Daily GK Updates - 19th April, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Culture Ministry launched National ICH list of India: Union Minister for Culture Prahlad Singh Patel launched the ‘National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of India.’ It aims to raise awareness and protection about intangible cultural heritage elements from different states of India at national and international level. This initiative is also a part of the Vision 2024 of the Ministry of Culture. The National ICH List is an attempt to recognize the diversity of Indian culture embedded in its intangible heritage.

Note: Director General of UNESCO: Audrey Azoulay.

2. Uttar Pradesh Becomes First Indian State to Geotag Community Kitchens & Shelters: Uttar Pradesh has been reported to become the first state in the country to geotag all its community kitchens and community shelters across 75 districts of the state, so as to provide adequate information to the general public regarding the location of shelter homes and community kitchens amid lockdown. There are 7,368 community kitchens and community shelters across 75 districts in the state which produce 12 lakh food packets a day. The state government has tied up with Google to ‘Geo-map’ the locations of all these establishments on the Google Maps app for ease of beneficiaries. Anyone can access them by searching with the keyword ‘community kitchen’, on Google Maps, followed by the district’s name. As of now, location of all shelter homes and community kitchens in and around Aligarh have been integrated with Google Maps and data regarding all such facilities in other districts will go live on Google Maps in the next couple of days.

3. IIM-Kozhikode Develops digital directory ‘COVID-FYI’: An international team of researchers led by an Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode student has developed a one-stop COVID-19 platform, covidfyi.in, for accessing emergency services related to coronavirus, from official government sources. The website will act as a one-stop digital directory for all COVID19 related services and help to bring the right information to the right people. Only official information from Government organisations will be put on this platform to ensure authenticity and credibility. The 16-member team is led by IIM Kozhikode student Simran Soni with researchers, medical students and developers from countries like Germany and the US.

4. IIT Ropar Launches ‘WardBot’ to deliver Food & Medicines to COVID-19 patients: A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar in Rupnagar district of Punjab has designed an autonomous robot ‘WardBot’ to deliver medicines and food to COVID-19 patients in isolation wards without human intervention. WardBot also has a feature of self-sanitising on the return path and could be used for sanitising walls of the hospitals. Lines drawn on the floor will help the IR-sensor-fitted wardbot find its way. The bot will have at least twelve shelves and a carrying capacity of 4 to 5 kg. It should be able to serve 10 to 12 patients.

Note: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, Director: Sarit Kumar Das; Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar Founded: 2008.

5. Pune-based Researchers Develop ‘bug sniffer’ for efficient detection of pathogens: A team of researchers at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune have developed a sensitive and low-cost sensor called ‘bug sniffer’ to rapidly detect bacteria. ARI is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science &Technology, Govt. of India. The portable device can detect as low as ten bacterial cells from a sample size of one milliliter in just 30 minutes. The biosensor device uses synthetic peptides, magnetic nanoparticles, and quantum dots to detect the presence of bacteria. It provides cost- and time-effective way of screening water and foodborne pathogens. At present, they are working on a method for simultaneous separation and detection of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The bug sniffer is affordable, and the raw materials required are readily available.

6. ‘Shuttling to the Top: The Story of P.V. Sindhu’ Authored by V. Krishnaswamy Released: The book titled “Shuttling to the Top: The Story of P.V. Sindhu”, written by sports journalist V. Krishnaswamy, was released. The book narrates the journey of badminton player PV Sindhu, from her early life to becoming a world champion, and what lies ahead. The book has been published by HarperCollins Publishers India.  The young sports icon, Sindhu is India’s first and only woman athlete to win silver at the Olympics as well as the only Indian named in Forbes” list of world”s top 10 highest paid female athletes.

7. Draft proposal for Amendment in the Electricity Act, 2003 introduced: Ministry of Power has issued draft proposal for amendment of Electricity Act, 2003 in the form of draft Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 for comments / suggestions from Stakeholders to bring reform in the power sectors. Electricity Contract Enforcement Authority (ECEA), cost effective tariffs, direct benefit transfer, Payment Security Mechanism, Strengthening of the Appellate Tribunal (APTEL) are among the major reform which is embedded inside the new amendment.

8. MNRE urges states to set up renewable energy equipment parks: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has urged states to set up renewable energy (RE) equipment manufacturing parks to meet domestic demand as well as make India a global production hub. These facilities will manufacture equipment like silicon ingots and wafers, solar cells and modules, wind power equipment and ancillary items like back sheet, glass, steel frames, inverters, and batteries. The hubs will also export equipment and services in the RE sector.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Facebook launches third party fact checking in Bangladesh: Facebook in collaboration with Indian fact checking website “Boom” has launched a third-party fact checking system in Bangladesh. This system will focus on discouraging the spread of fake news in the country by reviewing and rating the stories, including photos and videos. Boom is an Indian fact-checking website and is available in English, Hindi and Bengali. Facebook started its fact-checking programme in 2016 and now covers 60 partners in 50 languages.

Note: Chief Executive Officer of Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg; Facebook Headquarters: California, US.

2. World Liver Day: 19 April: World Liver day is observed on 19 April every year. The day is observed to spread awareness about the liver-related disease. The liver is the second largest and the most complex organ in the body, with the exception of the brain.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Government Amends Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU) scheme to Increase Default Coverage to 75%: The Ministry of Finance has announced amendment in Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU) scheme, which covers micro loans up to Rs 10 lakh extended under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. The government has announced an increase in coverage of lender’s loss in case of loan default under the CGFMU scheme to 75% from 50% earlier to incentivise lending to micro businesses and support them during the coronavirus outbreak.k and the ensuing nationwide lockdown.

Apart from this, the ministry has also reduced the burden of defaults that the lender had to bear under the scheme from the first 5% of the amount in default to 3%. Another change in the scheme is the inclusion of loans to SHGs. Loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh sanctioned to SHGs in 2020-21 will be covered under CGFMU scheme.

Note: The Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU) scheme was set up in April 2016 with the purpose of guaranteeing payment against default in Micro Loans extended to eligible borrowers by Banks/ NBFCs/ MFIs/ Other Financial Intermediaries. The Govt. of India, through Ministry, of Finance settles the loan default with the help of National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd (NCGTC).

2. HDFC Bank launches Safety Grid campaign to reinforce #socialdistancing: HDFC Bank has launched the #HDFCBankSafetyGrid campaign to reinforce #socialdistancing. Conceptualised by Leo Burnett India, the campaign is aimed at creating physical markers on the ground using the outer grid of HDFC Bank logo, to help people waiting in queue at a shop or an establishment. ‘The Safety Grid’ will be painted in front of the space leading to various retail outlets such as pharmacies, grocery stores and ATMs, among others, at an optimal WHO-prescribed distance of 1 metre.

Note: Headquarters of HDFC Bank: Mumbai, Maharashtra:; Managing Director: Aditya Puri.

BUSINESS AND ECONMY

1. S&P Global Ratings Reduces India’s GDP growth for FY’21 at 1.8%: S&P Global Ratings has slashed India growth forecast for the fiscal 2020-21 to 1.8 percent, due to the lockdown to contain Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier in March, it projected a growth of 3.5 percent. The US-based rating agency expects growth to significantly recover to 7.5 percent in 2021-22 fiscal.

OBITUARIES

1. Oscar-winning Animator and Film director Gene Deitch passes away: Gene Deitch, an American-born Czech illustrator, animator, comics artist, film director and producer, has passed away at the age of 95. His movie Munro won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1960. He was also nominated for the same award twice in 1964 for “Here’s Nudnik” and “How to Avoid Friendship.” He is also credited for directing 13 episodes of Tom and Jerry and also some episodes of the Popeye the Sailor series among other achievements. He received the Winsor McCay Award for his lifelong contribution to animation in 2004.