DAILY GK 2 MAY 2019
1.
INDIA 4TH BIGGEST MILITARY SPENDER IN 2018: SIPRI REPORT
✔India
was the world’s fourth biggest military spender in 2018 behind the United
States, China, and Saudi Arabia, according to new data think tank Stockholm International
Peace Research Institute. India was the fifth largest military spender in 2017.
✔According
to the SIPRI data, China was the second-largest military spender in 2018. India
accounts for 3.7% of the global defence spending.
2. US
WITHDRAWS FROM UN ARMS TRADE TREATY
✔US
President Donald Trump stated that his administration is withdrawing the U.S.
signature from the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, in response to concerns from gun
rights activists that it could impinge on Americans’ right to bear arms.
3. PFA
AWARDS 2018/19 ANNOUNCED: COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS
✔Liverpool
defender Virgil van Dijk and Arsenal
Women Football Club's Vivianne Miedema
were named Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year
for the 2018-19 season.
- PFA
Young Player of the Year: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City & Georgia
Stanway, Manchester City
- PFA
Special Achievement Award: Steph Houhgton: Former England and WBA
4.
INDIAN AND FRENCH NAVIES CONDUCT VARUNA 19.1 BILATERAL EXERCISE OFF GOA COAST
✔The
first part of the Indo-French joint naval exercise, Varuna 19.1 was kicked off the Goa
coast. The 17th edition includes the participation of the French Navy’s
aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle, two destroyers, FNS Forbin and FNS
Provence, the frigate FNS Latouche-Treville, the tanker FNS Marne and a nuclear
submarine.
✔The
exercise will be conducted in two phases. The second part, Varuna 19.2, is
scheduled to be held at the end of May in Djibouti.
The bilateral naval exercise initiated in 1983 and christened as ‘Varuna’ in
2001, form a vital part of the Indo-French strategic partnership.
5.
ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY CONSTITUTES COMMITTEE TO IMPLEMENT NATIONAL CLEAN AIR
PROGRAMME
✔The
Union Environment Ministry has constituted a committee to implement the
National Clean Air Programme, which aims to reduce particulate matter pollution
by 20%-30% in at least 102 cities by 2024.
✔The
committee will be chaired by the Secretary, Union Environment Ministry. It
would be headquartered in New Delhi.
6.
AKIHITO 1ST JAPANESE EMPEROR TO STEP DOWN FROM THRONE IN 200 YEARS
✔Akihito
became the first Japanese Emperor to step down from the throne in more than 200
years.
✔His
son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will ascend the Chrysanthemum throne today,
beginning a new era. 30 April was the last day of the Heisei imperial era.
7.
IRAQ BECOMES INDIA’S TOP OIL SUPPLIER IN 2018-19
✔Iraq
has become India’s top crude oil supplier for the second consecutive year,
meeting more than one-fifth of the country’s oil needs in the 2018-19 fiscal
year.
✔According
to data collected by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and
Statistics, Iraq sold 46.61 million tonnes of crude oil to India during April
2018 and March 2019.
8.
INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' DAY: 1ST MAY
✔International
Labour Day (also known as May Day or International Workers' Day) is celebrated across the world on 1st of May
every year.
✔The
theme of International Labour Day 2019 is “Sustainable
Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners”.
9.
DILIP KUMAR APPOINTED AS OFFICER ON SPECIAL DUTY IN OFFICE OF LOKPAL
✔Senior
IAS officer Dilip Kumar was appointed as the Officer on Special Duty in the
office of Lokpal. Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, is at
present joint secretary, National Human Rights Commission.
✔He
has been appointed for a period of six months on additional charge basis or
till a new incumbent joins the post.
10.
STATE BANK OF INDIA LINKS INTEREST RATES TO RBI’S REPO RATE
✔India’s
largest bank State Bank of India has moved to a new interest rate regime on
large savings account deposits as well as short-term loans. Earlier, SBI had
announced that it will link its interest rate on savings account with a balance
above Rs1 lakh and short-term loans like overdraft and cash credit facility to
Reserve Bank of India’s repo rate, effective 1 May 2019.
✔The
interest rates on large SBI savings account deposits and interest rate on some
short-term loans will automatically change as and when RBI changes its repo
rate. This will help in better transmission of RBI’s policy rates into the
banking system.
11. APURVI
CHANDELA RANKS WORLD NUMBER 1 IN WOMEN’S 10 M AIR RIFLE EVENT
✔Indian
shooting ace Apurvi Chandela has been ranked the world number one in the
women’s 10 metres air rifle event while compatriot Anjum Moudgil rose to number
two after consistent performances. The rifle ace from Jaipur has already
secured 2020 Olympics quota for the country.
12. GOLDMAN
ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE CONFERRED ON 6 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS
✔Six
grassroots environmental activists received the prestigious Goldman
Environmental Prize. Known as the Green Nobel Prize, the Goldman Prize honors
environmental activists from each of the six continental regions: Europe, Asia,
North America, Central America and South America, Africa and islands and island
nations.
The
winners of the award are-
- Alfred
Brownell, Liberia
- Bayarjargal
Agvaantseren, Mongolia
- Ana
Colovic Lesoska, North Macedonia
- Jacqueline
Evans, Cook Islands
- Alberto
Curamil, Chile
- Linda
Garcia, United States
