DAILY GK 2 MAY 2019

DAILY GK 2 MAY 2019

1. INDIA 4TH BIGGEST MILITARY SPENDER IN 2018: SIPRI REPORT

✔India was the world’s fourth biggest military spender in 2018 behind the United States, China, and Saudi Arabia, according to new data think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. India was the fifth largest military spender in 2017.

✔According to the SIPRI data, China was the second-largest military spender in 2018. India accounts for 3.7% of the global defence spending.

2. US WITHDRAWS FROM UN ARMS TRADE TREATY

✔US President Donald Trump stated that his administration is withdrawing the U.S. signature from the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, in response to concerns from gun rights activists that it could impinge on Americans’ right to bear arms.

3. PFA AWARDS 2018/19 ANNOUNCED: COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS

✔Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk and Arsenal Women Football Club's Vivianne Miedema were named Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year for the 2018-19 season.

• PFA Young Player of the Year: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City & Georgia Stanway, Manchester City
• PFA Special Achievement Award: Steph Houhgton: Former England and WBA

4. INDIAN AND FRENCH NAVIES CONDUCT VARUNA 19.1 BILATERAL EXERCISE OFF GOA COAST

✔The first part of the Indo-French joint naval exercise, Varuna 19.1 was kicked off the Goa coast. The 17th edition includes the participation of the French Navy’s aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle, two destroyers, FNS Forbin and FNS Provence, the frigate FNS Latouche-Treville, the tanker FNS Marne and a nuclear submarine.

✔The exercise will be conducted in two phases. The second part, Varuna 19.2, is scheduled to be held at the end of May in Djibouti. The bilateral naval exercise initiated in 1983 and christened as ‘Varuna’ in 2001, form a vital part of the Indo-French strategic partnership.

5. ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY CONSTITUTES COMMITTEE TO IMPLEMENT NATIONAL CLEAN AIR PROGRAMME

✔The Union Environment Ministry has constituted a committee to implement the National Clean Air Programme, which aims to reduce particulate matter pollution by 20%-30% in at least 102 cities by 2024.

✔The committee will be chaired by the Secretary, Union Environment Ministry. It would be headquartered in New Delhi.

6. AKIHITO 1ST JAPANESE EMPEROR TO STEP DOWN FROM THRONE IN 200 YEARS

✔Akihito became the first Japanese Emperor to step down from the throne in more than 200 years.

✔His son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne today, beginning a new era. 30 April was the last day of the Heisei imperial era.

7. IRAQ BECOMES INDIA’S TOP OIL SUPPLIER IN 2018-19

✔Iraq has become India’s top crude oil supplier for the second consecutive year, meeting more than one-fifth of the country’s oil needs in the 2018-19 fiscal year.

✔According to data collected by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Iraq sold 46.61 million tonnes of crude oil to India during April 2018 and March 2019.

8. INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' DAY: 1ST MAY

✔International Labour Day (also known as May Day or International Workers' Day)  is celebrated across the world on 1st of May every year.

✔The theme of International Labour Day 2019 is “Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners”.

9. DILIP KUMAR APPOINTED AS OFFICER ON SPECIAL DUTY IN OFFICE OF LOKPAL

✔Senior IAS officer Dilip Kumar was appointed as the Officer on Special Duty in the office of Lokpal. Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, is at present joint secretary, National Human Rights Commission.

✔He has been appointed for a period of six months on additional charge basis or till a new incumbent joins the post.

10. STATE BANK OF INDIA LINKS INTEREST RATES TO RBI’S REPO RATE

✔India’s largest bank State Bank of India has moved to a new interest rate regime on large savings account deposits as well as short-term loans. Earlier, SBI had announced that it will link its interest rate on savings account with a balance above Rs1 lakh and short-term loans like overdraft and cash credit facility to Reserve Bank of India’s repo rate, effective 1 May 2019.

✔The interest rates on large SBI savings account deposits and interest rate on some short-term loans will automatically change as and when RBI changes its repo rate. This will help in better transmission of RBI’s policy rates into the banking system.

11. APURVI CHANDELA RANKS WORLD NUMBER 1 IN WOMEN’S 10 M AIR RIFLE EVENT

✔Indian shooting ace Apurvi Chandela has been ranked the world number one in the women’s 10 metres air rifle event while compatriot Anjum Moudgil rose to number two after consistent performances. The rifle ace from Jaipur has already secured 2020 Olympics quota for the country.

12. GOLDMAN ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE CONFERRED ON 6 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS

✔Six grassroots environmental activists received the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize. Known as the Green Nobel Prize, the Goldman Prize honors environmental activists from each of the six continental regions: Europe, Asia, North America, Central America and South America, Africa and islands and island nations.

The winners of the award are-

• Alfred Brownell, Liberia
• Bayarjargal Agvaantseren, Mongolia
• Ana Colovic Lesoska, North Macedonia
• Jacqueline Evans, Cook Islands
• Alberto Curamil, Chile
• Linda Garcia, United States