General Awareness

PERSONS IN NEWS - August 2019

Aug 2019

Jan 30, 2020

Taranjit Singh Sandhu to be Envoy to U.S.

Seasoned diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been appointed as India's Ambassador to the US, replacing Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
Sandhu, a 1988-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, was posted as High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka.
His appointment to the high-profile job comes at a critical time when the US-India strategic partnership is deepening and also tensions are simmering in the Gulf region after the US killed top Iranian commander General Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad.

Sachin Bansal Steps Down from Board of Ujjivan SFB

Sachin Bansal resigned from the board of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank. Bansal's decision to step down as an independent director of Ujjain came weeks after Chaitanya Rural Intermediation Development Services (Crids), wherein the Flipkart co-founder holds a majority stake, applied to the RBI for a universal banking licence.
Navi Technologies, fully owned by Bansal, has a 94% stake in Crids. He has earmarked almost the entire $750 million he had earned from Flipkart's sale to Walmart to pursue his banking ambitions.
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India Llp has been roped in as an adviser to help Bansal chalk out Crids' banking road map.

Jan 29, 2020

Reserve Bank Elevates Janak Raj as ED

The RBI elevated Janak Raj, principal adviser in the monetary policy department, to the executive director's post. He will be the in-charge of the monetary policy department.
Mr. Raj replaced Michael Patra who was the executive director of the monetary policy department. Mr. Patra was appointed as Deputy Governor earlier this month. As Deputy Governor, Mr. Patra is in-charge of the department. The central bank is yet to allocate the other portfolios to Mr. Raj. The significance Mr. Raj's elevation is he could become RBI's third internal member in the monetary policy committee that sets interest rates. Mr Raj is due for retirement in June.
The other two internal members of RBI in the MPC are the Governor and the Deputy Governor in-charge of the monetary policy department. According to rules, the third internal member could be any RBI officer. MPC consists of six members — three from the RBI and the remaining external experts.

Prominent Tunisian Blogger and Civil Rights Activist Lina Ben Mhenni Passes Away

Prominent Tunisian blogger and civil rights activist Lina Ben Mhenni died at the age of 36 following a long battle with the auto-immune disease, lupus.
She rose to prominence in the early days of the 2011 revolution that toppled long-time autocratic ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Jan 28, 2020

Kartik Aaryan Brand Ambassador of Bombay Shaving Company

Bombay Shaving Company, a male grooming products manufacturer, appointed Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan as its brand ambassador. The actor will be endorsing the brand's shave and facial grooming range. The association aims to popularize the brand amongst millennial consumer base who are increasingly looking to experiment with their look.
Launched in 2016, Bombay Shaving Company started as a direct to consumer premium experiential shaving regimen but quickly expanded into skin, beard and bath categories. The company stated that it is focussing on offline expansion aiming to take its current footprint of 3,000 stores to 10,000 stores in the coming months. The firm claims to have more than 2.5 lakh customers. It aims to become an Rs. 100 crore brand in the next one year.
As an omnichannel brand Bombay Shaving Company products are available on own site, marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart. It is backed by Sixth Sense Venture Partners, and Colgate Palmolive Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based consumer products company Colgate-Palmolive.

Jan 27, 2020

Kobe Bryant Killed in Helicopter Crash

Basketball icon Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Southern California. He was 41. Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, also died in the crash.
The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.
He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of the game with accomplishments that are legendary: five NBA championships, an NBA MVP award, 18 NBA All-Star selections, and two Olympic gold medals. But he will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete to the very best of their ability.
Bryant won five NBA championships for the Lakers and amassed a number of accolades. He was the NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2007-08, a 15-time All-NBA selection, 18-time All-Star and 12-time All-Defensive team member. He twice was named MVP of the NBA Finals and was the All-Star Game MVP four times.
Bryant played in 1,346 career games and retired as the third-leading scorer in NBA history with 33,643 points. Lakers star LeBron James passed had him on the all-time list when he scored 29 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. Bryant stands behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone and James on the all-time list.

Jan 21, 2020

Former cricketer Man Mohan Sood passes away

Former Test batsman and National selector Man Mohan Sood passed away. He was 80.
A batsman with flair to play strokes, Sood made his First Class debut against Services at Ferozeshah Kotla in 1957 and played his final Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir at Srinagar in 1964.
His lone Test appearance came against Richie Benaud-led Australia at Madras in 1960 when India lost by an innings and 55 runs. Sood fell to left-arm fast Alan Davidson in both the innings (0 and 3). In the first innings he was stumped by Wally Grout.

Senior Congress leader Shamsher Surjewala dies at 87

Veteran Congress leader Shamsher Singh Surjewala passed away at 87 in Delhi following prolonged illness. Surjewala, father of party leader Randeep Surjewala, breathed his last at the AIIMS hospital in New Delhi.
Shamsher Singh Surjewala was a five-time MLA and one-time Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana. He was also the former president of the Haryana Congress and a former minister.
He was president of the Haryana Krishak Samaj and fought for the rights of farmers. His body was taken from AIIMS to Narwana in Haryana. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited AIIMS and met Randeep Surjewala to convey his condolences.

Challa Sreenivasulu Setty appointed MD of SBI

The government appointed Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the managing director of the State Bank of IndiaNSE -0.45 % for a period of three years, according to an official order.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Department of the Financial Services for the appointment of Setty, currently serving as the deputy managing director of the SBI, in the key post.
Setty has been appointed as the MD of the SBI for a period of three years with effect from the date of his taking over the charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier and which is extendable by 2 years or until further orders, whichever is earlier, after review of his performance.

Ashish Garg is new ICSI President

The Company Secretaries Institute has a new President in Ashish Garg for the year 2020.
Nagendra D Rao, a fellow member of ICSI, has been elected Vice-President of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
Garg is a Post Graduate in Economics (M A), Commerce (M Com) and a graduate in law (LLB). He was elected to the central council of ICSI for the term 2015-18 and re-elected for the term 2019-22.

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