GK Update 20 Aug, 2019
NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. National Sports Awards 2019: Selection Committee for the Sports Awards 2019 has announced the National Sports Awards 2019. National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. The awardees will receive their awards from the President of India at a specially organized function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Selection Committee for the Sports Awards 2019 was headed by Justice Mukundakam Sharma, Retired Judge, Supreme Court. Apart from a medal and a citation, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee will receive a cash prize of Rs. 7.5 lakh. Arjuna, Dronacharya and Dhyan Chand Awardees will receive statuettes, certificates and cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh each. A trophy and citation is given to the entity in the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar, 2019. Recipients of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar will be given Trophies and certificates. Overall top performing university in inter-university tournaments will be given MAKA Trophy, award money of Rs. 10 lakh and certificate.
2. Karnataka categorises Nicotine as "class A poison": The Karnataka government has amended the Karnataka Poisons (Possession and Sale) Rules 2015 and notified Nicotine as "Class A poison". The step has been taken to strengthen the enforcement of the ban on production and sale of electronic cigarettes. The notification has also ordered the suspension of all kinds of promotion of e-cigarettes, including online promotion. This will curb the illegal sale, smuggling of nicotine cartridges and e-cigarettes. Class A poison are "Highly toxic chemicals", which even in very small quantities as gas or vapour in the air are dangerous to life (such as cyanogen, hydrocyanic acid, nitrogen peroxide, and phosgene). Note: Capital of Karnataka: Bengaluru; CM: BS Yediyurappa; Governor: Vajubhai Vala.
3. Gujarat to get India’s first CICET: According to Union Minister of State for Chemical & Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya, India's first Central Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology (CICET) will be set up in Gujarat to give boost to the chemical industry. The CICET will come up either at Ahmedabad or Surat. The Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilisers also announced setting up of another campus of the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering & Technology (CIPET) in Valsad at the cost of Rs 54 crore for the benefit of tribal students and the plastic industry. The Central government is also planning to set up a Plastic Waste Management Centre in Ahmedabad to find out solutions to systematic segregation and recycling of plastic waste. Note: CM of Gujarat: Vijay Rupani; Governor: Acharya Devvrat; Capital: Gandhinagar.
4. Manmohan Singh elected to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan: Congress leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (86-years) has been elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. The election for a seat in Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan comes after demise of BJP’s unit president Madan Lal Saini in June. With this Manmohan Singh has become the sole Congress candidate amongst 10 Rajya Sabha Members in Rajasthan.
GK Update 20 Aug, 2019
Note: The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of India. It has a maximum membership of 245, of which 233 are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories using single transferable votes through Open Ballot while the President can appoint 12 members for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services.
5. Govt directs all CAPFs to adopt uniform retirement age of 60 years: A Home Ministry order issued has corrected the anomaly where personnel between the ranks of Constable to Commandant in four forces (Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police force and Sashastra Seema Bal) superannuated at the age of 57, instead of 60- years. Officers from the rank of Deputy Inspector General up to the top-most rank of Director General in these four forces retired after attaining the age of 60 years. Personnel who had retired and approached the court for clarification or were granted stay will be deemed "not superannuated" and will continue to serve till 60 years of age. The latest Home Ministry direction comes in the wake of a January order of the Delhi High Court where it had called the policy of different age of superannuation as discriminatory and unconstitutional and said it created two classes in the uniformed forces.
6. Sadbhavana Diwas: 20 August: Sadbhavana Diwas is celebrated on 20 August every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. This year will be the 75th Birth Anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. On this day national integration, peace, love, affection and communal harmony among all Indians are encouraged. Shri Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20, 1944, in Bombay. At 40, Mr Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest Prime Minister of India. Note: Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the 6th Prime Minister of India, serving from 1984 to 1989. He was assassinated on 21 May 1991.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Pak Army chief General Bajwa gets a three-year extension: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved an extension in the tenure of Pakistani Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa (58-years) for another three years. Qamar Bajwa was appointed the chief of the Pakistani Army in November 2016 by then Prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Bajwa’s original term was to end in November 2019 after serving as Army chief for three years. He will remain as Army chief till November 2022. Note: Pakistan Capital: Islamabad; PM: Imran Khan; President: Arif Alvi.
2. Shavendra Silva appointed as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army: President of Sri Lanka has appointed Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva as 23rd Commander of the Sri Lankan Army. He will replace Lt Gen Mahesh Senanayake as the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army. Mr. Silva commanded the Sri Lankan Army’s 58 Division during the final stages of the war against the rebel LTTE in 2009.
GK Update 20 Aug, 2019
Note: Currency of Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan Rupee; Prime Minister: Ranil Wickremesinghe; President: Maithripala Sirisena.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Mitchell Johnson becomes MCC Honourary Life member: Former Australian cricketer Mitchell Johnson (37-years) has been elected as an Honorary Life Member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), custodians of the game's laws. Johnson represented Australia in 153 One Day Internationals picking up 239 wickets, 73 international Test matches claiming 313 wickets and 30 T-20 Internationals in which he takes 38 wickets. Johnson made his ODI debut for Australia in 2005 and hung up his boots a decade later in 2015.
2. AIG Ashish Kapoor clinches two gold medals at WPFG: Ashish Kapoor has claimed gold medals in both singles and doubles titles in Tennis events during the 2019 World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) (18th edition) held at Chengdu in China. Ashish Kapoor is the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in Vigilance Bureau of Punjab. Note: The World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) is a biennial athletic event, open to active and retired law enforcement and fire service personnel throughout the world. In 2021 the host city will be Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This was the 18th edition of the event.
3. Bangladesh Cricket Board name Domingo as new national coach: According to Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hasan, Former South African Coach Russel Domingo has been appointed as the Head Coach for the national cricket team for two years. He succeeds Steve Rhodes whose tenure was cut short after Bangladesh finished at the 8th position in the 10-nation World Cup this year. Russel Domingo has served as the Head Coach for South Africa’sT20 side in 2012. He later replaced Gary Kirsten as South Africa Coach in the Tests and ODIs in 2013.
4. Former Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole announces retirement: Former Chelsea, Arsenal and England football player Ashley Cole aged 38, announced his retirement from football. He was ending his 20-year playing career. He won 3 Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, as well as helping the Chelsea to win the 2011-12 Champions League.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Paytm promotes CFO Madhur Deora as President: Paytm has elevated its CFO (Chief Financial Officer) Madhu Deoraas President of the company. Prior to joining Paytm (in 2016), Mr. Deora has served as Managing Director (MD) in Citigroup's investment banking business in New York, London and Mumbai.
GK Update 20 Aug, 2019
Note: Paytm was founded in August 2010 with an initial investment of USD 2 million by its founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma. Paytm is available in 11 Indian languages and offers online use- cases like mobile recharges, utility bill payments, travel, movies, and events bookings as well as in-store payments at grocery stores, fruits and vegetable shops, restaurants, parking, tolls, pharmacies and education institutions with the Paytm QR code.
2. Ravinder Takkar appointed as MD-CEO of Vodafone Idea: Ravinder Takkar has been appointed as the MD and CEO of Idea-Vodafone. He is currently a board member of Vodafone Idea and Indus Towers, where he is responsible for all Vodafone Group interests in India. He will replace Balesh Sharma after his resignation as the chief executive officer of Vodafone Idea (VIL).
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. CCMB scientist K Thangaraj awarded JC Bose Fellowship: Dr K Thangaraj, Chief Scientist at Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)- Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) was awarded JC Bose Fellowship. Thangaraj was given this fellowship for his outstanding contributions in the field of population and medical genomics. The JC Bose Fellowship is awarded to scientists in recognition for their outstanding performance by the Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology. Defence
OBITUARIES
1. Veteran music composer Khayyam passes away: Veteran music director- composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi (92-years- popularly known as Khayyam) passed away after a prolonged illness at a hospital in Mumbai. He was best known for his music in classic films such as 'Umrao Jaan' and 'Kabhi Kabhi'. Besides ‘Kabhi Kabhi’ and ‘Umrao Jaan’, the musician's other notable works include films such as "Trishul", "Noorie" and "Shola Aur Shabnam". In 2007, Khayyam was honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Creative Music by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. In 2011, he was conferred with Padma Bhushan, the country’s third-highest civilian award. He won three Filmfare Awards for Best Music for Kabhi Kabhie (in 1977) and for Umrao Jaan (1982), and a lifetime achievement award in 2010.
2. Sahitya Akademi Award winner NS Tasneem passes away: Eminent Punjabi writer and Sahitya Akademi winner Professor Niranjan Singh Tasneem (91-years) passed away at his residence in Ludhiana, Punjab. Tasneem was awarded Sahitya Akademi award in 1999 for his novel ‘Gawache Arth’ (The Lost Meaning) which was based on Punjab and lives of Punjabis in 1984. He was also awarded Punjab’s highest literary honour “Punjabi Sahit Rattan” in 2015. Tasneem had served as a professor at SCD Government College, Ludhiana.
3. Triple Oscar-winning Animation Director Richard Williams passes away: Three-time Oscar winner & triple BAFTA winner legendary animation director Richard Williams (86-years) passed away. He debuted in 1958 with “The Little Island” which won him BAFTA. He received his first
GK Update 20 Aug, 2019
Oscar for his animated adaptation of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol” in 1971. Williams is best known for his 1988 animated film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”. “The Return Of The Pink Panther” and “The Pink Panther Strikes Again” are some of his famous works.