Daily GK Updates - 23rd February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian Railway has launched AI based ‘ASKDISHA’ chatbot: The Indian Railways has launched the Hindi Version of Artificial Intelligence-based chatbot called “ASKDISHA”. The hindi version has been launched to further enhance the customer services rendered and to further strengthen the services of the chatbot. The Indian Railways is also planning to launch the chatbot in more languages in the near future. The chatbot is a special computer programme designed to simulate conversation with users, especially over the internet. The first-of-its-kind initiative by IRCTC is aimed at facilitating accessibility by answering users’ queries pertaining to various services offered to railway passengers.

Note: Union Minister of Ministry of Railways: Piyush Goyal.

2. International Judicial Conference 2020 held in New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a two-day International Judicial Conference 2020 organized by Supreme Court in New Delhi. The conference was held with the theme of “Gender Just World”. The topic of the one-day conference is “Judiciary and The Changing World”. The changes made by GoI to bring gender equality including recruitment of women in military service, changes in the selection process of fighter pilots, and the freedom to work at night in the mines were discussed during the conference. Ram Nath Kovind, delivered the valedictory address at the International Judicial Conference.

3. Madhya Pradesh CM Inaugurates Indian Forest Service Officers Meet in Bhopal: The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Kamal Nath inaugurated the Forestry Conference of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers at Noronha Academy of Administration in Bhopal on 22 February 2020. The event is being held in Bhopal for the first time. The main purpose of the conference is to deliberate on the usage of forest produce and the role of forests in economic growth.

4. India’s first floating jetty inaugurated in Goa: Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya has inaugurated the India’s first floating jetty and an immigration facility at a cruise terminal in Vasco at Goa. This floating jetty is the first such facility in the country. It will boost inland waterways. They are environment-friendly and can be built in a short time.  The floating jetty is made of cement concrete and is expected to boost inland waterways. The immigration counter at the cruise terminal in Mormugao Port will help foreign nationals who arrive on cruise ships.

Note: CM of Goa: Pramod Sawant; Governor: Satya Pal Malik

5. Govt to Launch Tilhan Mission to Boost Oilseed Production: The Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Minister of Rural Development, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has announced that the government will launch Tilhan Mission to make the country self-reliant in oilseed production. Agriculture is the important pillar of the India’s economy and contributes 14 percent to the GDP. Apart from this, the government has also decided to create 10 thousand Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) across the country. For this, assistance of over Rs 6,000 crore will be provided. Besides, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana will not be mandatory for farmers and it will be voluntary for them.

6. NITI Aayog organizes meeting on Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients Industry: National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) has organized a meeting on Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (API) Industry. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of NITI Aayog’s CEO Amitabh Kant to induce growth in the API industry.  During the meeting, a detailed presentation on the history and status of the API industry and the challenges faced by it, was presented by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP). It also demonstrated the available options which can make India a powerhouse in Key Starting Materials, Intermediates and Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (API). It also discussed the recent measures taken to promote the bulk drug parks in the country.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India, Sri Lanka signs MoU for up-gradation of infra in plantation school: India and Sri Lanka have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for up-gradation of infrastructure in plantation schools for estate workers of Indian origin. The MoU was signed by acting High Commissioner Mr Vinod. K. Jacob and Secretary, Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka Mr NHM Chithrananda in Colombo.  The project is implemented to upgrade the infrastructure of 9 plantation schools under Indian grant assistance of Rs 30 crores.

2. SCO’s Defence Experts Working Group meeting was held in Pakistan: The 9th Defence and Security Expert Working Group (EWG) meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The meeting was the part of the ‘Shanghai Cooperation Organization Defense & Security Cooperation Plan 2020’. China, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and India including Pakistan participated in the event.

Note: Secretary-General of SCO: Vladimir Norov; SCO founded: 19 September 2003; Headquarters of SCO: Beijing, China.

3. US-India Business Council Appoints Vijay Advani as new Chairman of Global Board: The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has appointed Vijay Advani as new Chair of its Global Board of Directors. Prior to this, he served as Executive Chairman of the Board in January 2020. Apart from this, the council also announced two new members of the Global Board of Directors, which includes: Lockheed Martin International Senior Vice President Tim Cahill and GE South Asia President & CEO Mahesh Palashikar.

Note: Headquarters of US-India Business Council: Washington, D.C., United States; US-India Business Council founded: 1975.

4. India Ranks 35th in EIU’s Worldwide Education for the Future Index 2019: India has jumped five places to be ranked 35th in the Worldwide Educating for the Future Index (WEFFI) 2019, published by The Economist Intelligence Unit. India scored 53 points out of 100 in the overall index in 2019. It was ranked 40th with an overall score of 41.2 in 2018. The index has been topped by Finland (84.8), followed by Sweden (84.3) and New Zealand (79.9) at second and third respectively. Kenya (48), Nigeria (49) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (50) are the bottom three countries in the index.

5. India Ranks 77th on Sustainability Index and 131st in Child Flourishing Index rankings: UN report: India has been ranked at 77th position in the Sustainability Index 2020 and 131st on the Flourishing Index 2020, according to a UN-backed report.  The report commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The Lancet medical journal.

Note: The Sustainability Index 2020 takes into account per capita carbon emissions and ability of children in a nation to live healthy lives. It ranks countries on excess carbon emissions compared with the 2030 target.

The Flourishing Index 2020 measures the best chance at survival and well-being for children. Flourishing is the geometric mean of Surviving and Thriving. For Surviving, the authors selected maternal survival, survival in children younger than 5 years old, suicide, access to maternal and child health services, basic hygiene and sanitation, and lack of extreme poverty.

Note: Director-General of UNESCO: Audrey Azoulay; Headquarters: Paris, France.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. FC Goa has become 1st club from India to qualify for AFC Champions League: FC Goa became the first Indian club to qualify for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions’ League group stage. FC Goa sealed the top spot in the Indian Super League (ISL 2019-20) standings, finishing as the league’s table-topper after beating Jamshedpur FC 5-0 in an Indian Super League match. Indian clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have played in the Asian Club Championships but no team from the country has ever played in the group stage of AFC Champions League since its introduction in 2002. Recently, ISL was recognised as the top-tier league in the country by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and as a result, its top team in the league phase will be representing India in the AFC Champions League.

Note: President of Asian Football Confederation: Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa; Headquarters of Asian Football Confederation: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

2. AIBA World Cup 2020 to be held in Russia: Russia will be the first country to host the new format of the AIBA Team World Cup in 2020. The Boxing tournament will be coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II under the motto “Boxing for Peace”. This format is expected to make boxing more attractive to spectators and sponsors. The best national teams all over the world will take part in the tournament. The final match is scheduled in October 2020 in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

Note: AIBA Founded: 1946; AIBA Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; AIBA President: Dr Mohamed Moustahsane.

3. PM Modi Inaugurates first-ever Khelo India University Games at Cuttack: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first-ever Khelo India University Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha on 22nd February 2020 through video conferencing. About 3,400 athletes from 159 universities across the country will be participating across 17 disciplines.

Note: CM of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik; Governor of Odisha: Ganeshi Lal.

4. Rajalaxmi Deo elected as Rowing Federation of India President: Mrs Rajlaxmi Singh Deo has been re-elected as the president of the Rowing Federation of India (RFI) on 22nd February 2020. The presidential elections of the Rowing Federation of India were conducted under the observation of Indian Olympic Association (IOA)’s K Govindraj. Apart from this other RFI appointments include:

M V Sriram – Secretary General

Rajpal Singh, G Bhasker, Souvik Ghose and Sreekunara Kurup – Vice-presidents (4)

Nababudin Ahmed – Treasurer

Krishna Kumar Singh and Chirajit Phukan – Joint Secretaries (2)

Jasbir Singh, Venkateswara Rao, Ismail Baig, Jacob and Manjunatha – Executive Members (5).

All of the above will take the office from 1st April 2020 and remain at the post for a period of 4 years till 31st March 2024.

Note: Rowing Federation of India headquarter: Mumbai; Rowing Federation of India founded: 30 August 1976.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SEBI allows the use of regulatory sandbox by market players: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed the use of regulatory sandbox by the market players on select customers. SEBI will also grant limited registration for such testing purposes. The decision is expected to facilitate the use of latest fintech innovations in capital markets. The decision was taken at the board meeting of the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Note: Chairman of SEBI: Ajay Tyagi; Headquarter: Mumbai.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Birla Estates has introduced “LIDEA” on WhatsApp for its customers: An interactive AI Powered ChatBot solution “LIDEA” has been launched by Birla Estates for its customers. “LIDEA” will enable the users to access authentic information of the projects which can be used for the evaluation of the residential developments of Birla Estates. The artificial intelligence empowered Chatbot will also offer features like viewing location, configurations, amenities, virtual tours and accepting site visit requests.

AWARDS AND REWARDS

1. Dr. Niti Kumar to be honoured with SERB Women Excellence Award-2020: Dr Niti Kumar, a Senior Scientist from Division of Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow will be honoured with the SERB Women Excellence Award-2020. Her research team is testing the protein quality control machinery in human malaria parasite for exploration of alternative drug targets for malaria intervention. Award will be conferred by the President of India during National Science Day Celebrations on February 28, 2020, in Vigyan Bhawan. This award is given to women scientist below 40 years of age.  The women researchers will be supported by the research grant of 5 lakhs per annum for 3 years.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Indian footballer Ashok Chatterjee passes away: Former India footballer Ashok Chatterjee, who played for the club Mohun Bagan, has passed away. He was 78. Chatterjee has made 30 appearances for the senior national team. He was part of the Indian team’s bronze-medal winning squad in the Merdeka Cup in 1965 and 1966. He was honoured with the Mohun Bagan Lifetime Achievement Award by the club in 2019.