Daily GK Updates - 6th Aug, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport gets UNICEF-funded mass fever scanner: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in coordination with Asian Development Bank (ADB), has provided a state-of-the-art Thermal Scanner, to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, to simplify operations and minimize handling. The Mass Fever Screening System, has been funded by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and will enhance the efficacy of the screening process at the airport. The new thermal scanner is a ceiling-mounted Mass Fever Screening System, capable of scanning, detecting and tracking persons with elevated skin temperature or fever. The system automatically adjusts and adapts to the surrounding ambient temperature without any human intervention, using its Intuitive User Interface and Dual-Displays (Day Camera + Infra-Red), and provides easy identification of passengers with elevated temperature.

 

2. Chhattisgarh govt launches social security scheme for tendu leaf collectors: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel has launched a social security scheme ‘Shaheed Mahendra Karma Tendupatta Sangrahak Samajik Suraksha Yojana’ for tendu leave collectors in the state. Tendu leaves, used for making bidis (leaf-wrapped cigarettes), are collected by forest dwellers and from them, it is purchased by the state government. The scheme, named after slain Congress leader Mahendra Karma, was inaugurated on the occasion of his birth anniversary. Karma, who was popularly known as Bastar tiger for his tough stand against Naxals, was among 29 people, including senior Congress leaders, who were killed in a Naxal attack in Jhiram valley of Bastar district on May 25, 2013.

About scheme: Under the scheme, to be executed jointly by state’s forest department and Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Federation, financial aid of Rs 2 lakh will be provided to the nominee or the heir in case of normal death of the head of the family of the registered tendu leaves collectors (if the age of the head of the family is not beyond 50 years). In case of death due to accident, additional financial aid Rs 2 lakh will be provided, whereas in case of permanent disability caused due to the accident, the assistance of Rs 2 lakh will be given and Rs 1 lakh in case of partial disability in the mishap. If the age of the head of such family is between 50 and 59 years, then in case of his/her normal death, Rs 30,000 will be provided as financial aid to their kin or nominee, while Rs 75,000 in case of accidental death. Similarly in this category, Rs 75,000 will be given in case of permanent disability caused to the head of the family in the accident and Rs 37,500 in case of partial disability. This scheme, introduced in the memory of the leader, will benefit around 12.50 lakh families involved in tendu leaves collection.

Note: Governor of Chhattisgarh: Anusuiya Uikey.

 

3. Webinar series on ‘Hydro-Meteorological Hazards Risk Reduction’: A webinar series on “Hydro-Meteorological Hazards Risk Reduction” has been organised by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) in collaboration with India Meteorological Department. The webinar series comprised of 4 webinars concentrating on issues related to Thunderstorms and Lightning, Cloudburst and Floods, Cyclones and Storm Surges and Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events. The webinar series on “Hydro-Meteorological Hazards Risk Reduction” focussed on improving the human capacity in terms of better understanding of Hydro-Meteorological Hazards Risk and effective collaborative actions in order to reduce the risk and increasing the resilience of affected communities and surroundings. It focused on improving human capacity in Hydro-Meteorological Hazards Risk and actions with 10-point agenda and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

 

4. Bharti Airtel ties-up with Amazon to grow cloud business in India: Bharti Airtel has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to deliver comprehensive set of innovative cloud solutions to large enterprise and small and medium enterprise (SME) customers in India. Airtel Cloud with support from AWS will develop AWS Cloud Practice and other products enhancing Airtel’s data centre capabilities, and Airtel’s network and telecoms offerings. Customers will benefit from integrated sales and support.

Note: Airtel's Chairman: Sunil Bharti Mittal

 

5. Manoj Sinha appointed as new LG of Jammu and Kashmir: President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed former Union minister Manoj Sinha as the next Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. He will replace Girish Chandra Murmu who resigned. Murmu’s resignation has been accepted by the President. Sinha has represented the parliamentary constituency of Ghazipur in eastern Uttar Pradesh thrice in the Lok Sabha. The 61-year-old Manoj Sinha, was a Minister of State for Communications and Minister of State for Railways in the first term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

6. ‘RAW: A History of India’s Covert Operations’ authored by Yatish Yadav: The new book, titled “RAW: A History of India’s Covert Operations”, has been launched, which gives a peep into the heroic covert operations carried by India’s external spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The book has been written by investigative journalist and author Yatish Yadav. It has been published by Westland. The book gives a detailed account of the unanswered questions surrounding the spy agency like its operatives, and also reveals hitherto unknown aspects of their life, trauma and temptation, triumphs and setbacks in executing each of their “Mission Impossible”.

Note: Chief of RAW: Samant Goel; Headquarters of RAW:: New Delhi; RAW founded: 21 September 1968.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India contributes USD 15.46 million to India-UN Development Partnership Fund: India has contributed the next tranche of $15.46 million to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund on 4 August 2020, under its commitment to supporting developing nations in their developmental priorities across all the Sustainable Development Goals. This tranche of $15.46 million including $6 million for the overall fund, in which all developing countries are eligible for partnership and $9.46 million, is dedicated to Commonwealth countries. The cheque was handed over by India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti to the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) Director Jorge Chediek.

India-UN Development Partnership Fund: The India-UN Development Partnership Fund was established in 2017, to promote multilateralism and shared prosperity to support developing countries towards the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The fund is supported and led by the Government of the Republic of India, managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), and implemented in collaboration with the United Nations system. Till date 55 projects and proposals have been approved with a total contribution of $41.8 million towards a $150 million multi-year pledge to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.

 

2. India has 4th highest unicorns globally at 21, valued at $73.2 billion, US with 233 unicorns tops: Hurun Global Unicorn List 2020: On 4th August 2020, the Hurun Research Institute released Hurun Global Unicorn List 2020, a global ranking of the world’s billion-dollar tech startups founded in the 2000s, and not yet listed on a public exchange. The 2020 list is the second edition of the annual list and has ranked a total of 586 unicorns in the world, based in 29 countries and 145 cities. The total value of these unicorns adds to US$1.8 trillion, which is equivalent to the GDP of Italy. The average age of these unicorns is nine years. The valuations of the startups are as on March 31, 2020. The United States has the highest number of Unicorns, at 233, followed by China at 227. These two countries represents 80% of the world’s known unicorns. The United Kingdom was third with 24, followed by India at fourth position with 21 unicorns. India in the list:

As per the latest ranking, India is home to 21 unicorns. The total value of these stands at $73.2 billion. Among all Indian unicorns, the Fintech Company Paytm is India’s highest valued unicorn, at $16 billion. The top 10 Indian unicorns accounts for 78 percent of the total value of unicorns, while Paytm alone claims nearly 22 percent of the total valuation share of these unicorns. The average age of Indian unicorns is seven years. Ola Electric is the youngest unicorn on the list which was founded in 2017.

World’s top most startup: Alibaba Group affiliate Ant Group is the world’s most valuable billion-dollar startup, valued at $150 billion

 

3. Hiroshima Day (Anti Nuclear Day): 6th August: Hiroshima Day takes place every year on August 6 to commemorate the day in August 1945 when an atomic bomb (named “Little Boy”) was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6 by United States, followed a few days later by another drop on the city of Nagasaki on August 9. Although these bombings effectively ended World War II, the two cities were terribly destroyed and casualties were estimated at around 200,000, mostly civilians. This was the first time in the history of warfare when a nuclear bomb was used against a nation. The Day is observed to advocate, pray and work for a ban on all nuclear weapons and an end to war and violence through anti-war and anti-nuclear discussions and demonstrations around the world.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI’s 2nd Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Statement 2020-21 Released: The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India met on 4th, 5th and 6th August for its second meeting of 2020-21. During the second Monetary Policy meet, the MPC analysed the current & evolving macroeconomic and financial conditions and has decided to continue with the accommodative stance to revive growth as well as to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. With its decisions, MPC aims to keep inflation within the target and hence to preserve financial stability. Also, for the year 2020-21, as a whole, real GDP growth is expected to be negative. The key decisions taken in the Monetary Policy Committee meeting are:

(1) The repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) has been kept unchanged at 4.00%.

(2) The reverse repo rate under the LAF has been kept unchanged at 3.35%.

(3) The marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate have been kept unchanged at 4.25%.

Note: RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

 

2. Centre Extends Ajay Tyagi’s Tenure as SEBI Chairman by 18-Months till February 2022: The Ministry of Finance has extended the tenure of Ajay Tyagi as the chairman of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for a period of 18-months. His extended term will begin with effect from September 1, 2020 and continue atleast up to February 28, 2022. Mr Tyagi, a 1984 batch IAS (retired) officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, was appointed as the SEBI chairman in March 2017 for three years. This is the second extension given to Tyagi. The first one was granted in March 2020 for six months, which will expire on 31 August 2020.

Note: SEBI Founded: 12 April 1992; Headquarters: Mumbai

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Union Home Secretary & Arunachal Pradesh Governor, Ram Pradhan passes away: The former Union Home Secretary Ram Pradhan has passed away due to age-related ailments. He was 92. Mr Pradhan served as the governor of Arunachal Pradesh (1987-1990) during the Rajiv Gandhi government. Pradhan was an IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre. He also headed a two-member committee set up in December 2008 to probe the security forces’ response to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1987. He played a significant role in the signing of the Assam Accord and Mizoram Peace Accord.

 

2. Former Maharashtra CM Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar passes away: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar has passed away after a prolonged illness due to old-age-related ailments. He was 89. Nilangekar, who was a senior Congress leader, served as the Maharashtra CM between June 1985 and March 1986. He was compelled to resign from the post of Chief Minister’s post after Bombay high court (HC) passed strictures against him following the detection of alleged fraud in the state medical college examinations in 1985.