Daily GK Updates - 30th May, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Uttarakhand governmentt starts “Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojana” for returnee migrants: Uttarakhand chief minister, Trivendra Singh Rawat has inaugurated the “Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojana” for returnee migrants. The project aims at giving self-employment opportunities to youth and a boost to reverse migration, especially entrepreneurs returning to Uttarakhand and encourage skilled and unskilled artisans, handicrafts and unemployed youths to start their own business. The scheme will offer credit facility through nationalised banks, scheduled commercial banks and cooperative banks.

Note: Capital of Uttarakhand: Dehradun; Governor of Uttarakhand: Baby Rani Maurya.

2. Madhya Pradesh Government Launches ‘Rozgar Setu’ scheme to provide employment to Migrant Labourers: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has launched a scheme ‘Rozgar Setu’ for skilled workers who have returned from other states. As per the state government, Madhya Pradesh is the first to devise such a work plan, to provide work to the maximum number of returned skilled workers. The State government will act as a setu [bridge] between workers and employers so that both are benefited. The scheme will provide a platform to the workers and connect them with those needing them, thus fulfilling the manpower requirement of industries as well as provide employment to workers during the COVID-19 pandemic The government will survey the skilled workers who were employed at industries elsewhere, but have now returned, based upon which they will be provided employment in industries, construction works and other activities according to their skills.

3. IndiGo appoints Venkataramani Sumantran as independent director: Venkataramani Sumantran has been appointed the independent director of airline company IndiGo for the next five years. Earlier, he served as the chairman and managing director of Chennai-based Celeris Technologies. He serves as an adjunct professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is on several statutory and advisory boards in India, Europe and the US. He will hold the post for the next five years.

Note: Indigo Airlines Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana; Indigo Airlines Established: 2006.

4. Power Finance Corporation board Appoints R S Dhillon as CMD: State-run Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has appointed Ravinder Singh Dhillon as the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the company. He will succeed incumbent CMD Rajeev Sharma, who is attaining superannuation on May 31, 2020. Dhillon’s appointment will be with effect from 01 June 2020, till the date of his superannuation (May 31, 2023) or until further orders.

5. Govt. approves Rs. 445 cr for implementation of JJM in Chhattisgarh: The Union Govt. has approved 445 crore rupees for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in Chhattisgarh during 2020-21. The aim of the mission is to provide adequate potable drinking water of prescribed quality on a regular and long-term basis to every rural household of the country by 2024. A budget of 3 lakh 60 thousand Crore rupees has been allocated for this scheme. Chhattisgarh has planned to have 100 Percent Functional Tap Water Connection by 2023-24.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. US joins G7 Group’s Partnership on Artificial Intelligence to counter China: United States has finally joined the rest of the G7 countries in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (AI), in an effort to contain China‘s influence on AI. The Trump administration had been the only nation among leaders of the Group of Seven which was not the part of the Global Partnership on AI, set up by France and Canada in 2019. However, looking at how Chinese technology companies are attempting to shape international standards on facial recognition and surveillance at the United Nations, the US decided to join the international panel for setting ethical guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence. The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence aims to guide the responsible adoption of AI based on shared principles of “human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation and economic growth”, among the member nations.

G7 Members: France, Canada, Italy, Germany, Japan, UK and US

2. IMF approves 732 million emergency assistance to Bangladesh for COVID-19: The IMF Executive Board approved an emergency financial assistance worth dollar 732 million for Bangladesh to address the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The assistance has been approved for Bangladesh to meet its urgent Balance of payment and fiscal needs as Corona pandemic has led to a sharp decline in its exports and income from remittances. Earlier, ADB provided 500 million assistance to Bangladesh to deal with the Corona pandemic

3. Russia hosts BRICS Heads of Tax Authorities meet: The meeting of the Heads of Tax Authorities of the BRICS countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa was held on 29 May. The meeting was hosted by the Federal Tax Service of Russia, which currently holds the BRICS Presidency, to discuss the response of BRICS Tax Authorities to the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore potential areas of cooperation in tax matters.

Note: Members of the BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

4. World No-Tobacco Day:  31st May: World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed every year on 31 May, globally to inform the public on the dangers of using tobacco and to discourage the use of tobacco in any form. Theme of the 2020 WNTD is ‘Tobacco and related industry tactics to attract younger generations’. The Day was created by the member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1987.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Sandip Pradhan's tenure as SAI Director General extended by two years: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has extended the tenure of Sandip Pradhan as Director-General of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) by two years. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the extension (effect from 6 June 2020). SAI's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the resumption of training in sports facilities was recently approved by the Sports Ministry.

Note: Sports Authority of India Headquarters: Delhi; Sports Authority of India Founded: 25 January 1984.

2. WADA Imposes 4-Year Ban on Long-Distance Runner Kiranjeet Kaur For Doping Violation: The World Athletics’ anti-doping body has handed a four-year ban to long-distance runner Kiranjeet Kaur, for testing positive for a banned substance. The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) accredited laboratory tested her samples, taken in December 2019. Her ban period is effective from 15 December 2019. The 32-year-old Kaur won the Tata Steel Kolkata 25K among the Indians in December 2019. This award will also be taken away from her.

Note: President of WADA: Sir Craig Reedie; Headquarters: Montreal, Canada.

BANKING AND FINANCE

11. RBI Penalises Bank of India, Karnataka Bank and Saraswat Co-op Bank Over Deficiencies in Rule Compliance: The Reserve Bank said it has imposed a penalty of Rs 5 crore on state-owned Bank of India for non-compliance with certain provisions, including those related with NPA. The central bank also imposed a penalty of Rs 1.2 crore on Karnataka Bank for non-compliance with NPA norms. RBI also imposed a penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Saraswat Co-operative Bank for non-compliance with directions on ‘Income Recognition and Asset Classification (IRAC) norms.’

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. India’s GDP growth slows to 11-year low of 4.2%: National Statistical Office, under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, has estimated India’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.2 per cent in 2019-20 as compared to 6.1 per cent expansion in 2018-19, the slowest growth in GDP in 11 years. The earlier estimate by various arms of the government was 5 per cent growth in ‘19-20.

2. Zomato elevates food-delivery CEO Mohit Gupta as co-founder: Food ordering platform Zomato has elevated Mohit Gupta, the CEO of its food delivery business by making him a co-founder. Gupta had joined Zomato in 2018 from MakeMyTrip. Previously, Gaurav Gupta was promoted as a co-founder by Zomato in 2019.

DEFENCE

1. Foundation Stone for Missile Park ‘Agneeprastha’ Laid at INS Kalinga, Visakhapatnam: The foundation stone for setting up a Missile Park named ‘Agneeprastha’ was laid at INS Kalinga, Naval base in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, by Commodore Rajesh Debnath, Commanding Officer Eastern Naval Command (ENC), on 28 May 2020. Once completed, the Missile Park will be dedicated to all the officers, sailors and support staff of the INS Kalinga, who have served in this premier naval base of the ENC since its establishment in 1981. ‘AGNEEPRASTHA’ will have glimpses of Missile History of INS Kalinga since 1981 till date. A 2 megawatt solar photovoltaic plant was also commissioned at INS Kalinga by Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain. It is the largest plant in the Eastern Naval Command, and has an estimated life of 25 years. INS Kalinga is an Indian Navy establishment reporting to the Eastern Naval Command. It is responsible for preparing, storing and delivering advanced missiles to ships of the Eastern Fleet.

OBITUARIES

1. Veteran lyricist Yogesh Gaur Passes Away: Veteran Bollywood lyricist Yogesh Gaur, best-known as Yogesh in the film industry, has passed away. He was 77. Yogesh has given Bollywood several hit songs in the 60s and 70s. Some of his best known songs are Zindagi Kaise Yeh Paheli and Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaaye for Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna’s 1971 film Anand.

2. Veteran Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla passes away: The world-renowned astrologer, Bejan Daruwalla, has passed away suffering from pneumonia. He was 89. Daruwalla was a great Ganesha devotee. He combined the principles of various techniques like Vedic astrology, Numerology, Palmistry, I-Ching, Tarot, Kabalah and even Western astrology for his predictions. His name figured among the 100 great astrologers of the last 1,000 years in ‘The Millennium Book of Prophecy’, published by Harper Collins. His astrological predictions were keenly followed by millions of people in the country.