Daily GK Updates - 31st December, 2019

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. CACS & e-BCAS launched to enhance security & ease of doing at airports: Minister of State (I/C) for Civil Aviation launched the Biometric enabled Centralised Access Control System (CACS) and ‘e-BCAS Project Training Module’ in New Delhi. The two projects aims to enhance security and ease of doing business at airports.

The CACS project is aimed to digitize the employee movement process at the airports. This multi-layered security system encompasses the uniqueness of the Airport Entry Permit (AEP) users, biometric authentication in addition to PIN-based identity verification through contactless smart card technology.

The ‘e-BCAS’ project envisaged to achieve a “paperless office” under e-Governance initiative of Government of India. The ‘e-BCAS Project: Training Module’ aims to switch from manual process of training to digital platform. The objective of the e-BCAS project is to make all the activities in the BCAS transparent, user-friendly, and efficient. It also intends to provide an ease of doing business with the stakeholders.

Note: Minister of State (I/C) for Civil Aviation: Hardeep Singh Puri.

2. 11-day long ‘Dhanu Jatra’ begins in Odisha: The 11-day long ‘Dhanu Jatra’ begins at Bargarh in western Odisha. Dhanu Jatra is considered as the largest open-air theatre of the world. It is based on the mythological story of Lord Krishna and his demon uncle King Kansa. It is about the episode of Krishna and Balaram’s visit to Mathura to witness the Dhanu ceremony organized by their (maternal) uncle King Kansa.

Note: Dhanu Jatra is the annual drama-based open-air theatrical performance celebrated in and around Bargarh city. The annual festival came into being in 1947-48 to celebrate Indian’s Independence and to symbolize the victory of good over evil.

3. Indian Railways introduces a new Passenger Information System: Indian Railways introduced a new “Passenger Information System” at Anakapalle Railway Station of Vijayawada Division in South Central Railway. The comprises “At a Glance Display Board” which gives a glance of the status of various train timings at the Station and “Coach Guidance Display Board” which provides the Coach Composition position of a train. The application aims to provide better features and easy guidance to the passengers and hence providing satisfactory user experience. The system provides automated display information about the trains expected at the station in the next two hours in Trilingual form i.e. in three languages: Telugu, English and Hindi.

Note: Union Minister of Railways: Piyush Goyal.

4. “India State of Forest Report 2019” released: The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the biennial “India State of Forest Report (ISFR)”, in New Delhi. The report provides information on forest cover, tree cover, mangrove cover, growing stock inside and outside the forest areas, carbon stock in India’s forests, Forest Types and Biodiversity, Forest Fire monitoring and forest cover in different slopes & altitudes. The report is published by the Forest Survey of India (FSI). The FSI has been mandated to assess the forest and tree resources of the country including wall-to-wall forest cover mapping in a biennial cycle. This is the 16th edition of India State of Forest Report. In comparison to the assessment of 2017, there is an increase of 5,188 sq. km in the total forest and tree cover of the country.

Some key highlights of the report: (1) The total forest and tree cover of the country is 80.73 million hectare. It is 24.56% of the total geographical area of the country. (2) Area-wise, Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country. (3) In terms of forest cover as percentage of total geographical area, the top five States are Mizoram (85.41%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%), Meghalaya (76.33%), Manipur (75.46%) and Nagaland (75.31%). (4) The top 3 states showing increase in forest cover are Karnataka (1,025 sq. km) followed by Andhra Pradesh (990 sq km) and Kerala (823 sq km).

Note: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change: Prakash Javadekar.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Sarbananda Sonowal launches torch relay of Khelo India Youth Games: Assam Chief Minister has launched the torch relay of the Khelo India Youth Games in Guwahati, Assam. The 3rd edition of the tournament will be held in January 2020. Athletes from all over the country will be coming to Guwahati for the Khelo India Youth Games. The officials of the competition are preparing a total of eight venues for the tournament to make the Games one of the largest sporting spectacles of the country.

Note: Chief Minister of Assam: Sarbananda Sonowal; Governor: Jagdish Mukhi.

2. IOA ends boycott call for 2022 Commonwealth Games: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has withdrawn its boycott call for the 2022 Commonwealth Games to be held in Birmingham. The decision was taken during its Annual General Meeting held in New Delhi. The cause of the boycott call was exclusion of shooting. IOA also announced that the country will bid to host either the 2026 or the 2030 edition.

Note: President of Commonwealth Games Federation: Dame Louise Martin; Chief of Indian Olympic Association: Narinder Batra.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. CBIC paid Rs 1,12,000 crore as IGST refunds to exporters: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has announced that it has paid Rs 1,12,000 crore as Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) refunds to exporters. According to CBIC, over 83,000 exporters have been benefited by these refunds. The numbers indicated the government’s efforts to fast track refunds under GST especially to exporters. Also, as of now, refunds of only 3,604 crores are pending with Customs. CBIC is using data analytics to identify risky exporter entities that “take input tax credit fraudulently and monetize it by paying IGST and taking refund”. Such exporters are being subject to KYC and verification process before the grant of refund.

Note: Chairman of CBIC: Pranab Kumar Das.

2. Karnataka Grameena Bank signs MoU on sustainable energy solutions: Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) and SELCO Solar Light Pvt. Ltd. have signed a memorandum of understanding on solar lighting and livelihood solutions. Under the MoU, finance livelihood solutions that are backed by solar power will be provided by the bank. This is done to improve the quality of life of micro and small entrepreneurs, economically weaker sections(EWS), sustainable agriculture and for women’s empowerment. SELCO Solar Light Pvt is a social enterprise that provides sustainable energy solutions to under-served households and businesses.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Nirmala Sitharaman unveils ₹102 lakh crore national infrastructure plan: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced 102 lakh crore for the National Infrastructure Pipeline. India plans to invest about ₹102 lakh crore in the infrastructure sector in the next five years to achieve the GDP target of $5 trillion by 2024-25. The finance ministry admitted that the availability of quality infrastructure is a pre-requisite to achieve broad-based and inclusive growth on a sustainable basis. Earlier in September, the government had set up a task force headed by Economic Affairs Secretary to prepare a road map for the "national infrastructure pipeline" from 2019-20 to 2024-25 under the ₹100 lakh crore infra plan. The task force was planning a list of 10 major infrastructure projects including greenfield and brownfield projects costing above ₹100 crores each.

2. GoM constituted to expedite revival plan of BSNL & MTNL: The government of India has constituted a seven-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to expedite and oversee the implementation of the Rs 69,000 crore the revival plan of state-owned telecom corporations BSNL and MTNL. The high-level group will expedite the smooth implementation of recent decisions taken on the revival of BSNL and MTNL that includes crucial elements like allocation of 4G spectrum and asset monetization. The GoM includes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, IT and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In October 2019, the government had approved a Rs 69,000 crore revival package for BSNL and MTNL that includes merging the two loss-making firms, monetizing their assets and giving VRS to employees so that the combined entity turns profitable in two years.

DEFENCE

1. S S Deswal given additional charge of DG of CRPF: S S Deswal has been given the “additional” charge to head Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The Union home ministry took the decision as CRPF’s serving Director General (DG) R R Bhatnagar retired on 31st December, 2019. S S Deswal is presently serving as the Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

Note: CRPF is India’s as well as the world’s largest paramilitary force with over 3.25 lakh personnel in its ranks. It was raised as the Crown Representatives Police (CRP) in 1939 under the British and post Independence, named as CRPF in 1949.

2. General Mukund Naravane takes charge as new Army chief: On 31st December 2019, General Manoj Mukund Naravane took over as the 28th Chief of Army Staff. He succeeded General Bipin Rawat who retired on 31st December, 2019. He will helm the 1.3 million-strong force at a time India faces evolving security challenges such as cross-border terrorism and an assertive Chinese military along the border.  Earlier, General Naravane was serving as vice chief of the Indian Army. In his 37 years of service, Gen Naravane served in numerous command and staff appointments in peace, field and highly active counter-insurgency environments in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.

Note: Gen Naravane was commissioned into the 7th battalion, the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in June 1980. He has been awarded the 'Sena Medal' (Distinguished) for effectively commanding his battalion in Jammu and Kashmir. He is also a recipient of the 'Vishisht Seva Medal' for his services as the Inspector General Assam Rifles (North) in Nagaland and the 'Ati Vishisht Seva Medal' for commanding of a prestigious strike corps.