Daily Current GK Update
11 January, 2019
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- India to become world’s 3rd largest consumer market by 2030: WEF
A report by World Economic Forum stated that India is set to become the world’s third largest consumer market behind only USA and China by 2030. The report was titled as ‘Future of Consumption in Fast-Growth Consumer Market – India’.
As per the report, consumer spending in India is expected to grow from 1.5 trillion US dollar at present to six trillion US dollar by 2030. With the annual GDP growth rate of 7.5 percent, India is currently the world’s sixth largest economy.
Source: – The Hindu Business Line
- ‘National Consultation on Child Protection’ held in New Delhi
The First National Consultation on Child Protection for 2019 was held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development.
The meeting was organized to follow up on the exercise of monitoring of the CCls by States/UTs, to deliberate upon various aspects of child protection and to take stock of the efforts made by States/UTS regarding improvements in the Child Care Institutions.
Source: -Press Information Bureau
- Mohamed Salah named African Footballer of the year
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been named as the 2018 Confederation of African Football Player of the Year. For the second consecutive year he has won the award. Egypt forward Salah, 26, beat Liverpool team-mate Sadio Mane of Senegal and Arsenal and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the title. He received the award at a ceremony in Senegal.
Houston Dash and South Africa forward Thembi Kgatlana was named Women’s Player of the Year. Salah scored 44 goals for Liverpool during the 2017-18 season, helping the Reds to the Champions League final before scoring twice for Egypt at the World Cup in Russia.
Source: – BBC Sports
- UGC to set up CARE to strengthen research publication
With an aim to refine and strengthen the University Grants Commission (UGC) approved a list of journals, in that the UGC has decided to establish a Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (CARE).
The good quality Research Journals in disciplines under Social Sciences, Humanities, Languages, Arts, Culture, Indian Knowledge Systems etc., will be maintained by CARE and referred to as ‘CARE Reference List of Quality Journals’. This will be used for all academic purposes.
UGC has constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. P. Balram, to review its quality mandate relating to promotion of Research and to review the existing M.Phil/ Ph.D Regulations.
Source: – Press Information Bureau
- Maduro sworn in as Venezuela Prez for 2nd term amid economic crisis
Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a second term as Venezuela’s President on Thursday amid the economic and humanitarian crisis faced by the Latin American country. Maduro was re-elected last year amid allegation of vote buying and electoral fraud. The US, EU and 13 other countries have said that they would not recognise Maduro’s Presidency.
- Rajya Sabha passes Reservation Bill granting 10% quota for upper caste
The 124th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2019 to award 10% reservation to economically weaker sections was passed with a majority in Rajya Sabha. It was already passed in Lok Sabha. After 10-hourlong debate, most of the members in the Upper House of the Parliament agreed to go ahead with the bill despite opposition from some parties.
The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill has passed the Rajya Sabha test with 165 ‘Yes’ and 7 ‘No’ votes. This was brought to the Upper House after the sitting of the House was extended by a day.
Source: – The Money Control
- Government launched Web- Wonder Women Campaign
The government launched Web-Wonder Women Campaign to celebrate the exceptional achievements of women who have influenced and impacted society through social media.
The Campaign aims to recognize the fortitude of Indian women stalwarts from across the globe who have used the power of social media to run positive campaigns to steer a change in society.
Source: – AIR World Service
- BEE and CPWD sign MoU on promoting energy efficiency in Buildings
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) signed an MoU, kick-starting cooperation in building energy efficiency.
According to the MoU, BEE and CPWD will cooperate on promoting designs and construction of Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) compliant new buildings, star rating of CPWD managed buildings across the country with no registration or renewal fee, awareness of energy efficiency in the building sector and support for capacity building of CPWD officials in ECBC.
Source: – Press Information Bureau
- Sri Lanka’s central bank gets USD 400 million swap from RBI
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank announced that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has agreed to provide USD 400 million under a swap arrangement to boost the island nation’s reserves.
It stated that a further request to the RBI for another SWAP arrangement of USD 1 billion is “under consideration”. These are to be made available under the SAARC SWAP facility. The RBI has agreed to provide the funds under its SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Swap Facility.
Source: – AIR World Service
- IRCTC partners with Bharti AXA General Insurance
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the Railways’ subsidiary, will offer insurance of up to INR50 lakh for free for air passengers who book their tickets through its portal. IRCTC has tied up with Bharti-Axa for the offer.
IRCTC’s service charge of INR59 is the cheapest compared with travel websites. IRCTC has tied up with Galileo, a computer reservation system, for powering the flight search engine. At present, over 30 lakh users log in through its mobile app and 3 lakh ticket bookings happen daily through the app.
Source: – The Hindu Business Line
- SEBI constitutes research advisory committee headed by Sankar De
Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has constituted a “Research Advisory” committee which will assist in formulating policy to undertake research relevant for development and regulation of capital markets. According to SEBI, the committee would comprise prominent financial economists and market practitioners. It will be headed by Sankar De.
“In order to strengthen its research function and enhance its linkage to policy making, SEBI has constituted a ‘Research Advisory Committee headed by Sankar De,” a SEBI statement stated. Another key task of the committee will be to maintain databases relevant for capital market regulation research.
Source: – The Economic Times
- India allows Iran’s bank Pasargad to open branch in Mumbai
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that India has allowed an Iranian bank, Pasargad Bank, to open a branch in Mumbai. The move is aimed at circumventing US trade and investment sanctions as India builds a strategic port in the West Asian country
Iran’s Pasargad Bank has received the necessary clearances to open its branch in Mumbai. Alongside, India’s UCO Bank will open a branch in Iran.
Source: – The Livemint
- Mary Kom becomes world number one woman boxer in 48-kg category
Mary Kom, who had become the first ever woman boxer to win six world championship titles in November last year, has been ranked number one by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) in the light fly (45-48kg) category. The 35-year-old tops her weight division with 1700 points. Ukraine’s 22-year-old boxer Hanna Okhota is ranked second, with 1100 points.
Source: – Hindustan Times
- Andaman to be first island to operate seaplanes under UDAN-3
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, islands in Andaman will soon be connected by seaplanes that can land on or take-off from the water. To facilitate the same, the government has approved flight operations on 13 water aerodrome routes under the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme.
The government had opened bidding under the third phase of its regional connectivity scheme, UDAN-3, in November, and had received a total of 111 proposals by 15 airlines.
Source: – The Money Control
- World Hindi Day celebrated on10 January
World Hindi Day was celebrated on January 10 every year, marking the anniversary of first World Hindi Conference which was held in 1975. The first World Hindi Conference was inaugurated by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi. World Hindi Day was first observed on January 10, 2006.
World Hindi Day and National Hindi Diwas are completely different. National Hindi Diwas is celebrated every year on September 14. On that day in 1949, the constituent assembly adopted Hindi, written in Devanagari script, as the official language of the Union. While the focus of the World Hindi Day is to promote the language at the global stage.
Source: – India Today
- LGBTQ issues not acceptable in Army: Army chief
Gen Bipin Rawat Suggesting that the Supreme Court verdict on decriminalisation of gay sex may not be implemented in the Army, Army chief General Bipin Rawat said, “For LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) issues, in the Army these are not acceptable.” When asked about the apex court’s ruling on adultery, General Rawat stated, “We can’t allow it to perpetrate into the Army.”
Source: – ANI
- Malala pens new book on refugee girls titled We Are Displaced
Nobel Peace Prize winner and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai pens a new book, titled ‘We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World, charting her experiences traveling the world and visiting refugee camps.
Source: – Hindustan Times
- GST exemption limit doubled to 40 lakh in relief to small firms
The GST Council on Thursday raised the exemption threshold to 340 lakh with effect from April 1. Currently, firms with an annual turnover of up to 20 lakh are exempted from registration under GST. The raised exemption limit would allow around 20 lakh small businesses to opt out of GST if they chose to.
Source: – Bloomberg Quint
- Verma removed as CBI chief by PM-led panel, made DG fire services
A day after CBI Director Alok Verma resumed office on Supreme Court’s order, a PM Narendra Modi-chaired committee has transferred him as Director General, fire services. The committee included Supreme Court judge AK Sikri and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. Reports said that the panel found charges of corruption against Verma to be true, which was opposed by Kharge.
Source: – The Quint