Daily GK Updates - 28th July, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Govt inks MoU with industry body to streamline deliver of services under Ayushman Bharat: To streamline deliver of services under the Centre’s flagship healthcare scheme Ayushman Bharat, its implementing agency inked an MoU with industry body NATHEALTH. The partnership between National Health Authority (NHA) and the Healthcare Federation of India (NATHEALTH) aims to streamline all innovations ensuring that it increases the efficacy of service delivery of Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The collaboration provides an industry interface for testing innovations, providing mentorship and creating channels for facilitating support required for scaling these innovations. This will bolster NHA’s effectiveness in implementing its innovation strategy, which is aligned with the its vision of ‘Health for All’, its CEO Indu Bhushan said.

2. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu releases book titled ‘New-Age Technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0’: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released titled ‘New-Age Technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0’ book written by Rajya Sabha Member, Narendra Jadhav. He congratulated him for giving the Book which is of great contemporary relevance. This book examines and elaborates on various dimensions of the so-called Industrial Revolution 4.0.

3. Dr Jitendra Singh reviews status of implementation of various projects under MDoNER: Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) reviewed the status of implementation of various projects under MDoNER. Key highlights of the meeting: During the meeting, it was informed that India’s first Bamboo Industrial Park will be set up in Manderdisa in Dima Hasao district of Assam in an area of 75 hectares at a cost of Rs 50 crore. The in-principle approval will be granted to this project in August this year. It was informed that the target is to complete the project by March 2021. The Minister was also informed that another project for Bamboo Park in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh would be taken up by NEC.

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Hepatitis Day 2019: 28 July:  World Hepatitis Day (WHD) was observed on July 28, 2019. It is observed to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis. The theme of the World Health Organization (WHO) for WHD 2019 is “Invest in Eliminating Hepatitis”. WHO will release new estimates for additional investments needed to achieve globally agreed hepatitis elimination goals by 2030, in the context of the universal health coverage. The host country for World Hepatitis Day 2019 is Pakistan. The global events will be held in Islamabad, Pakistan on 27-28 July 2019.

Note: The date of 28 July was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus. 

2. World Nature Conservation Day: 28 July: World Nature Conservation Day was observed on July 28, 2019. It is celebrated with an objective to increase awareness about natural resources and protecting them. The day recognizes that a healthy environment is a foundation for a stable and productive society and to ensure the well-being of present and future generations.
Note: World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Founded: April 29, 1961, Headquarters: Rue Mauverny, Gland, Switzerland

3. BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting 2019 Held In Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) Foreign Ministers Meet was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 25-26, 2019. India was represented by Gen. (retd) VK Singh who is the Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways. Key Points: The members condemned terrorism in all its forms & manifestations and recognized terrorist acts as criminal and unjustifiable. Views were exchanged on key issues on the international agenda. They called for an expedited adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2462 (2019). The Ministers looked forward to their next meeting on the margins of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which will be held in September 2019.

Note: BRICS: BRICS as an idea was coined in Foreign Ministerial meeting of Brazil, Russia, China and India in Newyork in September, 2006. BRIC officially came into existence in 2009 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. South Africa became its member in 2010.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. The third edition of Khelo India Youth Games will be held in Guwahati in 2020 January: Ministry of Sports has announced that the third edition of Khelo India Youth Games will be held in Guwahati from January 18-30, 2020. It will be conducted in partnership with IOA, SGFI, and Assam. Participants: It will be conducted in partnership with Indian Olympic Association, School Games Federation of India and Assam as host State. The inaugural edition was held in New Delhi, while Pune hosted the second one this year. It is expcted that more than 10,000 athletes and officials will be participating in the mega event.
Khelo India is national level multidisciplinary grassroots games in India. It is held for two categories, mainly U-17 years school students and U-21 college students.

2. Mary Kom wins gold in President’s Cup: Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom claimed the gold medal in the 23rd President’s Cup, asserting her supremacy in a lop-sided 51kg bout final in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. The Olympic bronze medallist pugilist decimated Australian April Franks 5-0. The 36-year-old Indian had also won a gold medal at the India Open boxing tournament in May. Mary Kom, who claimed her sixth world title last year in Delhi, will be looking to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the World Championships in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The 2019 World Boxing Championships for women will be held from September 7 to 21.

3. Max Verstappen wins German Grand Prix: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took his second win of the year in a chaotic and incident-strewn German Grand Prix held in intermittent rain. The Dutchman led a topsy-turvy result in which Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel took second from the back of the grid and Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat was third. Lewis Hamilton had a day to forget, finishing 11th after two mistakes. But the Briton did not lose any ground to team-mate Valtteri Bottas in the championship after the Finn crashed.

Note: Germany Capital: Berlin, Currency: Euro

AWARD AND HONOURS

1. Sudarsan Pattnaik wins People’s Choice Award in U.S: International sand artist, Padmashri Sudarsan Pattnaik won People’s Choice Prize at Boston International Sand Art championship in the US. Pattnaik was among the 15 top sand artists selected from across the world to participate in the 2019 Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival in Boston. Representing India at the festival, Patnaik bagged the award for his sand art on plastic pollution with the message ‘Stop Plastic Pollution, Save Our Ocean’.

DEFENCE

1. INS Tarkash arrives at St. Petersburg, will take part in Russian Navy Day parade: INS Tarkash was received warmly at St. Petersburg on Thursday where it will take part in the Russian Navy Day parade. According to Russian news agency TASS, more than 40 ships will take part in the naval parade with participation also from 40 planes and helicopters. A total of 4,000 servicemen will also be part of the celebrations.

Note: Russia Capital: Moscow, Currency: Russian ruble, President: Vladimir Putin

2. CRPF celebrates 81st raising day: 27th July:  Central Reserve Police Force, CRPF, paid tributes to those who laid down their lives for the nation, at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi on the occasion of its 81st Raising Day. Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai offered floral tributes at the Memorial. Speaking on the occasion, Rai said CRPF lives and dies for the country. He underlined the fact that CRPF leaves no stone unturned in winning the hearts of those who have turned against the nation to get them into mainstream before coming down heavily on anti-national elements.

Note: CRPF Founded: 27 July 1939, Motto: Service and Loyalty, Headquarters: New Delhi

Chief- Rajeev Rai bhatnagar Founded: 27 July 1939