Sunday, 6 February 2022

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passes away

06 February 2022
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Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passes away

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar has passed away at the age of 92 after suffering a multi-organ failure. The Bharat Ratna awardee was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia and tested positive for the coronavirus disease in January. She is survived by her 3 sisters – Usha Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Meena Khadikar and brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar.

In her seven-decade-long career:

  • She began her career as a singer back in 1942 and never looked back. She recorded innumerable songs in over 36 Indian and foreign languages.
  • She gave us musical gems such as Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo, Lag Jaa Gale, Yeh Kahan Aage Hain Hum and Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, among others.
  • Having led an eventful and rich life of several milestones, Lata Mangeshkar was conferred with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1990. For her contribution to Indian music, she also was bestowed with Padma Bhushan in 1969 and Bharat Ratna in 2001.

In her decades-spanning career:

  • She worked with several music directors like Madan Mohan, SD Burman, RD Burman, Shankar-Jaikishan, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, OP Nayyar to name a few. Not just this, she has lent her voice to many female stars like Sridevi, Nargis, Waheeda Rehman, Madhuri Dixit, Kajol, Preity Zinta and many others.

Wednesday, 2 February 2022

02nd February Daily Current Affairs 2022: Today GK Updates for Bank Exam

02 Fabruary 2022
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02nd February Daily Current Affairs 2022: Today GK Updates for Bank Exam

Daily GK updates are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking or other competitive exams. Daily GK Update is the complete bag of the important news that is held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK update of 02nd February 2022 to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

Top 15 Daily GK Updates: National & International News

Here is providing below the top 15 important Daily General Knowledge GK 2021 updates with national & international news.

International News

1. Antonio Costa re-elected as Prime Minister of Portugal

  • The Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costo has been re-elected after his centre-left Socialist Party secured a landslide victory in the 2022 Portuguese legislative election. Socialist Party bagged 117 seats in the 230 seats Parliament.
  • Despite predictions of a tight race, the main opposition centre-right PSD party landed 27.8 per cent for 71 seats. Antonio Costo is serving as the 119th Prime Minister of Portugal since 26 November 2015.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Portugal President: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa;
  • Portugal Capital: Lisbon;
  • Portugal Currency: Euro.

2. North Korea successfully tests fire most powerful Hwasong-12 ballistic missile 

  • North Korea successfully tested its Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile from the Jagang Province area. This was the first nuclear-capable missile testing undertaken by the country since 2017.
  • The Hwasong-12 has an estimated range of 4,500 km (2,800 miles). North Korea’s series of missile test-fires, including intermediate-range ballistic missiles, pose a direct and serious threat to us and a grave challenge to international peace and stability.
  • The string of launches in 2022 comes at a delicate time in the region, with Kim's sole major ally China set to host the Winter Olympics next month and South Korea gearing up for a presidential election in March.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • North Korea Capital: Pyongyang;
  • North Korea Supreme leader: Kim Jong-un;
  • North Korea Currency: North Korean won.

States News

3. Gandhi Mandiram, Smruthi Vanam built at Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh

  • Social activists have built a temple for Mahatma Gandhi and freedom fighters’ Smrithi Vanam at the Municipal Park in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh to inculcate patriotism among the youth by remembering the sacrifices of freedom fighters. Statues of freedom fighters and social activists were erected in the park with the help of donors.
  • Mahatma Gandhi statue was unveiled along with Smritivanam on the eve of Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary in Srikakulam City. Srikakulam, also called Chicacole, the North Eastern District in AP is known for temple tourism.
  • After observing the park development, Srikakulam municipal corporation commissioner Obulesh sanctioned Rs 4.60 lakh for the park beautification from the corporation funds.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

  • Andhra Pradesh Capitals: Visakhapatnam (executive capital), Kurnool (judicial capital), Amaravati (legislative capital.);
  • Andhra Pradesh Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan;
  • Andhra Pradesh Chief minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

4. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer unveiled its mascot named ‘Shera’

  • Chief Electoral Officer’s office of Punjab unveiled its election mascot, “Shera” (Lion). It aims to increase voter awareness, participation and promote ethical voting in the Punjab Assembly polls that is scheduled on 20 February 2022.
  • The mascot “Shera”, depicting a lion. It represents the rich cultural heritage of Punjab. It is promoted under the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) project of the Election Commission of India (ECI). SVEEP project was started in 2009, as the flagship program of the ECI for voter education.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

  • Punjab Capital: Chandigarh;
  • Punjab Chief minister: Charanjit Singh Channi;
  • Punjab Governor: Banwarilal Purohit.

5. India’s first geological park will be built in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

  • The first geological park of India will be built in Lamheta, Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. Approval for the park was given by the Geological Survey of India, under the ministry of mining.
  • Park will be constructed with an investment of Rs 35 crores, over five-acre land. The geological park will be built in Lamheta, because this place is among significant places in the world, from the geological point of view.
  • In 1928, William Henry Sleeman had discovered a Dinosaur fossil from this area. UNESCO has also recognised Lamheta as a geo heritage site. Lameta Formation is also called Infratrappean Beds.
  • It is a sedimentary geological formation found in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is associated with the Deccan Traps. It is of the Maastrichtian age and is known for dinosaur fossils.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

  • Madhya Pradesh Capital: Bhopal;
  • Madhya Pradesh Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel;
  • Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Appointments News

6. Lt Gen GAV Reddy named as new Defence Intelligence Agency Head

  • Lieutenant General GAV Reddy has been appointed as the new head of the Defence Intelligence Agency. General Reddy would be succeeding Lt Gen KJS Dhillon. Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon retired after serving in various strategic positions during his 39-year career in the Indian Army.
  • The Director-General of the Defence Intelligence Agency is the head of the organisation and is among the principal advisors on intelligence to the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff.
  • The post of the director general is held on a rotation basis between the three Armed services. The first Director-General of the DIA was Lt Gen Kamal Davar, former director-general of the Indian Army's Mechanised Forces.

7. Former RBI Governor Urjit Patel quits as Britannia's Additional Director

  • Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor, Urjit Patel has resigned from the post of non-executive and independent director of Britannia Industries Limited, citing a full-time work assignment starting next month.
  • He was a part of the Board of the Company. The former governor also confirmed that there was no other reason other than his new project for the resignation.
  • Patel was recently appointed vice president for investment operations in South Asia at the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). His appointment is effective from 1 February. As the 24th governor of RBI, Patel had succeeded Raghuram Rajan and served as the governor of RBI from 2016-2018. Prior to that, he was RBI’s deputy governor in charge of monetary policy.

Agreements News

8. SBI tie-up with Tata Power for financing solar projects

  • State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a dedicated centralized processing cell named ‘Surya Shakti Cell’ with the objective of strengthening the existing financing arrangement for solar power projects. SBI has collaborated with Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd. (a Tata Power Company) for financing solar power projects.
  • The cell has been set up in the Ballard Estate in Mumbai. The Surya Shakti Cell will process all the loan applications for Solar Projects from across India by Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd., with a maximum capacity of up to 1 MW.
  • Loan applicants will include both business entities as well as households. The bank aims to provide an end-to-end platform for digital and hassle-free journeys to loan applicants for financing solar projects. With this digital initiative, SBI will offer a complete solution at competitive rates for solar projects.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd. Headquarters: Mumbai;
  • Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd. Founded: 1989.

Business News

9. HPCL launches Non-Fuel Retail Store ‘HaPpyShop’

  • Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) has marked its foray into the non-fuel retailing sector by inaugurating its Retail Store under the brand name HaPpyShop, to make available the products of daily need to its customers at their convenience.
  • The first retail store was launched by HPCL in September 2021 in Mumbai at Company’s Retail Outlet located at Nepean Sea Road.
  • In addition to this, HPCL has launched the platform in a purely online format by opening the Online Store at Madurai. HPCL is also marketing branded packaged drinking water at its Retail Outlets across the country under the name ‘Paani@Club HP’.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • HPCL Headquarters: Mumbai;
  • HPCL CEO and Chairperson: Mukesh Kumar Surana.

Banking News

10. PNB launches co-branded contactless credit cards with Patanjali

  • Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Patanjali Ayurved Limited (PAL) have launched co-branded contactless credit cards in partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The co-branded credit cards are offered on NPCI's RuPay Platform and are available in two variants - PNB RuPay Platinum and PNB RuPay Select.
  • Both the co-branded cards offer a hassle-free credit service to purchase day-to-day Patanjali products, along with cash backs, loyalty points. PNB RuPay Platinum and PNB RuPay Select cardholders will receive a welcome bonus of 300 reward points on activation.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

  • Punjab National Bank Founded: 1894;
  • Punjab National Bank Headquarters: New Delhi;
  • Punjab National Bank MD & CEO: Atul Kumar Goel;
  • Punjab National Bank Tagline: The Name You Can Bank Upon.
  • Patanjali Ayurved Limited Founded: January 2006;
  • Patanjali Ayurved Limited Headquarters: Haridwar;
  • Patanjali Ayurved Limited Founders: Ramdev, Balkrishna.

Important Days

11. World Wetlands Day observed on 02 February

  • World Wetlands Day is observed every year on February 2 all over the world. 2022 marks 51 years of the Convention on Wetlands. The international theme for World Wetlands Day 2022 is ‘Wetlands Action for People and Nature’.
  • The day aims to raise awareness about the crucial role played by wetlands for people and our planet. The day is celebrated to mark the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. World Wetlands Day was first celebrated in 1997.

12. World Interfaith Harmony Week: 1-7 February

  • World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event observed during the first week of February (1-7 February), after General Assembly designation in 2010.
  • World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), was conceived to promote cultural peace and nonviolence. The World Interfaith Harmony Week is based on the pioneering work of The Common Word initiative.
  • World Interfaith Harmony Week (WIHW), conceived to promote culture, peace and nonviolence, was first proposed by King Abdullah II of Jordan at the United Nations in 2010.

Obituaries News

13. Senior advocate & Additional Solicitor General Rupinder Singh Suri passes away

  • Senior advocate and Additional Solicitor General (ASG), Rupinder Singh Suri has passed away. He was appointed the ASG in June 2020.
  • He was designated as a senior advocate in 2009 and also served as the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association. He served as standing counsel in the Supreme Court for Punjab for about 15 years.

Miscellaneous News

14. Spituk Gustor Festival celebrated in Ladakh

  • Spituk Gustor Festival, a two-day annual celebration of Ladakhi culture and traditional heritage celebrated on 30th & 31st January 2022 in Leh and Ladakh Union Territory. To witness the colourful festivities, devotees arrive at the Spituk Monastery every year and attend the colourful mask dance locally called "Chams".
  • Spituk monastery is 8 km from Leh. It is a celebration of peace and prosperity that is celebrated at the Spituk Monastery in Leh and Ladakh UT.
  • The main attraction of the festival was the colourful mask dance locally called Chams performed by the monks of the monastery in their best robes depicting different deities such as Mahakala (Gonbo), Paldan Lhamo (Shridevi), White Mahakala, Protector Deity.
  • The mask dance began with Serskam followed by Hashang Hatuk, Six Arms Mahakala, Paldan Lhamo, Shawa, Janak Chams. However, local people believe that after this festival, the weather will get warmer and more pleasant.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Ladakh (UT) Lieutenant Governor: Radha Krishna Mathur.

15. Tata Sky Rebrands itself as Tata Play

  • Tata Sky has dropped the ‘sky’ brand name after 15 years and has rechristened itself as Tata Play. The DTH company has joined hands with Netflix to offer new OTT (over the top) content-centric channel packs as well.
  • The new name of the company will be visible to the viewers. Tata Play Binge will hosts content from 13 leading OTT apps through a single User Interface while offering the flexibility of a single subscription and payment.
  • Through the new identity as Tata Play, companies simply aim to signify their expanded range of products and services and their desire to be future-ready while making tomorrow better than today for homes and families. Tata Play was founded in 2006. It is a joint venture between the Tata Sons (60%) and The Walt Disney Company (30%), with Temasek Holdings, Singapore (10%).

Monday, 31 January 2022

74th Martyrs’ Day observed on 30 January

30 January 2022
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74th Martyrs’ Day observed on 30 January

Martyr’s Day or Shaheed Diwas is observed every year on January 30 in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated at Gandhi Smriti in the Birla House by Nathuram Godse in 1948. This year nation observed 74th Martyrs’ Day or Shaheed Diwas. The day is observed to remember the sacrifices made by freedom fighters in the struggle for India’s independence and to pay our respects to them. Notably, Martyrs’ Day is also observed in India on March 23 to pay respect to Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru and Sukhdev Thapar, who was hanged death on this day in 1931.’

Significance of the Day:

The President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, and the Defense Minister on 30 January get together at the Rajghat to the Samadhi of the Mahatma Gandhi to pay honour by putting a garland of flowers to the statue of the Bapu. An honourable salute is also given by the armed forces personnel and inter-services contingent to pay respect to the martyrs.

History of the Day:

The Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse in the Birla House during his evening prayers on 30 January 1948. Nathuram Godse was trying to justify his crime by holding Gandhiji and saying that he is responsible for the partition of the country and the killing of thousands during the freedom struggle. He called Gandhiji a pretender and in no way felt guilty for his crime. On 8th November, Godse was sentenced to death. So, on this day i.e. 30 January Bapu breathed his last and was martyred. The Government of India announced the day as Shaheed Diwas or Martyr’s Day.