Daily GK Updates - 27th Aug, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ministry of Culture announces 7 new circles of ASI: The Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (IC), Shri Prahlad Singh Patel has announced 7 new circles of Archaeological Survey of India. These new circles have been formed in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujarat. Along with the 7 new circles, the minister also added that the Hampi Mini Circle in Karnataka has been converted into a full fledged circle. Here is the list of all 7 new circles: Trichy in Tamil Nadu; Raiganj in West Bengal; Rajkot in Gujarat; Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh; Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh; Meerut in Uttar Pradesh; Hampi in Karnataka.

Note: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog: Amitabh Kant.

 

2. NITI Aayog to launch NDC-TIA India Component: The India Component of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)–Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA) will be launched by the NITI Aayog. It will aim to set up a multi-stakeholder dialogue platform in order to decarbonize transport in India. NITI Aayog will be the implementing partner for the India Component of NDC-TIA. The NDC-TIA India Component will offer inputs about the transport challenges of India and how they relate to CO2 reduction ambitions. It will also offer technical support on GHG emission reduction measures. NDC-TIA is a joint programme supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). The programme having duration of 4 years, aims to encourage a comprehensive approach to decarbonize transport in India, Vietnam, and China.

Note: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog: Amitabh Kant.

 

3. NeGD signs MoU with CSC E-Governance Services India Limited: The National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY) has partnered with CSC (Common Service Center) e Governance Services India Limited. The partnership aims to enable delivery of UMANG services to citizens through the network of 3.75 lakh CSCs. The CSC operators Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) will facilitate citizens to use e-Governance services of 140 Departments with the help of UMANG App. This will help those citizens who either do not have access to smartphones or are not comfortable accessing App based e services on their own.

 

4. Tamil Nadu women top the list of MUDRA loan scheme: According to the data provided by Ministry of Finance to Rajya Sabha, Tamil Nadu has topped the list of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) in availing loans to women. It was followed by West Bengal and Karnataka. According to the data produced by the Ministry of Finance, around 15 crore loans amounting to Rs 4.78 lakh crores were disbursed to women borrowers since the inception of Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. As of March 31, 2020, Tamil Nadu had availed Rs 58,227 crores. The loans provided by other states are as follows:

West Bengal: Rs 55,232 crores

Karnataka: Rs 47,714 crores

Bihar: Rs 44,879 crores

Maharashtra: Rs 42,000 crores

All the above states have received 52% of MUDRA loans for women. The loans were availed to activities allied to agriculture, services, trading, processing, manufacturing, etc. Of the total number of loans provided under MUDRA scheme, 70% of borrowers were women.

Note: Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana was launched in 2015 to provide loans to non-corporate, small and micro-enterprises. Under the scheme, loans up to Rs 10 lakhs are provided. The loans are given by Regional Rural Banks, Commercial banks, Small Finance Banks, Non-Banking Financial Corporations, Micro-Financial Institutions.

 

5. NHAI develops a “Vendor Performance Evaluation System”: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a “Vendor Performance Evaluation System” to create a transparent and comprehensive ‘Performance Rating’ System for its Consultants, Contractors and Concessionaires. NHAI has also commenced the portal based objective assessment of vendors to track the performance of the vendors for various NHAI projects. The vendors are required to conduct a self-assessment on the portal. They are required to upload the documents pertaining to the project activities being executed by them. NHAI will evaluate this data and generate ratings for the Vendors and will be shared with them. Those vendors who were unable to upload the requisite documents on the portal will not be permitted to participate in the bids of NHAI.

 

6. APEDA signs MoU with AFC India Ltd and NCUI for the Agri-export policy: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has entered into an MoU with AFC India Limited and National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), Delhi. The MoU is signed to uplift the agriculture and allied sectors in order to bring better value to the stakeholders. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. APEDA has taken an initiative to sign this MoU in order to bring together inherent professionals and experts associated with various organisations and institutions so that they can work and bring value to the stakeholders by addressing them with appropriate and prompt solutions which will led to the development of agriculture and its export and thus to achieve objective framed under Agri Export Policy of GOI. The APEDA, AFC India Ltd and NCUI will work to develop pre-production, production, post-harvesting, primary as well as secondary processing, transportation in order to boost stakeholders and farmers also.

Note: APEDA Chairman: Asit Tripathy

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 17th meeting of India-Vietnam Joint Commission held virtually: The 17th meeting of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was held virtually. The virtual meeting was co-chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh. The 17th meeting included the deliberations on the recent developments in India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. During the meeting, both countries approved to add new momentum to the economic and defence engagement. They also agreed to explore closer cooperation in emerging areas like civil nuclear energy, space, marine sciences and new technologies.

Note: Vietnam Capital: Hanoi; Currency: Vietnamese dong

 

2. World Water Week 2020: 24-28 August: The World Water Week 2020 is observed as the World Water Week at Home (WWWeek at Home) from 24th August to 28th August 2020. The theme for World Water Week 2020 at Home is ‘Water and Climate change: Accelerating Action’. The World Water Week is an annual global event organized by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) since 1991 to address the planet’s water issues and related concerns of international development. The World Water Week 2020 has been organised from 24-28 August in virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note: SIWI Executive Director: Torgny Holmgren; SIWI Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

 

1. James Anderson becomes 1st fast bowler to take 600 Test wickets: England’s James Anderson became the first-ever fast bowler to take 600 wickets in a Test Match Cricket. He achieved this feat against Pakistan when he dismissed Azhar Ali. Overall he is the 4th bowler to take 600 test wickets after 3 spinners Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Anil Kumble. Anderson, who made his Test debut in 2003 against Zimbabwe, had become the highest wicket-taker among seamers in 2018 when he dismissed Mohammed Shami against India at The Oval to go past Glenn McGrath’s tally of 563 Test wickets.

           

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Axis Bank introduced ‘Liberty Savings Account’ for the Indian Youth: Axis Bank has introduced ‘Liberty Savings Account’ for the Indian Youth, to address the ever-changing lifestyle needs of young and digitally interested Indians. It offers a complimentary hospital cash insurance cover of up to Rs 20,000 per year, which covers hospital expenses incurred under COVID -19, which makes this a 1st of its kind savings account to cover the pandemic. This account targets to meet the lifestyle requirements of the working class that falls under 35 years of age. Features of the Liberty Savings Account:

(1) Minimum Balance: It allows customers to maintain a minimum balance of Rs 25,000 per month or spend the same amount each month on lifestyle needs through the Liberty debit card or savings account (via NetBanking, Axis Mobile or UPI- Unified Payments Interface).

(2) Annual Savings & Lounge Benefit: It offers annual savings amounting to Rs 15,000. It also offers 4 complimentary airport lounge access in 1 year.

(3) CashBack & Gift Vouchers: It offers 5% cashback on Debit card spends across Food, Entertainment, Shopping & Travel and gift Vouchers.

Note: Axis Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Axis Bank MD and CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry

 

2. SBI General Insurance launches “Shagun – Gift an insurance” policy: SBI General Insurance has launched a first-of-its-kind insurance product called ‘Shagun – Gift an Insurance”, which is a unique gift of Personal Accident policy. The unique feature of this policy is that it can be gifted to anyone, which means it is not necessary for the policy buyer to be related to the insured. Key Features of ‘Shagun – Gift an Insurance’ Policy:

(1) A Gift giver (policy buyer) can gift this product to anyone like family, friends, extended family and even domestic helpers, chauffeurs, drivers, cook, etc.

(2) Gift Receiver (insured) should be in the age group of 18 years to 65 years. It can be availed for up to 1 Year.

(3) Shagun covers personal accident insurance which provides complete financial protection to the insured person against uncertainties such as accidental death and partial or total disabilities, and permanent as well as temporary disabilities resulting from an accident.

Note: SBI General Insurance Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; SBI General Insurance MD and CEO: Prakash Chandra(P.C.) Kandpal.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. CCI approves acquisition by Lightstone Fund S.A.: The acquisition by Lightstone Fund S.A., for and on behalf of Lightstone Global Fund (LGT) of certain equity stakes has been approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002, the Lightstone Fund S.A. will acquire certain equity stakes in 91Streets Media Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (91Streets), Ascent Health and Wellness Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (Ascent), API Holdings Pvt. Ltd. (API), Aahaan Commercials Pvt. Ltd. (Aahaan) and Lokprakash Vidhya Pvt. Ltd. (Lokprakash). Information about the above mentioned companies:

(1) Lightstone Fund S.A.: It was established as an umbrella fund structure with initially one sub-fund, i.e. Lightstone Global Fund and is presently managed by LGT Capital Partners (Ireland) Limited.

(2) API Holdings Pvt. Ltd.: This company is incorporated in India. It is a stakeholder in Instinct Innovations Private Limited engaged in the business of developing software and enterprise resource planning solutions for healthcare business and non-healthcare space.

(3) Ascent Health and Wellness Solutions Pvt. Ltd.: It is operated on a pan-India basis through its subsidiaries. It is engaged in the (online as well as offline) wholesale B2B sale including the distribution of pharmaceutical, over the counter FMCG as well as nutraceutical products.

(4) 91Streets Media Technologies Pvt. Ltd.: It is is incorporated in India and operated on a pan-India basis. It owns technology and intellectual property required to develop an e-commerce platform.

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

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Raksha Mantri launches “DGNCC Training” mobile App: The Directorate General National Cadet Corps (DGNCC) Mobile Training App has been launched by the Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh. The Mobile Training App will support in conducting countrywide online training of NCC cadets as it has been affected adversely due to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19. The DGNCC Mobile Training App seeks to offer entire training material to the NCC cadets on one platform. This will also led to the automation of of NCC training. The mobile application will also allow the cadets to post their queries related to the training syllabus and these will be answered by a panel of qualified instructors.

Note: Director General National Cadet Corps (NCC): Lt General Rajeev Chopra.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Writer-journalist Gail Sheehy passes away: Writer-journalist, Commentator and Pop sociologist, Gail Sheehy passed away. Her best-selling book “Passages: Predictable Crises of Adult Life” was published in 1976. Sheehy’s honors included the National Magazine Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and a citation from the American Psychological Association.