Daily GK Updates - 14th March,2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. GoI notified Hand Sanitizers and Mask under Essential Commodity Act: Due to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 (Corona Virus), Government has notified an Order under the Essential Commodities Act to declare hand sanitizers and Mask as Essential Commodities up to 30th June 2020 by amending the Schedule of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. It has also issued an advisory under the Legal Metrology Act to ensure the sale of both the items at MRP. Under the E.C Act, States can ask manufacturers to enhance the production of specific products.

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

2. Department of Posts Launches India’s First Digital Parcel Locker Service in Kolkata: In a first of its kind initiative, the Department of Posts has introduced a free digital parcel locker service in the state of West Bengal. The digital parcel locker service has been launched, keeping in mind working people, who cannot receive parcels because they have no one at home to receive consignments during office hours. The facility will be available in two post offices in Kolkata, namely the Nabadiganta IT Post Office in Sector 5 of Salt Lake City and another in New Town.

How will the digital parcel locker service work??

Customers will be given a specific locker number as the address where India Post will drop the parcel. Consignments will be dropped into the digital parcel locker and an SMS will be issued along with an OTP number to the customer concerned. The consignment will remain accessible to customers for seven days during which they can collect the parcel any time of the day. It will enable customers to collect their consignment from specified post offices at their convenience, however, it will be limited to consignments received through registered post or speed post.

Note: Headquarters of Indian Post: New Delhi.

3. UP Government Launches Schemes for skill development & employment generation: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched three ambitious schemes for skill development and employment generation for youths in the state. The three schemes are Kaushal Satrang scheme, Chief Minister Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (CMAPS) and the Yuva Udyamita Vikas Abhiyan (YUVA). The state government has also announced to depute ”Arogya Mitras” at all primary health centres to inform people about government health schemes.

UP Kuashal Satrang Yojana 2020 : Kaushal Satrang scheme is a skill development scheme with 7 components to help provide job opportunities to the youth. Under this scheme, each district will organize Mega job fair.

Yuva Udyamita Vikas Abhiyan (YUVA Hub Yojana): Yuva Hubs scheme will facilitate startups to create jobs. Yuva Hubs will be set up in each districts of the state to make youths self dependent by providing them appropriate training programmes, so that they would be able to get suitable jobs as per their qualification. An amount of Rs. 50 crore is proposed to setup YUVA Hub in every district. Overall amount of Rs. 1,200 crore has been allocated to the scheme in the UP budget 2020-21.

CM Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (CMAPS): This is a UP Govt. Internship Scheme to impart on-job training to youths of state. In this scheme, jobless people will not only get training but will also get Rs. 2500 per month as stipend. A provision of Rs. 100 crore has been allocated to the theme. All the unemployed candidates will get this training in MSME units and government will link them with employment of definite period.

Note: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath; Governor: Anandiben Patel

4. Mumbai Central railway station to be renamed: The Mumbai Central railway station on the Western Railway route of the Mumbai Suburban rail line is set to be renamed. The Uddhav Thackeray government sanctioned a proposal for rechristening it as Nana Shankarseth Mumbai Central railway station. The station, designed by British architect Claude Batley, serves as a major stop for both local suburban and long distance trains.

Jagannath (Nana) Shankarseth (1803-1865) was a Maharashtrian philanthropist and educationist who is contributed a lot to the development of Mumbai. The first Indian to be nominated to erstwhile Legislative Council of Bombay, he was also instrumental in the formation of the Indian Railway Association, which had pushed efforts to bring railways to the country.

5. ARCI developed a cost-effective solar receiver tube technology for heat applications: Scientists from the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad developed a cost-effective solar receiver tube technology for industrial process heat applications. Solar receiver tube technology is used in Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST). The receiver tube technology absorbs solar radiation and converts it into heat for the targeted applications, especially in industries. It also exhibits high corrosion resistance suitable for Indian weather conditions. It provides a viable solution to meet the demands on industrial process heat (≤250°C) of a majority of industrial processes. The government has signed MoU with M/s. Greenera Energy India Private Limited for technology transfer. It plans to mass-produce the solar receiver tube for wider market absorption.

6. SpiceJet to set up warehousing & distribution facility at GAHSL: An Indian low-cost airline, SpiceJet has signed a pact with GMR Hyderabad Aviation SEZ Limited (GHASL). According to the pact, SpiceJet will set up warehousing, distribution and trading facility in the aerospace and industrial park of GHASL. “Ready-to-Use” industrial infrastructure is offered by the park with the flexibility of choosing land within SEZ for business purposes. The warehousing, distribution and trading facility set up will be installed within the Free Trade Warehousing Zone of multi-product special economic zone (SEZ).

Note: GMR Hyderabad Aviation SEZ Limited (GAHSL) is a fully-owned subsidiary of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL).

Chief Executive Officer of GMR Hyderabad Aviation SEZ Limited (GAHSL): Aman Kapoor.

Chairman and Managing Director of SpiceJet: Ajay Singh.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. US President declared a national emergency amid coronavirus: US President Donald Trump declared a national emergency unlocking up to 50 billion US Dollars in federal funds to combat the fast-spreading pandemic. The infection has killed over 5,000 people and triggered fears that the deadly outbreak will lead to a global economic recession. The declaration of a national emergency allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist state and local governments and coordinate the nation's response to the crisis.

2. India ranked 2nd in KPMG’s 2020 Technology Innovation Hubs report; Top- UK: India surged back to tie the second position with China in KPMG’s 2020 global technology industry innovation survey which includes responses from more than 800 global leaders in the technology industry. UK has topped the report on technology innovation hubs. Among cities, Singapore, seventh last year, leaped to the top of this year’s global rankings. London moved up one notch to second. Bengaluru is top Indian city at 9th rank. Mumbai is the only other Indian city ranked 16th on the list of top 20 cities.

3. International Day of Mathematics: 14 March: Every year, March 14 is celebrated as the International Day of Mathematics (IDM). The theme for 2020 IDM is “Mathematics is Everywhere“.  The day was initiated by the International Mathematical Union (IMU) to celebrate the beauty and importance of mathematics and its essential role in everyone’s life. The 40th General Conference of UNESCO approved the Proclamation of March 14 as the International Day of Mathematics, on November 26, 2019.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Saurashtra defeats Bengal to win the Ranji Trophy title: Saurashtra has won the Ranji Trophy Title 2019-20 by defeating Bengal in the finals. The final match was played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. Saurashtra’s first-innings total of 425, Bengal fell short by 44 runs on the 5th and final day handing the hosts a firm grip on the title. Saurashtra is one of the three teams from Gujarat state that participates in the tournament. The winning side was captained by Jaydev Unadkat. Ranji Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket championship in India.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. HIL India Limited with UBI launched Customer Payment Portal: HIL (India) Limited, a CPSE under the MoC&F, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, in association with Union Bank of India, has launched Customer Payment Portal to collect the payment through various online modes. The Portal was launched in New Delhi keeping pace with Govt. of India’s vision of ‘Digital India’. This will help the HIL customers to pay dues by any Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI or online wallets from their homes or offices.

2. RBI announces USD INR sell/buy swap for liquidity amid Coronavirus: Observing mismatch in US dollar liquidity across the world, The Reserve Bank has announced a six month US dollar sell/buy swap to provide liquidity to the foreign exchange market. According to RBI, financial markets are facing intense selling pressures due to coronavirus infection. All sectoral indices recorded a fall of over five per cent with shares of realty, metal, oil and gas, banking and finance sectors suffering maximum selling.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Bill Gates resigns from Microsoft’s board: Microsoft founder Bill Gates stepping down from Microsoft’s board of directors. He wants to dedicate more time to his philanthropic priorities including global health, development, education, and his increasing engagement in tackling climate change. He also stepped down from the board of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc, where he had served since 2004.

Note: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microsoft: Satya Nadella; Microsoft Founded: April 4, 1975; Headquarters of Microsoft: Washington, United States(US).

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. India’s 1st Living Culinary Arts Museum enters Limca Book of Records: Welcome Group Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA) of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) entered the Limca Book of Records (LBR) for establishing “India’s First Living Culinary Arts Museum” at WGSHA, Manipal, Karnataka. Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna is the Founder and curator of India’s first living culinary arts museum at WGSHA. The museum was opened in the year April 2018, spread approximately over 25,000 square feet & the structure of the museum is shaped in the form of a giant pot similar to the ones found in Harappa.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Olympic javelin champion Dana Zatopkova passes away: Former Czechoslovak Olympic javelin champion Dana Zatopkova passed away. She was an Olympic javelin champion won gold in the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 and won the Olympic silver in Rome in 1960. In 1958, she set the world record of 55.73 meters at the age of 35. She became the European champion in 1954 and 1958. She served as a coach in 1960 and retired from the role in 1980.