Daily GK Updates - 14th September, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Centre to set up 12,500 Ayush Health and Wellness Centres: Union Government has set a target of setting up 12,500 Ayush Health and Wellness Centres across the country. Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy Minister Shripad Yesso Naik announced this during the inauguration of a Unani Medical Centre and Siddha Clinical Research Unit. Out of 12,500 Ayush Health and Wellness Centres, 4000 centres will be set up in 2019.

2. Rajasthan launches “Jan Soochna Portal-2019”: Rajasthan has launched “Jan Soochna Portal-2019” a public information portal to provide information about government authorities and departments to the public in the true spirit of the Right to Information Act. The portal ensures compliance with Section 4(2) of the RTI Act mandating the public authorities to disclose information in the public domain. The State government has collaborated with the civil society groups to develop the portal, presently giving information pertaining to 13 departments on a single platform. The portal empowers the common people with access to useful information.

Note: Chief Minister of Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot; Governor: Kalraj Mishra.

3. NGT constitutes committee to cease illegal groundwater extraction: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set up a committee to formulate steps required to prevent the illegal extraction of groundwater. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel directed the committee to evolve a robust mechanism to ensure that groundwater is not illegally extracted. He also directed to monitor the manning and functioning of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). The committee comprises joint secretaries of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), Central Ground Water Board, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, National Remote Sensing Centre and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

4. Railway ministry signs MoU with CII: The Railway Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for evaluating the green initiatives and rate the performance of its industrial units pursuing environmentally sustainable practices. The MoU was signed for Green Business Centre (GBC) of CII to extend technical co-operation for various green initiatives. It has developed a GreenCo Rating system to evaluate the various steps and rate them. GBC will also assess and certify 3 industrial units of the Railways and organise studies on energy efficiency.

Note: Union Minister of Railways: Piyush Goyal.

5. Home Minister inaugurates e-Saral Vakya Kosh app: Union Home Minister Amit Shah lit the lamp and inaugurated the Hindi Diwas celebrations at Vigyan Bhawan of New Delhi. On this occasion, he also inaugurated the e-Saral Vakya Kosh App and e-Saral Maha Shabda Kosh App. Home Minister also inaugurated the Rajbhasha website. Home Minister Amit Shah felicitated Raj Bhasha Keerti and Raj Bhasha Gaurav Awards to various organizations for their excellent performance in promoting Hindi language.

6. Arunachal Pradesh CM dedicates Dikshi Hydroelectric Project to people of state: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu dedicated the Dikshi Hydroelectric Project to the people of the state. The 24 Mega Watt Hydroelectric Project has been installed at Dikshi Village in West Kameng District. It is a Run-of-the-River project constructed on the river Phudung by Devi Energies Private Limited. It was completed in a record time of four years with an investment of about 430 crore rupees. The government of Arunachal Pradesh is the sole beneficiary of the power generation from this project. The State Govt will be getting 10% as free power from the 2nd year of its operation.

7. Kapil Dev appointed as chancellor of Rai Sports University: The Haryana Government has appointed cricket legend Kapil Dev as the first Chancellor of Sports University, Rai (Sonepat). The Haryana Assembly recently established Haryana’s first sports university at Rai. Kapil Dev was the captain of India’s 1983 Cricket World Cup winning team.

Note: Chief Minister of Haryana: Manohar Lal Khattar; Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya.

8. Hindi Divas: 14 September: The National Hindi Divas is being observed on 14th September every year across the country. In 1949, on this day the Constituent Assembly adopted Hindi written in Devanagari script as the official language of the country. On Hindi Divas 2019 Union Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Amit Shah presents Rajbhasha Awards to chiefs of various departments, Ministries, and offices for their outstanding performances in promoting the language. On eve of Hindi Divas, International Hindi Conference was also organized by World Hindi Council in New Delhi. Goa Governor Mridula Sinha was the chief guest for the ceremony. Hindi lovers from 6 countries including Mauritius, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka attended this two-day-long International Hindi Conference. Rajbhasha Hindi, spoken by around 40 percent people across the country, is the single largest spoken language among the 22 languages in the sixth schedule of the constitution.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India ranked 79th in Global Economic Freedom index; Top- Hong Kong: India has been ranked at 79 place in the Global Economic Freedom index 2019 published by FRASER Institute. Hong Kong is at top position followed by Singapore on 2nd. The next highest scoring nations are New Zealand, Switzerland, United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Mauritius. Iraq is ranked last.

2. World First Aid Day: 14 September: The World First Aid Day is observed every year on the second Saturday of September to create awareness about importance of first aid on health.

In 2019, World First Aid Day is being held on 14 September, 2019. The day was started by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in 2000 to educate people in the world of the benefits of first aid, need of first aid and the right way to do first aid.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Andrew Strauss becomes chairman of ECB’s cricket committee: Former England captain Andrew Strauss has been appointed as the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s cricket committee. As a chairman, Strauss will monitor all levels of cricket in England and Wales to ensure a “thriving professional game at the heart of the sport”. Andrew Strauss played 100 tests for England from 2004-12, scoring more than 7,000 runs at an average of 40.91, and captained the team to two Ashes series wins. He also served as England’s director of cricket between 2015 and 2018.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Payments banks may be allowed to convert into small finance banks: Reserve Bank of India comes out with draft norms for ‘on-tap’ licensing of Small Finance Banks. The RBI may allow existing payments banks to convert into small finance banks (SFBs) if they meet the eligibility criteria, according to the RBI’s draft guidelines for ‘on-tap’ licensing for SFBs. In the draft guidelines for SFBs, the RBI has proposed doubling the minimum paid-up equity capital to ₹200 crore and lowering the promoter’s stake to 15 percent in 15 years. To encourage urban co-operative banks (UCBs) to convert into SFBs, the RBI has pegged the minimum net worth lower at ₹100 crore from the date of commencement of business.

2. Retail inflation inches up marginally to 3.21 pc in August: According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation data, Retail inflation inched up marginally to 3.21% in August this year (in July- 3.15%). The rate of price rise in the food basket was 2.99% in August, up from 2.36% in the previous month. As per the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, the CPI-based inflation was 3.69% in August 2018. The inflation number still remains within the Reserve Bank's comfort level.

3. World Bank to sanction Rs 3,000 crore for food parks: The World Bank will provide Rs 3,000 crore assistance to finance mini and mega food parks across India. The announcement was made by Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries during the 15th Indo-US Economic Summit. The 15th Indo-US Economic Summit was organized by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce-North India Council (IACC-NIC) in New Delhi.

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

Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries: Rameswar Teli.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Five Indian women police officers honoured by UN: Five Indian women police officers were honoured by the United Nations for their commendable services in the world body’s mission in South Sudan. The women officers who were conferred the UN medal were

Reena Yadav (Inspector Chandigarh Police)

Gopika Jahagirdar (DSP, Maharashtra Police)

Bharati Samantray (DSP, Ministry of Home Affairs)

Ragini Kumari (Inspector, Ministry of Home Affairs)

Kamal Shekhawat (ASP, Rajasthan Police)

The women officers were honoured by the United Nation for upholding the UN mandate of protection of civilians in conflict-ridden South Sudan. The women officers are engaged in community policing, administrative, operational duties and capacity the building of local authorities.

DEFENCE

1. DAC approves Capital Procurement of Rs 2,000 crores: The Defence Acquisition Council accorded approval for Capital Procurement for the Services amounting to approximately Rs 2,000 crores. The decision was taken during the Defence Acquisition Council meeting held under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh. Focussing on the ‘Make in India’ initiative, DAC granted: The approval for indigenous development and production of the main gun 125mm Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding-Sabot (APFSDS) ammunition for T-72/T-90 tanks by the Indian Industry. Approved procurement of DRDO developed and Industry manufactured Mechanical Mine Layer (Self Propelled) to improve automated minelaying capability with the Indian Army.

2. White Water Rafting Expedition- 'Rudrashila' Flagged off at Jaisalmer: The white water Rafting Expedition christened 'RUDRASHILA' being undertaken by Kalidhar Battalion under the aegis of Battle Axe Division was Flagged Off at Jaisalmer Military station. The expedition 'Rudrashila' has been organized to commemorate the 75th Raising day of the Kalidhar Battalion. 'Rudrashila' takes its name from the famed Rudraprayag tributary of the Ganges River in the Mountains of Uttarakhand. The expedition will be conducted from 01 October to 04 October 2019.

OBITUARIES

1. Former bureaucrat B.N. Yugandhar passes away: Former bureaucrat and Secretary to the PMO, B.N. Yugandhar passed away. He served as Secretary to the PMO between May 1995 and March 1997 during former PM P.V. Narasimha Rao’s term. He also served in the Ministry of Rural Development from March 1993 to May 1995. B.N. Yugandhar was the father of Microsoft’s present Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella.