DAILY GK UPDATE: 24th DECEMBER

1. Asian Hockey Champ: India to take on Pakistan in 4th match:

Note: Reigning Champions India will take on arch rivals Pakistan in their fourth match at the Asian Champions trophy Hockey in Qatar capital Doha on Monday. Indian won the inaugural edition of the tournament in China.The defending champions continued their winning streak in Doha yesterday as they routed a hapless Oman by 11-0.

2. National Squash Champ: Saurav Ghosal wins Men's title; Joshna Chinappa bags women's title:

Note: Saurav Ghosalreigned supreme, winning the men's titles in the 60th National Squash Championship in Kolkata on Sunday. The world number 11, Ghosal faced little resistance from second seed Harinder Pal Sandhu to wrap the issue, 11-5, 11-4, 11-3 in 33 minutes.
3. India, Russia seal new defence deals worth USD 4 bn; inks 10 pacts:

Note: India has inked deals worth around Rs 22,000 crore with Russia to procure 42 new Su-30 MKI combat aircraft and 71 Mi-17V5 medium-lift helicopters. "Russia is a key partner in our efforts to modernise our armed forces and enhance our defence preparedness. A number of joint design, development and production projects are underway in high technology areas. We expressed satisfaction that these projects are progressing well," the Prime Minister said.

4. Marathi actors Anand Abhyankar, Akshay Pendse killed in road accident:

 Note: Well-known Marathi actors Mr. Anand Abhyankar and Mr. Akshay Pendse were among three people killed in an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Sunday last night.Mr. Anand Abhynkar had worked in number of Marthi, Hindi movies and tele serials.

5. Ilayaraja gets Sangeet Natak Akademi award:

Note: Legendary South Indian composer Ilayaraja is among the nine artistes from the field of music who will receive the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for this year. Ilayaraja has been awarded for Creative and Experimental Music. Grammy Award-winning percussionist T H Vinayakram, Violinist N Rajam, who performs Hindustani classical music and veteran playwright Ratan Thiyam have been selected for the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships.

6. DoT announces women helpline number '167':

Note: Admist nationwide uproar over brutal gang-rape of a paramedic student, the Telecom Ministry on Monday announced a three-digit women helpline number '167'. For helping women in distress, Delhi Chief Minister requested (Telecom Minister) Kapil Sibal to allot a three digit phone number. "Though DoT has limited resource in respect of three-digit numbers, yet within two hours of the request, a three-digit number '167' has been allotted for Chief Minister's helpline," a statement from the Department of Telecom said.

7. Indian team arrives in Bangalore for 1st T20 against Pak :

Note: The Indian cricket team on Sunday arrived in the city for the first Twenty20 International against Pakistan at M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on 25th December.

8. India’s first and unique cow sanctuary to be established in MP:

Note: India’s first and unique cow sanctuary will be established in Madhya Pradesh. State’s chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today laid the foundation stone of the Kamadhenu Cow Sanctuary at Salriya village in Susner tahsil of Shajapur district. The Forest Department will run large-scale fodder production scheme here while arrangements will be made in the sanctuary for manufacture of insecticides from cow dung and urine.

9. President to attend special convocation of BHU:

Note: President Shri Pranab Mukherjee will attend a special convocation of the Benaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi on Tuesday to mark the concluding function of the year long 150th Birth Anniversary celebrations of its founder 'Mahamana' Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya born on 25th Dcember, 1861. Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav will also attend the function. He will be presented with an Honorary degree of Doctorate of Law by the University.

10. WB Govt. to organize credit fare for welfare of minority communities:

Note: The West Bengal Government has decided to organize credit fare in the districts of the state for the welfare of minority communities. The West Bengal Government has decided to organize credit fare in the districts of the state for the welfare of minority communities. Around 22 lakhs people belonging to minority.

11. Christmas celebrations begin across all over world:

Note: Christmas celebrations begin in across every part of the world from midnight on Monday. The day marks the birth of Jesus Christ. The celebrations begin with singing of Christmas carols followed by offering of prayers in the churches.