Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |

Dear Aspirants,

The General Awareness Section plays an important role in scoring well above cut off marks in any competitive exam. The Banking Awareness and Static Awareness questions asked in the General Awareness Section are based on Current Affairs mainly. So you need to prepare well this section to score good marks. Here is the Daily GK Update to get you acquainted with the top events that made the headlines today!

National News

1. India Re-Elected As Observer To ‘Arctic Council’

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_3.1

i. India was re-elected as Observer to the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum. The decision was taken during the 11th Arctic Council ministerial meeting at Rovaniemi, Finland.

ii. The Council also appointed the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a new Observer. India successfully got the Observer status in 2013 during the Kiruna Ministerial meeting held in Sweden.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For SBI Mains 2019:

The Arctic Council, a high level intergovernmental organisation set up in 1996 to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States and protect the Arctic environment.
The Arctic Council is formed of eight circumploar countries- Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Canada, US and Russia.
India has its Arctic research station ‘Himadri’ in Svalbard, Norway since 2008.

2. Chhattisgarh Deploys 1st Anti-Naxal Women Commando Unit

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_4.1

i. The Chhattisgarh police for the first time has inducted women commandos in the District Reserve Guard (DRG), its frontline anti-Naxal force.

ii. Comprising 30 women led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dineshwari Nand, have received extensive training in jungle combat.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC AAO Mains 2019:

Chief minister: Bhupesh Baghel, Governor: Anandiben Patel.
With the induction of the women commando contingent, the number of platoons of the DRG in Dantewada now stands at six.

3. 158th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore Observed

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_5.1

i. India’s first Nobel laureate who reshaped Bengali literature and music, Rabindranath Tagore was also an educationist who started the Vishwa Bharati University in Shantiniketan, and in the process, challenged conventional mores of education.

ii. Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary is also known as Pochise Boishakh 2019.

Find The Complete Info. Here

4. TAFE, Petroleum Conservation Research Association Sign MoU

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_6.1

i. Tractor-manufacturer Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE) Ltd has signed an MoU with Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) to aid conservation of resources.

ii. Under the MoU, the association plans to jointly conduct agricultural workshops by involving TAFE’s dealership network.

5. India and China Sign Protocol For Export of Indian Chilli Meal

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_7.1

i. Commerce Secretary, Anup Wadhawan and Vice Minister, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), Li Guo, held a meeting in New Delhi to discuss trade-related issues of pending Indian request for clearance of agricultural products.
ii. Both sides agreed to resolve market access issues expeditiously in order to achieve the vision of the leaders of both India and China by promoting a more balanced trade. At the end of the meeting, a protocol was signed for export of chilli meal from India to China.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC AAO Mains 2019:

China Capital: Beijing, Currency: Renminbi, President: Xi Xinping.

International News

6. Vice President Embarks On 4-Day Official Visit To Vietnam

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_8.1

i. Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu embarked on a four-day official visit to Vietnam to participate in 16th United Nations Day of Vesak.

ii. During the visit, VP will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session of the event themed as “Buddhist Approach to Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Sustainable Societies.”

Static/Current Takeaways Important For SBI Mains 2019:

Vietnam Capital: Hanoi, Currency: Vietnamese dong, Vice President: Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh.

7. Singapore Passes ‘Fake News’ Law

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_9.1

Singapore’s Parliament passed a law to curb the spread of fake news under which offenders may face up to 10-year jail or fines of up to S$1 million (over Rs5.12 crore). The law empowers the government to direct social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to carry corrections or remove content it considers to be fake news.

Banking/Business News

8. India Ratings Downgrades Yes Bank With Negative Outlook

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_10.1

i. India Ratings has downgraded the YES bank’s long-term rating to ‘IND AA-’ with a negative outlook, while reaffirming short-term rating. ICRA has also downgraded the long-term ratings of the lender.

ii. Accordingly, six instruments with a total borrowing of over Rs 33,000 crore were also downgraded.

9. Airtel, Hughes To Combine Their India VSAT Operations

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_11.1

i. Sunil Mittal led telecom major Bharti Airtel and Hughes Communications India (HCIL) have decided to combine their VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) satellite communications operations in India. The transaction is subject to approvals by relevant authorities.

ii. HCIL is the India unit of Hughes Network Systems, LLC, the global leader in broadband satellite networks and services. VSAT refers to the provision of data services using satellites and is used extensively by banks and ATMs.

Obituaries

10. Renowned Economist Baidyanath Mishra Passes Away

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_12.1

i. Renowned economist Baidyanath Mishra passed away due to old-age related problems. He was 99. Mishra had started his career as a lecturer in Ravenshaw University in Cuttack in 1949.

ii. He was vice-chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) from 1981 to 1985. He was also the chairman of the State Planning Board from 1985 to 1990.

11. NR Madhava Menon, Father of Modern Legal Education, Passes Away

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_13.1

i. Prof N.R. Madhava Menon, an educationist, scholar, and the pioneering spirit behind modern legal education in India, has passed away. He was 84 years old.

ii. Menon was bestowed with the Padma Shri in 2003 for his outstanding contribution to public services.

12. 1st Chronicler Of Partition, Prof. Kirpal Singh Passes Away

Current Affairs 9th May 2019 | Daily GK Update |_14.1