Daily GK Updates - 6th March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Health Ministry organizes workshop to manage COVID-19: New Delhi hosts a national level Training Workshop on COVID-19 Management for all the states and hospitals. The workshop was organized by the Health Ministry aims to train the trainers on various aspects to tackle the situation related to novel Coronavirus. Infection prevention, hospital preparedness, disinfection and biomedical waste management, community engagement, non-pharmaceutical interventions are some aspects on which training will be provided to the trainers.

2. International Conference on Nano Science and Technology 2020 Begins in Kolkata: The International Conference on Nano Science and Technology 2020 (ICONSAT-2020) is being held at S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata from March 5-7, 2020. ICONSAT is the series of biennial international conference held in India under the aegis of Nano Mission, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. It provides a global platform of interactions among eminent scientists to bring to fore the recent advances in the area of nanoscience and technology.

3. Workshop-cum-Awareness Programme on Skill Development held at Kulgam: The District Employment and Counseling Centre has organized a Workshop-cum-Awareness Programme on the Skill Development for Unorganized Workers in Kulgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The workshop for the unorganized workers was organized under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PMSYM) Scheme.

Note: Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir: Girish Chandra Murmu.

4. Namaste Orchha festival begins in Madhya Pradesh: ‘Namaste Orchha’ festival commenced in Orchha, a town in Niwari district of Madhya Pradesh. The festival aims to create new opportunities to promote the rich cultural, natural and architectural heritage, traditions and history of the state. “Namaste Orchha festival will exhibit the cultural landscape of Madhya Pradesh through a series of activities such as art, music, dance, guided history tours and photography. The festival will also feature a food and crafts bazaar that will have local cuisine and traditional handicrafts of the region.

Note: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh : Kamal Nath; Governor: Lal Ji Tandon.

5. ARCI develops “PEMFC” system for Disaster Management: The International Advanced Research for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad has developed a fuel cell technology called Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cell has been developed by ARCI in the power range of 1 to 20 kiloWatt (kW). The in-house PEMFC system has operational capability at low-temperatures with applications in decentralised power generation systems. This system backing EOC is expected to provide immediate support during the Golden Hour of the disaster.

6. “Chronicles of Change Champions” book released by Smriti Irani: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani has released a book titled “Chronicles of Change Champions” in New Delhi. The book is a compilation of 25 innovative initiatives taken at the state and district levels under the Prime Minister’s flagship scheme of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme was launched in 2015 at Panipat, Haryana as a comprehensive programme to address the declining Child Sex Ratio and the related issues of empowerment of women over a life-cycle continuum.

7. DAY-NULM partners with Amazon for e-marketing of products: National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs today signed MoU with Amazon for e-marketing of products made by Self Help Groups (SHGs) across the country in urban areas. Giving impetus to Women empowerment and sustainable livelihoods in urban area, the Mission has also undertaken similar collaboration with for the 2nd edition of Shehri Samridhi Utsav to be organised from March 28 to April 12, 2020.

Note: Ministers of State (I/C) for Housing and Urban Affairs: Hardeep Singh Puri.

Chief Executive Officer of Amazon: Jeff Bezos.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Janez Jansa becomes new Prime Minister of Slovenia: Slovenia’s parliament has elected Janez Jansa as the prime minister-designate of the country. Mr Jansa takes over from centre-left premier Marjan Sarec, who resigned in January 2020. The 61-year-old leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) had also served as the prime minister of Slovenia from 2004 to 2008 and again from 2012 to 2013.

Note: President of Slovenian: Borut Pahor; Capital of Slovenian: Ljubljana; Currency of Slovenian: Euro.

2. India-European Union Flagship Call on Integrated Local Energy Systems: During India Smart Utility Week 2020, India-European Union Flagship Call on Integrated Local Energy Systems to help in clean energy and climate by DST. This Indo-EU flagship call is fully in line with both the European Union’s and India’s involvement in Mission Innovation (MI), a global initiative of 24 countries and the European Commission committed to reinvigorate and accelerate global clean energy innovation with the objective to make clean energy widely affordable.

3. US-Israel Joint military Exercise Juniper Cobra 20 Cancels over coronavirus: The Israel Defense Forces and United States military launched the 10-day long joint missile defense drill Exercise Juniper Cobra 20 (JC20) on March 3, 2020. However, the remaining part of Juniper Cobra 20 has been scraped over the coronavirus outbreak. The exercise was scheduled to be held between March 3-13, 2020. Exercise Juniper Cobra 20 (JC20) is the tenth edition of the biennial exercise series conducted in Israel every two years since 2001 between the two countries.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Hockey India Announces First Edition of U-21 Khelo India Women’s Hockey League: The Sports Authority of India, in association with Hockey India, has announced to organise the first edition of the Khelo India Women’s Hockey League (U- 21), to provide a platform to bring forth many talented hockey players. The event will be organised at three different venues in three phases between March to November 2020 in the following venues:

Phase I – March 23 to 29 – Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi

Phase II – July 13 to 19 – SAI Center in Bengaluru

Phase III – November 22 to 29 – Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar

The effort of the government is to create talent identification platforms for athletes from multiple sports through the Khelo India Scheme

2. Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2019 held in New Delhi: Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2019 powered by BHIM-UPI which honoured the best sports performance in 2019 held in New Delhi. Shuttler PV Sindhu was named Sportsperson of the Year at the fourth TOISA 2019 in New Delhi. Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia was given the Lifetime Achievement award. Pulella Gopichand, Jaspal Rana, Amit Phanghal, Lovlina Borgohain and Balbir singh were among the other winners.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Yes Bank Caps Withdrawal Limit at Rs 50,000 per Account: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has superseded the board of cash-starved Yes Bank and also capped the withdrawal limit for depositors to Rs 50,000 with effect from March 5 to April 3, 2020, or till further orders. This means that the Yes Bank customers will be able to withdraw only Rs 50,000 across all bank accounts at Yes Bank – savings, deposits or current accounts. The decision has been taken after the bank failed to raise capital to address potential loan losses. RBI has also said that interest will be paid on deposits at the bank. However, there are certain exceptions under which customers can withdraw more than Rs 50,000 but not more than Rs 5 lakh or the amount of money that is in the accounts (whichever is less).

Exceptions cases include:

-Medical treatment for account holder or dependants

-Higher education costs for account holder or dependants in India or abroad

-Marriage expenses

-‘Unavoidable emergencies’

Note: Chief Executive Officer & MD of Yes Bank: Ravneet Gill; Headquarters of Yes Bank: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Yes Bank established: 2004.

2. SEBI Launches Mobile App SCORES to help Investors Lodge Grievances Online: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched a mobile application “Sebi SCORES” for lodging investor grievances. The mobile app SCORES (Sebi Complaints Redress System) will enable the investors to conveniently lodge their grievances against a listed company/ intermediary registered with SEBI. Through SCORES you can lodge your complaint online with SEBI and subsequently view its status. This will be available on both iOS and Android platforms. Entities against whom complaints are lodged need to file an action taken report with the regulator within 30 days of receipt of complain.

Chairman of SEBI: Ajay Tyagi; Headquarter: Mumbai.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. 4th Edition of the Women Transforming India Awards 2019: The fourth edition of the Women Transforming India Awards 2019 will be organised on the occasion of International Women’s Day i.e. on 8 March 2020. The Women Entrepreneurship Platform of the NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) will organise the Women Transforming India Awards 2019. The WTI recognizes the inspiring stories of women entrepreneurs who are breaking the glass ceiling.

Note: CEO of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India): Amitabh Kant.

OBITUARIES

1. Former UN Chief Javier Perez de Cuellar passes away: Former UN Chief Javier Perez de Cuellar passed away at the age of 100. He served as the president of the UN Security Council from 1973 to 1974. He also served as United Nations Secretary General from 1981 to 1991. He was often described as a “pacifist by vocation and nature.” He was awarded Prince of Asturias Prize for the promotion of Ibero-American cooperation in 1987.