DAILY GK 19 – 20 JAN 2020

DAILY GK 19 – 20 JAN 2020

1.    Centre of Excellence in Blockchain Technology

ü Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Blockchain Technology set up by the National Informatics Centre(NIC) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The CoE has been set up with the aim of providing blockchain as a service and help all stakeholders to benefit from shared learning, experiences and resources.

2.    Gujarat leads in water efficiency

ü According to the rankings of ‘Central and state governmental water departments based on their efficiency targets for 2019’ released by Ministry of Jal Shakti, Gujarat ranked the best for parameters on efficiency targets , while NCTof Delhi remains in the worst-performing state category.

3.    Magh Bihu festival

ü Magh Bihu, an auspicious harvest festival is being celebrated in Assam. Magh Bihu falls in the local month of ‘Magh’ during mid-january. It is also called ‘Bhogali Bihu’ or ‘Maghor Bihu’ as it is celebrated with community feasts after the annual harvest takes place

ü National Parks (NP)- Kaziranga NP, Manas NP, Dibru Saikhowa NP, Nameri NP, Orang NP

4.    New Delhi World Book Fair 2020

ü The 28th edition of the New Delhi World Book Fair 2020 (NDWBF 2020) was held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from January 4-12, 2020. It was inaugurated by Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’. The theme of NDWBF 2020 book fair was ‘Gandhi: TheWriters’ Writer’

5.    Global Social Mobility Index 2020

ü World Economic Forum (WEF) released 1st edition of a report titled “The Global Social Mobility Report 2020: Equality, Opportunity and a New Economic Imperative”. The global social mobility index (GSMI) of 82 countries were launched in this report. As per the Index, India ranked in the 76th position with a score of 42.7while Denmark topped the list.

6.    $50mn assistance to SL

ü  National Security Advisor (NSA) of India Ajit Doval  visited Colomo.India pledged to provide $50 million security assistance to Sri Lanka for purchasing equipment for its security forces.

7.    25^th Conference of Speakers

ü A parliamentary delegation headed by Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla has attended the 25^th edition of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) 2020 held in Ottawa,Canada . In 2022, Australia will be the host of commonwealth speakers meeting & Uganda to host 2024 Commonwealth speakers conference with additional CSPOC Standing Committee meetings to be held in Guernsey in 2021 and Trinidad and Tobago in 2023.

8.    WGC Report Outlook 2020

ü RBI has been ranked 6th largest buyer of sovereign gold abroad after it purchased 25.2 tonnes in the first 10 months of 2019 according to World Gold Council(WGC) report titled “Outlook 2020: Global economic trends and their impact on gold”. The central banks of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Poland have purchased more gold than India in 2019.

ü RBI currently holds 625.2 tonnes of gold, that forms 6.6% of its forex reserves.

9.    UN revises India’s GDP growth forecast

ü According to the ‘World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2020’ report released by the United Nations (UN), it has revised the India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth forecast for the year 2019-20  to 5% from 5.7%.

ü Growth projection for 2020-21 has also been downgraded to 5.8-5.9 % from 6.6%  in the report.

10. Kiran Mazumdar  to receive highest Australian civilian honour

ü Australia has conferred its highest civilian honour, the Order of Australia honour to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder and chairperson of bio-pharmaceutical company Biocon.She is the fourth Indian citizen to be awarded Australia’s highest civilian honour.

11. New Vice Chief of Army Staff

ü Lieutenant General Satinder Kumar Saini appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS). He will take charge on January 25, 2020. He succeeded Lieutenant General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who was promoted as the Chief of Army Staff.

12. New President of AAI

ü Arjun Munda, Minister of Tribal Affairs elected as the President of the suspended Archery Association of India (AAI) for 4 years term. The elections were held as per the Delhi High Court order. 

13. India successfully test-fired SLBM K-4

ü India successfully test fired the Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) K-4 at the Visakhapatnam coast in Andhra Pradesh. The range of K-4 ballistic missile is 3,500 Kilometer. The missile was developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The test was carried out from underwater platform in the sea.

14. 1st woman third Umpire in men’s T20I

ü Jacqueline Williams of Jamaica becomes the first woman third umpire in men’s international cricket match. The 43-year-old Jamaican woman oversaw all 3 matches of the Twenty20 International (T20I)  series in Grenada, West Indies  between West Indies and Ireland.

15. National Immunization Day-January 19, 2020.

ü The Pulse Polio Programme 2020 was conducted as a part of National Immunization Day across the country.