Daily GK Updates - 4th May, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. NMCG & NIUA organized IDEAthon on ‘The Future of River Management’: The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) organized an IDEAthon on “The future of River Management’ to explore how the COVID-19 crisis can shape River Management strategies for the future. It also emphasized about river management and also highlighted the interconnectivity of Cities with the River. This was an international webinar that brought together 500 participants. NMCG is the wing of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga, established in 2011 as a registered society under SRA 1860.

Note: Union Minister for Jal Shakti: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

2. HDFC Bank releases song #HumHaarNahiMaanenge to keep up hopes up amidst Covid-19 pandemic: HDFC Bank has launched a song titled #HumHaarNahiMaanenge (We will not lose) to keep up hopes up amidst the ongoing national lockdown and coronavirus pandemic. The song is composed by Oscar and Grammy Award-winning legend musician AR Rahman with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi and includes ensemble of artists. The track also brings together musicians including Clinton Cerejo, Mohit Chauhan, Mika Singh, Jonita Gandhi, Neeti Mohan, Javed Ali, Shruti Haasan, etc. HDFC Bank has announced that it will contribute Rs 500 each time the song is shared via social media towards the PM-CARES Fund.

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

3. UP Government makes Arogya Setu app compulsory: Uttar Pradesh Government has made it compulsory to download Arogya Setu app for those living in hotspot areas of the state. Administrative and health department officials have been directed for contact mapping of every case in hotspot area. Jan Dhan account holders are appealed to kindly use rupay card while transaction and withdrawal of money so that there will be no rush on the banks. 5 or more persons will not be allowed to gather as covid 19 management.

4. Himachal Pradesh govt to launch Mukhya Mantri Shahari Rojgar Guarantee Yojna: The Himachal Pradesh government will launch Mukhya Mantri Shahari Rojgar Guarantee Yojna under which 120 days’ assured employment will be provided to people living in urban areas. It is being launched to revive the coronavirus-hit economy of the state. Adequate training will be given to the people for their skill upgrade if required.

5. Chandigarh Launches Mobile App “CHDCOVID” to provide COVID-19 Related Information: A newly developed android based mobile app named “CHDCOVID” has been launched by the Government of Chandigarh, to provide all information related to COVID-19 in Chandigarh. The Governor of Punjab and Administrator of UT of Chandigarh, Vijayender Pal Singh Badnore inaugurated the app on 3rd May 2020. Upon downloading, the app will act as a single point platform where people can access all the guidelines, orders and notifications issued by Administration and Government of India. The app has been developed in-house by the Society for Promotion  of IT in Chandigarh (SPIC).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. IEA has released Global Energy Review 2020 report: International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its Global Energy Review 2020 report projecting 6% global energy fall in 2020. The year will observe the steepest decline in 70 years and India’s demand will decline for the first time. This will be steepest decline in percentage terms in 70 years and the largest ever in absolute terms. Global oil demand is projected to drop by 9%, coal at 5% and electricity at 20%.

Note: IEA’s Headquarters (Secretariat): Paris, France.

2. NAM summit 2020 held: A virtual summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held on 4th May on the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who is the NAM Chairman. PM Narendra Modi participated in the virtual summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The theme of NAM summit 2020 is “We are together against COVID-19”. With the unanimous support and consent of member countries, Azerbaijan assumed the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement in 2019-2022.

3. Research & Development Statistics and Indicators 2019-20 report released: R&D Statistics and Indicators 2019-20 report is released based on the national S&T survey 2018 by NSTMIS, Dept of Science and technology. As per the report, India’s gross expenditure in R&D has tripled between 2008-2018 and India is placed 3rd among countries in scientific publication as per NSF database. Also, India is ranked at 9th position in terms of Resident Patent Filing activity in the world. The survey included more than 6800 S&T Institutions.

4. Russia to launch first satellite to monitor Arctic climate this year: Russia will launch first ‘Arktika-M’ satellite for monitoring Arctic climate this year at the end of the year. It is planned to be launched for 2020. The satellite will be launched by Soyuz -2,1b carrier rocket with frigate booster. The remote sensing Artika-M will monitor the  meteorological conditions in the polar region.

5. International Firefighters’ Day: 4th May: The International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) is observed on May 4 every year since 1999, to recognise and honour the sacrifices that firefighters make to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible. The day was instituted, after the deaths of five firefighters in tragic circumstances in a bushfire in Australia on 2 December 1998.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. New Zealand Cricket announces ANZ Cricket Awards: The Annual New Zealand Cricket Awards has been announced by New Zealand Cricket. The awards were presented online for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the complete list of Annual New Zealand Cricket Award winners:

ANZ International Men’s ODI Player of the Year: Kane Williamson

ANZ International Women’s ODI Player of the Year: Suzie Bates

ANZ International Men’s T20 Player of the Year: Ross Taylor

ANZ International Women’s T20 Player of the Year award: Sophie Devine

2. Australia abolishes the use of saliva to shine ball under COVID-19 guidelines: Australia will not allow the use of saliva or sweat to shine the ball once cricket training resumes in the post-COVID-19 world. Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in consultation with medical experts, sporting bodies and federal and state governments, has come up with guidelines putting such restrictions. The framework, which outlines a staged return to play, has three stages: Level A, Level B and Level C. Currently, restrictions on sport are outlined at "Level A".

Note: Capital of Australia: Canberra; Prime Minister (PM) Australia: Scott John Morrison; The currency of Australia: Australian Dollar.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI cancels the licence of The CKP Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of “The CKP Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai” due to non-compliance to various sections of Banking Regulation Act and RBI Act. The license has been cancelled with effect from the close of business on April 30, 2020. As a result “The CKP Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai” is prohibited from conducting the business of ‘banking’ which includes acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits. Upon liquidation of the bank, the depositors will receive repayment of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5 lakhs from DICGC.

OBITUARIES

1. Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi passes away: Judicial Member, Lokpal of India, Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi passed away after getting infected from novel Coronavirus. He took the charge of Additional Judge Patna High Court in 2006 and took oath as Permanent Judge of the High Court in 2007. He was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court in 2018. Justice Tripathi took oath as a Judicial Member of Lokpal of India on 27th March, 2019. He played an important role in setting up the Institution of Lokpal of India. He was a graduate in Economics (Hons) and studied law at Campus law Centre, Delhi University.