SIPVS Knowledge is Power
1) Indian stock markets achieved which dual milestones on 23 January 2018? – Nifty and Sensex breached the 11,000 and 36,000 marks for the first time in history
Explanation: Indian equity markets’ bull-run continued on 23 January 2018 as the 50-index Nifty and the 30-scrip Sensex breached the 11,000 and 36,000 marks respectively for the first time in history on this day.
– Domestic sentiment was buoyed as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) remains bullish on India’s growth potential and has retained its GDP forecast for the country at 6.7% in 2017 and 7.4% in 2018. The rally was also helped by Indian Prime Minister leading the Indian contingent at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos.
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2) Who took over as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India on 23 January 2018? – Om Prakash Rawat
Explanation: Om Prakash Rawat assumed charge as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of the 3-member Election Commission of India (ECI) on 23 January 2018. His appointment for the post was announced on 21 January 2018. He replaced Achal Kumar Joti, who retired on 22 January 2018.
– Rawat was one of the two Election Commissioners in the 3-member body. Additionally, former finance secretary Ashok Lavasa was appointed as election commissioner, while Sunil Arora is the third member of the Commission.
– Rawat is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre of the 1977 batch. Before being appointed as election commissioner, Rawat served as secretary in the ministry of heavy industries and public enterprises.
3) What is the name of the former football star who took over as President of African country Liberia on 22 January 2018 and thus marking the country’s first democratic transfer of power for more than 70 years? – George Weah
Explanation: George Weah, former decorated football star was sworn in as President of Liberia on 22 January 2018. He took over from Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
– Widely regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, in 1995, he was named as a FIFA World Player of the Year and won the Ballon d’Or, becoming the first and to date only African player to win these awards. He played for various top European football clubs for 14 years and represented his country Liberia at the African Cup of Nations on two occasions
– 51-year old Weah won more than 60% of the votes and beat incumbent Vice-President, Joseph Boakai, in a runoff election on 26 December 2017. Liberia has been ravaged by civil war, the Ebola virus and corruption and hasn’t had a democratic transfer of power since 1944.
– After Sirleaf took office in January 2006 as Liberia’s first elected female President, she oversaw years of peace and stability despite festering problems and challenges. She was also the first-ever woman President of an African country and had been jointly awarded the Nobel Peace prize for 2011.
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4) Who took oath as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh on 23 January 2018? – Anandiben Patel
Explanation: Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Gujarat Anandiben Patel was sworn in as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh on 23 January 2018. Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Hemant Gupta administered the Oath of Office to her.
– It is worth mentioning that Ramnaresh Yadav had retired from the post of Governor of Madhya Pradesh in September 2016 and Gujarat Governor Om Prakash Kohli was holding additional charge of the State.
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5) Which film was nominated for 13 Oscars in the nominations for 2018 that were announced on 23 January 2018? – “The Shape of Water”
Explanation: The nominations for the 90th Academy Awards were announced on 23 January 2018 in which Guillermo del Toro’s fantasy romance ‘The Shape of Water’ led the field with the highest 13 nominations. The highest record for Oscars’ nominations is 14 for three films – ‘All About Eve’ (1950), ‘Titanic’ (1997) and ‘La La Land’ (2016).
– World War Two drama “Dunkirk” follows with eight nominations, while “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” received seven.
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6) On 24 January 2018 which company became the second company to achieve Rs. 6 lakh crore market capitalization after Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL)? – Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Explanation: Tata Consultancy Services’ market valuation surged past Rs. 6 lakh crore mark on 24 January 2018 and it thus became the second company to achieve the milestone after Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL).
– TCS also surpassed RIL to become the country’s most valued firm in terms of market valuation. While TCS’ market capitalization stood at Rs. 6,12,696.46 crore, RIL’s figure stood at Rs. 6,11,096.56 crore.
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Source: nirdeshak.com
