Daily GK Updates - 3rd August, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India to conduct 1st National Time Release Study for efficient trade flow: The Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, as part of its strategic commitment to improving global trade, is conducting India’s first national Time Release Study (TRS). The exercise will be institutionalized on an annual basis. This initiative will help India maintain the upward trajectory on Ease of Doing Business, particularly on the Trading Across Borders indicator which measures the efficiency of the cross border trade ecosystem. The TRS is an internationally recognized tool advocated by the World Customs Organization to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of international trade flows.

Note: World Customs Organization Headquarter:  Brussels, Belgium; Established on: 26 January 1952.

2. Maharashtra: 1st State to adopt Digital fingerprint and iris scanning system: Maharashtra became the first state to adopt a digital fingerprint and iris scanning system to aid police investigations. The Automated Multi-modal Biometric Identification System (AMBIS) adopted by the Maharashtra Police will soon be replicated across the country, with the state government working with the National Crime Records Bureau in New Delhi to create standards to be used by other state police forces.

Note: Maharashtra CM: Devendra Fadnavis; Governor: CH Vidyasagar Rao; Capital: Mumbai.

3. Gujarat CM launches ‘Vhali Dikri Yojna’: Gujarat Chief Minister has launched the ‘Vhali Dikri Yojna’ from his home town Rajkot, Gujarat. The scheme for the welfare of the girl child. According to the scheme, the State Government will pay Rs. 4,000 to every girl child at the time of admission to Standard 4th, Rs. 6,000 at the time of taking admission to Standard IX, Rs. 1-lakh at the time of taking admission for higher education at the age of 18 and another Rs. 1-lakh at the time of marriage. It is a statewide cash incentive scheme for every girl child born in Gujarat.

Note: Gujarat Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani; Governor of Gujarat: Acharya Dev

4. Giriraj Prasad Gupta appointed as new CGA: Giriraj Prasad Gupta, Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer, took over as the Controller General of Accounts (CGA). Gupta has served in various positions in Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), ministry of rural development, and ministry of finance. Gupta also worked as the Director of National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM). Gupta succeeds Anthony Lianzuala as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA) under the Finance Ministry.

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

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. President Kovind inaugurates exhibitions on M. Gandhi and Khadi in Gambia: President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated exhibitions on Mahatma Gandhi and Khadi at the "Ebunjan Theatre" in the Gambia to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi.

Note: President of Gambia: Adama Barrow; Capital: Banjul.

2. Russia to host 45th WorldSkills International Competition in 2019: The WorldSkills International Competition 2019 (Olympics for Skills) will be held in Kazan, Russia (22 to 27th August 2019). The competition will bring together Competitors, Experts, and industry, education, and government leaders from around the world. The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India has announced 48-member Indian contingent to represent the country at the biggest showcase of skills excellence in the world. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of MSDE has been leading India’s delegation at this biennial event since 2011. The programme will be participated by more than 1,500 competitors from 60 countries in 55 skill competitions.

3. 4th South Asian Speaker’s Summit to be held in the Maldives: The 4th South Asian Speaker’s Summit will be held in Male, Maldives (from 1st to 2nd September 2019). The theme of the event is “Achieving Sustainable Development Goals”. A parliamentary delegation led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India.

Note: The fourth South Asian Speaker’s Summit will be jointly organised by Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Maldivian Parliament.

4. Deep Ocean Mission to commence from 31st October 2019: The Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) to be led by the Union Earth Sciences Ministry will commence from 31st October 2019. The mission has received a go-ahead from the government. Expenditure plans will be drawn and circulated to various institutions affiliated to the Ministry for executing programmes. The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences had unveiled a blueprint of the programme in July 2018. A major thrust of the mission will be looking for metals and minerals.

5. US announce fresh 10 per cent tariff on Chinese imports: President Donald Trump has announced that the US will impose an additional 10% tariff on 300 billion US Dollars in Chinese imports. The US President accused China of not being serious in arriving at the trade deal and failing to keep its promise to buy more American agricultural products. The new tariff, in addition to the 25% on goods worth 250 billion US dollars that was previously in place, would come into effect from 1st of next month. Since the commencement of trade war last year China and the US have so far hit each other with punitive tariffs covering more than USD 360 billion in two-way trade.

6. The Netherlands bans face-covering clothing: The Netherlands banned face-covering clothing, such as a burqa or niqab, in public buildings and on transport as a contentious law on the garment came into force. Between 100 and 400 women are estimated to wear a burqa or niqab in the European country of 17 million people. The legislation - which was passed in June last year after more than a decade of political debate on the subject - also applies to other face coverings such as full-face helmets, balaclavas or ski mask.

7. World Breastfeeding Week Has Observe: The Food and Nutrition Board, Ministry of Women and Child Development, is organizing several activities on the theme “Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding” during the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) being observed from 1st to 7th August 2019. World Breastfeeding Week, which is being observed till 7th of the month, aims to create awareness among parents about breastfeeding, the importance of initiation, exclusive breastfeeding, and adequate and appropriate complementary feeding.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Lionel Messi suspended from Argentina for 3 months: Soccer body CONMEBOL suspended Lionel Messi from international matches for three months because of accusations of corruption he made at the latest Copa America. The South American body also fined the superstar in USD 50,000 for his comments after Argentina’s 2-1 win against Chile in the third-place playoff of the tournament.

2. Aishwary wins gold at Sardar Sajjan Singh Sethi memorial shooting: Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar (18-years) clinched a yellow metal in Men's Rifle 3 Positions (3P) at 12th Sardar Sajjan Singh Sethi Memorial Masters competition in New Delhi. He posted a comfortable victory with a score of 459.9 and a class 10.7 in the end. Tinjit Dhanota (Punjab) and Esha Singh (Telengana) won the Men's and Women's 10 metres Air Pistol gold medals. India’s most accomplished 3P shooter Sanjeev Rajput had to be satisfied with silver, finishing with a score of 455.5, a clear 4.4 behind Aishwary.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SBI, Shanghai becomes first Indian bank to link up with CNAPS: The State Bank of India's (SBI) Shanghai branch is now connected to China's National Advance Payment System (CNAPS). SBI is the only Indian bank to have obtained the license to do business in local currency and also inducted to the CNAPS by the People's Bank of China (PBOC). SBI Shanghai can also offer the real-time transfer of local funds within China by routing them through the PBOC. The CNAPS, launched in 2008 by People's Bank of China (PBOC) provides real-time settlement services for all payments.

Note: Chairperson of SBI: Rajnish Kumar; Headquarter: Mumbai; Founded: 1 July 1955.

2. RBI allows Bank of China to offer regular banking services in India: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed "Bank of China" to offer regular banking services in the country. Banks falling under this schedule have to adhere to the norms of the RBI. 'Bank of China Limited' has been included in the 2nd Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.

3. RBI fines PNB Rs 50 lakh: RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 50 lakh on Punjab National Bank (PNB) for the delay in reporting of fraud observed from the fraud monitoring report-1 submitted by Punjab National Bank on July 10, 2018, in the account of Kingfisher Airlines Limited.

Note: Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of PNB: Sunil Mehta.

AWARDS AND HONOURS 

1. President Kovind honoured with the highest award of Republic of Guinea: President Ram Nath Kovind has been awarded the National Order of Merit by the President of Guinea for his exceptional contribution to the advancement of overall relations and development of mutual cooperation between India and Guinea and for promoting friendship and partnership between the people of both the countries.

Note: President of Guinea: Alpha Conde; Capital: Conakry; Currency: Guinean franc.

2. Indian-origin doctor wins Miss England 2019: Bhasha Mukherjee, a 23-year-old Indian origin doctor was crowned Miss England 2019.Bhasha holds two different medical degrees, has an IQ of 146 and is fluent in 5 different languages. As a winner of Miss England, she will be entered into the Miss World contest 2019.