Daily Current Affairs 31st October, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 31 October 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

India now has 9 UTs and 28 states

India has two more Union Territories and one less state after the Union government decided to abolish the law that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir and passed a new reorganisation bill that bifurcates the northern state into Union Territorie…

• Before Aug. 5, 2019, India had 29 states and seven Union Territories (UTs). The country now has only 28 states since Jammu and Kashmir has been converted. The country now has nine UTs with Jammu and Kashmir as one new entrant and Ladakh as the other.
• The Lok Sabha, on Aug. 6, 2019, passed a resolution to revoke Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill with 370 votes for and 70 against.

Himachal government ropes in Yami Gautam as ambassador for Global Investors’ Meet 2019

The Himachal Pradesh government has roped in Bollywood actress Yami Gautam as the brand ambassador of the Rising Himachal Global Investors’ Meet 2019.

• The event is scheduled on November 7th and 8th in Dharamshala.
• Yami Gautam was born in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.

India ranked 5th in 2019 Global Microscope Report on Financial Inclusion

India has been ranked at 5th spot in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2019 Global Microscope on Financial Inclusion report. Colombia has topped the ranking.

• The 2019 Global Microscope analyses the practices used by governments and regulators around the world to increase financial inclusion with a particular focus on the adoption of digital financial services.

IIIT Hyderabad create first ever Indian Brain Atlas

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H), Telangana have created the first-ever ‘Indian brain atlas’(IBA).

• The Indian brain atlas was constructed in collaboration with the Department of Imaging Sciences and Interventional Radiology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Federal Reserve cuts US’ benchmark interest rate to 1.50 pc – 1.75 pc

The United States’ benchmark interest rate has been cut by 25 basis points to a range of 1.50 per cent to 1.75 per cent, the Federal Reserve said.

New Russian submarine test-fires ballistic missile for first time

Russia’s most advanced new nuclear-powered submarine has successfully test-launched a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile, according to its defence ministry.

BANKING & FINANCE

United Bank of India partners Srei Equipment Finance to offer loans under a co-lending program

In a bid to provide loans to the retail customers and MSMEs, the United Bank of India has joined hands with the Srei Equipment Finance Limited — a wholly-owned subsidiary of Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited — to jointly offer loans to MSME sector and retail customers under a co-lending arrangement.

• To proliferate its co-lending initiative the NBFC and the United Bank of India jointly organised Loan Utsavs across 20 cities.

SPORTS

Shiva Thapa, Pooja Rani clinch gold in Olympic Test event for Boxing

Indian boxers Shiva Thapa and Pooja Rani clinched gold medals in Olympic Test Event for Boxing in Tokyo, Japan.

• Four-time Asian medallist Thapa outpunched Kazakhstan’s national champion and Asian bronze-winner Sanatali Toltayev 5-0 to claim the top honours in the 63-kilogram category.
• Former Asian Games bronze-medallist Pooja Rani edged past Australia’s Caitlin Parker in 75-kilogram category to ensure that the Indian women’s contingent also had gold in its kitty.

Tokyo Olympics 2020: Mary Kom to represent Asian bloc in athlete ambassadors group

Six-time world champion M C Mary Kom has been included in a 10-strong athlete ambassadors group to represent boxers in the build-up to next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games by the IOC’s Task Force for the sport.

• Mary Kom will represent the Asian bloc in the group, which also comprises two-time Olympic and world gold-medallist Vasyl Lamachenko and five-time world champion and 2016 Olympic gold-winner Julio Cesar La Cruz among others.

Badminton rankings: Satwiksairaj-Chirag Shetty re-enter top 10 after dream run at French Open

After their first final appearance at a Super 750 level event on the BWF World Tour, India’s promising doubles pairing of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have claimed 9th rank in the latest badminton rankings issued recently.

APPOINTMENTS

IAS officer Umang Narula appointed Advisor to Ladakh Lt Governor

Indian Administrative Service (IAS) 0fficer Umang Narula has been appointed Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh with effect from October 31.

Lt Gen Arvind Dutta appointed Adjutant General of Indian Army

Lieutenant General Arvind Dutta has been appointed the next Adjutant General of the Indian Army. The officer, who is presently commanding the Vajra Corps in Jalandhar, would succeed Lieutenant Gen Ashwini Kumar, who will superannuate on October 31.

• An adjutant general is a military chief administrative officer.

AWARDS

Nawazuddin Siddiqui gets Golden Dragon Award at Cardiff International Film Festival

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has been honoured with the prestigious Golden Dragon Award at the Cardiff International Film Festival for excellence in cinema in the global arena.

• Hollywood legend Judi Dench was also honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award at the ceremony.

OBITUARIES

Telugu actor Geetanjali passes away at 72

Telugu actor Geetanjali passed away in Hyderabad after suffering a heart attack at the age of 72. Geetanjali has worked in various Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil films and was known for her roles in films like ‘Illalu’, ‘Abbayigaru Ammayigaru’, ‘Kaalam Marindi’ and ‘Sambarala Rambabu’.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta passes away at 83

Former Lok Sabha MP and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Gurudas Dasgupta passed away in Kolkata. He was 83.

• He was suffering from heart and kidney-related ailments.

Actor and comedian John Witherspoon passes away

American Actor and comedian John Witherspoon passed away recently. He was best known best known for the hit Friday franchise and The Wayan Brothers.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Chefs Day

International Chef’s Day is observed on 20th October each year. This day is focused on educating kids around the world about the importance of eating healthy, promote the career of chefs and help change their local communities.

• This year’s campaign theme is ‘How Healthy Food Works’.

World Cities Day

The United Nations General Assembly has designated the 31st of October as World Cities Day, by its resolution 68/239. The Day is expected to greatly promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.

• This year’s theme: Changing the world: innovations and better life for future generations.

World Savings Day

World Savings Day (Word Thrift Day) is observed on 31st October every year. The day focuses on the stabilising role played by savings and retail banking in the overall financial system. It evokes some of the ethos of local banks: responsible partners in communities, close to the customers, serving households, small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) and local authorities.

• This year’s theme is “Hold on to your financial future”.

7th Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2019

The seventh annual global celebration of Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week took place from 24 to 31 October 2019. MIL Week, commemorated annually, is a major occasion for stakeholders to review and celebrate the progress achieved towards “MIL for All”.

• This year’s theme is “Media and Information Literate Citizens: Informed, Engaged, Empowered”.

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