29 April 2020 Daily GK Update: Read Daily GK, Current Affairs for Bank Exam

Table of Contents

Here is the daily GK update of 29th April 2020 covering the following news headlines: ADB, Maruti Suzuki, G-20, Axis Bank.

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 held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about the banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK update of 29th April 2020 to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

National News

1. ADB to support India’s COVID-19 immediate response with $1.5 bn loan

To enhance its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India has signed a $1.5 billion loan with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The loan amount will be used in fulfilling India’s immediate priorities. These priorities comprises of disease containment and prevention, social protection for the poor as well as economically vulnerable sections of the society, especially women and disadvantaged groups.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

President of Asian Development Bank: Masatsugu Asakawa.
ADB was established in 1966.

2. Automobile giant Maruti Suzuki develops low cost ventilators

Automobile giant Maruti Suzuki has developed low-cost ventilators for helping the government in the fight against COVID-19. The production is going on in Gautam Buddha Nagar of Uttar Pradesh, where the company is supporting a start-up Agva Healthcare to scale-up ventilator production.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Chairman of Maruti Suzuki: R. C. Bhargava.
Managing Director & CEO of Maruti Suzuki: Kenichi Ayukawa.
Headquarters of Maruti Suzuki: New Delhi.

International News

3. “Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator” launched by G-20

G-20 has launched a new initiative “Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator” under the presidency of Saudi Arabia. The new initiative “Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator” will act as global platform for action to improve connections as well as to leverage interdependencies for collective partnership, mobilizing, problem-solving, and guiding investments for new COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics as well as vaccines. It also aims to provide equitable access of all the tools to all the members.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for international economic cooperation which brings together the leaders of both developed and developing countries from every continent.
The members of the G20 group are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union (EU).
Capital of Saudi Arabia: Riyadh; Currency: Saudi riyal.

State News

4. Andhra Pradesh govt starts “Jagananna Vidya Deevena Scheme”

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y. S.Jaganmohan Reddy has started the ‘Jagananna Vidya Deevena’ Scheme. Under this scheme, fee reimbursement will be credited directly to mothers’ accounts instead of college accounts in the coming academic year 2020-21.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Governor of Andhra Pradesh: Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.

Business

5. Axis Bank set to acquire stake in Max Life Insurance

Axis Bank would acquire a 29% additional stake in Max Life Insurance for an estimated price of Rs 1,592 crore. The deal will increase the Axis Bank‘s stake in Max Life to 30%. Max Financial Services will hold the remaining 70% in the joint venture.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Headquarters of Axis Bank: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
MD and CEO of Axis Bank: Amitabh Chaudhry.
The tagline of Axis Bank: Badhti Ka Naam Zindagi.
Max Life Insurance Company Headquarters: New Delhi.
MD & CEO of Max Life Insurance Company: Prashant Tripathy.

Appointments

6. Shiv Das Meena becomes new CMD of HUDCO

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, additional secretary, Shiv Das Meena has been appointed as chairman and managing director of Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) for a period of six months with immediate effect.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Headquarters of HUDCO: New Delhi.
HUDCO Established: 1970.

Science and Technology

7. North Pole’s largest-ever ozone hole finally closes

Scientists who have been observing the ozone hole at Copernicus’ Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS) has announced that the Ozone layer hole is now closed in the North Pole. They reported that the largest hole in the Ozone layer spreading over 1 million square kilometres above the Arctic has closed due to unusual atmospheric conditions. The hole in Ozone was first identified by scientists in March 2020.

8. CSIR-CMERI develops “Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device”

A low-cost robotic device named as “Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device (H-CARD)” has been developed by CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur. This robotic device will be used in the collection of samples of people exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, and will also be useful in treating COVID-19 patients. Hence, it will be very beneficial for the frontline healthcare workers who are treating COVID-19 patients. HCARD works both in autonomous mode as well as manual mode of navigation.

9. JNCASR scientists develops “Berberine” based Alzheimer inhibitor

Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) has developed “Berberine” based Alzheimer inhibitor. To make a natural product based Alzheimer’s inhibitor, scientists from JNCASR selected isoquinoline natural product Berberine which is found in India and China. The research work of scientists from JNCASR has been published in the scientific journal iSceince.

Summit and Conferences

10. India attends 11th session of Petersberg Climate Dialogue

India attends the 11th session of Petersberg Climate Dialogue. Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate change, Prakash Javadekar representing India in the first virtual Petersberg Climate Dialogue. The dialogue was hosted by Germany. It was co-chaired by the United Kingdom.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Babul Supriyo.

Sports

11. India loses hosting rights of men’s World Boxing Championships 2021

India lost the hosting rights of the men’s World boxing championship 2021 to Serbia. International Boxing Association (AIBA) has terminated the agreement signed in 2017 by India. India will also have to pay the cancellation fee penalty of USD 500.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

AIBA Founded: 1946.
AIBA Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
AIBA President: Dr Mohamed Moustahsane.

Important Days

12. International Dance Day observed globally on 29 April

International Dance Day is observed globally on 29 April every year. This day was created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO. This event takes place every year on 29th April, to celebrates the birth anniversary of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810), the creator of modern ballet.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

International Theatre Institute Founded: 1948.
Headquarters of International Theatre Institute: Paris, France.

Obituaries

13. Padma Shri award winning Actor Irrfan Khan passes away

Padma Shri award winning Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan passed away. His health had been on the decline ever since he was diagnosed with the neuroendocrine cancer in 2018. In his acting career of over three decades, he acted in over 50 Indian films and several international movies. In 2011, Irrfan khan was honoured by the government of India with the Padma Shri award for his significant contribution to arts and cinema.

14. Grammy-nominated singer Troy Sneed passes away

Grammy-nominated gospel singer Troy Sneed has passed away due to the novel coronavirus. For his work on the Youth For Christ’s 1999 album ‘Higher’, singer Troy Sneed was nominated for Grammy award.

15. Former Liverpool player Michael Robinson passes away

Former Liverpool striker, Michael Robinson passed away. He was born on July 12, 1958, in Leicester, England. He has featured in more than 300 official matches in England for five clubs, including Liverpool.