Daily GK Updates - 4th April, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. DST sets up rapid response centre CAWACH to combat COVID-19: The Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has approved setting up of a Centre for Augmenting WAR with COVID-19 Health Crisis (CAWACH), to support startups that address COVID-19 challenges. CAWACH will be set up at a total cost of Rs 56 Crore. The Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), a technology business incubator at IIT Bombay, supported by DST, has been identified as the Implementing Agency of the CAWACH.

The CAWACH programme of DST will scout, evaluate and support the innovations and start-ups that are in the area of novel, low cost, safe and effective ventilators, respiratory aids, protective gears, novel solutions for sanitizers, disinfectants, diagnostics, therapeutics, informatics and any effective interventions to control COVID-19. It will leverage the youthful energy, intelligence and extraordinary innovative potential of our technology incubators and startups and empower them for scale-up to speedily address the multi-dimensional challenges of COVID-19. Requisite financial assistance and fund deployment will be made available for innovations that are deployable in the market within next 6 months. They will be provided access to pan-India networks for testing, trial and market deployment of these products and solutions in the identified areas of priority COVID-19 solutions.

2. Uber will provide transportation service to public healthcare workers: The National Health Authority (NHA) has inked pact with ride hailing app “Uber” to provide transportation service to public healthcare workers who are involved in treatment of COVID-19 patients. Uber will initially facilitate the provision of 150 cars free of cost to support medical facilities in certain cities including New Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj and Patna through its UberMedic service.

Note: Chief Executive Officer of UBER: Dara Khosrowshahi.

3. Indian Railways’ Chittaranjan Locomotive creates world record of producing highest number of locos in FY’20: The Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) of Indian Railways’ has sets new world record of making the highest number of locomotives in the financial year 2019-20. The Asansol, West Bengal based CLW locomotive factory produced a total of 431 locomotives in the financial year 2019-20, to be recognized by Limca Book of Records as World Record. It surpassed its own record of manufacturing a number of 402 locomotives in the financial year 2018-19, which itself was a world record. The production of locomotives by CLW has witnessed a jump of 75 percent over the last six years from 250 locomotives in 2014-15 to 431 locomotives in 2019-20, under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

4. Government Extends Tenure of Acting President of NCLT, BSV Prakash Kumar, for 3 Months: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has extended the tenure of BSV Prakash Kumar as the Acting President of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for another three months with effect from 5 April 2020, or till the joining of new President, whichever is earlier. Kumar was appointed as acting President for a period of three months on January 5 after the retirement of Justice MM Kumar as the NCLT President.

5. AICTE launches “MHRD AICTE COVID-19 Student Helpline Portal”: All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched “MHRD AICTE COVID-19 Student Helpline Portal” to address the issues faced by students due to closure of colleges and hostels amid national lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak. The portal has been developed within a day and will provide help students regarding the issue of Accommodation, Food, online Classes, Attendance, Examinations, Scholarships, Health, Transport, Harassment etc. The portal link is here: https://helpline.aicte-india.org

Note: Chairman of AICTE: Anil Sahasrabudhe.

Union Minister of Human Resource Development: Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.

6. Online Hackathon “Hack the Crisis-India” launched: Online Hackathon “Hack the Crisis-India”, a part of a global initiative has been launched to find the working solutions to overcome the COVID 19 pandemic. The hackathon was launched by Minister of State Electronics & Information Technology, Communications and Human Resource Development, Sanjay Dhotre. The “Hack the Crisis-India” hackathon will be organised by ‘Hack A Cause-India’ and ‘Ficci Ladies Organization Pune’ along with the support of Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India (MEITY). Over 2000 teams and over 15000 participants will be participated in 48 hour hackathon with expert from India, Estonia and Finland.

Note: Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology: Ravi Shankar Prasad.

7. Book Titled ‘Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess’ Authored by Satyarth Nayak: Noted Indian author and screenwriter Satyarth Nayak has penned his first non-fiction book titled ‘Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess’. The book reveals the journey of pan-Indian female superstar Sridevi, from child star to one of our greatest movie luminaries who forever changed the narrative of Indian cinema. The author is known for his bestselling debut novel The Emperor’s Riddles.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ADB warns global cost of virus could top $4 trillion: The coronavirus pandemic could cost the global economy $4.1 trillion as it ravages United States, Europe and other major economies, the Asian Development Bank warned. The estimated impact is equivalent to nearly five percent of worldwide output based on a range of scenarios, but the lender said losses from “the worst pandemic in a century” could be higher. The Manila-based bank said a shorter containment period could pare the losses to $2 trillion.

2. International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action: 4 April: International Mine Awareness Day is commemorated every year on 4 April to spread awareness about the threat caused by landmines to the safety, health and lives of civilian populations and encourages state Governments to develop mine clearing programmes. “Mine action” refers to a range of efforts to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war and to mark and fence off dangerous areas. The theme for 2020 is “Advancing Protection, Peace and Development.”

Note: On 8 December 2005, the UN General Assembly declared 4 April to be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action every year and it was first observed in 2006. 

Daniel Craig is the first UN Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. ‘Smart Triplets’ Launched As Official Mascots of 19th Asian Games, Hangzhou: The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) digitally unveiled the official mascots, of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on 3rd April 2020. The official mascot comprise of three sporty robots named Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen, collectively named as the ‘smart triplets’. Mascots: They represents the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Hangzhou in eastern China. The first mascot is yellow colored robot ‘Congcong’ which represents the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu city. The second mascot, Green ‘Lianlian’ represents the West Lake and the name signifies a lake full of lush lotus leaves. The third mascot is ‘Chenchen’, which represents the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, where Blue represents science and technology.

Asian Games 2020: The 19th Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou, China from September 10 to 25, 2022. It will be the third Asian Games to be hosted by China following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.

2. FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup postponed: The FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup scheduled to be played in India in November (2nd to 21st) has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic by FIFA-Confederations working group. FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup has also been postponed which was about to be held in Panama and Costa Rica. Under-17 Women's World Cup was scheduled to be played in India across five host cities - Navi Mumbai, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Pravin Jadhav resigns as MD and CEO of Paytm Money: Paytm Money managing director and CEO Pravin Jadhav has resigned over rumoured differences with the company. Jadhav, who built Paytm’s wealth management arm into India’s leading mutual fund platform, reportedly quit over issues related to employee stock options (ESOPs) and remuneration.

2. After SBI, Govt nominates IOB for collecting donations for PM Cares Fund: Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), has been nominated by the government for the collection of funds of PM-Cares Fund. Till now only State Bank of India was the nominated bank for the same. PM Cares stands for Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-Cares Fund). The contributions can be made by ECS, RTGS, NEFT, IMPS, cheques and demand drafts drawn in favour of PM-Cares Fund. All such contributions will be entitled to 100 per cent income tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. IIM-B & ICICI Securities teams up to launch program for fintech startups: As a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, ICICI Securities (I-Sec) has partnered with IIM Bangalore’s startup hub N S Raghavan Centre of Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) to launch program for fintech startups having the duration of 15 months. The startups working in the fields of insurance, personal finance, banking, trading, wealth advisory, payments, lending and taxation can avail the benefits of the program.

Note: MD & CEO of ICICI Securities: Vijay Chandok.

2. ADB Estimates India’s GDP for FY’21 at 4 Percent; 6.2% for FY’22: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) released its latest Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2020 for financial year 2020-21 on 3rd April 2020. As per ADB, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in India is likely to slow down to 4 percent in FY21 (2020-21) on the back of the current global health emergency. However, ADB expects the Indian economy to further strengthen to 6.2 percent in the FY22 fiscal (2021-22).

Note: President of ADB: Masatsugu Asakawa; Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.

OBITUARIES

1. Veteran Indian-origin virologist Gita Ramjee Passes Away: Gita Ramjee, a world-renowned Indian-origin South African virologist has passed away due to coronavirus complications. She was 63. She was a “Vaccine” scientist, an HIV prevention research leader and unit director of the Clinical Trial Unit of the HIV Prevention Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) in Durban. In 2018, she was awarded with the Outstanding Female Scientist Award in Lisbon for her lifetime commitment towards finding new HIV prevention methods.