Daily GK Updates - 19th Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Gujarat government launches Mukhyamantri Mahila Utkarsh Yojana: The Gujarat government has launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Utkarsh Yojana (MMUY). The scheme will provide interest-free loans to women’s groups in the state. Under the MMUY, 50,000 joint liability and earning group (JLEG) will be formed in urban areas. Similarly, 50,000 such groups will also be formed in rural areas. Each group will have 10 women members in it. The groups will be offered interest-free loans by the government. The interest amount will be borne by the state government. The Gujarat government is going to sign MoUs with banks shortly, and has also decided to waive the stamp duty charges for the loans to be given to these women groups.

Note: Chief Minister of Gujarat: Vijaybhai R. Rupani; Governor: Acharya Dev Vrat.

 

2. Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal Quits; Narendra Singh Tomar takes additional charge: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who was serving as the Union Minister in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has announced her resignation from the Union Council of Ministers with immediate effect on 18 September 2020. President Ram Nath Kovind has accepted her resignation as well as directed Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to take additional charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries. As per the details, Badal resigned in protest against Centre’s anti-farmer ordinances and legislation, which have triggered farmers’ protests across Punjab and Haryana. Lok Sabha has passed The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and the Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020. Narendra Singh Tomar also holds the portfolio of Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Minister of Rural Development

 

3. PM Modi virtually Dedicates Historic Kosi Rail Mega Bridge to nation and inaugurates 12 projects in Bihar: Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the historic Kosi Rail Mahasetu (Mega Bridge) of the Indian Railways to the nation through video-conference on 18 September 2020. Apart from this, PM Modi also inaugurated 12 other Indian Railway projects in Bihar related to passenger facilities for the benefit of the state. The approximate cost of these projects is worth almost Rs 3,000 crore and will strengthen Bihar’s rail network and also strengthen West Bengal and eastern India’s rail connectivity. The 12 rail projects inaugurated by PM Modi include, a new railway bridge on the Kiul River, two new railway lines, five electrification projects, one electric locomotive shed and third line project between Barh and Bakhtiyarpur. Kosi Rail Mega Bridge:

The length of the rail bridge is 1.9 kilometres and has been constructed at the cost of Rs 516 crore. The project is of strategic importance along the India-Nepal border. The Kosi Rail Mahasetu will cut the otherwise 298-km long journey between Nirmali and Bhaptiahi (Saraigarh) on Indo-Nepal border to just 22 km. It will connect the Mitihila and Kosi region after a gap of 86-year. The rail link between the region was washed away during the heavy flood and severe Indo-Nepal earthquake in 1934, and thereafter due to the meandering nature of river Kosi no attempt was made to restore this rail link for a long period.

 

4. India’s first terminal for private jets inaugurated at Delhi Airport: Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated India’s first General Aviation Terminal at at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, Delhi. IGI has now become the first airport to have a private jet terminal. The exclusive terminal will handle the flight operations of private jets. This new terminal is spread over 8 lakh square feet area with 57 parking bays. It also has lounges, food section, 24x7 concierge service and can handle over 50 passengers per hour. It will become operational from 20th September. It can cater around 150 private jet a day.

 

5. Centre allocates over Rs. 818 crore to promote online learning to mitigate effect of COVID-19 pandemic: Union Government has allocated more than Rs. 818 crore to promote online learning to mitigate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic. Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said that over Rs. 267 crore have been allocated for online teacher training. The Minister said, internet access under Bharat Net scheme has been made available to government institutions and to improve the internet connectivity in rural areas.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. New Zealand becomes first country to mandate climate risk disclosures: New Zealand has become the first country to pass legislation requiring financial entities to declare their climate-related risks. Financial entities in New Zealand will have to comply with the framework laid down by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The rule will apply to banks, insurers, all listed debt and equity issuers.

Note: New Zealand Capital: Wellington; Prime minister: Jacinda Ardern

 

2. 10th Meet of BRICS High Representatives for Security Issues and 6th Communication Ministers Meet held Virtually: BRICS High Representatives on National Security Meeting: The 10th Meeting of the BRICS High Representatives on National Security was held on 17 September 2020 virtually under the chairmanship of Russia. The National Security Advisors of the BRICS nations met to deliberate upon the issues related to strengthening political security and cooperation among the five countries. From India, the National Security Advisors, Ajit Doval attended the meeting. The participants exchanged views on combating terrorism and extremism besides deliberating on global and regional security issues. They also exchanged views on key issues of global and regional security, discussed the main areas of practical cooperation in the field of security among law enforcement agencies of the member nations.

BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting: Apart from this, the 6th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting was also held on 17 September. Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sanjay Dhotre represented India.

Note: Russia is chair of BRICS and SCO in 2020

India will take up the chairmanship of the BRICS in 2021

BRICS nation consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa

 

3. Liberia declares rape a national emergency after spike in cases: Liberian President George Weah has declared rape a national emergency and ordered new measures to tackle the problem after a recent spike of cases in the West African state. The move comes after thousands of Liberians protested against rising incidents of rape in the capital Monrovia last month in a bid to draw attention to the country’s alarming rate of sexual assault. The government will also establish a so-called “national security task force” on sexual and gender-based violence.

 

4. International Coastal Clean-Up Day 2020: 19th September: The International Coastal Cleanup Day is traditionally held on the third Saturday in September. In 2020, the day is being held on 19 September. This year theme for International Coastal Cleanup Day 2020: “Achieving a trash-free Coastline”. The first International Coastal Cleanup Day was observed in 1986. The day aims to increase public awareness about the accumulation and negative impacts of litter in oceans, on coastlines and on beaches.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bandhan Bank sets up new vertical “Emerging Entrepreneurs Business”: Bandhan Bank has set up a new vertical called “Emerging Entrepreneurs Business (EEB)”. The new vertical has been launched to support the emerging needs of the unbanked and underbanked segment of customers. The vertical will focus on supporting this segment of customers in their journey to becoming entrepreneurs. In addition to micro loans, the vertical will also manage micro home loan, micro bazaar loan and micro enterprise loan.

Note: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bandhan Bank: Chandra Shekhar Ghosh; Headquarters of Bandhan Bank: Kolkata.

 

2. RBI asks banks to fully automate NPA recognition process: The Reserve Bank of India has mandated banks to fully automate NPA classification and provisioning calculation process. All borrower accounts will be covered under the new regime. Lenders will have time till June 30, 2021 to complete this process. The new guidelines will include all borrower accounts, including temporary overdrafts, irrespective of size or sector. Banks’ investments will also be covered under the new system.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Udit Singhal named in UN’s 2020 list of Young Leaders: Indian teenager Udit Singhal has been named in the 2020 Class of 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He has been named in the 2020 list of young leaders who promote sustainable development goals. Udit Singhal is the founder of Glass2Sand, an initiative that is based on a zero-waste ecosystem to tackle the challenge of glass waste in Delhi. This initiative has prevented empty glass bottles of getting dumped into landfills and turned it into sands, making it commercially viable.

Note: Secretary-General of United Nations: António Guterres.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Ranji Player Sachin Deshmukh nicknamed as ‘Mini Gavaskar’ passes away: Former Indian cricketer Sachin Deshmukh, who played Cooch Behar Trophy and Ranji trophy, has passed away, after he developed coronavirus complications. The 52-year-old player was referred to as ‘Mini Gavaskar’ in local cricket. He was the part of Mumbai and Maharashtra Ranji teams. Deshmukh holds a unique record for scoring 7 centuries in 7 matches while playing for Pune University during the All-India Inter-University tournament.

 

2. Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Gasti passes away: Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Karnataka Ashok Gasti (55 year) passed away in a private hospital in Bengaluru due to COVID-19. He was elected as the Rajya Sabha MP in June 2020. He is credited for organising the BJP in Raichur district. He was a lawyer by profession and was associated with BJP since students day through Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). He also served as the former general secretary of the BJP's OBC Cell and as the Chairman of State Backward Class Development Corporation.