Daily GK Updates - 15th June, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi chairs the fifth meeting of Governing Council of NITI Aayog: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the fifth Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The meeting attended by Defence Minister, Home Minister, Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister, Agriculture Minister, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister as ex-officio members. The agenda before the Meeting include rain-water harvesting, drought situation and relief measures, aspirational districts programme, transforming agriculture, and security-related issues with a specific focus on Left Wing Extremism districts. So far, four meetings of the Governing Council have been held under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister with the Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors of the states and union territories and other members of NITI Aayog.

Note: The first meeting was held on 8th February 2015, at which the Prime Minister laid down the key mandates of NITI Aayog such as fostering cooperative federalism and addressing national issues through active participation of the states.

2. Govt directed TV channels to display title, credits in serials in regional languages too: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry directed all satellite TV channels to display the cast, credits and titles of Hindi and regional language serials that they broadcast in the respective languages too. These orders were being issued for cinema too to promote Indian languages.

3. Udupi’s Amasebailu becomes Karnataka’s first solar-powered Gram Panchayat: Amasebailu in Kundapura Taluk of Udupi district has become Karnataka’s first solar-powered Gram Panchayat. Over 1800 houses were provided solar lamps at a total cost of 2.13 crore rupees. The project was funded by Centre and State Government in the ratio of 30:20 and the rest was paid by the Panchayat and charitable organizations. According to Amasebailu Charitable Trust President A G Kodgi, the solar lamps have a guarantee of five years and any faulty lamps will be replaced by the supplier within the guarantee period.

4. DGT, Cisco and Accenture sign MoU to skill youth for the digital economy: Directorate General of Training under the aegis of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry has joined hands with Cisco and Accenture to skill the youth for the digital economy through its Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). Nearly 15 lakh students across all the ITIs in India can access the digital learning module via the Bharat Skills portal. This programme will equip students enrolled in ITIs across India with skills for the digital economy over the next two years. The initial phase of the in-classroom training programme is being rolled out across 227 ITIs in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Bihar and Assam, targeting more than one lakh youth.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India, France to hold mega air exercise ‘Varun’ in July: The Indian and French air forces will carry out a two-week-long mega air exercise in France (from 1st July). It will provide an opportunity to a sizeable number of IAF pilots to have a close look at the Rafale jets being operated by the French Air Force. A fleet of Sukhoi 30 fighter jets of the Indian Air Force will engage in dogfights with France's Rafale multirole aircraft in simulated scenarios as part of the 'Garuda' exercise.

2. Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting 2019 held in Mumbai: The Intersessional meeting of Kimberley Process (KP) will be hosted by India from 17th to 21st June 2019 in Mumbai. Besides this, two special forums regarding Diamond Terminology and Artisanal Mining – Small Steps to Larger Outcomes, will be held during the Intersessional. India is one of the founder members of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and is the Chair of Kimberley Process for the year 2019 with the Russian Federation as Vice Chair. Alok Vardhan Chaturvedi, Director General, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, has been designated as KP Chair 2019 and Rupa Dutta, Economic Adviser, Department of Commerce, is India’s KP Focal Point.

Note: The Kimberley Processis a joint initiative involving Government, the international diamond industry and civil society to stem the flow of Conflict Diamonds. KPCS has 55 members representing 82 countries including EU with 28 members.

3. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: 15 June: The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is being observed across the globe on 15th June every year. It represents the one day in the year when the entire world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted to some of our older generations. Elder abuse is a global social issue which affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world.

4. NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope to Retire in 2020: After nearly 16 years of exploring the cosmos in infrared light, NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope will be switched off permanently on Jan. 30, 2020. Spitzer is a small but transformational observatory. It captures infrared light, which is often emitted by “warm” objects that aren’t quite hot enough to radiate visible light. Spitzer has lifted the veil on hidden objects in nearly every corner of the universe, from a new ring around Saturn to observations of some of the most distant galaxies known.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. India static at 101st in FIFA rankings: The Indian football team remained static at 101st place in the FIFA rankings. India had finished third in the King’s Cup in Thailand. The Indian team is at 18th spot among the Asian countries led by Iran (20th), Japan (28), Korea (37), Australia (43) and Qatar (55) form the top five in Asia. Belgium continued to top overall world rankings, followed by France, Brazil, England, and Portugal.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. ZestMoney offers first-of-its-kind EMI insurance: India’s largest and fastest growing consumer lending technology company ZestMoney, partnered with Digit Insurance to offer EMI insurance to the company’s five million customers. The policy will cover EMI cost in the event of hospitalization, death or permanent disability. The insurance product is specifically designed for ZestMoney’s customers which can be availed while applying for a loan on the digital platform.

2. HDFC sells further 4.22% stake in Gruh Finance for ₹899 crore: Mortgage lender HDFC has sold over 4.22% stake in subsidiary Gruh Finance Ltd (Gruh), which is proposed to be amalgamated with Bandhan Bank for ₹899.43 crore. Post the completion of the aforesaid sale of shares, Gruh would cease to be a subsidiary of the Corporation. Gruh is engaged in the business of providing home loans and is registered with the National Housing Bank as a housing finance company.

3. RBI asks banks to grout ATMs to wall, pill or floor to enhance security: Based on the recommendations of the Committee on Currency Movement (CCM), the Reserve Bank have directed banks to ensure their ATMs are grouted to a wall, pillar, or floor by September-end, except those installed in high secured premises such as airports, to enhance the security of the cash vending machines. The committee to review the entire gamut of security of treasure in transit is chaired by Shri D.K. Mohanty.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail (ABFRL) acquires Jaypore: Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL) will acquire ethnic wear brands Jaypore and TG Apparel & Decor Pvt Ltd to strengthen its position in the branded fashion space. Jaypore E-Commerce Pvt. Ltd sell ethnic fashion merchandise under its own brand ‘Jaypore’ for Rs. 110 crores. The board also approved entering into a share purchase agreement with the existing shareholders of TG Apparel & Decor Pvt Ltd, which retails ethnic fashion, both online and offline.

2. Trade deficit in the month of may widens to a six-month high: India’s trade deficit expanded to a six-month high of $15.4 billion in May, with import growth outpacing export growth. According to data released by the commerce ministry, exports grew 3.93% in May, while imports rose 4.31%.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Akshaya Patra wins BBC award: Akshaya Patra, a non-profit organization, has been awarded the BBC World Service Global Champion Award. It runs one of the world’s largest school meals project in India.

2. 45 individuals to get Bal Sahitya Puraskar and Yuva Puraskar: The Sahitya Akademi announced the name of 22 winners for Bal Sahitya Puraskar and 23 winners for Yuva Puraskar. The winners of both the awards will receive a casket containing an engraved copper plaque and a cheque of Rs 50,000.  Six books of children’s poetry, including works by Vijay Sharma (Dogri), Naji Munauwar (Kashmiri), and Sanjay Chaubey (Sanskrit); five story books by authors including Govind Sharma (Hindi), Mohammad Khalil (Urdu), and Swmim Nasrin (Assamese); and five authors for their total contribution in children’s literature won the Bal Sahitya Puraskar.

OBITUARIES

1. DMK MLA K Rathamani passes away in Puducherry: DMK MLA Rathamani (69-years) passed away at Jipmer hospital in Puducherry. He was suffering from cancer and recently got admitted into the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education JIPMER, Puducherry. He represented the Vikkiravandi Assembly Constituency. With his death, the number of vacancies in the assembly has gone up to two.