Daily GK Updates - 20th February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Cabinet Approves Constitution of 22nd Law Commission of India: The Union Cabinet under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the 22nd Law Commission of India for a period of three years, from its date of official constitution. The Commission will consist of maximum 10 members including one full-time chairperson, four full-time members including Member-Secretary, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex-officio Member, Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member, and not more than five part-time Members. Role and Responsibility of the Law Commission is to undertake research in law and review of existing laws in India for making reforms therein and enacting new legislations.

Note: The Commission was originally constituted in 1955 and is re-constituted every three years.

Union Minister of Law and Justice: Ravi Shankar Prasad.

2. Centre Plans to set up Central Consumer Protection Authority in April 2020: The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan has informed that the government will set up Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) by the first week of April 2020. The authority would be set up under the Consumer Protection Act 2019. An investigative wing will be formed under the aegis of the authority. Role and Responsibilities of the CCPA – Carry out inquiries and address issues in matters related to consumer rights, unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements and impose penalties for selling spurious and adulterated products. The rules related to Consumer Protection Act will be finalized within one and half months

Note: Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: Ramvilas Paswan.

3. Cabinet Approves Phase II of Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural): The Centre has approved the second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), which will be implemented on a mission mode between 2020-21 and 2024-25. An estimated budget of Rs 52,497 crore has been allocated for the project, to be shared between the centre and the state. The Phase II will focus on Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF Plus), which includes ODF sustainability and solid and liquid waste management (SLWM). Fund sharing pattern between the Centre and States will be respectively as: (1) 90:10 for North-Eastern States and Himalayan States and UT of J&K; (2) 60:40 for other States; (3) 100:0 for other Union Territories

4. Prakash Javadekar Releases Reference Annuals Books ‘India 2020’ and ‘Bharat 2020’: The Union Minister of Information and  Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar released the Reference Annual Books ‘India 2020’ and ‘Bharat 2020’ in New Delhi on 19 February 2020 along with the e-version of the year books. A Reference Annual is a comprehensive information about the country’s activities, progress and achievements of various Central Government Ministries, Departments and Organisations during the year in different fields. The book deal with all aspects of development, ranging from rural to urban, industry to infrastructure, science and technology, art and culture, economy, health, defence, education and mass communication. The Publications Division of the Information and Broadcasting ministry compiles the Reference Annual every year.

5. Services of Kashi Mahakal Express begins from Varanasi: The services of Kashi Mahakal Express i.e. the 3rd private train of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) begins from Varanasi. The train service will link the three Jyotirlinga: Omkareshwar near Indore, Mahakaleshwar, in Ujjain and Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi. This is also the first overnight journey train run by IRCTC. The train will cover 1,131 km between Varanasi and Indore via Lucknow and a distance of 1,102 km between Varanasi and Indore via Prayagraj in approximately 19 hours.

Note: Chief Regional Manager of IRCTC: Ashwini Shrivastava; Headquarters: New Delhi.

Union Minister of Railway: Piyush Goyal.

6. Arunachal Pradesh celebrates 34th Statehood Day: Arunachal Pradesh is celebrating its 34th Statehood Day on 20th February. Arunachal Pradesh became a full-fledged state on February 20, 1987. Till 1972, it was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA). It gained the Union Territory status on January 20, 1972, and was renamed as Arunachal Pradesh. On 20th February 1987, Arunachal Pradesh became a full-fledged State.

Note: Governor of Arunachal Pradesh: B. D. Mishra; Chief Minister: Pema Khandu.

7. New Delhi hosts Symposium on Emerging Opportunities for Indian Textiles and Crafts: New Delhi hosts the Symposium on Emerging Opportunities for Indian Textiles and Crafts which was chaired by Union Minister of Textiles and Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani. Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India organized the Symposium on Emerging Opportunities for Indian Textiles and Crafts. The Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani stressed on the need of diversification of the present opportunities along with increasing domestic capabilities. She also stressed on making India a leader in textiles sector.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. USD 10bn Jeff Bezos Earth Fund Launched to fight climate change: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has announced the launch of a $10 billion fund named ‘Bezos Earth Fund’ to combat the effects of climate change. Bezos Earth Fund will be used to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet. This global initiative will provide fund to scientists, activists, NGOs or any such effort that offers a real possibility to help preserve and protect the natural world.

2. 70th National Democracy Day celebrated by Nepal: The government of Nepal has observed the 70th National Democracy Day on 19th February. Nepal celebrates the National Democracy Day every year on Falgun 7 to commemorate the attainment of democracy after the abolition of the 104-year long autocratic Rana Regime. In 2007 Bikram Sambat, on this day, democracy was established in the Himalayan nation ending over a century old autocratic Rana regime. Prime Minister Oli paid tribute to the martyrs who had sacrificed their lives in the struggle for democracy. A contingent of Nepal Army presented a guard of honour to President Bidya Devi Bhandari and cultural processions of various communities were also displayed.

Note: Nepal Prime minister: KP Sharma Oli; President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari; Capital: Kathmandu; Currency: Nepalese rupee.

3. Hindi becomes 3rd most spoken language in the World: Hindi is the third most spoken language of the world in 2019 with 615 million speakers, according to the 22nd edition of the world language database Ethnologue, published by U.S.-based, Christian non-profit organization Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). English is the topmost spoken language in the world with 1,132 million speakers. Chinese Mandarin is at the second position with 1,117 million speakers. Bangla is the 7th most spoken language of the world having 228 million native speakers. The 2020 database report covers 7,111 living languages of the world.

4. World Day of Social Justice: 20 February: The United Nations’ (UN) World Day of Social Justice is observed on February 20 every year. Its aim is to recognize the need to promote and tackle issues of social justice such as poverty, exclusion, gender equality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections and focus on the goal of achieving full employment and support for social integration. 2020 Theme: “Closing the Inequalities Gap to Achieve Social Justice”.

Note: The United Nations General Assembly has decided to observe 20 February annually, approved on 26 November 2007 and starting in 2009, as the World Day of Social Justice.

5. Dhaka hosts the Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment: The High Commission of India in Bangladesh organized the Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment in Dhaka which was attended by 12 Indian firms. Aim of the seminar was to pursue further cooperation between India and Bangladesh in the field of defence technologies.

Note: Prime Minister of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina; Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka.

High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh: Riva Ganguly Das.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. India will host AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022: India has been selected to host the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. This was announced by the Women’s Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 19 February 2020. India is the first South Asian country to host the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup. Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan were the other competing candidates.

Note: President of AIFF: Praful Patel; AIFF founded: 23 June 1937; FIFA affiliation of AIFF: 1948; Headquarters of AIFF: Dwarka, Delhi.

2. Indian Wrestlers Bags Five medals in Greco-Roman events of 2020 Asian Wrestling Championships: Indian wrestlers have won five medals that includes one gold and four bronze from the Greco Roman category of the Asian Wrestling Championships 2020 which was held at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium, Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi on 18 and 19 February 2020. The lone gold came from Indian Wrestling Champion Sushil Kumar in 87 kg category by defeating Azat Salidinov from Kyrgyzstan. The bronze medal came from: Arjun Halakurki -55kg; Ashu -67kg; Aditya Kundu -72kg; Hardeep Singh -97kg

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SBI signs MoU with Govt of Gujarat to facilitate MSME loans:  The government of Gujarat has signed an MoU with State Bank of India (SBI) which aims to facilitate approval of loans to entrepreneurs in the MSME sector with ease and within a short time-frame. As per the MoU, the bank will provide theoretical approval to the project within 15 days of making an application.

Note: Gujarat CM: Vijay Rupani; Governor of Gujarat: Acharya Dev Vrat; Capital: Gandhinagar.

OBITUARIES

1. Computer scientist Larry Tesler passes away: An icon of early computing ‘Larry Tesler’ (invented 'cut, copy and paste') passed away. Mr Tesler was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1945, and studied at Stanford University in California. Mr Tesler (74-years) started working in Silicon Valley in the early 1960s, at a time when computers were inaccessible to the vast majority of people.