Current Affairs 31st October 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 31st October 2018: Daily GK Update

National News

1. PM Modi Unveils World’s Tallest Statue Measuring 600feet In Gujarat

Current Affairs 31st October 2018: Daily GK Update |_3.1

i. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s memorial on the leader’s 143rd birth anniversary in Gujarat’s Narmada district.

ii. Called the Statue of Unity, the bronze sculpture is the world’s tallest statue measuring 600 feet (182m) and overshadows China’s Spring Temple Buddha (153m) and USA’s Statue of Liberty (93m). The memorial was constructed in 33 months at Rs2,989 crore.

2. All You Need To Know About ‘Train 18’- India’s 1st Engineless Train

Current Affairs 31st October 2018: Daily GK Update |_4.1

i India’s first engine-less train, “Train 18”, developed by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and seen as a successor to the prestigious Shatabdi Express, was unveiled by Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani.
ii. The Rs. 100-crore train is the first long-distance train, without a separate locomotive (engine). It was flagged off at the ICF premises by Mr Lohani and would undergo trials.
iii. According to ICF, the train is capable of running at a speed of up to 160 kmph and comes with technical features for enhanced quick acceleration.
iv. The swanky 16-coach train will cut journey time by 15% compared to the 30-year old Shatabdi.

3. Netherland To Be Partner Country for 25th DST-CII Technology Summit 2019

Current Affairs 31st October 2018: Daily GK Update |_5.1

i. The Kingdom of Netherlands will be the Partner Country 25th DST – CII Technology Summit to be organized in 2019, announced Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
ii. Dr. Vardhan had made this announcement at the Curtain Raiser event of the Silver Jubilee edition of Technology Summit – 2019.

International News

4. Seychelles Launches World’s 1st Sovereign Blue Bond

Current Affairs 31st October 2018: Daily GK Update |_6.1

i. The Republic of Seychelles launched the world’s first Sovereign Blue Bond, a financial instrument designed to support sustainable marine and fisheries projects.

ii. The bond raised USD 15 million from international investors. The bond demonstrates the potential for countries to harness capital markets for financing the sustainable use of marine resources.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018:

Seychelles Capital: Victoria, Currency: Seychellois rupee.

5. Vice President Embarks On 3-Nation Africa Visit

Current Affairs 31st October 2018: Daily GK Update |_7.1

i. The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu embarked on his first Africa visit. In his weeklong visit, he will visit Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi where he is scheduled to interact with heads of state of the three nations, business fora and address Indian Community.

ii. On the 1st leg, Vice President will reach Botswana’s capital Gaborone to attend the Official opening of the 13th Annual Global Expo where 25 Indian companies are participating for the first time showcasing India’s economic and Industrial proves.
iii. On the 2nd leg he will visit Zimbabwe and on the last leg, he will visit Malawi.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018:

Botswana Capital: Gaborone, Currency: Botswana pula.
Malawi Capital: Lilongwe, Currency: Malawian kwacha.
Zimbabwe Capital: Harare, President: Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Awards

6. Malala Yousafzai To Be Honoured Gleitsman Award by Harvard University

Current Affairs 31st October 2018: Daily GK Update |_8.1

i. Nobel Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai will be honored by Harvard University for her work promoting girls’ education. Harvard’s Kennedy School stated that Yousafzai will be conferred with the 2018 Gleitsman Award at a ceremony on 6th December.

ii. Yousafzai is a student at Oxford University in England. The Gleitsman Award provides 125,000 US dollars for activism that has improved quality of life around the world.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For IBPS PO Mains Exam 2018:

Yousafzai became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.

Resignations

7. Anupam Kher Resigns As FTII Chairman

Current Affairs 31st October 2018: Daily GK Update |_9.1

i. Actor Anupam Kher has resigned as the chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India citing commitments to an international TV show for which he has to be stationed in the U.S.
ii. His resignation letter to Information and Broadcasting has been accepted by Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

Important Days

8. National Unity Day: 31st October

Current Affairs 31st October 2018: Daily GK Update |_10.1

i. National Unity day (also known as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) is celebrated every year on 31st of October by the people all through India. It is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who really unified the country.

ii. Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was introduced by the Government of India in 2014 with the aim of celebrating this event every year on 31st October.