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Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update

Dear Aspirants,
The General Awareness Section of Banking Exams covers numerous sections in it like Banking Awareness, Static GK, and Current Affairs. But the most important thing that you might have noticed is that both the Banking Awareness and Static Awareness questions asked in the General Awareness Section are based on Current Affairs only. The questions on Static and Banking Awareness are related to the countries, events or anything that has been in news for a while. Here is the Daily GK Update to get you acquainted with the top events that made the headlines today!!

Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update

National News

1. Smriti Irani Launches GNFC’s Neem Project in UP

Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_3.1
i. State-run Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited (GNFC) started its socio-economic Neem Project, inaugurated by Union Minister Smriti Irani in Amethi District of Uttar Pradesh.

ii. Since 2015, GNFC, through its Neem Project has collected over 45,000 tonnes of neem seeds by engaging 4.5 lakh rural women in over 60 districts of five states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan.


2. Gujarat Launches Pocket Cop Project
Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_4.1
i. The Gujarat police unveiled the Pocket Cop project, which will enable quicker verification of passport applicants, and search of accused persons, among others. The project was inaugurated by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Gandhinagar.
ii. Under the project, smartphones with data connectivity will be given to 4,900 police personnel, including every police station in-charge, investigating officer, PCR van, and those involved in passport verification.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
  • Gujarat Capital- Gandhinagar, CM- Vijay Rupani, Governor- Om Prakash Kohli.
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is situated in Ahmedabad, Guajarat.
  • Kakrapar Atomic Power is located in Gujarat.

3. India Forms Committee to Reform Higher Defence Planning
Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_5.1
i. The Union Government formed a new integrated institutional mechanism, Defence Planning Committee (DPC) to reform the process of higher defence planning. The permanent body would be chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
ii. The committee is aimed at driving the country’s military and national security strategy, draft capability development plans and guide and accelerate defence equipment acquisitions.
International News
4. Swaziland King Changes Country’s Name to ‘Kingdom of eSwatini’
Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_6.1
i. Swaziland’s King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch, officially changed the name of his country to the ‘Kingdom of eSwatini’. Accordingly, the country, a member of the Commonwealth, will now be known by its historic name of eSwatini.

ii. The announcement was made during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the King’s 50th birthday as well as the 50th anniversary of Swazi’s independence from British colonial rule.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
  • Swaziland King- Mswati III, Capitals- Mbabane, Lobamba.
  • eSwatini in a Swazi language stands for ‘place of the Swazi’.

5. Karan Johar, 1st Indian Filmmaker in Madame Tussauds Collection
Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_7.1
i. Karan Johar has become the first-ever Bollywood filmmaker to get a place at the famous Madame Tussauds. 
ii. The process has begun in London and it will take about six months for the wax figurine to be ready.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
  • Madame Tussauds is a wax museum in London with smaller museums in a number of other major cities.
  • It was founded by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud.
Ranks And Reports

6. Bangalore Emerges as Top City for Office Expansion: CBRE

Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_8.1
i. In India, Bangalore has emerged as the most preferred city for office expansion, according to a survey by real estate consulting firm, CBRE South Asia. 
ii. MNCs are focusing on expanding in Bangalore and smaller cities across the country, but have limited growth plans in the Delhi NCR and Mumbai, according to the CBRE Asia Pacific Occupier Survey 2018.


7. SBI India’s Most Trusted Bank, ICICI Tops in Private Sector: Report

Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_9.1
i. According to the TRA Brand Trust Report 2018, the State Bank of India was the most-trusted bank (both public and private sector) in the country and ICICI Bank topped the chart among the private ones.  This year, State Bank of India tops the chart of BFSI (Banking and Financial Services Institutions) super-category despite seeing a dip in its overall brand trust index ranking.
ii. The leader among the private banks is ICICI Bank, rising nine ranks in overall ranking, it ranked 38th overall in 2018. Fraud-hit PSB Punjab National Bank ranks sixth among the PSB and is 297th in the overall ranking, according to the survey.
Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
  • SBI Chairman- Rajnish Kumar, Headquarters- Mumbai, Established on- 01st July 1955. 

Awards

8. BCCL Chairman Indu Jain Gets Lifetime Contribution to Media Award
Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_10.1
i. Indu Jain, chairman of Bennett, Coleman & Co, India’s largest media house, has received the All India Management Association’s (AIMA’s) annual award for lifetime contribution to media.

ii. AIMA, which recognises achievers who have made a fundamental difference to society through its annual Managing India Awards, conferred on Jain the award for managing the Times Group.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
  • Indu Jain has received the Padma Bhushan in 2016.
Banking News

9. Yes Bank Gets RBI Nod to Open Offices in London and Singapore

Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_11.1
i. Private sector lender Yes Bank has received the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) approval to open two representative offices in London and Singapore.

ii. Yes Bank opened its first representative office in Abu Dhabi in April 2015 and also launched IFSC banking unit (IBU) at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, in the same year.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
  • Yes Bank MD and CEO- Rana Kapoor.
  • Head office of Yes Bank- Mumbai.
  • YES BANK is India’s fifth largest private sector Bank.

Appointments

10. Dilip Chenoy Takes Over as FICCI Secretary General
Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_12.1
i. Dilip Chenoy was appointed as the Secretary-General of industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). He has replaced Sanjaya Baru.

ii. Chenoy was working as Director General of the industry body.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
  • Established in 1927, FICCI is the largest and oldest apex business organisation in India. 
11. US Senate Narrowly Confirms Trump’s New NASA Chief
Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_13.1

i. Jim Bridenstine, a congressman from Oklahoma, US Navy veteran, and former pilot, was confirmed on a 50-49 vote and will become the 13th administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) seven months after Trump named him to lead the agency.

ii. Bridenstine, 42, has expressed an interest in returning humans back to the moon, spoken of closer ties between NASA and the commercial space industry.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
  • NASA is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States.
  • NASA founded on 29th July 1958.
  • Headquarters of NASA- Washington, D.C., USA.

Sports News

12. Daniel Ricciardo Wins Chinese Grand Prix 2018
Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_14.1
i. The 2018 Chinese Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race that took place at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo won the race ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen.

ii. The race was the third round of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship and marked the fifteenth time that the Chinese Grand Prix has been run as a round of the Formula One World Championship.

13. Official Mascot of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Unveiled

Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_15.1
i. ‘Son of Dreams’ was unveiled as official Mascot of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China. The selection of Son of Dreams as China 2019’s Official Mascot was the culmination of a unique process by FIBA.

ii. The mascot finalists were Chinese dragon (‘Son of Dream’), a Siberian tiger (‘Speed Tiger’) and a lion (‘Qiu Qiu’). The tournament will take place in eight Chinese cities from August 31 until September 15.

Static/Current Takeaways Important for NABARD Grade-A Exam 2018-
  • China Capital- Beijing, Currency- Renminbi, President- Xi Jinping.
Obituaries
14. Veteran Journalist T V R Shenoy Passes Away
Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_16.1
i. Veteran journalist and columnist TVR Shenoy passed away at Manipal Hospital in Karnataka. Shenoy was famous for his deeper analysis and narrative style writing in his illustrious career.
ii. Shenoy was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan award in 2003.
15. Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice Rajinder Sachar Passes Away
Current Affairs 20th April 2018: Daily GK Update |_17.1
i. Former Delhi High Court Chief Justice Rajinder Sachar passed away. He was 94.  Mr Sachar has since his retirement been associated with the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, a rights group.

ii. He was the chairperson of a committee set up by the previous UPA government to look at the social, economic and educational status of Muslims in India.


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