Daily GK Updates - 25th June, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Maharashtra to get floating solar power generation plants on four dams:According to state Water Resources minister Girish Mahajan, Maharashtra is all set to get floating solar power generation plants on four dams. The backwater of Wardha, Bebala, Khadakpurna and Pentakli dams has been selected for setting up the floating solar panels as per the Swiss Challenge method. The estimated investment per megawatt is 4.45 crore rupees, with a total installed capacity of 500 MW.

2. Govt. to provide CNG, PNG infrastructure in 406 districts: According to Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister 'Dharmendra Pradhan', The Centre has chalked out a plan to provide CNG and PNG infrastructure in 406 districts of the country. Till 2014, only 66 districts of the country were covered under Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) infrastructure. After expanding this-facilities 70% of the population will get clean energy. One lakh twenty thousand crore rupees will be invested in the next eight years in the energy sector.

Note: CNG (Compressed Natural Gas): Natural gas is stored in vehicle compressed form (200-250 bar pressure). The Major gas in CNG is methane; PNG (Pipelined Natural Gas): Only difference that it is supplied through pipelines for household uses; LNG (Liquified Natural Gas): This is a form of Natural gas which is kept in super-cooled (cryogenic) temperature; LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas): It is by-product during the processing and refining petroleum products. It mainly consists of propane, butane, propylene, butylene.

3. Self Defence Training for Girls in Schools: Samagra Shiksha, an Integrated Scheme for School Education has been launched by Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development. Self Defence training will be imparted to girls of class VI to XII belonging to Government Schools to ensure their safety and security.

Note: Union Minister for Human Resource Development: Ramesh Pokhriyal.

4. Government to launch Universal Smart Card Driving License: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has decided to modify the format of driving licenses to smart card type driving licences. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha that his Ministry has prescribed a common standard format and design of the Driving Licence for the whole of the country. This Ministry, through its flagship application called SARATHI developed by NIC, has a common countrywide database of all driving license holders. Almost 15 crore driving license records are available in its central repository. The SARATHI application has the feature to identify duplicate records online in real time and access information about the challans if any.

5. Mata Vaishno Devi shrine to get disaster response force by 2020: The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, a religious pilgrimage, will get a dedicated in-house disaster response force by September, 2020. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is going to train 180 employees to prepare a dedicated disaster response force for the shrine.  It will also set up an Emergency Operation Centre as part of its disaster preparedness.

6. Centre distributes DD set-top boxes to J&K people: GoI distributes free Doordarshan (DD) set-top boxes to people living in border areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The event was organized by Doordarshan Kashir. DD Kashir also launched a news bulletin, Dogri news for the Jammu region.

Note: Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting: Prakash Javadekar.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Japan Gifts Museum of Peace to Manipur in Memory of Second World War: Japan has gifted a war museum called ‘Imphal Peace Museum’ to Manipur located at Red Hill, 20 km south-west of Imphal. The museum has been inaugurated to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal. The Battle of Imphal is regarded as one of the fiercest battles of World War II in which about 70,000 Japanese soldiers along with the Indian National Army, died in battles with the British-led Allied forces in areas around Imphal and Kohima from March to June 1944.

Note: Capital of Manipur: Imphal; Chief Minister: Nongthombam Biren Singh.

2. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives on 3-day visit to India: US Secretary of State ‘Mike Pompeo’ arrives in New Delhi today to further strengthen India-US strategic partnership. During the three days visit, Mr Pompeo will hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and call on other dignitaries in the government. It will also continue the high-level engagement on matters of mutual interest including bilateral, regional and global issues. The visit will deepen and broaden the bilateral relationship and kick-start a dialogue towards the resolution of some of the key issues in trade ties.

3. Day of the Seafarer: 25th June: The Day of the Seafarer is being observed on 25th June by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The theme of the 2019 Day of the Seafarer is ‘Get on board with gender equality’. The theme supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development goals, specifically SDG 5.  The Day was proclaimed with an aim to recognize the unique contribution made by seafarers from all over the world to international seaborne trade and civil society as whole.

Note: The Day of the Seafarer was established in a resolution adopted by the 2010 Diplomatic Conference in Manila. IMO is the United Nations specialised agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Ashleigh Barty becomes world No.1 women tennis player: Ashleigh Barty becomes world No.1 women tennis player after winning the Birmingham Classic by defeating Julia Goerges by 6-3, 7-5.  Ashleigh Barty is an Australian Professional tennis player.

2. IOC opens new headquarters in Switzerland: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) formally opened its new headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. It has been opened exactly 125 years after the Olympic Games were revived. The Olympic House has been built on the site of the former headquarters, and 95% of the old materials were reused and recycled. Designed by architecture firm 3XN of Denmark, the energy-efficient building has won international awards for sustainability.

Note: The next Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo, 2020. 

3. Feliciano Lopez wins Queen’s Tennis Title: Spanish Tennis player Feliciano Lopez (37-years) has won the men’s single Queen’s Club Championships. He defeated Gilles Simon. In the men’s double, Andy Murray and Feliciano Lopez defeated Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury 7-6 (8-6) 5-7 10-5 to win the men’s double Queen’s Club Championships.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI launches Complaint Management System: The Complaint Management System (CMS) is a software application launched by Reserve Bank of India on its website. It will be used for lodging complaints against banks and NBFCs with a view to improve customer experience in timely redressal of grievances. Customers can lodge complaints against any regulated entity on the platform. These complaints will be directed to the appropriate office of the Ombudsman/Regional Office of the RBI. The RBI is also planning to introduce a dedicated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to track the status of complaints.

2. RBI advises commercial banks to adopt Education Loan Scheme: The Reserve Bank of India has advised all Scheduled Commercial Banks to adopt Education Loan Scheme, formulated by Indian Banks Association.

Salient features of the Scheme includes: Loan upto Rs 10 lakh for study in India and upto Rs 20 lakh for study abroad. Collateral free loans upto Rs 7.5 Lakh under the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL). No Margin for loan up to Rs 7.50 Lakh. Repayment period of 15 years. One Year Moratorium for repayment after completion of studies in all cases.

3. World Bank approves $147 Million Loan to the Government of Jharkhand: The Government of India, the Government of Jharkhand and the World Bank signed a $147 Million Loan Agreement. Jharkhand will invest the amount to provide urban services such as water supply, sewerage, drainage and urban road. 

Note: World Bank Headquarters: Washington DC, USA; Established: 1944; President of World Bank: David Malpass.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Award for Malayalam film at 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival: Veyil Marangal (Trees Under the Sun) have become the first Indian film to won ‘Outstanding Artistic Achievement’ award at the Shanghai International Film Festival. The film is directed by Bijukumar Damodaran. This was the 22nd edition of the Shanghai International Film Festival.

OBITUARIES

1. Rajasthan BJP chief Madan Lal Saini passes away: Bharatiya Janata Party's Rajasthan chief and Rajya Sabha MP Madan Lal Saini (75-years) passed away at AIIMS in New Delhi. Mr. Saini was suffering from a lung infection and was flown to Delhi for treatment in AIIMs. Saini, who hailed from Sikar district (Rajasthan), was appointed BJP state president last year.