Daily GK Updates - 21st June, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi launches Rs 50,000 crore Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan for Migrant Workers: Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi has launched a dedicated Rs 50,000 crore Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, via video conference, on 20 June 2020.

For Whom- Migrant workers; Focus- States with more than 25,000 migrant returnees. Currently the campaign will be launched in six states (Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha.); Purpose- The campaign aims to create jobs for millions of migrant workers who returned home during the coronavirus-induced lockdown across the country, and, boost livelihood opportunities in rural India by creating durable infrastructure along with boosting employment opportunities; Duration- The programme will run in “mission mode” for 125 days across 116 districts in six states to help migrant workers get jobs in their home states.

These states witnessed the return of highest number of migrant workers (more than 25,000 migrant). Besides, this, twelve different ministries or departments will participate in the programme, which includes, rural development, panchayati raj, transport, mines, drinking water, environment, railways, petroleum, new and renewable energy, border roads, telecom and agriculture. The campaign will involve intensified and focused implementation of 25 different types of works to provide jobs and create infrastructure in the rural regions of the country. The campaign may be extended to other states or districts which witnesses migrant returnees above 25,000.

2. Niti Aayog forms panel to develop job platform for migrant labourers: Niti Aayog has formed a panel to develop a job platform for migrant labourers. The panel includes top officials of tech companies like Google, Microsoft and Tech Mahindra including Reliance Industries President Kiran Thomas, Microsoft India President Anant Maheshwari, Tech Mahindra MD and CEO CP Gurnani, Google India country manager and vice president Sanjay Gupta, Bharti Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal, among others. This platform helps migrant workers have lost their jobs during the lockdown period. The platform will connect job seekers, employers, government agencies, skill centres and external partners using new-age technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning. The platform can be accessed through smartphones and will help location-based jobs.

Note: Headquarters of NITI Aayog: New Delhi; Chairperson of NITI Aayog: Narendra Modi; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog: Amitabh Kant; Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog: Rajiv Kumar.

3. India witnessed rare Annual Solar Eclipse: Northern India witnessed a rare celestial event, an annual solar eclipse also known as ‘ring of fire’. The solar eclipse coincides with the summer solstice. It occurs when the moon comes in between sun and earth blocking the light of sun, casting its shadow on the earth. In this, sun, moon, and earth comes in straight line and plane. Moon is at farthest point allowing the sun’s disc to be visible while covering the other parts that results in ‘ring of fire’ visibility.

4. Ministry of Culture launches Namaste Yoga campaign: Ministry of Culture launches Namaste Yoga campaign celebrating International Yoga Day 2020. Ministry of Culture celebrated International Yoga Day 2020 from 19th to 21st June, 2020 with the goal of making yoga an indispensable part of everyone's life. The ministry urges people to join Surya Namaskar on International Yoga Day using #10MillionSuryaNamaskar and #NamasteYoga.

Note: Union Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (Independent Charge): Prahlad Singh Patel.

5. CIL ties-up with AIM to boost Innovation & Entrepreneurship initiatives: Coal India Limited (CIL) has tied up with Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog to boost innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives across the country. For partnership, Statement of Intent (SoI) has been signed in a virtual meet. CIL and AIM will together deal with Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) at school level, Atal Incubation Centres at institutional levels, Atal Community Innovation Centres etc. This will support the youth and innovation ecosystems.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Vijay Khanduja appointed India’s next Ambassador to Zimbabwe: Vijay Khanduja has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Zimbabwe. He is presently serving as Director in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Note: Currencies of Zimbabwe: United States Dollar; Capital of Zimbabwe: Harare; President of Zimbabwe: Emmerson Mnangagwa.

2. Sethuraman Panchanathan appointed as the Head of NSF, USA: The U.S. Senate has appointed Indian-American scientist Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan as the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). He will replace France Cordova as the 15th director of the NSF. He is the second Indian-American ever to be nominated to the prestigious science position with the first being Dr Subra Suresh who served from October 2010 to March 2013. He is currently leading Arizona State University (ASU).

Note: National Science Foundation is a top American body supporting fundamental research in non-medical fields of science and engineering. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950.

3. International Day of Yoga: 21st June: International Day of Yoga is celebrated annually on 21 June to raise awareness around the world, regarding the many benefits of practicing Yoga. The theme of 2020 is “Yoga for Health – Yoga at Home”. 2020 marks the 6th edition of the annual celebrations. The first International Day of Yoga was observed in 2015 at Rajpath in New Delhi. The proposal to observe the day was first introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly on 27 September 2014. The day was then declared unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2014. 21 June has been chosen as it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

4. World Hydrography Day: 21st June: Every year the World Hydrography Day is observed on 21 June to make the public aware about the hydrography and the essential role that it plays in everyone’s life. The theme for 2020 WHD is “Hydrography – enabling autonomous technologies”. The United Nations General Assembly accepted a resolution to celebrate World Hydrography Day on every June 21 in 2005. The day is organised by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) since 2006 to publicise the work of hydrographers and the importance of hydrography. 21 June has been chosen for the day as it marks the anniversary of the founding of the International Hydrographic Organization on 21 June 1921. Hydrography deals with the study and measurement of the physical features of oceans, seas, coastal areas, rivers and lakes.

Note: Chairman of International Hydrographic Organization: Shepard M. Smith; Secretary-General of International Hydrographic Organization: Mathias Jonas; Headquarters of International Hydrographic Organization: Monaco

5. World Music Day: 21st June: World Music Day (Fête de la Musique, as called in French) takes place on 21 June every year to honor the amateur and professional musicians, and to encourage them to showcase their work to the world. It was first observed in France in 1982. It is celebrated across 120 countries and 700 cities around the world with free concerts to make music accessible to all. Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Guwahati and Nagaland Govt brings ‘One NE concert’ featuring all the Northeast states on Facebook on the occasion.

6. International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice: 21st June: International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice is observed globally on 21st June to spread awareness about solstices and equinoxes and their significance for several religions and ethnic cultures. It is the longest day of the year as it marks the Summer Solstice. Solstice is derived from ‘solstitium’ meaning ‘Sun standing still’ as Sun seems to stand still at Tropic of Capricorn and then reverses its direction. The sun reaches its farthest point north of the celestial equator with maximum tilt in the sky on this day. Arctic Circle experience continuous daylight for 24 hours on June 21.

7. World Humanist Day: 21st June: The World Humanist Day is celebrated every year around the world on the June solstice, which usually falls on June 21. The day aims to spread awareness of Humanism as a philosophical life stance and means to effect change in the world. The day has been organised by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), since 1980.

Note: IHEU is the global federation for Humanist, atheist, rationalist, ethical culture, secularist and other freethought groups.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. National Champion Niki Poonacha elected to ITF Men’s Player Panel: India’s reigning national tennis champion Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha has been elected by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to the ITF World Tennis Tour Player Panels. He will represent the Asia-Oceania zone in men’s player panel. Poonacha is one of the two members from Asia-Oceania zone, to be selected for the panel. The other member is Ti Chen of Chinese Taipei. The ITF World Tennis Tour Player Panel will provide a forum for players to provide their input on various matters related to how the ITF Tour is run.

Note: International Tennis Federation President/CEO: David Haggerty; International Tennis Federation Chief Operating Officer(COO): Kelly Fairweather; International Tennis Federation Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Mukesh Ambani is World’s Ninth Richest Person & only Asian Tycoon in top 10: Bloomberg: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has joined the elite club of the world’s top 10 richest people, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index released on 20 June 2020. He is ranked as the 9th richest person in the world, in the latest update. The net worth of Ambani jumped to $64.5 billion as of 20 June, making him the only Asian tycoon to feature in the top 10 richest people list. With a total net worth of $160 billion, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is still the wealthiest person in the world. He is followed by Bill Gates ($112 billion) and Mark Zuckerberg ($90.6 billion). The Bloomberg Billionaires Index is a daily ranking of the world’s richest people. The figures are updated at the close of every trading day in New York.

OBITUARIES

1. Former India player Rajinder Goel passes away: The legendary first-class cricketer player, Rajinder Goel, who holds the record for most wickets in the history of Ranji Trophy, has passed away due to age related issues. He was 77. In all, the left-arm spinner took 750 wickets, in 157 first-class matches which he played from 1958-59 to 1984-85. He mostly played for Haryana, but had also represented Punjab and Delhi. However, despite being the highest wicket taker, he was never selected to play for India. In 2017, Goel received the CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award from the BCCI.