Daily GK Updates - 28th February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bhubaneswar to host 24th Meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council: The 24th Meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The Meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council will be chaired by the Union Minister for Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah. Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha will be the Vice-Chairman and host of the meeting.

Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik; Governor of Odisha: Ganeshi Lal.

2. Capacity Building Programme for Scheduled Tribe Pri Representatives: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Arjun Munda launched “Programme for Capacity Building of Scheduled Tribe Representatives in Local Self Governments” at Bhubhaneswar (Odisha). He also launched “1000 Spring Initiatives” and an online portal on GIS-based Spring Atlas with hydrological and chemical properties of the Springs. FRA Atlas of Odisha and short documentary film on FRA (Forest Rights Act) in Odisha were also released on the occasion.

Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik; Governor of Odisha: Ganeshi Lal.

3. Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurates BSNL FTTH in Dehradun: Union Communications-Electronics IT Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated BSNL Fiber to the home (FTTH) and WiFi services at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. Free WiFi facility will now be available to passengers at Jolly Grant Airport. Travellers coming from India and abroad will get better facilities through these services.

Note: Uttarakhand Chief Minister: Trivendra Singh Rawat; Governor: Baby Rani Maurya.

4. National Science Day: 28 February: In India, the National Science Day is celebrated on 28 February each year to spread the message about the importance of science in the daily life of the people. The day is also marked to commemorate the discovery of the Raman effect. Indian physicist Sir C. V. Raman discovered the Raman effect on 28 February 1928, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. The theme for 2020 National Science Day is “Women in Science.” In 1986 itself, the government designated 28 February as National Science Day.

5. February 27, 2020 observed as India’s first ‘Protein Day’: Right to Protein, a national-level public health initiative has launched India’s first ‘Protein Day’ on February 27, 2020. The aim of the day is to draw public attention, raise awareness, and educate India on the health benefits of protein. The theme of India Protein Day 2020 is set to act as a reminder for all Indians to daily ask themselves and others “ProteinMeinKyaHai”. Globally many countries recognize February 27 as Protein Day and from this year India will also join this movement.

6. Xiaomi to bring ISRO’s NavIC technology to smartphones in 2020: Xiaomi, Chinese tech major will bring ISRO’s Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, NavIC technology to its smartphones after R&D efforts with ISRO and Qualcomm’s efforts. The capability has been currently enabled by Qualcomm Technologies Inc on several of their Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile Platforms and will be made available across multiple Xiaomi smartphones in India. NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is the regional geo-positioning system designed by ISRO to provide accurate positioning in India and the mainland.

Note: ISRO Director: K. Sivan, Headquarters: Bengaluru; Established: 1969.

7. NTPC signs MoU with CPCB to set up air quality monitoring stations: The NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) Ltd has signed an agreement with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). According to an agreement, NTPC Ltd will provide financial support of Rs 80 Crore for installation and commissioning of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS). 25 Air Quality Monitoring Stations will be installed across 6 states (Jharkhand, UP, Maharashtra, MP, Bihar and TN) and 3 UT (Daman & Diu, Dadar & Nagar Haveli and Andaman & Nicobar Islands).

8. S N Shrivastava appointed Delhi Police Commissioner: Senior IPS Officer (1985 batch) of Arunachal-Goa-Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre, S N Shrivastava will hold the additional charge as Delhi Police Commissioner succeeding Amulya Patnaik. He was serving as a Special Director General in Central Reserve Police Force.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sri Lanka Formally Withdraws from UNHRC Resolution: The Government of Sri Lanka has formally withdrawn its co-sponsorship from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution on Sri Lanka on 26 February, 2020. Sri Lanka is withdrawing its co-sponsorship of the Resolution 40/1 and previous Resolutions 30/1 and 34/1. The country will now address issues on accountability through a domestic process. The UNHRC resolution 40/1 was co-sponsored by Sri Lanka and 11 other countries with the aim to investigate war time violence against Tamil Tiger rebels who were demanding separate homeland claiming that they were ethnic tamil minority and eligible for separate homeland.

Note: President of Sri Lanka: Gotabaya Rajapaksa; Prime Minister of Sri Lanka: Mahinda Rajapaksa; Currency of Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan rupee.

2. UN chief issues 7-point ‘call to action’ on human rights: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced a 7 point “call to action” on human rights to countries, businesses and all people to help renew and revive human rights across the world. He laid down seven-point plan amid concerns about climate change, conflict and repression. His seven-point plan involves linking human rights to issues like sustainable development, crisis prevention, gender equality, the development of the digital age, and freedom of expression and civil society, among other things.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Aadhar enabled Payment System launched by Airtel Payment Bank: Airtel Payments rolled out Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS) for easy transactions at over 2,50,000 of its banking points across India. AePS will enable customers to make transactions at the designated points of the Airtel Payments Bank using Aadhaar number or virtual ID without revealing bank account or debit card details

2. External benchmark-based lending for Medium Enterprises: The Reserve Bank of India has directed all Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Small Finance Banks and Local Area Banks to link the new floating rate loans given to medium enterprises with external benchmarks. Micro and small enterprises floating rate loans are already linked with external benchmarks. The move will be effective from April 1, 2020. It will strengthen the monetary policy transmission.

3. Finance Secretary launches Baroda Startup banking in 15 cities: Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar inaugurated “Baroda Startup Banking”. It is an initiative aimed at making the Bank of Baroda (BoB) a preferred banking partner for the start-up community and establishing connect with at least 2,000 start-ups over the next two years. The initiative was launched simultaneously across 15 cities in the country.

Note: Headquarters of Bank of Baroda: Vadodara, Gujarat; MD and CEO of Bank of Baroda: Sanjiv Chadha; Chairman of Bank of Baroda: Hasmukh Adhia.

4. Bharti AXA General uses WhatsApp to deliver policy and renewal documents: Bharti AXA General Insurance has started delivering policies and renewal premium to its customers through messaging platform WhatsApp. As part of its strategy, Bharti AXA has introduced WhatsApp chatbot as an instant and user-friendly chat structure where the customers can raise requests simply through numeric inputs. WhatsApp chatbot is an additional customer service option for the policyholders, apart from the company’s multiple channels such as its vast network of branches, robust customer care and contact center, and dynamic portal. This makes the company first among non-life insurers in India to introduce the entire bouquet of service initiatives such as policy documents, renewal notices and claim intimation for its customers by using WhatsApp chatbot.

Note: Headquarters of Bharti AXA General Insurance: Mumbai, India; MD & CEO of Bharti AXA General Insurance: Sanjeev Srinivasan.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Film Editor Sreekar Prasad Enters the Limca Book of Records: Veteran film editor Sreekar Prasad has entered the Limca Book of Records for ‘films edited in most number of languages’. He has edited films in 17 languages which includes Tamil, English, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, Nepali, Marathi, Sinhalese, Karbi, Mishing, Bodo, and Pangchenpa. Sreekar Prasad, who is one of the most acclaimed editors of the country, also holds eight National Awards.

2. Raja Ravi Varma Award 2020 conferred: The Raja Ravi Varma State Award was conferred on veteran painter from Kalaburagi, Prof. J.S. Khanderao (for the year 2019) and senior artist from Mumbai, Vasudev Kamath (2020). The award carries a cash prize of Rs.10,000 and a citation. Raja Ravi Varma State Award was instituted by Karnataka’s Shri Ravivarma Art Institute.

Note: Governor of Karnataka: Vajubhai Vala; Chief Minister of Karnataka: BS Yediyurappa; Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru.

DEFENCE

1. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurates New Helicopter Production Hangar at HAL: The Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the new Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Production Hangar at Helicopter Division in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Complex at Bengaluru, Karnataka on 27 February 2020. The LCH is a 5.5-tonne class combat helicopter, which has been designed and developed by HAL – a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU). LCH is powered by 2 Shakti engines and has many technical features of the Advanced Light Helicopter. LCH is the first attach helicopter to land in Forward Bases at Siachen, 4,700 mts above sea level with 500kg load.

OBITUARIES

1. Centenarian vedic scholar Sudhakar Chaturvedi passes away: Centenarian freedom fighter and Vedic scholar Sudhakar Krishna Rao, widely known as Sudhakar Chaturvedi passed away due to old age related ailments. He was said to be 123 year old. Rao was an eye-witness to the Jalianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. During the freedom struggle, he was associated with Mahatma Gandhi and been imprisoned in different jails across the country. He had penned about 50 books in Kannada, English and Sanskrit, which include 20 volumes of Veda translation in Kannada.