Daily GK Updates - 21st January, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 12th National Tribal Youth Exchange Programme inaugurated in Puducherry: Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Dr Kiran Bedi inaugurated the 12th National Tribal Youth Exchange Programme in Puducherry. The programme has been jointly organized by the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and Puducherry Government with a view to ensure development and empowerment of the tribal youths.  They will be visiting many places to know about the language, customs, culture, arts, dressing patterns, food pattern and other aspects of Puducherry. Two hundred youths from Naxal-affected districts of Chattisgarh are taking part in this week-long programme.

Note: Chief Minister of Puducherry: V. Narayanasamy.

2. 2nd edition of NIC Tech Conclave-2020 begins in New Delhi: The 2nd edition of NIC Tech Conclave-2020 begins in New Delhi. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the conclave and it is being organized by National Informatics Centre at Pravasi Bhartiya Kendra, New Delhi. This Conclave will contribute immensely to the capacity building of Government officers across the country. This year’s theme is Technologies for Next-Gen Governance.

Note: National Informatics Centre (NIC) established in: 1976; Director-General: Neeta Verma.

3. Government of Maharashtra makes the reading of Preamble mandatory in Maharashtra schools: Maharashtra Government has made the reading of the Preamble of the Constitution mandatory for the Maharashtra schools. The statement issued by School Education Minister and senior Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad, read, "From January 26, a programme called Sovereignty of Constitution, the public interest of all will be started, wherein every school Preamble of the Constitution will be read by all in a group before the classes begin."

Note: Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray; Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

4. India starts thermal screening of passengers against “Corona” Virus: The Civil Aviation Ministry has directed seven airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata to make arrangements for screening of passengers arriving from China in the wake of outbreak of an infection caused by a new strain of virus there. Airports have started thermal screening of passengers arriving in India from China and Hong Kong, to stop the Corona Virus spread in India. Airlines flying in from any airport in China including Hong Kong have been asked to make in-flight announcements requesting passengers with history of fever and cough and travel to Wuhan city in the past 14 days to self-declare at the port of arrival in order to facilitate early isolation,

Note: Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation: Hardeep Singh Puri.

5. IIM Indore to provide ‘mob management & communication’ training to UP Police: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore will provide effective communication and crowd management training to the Uttar Pradesh Police personnel. It will also provide training in the data analysis, traffic management, use of artificial intelligence & social media management to the Uttar Pradesh Police personnel.

Note: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath; Governor: Anandiben Patel.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi & Nepali PM KP S Oli inaugurates ICP Biratnagar: PM Narendra Modi & his Nepali counterpart K P Sharma Oli jointly inaugurated second Integrated Check Post (ICP) Biratnagar(video conferencing). It has been built on 260 acres of land at a cost of around 140 crore rupees. ICP Biratnagar is equipped with all modern facilities like warehousing facilities like refrigerated cargo, electronic weighing bridges, 100% power backup, fire safety, communication network & public announcement systems. The first ICP was built in Raxaul-Birgunj in 2018.

Note: Prime Minister of Nepal: K P Sharma Oli; Capital: Kathmandu; President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari; Currency: Nepalese rupee.

2. Elyes Fakhfakh named PM-designate of Tunisia: In Tunisia, former finance minister Elyes Fakhfakh has been named as Prime Minister-designate by President Kais Saied on 20, January 2020. Mr Elyes Fakhfakh will now face the difficult task of forming a cabinet within a month by gaining the approval of a divided parliament. If Fakhfakh fails to form a government, the next step would be dissolution of the assembly and there will be another election. Elyes Fakhfakh-led Ennahdha party won more seats than any other party in October’s legislative election, but was still far short of a majority. Tunisia is currently run by an outgoing government led by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed.

3. Global Social Mobility Index 2020: The World Economic Forum (WEF) released the 1st edition of its Social Mobility Index on January 20, 2020, ahead of its 50th Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The titled of the report is “The Global Social Mobility Report 2020: Equality, Opportunity and a New Economic Imperative”. The index ranks 82 countries on their citizens’ ability to fulfill their potential regardless of their socio-economic background. The index ranks economies based on five parameters: Health, Education, Technology access, Work (in terms of opportunities, conditions and fair wages), and Protection and Institutions. India has been ranked very low at 76th place, stating that it would take about 7 generations for those born in a low-income family to reach median income. Denmark has topped the index. It would take only 2 generations for those born in a low-income family to reach median income. Denmark is followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland as top 5 countries.

Note: World Economic Forum Established: January 1971; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; Founder & Chairman: Klaus Schwab.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. ‘Fit India Cyclothon’ Flagged off in Panaji, Goa: The Fit India Mission under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized the inaugural event of ‘Fit India Cyclothon’. The Cyclothon was flagged off by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant from the Campal Parade Ground in Panaji, Goa. The event witnessed participation by over 500 cyclists who cycle through a five-kilometer stretch within the Panaji city.

2. Virat Kohli Top Batsman While Jasprit Bumrah lead Bowlers in latest ICC Men’s ODI Rankings: Indian Captain Virat Kohli and opener Rohit Sharma continue to retain the top two positions respectively in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI Men’s Rankings issued in Dubai on 20 January 2020.

ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings: Kohli achieved the top spot with 886 points; Rohit took 868 points to be placed at number 2 position; Pakistan’s Babar Azam is in third position with 829 points.

ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings: Jasprit Bumrah continued to lead the bowling chart with 764 points; Trent Boult of New Zealand with 737 points is at second position.

ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings: World champions England continue to lead the chart at top position in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings; India retained the second position

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. IMF cuts India’s growth forecast the most, to 4.8%: The IMF slashed India's GDP growth estimate to 4.8% for 2019-20 from its October projection of 6.1%. As per IMF global growth is projected to rise from an estimated 2.9% in 2019 to 3.3% in 2020 and 3.4% for 2021. The growth will improve in 2020 owing to monetary and fiscal stimulus. The reasons cited behind this are stress in the non-bank financial sector and weak rural income.

2. New Appointments of MD and CEO in BoI, BoB& Canara Bank: The Personnel Ministry has approved new appointment of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer in the following three state-run banks for a period of three years.

Atanu Kumar Das – Bank of India

Sanjiv Chadha – Bank of Baroda

Lingam Venkata Prabhakar – Canara Bank

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Zomato acquires Uber Eats business in India: Food delivery startup and restaurant aggregator “Zomato” has announced the acquisition of Uber Eats business in India. Uber Eats is an Uber Technologies Inc’s food delivery business in India. The acquisition was done in an all-stock deal. The deals provide Uber with the 9.99% ownership in Zomato after the acquisition. The deal is estimated to be pegged at $300-350 million. Uber Eats, having about 26,000 restaurant partners entered the food delivery business in 2017 in India.

Note: CEO of Zomato: Deepinder Goyal.

CEO of Uber Technologies Inc: Dara Khosrowshahi.

AWARDS AND HONOUR

1. Deepika Padukone received the Crystal Award 2020: The26th Annual Crystal Award for the year 2020 by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has been awarded to Deepika Padukone. Deepika Padukone was honored for her contribution to the field of mental health. The award was organized by World Economic Forum in Davos. Other winners are: Theaster Gates (US), for his leadership in creating sustainable communities

Jin Xing (China), for her leadership in shaping inclusive cultural norms

Lynette Wallworth (Australia), for her leadership in creating inclusive narratives

The Crystal Awards recognizes as well as celebrates the achievements of leading artists and cultural figures whose leadership inspires inclusive and sustainable change.

2. Australia’s highest civilian honour to Kiran Mazumdar Shaw: Australia conferred its highest civilian honour, the Order of Australia honour, on Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for her contribution towards advancing the country's relationship with India. An alumnus of Federation University Australia, Mazumdar-Shaw is the founder of Biocon, a biopharma company. Honorary appointments in the Order of Australia are made to foreigners who have made an outstanding contribution to Australia or humanity.