Daily GK Updates - 31st July, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Atal Innovation Mission to launch a new programme for Community Innovation: Union Ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Dharmendra Pradhan have jointly inaugurated the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), a new programme for Community Innovation in New Delhi. The new initiative aims to encourage the spirit of innovation in the country. The purpose of the programme is to make innovation eco-system socially inclusive as well as to ensure equitable distribution of infrastructure for innovation across the country. The new programme has been specifically designed for underserved, unserved regions of Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, Smart Cities, Aspirational districts, North-East, Jammu and Kashmir as well as rural and tribal regions of the country.

Note: The Atal Innovation Mission is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country. It has been created as an umbrella innovation organization to play an instrumental role in the alignment of innovation policies between central, state and sectoral innovation schemes incentivizing the establishment.

2. Dr Harsh Vardhan celebrates the 110th Annual Day of NCDC: Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare at the 110th Annual Day celebrations of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), at this occasion Union Health Minister inaugurated the laboratory complex (Lab 3) at NCDC and the new building of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP).

Note: Headquarter of NCDC: New Delhi; NCDC Established in: ‎1909.

3. 'Pink coaches' introduced by the Northest frontier railway: Indian Railways 'Northeast Frontier Railway zone' has started a unique initiative to earmark a special portion of the SLR coach with pink colour. This is done to specially help the women passengers with better safety and security. 8 trains in Rangiya division of the Northeast Frontier Railway have begun operations with some pink coaches. 

Note: Headquarter of Northeast Frontier Railway zone: Maligaon, Guwahati.

4. 22nd National Conference on e-Governance: The 22nd National Conference on e-Governance will be held in Shillong, Meghalaya. The theme of the conference is 'Digital India: Success to Excellence'. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), in association with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Meghalaya government will organise the 22nd National Conference.

5. Senior IAS officer Rajiv Kumar appointed as new Finance Secretary: Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Rajiv Kumar (1984 batch-Jharkhand cadre) has been appointed as the new Finance Secretary. The approval was given by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He succeeded Subhash Chandra Garg (1983 batch IAS-officer), who is currently the power secretary. Currently, Mr Rajiv Kumar is serving as Secretary in the Department of Financial Services.

Note: Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs: Nirmala Sitharaman.

6. Birth anniversary of Premchand being celebrated: The birth anniversary of a great novelist and celebrated storyteller Munshi Premchand is celebrated on 31 July every year. He was born on 31st July 1880 in Lamhi Village near Varanasi. Premchand's stories confront the truth of this society underlining the importance of truth, justice and loyalty. His renowned stories includes 'Kafan', 'Namak Ka Daroga', 'Panch Parmeshwar', 'Poos Ki Raat' are timeless and ever relevant.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. South Asia Air Quality Tech Camp organised in Kathmandu: The U.S. Embassy in Nepal has organized a South Asia Air Quality Tech Camp in Kathmandu. The aim of camp is to address political, social, and scientific facets of the problem and improve the ability of civil society, media, and other influencers to engage governments, empower the public and take action to improve air quality in South Asia.

Note: Nepal Prime Minister: K P Sharma Oli; Capital: Kathmandu.

2. India signs deal to acquire R-27 Missiles from Russia: India has signed a deal worth around Rs 1,500 crore to acquire R-27 air-to-air missiles from Russia to be equipped on the Su-30MKI combat aircraft. The R-27 missile is a medium-to-long-range air-to-air missile for MiG and Sukhoi series of fighter jets.

3. India, Mozambique signs 2 MoUs: India, Mozambique sign 2 MoUs to strengthen defence cooperation. The two MoUs include an agreement on sharing white shipping information and another on co-operation in the field of Hydrography. The documents were signed following a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Mozambican counterpart Atanasio Salvador M'tumuke. Rajnath Singh is currently on his first official visit abroad as the Defence Minister to the African country. This is also the first time a Defence Minister has visited Mozambique.

Note: Prime Minister of Mozambique: Carlos Agostinho do Rosario; Capital: Maputo.

4. Infosys launches Cyber Defence Center in Romania: Infosys announced the launch of its state-of-the-art Cyber Defence Center in Bucharest, Romania. The Defence Center is an expansion of services delivered through the Infosys Digital Innovation Center. The Center will provide end-to-end, real-time, 24/7 cyber security monitoring and protection services to support European and global businesses on their digital transformation journey.

Note: Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Infosys: Salil Parekh.

5. Pakistan opens historic Hindu temple in Punjab: Pakistan has opened a 1,000 year old Hindu temple in eastern city Sialkot for worship for the first time since partition on the demand of the local Hindu community. The Shawala Teja Singh temple, located in city’s congested Dhaarowal locality, some 100 km from Lahore, is more than 1,000 years old, according to the book ‘History of Sialkot’ by the late Rashid Niaz.

Note: Pakistan Capital: Islamabad; PM of Pakistan: Imran Khan. President of Pakistan: Arif Alvi.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. BCCI suspends Prithvi Shaw for doping violation: Indian Test opener Prithvi Shaw (19-years) has been suspended by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a doping violation till 15th November 2019. According to a BCCI release, Shaw had inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, which can be commonly found in cough syrups. Mr Shaw had provided a urine sample as part of the BCCI's anti-doping testing program during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match on 22nd February 2019 in Indore. His sample was subsequently tested and found to contain Terbutaline. Terbutaline, a specified substance, is prohibited both In & Out of Competition in the WADA Prohibited List of Substances.

Note: Prithvi Shaw became the second-youngest Indian after Tendulkar to make a Test century and the youngest Indian to do so on Test debut.

2. ICC names two new umpires in elite panel for 2019-20: The International Cricket Council has named Michael Gough of England and Joel Wilson of the West Indies in the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires for 2019-20 season. They will replace retired umpire Ian Gould and Ravi Sundaram who were part of the previous panel.

Note: ICC Chairman: Shashank Manohar; Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 13th edition of ICC Cricket World Cup will be held in India from February 9 to March 26, 2023.

3. Venugopal Rao announces retirement from all forms of cricket: Former India player and Andhra Ranji captain, Y. Venugopal Rao has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He was the 2nd player to play for India from Andhra. He played for India in 16 ODIs and was also a member of the India under-19 World Cup-winning team in 2000.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI relaxes External Commercial Borrowing norms for corporates, non-banking lenders: The Reserve Bank has liberalised the end-use stipulations for the External Commercial Borrowings both for corporates as well as liquidity starved non-banking lenders. According to The central bank, liberalisation will be applicable to ECBs taken for working capital, general corporate purpose loans or repayment of rupee loans. Corporate borrowers will be able to avail of ECBs to repay rupee loans taken for Capital expenditures if they are into manufacturing or infrastructure building and classified as Special Mention Account, SMA-2 or Non-Performing Asset, under any one-time settlement arrangement with lenders. The RBI also issued a revised circular for bankers capturing the changes.

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

1. Microsoft acquires data privacy & governance startup BlueTalon: Microsoft has acquired data privacy, governance service firm BlueTalon. BlueTalon helps enterprises set policies for how their employees can access their data. BlueTalon works with leading Fortune 100 companies to eliminate data security blind spots and gain visibility and control of data.

Note: CEO of Microsoft : Satya Nadella.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. 'Indian Woman of Influence Award' received by Priya Priyadarshini Jain: Eminent fashionista, social entrepreneur and philanthropist Priya Priyadarshini Jain has been felicitated with the prestigious 'Indian Woman of Influence' award at the House of Lords, the United Kingdom Parliament, London. Priyadarshini Jain for it also marked the grand launch of coffee table book on '50 most influential Indian women worldwide' featuring her as one of the most prominent personalities from India.

OBITUARIES

1. Former RBI Deputy Governor Subir Gokarn passes away: Noted economist and former RBI Deputy Governor Subir Vithal Gokarn (59-years) passed away. Gokarn served as the Deputy Governor of the RBI between 2009 and 2013, during the tenure of Governor D Subbarao. Gokarn was also Chief Economist of Standard & Poor’s Asia-Pacificand Chief Economist of CRISIL. In 2015, he was appointed as Executive Director on the board of the IMF (International Monetary Fund).