Daily GK Update 18th March 2020: Read Daily GK-Current Affairs Update

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 18th March 2020 to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

National News

1. Innovate for Accessible India campaign launched to empower PwD

Microsoft India and NASSCOM Foundation have jointly launched Innovate for Accessible India campaign to empower people with disabilities with the help of technology and tools to provide better integration into society and access to equal opportunities. The campaign has been launched in partnership with Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, National Research and Education Network, and Department of Science and Technology.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

State News

3.’Break the Chain’ campaign launched by Kerala govt to combat coronavirus

The Kerala government has launched a mass hand washing campaign named ‘break the chain’ to combat coronavirus. The campaign aims to educate people about the importance of public and personal hygiene.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Chief Minister of Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan
• Governor of Kerala: Arif Mohammed Khan.
• Capital of Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram.
• Periyar National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Idukki & Quilon districts of the state of Kerala.

Banking and Economy

4. India’s growth forecast lowered to 5.2% by S&P for FY 2020

S&P Global Ratings has reduced India’s economic growth forecast from 5.7% to 5.2% for financial year 2020. Along with S&P, Moody’s has also lowered growth projections for India for financial year 2020 to 5.3%, while Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has lowered growth projections to 5.1% for FY 2020.

5. Paytm Payments Bank to now issue Visa debit cards

Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) has partnered with Visa to issue Visa debit cards. With this, Paytm will issue over 10 million new digital debit cards in FY 2020-2021 to its customers. PPBL will issue Visa virtual debit cards to its customers and facilitate them to transact at all merchants accepting payments through cards.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• MD & CEO of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd: Satish Kumar Gupta.

Agreements News

6. Manikaran Power becomes the first member to tie up with IGX

Manikaran Power Ltd (MPL) has become the first member of India’s first gas trading platform which is called the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX). IGX is a part of Indian Energy Exchange (IEX). Indian Gas Exchange Ltd. IGX is India’s first automated national level trading platform to promote and sustain an efficient and robust Gas market and to foster gas trading in the country.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• MD and CEO of India Energy Exchange: Rajiv Srivastava.
• Headquarters of India Energy Exchange: New Delhi.
• India Energy Exchange founded: 2008.

Appointments

7. Karan Bajwa becomes new MD of Google Cloud India

Google Cloud India has appointed Karan Bajwa as its new Managing Director. Karan Bajwa will manage various operations for Google Cloud’s extensive solution portfolio such as Google Cloud Platform and G Suite. He has earlier served as the Managing Director of IBM for India and South Asia.

8. Bajaj Auto reappoints Rajiv Bajaj as its MD & CEO

Rajiv Bajaj has been reappointed as MD & CEO of Bajaj Auto. The announcement was made after the board meeting of the Bajaj Auto. Gita Piramal has been appointed as the independent director of Bajaj Auto.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Chairman of Bajaj Auto: Rahul Bajaj.

9. Ravinder singh Dhillon becomes new CMD of PFC

Ravinder Singh Dhillon has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Power Finance Corporation (PFC). He is presently serving as a Director (Projects, Public Grievance) in Power Finance Corporation (PFC) Limited.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Headquarters of Power Finance Corporation: New Delhi.

Sports News

10. French Open delayed due to coronavirus pandemic

The French Open tennis tournament has been postponed by the French Tennis Federation due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 2020 edition of Roland Garros (French Open tennis tournament) will now held in the month of September-October 2020.

11. ATK FC wins record 3rd Indian Super League title

ATK FC (Football Club) defeated Chennaiyin FC by a score of 3-1 in the final match to win the ISL (Indian Super League) trophy. Javier Hernandez and Edu Garcia were the goal scorers for ATK FC in the final match. ATK (Atlético de Kolkata) is an Indian professional football club based in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• The Indian Super League is a football league in India, under licence from the All India Football Federation (AIFF). It is one of the two co-existing premier football leagues in India along with I-League.

Science & Technology

12. INST develops starch-based ‘hemostat’ material

A starch-based ‘hemostat’ material has been developed by the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST). The material concentrates the natural clotting factors in blood that are critical for stopping the blood flow. This is done by physically absorbing the excess fluid. The early-stage development of the starch-based ‘hemostat’ material has been published in the journal Materialia.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Director of Institute of Nano Science and Technology: Amitava Patra.

Important Days

13. Ordnance Factories’ Day observed on 18th March

The Ordnance Factories’ Day is being observed on the 18th of March every year. OFB is the 37th largest defence equipment manufacturer in the world, 2nd largest in Asia, and the largest in India. OFB is referred to as the “Fourth Arm of Defence” and the “Force Behind the Armed Forces” of India.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Director-General & & Chairman of Ordnance Factories: Hari Mohan.
• Headquarters of Ordnance Factory Board: Kolkata, West Bengal.

Obituaries

14. Noted Marathi actor Jairam Kulkarni passes away

Noted Marathi Actor Jairam Kulkarani passed away. He was born in Barshi tehsil in Solapur district, Maharashtra. He had acted in more than 150 films, including ‘Chal Re Laxya Mumbaila’, ‘Ashi Hi Banwabanwi’, ‘Thartharat’, ‘Rangat Sangat’.

Miscellaneous News

15. World’s first commercial flying car PAL-V to be built in Gujarat

World’s first commercial flying car named ‘PAL-V Liberty’ will be developed in Gujarat, India. PAL-V stands for Personal Air-Land Vehicle. The PAL-V Liberty is a combination of a car and an autogiro, or gyroplane. The PAL-V flying car can run at a speed of 160 kilometres on road and can fly at a speed of 180 km.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• • Chief Minister of Gujarat: Vijay Rupani; Governor of Gujarat: Acharya Dev Vrat.
  • Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Sasan Gir, is a forest and wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir in Gujarat, India.
  • The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a gravity dam on the Narmada river near Navagam, Gujarat.

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