Daily GK Update : 25th July 2017

By Vijay Kumar|Updated : July 25th, 2017

National & International Appointments

1. Amitabh Bachchan's ambassadorship for UNICEF extends for another two years

  • The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has extended Megastar Amitabh Bachchan's ambassadorship for another two years after the success of polio drive.
  • Earlier, He had served as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Polio in India.
  • Earlier, The World Health Organisation (WHO) also appointed Bachchan as its goodwill ambassador for hepatitis in South-East Asia region to boost awareness and intensify action to arrest the epidemic.

Note:

  • UNICEF Ambassadors are leaders in the entertainment industry to raise awareness of the needs of children, use their talent & fame to fundraise, advocate, and educate on behalf of UNICEF.

2. Ramnath Kovind takes oath as 14th President of India

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  • Ram Nath Kovind has been sworn in as India’s 14th President replacing ‘Pranab Mukherjee’.
  • He was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India ‘JS Khehar’ at a special function in the central hall of Parliament.
  • With this, Kovind has become the second Dalit President of India after KR Narayanan.
  • Earlier, Kovind was elected as the President on 20 July 2017 after he defeated the Opposition parties' nominee Meira Kumar.

3. Google CEO Sundar Pichai joins Alphabet board of directors

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  • Google CEO Sundar Pichai has been appointed to the board of directors of Alphabet, the search giant’s parent company.
  • Alphabet is the parent company of Google and several former Google subsidiaries.
  • Mr. Pichai is responsible for Google’s product development and technology strategy, as well as the company’s day-to-day-operations

Note:

  • An IIT Kharagpur alumnus Mr. Pichai born in Chennai, has been leading the Google for the past two years.

Obituaries

4. Renowned scientist Prof. Yash Pal passes away

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  • Renowned scientist Professor Yash Pal (90-years) passed away at his residence in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
  • He was known for his contributions to the study of cosmic rays, as well as for being an institution-builder.
  • He started his career at Mumbai's Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), he later remained chairman of the University Grants Commission (1986 to 1991).
  • Yash Pal also headed a committee on higher education set up by Human Resources Development Ministry to reform higher education in the country.
  • He received the Kalinga Prize (in 2009) awarded by UNESCO, Padma Bhushan (in 1976) and Padma Vibhushan (in 2013).

Note:

  • Yash Pal was born in 1926 in Jhang (now in Pakistan).
  • He graduated with a master's degree in physics from Panjab University in 1949 and gained a Ph.D. degree in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1958.

International Affairs

5. UN selects Dubai as data hub for MENASA region

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  • The United Nations (UN) has selected Dubai as the data hub for the Middle East North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region for the city’s integrated initiatives to mine and manage its data.
  • The designation will be part of a portfolio of local and regional data portals, analytics and reports to engage stakeholders and help accelerate progress.
  • It will also serve as a platform for city-to- city learning and ‘solutions transfer’ across metropolitan, national and global contexts.

National Affairs

6. IRCTC plans to install 1,100 water vending machines at 450 stations

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  • Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) plans to install 1,100 water vending machines at 450 stations in 2017-2018 to ensure clean drinking water at low cost.
  • A glass of 300 ml water dispensed through these machines will cost just one rupee.
  • At present, there are 1,106 water vending machines at 345 stations in the country.

Note:

  • In 2015, the project was initiated with an objective of providing potable water at nominal rates.
  • Water is dispensed through the provision of Reverse Osmosis (RO) in these machines.

7. Union Govt. launches mobile app 'Aarambh' for road maintenance

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  • The Union minister ‘Narendra Singh Tomar and the Deputy Director General (Policy) of International Labour Organization (ILO) Ms. Deborah Greenfield have launched a mobile app ‘Aarambh’ for road maintenance in all the States.
  • Its usage would greatly enhance the service delivery of the state level institutions in planning and implementing performance based rural roads maintenance contracts.
  • They also launched a Concept Note and Guidance Note for Mobilizing Funds for Maintenance of Rural Road.

Note:

  • The mobile phone app aims at use of Geographic Information System (GIS) based mapping for making road inventories, condition surveys, and producing cost estimates and other relevant data for preparation and monitoring of annual road maintenance plans.

Sports

8. India to host maiden men's World Boxing Championship in 2021

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  • According to the International Boxing Association (AIBA), India will host the men's World Championship for the first time in 2021.
  • Earlier, the major men's boxing events hosted by India have been the 1990 World Cup in Mumbai and the 2010 Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi.

9. Konsam wins gold in Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting Championships

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  • Indian weightlifter Konsam Ormila Devi has bagged a gold medal at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Kathmandu, Nepal.
  • The weightlifter from Manipur lifted 56kg in snatch and 70kg in clean & jerk for a total effort of 126kg in the 44kg weight category to finish on the top of the podium.

10. Mithali named captain of ICC Women's World Cup team

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  • India skipper Mithali Raj (34-years) has been chosen as the captain of the ICC Women's World Cup 2017 team by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
  • The side includes four players from England (Tamsin Beaumont, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor and Alex Hartley), three from South Africa (Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk) three from India (Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, and Mithali Raj) and Australia all-rounder, Ellyse Perry.

 11. Boxer Sachin Siwach wins Gold at Commonwealth Youth Games

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  • The world youth champion Indian boxer ‘Sachin Siwach’ has clinched a gold medal in Commonwealth Youth Games Bahamas.
  • Siwach defeated Welsh boxer James Nathan Probert 4-1 in the final in the light flyweight (49kg) category.
  • Jony was the lone Indian girls to claim a medal after she settled for a silver in the lightweight (60kg) category.
  • She lost 2-3 to Australian Ella Jade Boot in the summit clash.

 "Thought of the Day"

“It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about?”

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Daily GK Update : 25th July 2017

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