Daily GK Updates – 13th July, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. NITI Aayog Atal Innovation Mission launches ATL App Development Module for school children: The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog has launched the ATL App Development Module for school children across the country, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of AtmaNirbhar Bharat. The ATL App is an online course by AIM and is completely free. The innovative course will have six project-based learning modules and online mentoring sessions to enable the young innovators learn how to build mobile apps in various Indian languages and showcase their talent. The course has been jointly developed by AIM and Indian startup, Plezmo. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is also seeking to train school teachers in order to build capacities and acumen for App Development.

Note: Chief Executive Officer of Plezmo: Amol Palshikar.

CEO of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India): Amitabh Kant.

2. Chhattisgarh Government organises India’s first e-Lok Adalat: Chhattisgarh government has organized the first e-Lok Adalat of India amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The “e-Lok Adalat” was organized by the High Court and Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority and was inaugurated by P R Ramchandra Menon, the Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court. The “e-Lok Adalat” was organized in order to bring relief to people and to reduce the pendency of cases amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Its virtual hearings were conducted along with live streaming.

Note: Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel; Governor: Anusuiya Uikey.

3. Indian Railways to become "Green Railway" by 2030 on mission mode: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has said that Indian Railways will be the largest Railway in the world to have 100 per cent electrification replacing diesel at the India Global Week-2020. It will be the world’s first Green Railways running on 100 per cent clean energy by 2030. The government has opened up for bidding for additional 151 trains inviting private participation so the passengers can enjoy world-class facilities and high speed journeys. It has already taken several major initiatives for net zero carbon emission. Railway Electrification, improving energy efficiency of locomotives & trains and fixed installations, green certification for installations/stations, fitting bio toilets in coaches and switching to renewable energy sources are parts of its strategy of achieving the status of green railways.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. WHO sets up independent panel to review its handling of COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization (WHO) has set up an independent panel to review its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the response by governments. The panel will be co-chaired by former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The co-chairs will select the other members. The decision to form the panel has been taken by WHO following strong criticism by US President Donald Trump, which accused the WHO of being China-centric. The panel will provide an interim report to an annual meeting of health ministers in November and present a substantive report in May 2021.

2. India becomes second-largest source of FDI in United Kingdom: Based on the latest figures, released by the government of United Kingdom, India has moved up one place to become the second-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in UK in the financial year 2019-20. It was the third largest FDI source in 2018-29. United States remained the top source of FDI for UK in 2019-20. The top five largest source of FDI in UK included US, India, Germany, France and China and Hong Kong. India invested in 120 projects and created 5,429 new jobs in UK, as per the inward investment statistics for 2019-2020 by the Department for International Trade (DIT). US delivered 462 projects and 20,131 jobs. With 1,852 new inward investment projects in 2019-20, the overall FDI for the UK increased by 4 percent in FY20 compared to 2018-2019.

3. Indian-American Scientist Appointed Acting Head of Top US Agriculture Research Organisation: Prominent Indian-American scientist Dr Parag Chitnis has been appointed as the Acting Director of the prestigious National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which drives all federally funded agricultural research in the US. Chitnis was named Associate Director for Programmes earlier this year and leads implementation of NIFA’s approximately USD 1.7 billion research projects. In his new position, Parag Chitnis will replace Dr Scott Angle, who has accepted the position of Vice President of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Mercedes’s Lewis Hamilton won Styrian Grand Prix 2020: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) has won the Styrian Grand Prix 2020, held on 12 July 2020 in Spielberg, Austria. It was the second race of the 2020 Formula One World Championship and the first running of the Styrian Grand Prix. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) finished second while Max Verstappen (Red Bull- Belgium) was third.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. IRDAI allows launch of ‘Corona Kavach’ insurance policies: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has approved the General and Health Insurance companies to launch short-term ‘Corona Kavach’ health insurance policies. The short-term “Corona Kavach” health insurance policy will cover medical expenses occurred due to coronavirus disease. The policy will also provide for any co-morbid condition caused due to COVID-19 during the period of hospitalization. About the Corona Kavach policy: (1) IRDAI has designed a standard Covid specific product which addresses the basic health insurance requirements of insuring public containing common policy wordings across the industry. (2) The sum insured amount of the policy ranges from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5,00,000. (3) Person between the age of 18 to 65 years can avail the benefits of the policy. (4) People will be able to avail the Corona Kavach policy for Self, spouse, parents, parents-in-law as well as dependent children up to 25 years of age.

Note: Chairman of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India: Subhash C. Khuntia.

2. Income Tax Dept launches tool for Banks and Post offices: Income Tax Department has facilitated a new tool for Banks and Post offices to determine TDS applicability rates on cash withdrawals beyond a particular threshold. It is ascertained on cash withdrawals of more than Rs 20 lakh in case of a non-filer of the income-tax return and that of above 1 crore in case of a filer of the I-T return. Only PAN of the person is required for ascertaining the rates of TDS. Finance Act 2020 also amended Income-tax Act for withdrawal limits.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Google Plans to Invest Rs 75,000 crore in India in next 5-7 years to boost Digital India: Technology giant Google will invest Rs. 75,000 crore (around $10 billion), in India over the next 5-7 years to boost India’s digital economy. This announcement was made by Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai at the sixth edition of ‘Google for India’ virtual event on 13 July 2020. The main focus of the Investments will be on four key areas: (1) Enabling affordable access and information to every Indian in their own language; (2) Building new products and services relevant to India’s unique needs; (3) Empowering businesses as they continue to embark in digital transformation; (4) Leveraging technology and Artificial Intelligence for social good in areas like healthcare, education and agriculture.

The dedicated ‘Google for India Digitisation Fund’, will be deployed for this purpose. The investments will be made through a mix of equity investments, partnerships, and operational, infrastructure and ecosystem investments.

Note: CEO of Google: Sundar Pichai; Headquarters: California, United States.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. NTPC Limited wins prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Award 2019: The centrally-owned, National Thermal Power Corporation, (NTPC) Limited, under the Ministry of Power has won the prestigious CII-ITC Sustainability Award 2019, under Outstanding Accomplishment in Corporate Excellence Category. The company has also received Commendation for Significant Achievement in the category of CSR in the 15th CII-ITC Sustainability Award. NTPC has been rewarded for its sustainability practices such as Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM) to benefit school going girls from underprivileged background to support in their overall development; Contractors’ Labour Information Management System (CLIMS) through which payment to contract labourers are being paid on the last day of the month at project sites. The CII-ITC Sustainability Awards recognise and reward excellence in businesses that are seeking ways to be more sustainable and inclusive in their business.

Note: NTPC is a Central PSU under Ministry of Power; NTPC's MD: Gurdeep Singh

OBITUARIES

1. Renowned Gujarati Cartoonist Avad Bin Hassan Jami passes away: One of the most senior and popular cartoonist of Gujarat, Avad Bin Hassan Jami, has passed away in Jamnagar. He was 77. He was popularly known as “Jami”. His cartoons were regularly published in leading Gujarati daily newspapers and news magazines for more than two decades. Mr. Jami was a drawing teacher at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jamnagar and became a full time cartoonist after retirement. He began to draw cartoons for the first time in magazine ‘Rangtarang’. His cartoons questioned authority, spoke sarcastically about hypocrisy, society and politics.

2. TV Actor Rajan Sehgal passes away: Famous Film and TV actor Ranjan Sehgal (36 years) passes away in Chandigarh due to multiple organ failure. He worked in several TV shows such as ‘Savdhan India’ and ‘Crime Patrol’ and acted in Punjabi (Yaaran Da Katchup, Aatishbaazi Ishq, Mahi NRI) as well as Hindi movies. He was featured in Bollywood films Sarbjit along with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Randeep Hooda starer in 2016. His TV shows include Color’s Rishton Se Badi Pratha, Tum Dena Saath Mera and Gustakh Dil.