Daily GK Updates - 13th March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Karnataka launches ‘Namaste over Handshake’ campaign for COVID-19: The state government of Karnataka has launched ‘Namaste over Handshake’ campaign with an aim to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Under the campaign, the government advises people to keep a safe distance from one another. The campaign asks people to greet each other by ‘Namaste’ instead of shaking hands in order to protect themselves from others who might be infected with the COVID-19. A health helpline number has also been shared with the locals for clarifying any misinformation or queries.

2. HP to get USD 80 Million to improve water management practices: The World Bank has signed an agreement with the Government of India and Government of Himachal Pradesh to provide USD 80 million (about Rs 600 crore) loan for implementing Integrated Project for Source Sustainability and Climate Resilient Rain-Fed Agriculture in Himachal Pradesh. The project aims to improve water management practices and increase agricultural productivity in 428 gram panchayats in 10 districts in Himachal Pradesh.

Note: President of World Bank: David Malpass; Headquarter: Washington DC.

Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh: Jairam Thakur; Governor: Bandaru Dattatraya.

3. Digital Solutions Exchange “GOKADDAL” launched in India: The World’s first Digital Solutions Exchange in the cloud “GOKADDAL” has been launched in India. GOKADDAL is a cloud-based solutions exchange platform which focuses on four A’s i.e. Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Analytics and Augmentative Technologies. GOKADDAL brings its customers to the right solutions with right tools and right providers and hence helps them to realize their digital transformation vision. The cloud delivery platform is expected to revolutionize the way digital solutions are sourced, delivered and managed. The Dubai based emerging technology company “GOKADDAL Technologies” is a part of Merkado group.

4. “Technology Innovation Hub” to be established at IIT Mandi: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi will establish a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). The Technology Innovation Hub will be established with the help of Rs 7.25 crore sanctioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to IIT Mandi. Through Technology Innovation Hub, human-computer interaction (HCI) research programmes will take place in IIT Mandi with focus on design and development of computer technology (interfaces). It will also include the study of interaction between humans (users) and computers.

5. UP’s Jewar Airport gets international recognition for strategic infrastructure: The first phase of the Jewar International Airport, in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh has been included in the world’s 100 strategic global infrastructure projects for the year 2020. Uttar Pradesh (India) and Yugoslavia are the two states chosen in the field of aviation all over the world. The Jewar International Airport project is being built by Zurich Airport International AG, at an investment of Rs 30,000 crore, on about 5000 hectares of land in Greater Noida. Once operational, Jewar Airport will be Asia’s second largest international airport after China’s Shanghai International Airport and 5th largest airport in the world. The Jewar Greenfield International Airport will boost industrial development in the state. According to the proposal, flights will start operating in 2022-23.

6. Facebook launches ‘Pragati’ to boost women entrepreneurship in India: Facebook India has launched its CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiative, Facebook Pragati to promote women entrepreneurship in India. The initiative will incubate and accelerate early-stage women-led non-profits that are working to drive women entrepreneurship and to spread awareness and adoption of technology among women in India. Facebook Pragati will award four grants of up to ₹50 lakh for each non-profit to scale their work. Facebook Pragati powered by N/Core (The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation).

Note: CEO of Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg; Facebook Headquarters: California, US.

7. J&K govt revokes detention order of former CM Farukh Abdullah: Jammu and Kashmir administration has revoked the detention order of the former Chief Minister and National Conference leader Dr Farooq Abdullah with immediate effect. Dr Farooq Abdullah has been under house arrest since 15th September last year, following the abrogation of Article 370. He was put under preventive detention at his home on Gupkar Road in Srinagar. Last week, the opposition had demanded the immediate release of former Chief Ministers of J&K.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India among Better-Performing Countries in Animal Protection Index 2020: The global Animal Protection Index 2020 was released by UK-based international animal welfare charity, World Animal Protection. The Animal Protection Index (API) is a comprehensive assessment of 50 countries around the world to showcase where countries are doing well, and where they fall short on animal welfare policy and legislation, so they can take steps to improve. The index ranks countries from A (being the highest score) to G (being the weakest score) according to their policy and legislation. India has attained C ranking in the index, which shows that India is one of the better-performing countries in terms of policies and legislation for animals. India shares the grade with countries like New Zealand, Mexico, France, and Spain. Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Austria are rated with the highest scores, which is encouraging.

Note: World Animal Protection founded: 1981; World Animal Protection Headquarters: London, United Kingdom; Chairman of Animal Protection: Paul Baldwin.

2. India Ranks 46th in Inclusive Internet Index 2020 by EIU; Sweden Tops: India has been ranked 46th out of 100 countries on the inclusive internet index 2020 released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). The ‘Inclusive Internet Index’ benchmarks countries on the internet’s availability, affordability, relevance and the readiness of people to use it. The annual report is commissioned by Facebook. The 4th edition of the ‘Inclusive Internet Index 2020’ covered 100 countries, representing 91% of the world’s population and 96% of global GDP. Top 3 Nations: (1) Sweden; (2) New Zealand; (3) United States. Burundi was the worst ranked country placed at 100th position.

3. Bhawna Dehariya climbs Australia’s Mount Kosciuszko: Indian mountaineer Bhawna Dehariya has successfully scaled Mount Kosciuszko (2,228-metres), the highest mountain peak in Australia on the occasion of Holi. Dehariya had scaled Mount Kilimanjaro (5, 895 meters), the highest mountain peak in Tanzania on the occasion of Diwali in the year 2019 and also felt fortunate that she had celebrated 2 biggest festivals of India at the mountain peaks. In May 2019, she also became the first women from Madhya Pradesh to scale Mount Everest.

4. TCIL signs MoU with The Gambia for MEA’s eVBAB Network Project: Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Gambia. This MoU is signed for the participation in MEA’s (eVBAB) e-VidyaBharati and e-ArogyaBharati Network Project for telemedicine and tele-education in Africa. The Gambia is the 16th country to participate in the e-Network Project. It is signed by the High commissioner of Gambia, Jainaba Jagne to the Director-Technical at the TCIL, Kamendra Kumar India at New Delhi.

Note: Capital of The Gambia: Banjul; Currency of The Gambia: Gambian dalasi; President: Adama Barrow.

5. India Ranks World’s 2nd Biggest Arms Importer While Placed at 23rd in Exporters List: SIPRI Report: The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has released its annual “Trends in international arms transfers 2019” report to determine the International transfers of major arms during the five-year period 2015–19. As per the data, India was the second largest arms importer in the world during the period 2015-19. Russia was the largest supplier of arms to India. Saudi Arabia was the largest arms importer in the world during the same period. Top 5 largest arms importer in the world were Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia and China respectively, accounting for 36% of all arms imports. Apart from this, India has been ranked 23rd among the 25 largest arms exporters in the world. The largest exporters of arms during the five-year period 2015–19 were the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China respectively.

6. World Sleep Day 2020: 13 March: World Sleep Day is held every year on the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox. In 2020, the World Sleep Day was observed on March 13, 2020. The theme of 2020 is ‘Better Sleep, Better Life, Better Planet’. Purpose: to celebrate the benefits of good and healthy sleep and to draw society’s attention to the burden of sleep problems and their medical, educational, and social aspects, and to promote the prevention and management of sleep disorders.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SBI will buy Yes Bank shares worth Rs 7250 crore: The State Bank of India has agreed to buy shares worth Rs 7250 crore of the cash-strapped Yes Bank. The purchase of the shares will be in accordance with the draft reconstruction scheme put forward by the Reserve Bank of India. SBI’s executive committee of central board (ECCB) held a meeting on March 11 and approved to purchase 725 crore shares in Yes Bank at a price of Rs 10 per share subject to all regulatory approvals. Also, the bank’s shareholding in Yes Bank will remain within 49 percent of the paid up capital of the private sector lender. Further, it cannot reduce holding to below 26 percent before three years from the date of capital infusion.

Note: Chief Executive Officer & MD of Yes Bank: Ravneet Gill; Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Chairperson of SBI: Rajnish Kumar; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 July 1955.

RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

2. SBI removes minimum balance charges from all savings bank accounts: The State Bank of India has waived off the minimum balance charges on all savings bank accounts. SBI has waive charges for non-maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) for all 44.51 crore savings bank accounts.

Note: Chairperson of SBI: Rajnish Kumar; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded : 1 July 1955.

3. Amitabh Bachchan becomes brand ambassador of IDFC FIRST Bank:  IDFC FIRST Bank has signed Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador. With this, Amitabh Bachchan has become the first ever brand ambassador of the bank. IDFC FIRST Bank was founded as a new entity on December 18, 2018, by the merger of IDFC Bank and Capital First.

Note: MD and CEO of IDFC FIRST Bank: V Vaidyanathan; Headquarters: Mumbai.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Takes Over as Asia Richest Man, Pushing Mukesh Ambani at Second Position: Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Indian energy tycoon and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani is no longer Asia’s richest man as per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which is a daily ranking of the world’s richest people. The title of Asia’s richest man has now been taken over by the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. founder Jack Ma with total net-worth of $45.7 billion, about $2.6 billion more than Ambani. Ambani has been pushed to second spot on the list of Asia’s richest people, with an estimated net-worth of $42.3 billion. Globally, Mukesh Ambani is the 19th richest man in the world while Jack Ma is now the 18th richest man in the world. The decline in Ambani’s net worth comes after the collapse in oil prices along with global stocks.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. V Praveen Rao Named for 7th Dr MS Swaminathan Award for 2017-19: V Praveen Rao, Vice-Chancellor of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), has won the seventh Dr MS Swaminathan Award for the period 2017-2019. He has been recognized for his contributions in the fields of agricultural research, teaching, extension and administration. The biennial national award will be conferred on him in June 2020. The award was constituted by Retired ICAR Employees Association (RICAREA) and Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL) and carries a prize of ₹2 lakh and a citation.

OBITUARIES

1. Veteran Bengali actor Santu Mukhopadhyay passes away: Veteran Bengali actor Santu Mukhopadhyay passed away. He was popular for his roles in films like ‘Sansar Simante’ and ‘Bhalobasa Bhalobasa’. His other popular films includes Raja, Ganadevata and Byapika Biday. Kolkata born actor also acted in TV Serials like Isthi Kutum, Jol Nupur and Andarmahal.