in the country.

4. Sushil Chandra gets another one-year extension : Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman Sushil Chandra has got a one-year extension up to May 31, 2019.He took over as chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in 2016.This is the second extension that he has got.CBDT has six members, apart from the chairman, and is responsible for framing policy related to direct taxes and the Income Tax Department.

5. RSM 2018 to be celebrated in Uttarakhand : Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2018 will be organised by Ministry of Culture in Tehri, Uttarakhand under the Ek Bharat Shreshta Bharat.It is the 19^th edition & will be organised from May 25-27 2018, with its important thrustbeing presenting uniqueness & rich diversity of Indian cultureTehri Lake Festival will be a part of RSM 2018, where Uttarakhand Tourism organizes water sports for people

6. IRCTC partners with ixigo : In order to exclusively power hotel bookings, IRCTC has partnered with the ixigo, a travel marketplace.Under this partnership, wide range of accommodations from ixigo would be available on the mobile and web platforms of IRCTC.ixigo is a Gurugram based travel search engine and also a mobile travel application available for all OS.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Netherlands signed framework agreement of ISA : Netherlands has signed the framework agreement of International Solar Alliance (ISA) following a bilateral summit between PM Modi & his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte.ISA was launched by Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the Paris climate summit in 2015.The objective of the alliance is to work for efficient exploitation of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

2. PM Modi to visit Indonesia : PM Modi will be visiting Indonesia on May 29-31 with an aim of working together with Indonesia to strengthen the strategic partnership between both the nations.During the visit, major areas of cooperation will be in the field of space, security & defence.An agreement on cooperation between India and Indonesia on kite museums in both the countries may also take place.

3. World Environment Day to be hosted by India : India will be the host country for this year’s celebrations of World Environment Day.World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5th.This year’s theme is “Beat Plastic Pollution: If you can’t reuse it, refuse it”.World Environment Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. First company to achieve Rs 7 lakh crore m-cap : Tata Consultancy Services’ market valuation briefly crossed the Rs 7-lakh crore mark on May 25, 2018, making it the first company to achieve this milestone.TCS is the country’s most valued firm, followed by Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank and Hindustan Unilever Limited.TCS recently became the first Indian company to close the trading session with over USD 100 billion market valuation.

2. MobiKwik launches UPI on platform : MobiKwik has announced the launch of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) on its platform via its own Virtual payment address (VPA) handle @ikwik.Users can simply scan and generate UPI QR functionality to send and receive money using VPA and phone number from the contact list.MobiKwik is the first in the industry to offer UPI access to a huge base of three million merchants on its app.

3. Customs duty on wheat raised by 30% : Customs duty on wheat has been raised by the government from 20% to 30% in order to protect domestic growers and curb cheaper imports.This has been done to restrict overseas purchase so that the farmers get their MSP (Minimum Support Price) and also to avoid pressure coming under domestic prices of wheat.Walnut shell has also seen an increase in the import duty from 30% to 100%.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Direct funding facility to VLEs in CSCs : Small Industries Development Bank of India has signed an MoU with Common Service Centres Special Purpose Vehicle for providing financial support to CSCs.SIDBI will extend financial support to Village Level Entrepreneurs of CSCs, with minimum 1 year of operation, under the Direct Financing Window of SIDBI.The MoU aims to bring more citizens under the ambit of financial inclusion.

DEFENCE:

1. World’s longest surface-to-air missile : World’s longest surface-to-air missile test was conducted by Russia quietly.This S-500 surface-to-air missile successfully struck a target that was 299 miles away.Russia claims that this missile system is capable of destroying objects flying in space 62 miles above the Earth’s surface.It is also capable of intercepting aircrafts, drones and hypersonic missile.

Daily GK Updates - 25th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Govt appoints non-executive chairpersons : Finance ministry has appointed non-executive chairpersons at Punjab & Sindh Bank, Dena Bank & Central Bank of India, as part of its agenda to reform public sector banks.Charan Singh, Anjali Bansal & Tapan Ray were appointed as non executive chairperson of Punjab & Sind Bank, Dena Bank & Central Bank of India, respectively.These banks have been plagued by mounting bad loans & massive losses.

2. Collaborative programme on HIV/AIDS research : Governments of India & Netherlands have launched a collaborative research programme on HIV/AIDS between India, Netherlands & Sweden.Programme aims to harness research strengths & diverse expertise across 3 nations to develop better tools to understand HIV epidemic.It will enable a multitude of cross-learning opportunities in HIV/AIDS research to address unmet needs & emerging challenges.

3. India to host the ASEAN India Film Festival : Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Rathore will inaugurate the ASEAN India Film Festival in New Delhi on May 25, 2018.It will be a platform for people of the film industry of member countries to explore areas of cooperation in domain of cinema & cultural cooperation.The tagline of the Festival is proposed to be ‘Friendship through Films’.

4. ‘Nidaan’ software for disease monitoring : A new software, ‘Nidaan’, has been launched in Rajasthan for presumptive diagnosis and monitoring of seasonal and non-communicable diseases.“Nidaan” will facilitate online entries of as many as 46 diseases and healthcare services available for their treatment in different institutions.

5. Biodiversity award for Arunachal reserve : An NGO, Singchung Bugun Community Reserve, won the India Biodiversity Award 2018 in the category of ‘Conservation of wildlife species’The NGO bagged the prize for its unique endeavor & contributions towards conserving the rare wildlife resources of that area.The prize was presented by Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change & was conferred by National Biodiversity Authority.It is expected to help in formulation of specific action plans for control of diseases.

6. Chandramauli appointed as Chairman of PCI : Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, who was the former Supreme Court Judge has been appointed as the Chairman of the Press Council of India (PCI) for the second time.The decision was taken by a committee of three members, headed by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.Justice Prasad had taken over from Justice Markanday Katju in ​November, 2014.

7. Samagra Shiksha scheme for school education : HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar has launched Samagra Shiksha scheme for school education from pre-school to senior secondary levels.The scheme focuses on improving quality of education, enhancing learning outcomes & using technology to empower children & teachers.The scheme will enhance the use of digital technology in education through smart classroom & digital boards.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. North Korea dismantled its nuclear test site : North Korea has carried out demolition of its Punggye-ri nuclear test site in a series of huge explosions.Destruction of the nuclear testing tunnels at Punggye-ri is a tangible step toward denuclearization goal that Kim Jong-un agreed to at the 27 April Panmunjom Summit.North Korea permitted a group of journalists from Britain, China, Russia, South Korea and US to watch the destruction.

2.1st drone-carried meteorological data monitor : China has successfully tested its first drone-carried meteorological data monitor to undertake atmospheric observations.Dropsonde also known as meteorological data monitor will gather data such as temperature, humidity, and wind direction and transmit them to ground receiving devices in real time.Dropsondes can be widely used in meteorological emergency, disaster & ecological monitoring.

3. Nepal: First country to eliminate Trachoma : Nepal became the 1^st country in south-east Asia to eliminate Trachoma.Trachoma is a kind of chlamydial infection that happens due to unclean water supply & lack of hygiene and spreads through contact with nose, throat or eye of infected person.Nepal government took important measures like providing incentives to districts & local communities to build latrines in order to improve sanitation

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. MCX launches India’s first silver options : India’s Multi Commodity Exchange has launched the country’s first silver options contracts.Five contracts expiring in June, August, November, February and April with a lot size of 30 kg were launched.India is the world’s biggest consumer of silver, which is mainly used for jewellery making in the county.The exchange had recently launched crude oil and copper options.

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. HDFC bank to offer Digital Loans : HDFC Bank has launched its Digital Loans against Mutual Funds in partnership with transfer agent CAM.Customers will be able to leverage their mutual fund portfolio to avail funds for any emergencies without liquidating their investments.The ticket size of the loans will range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 crore at an interest rate of 10.5 -11%.

2. Anubrata Biswas appointed as MD & CEO : Airtel Payments Bank has announced the appointment of Anubrata Biswas as its Managing Director & CEO.Anubrata will be responsible for driving Airtel Payments Bank’s mission of taking convenient and innovative digital banking services to the doorstep of every Indian.Airtel Payments Bank was the first payments bank to start operations in India.

DEFENCE:

1. INSV Tarini Team gets Nari Shakti Puraskar : Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017 was presented to INSV Tarini Team in Delhi by Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Minister of Women & Child Development.Team comprising of 6 Lady Officers, led by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi from Indian Navy received the award from the Minister.Tarini is a part of Navika Sagar Parikrama, a unique project of Indian Navy which promotes ocean sailing activities in the Navy.

2. India, Nepal to conduct a military exercise : Armies of both the nations, India and Nepal will conduct a 2-week long military exercise ‘Surya Kiran’ in Uttarakhand.The focus of the exercise will be to enhance cooperation in conducting counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain.Around 300 soldiers from both the nations will be participating in this exercise.

3. New Vice Chief of Army Staff : Lt. Gen. Devraj Anbu has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS).He is presently GOC-in-C (General Officer Commanding-in-Chief) Northern Command.He will replace Lt. Gen. Sarath Chand who retires on May 31.Lt. Gen. Anbu is expected to be replaced by Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh who was the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) at the time of surgical strikes.

SPORTS:

1. First national sports university in Manipur : The Union Cabinet has approved an ordinance to set up the country’s first national sports university in Manipur.The varsity will be spread over 325 acres in Imphal West district with a cost of Rs 524 crore.The proposal to set up the national sports university in Manipur was initially announced by PM Modi, while Rs 100 crore funds for it were allocated in the 2014-15 budget.

Daily GK Updates - 24th May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India ranks 44th in terms of competitiveness : India has moved one notch higher, to the 44^th place in terms of competitiveness, in the annual rankings compiled by International Institute for Management Development.US is the most competitive economy globally followed by Hong Kong and Singapore in the second and third place.India is ranked the 12^th most competitive economy out of the 14 Asian countries on the list.

2. App to help voters to share malpractice proof : Election Commission will launch multi-lingual mobile application called “Model Code of Conduct Violation Reporting App” ahead of the 2019 elections.It aims to share evidence of malpractice by political parties, their candidates & activists directly with the electoral body.It was made available for the 1^st time in Bengaluru in the run-up to the recently concluded Karnataka Assembly polls.

3. Niti Aayog and ABB India join hands : ABB India & Niti Aayog have inked a pact to help India reap benefits of new technologies including robotics & artificial intelligence.The two institutions signed a Statement of Intent to work together in preparing key sectors of the economy for digitalisation, artificial intelligence, robotics & industrial automation.The initiative also covers the fast-growing segment of electric mobility.

4. ‘My MP Rojgar Portal’ launched : Madhya Pradesh CM, Shivraj Singh Chauhan launched the “My MP Rojgar Portal” in Bhopal under ‘Pahal’, which is a Mukhyamantri Career Counselling programme.This portal will provide jobs to youth as per their skills, interests and educational qualifications.The portal has been developed under Youth Empowerment Mission by the Madhya Pradesh Skill Development and Employment Generation Board.

5. H D Kumaraswamy sworn in as Karnataka CM : JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has been sworn in as Karnataka’s 24th chief minister.This will be Kumarawamy’s second term as the chief minister of Karnataka since 2007, when he last held the post for 20 months.G Parameshwara, the state Congress chief and the party’s Dalit face, was sworn in as the deputy chief minister.

6. Smart Cities India 2018 : The 4^th Smart Cities India 2018 Expo has kicked off in New Delhi.The event, consisting 5 expos is being held with a vision to help develop attractive and safe cities that evoke pride, passion and a sense of belonging among citizens.The 5 expos are, Building India Expo, Solar India Expo, Transport India Expo, Smart Cities India Expo and Water India Expo. 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. US disinvites China from major naval exercise : US has withdrawn an invitation from China to participate in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) drills over China’s expanded military footprint in disputed areas of South China Sea.RIMPAC is world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise.China began participating in the exercise in 2014, as part of an effort during the Obama administration to stabilize military relations with China.

2. World’s Largest Bird Sculpture ‘Jatayu’ : Kerala tourism will soon inaugurate the world’s largest bird sculpture, Jatayu Earth’s Centre, in Thiruvananthapuram.The replica of bird ‘Jatayu’, a character in the Ramayana is 65 feet tall & is positioned right at the top of a rock situated 1,000 feet above sea level.The rock, ‘Jatayupara’, where the structure is based, is the place where Jatayu fell after its wings were slain by Ravana.

3. MoU on cooperation in food security approved : Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding between India & Denmark regarding cooperation in the area of food safety.It will help improve food safety standard setting by getting access to best practices & facilitating food trade of important commodities.It will also promote understanding of best practices in areas of food safety in both countries

4. India to attend SCO anti-terror talks in Pak : India has confirmed its attendance in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation-Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure Legal Experts meeting to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan.Pakistan will be hosting its 1^st SCO meeting, since the country along with India became a member of the organisation in June 2017.Experts will discuss the terror threat faced by the region & ways to enhance counter-terror efforts.

OTHER UPDATES:

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. Twin spacecraft to track Earth’s water cycle : A joint U.S./German space mission to track the global water cycle was successfully lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On, GRACE-FO, is a joint mission by NASA & German Research Centre for Geosciences.GRACE-FO will monitor the movement of mass around the earth by measuring where & how the moving mass changes Earth’s gravitational pull.

DEFENCE:

1. Navy conducts “Prasthan” exercise : Indian Navy has conducted an exercise called ‘Prasthan’ in the Western Offshore Development Offshore area in Mumbai.The exercise is held every 6 months & aims at integrating maritime stakeholders, including, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, ONGC, Customs & Port Trust.The drill focused on things like fire on an oil platform, Oil spill, search and rescue for crashed helicopters and more.

SPORTS:

1. World’s most popular athlete : Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo was named the most popular athlete in the world as he topped the ESPN World Fame 100 list for a third straight year.Three-time NBA champion Lebron James retained his second spot on the list, while Messi came third.11 Indian athletes including Virat Kohli, Saina Nehwal and Saina Mirza have made it to the list of ESPN World Fame 100 of 2018.

2. De Villiers retires from international cricket : Former South Africa Test captain AB de Villiers has announced his retirement from international cricket.De Villiers made his international debut in Test series against England in 2004.He scored 8,765 Test runs and has a batting average of over 50 in both Test & ODI cricket.AB de Villiers holds the records for scoring the fastest fifty, hundred and 150 in ODIs.

Daily GK Updates - 23rd May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. New scheme introduced by IRCTC : Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation has introduced VIKALP scheme for passengers in wait-listing to provide berth in another train.Under the scheme, passengers from all classes & trains can select 5 trains, however, the scheme does not guarantee a confirmed berth. Passengers should be prepared as they can be shifted to another train leaving even 12 hours prior to the booked one.

2. A historic moment for Arunachal Pradesh : A 42 seater ATR Aircraft of Alliance air landed in Arunachal Pradesh carrying CM Pema Khandu and 24 other passengers.This is a history in making since this is the state’s first commercial flight.This new commercial flight would develop new prospects of economic development in this region.The flights will be operated thrice a week.

3. Pravin Agrawal appointed BHEL director : Power equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited has appointed Pravin L Agrawal as the part-time official director on its board.An Indian Forest Service officer, Agrawal is presently joint secretary in the Department of Heavy Industry (DHI), Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.Established in 1964, BHEL is India’s largest power generation equipment manufacturer.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 3rd Mission Innovation Ministerial in Sweden : India will be participating in the 3^rd Mission Innovation Ministerial that will be held at Malmo-Sweden.Mission Innovation is a global platform of 23 countries & EU aimed at accelerating clean energy innovations through enhanced government funding, public-private sector partnership & enhanced global cooperation.India is the founding member of Mission Innovation & part of Steering Committee

2. 71st World Health Assembly held in Geneva : The 71^st Session of the WHO’s World Health Assembly will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 21 to 26 May 2018.The WHA will be attended by delegations from all WHO Member States, the Indian Delegation will be led by Union Health Minister of India, J P Nadda.The theme chosen for World Health Assembly 2018 is “Health for All: Commit To Universal Health Coverage

3. Indonesia’s active volcano shows danger signs : Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s active volcano on Java island has shown dangers with small eruptions.The last eruption from this volcano killed more than 350 people in 2010.Any public activity including hiking within 3km of radius has been prohibited and villagers nearby have been asked to leave.

4. Olga Wins Man Booker International Prize : “Flights”, a philosophical rumination on modern-day travel by the Polish author Olga Tokarczuk, won the Man Booker International Prize for works of translated fiction.The Man Booker International Prize is awarded by the same organization that gives the Man Booker Prize for fiction.It is for a single work of fiction that has been translated into English and published in the United Kingdom.

5. IAF Chief Dhanoa began 4-day visit to Israel : Chief of Air Staff BS Dhanoa has begun a 4-day visit to Israel with an aim to enhance cooperation between air forces of the two countries.He will attend a conference themed ‘Air superiority as a bridge to regional stability’ which is being organized as part of 70th-anniversary celebrations of Israel Air Force.Air forces of both the countries have been enhancing cooperation over the years.

6. NYSE to have its first female leader : The New York Stock Exchange has appointed Chief Operating Officer Stacey Cunningham as its first female president.Cunningham will replace Tom Farley as the head of NYSE.Cunningham became NYSE’s chief operating officer in June 2015.NYSE’s move means two of the top three US stock exchange operators are led by women.

7. Malaysia gets its first Sikh minister : Gobind Singh Deo, an Indian-origin Sikh politician in Malaysia, has become a cabinet minister.He is the first member of the minority community in Malaysia’s history to be appointed as a minister.He has been given the communications and multimedia portfolio.He is among the two politicians of Indian descent that have been included in the Pakatan Harapan coalition’s Cabinet.

8.International Day for Biological Diversity : International Day for Biological Diversity is celebrated annually on May 22 to make people aware of the importance of biodiversity issues.This date commemorates the date of Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity at Nairobi on 22 May 1992.Theme chosen for International Day for Biological Diversity 2018 is “Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity”.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. Finance Ministry ties with 40 entities : In order to extend loans under the Mudra scheme, Finance Ministry has tied up with 40 entities including Amul & Flipkart.These companies will identify people who need loans under Mudra Yojana, underwrite them and we will extend loans under the scheme.Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana was launched in 2015, for providing loans of up to Rs 10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.

2. BNPM to increase bank note paper production : The government’s Bank Note Paper Mill India (BNPM) has received green signal to increase the production of bank note paper at its Mysuru unit in Karnataka.The production of bank note paper has been increased from 12,000 tonnes per annum to 16,000 tonnes per annum.The raw material used for manufacturing of currency paper is 100% cotton sourced from neighbouring countries.

DEFENCE:

1. India became a major US defence partner : India’s status as a major defence partner of the US and strong US-India strategic partnership was affirmed by both nations at the Argentina Meet.Meeting on the sidelines of the G20 ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires, the 2 nations discussed the agenda for the forthcoming 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.India and US also discussed opportunities to advance stability in Afghanistan.

Daily GK Updates - 22nd May. 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bhosle to be conferred with Banga Bibhushan : Asha Bhosle will be conferred with the highest civilian award of West Bengal, the Banga Bibhushan, by the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.She has done playback singing for over a thousand Bollywood movies & has sung in over 20 Indian & foreign languages.Bengal government in 2011 instituted Banga Bibhushan award to recognize the services of eminent personalities from their respective fields.

2. First advisory centre for energy regulation : Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur has set up first of its kind Centre for Energy Regulation in the country to strengthen policy and regulatory limitations in energy and power sector.The centre has been set up with the assistance of the UK government.The centre would develop a regulatory database to enable stakeholders in taking more informed decisions.

3. National registry of crimes against women : National Crime Records Bureau is in the process of creating a national registry of crimes against women.The move comes against the backdrop of an around 3% increase in crimes against women and a 12% rise in incidents of rape in 2016 as compared to 2015.Majority of cases categorised as crimes against women were reported under “cruelty by husband or his relatives”.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 100% business ownership to foreign investors : United Arab Emirates Cabinet has approved a plan to allow foreign investors to own 100% of UAE-based businesses by end of 2018.At present, foreigners generally cannot own more than 49 percent of any UAE firm unless it is incorporated in a special “free zone”.The decision is part of a wider change to the system that would grant residency visas of up to 10 years to investors and specialists.

2. Venezuela’s Maduro won presidential vote : Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro won a new six-year term in what is being seen as a controversial vote.Country’s main opposition coalition, Democratic Unity Roundtable, had boycotted the election.The two most popular opposition leaders, Henrique Capriles and Leopoldo Lopez, were barred from running in the vote.Several democratic countries have rejected to recognize the vote.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. BoB launched MSME factory in Gurgaon : Bank of Baroda has launched its first integrated SME Loan Factory in Gurgaon to cater the needs of MSME segment in NCR.It will function as a One Stop Shop’ for MSME customers and will provide end to end solutions viz. acquisition, processing, disbursement & relationship management.BoB has also decided to centralize Government Sponsored Schemes loan processing at the district level.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. Facts about the Nipah virus : According to WHO, the Nipah virus infection is a newly emerging zoonosis, that is, a disease transmitted from animals to humans.The virus belongs to a new genus termed Henipavirus (subfamily Paramyxovirinae).The symptoms of Nipah are similar to that of influenza: fever, muscle pain, and respiratory problems.The Nipah virus has so far lead to 3 deaths in Kerala.

2. Satellite to explore dark side of moon : China has launched a relay satellite “Queqiao” designed to establish a communication link between earth and a planned lunar probe that will explore the dark side of the moon.The launch is a key step for China to realize its goal of being the first country to send a probe to soft-land on & rove the far side of the moon.It will be the world’s 1^st communication satellite operating from moon.

DEFENCE:

1. Artificial Intelligence in defence forces : India has decided to include Artificial Intelligence in its defence forces with an aim to enhance the operational preparedness of the armed forces.A task force has been set up under the chairmanship of N. Chandrasekaran to finalise the specifics & framework of the project.Major countries like Russia, US & China are taking steps to ensure that their defence systems are fully empowered by AI.

2. India test-fired BrahMos supersonic cruise : India has successfully test-fired the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a test range along the Odisha coast.Trial was conducted to validate its “life extension” technologies developed for the first time in India by DRDO and team BrahMos.The successful test will result in huge savings of replacement cost of missiles held in the inventory of the Armed Forces.

SPORTS:

1. 1st international football tournament in Iraq : Iraq will host a West Asia Football Federation championship in Basra in November 2018, the first international tournament to be staged in the country since the 1990s.Iraq has not played competitive internationals on home turf since its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.In March 2018, FIFA decided to lift a 30-year-old ban from Iraq on hosting the international football.

2. Pawan Singh named RTS Jury chief : India’s former shooter & national coach Pawan Singh has been appointed as the Chairman of Result Timing Score Jury by the International Shooting Sports Federation for the ISSF World Cup in Munich.With this appointment, Singh became the first Indian to chair the RTS Jury at a senior World Cup.He would be responsible to resolve any score related issue and provide an accurate result on time.

3. Messi won European Golden Shoe : Barcelona striker Lionel Messi has won his 5^th European Golden Shoe after his team defeated Real Sociedad in their final La Liga match of the season.Messi won the award with 34 goals, for a total of 68 points during the 2017-18 season.Messi is the only player to have won the European Golden Shoe 5 times.4-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo finished 9^th after scoring 26 goals for Real Madrid.

4. Nadal won 8th Rome Masters 2018 : Rafael Nadal won the Rome Masters for the 8^th time after he defeated the defending champion Alexander Zverev 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in the finals.The win is Nadal’s 78th ATP Tour title and takes him clear of John McEnroe into 4^th place in the list of most men’s titles won in the Open era.The victory means Nadal will reclaim the Number 1 ranking from Federer.

Daily GK Updates - 21st May, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India to hold naval exercise with Vietnam : 3 Indian warships namely – INS Sahyadri, INS Shakti & INS Kamorta entered into Tien Sa Port, Vietnam on May 21.A professional interaction will be held between personnel of the two navies as well as official calls & interaction with dignitaries of the Vietnamese government.On completion of the harbour phase, warships from the two navies would conduct their 1^st joint naval exercise.

2. Chatra Parivahan Suraksha Yojana : Haryana government is going to launch Chatra Parivahan Suraksha Yojana for the safety of girls.Under this scheme, all the girl students will get free travel facility from their home to their educational institutions.The primary objective of this scheme is to ensure that the girls feel secure at public places, workplaces and while traveling.

3. CSC to reach 2.50 lakh gram panchayats : The network of Common Service Centres (CSCs) are set to be expanded to 2.50 lakh gram panchayats by the end of 2018.Common Service Centres (CSCs) provides electronic services in banking, insurance, passport seva, telemedicine and pensions to villages in India.The CSC model has adopted six villages in the country in the pilot phase.

4. Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency got award : Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNeGA) has received an award for promoting ease of doing business.TNeGA developed an investor facilitation portal that provides single window clearance to industrial proposals in the state.The award was given in recognition of simplification of procedure and ease with whichclearances from various authorities can be procured by a business.

5. Exercise ‘Gandiv Vijay’ in Rajasthan : Thousands of soldiers with warfighting equipment of South Western Command’s Chetak corps are engaged in intensive training in Mahajan field firing ranges of Rajasthan under exercise ‘Gandiv Vijay’.The exercise, which began two months ago, will conclude on May 23.The exercise involves multi-mode mobilization from dispersed locations.

6. Aadhaar, PAN mandatory for broker license : The revenue department has made Aadhaar and PAN mandatory for persons seeking a customs broker license.Customs broker is a person licensed to act as an agent on behalf of importer/exporter for a transaction of business relating to entry or departure of conveyances or goods at any customs station.The license is issued by the Directorate General of Performance Management.

7. Anti Terrorism Day observed on May 21 : Anti Terrorism Day is observed every year throughout the country on May 21.The Day is observed to generate awareness in the country among all sections of people, about the danger of terrorism and violence and its effect on the people, society and the country as a whole.Anti-terrorism pledge is taken in all Government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Paraguay officially moves embassy to Jerusalem : Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes has inaugurated his country’s Israel embassy in Jerusalem.Paraguay is now the third country to move its embassy to Jerusalem, following the United States and Guatemala.Israel considers the entire city of Jerusalem to be its capital, while the Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

2. Nepal to shut India’s field office : Nepal has decided to close Indian Embassy’s field office in Biratnagar in the near future as it has “outlived its purpose”.India was permitted to set up a temporary field office in 2008 to issue passes to vehicles for plying on Indian roads in the bordering regions after Koshi floods damaged a 17-km stretch of east-west highway.Nepali had also tried to remove the field office 6 years ago.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. India Sixth Wealthiest Country : India is the sixth wealthiest country in the world with a total wealth of US $8,230 billion.The US is the wealthiest country in the world with a total wealth of US $62,584 billion, according to the AfrAsia Bank Global Wealth Migration Review.Total wealth refers to the private wealth held by all the individuals living in each country. It includes all their assets less any liabilities.

DEFENCE:

1. CRPF raises ‘Bastariya Battalion’ : In a bid to enhance combat capabilities in Naxal-hit area of Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), for the first time, has decided to include local representation in a special unit.The special unit has been numbered as 241 and named as ‘Bastariya Battalion’.All the candidates have been selected from four highly Naxal infested district in Chhattisgarh.

2. INSV Tarini all set to return on May 21 : Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini is all set to complete its circumnavigation of the globe and return to Goa on May 21.INSV Tarini was set out for sail on September 10, 2017 from Goa.It is the first Indian all-women crew to circumnavigate the globe.The expedition titled ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama’, is aimed at promoting women empowerment..

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. NASA’s hunting probe completed lunar flyby : NASA’s latest planet-hunting satellite has successfully completed a lunar flyby, passing about 8,000 kilometers from the Moon.It beamed back a test image revealing more than 200 thousand stars.

The flyby provided a gravity assist that helped the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) sail toward its final working orbit.TESS is NASA’s search for planets outside our solar system.