Daily GK Updates - 18th Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Karnataka Govt launches “Arthika Spandana” loan disbursal programme: Karnataka Chief Minister, B.S. Yediyurappa has launched the “Arthika Spandana” programme of disbursing loans to the tune of Rs 39,300 crores through various cooperative institutions. Under this scheme, Rs 15,300 crores would be disbursed to the agriculture sector while a sum of Rs 24,000 crores would be earmarked for the non-agricultural sector. The Chief Minister, who launched the programme by symbolically handing over cheques towards loans to 50 beneficiaries, hailed the cooperative institutions for helping people during the times of COVID-19 and floods.

Note: Chief Minister of Karnataka: B.S. Yediyurappa; Governor: Vajubhai Vala.

 

2. India Happiness Report 2020 announced: The first all India Happiness Report 2020 covering all States and Union Territories measuring happiness across the country, what contributes to people’s happiness, the impact of COVID-19 on happiness, and insights from thought leaders. The study is based on a nationwide survey covering 16,950 people between March and July 2020 by Professor Rajesh K Pillania.

In overall happiness ranking of states and union territories: (1) Mizoram; (2) Punjab; (3) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Among the big states: (1) Punjab; (2) Gujarat; (3) Telangana

Among smaller states: (1) Mizoram; (2) Sikkim; (3) Arunachal Pradesh

Among union territories: (1) Andaman and Nicobar Islands; (2) Puducherry; (3) Lakshadweep

The worst possible impact of COVID-19 on happiness: Maharashtra, Delhi, and Haryana have shown the worst possible impact of COVID-19 on happiness, whereas Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir are neutral and Manipur, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep have shown the best possible impact of COVID-19 on happiness.

 

3. Byju’s launches ‘Education for All’ to empower 5 mn children by 2025: Byju’s, a Bengaluru based edtech company, has launched a social initiative ‘Education for All’. Objective: To empower 5 million children from underserved communities by 2025. Through ‘Education for All’, millions of children from underserved and economically deprived communities will get equal access to quality learning opportunities.

 

4. Govt targets to increase the number of Janaushadhi Kendras to 10500 by year 2025: Shri D V Sadananda Gowda, Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers has informed that the Central Government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhanmantri Janaushadhi Kendras  (PMBJK) to 10500 by the of March 2025. PMBJK aims to provide quality medicines at an affordable rates for the common man, especially the poor. With this all the districts in the country will have Janaushadhi  Kendras.  As on September 15, 2020 there are 6606 Janaushadhi  Kendras in India.

 

5. Arundhati Roy Pens new Book titled Azadi: ‘Freedom. Fascism. Fiction.’: Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy has come up with her new book titled ‘Azadi: Freedom. Fascism. Fiction.‘. The book has been published by the Penguin Books Ltd. In the book, the author challenges us to reflect on the meaning of freedom in a world of growing authoritarianism, especially during the time of Coronavirus Pandemic.

 

6. Govt moves ahead with Orientation and Training Programme of iRAD App: Road Transport and Highways Ministry is in the process of implementing Integrated Road Accident Database Project (iRAD) which will be applicable across the country. In the first instance, it has been decided to implement the proposal in six states. These are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The basic iRAD app has been developed and will be customized as per the requirements of concerned states.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Mexico issues world’s first sovereign bond: Mexico has become the first country in the world to issue a sovereign bond linked to the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations. It has raised EUR 750 million ($890 million) by such bonds. The SDG bond will mature in September 2027 and offers a yield to maturity rate of 1.603% and a coupon rate of 1.350%. This new bond was issued under Mexico’s new “SDG Sovereign Bond Framework,” which was released in February in partnership with French investment bank Natixis.

This issue will aid the Mexican Government in three ways viz. strengthens budget transparency, increases earmarked spending for sustainable development programs and contributes to the development of the local and international capital markets aimed at development finance.

Note: Mexico Capital: Mexico City; Mexico Currency: Mexican peso; President of Mexico: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

 

2. India joins Djibouti Code of Conduct/ Jeddah Amendment as Observer: On the lines of the high level meeting of the Djibouti Code of Conduct/ Jeddah Amendment (DCOC/JA) held virtually on 26 August 2020, India has joined the DCOC/JA Amendment, as Observer in order to collaborate with DCOC/JA member states towards for enhancing maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (10R). With this, India joins Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) as Observers to the DCOC/JA.

About Djibouti Code of Conduct/ Jeddah Amendment (DCOC/M):  Adopted in January 2009 it is a grouping on maritime matters aiming to prevent piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the East coast of Africa and Island countries in the 10R. Currently it has 20 member states. The signatory states have to cooperate in preventing maritime crime, maritime terrorism, illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing and other illegal activities at the sea.

Member States: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Seychelles, Somalia, the United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen, Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, Jordan, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

 

3. World Bamboo Day: 18th September: World Bamboo Day is observed globally on 18 September every year. This day is celebrated to raise awareness of the benefits of bamboo and to promote its use in everyday products. The theme for 11th edition of WBD 2020 is ‘BAMBOO NOW.’ WBD was officially declared by the World Bamboo Organization on September 18 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in Bangkok in 2009. The World Bamboo Organization aims to bring the potential of bamboo to a more elevated exposure – to protect natural resources and the environment, to ensure sustainable utilization, to promote new cultivation of bamboo for new industries in regions around the world, as well as promote traditional uses locally for community economic development.

Note: World Bamboo Organization Headquarters: Antwerp, Belgium; World Bamboo Organization Founded: 2005; World Bamboo Organization Executive director: Susanne Lucas.

 

4. World Water Monitoring Day: 18th September: The World Water Monitoring Day is observed globally on 18th September since 2003. This day is celebrated to increase public awareness and involvement in water monitoring and protecting water resources around the world. World Water Monitoring Day engages people of all ages in monitoring the condition of local rivers, streams, estuaries and other water bodies. This year theme for World Water Monitoring Day 2020 is ‘Solve Water.’

The day was established in 2003 by America’s Clean Water Foundation (ACWF) as a global educational outreach program by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies. The event is now coordinated by the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association.

Note: International Water Association President: Diane D’Arras; International Water Association Headquarters: London, United Kingdom; International Water Association Founded: 1998.

Water Environment Federation President: Jacqueline A. Jarrell; Water Environment Federation Founded: 1928; Water Environment Federation Headquarters: Virginia, United States.

 

5. International Equal Pay Day: 18th September: International Equal Pay Day is being celebrated for the first time on 18 September, 2020. The day aims to achieve equal pay for work of equal value and break the walls against all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against women and girls. Theme of International Equal Pay Day 2020: Building back a better future of work by ensuring pay equity. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe September 18 as International Equal Pay Day, on November 15, 2019, which was introduced by the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC).

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Home Finance launched “Apna Ghar Dreamz” Home Loan Scheme: The ICICI Home Finance launched “Apna Ghar Dreamz”, its new home loan scheme for skilled laborers like electricians, mechanics, painters, grocery store owners etc in the informal sector of Delhi. Features of the “Apna Ghar Dreamz” scheme:

(1) The credit amount of this loan ranges from Rs 2 lakh to 50 lakhs.

(2) This scheme targets the people of the informal sector without all the documents which are required to get a loan from a formal financial institution.

(3) The customers can utilise the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), a credit-linked subsidy scheme (CLSS) for Lower Income Groups/ Economically Weaker

Sections (EWS/LIG) and Middle Income Groups (MIG – I & II).

Documents Required & Eligibility: This scheme avails a special 20 year tenure loan which requires documents like, PAN, Aadhar and bank statement of past 6 month. Customers should have a minimum account balance of Rs.1,500 for loan upto Rs.5 lakh and Rs.3000 for loan above 5 lakh.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. OECD projects India’s GDP at -10.2% in FY21 & 10.7% in FY22, Global GDP at -4.5% in 2020: The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) expects the Indian economy to contract by 10.2% in FY21 (2020-21) as compared to its previous estimate of 16.7% in June. For FY22 (2021-22), the Paris-based OECD projects India’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow at 10.7%. OECD expects the global GDP at -4.5% in 2020, which is an upward revision from its previous estimate of -6%. For the year 2021, the global economy is estimated to increase by 5%.

Note: OECD Headquarters: Paris, France; OECD Founded: 1961; OECD Secretary-General: Jose Angel Gurria.

 

2. TCS Becomes Second Indian Firm to Cross Rs 9 Lakh Crore-market Valuation Mark: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) became the second Indian firm to attain a market valuation of over Rs 9 lakh crore after Reliance Industries Limited. The company’s market valuation went past Rs 9 lakh crore in early trade helped by a rally in its share price. The stock of the software services firm gained 2.91 per cent to Rs 2,442.80- its record high on the BSE.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Chef Vikas Khanna honoured with Asia Game Changer Award 2020: Chef Vikas Khanna has been chosen to be honoured with the prestigious Asia Game Changer Award 2020. This award is given to him for feeding millions of people across India in the COVID-19 pandemic through a massive food distribution drive ‘FeedIndia’. He is the only Indian among the six honourees named by the leading organisation. He coordinated his massive food distribution drive in India from thousands of miles away in his Manhattan home in New York.

The Asia Game Changer Awards was launched by the Asia Society, a US-based non-profit organization, in 2014, to identify and honour true leaders who make a positive contribution to the future of Asia.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former RBI governor Amitabha Ghosh passes away: The shortest-serving Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Amitabha Ghosh passed away. He had served as the 16th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for 21 days between January 15, 1985, to February 4, 1985. It was a stop-gap arrangement when Amitabha Ghosh was serving as a deputy governor of RBI and waiting to hand over charge to the 17th RBI Governor R N Malhotra. Before this Ghosh was the chairman of Allahabad Bank. He was also a Director of the IDBI Bank and was on the governing body of the National Institute of Bank Management.

 

2. Veteran Ayurveda physician PR Krishnakumar passes away: Tamil Nadu based prominent Indian Ayurveda physician, PR Krishnakumar passed away. He was the Founder and Managing Director of the iconic Coimbatore Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP) as well as the Chancellor of the renowned Avinashilingam University in Coimbatore. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri award in 2009 for his contribution to medicine.