Daily GK Updates - 2nd September, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Ganesh Utsav begins across the country with traditional gaiety: The ten-day long festival of Ganesh Utsav begins with great devotion from 2nd September. The festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, who is a symbol of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Ganesh Chaturthi is a major attraction in Maharashtra, where people celebrate it with great zeal. On the first day of the festival, devotees are welcoming the idols of Lord Ganesha to their homes and at public pandals in various parts of the state.

2. Higher penalties for violating traffic rules come into force: The amended provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, which hike the penalty for traffic rules violation have come into force from 01st September 2019. As many as 63 clauses of the Act, which correspond to an increase in the fine for traffic rule violation came into force. The fine for jumping red-light has been revised from 1,000 rupees earlier to 5,000 rupees now. Driving without wearing the seat belt, which earlier invited a fine of 100 rupees will now attract a fine of 1,000 rupees.

3. EC launches Electors Verification Programme: The Election Commission launched a new mega Electors Verification Programme (EVP) across the country. The programme, which seeks to electoral rolls through crowdsourcing, will go on till 15th of October. Under the programme, a voter from each family will get a username and password, allowing a person to upload all documents related to electoral registration and tag similar details about his or her family members. The EVP programme can be effected both online and offline.

4. India’s first garbage cafe to be opened in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh: In a unique initiative, the Ambikapur municipal corporation of Chhattisgarh will open a first-of-its-kind 'Garbage Cafe'. This initiative is a step towards making the city plastic-free. In this unique Cafe' poor people and rag pickers will get free food in exchange for one kilogram of plastic, while breakfast will be provided if half a kilogram of plastic is brought to the cafe. The collected garbage will be sold at Solid-Liquid Resources Management Centre. The collected plastic waste would further be turned into granules and will then be used in the construction of roads in the city. Ambikapur is Chhattisgarh’s first dustbin-free city.

Note: CM of Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel. Governor of Chhattisgarh: Anusuiya Uikey.

5. CGHS services to be made available in 100 cities by 2022: Health Minister: The Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched a new scheme of Annual Health Check-up for CGHS beneficiaries who are pensioners of the age of 75 years and above. He also inaugurated state-of-the-art CGHS Bhawan in New Delhi. Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that CGHS services should be made available in 100 cities by 2022. The CGHS services which started in 1954 from Delhi expanded to only 25 cities till 2014.

6. IPS Vivek Kumar Johri takes charge as BSF DG: IPS officer Vivek Kumar Johri took charge as the Director General (DG) of the country's largest border guarding force, BSF. He will replace Rajni Kant Mishra. VK Johri has been serving as the Special Secretary in the external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), under the Cabinet Secretariat. He will retire in September next year and is the 25th chief of the force.

Headquarters of BSF: New Delhi; Established: 1 December 1965.

7. Google signs a pact with IT ministry for 'Build for Digital India': Tech giant ‘Google’ has signed a statement of intent with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) for rolling out 'Build for Digital India' programme. The programme will offer a platform for engineering students to develop market-ready, technology-based solutions that address key social problems. As part of the program, engineering students across the country will be invited to present their ideas and solutions in areas like healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities and infrastructure, women safety, smart mobility and transportation, environment, accessibility and disability and digital literacy. Google will also offer mentorship sessions in product design, strategy and technology to the most promising products and prototypes.

Note: Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology: Ravi Shankar Prasad; Chief Executive Officer of Google: Sundar Pichai.

8. The Union Government approves Gorewada International Zoo in Nagpur: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has announced the approval of the new ‘Gorewada International Zoo’ in Nagpur district of Maharashtra. The Zoo will have attractions like Bio Park, Indian Safari, African Safari, Night Safari, Research, Education and Training, facilities for tourists, etc. The task of construction of Indian Safari and ancillary activities, Water Reservoir and Gorewada Reserve has been given to FDCM Ltd. with Government Grants. The Government of Maharashtra has accorded permission for establishing the International Zoo, through Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (FDCM. Ltd.), Nagpur.

Note: The Gorewada International Zoo is likely to be one of the largest captive Zoo Safari in India with over 1914 Hectares of land adjoining the Gorewada Lake.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bangladesh partners with Reliance Power for gas-based power plant: The Bangladesh government has signed an agreement with Reliance Power of India. As per the agreement, they will set up a 750 MW gas-based power plant in Meghnahat near Dhaka. The construction of the plant will be completed by 2022. Reliance Power has also signed an MoU with Petro Bangla to set up 500 mmscfd (million standard cubic feet per day) LNG terminal at Kutubdia Island near Chittagong in Bangladesh.

Note: Bangladesh Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka; PM: Sheikh Hasina.

2. India ranks 9th on "Global Happiness Survey" by Ipsos: According to a "Global Happiness Survey" by Ipsos, Indian has been ranked 9th on the happiness index among 28 global markets. For India, there has been a six per cent drop (from 83 per cent in 2018 to 77 per cent in 2019). Australia and Canada at the top spot (at 86 per cent) have emerged as the happiest nations of the world, While Russia (47 per cent) emerged at the bottom of the heap, among the 28 markets.

3. Russia to train Indian astronauts for Gaganyaan mission: Russia will train four Indian astronauts for India’s ambitious manned mission to space, Gaganyaan. Indian astronauts will be trained at Russian facilities. A special ISRO unit will be established in the embassy in Moscow to facilitate increased cooperation between India and Russia in view of the Gaganyaan mission. Under the Gaganyaan Mission, Indian Space Research Research Organisation has outlined a road map to put a three-man crew in a low earth orbit for 5-7 days by December 2021.
Note: Chairman of ISRO: K. Sivan; Headquarters: Bengaluru.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Yashaswini Deswal wins gold at ISSF World Cup: Indian shooter Yashaswini Singh Deswal won gold in the women's 10meter Air Pistol event at the ISSF World Cup at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. She has also secured an Olympic quota for India. This is India's 9th quota in shooting for 2020 Tokyo Games.

Note: Capital of Brazil: Brasilia; Currency of Brazil: Brazilian Real.

2. Jasprit Bumrah became the 3rd Indian to take a Test hat-trick: Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah (25-years) has become the third Indian to claim a hat-trick in Test cricket during the ongoing second Test against West Indies at Sabina Park. Bumrah got the wickets of Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks and Roston Chase off successive deliveries to achieve the feat. Burmah is also the 44th player to achieve the feat in the longest format of the game. Harbhajan Singh was the first Indian to pick up a Test hat-trick (vs Australia in Kolkata in 2001). Left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan repeated the feat when he took three wickets off consecutive balls against Pakistan in Karachi in 2006.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. IDBI Bank introduces repo-linked home and auto loans: IDBI Bank will introduce two Repo Linked Products -Suvidha Plus Home Loan and Suvidha Plus Auto Loan from September 10. The new Home Loan and Auto Loan products will be offered to new customers having a good credit score and a minimum income of Rs. 6 lakh per annum. The Suvidha Plus Home Loan will be offered for up to Rs. 75 Lakh with a tenor of up to 35 years. The Suvidha Plus Auto loan will be offered for up to Rs. 25 lakh covering the on-road price with a tenor of up to 7 years.