Daily GK Updates - 10th June, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Centre mandates to display green sticker on all BS-VI compliant vehicles of any type: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification, making it mandatory for all BS-VI compliant motor vehicles of any fuel type to have a strip of green colour of 1 cm width, at the top of the existing third registration sticker plate. This means for petrol or CNG, which have a light blue colour sticker and a diesel vehicle which is of orange colour sticker, both will have a green strip of 1 CM on top as mandated. This green strip will carry details of registration of BS-VI vehicle and its fuel type. The order will come into force from October 1, 2020. The order has been issued by amending the Motor Vehicles (High Security Registration Plates) order, 2018.

2. World Bank lends Rs 1950 crore loans to West Bengal: The World Bank has sanctioned loan amount worth Rs. 1,950 crore to the West Bengal Government for tackling COVID situation and developmental work in the State. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee informed that out of the total loan amount, Rs. 1,100 crore will be spent for creating Industrial infrastructures and remaining Rs. 850 crore have been allocated for spending on various Social-Welfare schemes.

Note: Chief Minister of West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee; Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar.

President of World Bank: David Malpass.

3. DIAT develops ‘ANANYA’ disinfectant spray to combat COVID-19: Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune has developed nanotechnology based disinfectant spray “ANANYA”. It can be used on masks, PPEs, hospital linens, and other contaminated surfaces like medical instruments, elevator buttons, doorknobs, corridors, and rooms.  It is a water-based disinfectant spray with nanotechnology assisted formulation that can be used by anyone, from a common man to a healthcare worker, for the individual as well as on large scale and will be effective for more than 24 hours. It is non-toxic for human and has a shelf life of more than 6 months.

Note: Vice-Chancellor of DIAT: CP Ramnarayanan; Headquarters of DIAT: Pune, Maharashtra.

4. IIT-Guwahati students develop mobile app ‘Flyzy’ for contactless air travel: A team of students from IIT-Guwahati has developed a mobile application ‘Flyzy’ for seamless and contactless air travel, to help not only during the current pandemic but also during non-crisis situations. Flyzy has been developed as per International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines. It will enable safe and contactless boarding including easier baggage drop, manageable parking, better shopping experience and providing necessary updates during the whole journey. The application also has a Smart UI Assistant which helps the elderly to use the app easily. Other features of the application include real-time flight notifications, universal Web Check-in portal, check-in baggage status and map of the airport. Flyzy also supports multi-currency payments. The app has been developed by the group under a startup Flyzy, which has been recognised by the Startup India. The team aims to build Flyzy as India’s finest aviation IT Technology Company for providing a stress-free and safe journey to flyers.

Note: International Air Transport Association (IATA) Headquarters: Montreal, Canada; International Air Transport Association Founded: 19 April 1945.

5. NCERT & Rotary India signs MoU for e-learning telecast content: National Council Of Educational Research And Training has digitally signed an MoU with Rotary India Humanity Foundation under the guidance and support of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to make e-learning more constructive and will ensure that e-learning reaches children across the nation with NCERT approved content. The MoU has been signed for e-learning content telecast for class I to XII over all NCERT TV channels. It will also provide the e-content in Hindi language and special need children along with Teacher Training content. The details of the tie-up are as follows:

NCERT TV Tie-up: The telecast of curriculum modules for classes 1-12 would take place through twelve national Television channels of NCERT.

DIKSHA App tie-up: The e-Learning modules would also be made available on GOI’s national mobile app “DIKSHA”.

Note: Director of National Council Of Educational Research And Training: Hrushikesh Senapaty.

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

6. Lawyer Javed Iqbal Wani appointed as J&K High Court Judge: President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed senior Kashmiri lawyer Javed Iqbal Wani as a Judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. His appointment was recommended on January 22 by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde. This is for the first time after 2013 that a Kashmiri has been elevated as a judge of the High Court from Bar quota.

Note: Lieutenant Governor of Jammu: Girish Chandra Murmu.

7. India is set to launch first coal trading platform: India is all set to launch its first coal trading platform on the lines of commodity or energy exchanges. It will provide a single platform for open market trading of coal produced in country with no barriers to free-market activity. This will end Fuel Supply Agreements (FSA) regime of Coal India where state-run miner signs contracts for coal supply with consumer. The government is aiming to bring 'avoidable coal imports' to 0 by 2023-24.

Note: Coal Minister: Pralhad Joshi.

8. Twitter launches new feature ‘Fleets’ in India: Twitter has launched new test feature called ‘Fleets’ in India on the lines of Instagram or Facebook stories feature. This will allow users to post messages for 24 hours. Fleets will not have likes, retweets, or public replies features. India is the third test market for fleet feature after Brazil and Italy. It will be available on the latest version of the Twitter app only and not on the desktop version of the app. Fleet’s can be seen on the top of the home page.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Myanmar military “Tatmadaw” returns to Facebook: Myanmar military “Tatmadaw” has decided to use Facebook again to provide ‘accurate’ news to people. Facebook had removed several accounts linked to the Myanmar military in 2018 due to the UN fact mission blaming human rights abuse in the Rakhine province of Myanmar. Facebook evacuated the records hours after a United Nations truth discovering crucial a report that blamed the Tatmadaw for slaughter and atrocities in northern Rakhine State in 2017. Facebook also removed 425 Facebook pages, 17 groups and 135 Facebook accounts and 15 Instagram accounts linked to the Myanmar military.

Note: Capital of Myanmar: Naypyitaw; The currency of Myanmar: Burmese kyat; President of Myanmar: Win Myint.

Tatmadaw spokesperson: Zaw Min Tun

2. India Secures 168th Rank in Environment Performance Index 2020, Denmark Tops: The 12th edition of the biennial Environment Performance Index (EPI Index 2020) was released by the Yale University to indicate which countries are best addressing the environmental challenges. India has secured 168th rank in the 2020 EPI Index, among 180 countries, with a score of 27.6 out of 100. India was ranked at 177 with a score of 30.57 in 2018. Denmark has topped the index of 2020, followed by Luxembourg, Switzerland at next two positions. Among South Asian countries, Bhutan (107 rank) topped the list followed by Sri Lanka. The EPI index is developed by Yale University and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The prestigious Environmental Performance Index uses 32 performance indicators, across 11 issue categories, to provide a scorecard that can help policymakers and the public assess how well their countries are doing.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Athlete Gomathi Marimuthu banned for doping charges: Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has banned Gomathi Marimuthu for 4-years after she tested positive for banned substances. Her ban will start from 17th May 2019 and end on 16th May 2023. All of Gomathi’s competition results between March 18 and May 17, 2019, stand invalid. She was tested positive for anabolic steroid nandrolone. She can approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She is fined with £1,000 towards legal and other expense to Athletics Integrity Unit

Note: Athletics Federation of India President: Adille J. Sumariwalla; Athletics Federation of India Headquarters: New Delhi.

Athletics Integrity Unit president: Brett Clothier; Athletics Integrity Unit Headquarters: Monaco.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI Drafted Frameworks for Securitisation of Standard Assets: RBI has drafted documents for public comments titled ‘Draft Framework for Securitisation of Standard Assets’ and ‘Draft Comprehensive Framework for Sale of Loan Exposures’ till June 30, 2020. It is aimed at strong security structure market, resetting of credit enhancements in India. These frameworks will be applicable to all Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs); All India Financial Institutions (NABARD, NHB, EXIM Bank and SIDBI); and all NBFCs including HFCs.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. S&P Global Ratings forecasted 5% shrink in India economy FY21: American credit rating agency, S&P Global Ratings has released ‘Financial Conditions Reflect Optimism, Lockdown Fatigue Emerges’ report on emerging markets. In the report, Indian economy is forecasted to shrink by 5% in fiscal year 2020-21. The current fiscal stimulus worth 1.2% of GDP is not sufficient to provide significant growth support as per the report. It also projects India’s growth to rebound to 8.5% in the fiscal year 2021-22. It has also projected India’s growth to be 6.5% in the fiscal year 2022-23.

2. IL&FS sells 50% stake in GIFT city to Gujarat government: Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS) has completed the sale of its 50% stake in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) which were bought by the Gujarat Urban Development Company Ltd (GUDCL), on behalf of the Gujarat government, at an amount of Rs 32.71 crore. IL&FS has received Rs 32.71 crore as equity value for shares. Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Ltd (GIFTCL) is active in the business of real estate development.

3. Jio Platforms raises Rs 5683.50 crore from ADIA: Continuing its fund-raising spree, Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), has raised Rs 5,683.50 crore from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). This is the eighth in a series of fund raising by Jio Platforms since April 22. ADIA’s investment will translate into a 1.16 per cent equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis, RIL said in a regulatory filing. With the latest round, Jio Platforms has raised a total of Rs 97,885.65 crore from global technology and growth investors such as Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic, KKR and Mubadala. It raised two rounds of funding from Silver Lake in the past seven weeks.

                                    

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Indian origin Renjith Kumar honoured with “NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal”: Virginia-based Indian entrepreneur and engineer, Dr. Renjith Kumar has been bestowed with NASA Distinguished Service Medal by US space agency for his administrations to NASA agency through executive leadership, engineering contribution, technical excellence and consumer loyalty. ‘Renji’, as he is popularly called, is only the second Indian after R K Chetty Pandipati to win the coveted award. RK Chetty Pandipati won the honour in 2002. The 57-year-old Dr. Renjith, hailing from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, has about 30-year long association with NASA, and had even helped redesign the International Space Station (ISS). He is presently the CEO Emeritus of the Virginia based Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA).

Note: The NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal is the highest honor given by NASA to anyone who was not a government employee when the service was performed.

Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States; The administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Jim Bridenstine.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Union Minister Arjun Charan Sethi Passes Away: Former Union minister Arjun Charan Sethi has passed away. He was 79. Arjun Charan Sethi served as Union Water Resources Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government from 2000 to 2004. He was Member of Parliament from from Bhadrak Lok Sabha constituency for 8 times as a congress, Janata Dal, and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate. The veteran politician was also elected to Odisha Assembly twice on Janata Dal ticket in 1991 and 1995 from Bhandaripokhari.