Daily GK Updates – 14th July, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Madhya Pradesh government to launch “Roko-Toko” campaign: Madhya Pradesh government will commence a unique campaign titled as “Roko-Toko”. With this campaign, the state government will target those people who do not wear masks. Under this, the state government will distribute masks to the people who do not wear masks in public places as the use of masks is mandatory in all public places in the state. The mask distribution will be carried out by the selected voluntary organizations shortlisted by district collector. Organizations will also be provided with 100 masks created under ‘Jeevan Shakti Yojana’ on credit.

Note: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Governor: Anandiben Patel.

2. IIT Kanpur develops UV sanitizing device ‘SHUDH’ to disinfect room in 15 mins: A team of engineers at IIT Kanpur has developed an Ultraviolet (UV) sanitizing product named SHUDH, which is capable to disinfect a 10 sqft room in about 15 minutes. SHUDH stands for Smartphone operated Handy Ultraviolet Disinfection Helper. It has been jointly developed by J. Ramkumar, Amandeep Singh and Shivam Sachan. SHUDH has six UV lights of 15 Watts each that can be individually monitored from a distance and can be rotated up to 360 degrees. Users can use the number of lights based upon the size of the room. Simply by installing an Android application, user can remotely control the on-off, speed and location of the product using the available smartphone. It can also run with Bluetooth technology. The device will be useful for disinfecting places like hospitals, hotel, malls, offices, schools, etc. to prevent infection, without the need to touch the device.

Note: Director of IIT Kanpur: Prof. Abhay Karandikar

3. Ruskin Bond’s new book ‘A Song Of India’ to be released on 20 July, marking 70 Years of his Literary Journey: A new book by world renowned author Ruskin Bond, titled “A Song of India” is scheduled to hit the stands on July 20, to mark the 70th year of Mr Bond’s literary career. The book has been published by Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House India. The new book is the fourth instalment in his memoir series after “Looking for the Rainbow” (2017), “Till the Clouds Roll By” (2017) and “Coming Round the Mountain” (2019). In ‘A Song of India’, Ruskin Bond tells the story of his 16-year-old self and how he was struggling to begin his writing journey, before he became a successful author.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. United States remains India’s top trading partner for 2nd consecutive year in 2019-20: The United States has retained its position as India’s top trading partner for the second consecutive financial year in 2019-20. As per the data of the Ministry of Commerce, the bilateral trade between the US and India in 2019-20 stood at $88.75 billion as against $87.96 billion in 2018-19. In 2018-19, the US for the first time surpassed China to become India’s top trading partner. China was India’s top trading partner since 2013-14 till 2017-18 and before China, UAE was the largest trading nation in India. The bilateral trade between India and China dropped to $81.87 billion in 2019-20 from $87.08 billion in 2018-19.

Note: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry: Piyush Goyal.

2. United Nations organises 2020 Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week from 6-10 July 2020: The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism organised its Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week 2020 from 6-10 July 2020. The theme of 2020 Counter-Terrorism Week was “Strategic and Practical Challenges of Countering Terrorism in a Global Pandemic Environment”. This was the second edition of the UN Counter-Terrorism Week while the first time that the event was held virtually due to covid-19 pandemic. Originally the second Counter-Terrorism Week was to take place from 29 June to 3 July 2020 at the UN Headquarters, New York, but due to the COVID-19 crisis the entire 2020 Counter-Terrorism Week was postponed.

3. Iran drops India from Chabahar Rail Project due to funding delay: Iran has dropped India from the Chabahar rail project, for the construction of railway line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, along the Iran-Afghanistan border. The reason that Iran gave for dropping India was delays from the Indian side in funding and starting the construction of the project. Iran has now decided to move ahead with the construction of Chabahar railway line to Zahedan on its own. For this $400 million will be sanctioned by the Iranian National Development Fund and the entire project will be completed by March 2022, without any assistance from India. India and Iran signed Chabahar rail project agreement in 2016. It must be noted that this decision has been taken by Iran at a time when it is seeking to finalise a 25-year economic and security partnership with China worth $400 billion.

Note: Iran capital: Tehran; Currency: Rial

4. China Successfully Launches High-throughput broadband communications satellite APSTAR-6D: On July 9, 2020, China successfully launched the APSTAR-6D satellite– a high-power broadband communications satellite into orbit, to provide broadband internet service. The APSTAR-6D telecommunication satellite was launched aboard a Long March 3B carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center. APSTAR-6D is designed and manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The geostationary satellite, APSTAR-6D is the first satellite of China’s global, high-throughput broadband satellite communication system that will form a space-wide Internet communication network covering the whole world, similar to GPS. It will be operated by the APT Mobile SatCom Limited to provide satellite broadband telecommunication services for airborne, shipborne, vehicle-borne, and other mobile communication applications for users across the Asia-Pacific region.

Note: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp Headquarters: Beijing, China; China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp President: Xu Qiang.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Hemang Amin appointed interim CEO of BCCI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Hemang Amin as the interim chief executive officer (CEO) of the Indian cricket board. This appointment comes after BCCI accepted the resignation of Rahul Johri as the BCCI CEO recently.  Hemang Amin is presently serving as the Chief Operating Officer of the Indian Premier League since 2015 and joined IPL operations team in June 2010. The BCCI is expected to get a new CEO in the next two months.

Note: BCCI President: Sourav Ganguly

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Visa partners Federal Bank to launch “Visa Secure”:  Visa, a global leader in payments technology has tied-up with Federal Bank to launch “Visa Secure” to the bank’s cardholders. “Visa Secure” is a modernized technology that provides a quicker and frictionless checkout experience to the consumers. Adoption of new improved technology will enable the bank to focus on customer-centric digital solutions that make online shopping experiences seamless. It is built on EMVCo 3DS (3D Secure) 2.0 protocol offering additional layers of authentication for issuers and merchants for secure e-commerce

Note: MD & CEO of Federal Bank Ltd: Shyam Srinivasan.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. FICCI survey predicts India’s GDP to contract by 4.5% in FY21: Industry body FICCI has projected the Indian economy to contract by (-) 4.5 percent in 2020-21, as per its latest Economic Outlook Survey released on 12 July 2020. The minimum and maximum GDP growth estimate stood at (-) 6.4 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively, for FY21. The downward revision is due to the halt in economic activities amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown.

2. Qualcomm Ventures becomes 12th Investor in Jio Platforms; Invests Rs 730 crore to acquire 0.15% stake: Qualcomm Ventures, the investment arm of US-based wireless technology company Qualcomm Incorporated has invested Rs 730 crore in ‘Jio Platforms’ for a 0.15 % stake in the company. Qualcomm Ventures is the 12th investor to buy a stake in Jio Platforms. Qualcomm’s investment marks the 13th investment in Jio platforms. With this, the total investments by foreign investors in Jio Platforms comes up to Rs 1,18,318.45 crore and the total combined stake of these investors reaches 25.24 %. List of all Investors and Investments of Jio Platforms:

Date	Company	Investment (crore)	Stake (percent)
22-Apr	Facebook	Rs 43,573.62	9.99
04-May	Silver Lake	Rs 5,655.75	1.15
08-May	Vista	Rs 11,367	2.32
17-May	General Atlantic	Rs 6,598.38	1.34
22-May	KKR	Rs 11,367	2.32
05-Jun	Mubadala	Rs 9,093.60	1.85
05-Jun	Silver Lake	Rs 4,546.80	0.93
07-Jun	ADIA	Rs 5,683.50	1.16
13-Jun	TPG	Rs 4,546.80	0.93
13-Jun	L Catterton	Rs 1,894.50	0.39
18-Jun	PIF	Rs 11,367	2.32
02-Jul	Intel Capital	Rs 1,894.50	0.39
12-Jul	Qualcomm	Rs 730	0.15

Note: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qualcomm: Steve Mollenkopf.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. ISRO Chief K Sivan named for Von Karman Award 2020: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief, Kailasavadivoo Sivan has named for Von Karman Award 2020 by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). The Von Karman Award is known as the highest distinction of the IAA. Dr K. Sivan is going to receive an award in March 2021 at Paris France. Prior to K Sivan, only two Indians have been the recipients of this award. They were Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan and U.R. Rao. The Von Karman award was established in 1982 and is the premier award of the Academy. It is given annually to recognize outstanding lifetime achievements in any branch of science without limit of nationality or gender. The award is named after Theodore von Karman who was an aerospace engineer and notably known for his key advances in aerodynamics.

Note: International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Founder: Dr Theodore Von Karman; International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Headquarters: Paris, France.

2. Chhattisgarh awarded “Elites Excellence Awards 2020”: Chief Minister Darpan website and mobile app prepared for monitoring Chhattisgarh Government’s ambitious Suraji Gaon Scheme and other flagship schemes, has been awarded “Elites Excellence Awards-2020” at the national level. Chhattisgarh has been awarded this honour by the country’s prestigious IT institution Elites Technomedia, New Delhi under the ‘Digital India initiative’.

About Chief Minister Darpan website and mobile app: The purpose of this website and mobile app is to directly monitor the flagship schemes of the Chhattisgarh Government from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and provide real-time information to the common citizens. Solutions to problems will also be provided by this portal. The biggest feature of the Chief Minister Darpan portal and mobile app is that we are moving towards no paper and real-time monitoring.

Note: CM of Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel; Governor of Chhattisgarh: Anusuiya Uikey.

3. CM K Palaniswami honours with Paul Harris Fellow Recognition:  Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami has honoured with Paul Harris Fellow recognition by Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Chicago. The person recognised as the fellow will receive a certificate along with a lapel pin. They are also eligible to buy a Paul Harris Fellow medallion. In this recognition, $1,000 gift is being made in the name of honoured person to the Rotary International Foundation providing money for health, education, peace initiatives projects in over 200 countries where Rotary has members.

Note: Governor of Tamil Nadu: Banwarilal Purohit.

President of Rotary International: Holger Knaack; Rotary Foundation of Rotary International HQs: Chicago

OBITUARIES

1. Renowned Journalist-writer Nagindas Sanghvi passes away: Veteran Gujarati journalist, columnist, writer and political critic Nagindas Sanghvi has passed away in Surat. He was 100. Sangvi was conferred Padma Shri award in the year 2019. He had written many books on Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat and other subjects. Besides writing in Gujarati language, Sangvi also wrote in English and Hindi languages.

2. Famous Indian ceramist Jyotsna Bhatt passes away: Famous Indian ceramist and potter Jyotsna Bhatt (80 years) passes away. She was India’s best-known ceramic artists and have experimented with stoneware, terracotta and countless possibilities that ceramics offered. She enrolled to study sculpture at MS University in Baroda in 1958 and Brooklyn Museum Art School in mid-’60s She was also a faculty member at MS University from 1972, retiring as the head of Dept of Ceramics in 2002.