DAILY GK 30 JAN 2020

DAILY GK 30 JAN 2020

1.    Indian Navy launched ‘Operation Vanilla’

ü The Indian Navy(IN) launched ‘Operation Vanilla’. The purpose of this operation is to support and provide assistance to Tropical Cyclone Ava & flood-hit Madagascar.  The Indian Navy Ship(INS) Airavat has been deployed to this mission. 

ü The assistance has been provided in consonance with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR)’. It is also to be noted that Madagascar is a member of the inter-governmental organisation Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

2.    10 more wetlands declared as Ramsar sites

ü Ramsar Convention has declared 10 more wetland sites from India as sites of national importance. Ramsar sites are those which are declared under the Ramsar Convention signed in 1971 to preserve wetlands of national importance. Thus India now has a total of 37 Ramsar sites.

3.    World’s largest meditation centre

ü World’s largest meditation centre was inaugurated at Kanha Shanti Vanam in Hyderabad, Telangana to mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) and Heartfulness Institute. It can accommodate 1 lakh practitioners at a time.

4.    Tyler Prize 2020

ü The Indian environmentalist and Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Pavan Sukhdev won Tyler Prize 2020 for Environmental Achievement for his groundbreaking “green economy” work along with conservation biologist Gretchen C. Daily from United States (US).

5.    India’s Ambassador to US

ü
Diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed as India’s Ambassador to the United States of America (USA). He succeeded Harsh Vardhan Shringla who will take charge as the next foreign secretary.

6.    New PM of Qatar

ü Tamim bin Hamad AI Thani, Emir of Qatar appointed Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani as new Prime Minister (PM) of Qatar, Doha.

7.    International Boxing tournament Strandja 2020

ü The 71^st edition of International Boxing Tournament “Strandja”2020 was held in Sofia, Bulgaria. India ranked 9^th in the medal tally with 3 medals (1 Silver, 2 Bronze). The list was topped by Ukraine with 10 medals.

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DAILY GK 29 JAN 2020

DAILY GK 29 JAN 2020

1.     ‘Kolkata metro’ to be opened by March 2022 

ü Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) is set to complete its East-West Project, which runs partly under the Hooghly river, West Bengal, by March 2022. It will be India’s first underwater metro. The new metro rail is expected to carry about 900,000 people daily & will take less than a minute to cross a 520-meter underwater tunnel.

ü 74% of the East-West metro project is owned by India’s Railway & remaining 26% by the nation’s Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

2.    President Bolsonaro’s 4-day Visit to India

ü The president Brazil, Jair Messias Bolsonaro paid a 4-day official visit to India.

ü The bilateral trade and work target of $15 billion between India and Brazil was set to be achieved by 2022.

3.    Global risk of Noval Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

ü The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the global risk of Noval Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that cause serious illnesses ranging from the common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

4.    International Children’s Film Festival

ü 13th edition of International Children’s Film Festival was inaugurated in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The theme of International Children’s Film Festival 2020 is ‘Under The World’.

5.    GOI has decided to sell 100 per cent stake of Air India

ü Hardeep Singh Puri has expressed the Indian Government’s decision to sell its 100 per cent stake of Air India (AI).It includes its 100 per cent stake in low-cost airline Air India Express and 50 per cent shareholding in joint venture AISATS Airport Services Private Limited.

6.    Best tableaux awards

ü Defence Minister Rajnath Singh distributed the awards for best tableaux which was conducted on January 26, 2020 in Republic Day event. There were a total of 22 tableaux including 16 from various states and union territories and remaining 6 from various ministries and departments.

ü Best Tableaux Award -Assam’s tableaux displayed with the theme ‘Land of Unique Craftsmanship and Culture’, had showcased the Xattriya tradition in the form of Bhortal Nritya was chosen as the best tableaux.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) won best tableaux for Ministry for showcasing the cutting-edge technology and instruments used by the force to carry out daring rescue operations in flood-hit and disaster hit areas.

ü Jal Shakti Mission won best tableaux among departments for government’s new initiative, ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’, which aims at providing functional tap connection to every rural household by 2024.

7.    Autobiography by Yashwant Sinha

ü Former president of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee released the autobiography of former Finance Minister Shri Yashwant Sinha titled “Relentless” at the India International Centre in New Delhi.

8.    SIPRI report

ü As per the report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has suggested that China is the world’s second largest producer of munitions  behind the United States and ahead of Russia. The data which covered the period from 2015 to 2017.

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DAILY GK 28 JAN 2020

DAILY GK 28 JAN 2020

1.    Ganga-Volga Dialogue of civilizations 2020

ü The 1^st edition of Ganga-Volga Dialogue of Civilizations 2020 based on the theme “Connectivity”, between India & Russia was held in New Delhi.

ü The event was inaugurated by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan.

ü The dialogue aims to provide a platform for enhancing the special and privileged bilateral partnership between India & Russia.

2.    Padma awards 2020

ü On the eve of 71^st Republic Day, announced the names of Padma awardees for 2020, which is the highest civilian Awards in the country. The Padma Awards are conferred under 3 categorized viz- Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

ü This time (2020) a total of list had 141 awards – 7 celebrities have been chosen for Padma Vibhushan, 16 celebrities for Padma Bhushan and 118 personalities for Padma Shri.

ü Former Union ministers Arun Jaitley (posthumously), Sushma Swaraj (posthumously), George Fernandes (posthumously) and World champion boxer Mary Kom were awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the India’s 2^nd highest civilian honour while, India’s number one badminton player PV Sindhu has been selected for the Padma Bhushan.

3.    Annual Grammy Awards 2019

ü 62nd edition of the Annual Grammy Awards 2019 was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles city of California in the United States(US). The awards were given in recognition for the best recordings, compositions, and artists. The awards were presented in 84 categories.

ü Former United States(US) first lady Michelle Obama was honoured with the best spoken word album of the year award at the Grammy awards for the book “Becoming”. Singer Lizzo wins 3 grammy awards and dedicated to Basketball star Kobe Bryant who along with his daughter, was killed in a helicopter crash.

4.    Sunil Mehta appointed as CEO of IBA

ü Sunil Mehta, took over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
Mehta will replace VG Kannan, who resigned from office as chief executive of IBA on December 31, 2019.

5.    Kobe Bryant dies in a helicopter crash

ü American basketball legend Kobe Bryant has died along with his 13-years-old daughter Gianna in a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter crash near Calabasas in Southern California. He was 41. 

6.    International Customs Day-January 26, 2020

ü Theme “Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet”. 

7.    India’s 71st Republic Day

ü The day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect i.e. on 26 January 1950.

ü Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attended as chief guest.

ü A total of 16 states and Union Territories(UTs) and 6 central ministers participated in the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath in New Delhi. Jammu & Kashmir participated in the parade for the 1st time as a union territory.

ü 4th generation army officer Captain Tania Shergill who became the 1st woman officer as Parade Adjutant on Army Day Parade, led the corps of signals under the motto ‘Teevra Chaukas’ (swift and alert).

ü Dhanush gun system Army Air Defence marching contingent took part for 1st time.

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DAILY GK 27 JAN 2020

DAILY GK 27 JAN 2020

1.    26 new Indian English words

ü 10th edition of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary was launched. In this latest edition 26 new Indian languages words namely Aadhaar, Chawl, dabba, hartal, shaadi were included. Several incorporate words like chatbot, fake news, microplastic & over 1000 new words were included.

2.    India phased out HCFC-141 b chemical

ü India has successfully achieved complete phase out of the Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b. It is a chemical used in foam manufacturing companies and is one of the most potent ozone depleting chemicals after the Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). India took the challenge to phase out HCFC-141b by January 1, 2020.

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DAILY GK 25 JAN 2020

DAILY GK 25 JAN 2020

1.    Summit on women in STEM

ü Department of Biotechnology under the aegis of Ministry of Science & Technology has organized a 2-day long International Summit on Women in STEM–“Visualizing the Future: New Skylines” at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi with the aim to increase the participation of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field for development of scientific career.

2.    India’s first e-waste clinic

ü India’s first e-waste clinic was opened in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.The e-waste clinic was jointly set up by the Central Pollution Board Control -CPCB and Bhopal Municipal Corporation -BMC.

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DAILY GK 23 – 24 JAN 2020

DAILY GK 23 – 24 JAN 2020

1.    PRAGATI meeting 2020 in New Delhi

ü PM Narendra Modi chaired 32^nd PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) meeting 2020 and discussed progress of several projects in New Delhi.

ü PM modi reviews progress under insurance schemes- PMJJBY and PMSBY

ü Modi also reviewed the work related to insurance schemes – ‘Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana’ (PMJJBY) and ‘Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana’(PMSBY).

ü The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS) project was also reviewed by Modi. It is a comprehensive and integrated system for effective policing through e-governance.

2.    Jharia is the most polluted Indian city

ü The Greenpeace India report for 2018 was released based on the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP).Jharia in Jharkhand which is known for Coal-belching is the most polluted Indian city with 322 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) of PM10 (Particulate matter) pollutants in 2018.Dhanbad is the second-most polluted Indian City .

ü Lunglei in Mizoram is the least polluted followed by Meghalaya’s Dowki.

3.    Democracy Index 2019

ü According to the 12^th edition of the ‘Democracy Index 2019: A year of democratic setbacks and popular protest’, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), India has slipped 10 ranks to 51^st spot with the score of 6.90 in this index.

ü Top & bottom: Norway tops the list with a score of 9.87 while North Korea is at the bottom with 167^th place with 1.08 points.

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DAILY GK 22 JAN 2020

DAILY GK 22 JAN 2020

1.    NIC TechConclave 2020’

ü Ravi Shankar Prasad has inaugurated a 2-day long 2^nd edition of ‘NIC TechConclave 2020’based on the theme “Technologies for NextGen Governance” held at New Delhi.

2.    Agricultural leasing policy

ü Uttarakhand has become the first state in India which has made a policy to lease agricultural land. After the approval of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the state government has issued the order.

ü Under this leasing policy, instead of giving land on a 30-year lease, the concerned farmer will get the rent for the land.

3.    Disabled aircraft recovery equipment

ü An agreement was signed by The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) to acquire Disabled Aircraft Recovery Equipment (DARE) to enhance operational capabilities and to reduce downtime during runway emergencies.

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