Daily GK Updates - 19th January, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 15th Raising Day celebrated by National Disaster Response Force: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was founded on 19th January 2006. NDRF celebrated its 15th Raising Day on 19th January 2020. The organization plays an important role in Disaster Management and Community awareness for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the country. NDRF has conducted 3100 operations and saved over one lakh lives, hence playing a crucial role in Disaster Management and Community awareness for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the country. Workshops on ‘Urban flooding & challenges’ and ‘Biological Emergencies & New Technology in Disaster Management’ were also conducted during the celebrations.

Note: NDRF Formed on: 2006; Headquarters: NDRF HQ, Antyodaya Bhawan, New Delhi; Chairman: Prime Minister Narendra Modi; Minister responsible: Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs; Director-General: SN Pradhan

2. National Immunization Day 2020: January 19: In India, the National Immunization Day was observed on 19 January 2020. As a part of the celebrations, Pulse Polio Immunization programme 2020 was launched where President Ram Nath Kovind administered Polio drops to children below five years at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Under this programme, approximately 17.4 crore children of less than five years of age across the country will be administered polio drops as a part of the immunization drive of the Central Government to sustain polio eradication from the country.

3. Nripendra Misra appointed as chairman of NMML: Former principal secretary to PM, Nripendra Misra has been appointed as chairman of the executive council of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML). Mishra who resigned from the PS to the PM post last year is a UP cadre IAS officer, closely associated with the think tank Vivekananda International Foundation. Dr. A Surya Prakash, chairman of the Prasar Bharati will be the vice-chairman of the executive council of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML).

Note: NMML is an autonomous institution under the Indian Ministry of Culture, to preserve and reconstruct the history of the Indian independence movement. It is the world’s leading resource centre on India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

4. 9th International Children’s Film Festival begins in Kolkata: The 9th edition of Kolkata International Children's Film Festival has begun in Kolkata, West Bengal. The festival will feature the screening of about 250 films from 45 countries. National award-winning 'Hamid' was the inaugural film. The National award winner child actor, Talha Arsad Rishi inaugurated the festival.

5. Tuberculosis control programme renamed: Government of India renamed its National TB Control Programme to National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme. The name change is in line with the goal of India in eliminating the disease by 2025. This is five years ahead of the goal of United Nations Sustainable Development target. Also, the WHO endorsed on technology developed by India to detect the disease called True Nat MTB in terms of accuracy.

6. Gujarat ranked top for water efficiency: The Ministry of Jal Shakti released a report on efficiency targets in the review of state and Central government water departments. As per the report, Gujarat has topped in the list. Rajasthan is the third-best and Delhi is among the worst-performing states. Among the seven Central departs reviewed, the Survey of India has got the top billing followed by the National Institute of Hydrology and Central Water Commission.

7. Vijay Rupani Flags-off State of Art Tejas express between Mumbai-Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani flagged off Ahmedabad-Mumbai Tejas express at Ahmedabad Railway Station. The Ahmedabad-Mumbai Tejas express is India’s second premium train operated by private operators, IRCTC, a subsidiary of Indian Railways. The first such train is Lucknow – New Delhi Tejas Express, which started its operations on 4 October 2019. The Tejas express is one of India’s semi-high speed fully air-conditioned Train having several modern features such as sliding doors, personalized reading lights, mobile charging points, attendant call buttons, bio-toilets, automatic entry and exit doors, CCTV cameras, reclining facility, comfortable seats, etc. The Railways has proposed to run 150 such premium trains across the country. IRCTC will compensate passengers for delays by providing Rs 100 to each passenger in case delay is more than one hour and Rs 250 if delay exceeds two hours.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India to set up Maritime Research Coordination Centre: Sri Lanka and India agreed to establish a maritime research coordination center and strengthen military ties. India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and discussed setting up the center to learn maritime activities in the Indian Ocean Region. Mr. Rajapaksa will visit India in late Nov for talks with PM Modi, who offered $450 mn aid to Sri Lanka.

2. New Disease Outbreak: Novel corona virus Grips China’s Wuhan City: The Wuhan City of China is in a grip of a new disease outbreak caused by new respiratory virus called Novel corona virus, codenamed as 2019-nCoV. Corona viruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). 2019-nCoV is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. The outbreak has so far killed two people in China and sickened at least 45 persons including overseas cases with some new cases being detected in the city. It is believed to have contracted through exposure to animals market that sells seafood and meat in Wuhan.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Ratchanok Intanon wins Indonesia Masters 2020 title: Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon won the Indonesia Badminton Masters 2020 women's singles title. She defeated Carolina Marin of Spain by 21-19, 11-21, 21-18 in the final. The clash went into three-games and despite losing the first game, the Spanish shuttler made a comeback in the second game and claimed the game by 21-11.Intanon won the match by claiming the third game by 21-18.

2. India beat Pakistan to lift 4th Diplomat Cup Cricket Championship: The team of the Indian Consulate in Dubai defeated the team of the Pakistan Consulate to lift the Diplomat Cup Cricket Championship 2020. The 4th edition of the was participated by the Consulates of eight countries – India, Pakistan, Afghanistan , Bangladesh , Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia and the US. This is the third successive year that India won the Diplomat Cup Championship. The first tournament was won by Bangladesh in January 2017.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. India’s GDP Estimated at 5.7% for FY20; World economy likely to grow 2.5% in 2020: UN report: The United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2020 report was released. The WESP is an annual UN flagship publication on the state of the world economy from the point of view of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

GDP estimate for India:

GDP forecast for 2019-20: 5.7 percent (from 7.6 per cent forecast in WESP 2019).

GDP forecast for 2020-21: 6.6 percent (from 7.4 per cent earlier)

GDP forecast for 2021-22: 6.3 percent

World Economic Growth:

2.3 percent – 2019

2.5 percent – 2020

2.7 percent – 2021

2. RBI Ranks 6th among central banks in buying gold abroad in 2019: WGC Report: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was the sixth largest gold buyer abroad in the year 2019, as per the World Gold Council (WGC) report titled, “World Gold Outlook 2020”. The RBI currently holds 625.2 tonnes of gold, which is 6.6 percent of its forex reserves. RBI bought 7.5 tonnes of gold in October 2019, to increase its foreign exchange reserves to $450 billion. The central banks of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Poland bought more than India in 2019 respectively.

AWARDS AND HONOUR

1. ‘Castle of Dreams’ recieves the Best Film Award at DIFF: ‘Castle of Dreams’ has won the Best Film Award in Asian Competition section of the 18th Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF). Reza Mirakarimi who has directed the Iranian film ‘Castle of Dreams’ won the Best Director Award. Anjan Dutt directed movie ‘Finally Love’ has won the Best Audience Award in Cinema of the World Category while ‘Children of the Sun’ directed by Sri Lankan director Prasanna Vithanage has won the Special Jury Award in the 18th Dhaka International Film Festival.

2. 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards: The winners of the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which honours the year’s biggest achievements in TV and film were announced at an event held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, USA. Here is the complete list of winners of the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards:

S. No.	Category	Award Winner
1	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries	Sam Rockwell, (Fosse/Verdon)
2	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries	Michelle Williams, (Fosse/Verdon)
3	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series	Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
4	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series	Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show)
5	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series	Tony Shalhoub (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel)
6	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series	Phoebe Waller-Bridg (Fleabag)
7	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series	The Crown
8	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series	The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
9	Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series	Game of Thrones
10	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role	Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)
11	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role	Renee Zellweger (Judy)
12	Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role	Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood)
13	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role	Laura Dern (Marriage Story)
14	Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture	Parasite
15	Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture	Avengers: Endgame

DEFENCE

1. India successfully test-fired K-4 Ballistic Missile from Andhra Pradesh: India successfully test-fired nuclear capable K-4 ballistic missile off the Vizag coast in Andhra Pradesh. K-4 is a nuclear capable, Intermediate-range, submarine-launched, ballistic missile, which is under development by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Navy. The missile will be equipped on indigenous INS Arihant class nuclear powered submarines of Navy. The missile has a maximum range of about 3500 km. India is expected to carry out more tests of the missile before it is ready for being equipped on the nuclear submarines.K-4 is one of the two underwater missiles being developed by India for its submarine force .The other one is the over 700 km strike range BO-5.

Note: Only the US, Russia and China have submarine-launched ballistic missiles of 3,500-kilometre range.

2. Indian Army Conducts Biggest Airborne Exercise ‘Winged Raider’ in North Eastern Theatre: The Indian Army carried out its biggest Airborne Exercise code-named ‘Winged Raider’ in the North Eastern Theatre. The multi-dimensional exercise involved more than 500 Special Force troops and all kind of air transport platforms of the Air Force. The exercise saw the soldiers of the Special Forces parachuting from C-130 Hercules, C-17 globemaster transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, and Dhruv helicopters during the day and night.

OBITUARIES

1. Eminent classical singer Sunanda Patnaik passed away: Eminent Indian classical singer Sunanda Patnaik, who had carved a special identity in Odia music world, passed away following a prolonged illness. She was 85.Popularly known as "Guguma", Patnaik was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kolkata. Daughter of legendary Odia poet Baikunthanath Patnaik, the veteran singer was born on November 7, 1934, and started her career in singing at the All India Radio, Cuttack in 1948 at the age of 14.

Daily GK Updates - 18th January, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Centre of Block Chain Technology sets up in Bengaluru: The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has set up the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Blockchain Technology in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The CoE was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Law & Justice, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad on 18 January 2020. The Centre of Excellence will facilitate the Government Departments in building proof of concepts for use of Blockchain technology in different dimensions of governance to enhance transparency, traceability and trust in e-governance systems. CoE will also provide Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) for efficient hosting of Blockchain network.

2. Union Minister of Fertilizers launched the ‘Apna Urea – Sona Ugle‘ brand of HURL: The Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, DV Sadananda Gowda unveiled the logo and brand ‘Apna Urea Sona Ugle’ of Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL) on 17 January 2020. HURL is a joint venture company promoted by the three Maharatna companies namely Coal India (CIL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) as the lead promoters and Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL) and Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation (HFCL) as other two partners. In 2016, Government had directed for the revival of five major sick fertiliser plants of which, the task of the revival of three units has been undertaken by HURL. The sick urea units are located at Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Barauni (Bihar) and Sindri (Jharkhand).

3. Union Territory of Ladakh Signs MoU with NITI Aayog for Development of Infrastructure Projects: NITI Aayog has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union Territory of Ladakh on 17 January 2020 to promote the development of key infrastructure sectors in the region. NITI Aayog is providing support to UT’s administration under its key initiative ‘Development Support Services to States for Infrastructure Projects (D3S-i)’. The MoU will help towards identification of high-impact priority projects, expedited project implementation, addressing structural-level issues and creating unique models of development for the Union Territory of Ladakh, especially in tourism, solar energy and basic infrastructure.

4. 3rd Edition of North Zone Conference of MIB’s of Media Units held in Jammu: The 3rd edition of North Zone Conference’ of Media Units of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, held in Jammu. The Conference is being organised by the Regional Outreach Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir region.

Note: Lieutenant (Lt) Governors of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K): Girish Chandra Murmu.

5. Mizoram to celebrate Chapchar kut in March 2020: The Mizoram government and organizing committee under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Zoramthanga decided to celebrate Chapchar Kut, the biggest and most important festival of the Mizos, on March 6, 2020. While March 5 will be celebrated as pre-festival, which would be graced by Art and Culture Minister R Lalzirliana as “Kut Pa” or the “father of the festival”? Theme: "Promotion of Mizos' culture and moral code".

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Oleksiy Honcharuk Resigns as Prime Minister of Ukraine: The incumbent Prime Minister of Ukraine, Oleksiy Honcharuk submitted his resignation to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on 17 January, after less than six months in the role. The resignation is however still to be confirmed by the President. Oleksiy Honcharuk has been the Prime Minister of Ukraine since 29 August 2019 becoming the youngest-ever head of government at the age of 35.

Note: Ukraine capital: Kyiv; Currency: Ukrainian hryvnia

2. Microsoft promises to be carbon negative by 2030: The US tech giant Microsoft has announced that it would become “carbon negative” by year 2030 and by 2050 it will have removed all the carbon it has emitted since 1975. To become negative, the company will have to not just reduce its carbon emissions and shift to renewable resources but actually offset its carbon footprint. It has also announced its investment of $1 billion in a “climate innovation fund” for technology for carbon capture and removal.

Note: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microsoft: Satya Nadella; Founded: April 4, 1975; Headquarters: Washington, United States (US).

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. ICC U-19 World Cup Cricket begins in South Africa: The ICC Under-19 World Cup Cricket 2020 begins in South Africa.  India is the defending champions in U19 World Cup 2018. Total 16 teams are participating in the tournament, split into four groups of four.

Note: Chairman of ICC: Shashank Manohar; Chief Executive: Manu Sahney; Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

2. Sania Mirza wins WTA International women's doubles title: Indian women tennis star, Sania Mirza and her Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok have won the women's doubles title of the WTA International trophy at Hobart in Australia. In the final, they beat Shaui Peng and Shuai Zhang of China 6-4,6-4. It is Sania's 42nd WTA doubles title and first since Brisbane International trophy in 2007 with American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

3. Vinesh Phogat wins gold medal in UWW Rome Ranking Series 2020: Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat won the first gold medal of the 2020 season at the Rome Ranking Series event in Rome on January 17, 2020. India’s wrestling champion Vinesh Phogat defeated Ecuador’s Luisa Elizabeth Melendres 4-0 in the final (53 kg) to win her first gold medal of the season at the UWW Rome Ranking Series. Earlier, Anshu Malik settled for a silver in 57kg competition. Till now, India’s medal tally in Rome Series has reached 5 including 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze.

DEFENCE

1. India to Receive Five S-400 air defence systems from Russia by 2025: Russia has started production of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems for India. All five units will be delivered to India by 2025. The S-400 air defence missile systems are among the best in the world. The S-400 air defence missile systems is an upgraded version of the S-300, was previously only been available to the Russian defence forces. India signed USD 5.43-billion deal with Russia for the purchase of 5 units of S-400 systems on October 5, 2018, during the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit in New Delhi, for long-term security needs.

Note: Union Defence Minister: Rajnath Singh.

OBITUARIES

1. Former India all-rounder Bapu Nadkarni passes away: Rameshchandra Gangaram ‘Bapu’ Nadkarni, former Indian cricketer, mainly known for being an economical bowler, has passed away due to old-age related problems. He was 86. The legendary India all-rounder was best known for bowling a record 21 successive maiden overs in a Test match. Nadkarni was a left-handed batsman and slow-left arm orthodox bowler who had played 41 Tests and 191 first-class matches.

2. World’s shortest man Khagendra Thapa Magar passes away: Guinness World Records holder, world’s shortest man, Khagendra Thapa Magar, passed away in Nepal on 18 January 2020. He was 27. Magar was just 67.08 cm tall and was declared the shortest man alive by Guinness World Records (GWR) in 2010 after turning 18. Now after passing away of Magar, the world’s shortest man record is held by Edward “Nino” Hernandez, a DJ from Colombia, who is 70.21 cm.

Daily GK Updates - 17th January, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. No documents or biometric required for National Population Register (NPR): Home Ministry: The Government has informed that no documents will be asked and no biometric will be taken for National Population Register (NPR) exercise to be carried out between April and September 2020. The NPR is a register of usual residents of the country. The NPR exercise will be carried out in all states and UTs, except Assam, along with the house listing phase of the census 2021 exercise. The Union Cabinet has approved Rs. 3,941.35 crore for the NPR exercise. Assam has been excluded because the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise has already been conducted in the state.

2. India’s first global Mega-Science Exhibition ‘Vigyan Samagam’ to be held in New Delhi: The fourth and final leg of the first-of-its-kind, multi-venue Mega Science exhibition named “Vigyan Samagam” will be held at the National Science Centre (NSC) in New Delhi from 21 January to 20 March, 2020 The 11-month duration Vigyan Samagam is being hosted at four cities, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Delhi, from May 2019 to March 2020, with around two months at each venue. The previous three leg of the exhibition took place as given below:

1. Mumbai – 8 May to 7 July, 2019

2. Bengaluru – 29 July to 28 September, 2019

3. Kolkata – 4 November to 31 December, 2019

This exhibition is jointly organised by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Department of Science and Technology (DST), the funding agencies of these projects, the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) and Ministry of Culture. After the successful completion of the exibition in New Delhi, it will remain as a permanent exhibition at New Delhi and will be taken care-off by NCSM.

3. First Agribusiness and Rural Development Summit “Krishi Manthan” Held in Gujarat: The first edition of the Krishi Manthan, the largest Food, Agri-business and Rural Development Summit of Asia was held at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) in Gujarat on 16-17 January 2020. The Summit was organised by the Food and Agribusiness Committee of IIMA. More than 1,500 delegates including students and academicians participated in the two-day event to share ideas, knowledge, and expertise to create solutions. It is an exclusive platform for industry, academia, and policymakers to share ideas, knowledge, and expertise to create solutions.

4. Arunachal Pradesh has signed a (MoU) with the IUCN: Arunachal Pradesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) to red-listing of orchids. The state has become the first state to initiate the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) red listing at the state level.

About IUCN Red List: The IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. The list has been acting as a powerful tool to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation and policy change. IUCN has projected that it is complexities to protect natural resources.

IUCN Founded on: 5 October 1948; Located at: Gland, Switzerland; Director-General: Grethel Aguilar; President: Zhang Xinsheng

5. Dr Mihir Shah appointed Chairman of the Committee to draft the National Water Policy: Dr Mihir Shah, Distinguished Professor at the University has been appointed the Chairman of the Committee to draft the National Water Policy. The committee established by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India will outline the new National Water Policy (NWP) for the country. The committee, comprising of 11 members including Dr Shah, will draft the National Water Policy (NWP) and will submit this to the government within six months from the date of its constitution.

6. IIM-Indore signs MoU with TikTok to provide short video modules: The Indian Institute of Management, Indore has signed an MoU with the video sharing platform “TikTok”. The MoU will facilitate the production of short video modules for students and trained professionals. IIM-Indore Partners TikTok to produce short video lessons on management The Indian Institute of Management, Indore has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with video-sharing application TikTok to produce short video modules on management courses for students and trained professionals. The MoU includes preparing new education modules of short video content storytelling and implement them in communication, negotiation, and marketing and strategy programs, both in flagship programs as well as executive programs of the institute.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Russian Duma (Lower house) approves Mikhali Mishustin as the new Prime Minister: Russian assembly or the Duma on 16th January approved Mikhail V. Mishustin as the new Prime Minister, a little-known technocrat picked by President Vladimir Putin, a day after the Cabinet resigned as part of an unexpected Kremlin shake-up. Putin proposed major changes to the Russian Constitution that would spread political power more evenly, away from the president to the Parliament, the State Council and other government institutions.

2. India to host SCO heads of govt meeting later this year: India to host the 19th Edition of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting 2020. This would be the first high-level meeting of the SCO that would be organised here since India’s admission to the eight-member grouping. India took over the presidency of the heads of government’ meeting last year and it was announced in the 18th meeting of the SCO’s Council of heads of government-held in Tashkent in 2019.

Note: The economic and security bloc which initially comprised of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, included India and Pakistan in 2017.

SCO Headquarters: Beijing, China; Secretary General: Vladimir Norov; Founded: 26 April 1996

3. Senior Indian Advocate Harish Salve Appointed Queen’s Counsel for Courts of England & Wales: Noted Indian lawyer Harish Salve has been appointed as Queen’s Counsel (QC) for the courts of England and Wales. The title of Queen’s Counsel is awarded to lawyers who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy. Salve, along with other appointees will be formally appointed as QC on March 16, 2020. Advocate Salve served as a Solicitor General for India from November 1999 to November 2002. He is known for representing India before the International Court of Justice in the Kulbhushan Jadhav extradition case.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. UN lowers India’s growth forecast for FY20 to 5.7%: GDP growth in India and few other large emerging countries may gain some momentum this year after the global economy recorded its lowest growth of 2.3 per cent in 2019 due to prolonged trade disputes, a UN study. According to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2020, a growth rate of 2.5 per cent is possible in 2020, but a flare up of trade tensions, financial turmoil, or an escalation of geopolitical tensions could derail a recovery. It lowered its GDP growth estimate for India to 5.7 per cent in the current fiscal (from 7.6 per cent forecast in WESP 2019) and lowered its forecast for the next fiscal to 6.6 per cent (from 7.4 per cent earlier). It has also forecast a growth rate of 6.3 per cent for the fiscal beginning in 2021.

AWARDS AND HONOUR

1. Sindhi writer “Vasdev Mohi” to be conferred with 29th Saraswati Samman: Eminent Sindhi writer Vasdev Mohi will be conferred with 29th Saraswati Samman a literary recognition given annually by the KK Birla Foundation. He has been selected for this prestigious literary award for his short stories collection- ‘Chequebook’, a collection of short stories in Sindhi, published in 2012. ‘Chequebook’ highlights the life of a domestic helper, facing ill-treatment from her husband and hardships because of poverty. Saraswati Samman carries a cash award of 15 lakh rupees, a citation and a plaque. Mr Mohi has authored 25 books of poetry, stories and translations. He has also received Sahitya Akademi Award.

2. Indian scientist Sakya Singha Sen awarded “Merck Young Scientist Award 2019: Indian scientist Sakya Singha Sen from National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) Pune, has been awarded “Merck Young Scientist Award 2019” for doing remarkable research in chemical science. This award is instituted by Merck, a science and technology company operating worldwide. Sen and his research team specializes in main group chemistry and involves in the synthesis of compounds with main group element and their catalytic application.

DEFENCE

1. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flags off 51st K9 VAJRA-T gun: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun from Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Armoured System Complex at Hazira in Gujarat.

The ‘K9 VAJRA-T’ Tracked, Self-Propelled Howitzer Guns are being manufactured by Larsen & Toubro under the contract awarded to the company by Ministry of Defence through global competitive bidding to deliver 100 such guns. More than 75 percent of K9 Vajra has been manufactured in India. The gun weighs 50 tonnes and can fire 47-kilogram bombs at targets up to a distance of 43 kilometres. It can also turn around at zero radius.

Daily GK Updates - 16th January, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurates ‘Indian Heritage in Digital Space’: The Union Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel launched a month-long special exhibition 'Indian Heritage in Digital Space' and a first international heritage symposium at the National Museum located in New Delhi. IHDS, an initiative of Department of Science and Technology has created the models of Heritages with the help of holographic projections, AR and 3D fabrication and 3D LASER scan data. Visitors will be able to see the recreations of the socio-cultural life and traditions of Hampi, architectural and conjectural reconstructions of several important structures.

2. Lucknow hosts the 7th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference 2020: The 7th Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the Vidhan Bhawan, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on 16 January 2020. During the two-day event, Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon will address the inaugural session, while Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel will address the valedictory session on 17 January 2020. The main theme of the conference is ‘ROLE OF LEGISLATORS’ and during the Plenary Sessions spread over two days, delegates will discuss the Capacity Building of Legislators for Scrutinizing Budgetary Proposals and Enhancing Focus of Legislators on Legislative Business.

Note: CPA India Region conferences are held once in two years and the 6th conference was held in 2018 in Patna.

Uttar Pradesh Governor: Anandiben Patel; Capital: Lucknow; Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath

3. Mega fuel conservation campaign ‘Saksham 2020’ inaugurated in New Delhi: The one-month long mega fuel conservation campaign named Saksham-2020 was inaugurated in New Delhi on 16 January 2020. Saksham (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav) is an annual flagship event of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Govt. of India. The Saksham campaign aims at creating mass awareness among public about conventional fuel conservation, for health & environment protection and simultaneously help in reducing India’s dependency on import of crude oil.

4. 5th Science Film Festival of India 2020 Begins in Goa: The 5th edition of Science Film Festival of India, SCI-FFI 2020, has been started in Panaji, Goa. The four-day-long festival was inaugurated by Chief Minister, Dr. Paramod Sawant and will end on 18 January. The festival that will take place at the Inox Complex and Maquinez Palace in Goa, aims at instilling the knowledge of science among the youth with the help of exhibitions, masterclasses, workshops, and other activities. Besides, Goa Government and Government of India, the event is being supported by Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute and National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAR). Films that have been selected to be screened at the event are 'Mission Mangal', 'Antariksham 9000 KMPH', 'Everest', 'Aamorie', 'Terminator: Dark Fate', 'Geostorm' and, 'Virus' among others. A special workshop titled 'Million SoUL' will also be conducted by IIT Bombay on training about making solar lamps. The workshop is aimed at empowering people from backward communities.

5. Ladakh hosts the first ever Food Processing Summit: Union Territory Ladakh is hosting the first ever Food Processing Summit to attract investors to the region. With the help of Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the UT Administration of Ladakh is organizing the Summit. Ladakh region has vast scope for investment in food Processing Industries in horticulture products like Apricot, SeabuckThorn, Apple and agricultural produce like buckwheat and barley.

Note: Ladakh Capitals: Leh, Kargir; Lieutenant Governor: RK Mathur

6. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani launched the 7th Economic Census process: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has launched the 7th Economic Census process in the state. Economic Census process is carried out by Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with the help of Common Service Centres. It will continue till 30th June 2020. The entire data will be compiled on 30th September 2020. The data of this Economic Census will be classified into the village, taluka and district-wise to be developed into a National Business Register.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Submits Resignation: Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as well as the entire Russian government submitted resignation to President Vladimir Putin, after President announced a range of constitutional changes. Putin thanked Medvedev for his work and appointed him as the deputy head of the presidential Security Council. Russian President asked Medvedev's Cabinet to keep working until the new Cabinet is formed.

Note: Russia Capital: Moscow; Currency: Russian ruble; President: Vladimir Putin

2. US signs first phase of trade deal with China: The US has signed the first phase of a trade deal with China, concluding more than a year of tough negotiations including several months of suspension of talks between the two largest economies of the world. In his remarks, President Donald Trump called the trade agreement signing a momentous step to a future of fair and reciprocal trade. The first phase of the trade deal includes Intellectual Property (IP) Protection and Enforcement, rebalancing the US-China trade relationship and effective dispute resolution. The deal was signed by President Trump and Chinese vice Premier Liu He in Washington.

However, President Trump has refused to roll back the massive tariff imposed on the import of Chinese goods. During a signing ceremony at the White House, Trump said he will roll back the tariffs only if the second phase of the trade deal is signed between the two countries.

3. India and Finland ink MoU to enhance bilateral defence cooperation: Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence of Finland Mr Jukka Juusti signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further defence cooperation between India and Finland. The MoU on co-operation in the field of Production, Procurement, Research and Development of Defence related Equipment and Industrial cooperation has been inked on the sidelines of Raisina Dialogue 2020. Under the broad ambit of the MoU, cooperation between Finnish companies and Indian Defence Public Sector Undertakings could be explored.

Note: Finland Capital: Helsinki; Currency: Euro; Prime minister: Sanna Marin

4. Guatemala swears in conservative Giammattei as president: Guatemala swore in Alejandro Giammattei, a conservative physician opposed to gay marriage and abortion, as its new president. Giammattei won the presidency on his fourth attempt in August for Vamos, a party founded in 2017 by politicians, businessmen and military officers on promises of battling poverty and providing better opportunities.

Note: Guatemala Capital: Guatemala City; Currency: Guatemalan quetzal

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. World Bank & GoI signs MoU for loan of Assam Inland Water Transport Project: World Bank & Government of Indi signs MoU for loan of $88 million of Assam Inland Water Transport Project. The loan agreement seeks to modernize the Assam’s passenger ferry sector by improving the infrastructure and its services. The government ferries are operated by the Assam Shipping Company (ASC) while the terminals and terminal services are provided by the Assam Ports Company (APC) in the state of Assam. The $88 million agreement will provide technically better designed terminals and energy-efficient vessels to make the ferry services more efficient, modern and safe mode of river transport system.

Note: Assam Capital: Dispur; Chief minister: Sarbananda Sonowal

2. South Central Zone of Indian Railways Signs MoU with SBI for Doorstep Banking: The South Central Zone (SCR) of Indian Railways and State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for ‘Doorstep Banking’ to enable direct pickup of cash earnings from all 585 Railway stations on SCR Zone. The direct pick up of cash from all the railway stations on SCR by SBI will save the tedious and complex activity of movement of cash earnings through ‘cash safes’ by trains. The door step banking will increase the pace of financial transactions and digitization of remittance of cash earnings of the Railways into accounts.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos commits USD 1 bn investment in India to digitise small businesses: Amazon.com Inc chief Jeff Bezos has announced USD 1 billion (over Rs 7,000 crore) investment in India over the next five years, to bring small and medium businesses online. The initiative will help to digitise micro and small businesses across India, and help them reach more customers than ever before. The company is also committed to exporting USD 10 billion worth of India-made goods by 2025.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. ICC Awards 2019: ICC Annual Awards list has been declared by the International Cricket Council (ICC). With the list, ICC has also honoured the biggest names in men’s and women’s international cricket. Some key awards are:

ODI Player of the Year: India opener Rohit Sharma won the ODI Player of the Year award. He has five centuries in the 2019 World Cup and seven ODI centuries to his name.

Spirit of Cricket Award: India skipper Virat Kohli– who had swept the Player of the Year, Test Player of the Year and ODI Player of the Year last year– won the Spirit of Cricket Award. The award is given for his gesture during the World Cup game when he asked the crowd to support Steve Smith and not boo him.

T20I Performance of the Year: India seamer Deepak Chahar won T20I Performance of the Year. This award comes for his 6/7 against Bangladesh.

ICC Player of the Year: England all-rounder Ben Stokes won the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Player of the Year. He is awarded for his decisive role in England’s dramatic victory at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 along with a host of other memorable performances.

Test Player of the Year: Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins has been named the Test Player of the Year. Pat Cummins grabbed 59 wickets in 12 Test matches during the period and finished the year as the top-ranked bowler in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings.

Emerging Cricketer of the Year: Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne has been named as Emerging Cricketer of the Year. Labuschagne scored 1,104 runs in 11 Tests, which saw him zoom in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings from 110 at the start of the year to fourth by the end of the year.

Associate Cricketer of the Year: Scotland’s Kyle Coetzer is the Associate Cricketer of the Year. Coetzer in ODIs has 880 runs in 18 matches and also aggregating 702 runs in 22 T20Is.

2019 Umpire of the Year– Richard Illingworth

2. 10 Districts Gets Swachhata Darpan Awards 2020: The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, organised the Open Defecation Free (ODF) Sustainability workshop in New Delhi. As a part of the occasion the Swachhata Darpan Awards 2020 were presented to the top 10 performing districts at national level on key Swachhata parameters. The awards were presented by Aamir Khan, Actor and Founder, Paani Foundation. Swachhata Darpan Award has been instituted under Swacha Bharat Mission to encourage the states and districts to focus on Open Defecation Free (ODF) sustainability and social and liquid waste management. The top 10 winning districts are:

East Godavari (Andhra Pradesh), West Kameng (Arunachal Pradesh), Bemtara (Chhattisgarh), Diu (Daman and Diu), Panipat (Haryana), Vadodara (Gujarat), Kolhapur (Maharashtra), Moga (Punjab), East Sikkim (Sikkim) and Pedappali (Telangana).

Apart from this, 4 districts were awarded for innovations and initiatives for Plastic Waste Management. They are: Dibrugarh (Assam), Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh), Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Puri (Odisha).

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurates ‘Indian Heritage in Digital Space’: The Union Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel launched a month-long special exhibition 'Indian Heritage in Digital Space' and a first international heritage symposium at the National Museum located in New Delhi. IHDS, an initiative of Department of Science and Technology has created the models of Heritages with the help of holographic projections, AR and 3D fabrication and 3D LASER scan data. Visitors will be able to see the recreations of the socio-cultural life and traditions of Hampi, architectural and conjectural reconstructions of several important structures.

2. Lucknow hosts the 7th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference 2020: The 7th Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the Vidhan Bhawan, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on 16 January 2020. During the two-day event, Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon will address the inaugural session, while Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel will address the valedictory session on 17 January 2020. The main theme of the conference is ‘ROLE OF LEGISLATORS’ and during the Plenary Sessions spread over two days, delegates will discuss the Capacity Building of Legislators for Scrutinizing Budgetary Proposals and Enhancing Focus of Legislators on Legislative Business.

Note: CPA India Region conferences are held once in two years and the 6th conference was held in 2018 in Patna.

Uttar Pradesh Governor: Anandiben Patel; Capital: Lucknow; Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath

3. Mega fuel conservation campaign ‘Saksham 2020’ inaugurated in New Delhi: The one-month long mega fuel conservation campaign named Saksham-2020 was inaugurated in New Delhi on 16 January 2020. Saksham (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav) is an annual flagship event of Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Govt. of India. The Saksham campaign aims at creating mass awareness among public about conventional fuel conservation, for health & environment protection and simultaneously help in reducing India’s dependency on import of crude oil.

4. 5th Science Film Festival of India 2020 Begins in Goa: The 5th edition of Science Film Festival of India, SCI-FFI 2020, has been started in Panaji, Goa. The four-day-long festival was inaugurated by Chief Minister, Dr. Paramod Sawant and will end on 18 January. The festival that will take place at the Inox Complex and Maquinez Palace in Goa, aims at instilling the knowledge of science among the youth with the help of exhibitions, masterclasses, workshops, and other activities. Besides, Goa Government and Government of India, the event is being supported by Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute and National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAR). Films that have been selected to be screened at the event are 'Mission Mangal', 'Antariksham 9000 KMPH', 'Everest', 'Aamorie', 'Terminator: Dark Fate', 'Geostorm' and, 'Virus' among others. A special workshop titled 'Million SoUL' will also be conducted by IIT Bombay on training about making solar lamps. The workshop is aimed at empowering people from backward communities.

5. Ladakh hosts the first ever Food Processing Summit: Union Territory Ladakh is hosting the first ever Food Processing Summit to attract investors to the region. With the help of Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, the UT Administration of Ladakh is organizing the Summit. Ladakh region has vast scope for investment in food Processing Industries in horticulture products like Apricot, SeabuckThorn, Apple and agricultural produce like buckwheat and barley.

Note: Ladakh Capitals: Leh, Kargir; Lieutenant Governor: RK Mathur

6. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani launched the 7th Economic Census process: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has launched the 7th Economic Census process in the state. Economic Census process is carried out by Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with the help of Common Service Centres. It will continue till 30th June 2020. The entire data will be compiled on 30th September 2020. The data of this Economic Census will be classified into the village, taluka and district-wise to be developed into a National Business Register.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Submits Resignation: Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as well as the entire Russian government submitted resignation to President Vladimir Putin, after President announced a range of constitutional changes. Putin thanked Medvedev for his work and appointed him as the deputy head of the presidential Security Council. Russian President asked Medvedev's Cabinet to keep working until the new Cabinet is formed.

Note: Russia Capital: Moscow; Currency: Russian ruble; President: Vladimir Putin

2. US signs first phase of trade deal with China: The US has signed the first phase of a trade deal with China, concluding more than a year of tough negotiations including several months of suspension of talks between the two largest economies of the world. In his remarks, President Donald Trump called the trade agreement signing a momentous step to a future of fair and reciprocal trade. The first phase of the trade deal includes Intellectual Property (IP) Protection and Enforcement, rebalancing the US-China trade relationship and effective dispute resolution. The deal was signed by President Trump and Chinese vice Premier Liu He in Washington.

However, President Trump has refused to roll back the massive tariff imposed on the import of Chinese goods. During a signing ceremony at the White House, Trump said he will roll back the tariffs only if the second phase of the trade deal is signed between the two countries.

3. India and Finland ink MoU to enhance bilateral defence cooperation: Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence of Finland Mr Jukka Juusti signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further defence cooperation between India and Finland. The MoU on co-operation in the field of Production, Procurement, Research and Development of Defence related Equipment and Industrial cooperation has been inked on the sidelines of Raisina Dialogue 2020. Under the broad ambit of the MoU, cooperation between Finnish companies and Indian Defence Public Sector Undertakings could be explored.

Note: Finland Capital: Helsinki; Currency: Euro; Prime minister: Sanna Marin

4. Guatemala swears in conservative Giammattei as president: Guatemala swore in Alejandro Giammattei, a conservative physician opposed to gay marriage and abortion, as its new president. Giammattei won the presidency on his fourth attempt in August for Vamos, a party founded in 2017 by politicians, businessmen and military officers on promises of battling poverty and providing better opportunities.

Note: Guatemala Capital: Guatemala City; Currency: Guatemalan quetzal

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. World Bank & GoI signs MoU for loan of Assam Inland Water Transport Project: World Bank & Government of Indi signs MoU for loan of $88 million of Assam Inland Water Transport Project. The loan agreement seeks to modernize the Assam’s passenger ferry sector by improving the infrastructure and its services. The government ferries are operated by the Assam Shipping Company (ASC) while the terminals and terminal services are provided by the Assam Ports Company (APC) in the state of Assam. The $88 million agreement will provide technically better designed terminals and energy-efficient vessels to make the ferry services more efficient, modern and safe mode of river transport system.

Note: Assam Capital: Dispur; Chief minister: Sarbananda Sonowal

2. South Central Zone of Indian Railways Signs MoU with SBI for Doorstep Banking: The South Central Zone (SCR) of Indian Railways and State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for ‘Doorstep Banking’ to enable direct pickup of cash earnings from all 585 Railway stations on SCR Zone. The direct pick up of cash from all the railway stations on SCR by SBI will save the tedious and complex activity of movement of cash earnings through ‘cash safes’ by trains. The door step banking will increase the pace of financial transactions and digitization of remittance of cash earnings of the Railways into accounts.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos commits USD 1 bn investment in India to digitise small businesses: Amazon.com Inc chief Jeff Bezos has announced USD 1 billion (over Rs 7,000 crore) investment in India over the next five years, to bring small and medium businesses online. The initiative will help to digitise micro and small businesses across India, and help them reach more customers than ever before. The company is also committed to exporting USD 10 billion worth of India-made goods by 2025.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. ICC Awards 2019: ICC Annual Awards list has been declared by the International Cricket Council (ICC). With the list, ICC has also honoured the biggest names in men’s and women’s international cricket. Some key awards are:

ODI Player of the Year: India opener Rohit Sharma won the ODI Player of the Year award. He has five centuries in the 2019 World Cup and seven ODI centuries to his name.

Spirit of Cricket Award: India skipper Virat Kohli– who had swept the Player of the Year, Test Player of the Year and ODI Player of the Year last year– won the Spirit of Cricket Award. The award is given for his gesture during the World Cup game when he asked the crowd to support Steve Smith and not boo him.

T20I Performance of the Year: India seamer Deepak Chahar won T20I Performance of the Year. This award comes for his 6/7 against Bangladesh.

ICC Player of the Year: England all-rounder Ben Stokes won the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Player of the Year. He is awarded for his decisive role in England’s dramatic victory at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 along with a host of other memorable performances.

Test Player of the Year: Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins has been named the Test Player of the Year. Pat Cummins grabbed 59 wickets in 12 Test matches during the period and finished the year as the top-ranked bowler in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings.

Emerging Cricketer of the Year: Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne has been named as Emerging Cricketer of the Year. Labuschagne scored 1,104 runs in 11 Tests, which saw him zoom in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Player Rankings from 110 at the start of the year to fourth by the end of the year.

Associate Cricketer of the Year: Scotland’s Kyle Coetzer is the Associate Cricketer of the Year. Coetzer in ODIs has 880 runs in 18 matches and also aggregating 702 runs in 22 T20Is.

2019 Umpire of the Year– Richard Illingworth

2. 10 Districts Gets Swachhata Darpan Awards 2020: The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti, organised the Open Defecation Free (ODF) Sustainability workshop in New Delhi. As a part of the occasion the Swachhata Darpan Awards 2020 were presented to the top 10 performing districts at national level on key Swachhata parameters. The awards were presented by Aamir Khan, Actor and Founder, Paani Foundation. Swachhata Darpan Award has been instituted under Swacha Bharat Mission to encourage the states and districts to focus on Open Defecation Free (ODF) sustainability and social and liquid waste management. The top 10 winning districts are:

East Godavari (Andhra Pradesh), West Kameng (Arunachal Pradesh), Bemtara (Chhattisgarh), Diu (Daman and Diu), Panipat (Haryana), Vadodara (Gujarat), Kolhapur (Maharashtra), Moga (Punjab), East Sikkim (Sikkim) and Pedappali (Telangana).

Apart from this, 4 districts were awarded for innovations and initiatives for Plastic Waste Management. They are: Dibrugarh (Assam), Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh), Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Puri (Odisha).