Daily GK Updates - 20th September, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Google announces new AI research lab in India: Google has announced that it will open an artificial intelligence (AI) based research lab “Google Research India“. The lab will be opened in Bengaluru. The Indian AI lab will be led by Dr. Manish Gupta, a renowned computer scientist in the country. Google has various AI research labs across the world, under its Google Artificial Intelligence arm.

Note: Chief Executive Officer of Google: Sundar Pichai.

2. Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank launches WAWE Summit 2019: Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has launched Waste Management Accelerator for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs (WAWE-2019) summit. The schemes will work towards providing students with the best education to keep pace with the rapidly changing world. It will be jointly organized by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Institute of Waste Management (IIWM) at Jaipur. This initiative stating that it will empower women and encourage entrepreneurship among youngsters. WAWE Summit 2019 is a great initiative for women who have skills in their hands and it will further empower and motivate them.

3. Telecom body approves Rs 8500 crore for mobile towers & optical fibres: The Digital Communication Commission, the highest decision making body in the Department of Telecom has approved multiple projects worth over Rs 8,500 crore. The projects aims to set up mobile towers and laying of optical fibre, with an aim to provide improved connectivity. The commission also approved a special scheme to cover upto 12,000 uncovered villages in aspirational districts. The approved infra projects include laying of BharatNet fibre in Tamil Nadu and Telangana, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,815 crore and Rs 2,065 crore. The projects also include setting up of 1,917 mobile towers for uncovered villages in the North East.

4. Ola drivers to get healthcare benefits under Ayushman Bharat: Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has partnered with Ola, a mobility platform, to extend the welfare to its drivers. The partnership will provide comprehensive health insurance for secondary and tertiary care to tens of thousands of drivers working with the cab aggregator and their families. The first phase will see Ola and AB-PMJAY conducting a pilot project in NCR, which will subsequently be rolled out at scale to other cities. Eligible drivers as well as Ola employees will be able to avail the benefits of the programme and obtain an Ayushman Bharat card at a minimal cost of Rs 30.

Note: Co-Founder and CEO of Ola: Bhavish Aggarwal.

5. Tata Communications partners with Cisco: Tata Communications has partnered with Cisco to offer enterprises a secure, fully-managed, multi-channel, intelligent and cloud-based Cisco Webex Contact Center solution. This joint offering is an end-to-end managed solution and gives contact centre users a seamless user experience across up to 150 countries on the back of Tata Communications’ global network. The solution will allow for simplified licensing; pre-deployed hardware and software with integrations to workforce optimisation.

6. Skill India sign agreement with IBM for Train-the-Trainer programme in AI: The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the skill development and entrepreneurship ministry, has signed an agreement with IT major IBM to carry out a nationwide Train-the-Trainer programme in basic artificial intelligence. As part of the programme, ITI trainers will be trained on basic artificial intelligence (AI) skills towards using technology in their day-to-day training activities. This programme aims at enabling the trainers with the basic approach, workflow and application of artificial intelligence that they can apply in their training modules.

Note: Founder of IBM: Charles Ranlett Flint; Established: June 16, 1911; Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship: Mahendra Nath Pandey.

7. First Jammu International Film Festival to be held in Jammu: The first ever “Jammu International Film Festival” will be held in Jammu. 37 short films and documentaries from 11 countries will be screened at the inaugural edition of Jammu International Film Festival. The festival will also present an annual ‘Inspiring Icon Award‘, which will be given to a person, who hails from the region and has made it big in the film industry.

8. Telangana government declares 2020 as Artificial Intelligence year: Telangana Government has decided to declare 2020 as Year of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The State Government will be organising various activities related to emerging technology throughout the year. This comes in the backdrop of emerging talent pool as well as renewed focus by industry and other ecosystem players on AI space in last 4-5 years. IIT- Kharagpur is also coming up with its regional centre in Hyderabad to train students in AI in partnership with State government. Telangana was 1st State to sign up with NITI Aayog when they prepared ‘AI for All’ document.

Note: Telangana CM: K Chandrashekhar Rao; Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan; Capital: Hyderabad

9. Union Government issues an ordinance to ban e-cigarettes: President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent for the promulgation of the ordinance to ban e-cigarettes. The ordinance was approved by the Union Cabinet, which bans production, import, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes. The Union Cabinet decided to ban e-cigarettes and similar products as they pose a health risk to people, especially the youth. A bill replacing the ordinance will be brought in the next session of Parliament. Production, import, export, transport, sell or advertisements of e-cigarettes will now be a cognizable offence.

Note: Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that produce an aerosol by heating a solution containing nicotine, which is the addictive substance in combustible cigarettes. These include all forms of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), Heat Not Burn Products, e-hookah and similar devices.

16. The book titled “The Cousins Thackeray: Uddhav, Raj and the Shadow of their Senas” released: The book titled “The Cousins Thackeray: Uddhav, Raj and the Shadow of their Senas” written by the journalist Dhaval Kulkarni was released. It is published by Penguin Random House. The book depicts the political journey of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bangladesh: 55th ITEC Day celebrated in Dhaka: The 55th Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day was celebrated at the High Commission of India in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Around 300 ITEC alumni from all walks of life, attended the programme. Over 4,000 young Bangladeshi professionals have undergone specialized short and medium-term courses in India under the ITEC programme since 2007.

Note: ITEC offers opportunities to participants to avail of short- and medium-term courses in premier institutions like IITs and IISCs in India. It was instituted in 1964 as part of India’s Development Assistance offering for developing countries. Every year more than 10,000 training slots are offered to 161 partner countries for training courses in various areas like Accounts, Audit, Management, SME, Rural Development and Parliamentary Affairs.

2. World Bamboo Day: September 18: World Bamboo Day is observed every year on the 18th of September by the World Bamboo Organization to generate awareness about conserving and promoting the bamboo industry. Bamboo is known as poor man’s timber, bamboo is omnipresent in tribal cultures and community living. India is the world’s second-largest cultivator of bamboo after China, with 136 species and 23 genera spread over 13.96 million hectares, according to the State of Environment report 2018.

Note: President of World Bamboo Organization: Michel Abadie; CEO of World Bamboo Organization: Susanne Lucas.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Sri Lankan bowler Akila Dananjaya banned from bowling for 1 year: The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned Akila Dananjaya (25-years) from bowling in international matches for 12 months, after his bowling action was deemed to be illegal. He will be entitled to approach the ICC for a re-assessment of his bowling action after the expiry of this one-year period. Akila Dananjaya's bowling action came under the scanner during a Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle in August 2019.

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.

2. India Slip to 104th spot in Latest FIFA ranking: The Indian football team slipped a place to 104th position in the latest FIFA rankings released. Indian Football Team in recent times playing under the leadership of new coach Igor Stimac. Belgium managed to hold on to the top position, while France has surpassed Brazil to reach the second spot.

Note: President of FIFA: Gianni Infantino; Headquarters of FIFA: Zurich, Switzerland.

3. Bajrang and Ravi qualify for Tokyo Olympics: Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya have qualified for Tokyo Olympics by strolling into the semi-finals of World Wrestling Championships at Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan. Bajrang comfortably defeated North Korea's Jong Chol Son 8-2 in the 65-kilogram quarterfinal. Now, He will play for the gold medal against Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan. Ravi beat Yuki Takahashi 6-1 in the 57-kilogram category. In the semi-final, Ravi will face reigning world champion Zavur Uguev of Russia. Sushil Kumar (Double Olympic medalist) is the only Indian wrestler to have won a World Championship gold in 2010 in Moscow.

Note: Tokyo 2020 (or, 2020 Summer Olympics) is an upcoming international multi-sport event that is scheduled to take place from 24th July to 9th August 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Public Sector Banks to organise ‘loan melas’ in 400 districts: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that Public Sector Banks will organise ‘loan melas’ or “Shamiana meetings” in 400 districts. The meetings will be organised to provide loans to NBFCs and retail borrowers, including homebuyers and farmers. PSBs will focus on giving loans to the ‘RAM‘ category: retail, agriculture and MSMEs. The open house public meetings will be held in two tranches. The first will be held between October 3 and 7 in 200 districts, while the remaining 200 will be covered October 11 onwards. She also announced that no MSME stressed loan would be classified as an NPA until March 31, 2020.

2. Govt notifies 8.65% interest rate for EPFO members: Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified 8.65% rate of interest on Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for 2018-19 deposits for its over six crore subscribers. The EPFO has been settling EPF withdrawal claims at 8.55% interest rate, approved for 2017-18.

Note: The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), is an organization tasked to assist the Central Board of Trustees, a statutory body formed by the Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.

3. Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting sets up startup venture fund: Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting has launched “Wipro Consumer Care–Ventures”, a startup venture fund to invest in startups in the consumer brands space. The venture will focus on companies with a differentiated approach where both parties can learn by leveraging their strengths and add value to each other. Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting is a $1 billion plus arm of Wipro Enterprises, and is among the fastest growing fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) businesses in India.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. National Geoscience Awards 2018: Twenty-two scientists across the country were awarded the National Geoscience Awards for the year 2018. They were awarded for their outstanding contributions in the field of geosciences, mining and allied areas. The award was conferred by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines, Shri Pralhad Joshi. Prof. Syed Wajih Ahmad Naqvi, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), received the Award for Excellence for his significant global contributions in the field of aquatic biogeochemical research. Dr Sohini Ganguly, of Goa University, was conferred with the Young Scientist Award-2018 for her significant work in the fields of petrology, volcanology and geochemistry. The National Geoscience Awards were given in ten disciplines covering Mineral exploration, Groundwater exploration, Mining technology, Mineral beneficiation, Sustainable mineral development, Basic and applied geosciences, Geo-environmental studies and Natural hazards investigation.

DEFENCE

1. Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria appointed as new Air Chief: The Union government has appointed Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria as the new chief of Indian Air Force for two years. Currently, Air Marshal Bhadauria is the vice chief of air staff. He will replace Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, who is going to retire 30th of this month. Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria has clocked over 4250 hours of flying and has experience of 26 different types of fighters. He was the first Indian Air Force officer to fly Rafale fighter jet. RKS Bhadauria (alumnus of National Defence Academy, Pune) has been awarded several medals: the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, the Vayu Sena Medal and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

2. Indian army conducts exercise ‘Chang Thang’ in Eastern Ladakh: The Indian Army conducted a massive rare exercise ‘Chang Thang’ in Eastern Ladakh bordering China. The exercise involved the use of infantry, mechanised forces, T-72 tanks, with force multipliers such as artillery guns and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The Indian Air Force was also roped in the exercise. This is the first time such kind of exercise has happened in the region.

Note: Chief of the Army Staff: General Bipin Rawat.

OBITUARIES

1. Tunisia’s former President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali passes away: Tunisia’s former President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali passed away. He came to power in 1987, ousting Habib Bourguiba to become Tunisia’s second-ever president. Ben Ali led the country for 23 years and was credited with delivering stability and some economic prosperity. In 2011, he was forced from office following mass street protests

Note: Capital of Tunisia: Tunis; Currency of Tunisia: Tunisian Dinar.