Daily GK Updates – 16th July, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal introduces ‘Pragyata- Guidelines for Online Education’: The Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank released the ‘PRAGYATA’: Guidelines on #DigitalEducation on 14 July 2020. ‘Pragyata’ is an eight step guidelines on digital education for school heads, teachers, parents and students, to assist them in e-learning, such as recommended screen time for children, tips on coping with mental/physical stress during #DigitalLearning, among other things. These eight steps include: Plan, Review, Arrange, Guide, Yak (talk), Assign, Track, and Appreciate. Some of the areas in which the guidelines have been introduced for administrators, school heads, teachers, parents, and students include: (1) Need assessment; (2) Concerns while planning online and digital education like duration, screen time, inclusiveness, balanced online and offline activities, etc level-wise; (3) Modalities of intervention including resource curation, level-wise delivery, etc.; (4) Physical, mental health, and wellbeing during digital education; (5) Cyber safety and ethical practices including precautions and measures for maintaining cyber safety; (6) Collaboration and convergence with various initiatives

2. Anji Khad Bridge: Indian Railways’ 1st cable-stayed rail bridge: The Railways Minister Piyush Goyal has announced, India’s first cable-stayed Railways bridge “Anji Khad Bridge” to connects Katra and Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). This bridge is being developed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL). This bridge is as a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The total length of the Anji Khad Bridge is 473.25 metres. It has a single pylon, standing at a height of 331 metres above the river bed. The pylon had to be constructed in a vertical slope using micropiles of 40-metre depth all around the circumference of 20 metres well foundation. It has the support of 96 cables and has been designed to handle heavy storms of strong winds.

Note: Konkan Railway Corporation Limited Chairman & Managing Director: Sanjay Gupta; Konkan Railway Corporation Limited Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

3. AAI & BEL signs MoU for co-operation in civil aviation sector: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Defence Pubic Sector Unit (PSU) Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU aims to tap the emerging global markets in the airport business, including the ones in the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership between the two companies will support each other in addressing the emerging global opportunities in the airport business. This will enable BEL in execution of MEA projects outside India as well as tapping domestic civil aviation market into South-East Asian, African and Latin American market

Note: Chairman of Airports Authority of India: Arvind Singh.

Chairman & Managing Director of Bharat Electronics Ltd: MV Gowtama.

4. HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ Launches World’s Most Affordable COVID-19 Diagnostic Kit ‘Corosure’ Developed by IIT Delhi: The Union Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD), Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal’Nishank’ virtually launched the World’s most affordable RT-PCR based COVID-19 diagnostic kit ‘Corosure’ on 15 July 2020 in New Delhi. The low-cost COVID-19 Diagnostic Kit has been developed indigenously by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of becoming a self-reliant India. The kit has also received the approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as well as the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). It is much cheaper than other kits. This will make the cost per test considerably cheaper compared to currently available kits in the market.

5. 5th edition of conference on A & D Manufacturing Technologies:  Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Yesso Naik has inaugurated the 5th edition of the conference on “Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Technologies”. The conference was held with the theme Empowering India with ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Mission’. Tamil Nadu Technology Development & Promotion Centre (TNTDPC) jointly organised the conference with Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The Aerospace and Defence industry in India has been projected to reach around 70 billion Dollars by 2030.

6. Hyderabad Airport Introduces India’s first Completely Contactless Car Parking facility Amid Pandemic: The GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) has introduced India’s first fully contact-less airport car parking facility due to the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis. In November 2019, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, had introduced India’s first-ever “NETC FASTag Car Park” in collaboration with NPCI. But that facility was available only for ICICI Bank holders. Now keeping in mind the current situation, GHAIL has scaled up its NETC (National Electronic Toll Collection) FASTag car parking in collaboration with NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) by integrating 10 NETC FASTag issuer banks. The NETC FASTag car parking solution is based on a simple to use, reloadable electronic Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) tag which will enable automatic deduction of applicable parking charges, while one drives through the car park without stopping for any cash transaction. However, the traditional mode of transaction with digital payment over-the-counter option will also be available.

Note: NPCI MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe; NPCI Head Office: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

7. IIT Kanpur Incubated Start-ups Develops Smart Water Quality Testing Device “PADMAVATI”: Two of the IIT Kanpur Incubated Start-ups namely Earthface Analytics Pvt. Ltd. & Kritsnam Technologies Pvt. Ltd. have developed a device, named as ‘PADMAVATI’, to analyse and monitor the quality of water. The device will monitor the water quality with the help of easy to use colorimetric test-strip, based on smart-phone technology that screens multiple important water quality parameters in less than 2 minutes. The initiative will enables analysis of multiple water quality parameters in a cost-effective, easy to operate, eco-friendly manner, as well as effectively deal with field-level to household-level water contamination problems.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Tunisia’s Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh resigns: The Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh has resigned from his post, over an alleged conflict of interest with Ennahdha party, the biggest party in parliament. The resignation letter was handed over to the Tunisian President Kais Saied Fakhfakh served as the Prime Minister of Tunisia from 28 February 2020 to 15 July 2020.

Note: President of Tunisia: Kais Saied; Capital of Tunisia: Tunis.

2. 15th edition of India-EU Summit held virtually, with focus on Trade and Investment: The 15th edition of the India-European Union (EU) Summit was held virtually on 15 July 2020. India was represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The EU was represented by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. The “annual” summit was held after a gap of more than two years. The Summit was put off due to disagreements over trade and investment. The 27-member EU is India’s largest trading partner, with cumulative investment of over $91 billion. Key Highlights of the Summit includes:

The main area of discussions in the 15th India-EU Summit was political & security relations, trade & investment and economic cooperation. The leaders adopted the “India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” to guide cooperation between India and the EU over the next five years. India-EURATOM Agreement was also signed on research and development cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. They also adopted a Joint Declaration on Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy. Renewed the India-EU Science and Technology Agreement for another five years.

3. Around 690 million people were found hungry in 2019, with highest population in Asia: UN Report: As per the annual ‘State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World’ report, by United Nations, almost 690 million people (8.9% of overall population) went hungry in 2019. This figure is up by 10 million from 2018, and by nearly 60 million in five years. This means that more people are going hungry while tens of millions have joined the ranks of the chronically undernourished over the past five years, and countries around the world continue to struggle with multiple forms of malnutrition. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report was released on 13 July 2020. It is co-developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The report is the most authoritative global study tracking progress towards ending hunger and malnutrition. The report also states that the hungry are most numerous in Asia but expanding fastest in Africa. Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic could tip over 130 million more people into chronic hunger by the end of 2020. High costs and low affordability are also the key reasons why billions cannot eat healthily or nutritiously.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Google acquires 7.73% stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 33,737 crore: The global technology giant Google will invest Rs 33,737 crore (US$4.7 billion) to acquire 7.73 percent stake in Jio Platforms, the subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited which houses its telecom and digital operations. For this purpose, they have signed a binding partnership and an investment agreement. This investment will strengthen the existing efforts of Google and Jio Platforms to expand the benefits of digitization across India. According to exchange filing, Google is investing at an equity valuation of Rs 4.36 lakh crore.

With this investment, Google becomes the second biggest foreign investor in Jio Platforms after Facebook’s Rs 43,574 crore for a 9.99 percent stake. Google is the 13th investor to buy stake in RIL’s telecom and digital business in less than two months. With the latest investment, Jio Platforms has raised Rs 1,52,055.45 crore from 14 investments, for a combined stake of 32.97 percent.

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

RIL of Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Chairman & Managing Director of RIL: Mukesh D. Ambani.

2. CCI approves acquisition by Aceso Company in HCG Ltd: Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves acquisition of 58.92% in HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG) by Aceso Company Pt Ltd under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. The acquisition will include subscription to equity shares and public shareholders as per SEBI. Aceso is a CVC network entity and consist of 3 entities and offers investment, management advices. HCG provides services through cancer treatment clinics, multi-specialty hospitals, fertility treatment centres

Note: Chairperson of Competition Commission of India: Ashok Kumar Gupta.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. N Chandrasekaran & Jim Taiclet to receives Global Leadership Award 2020:  Tata group chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran and Chief Executive Officer and President of Lockheed Martin, Jim Taiclet to receive the US-India Business Council (USIBC) Global Leadership Award 2020. The Awards are conferred every year to executives in recognition of outstanding leadership and for promoting Indo-US trade and business. The earlier receivers of this award include Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Google CEO Adena Friedman, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and Sun Pharmaceuticals Founder and MD Dilip Shanghvi.

Note: Note: USIBC Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States; USIBC President: Nisha Biswal; USIBC Managing Director for India: Ambika Sharma.

2. Sachin Awasthi Honored with the Prestigious Global Humanitarian Award 2020: Sachin Awasthi, the President of National Media Club and founder of Shri Ram Seva Mission, has been awarded with the ‘Top Publicist’ honour under Global Humanitarian Award 2020 by the London-based World Humanitarian Drive (WHD). The Award was given through a webinar during the “Honoring the Honorable” initiative organised by WHD. Sachin has been honored for organizing a 5-days Clean Ganga Awareness Yatra under the name “Vande Gange Swachhata Jan Jagran Yatra”, which was carried on from Haridwar to Varanasi. It was one of the biggest public awareness initiative for keeping the holy Ganga river pollution-free.WHD presents the prestigious “Global Humanitarian Awards” annually to felicitate popular men and women, who’ve worked selflessly towards the greater good of the society and the world.

Note: World Humanitarian Drive (WHD) founder & chairman: Abdul Basit Syed; World Humanitarian Drive (WHD) Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.

DEFENCE

1. Defence Ministry entrusts capital procurement powers to Armed Forces:  Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has entrusted capital procurement powers to Armed Forces. The decision was taken during the Special Meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council held under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh. With this, the Armed Forces will now be able to progress urgent Capital Acquisition Cases upto Rs 300 crores to fulfil their emergent operational requirements.