Daily GK Updates - 3rd Aug, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme extended to 4 more states, taking total states to 24: Four additional states, namely Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Nagaland and Uttarakhand have been  to the One Nation One Ration Card scheme have been integrated with the ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ plan of the Central government. With this, now a total of 24 States/UTs are connected under One Nation One Ration Card effective from 01 August 2020. These 24 States/UTs includes: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Now the beneficiaries will be eligible to receive foodgrains anywhere in these States/UTs through national portability of their ration cards. The remaining States/UTs are targeted to be integrated into national portability by March 2021.

 

2. AIIB plans to approve loans worth $3 bilion over next 12 months for infra projects: As part of its effort to improve connectivity, Beijing-based multilateral funding agency AIIB is looking to provide loans worth USD 3 billion for various large infrastructure projects, including Delhi and Meerut Rapid Rail, Mumbai Metro Rail and Chennai Peripheral Ring Road project, over the next 12 months. India is the largest borrower, which accounts for 25 percent of the total lending by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) so far.

 

3. ITBP became first CAPF to have supplies from KVIC: Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) became the first Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to have supplies from the Khadi & Village Industries Commission, KVIC.  An agreement was signed between the ITBP and the KVIC in New Delhi between Chairman, KVIC, Vinay Kumar Saxena and senior officers of Provisioning Directorate, ITBP. According to the agreement, total 1200 Quintal of Mustard Oil is being procured from KVIC by ITBP with a total financial implication of 1 Crore 73 Lakh 80 Thousand rupees. It was decided during a meeting of the Directors General of the CAPFs held at Home Ministry in October last year that use of Terry Khadi Uniform and other items of swadeshi origin should be made available to the CAPFs. During the visit of Home Minister Amit Shah in December last year to the ITBP Force Headquarters in New Delhi, an exhibition stall was prepared to exhibit the KVIC products. The ITBP had suggested that Durrie, Blankets, Towel, Mustard Oil, Yoga Kit, Hospital Bed Sheets, Pickles etc can be purchased for jawans of the Force through KVIC.  

Note: ITBP Headquarters: New Delhi

 

4. Dr Harsh Vardhan launches 'Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan 2020-21: Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched 'Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan, 2020-21. This initiative is a national programme for popularizing science among school students of Class 6th to 11th. It was designed to identify the bright minds with a scientific aptitude among the student community. While launching the Vidhyarthi Vigyan Manthan, 2020-21, the Minister said, this is a platform to indentify the talent in the field of science and to promote the scientfic acumen among the students. He said, students will help in creating the New India and this initiative will play leading role in it.

 

5. TN Govt Renames Three Metro Rail Stations in Chennai After Annadurai, MGR & Jayalalithaa: The Tamil Nadu government announced renaming of three Metro Rail stations in Chennai after late Chief Ministers CN Annadurai, MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa.

Alandur Metro station: Now, Arignar Anna Alandur Metro

Central Metro Station: Now, Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G.

CMBT metro stations: Now,  Puratchi Thalaivi Dr. J. Jayalalithaa CMBT Metro

 

6. Centre to convert ravines of Chambal region into arable land with World Bank support: The Centre, in collaboration with the World Bank, has decided to convert large area of ravines in Gwalior-Chambal belt of Madhya Pradesh into arable land, and a preliminary report for the same will be prepared in a month. After preparation of the initial report, subsequent meetings will be held with the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for further course of action. Aims: “More than 3 lakh hectares of rugged land is not cultivable and if this area is improved, then this will help in the integrated development of the Bihad area in Gwalior-Chambal region.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India-UK collaborates for new 8 million pounds joint medicinal research: Enhancing their science and research collaboration, India and the United Kingdom have partnered to undertake five new research projects to tackle anti-microbial resistance that can be helpful in the global fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes. The overall cost of the five projects is 8 million pounds. They are planned to be executed in September 2020. The UK will contribute 4 million pounds from the UK Research and Innovation Fund for International Collaboration, while India will also contribute 4 million pounds.

 

2. NASA Astronauts returns safely after successful Demo-2 mission: Two US astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, returned from the International Space Station (ISS) on 2 August 2020.  The Crew Dragon was designed and operated by Space-X. It is being used for this flight test can stay in orbit about 110 days. NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight was the first crewed flight to launch from the US since 2011. The Demo-2 mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. About CCP: The Commercial Crew Program of NASA has worked with several American aerospace industry companies with an aim to facilitate the development of US human spaceflight systems since 2010.

 

3. ADB signs Dollar 200 million financing deal with Reliance for power plant in Bangladesh: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a dollar 200 million financing deal with the Reliance Bangladesh LNG and Power Limited (RBLPL) to build and operate a 718 megawatt combined-cycle gas-fired power plant in Bangladesh. The financing deal has two components of dollar 100 million each. While ADB will provide dollar 100 million, it will also administer the other part worth dollar 100 million from the Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP).

 

4. World Sanskrit Day 2020: 03rd August: World Sanskrit Day, (also known as Sanskrit Diwas), is celebrated every year on Shraavanapoornima, that is the Poornima day of the Shraavana month in the Hindu calendar, which is also marked as Raksha Bandhan. In 2020, this day is being observed on 3 August 2020. The day commemorates the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit and aims to promote its revival and maintenance. The Government of India decided to celebrate World Sanskrit Day in 1969, on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan that falls on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Shravana.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Lewis Hamilton wins British Grand Prix 2020: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) has won the Formula One British Grand Prix 2020 held on August 02, 2020. He came first, despite a puncture during the last lap. The second position was bagged by Red Bull’s racer Max Verstappen followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who bagged third position. This is the third formula one trophy for Hamilton in 2020 after Styrian and Hungarian grand pix 2020.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Canara Bank ties up with three insurers to provide Corona Kavach policies: Canara Bank has tied up with New India Assurance Company Ltd, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co Ltd and HDFC ERGO Health Insurance as part of social commitment to indemnify the unprecedented expenses of common man to sell short-term Corona Kavach policy to cover COVID-19 related health expenses.

 

2. SEBI slaps Rs 2 cr fine on 4 entities in HDFC AMC front-running case: Markets regulator SEBI posed a penalty totalling Rs 2 crore on four entities in HDFC Asset Management Company (AMC) front-running case. Front-running refers to an unethical practice by someone trading in shares on the basis of advance information given by a broker, analyst or other executive at a market intermediary before the trades are conducted by that entity. The regulator levied a fine of Rs 50 lakh each on Nilesh Kapadia and Dharmesh Shah, Rs Ramachandran Central Metro. Rs 40 lakh on Ashok Nayak and Rs 60 lakh on IKAB Securities and Investments Ltd.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Microsoft India most attractive employer brand: Survey: According to Randstad Employer Brand Research (REBR) 2020, Technology giant Microsoft India has emerged as the country’s most attractive employer brand, followed by Samsung India and Amazon India in the second and third place, respectively, says a survey. Microsoft India scored high on financial health, strong reputation and utilisation of the latest technologies. The REBR revealed that in 2020, work-life balance emerged as the top Employee Value Proposition (EVP) driver for the Indian workforce while choosing an employer as it was cited by 43% respondents, followed by attractive salary and employee benefits (41%) and job security (40%).

 

2. Flipkart launches hyperlocal delivery service in Bengaluru: Walmart Inc.-owned Flipkart launched a 90-minute hyperlocal delivery service for groceries and electronic products, among other items, in a challenge to Amazon Fresh, which offers two-hour delivery of groceries. The Flipkart Quick service has started in parts of Bengaluru, and will be expanded to 4-5 major cities in the coming months. For a minimum delivery fee of ₹29, consumers can get deliveries in 90 minutes, or book a two-hour slot for deliveries later.

 

3. Deadline for mandatory hallmarking of Gold Jewellery extended: In view of the coronavirus pandemic, the government announced the extension of a deadline for mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts by over four months till June 1, 2021. Accordingly, from June 1 next year, jewellers will be allowed to sell only 14, 18 and 22 carats of gold jewellery.