Daily GK Updates - 29th February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. NITI Aayog partners with NASSCOM to roll out AI Modules in Indian schools: NITI Aayog and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) have collaborated with the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) for the launch of an AI-based Module rolled out for students in Indian schools. The launch was done on February 27, 2020. The AI-Base Module has been introduced with an objective for students to leverage the full potential of AIM’s Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL). The module contains activities, videos and experiments that enable students to work through and learn the various concepts of AI. The AI-Base Module will be implemented across 5,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL), empowering 2.5 million students.

Note: NITI Aayog CEO: Amitabh Kant, Vice Chairman: Rajiv Kumar.

Chairman of NASSCOM: Keshav Murugesh.

2. 11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference 2020 Organised in New Delhi: The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the 11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference 2020 in New Delhi on 28 February 2020. The theme of the three day national conference is ‘Empowering Youth for Technology Led Farming’. The conference has been organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) from 28th Feb to 1st March 2020. The KVK national conference will mainly highlight technology-led farming and youth entrepreneurship through agriculture which will be attended by all the KVKs across India.

3. PM Lays Foundation Stone for Bundelkhand Expressway in Chitrakoot: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a day long visit to Chitrakoot and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on 29 February 2020. In Chitrakoot, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of 296 kilometers long Bundelkhand Expressway, which is estimated to cost Rs 14,716 crore. The expressway will link the Bundelkhand region to the national capital Delhi through the Agra-Lucknow Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway. It will pass through Chitrakoot, Banda, Hamirpur and Jalaun districts of Uttar Pradesh.

PM Modi also launched 10,000 Farmers Producer Organisations(FPOs) all over the country from Chitrakoot and distributed Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to the beneficiaries of the PM-Kisan scheme through a massive distribution drive, organised at the event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a Samajik Adhikarita Shivir organised by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at Prayagraj. He distributed 56,000 Aids & Assistive Devices to Divyangjan and Senior Citizens at the event which was the biggest ever distribution camp being conducted in the country in terms of the number of beneficiaries covered and number of appliances distributed.

4. Maharashtra to conserve the native species of cattle through genetic study: Maharashtra government has decided to undertake the genetic study for the conservation of the native species of domesticated animals. The genetic study aims to conserve the native species of domesticated animals in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. Under this project, the study of genetic traits of Osmanabadi goat, Red Kandhari cow, Deoni bull, Caravan or Pashmi dogs will be done as the number of pure breeds of these animals is on the decline. The project will also include the analysis of their abilities and adaptation capabilities. The project will be funded by the Maharashtra government.

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

5. MoFPI approves Rs 162 cr under Operation Greens scheme: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MoFPI) has approved Rs 162 crore under Operation Green scheme which has an outlay of Rs 500 crore to stabilize the supply of tomato, onion and potato (TOP) crops and to ensure their availability round the year without price volatility. The aim of the scheme is to enhance TOP Crops value chain & promote Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management.

Note: Union Minister of Food Processing Industries: Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

6. Kerala High Court bans all forms of strikes in schools, colleges: The Kerala High Court recently passed an order and banned all types of political movements in the college and school premises. Banning various forms agitations like gherao and sit-in in the campuses, the High Court also said no one can be persuaded to participate in such protests. It observed that those who are not participating in the strike have every right to attend their classes and no one should force them to participate in agitations that affect the smooth conduct of classes. The court said that “the right to education is a fundamental right and no one has the right to violate that right.”

Note: Chief Minister of Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan; Governor of Kerala: Arif Mohammed Khan; Capital of Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. High Court Bans two books for hurting religious sentiments in Bangladesh: The High Court of Bangladesh banned two books for hurting religious sentiment and infringing individual freedom. The books Dia Arefin and Nanir Bani are written by the blogger Diarsi Arag were published by Srishtighar Prokashana in Bangladesh. The court ordered the authorities to ban the publication, sale, distribution and marketing of two books with immediate effect.

2. Abhishek Singh becomes India’s next Ambassador to Venezuela: Abhishek Singh has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. He is currently serving as Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India in Kabul, Afghanistan. He will succeed Rajiv Kumar Napal, who passed away recently. He is a 2003-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.

Note: Capital of Venezuela: Caracas; Currency of Venezuela: Petro Bolivar Soberano; President of Venezuela: Juan Gerardo Guaido Marquez.

3. World Rare Disease Day: 29 February: Every Year on the last day of February is observed as World Rare Disease Day. The theme of the day this year is ‘Reframe Rare for Rare Disease Day’. It was first launched by Eurordis in 2008. Its objective is to create awareness about the impacts of the disease. The rare diseases include Thalassemia, Haemophilia, Sickle Cell Anaemia and primary immune deficiency according to WHO.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. HDFC Bank launches co-branded credit card with IndiGo: HDFC Bank joined hands with the country's largest airline IndiGo to launch a co-branded credit card. Powered by the Mastercard, the card will effectively work like a loyalty programme for the carrier. Labelled Ka-ching, the card will offer complimentary air tickets, lounge access, 5 per cent cashback on Indigo bookings. With over 14 million active cards, HDFC Bank is by far the largest credit card issuer in the country.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Jadav Payeng honoured with Swami Vivekananda Karmayogi Award 2020: Forest Man of India Jadav Payeng will be awarded Swami Vivekananda Karmayogi Award 2020 in New Delhi. He was awarded the 6th Karmayogi Award for his consistent efforts in creating a real man-made forest through massive reforestation. The award is composed of a trophy, a recitation and a reward of Rs 1 lakh.

Note: Swami Vivekananda Smriti Karmayogi Award is organized by My Home India in New Delhi. The award was conferred for the first time in 2013. Karmayogi Award is presented to great personalities from North-Eastern India who dedicate their lives to Nation and promote Nationalism through art & culture, sports, education, etc. for their contribution to respective fields.

DEFENCE

1. Fifth Offshore Patrol Vessel ICGS Varad Commissioned into Indian Coast Guard: Offshore Patrol Vessel ICGS Varad was commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on 28 February 2020 at L&T Kattupalli shipyard, near Chennai. Built by LARSEN & TOUBRO (L&T) Shipbuilding, ICGS Varad is fifth in the series of seven Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) contracted by Ministry of Defence on L&T in March 2015. The vessel has set a record in Indian shipbuilding industry by becoming the first major defence ship to clear all Sea Acceptance Trials (SATs) in a single sea sortie, underlining the high quality of design and construction of these ships.

Note: Shri. Mansukh Mandaviya is the Union Minister of State for Shipping (Independent Charge) and Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertiliser.

OBITUARIES

1. World’s Oldest Man, Chitetsu Watanabe Passes Away: The world’s oldest man, Chitetsu Watanabe of Japan, has passed away at 112. He was born on March 5th, 1907. He received his Guinness World Record certification on February 12, 2020. With the death of Chitetsu Watanabe, Britain’s oldest man, Bob Weighton, who is 111, has now become the oldest person in the world.