Daily GK Updates – 26th Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Uttar Pradesh Govt launches unified portal ‘U-Rise’: The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath has launched a unified portal called ‘U-Rise’. Uttar Pradesh is the first state to launch such a unified portal along with the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020.  About ‘U-Rise’: The U-Rise portal would empower the students by providing them with practical and technical knowledge ranging from online exams, digital content, digital assessment, digital examination papers, webinars, internship, e-library, recorded video content to employment. The U-Rise portal will guide around 20 lakh students, in learning, career counselling, and getting employment in the state. The e-content, e-library, and online courses available on this portal will be accessible by students even in the most interior areas of the state.

Note: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Aditya Nath; Governor: Anandiben Patel.

 

2. Assam Govt launched “Mukhyamantrir Grammya Paribahan Achoni Yojana”: The Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal has launched the “Mukhyamantrir Grammya Paribahan Achoni Yojana” of the state transport department. Under the scheme, Light Motor Vehicle Service would be launched in all the villages of the state to improve rural connectivity and generate employment in the villages. One vehicle would be provided to one beneficiary per village. In the first phase of the scheme, 10,000 villages would be covered with a financial outlay of Rs 100 crore. The state government shall financially assist the eligible entrepreneurs with 25 per cent of the cost of the vehicle or Rs 1 lakh, whichever is less.

Note: Chief Minister of Assam: Sarbananda Sonowal; Governor: Jagdish Mukhi.

 

3. Rajasthan CM approves ‘Moksha Kalash Yojana-2020’: The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot has approved the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation’s scheme called ‘Moksha Kalash Yojana-2020’. This Moksha Kalash Yojana aims to allow free bus travel to two members of the family of the deceased to immerse ashes of their loved ones in the Ganga in Haridwar. The state road transport corporation would be the nodal agency to run the scheme and the expenses would be borne by the Devasthan Department. Passengers will be required to register for availing the facility by providing details including about the dead person. A copy of related documents will have to be kept with those carrying the ashes. RSRTC will provide an interface for online registration, make arrangements for transport to the destination, and other facilities during the journey.

Note: Rajasthan Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot; Rajasthan Governor: Kalraj Mishra; Rajasthan Capital: Jaipur.

 

4. ‘Saubhagya’ scheme completes three years of inception: The Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana -“Saubhagya Scheme” has completed three years of inception on 25 September 2020. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25th of September, 2017 with an outlay of Rs. 16,320 crore Saubhagya scheme aims to achieve universal household electrification by providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all households in rural areas and all poor households in urban areas across the country.

 

5. Bollywood actor Aamir Khan becomes Brand Ambassador of CEAT: A tyre company of RPG Enterprises (Rama Prasad Goenka Group), CEAT Limited has signed Indian Actor Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador for 2 years. As part of an integrated marketing campaign, he will feature in 2 commercials during the on-going Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in Dubai to promote CEAT’s SecuraDrive, a range of mass premium tyres. CEAT has been associated with cricket since 1995 with CEAT Cricket Ratings.

 

6. Acer India signs Sonu Sood as brand ambassador: A leading Personal Computer(PC) brand, Acer India has appointed actor Sonu Sood as its brand ambassador. As the brand ambassador of Acer India, Sonu Sood will support the range of innovative products of Acer over the social media and campaign on the commitment of Acers in improving the lives of the people through technology.

Note: Acer India President & Managing Director: Harish Kohli; Acer India Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UN and United Kingdom to co-host Global Climate Summit 2020: The United Kingdom and the United Nations are going to co-organise a global climate summit on December 12, 2020, to mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will co-host the event. The summit will increase the momentum ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to be held in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021. The Summit will invite National governments to present more ambitious and high-quality climate plans.

Note: United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. It was founded on 24 October 1945; Mr Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Prime minister of United Kingdom: Boris Johnson; Capital of the United Kingdom: London.

 

2. Mohamed Hussein Roble appointed as new Prime Minister of Somalia: President of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has appointed Mohamed Hussein Roble as the new Prime Minister of Somalia. He will replace former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, who was voted out of office by parliament in July for failing to pave the way for fully democratic elections due before February 2021. All the 215 MP’s who attended the session chaired by President Farmaajo voted in support of the appointment of Hussein Roble as PM.

Note: Somalia Capital: Mogadishu; Somalia Currency: Somali Shilling.

 

3. India ranked 89th in World Risk Report 2020: According to the World Risk Index (WRI) 2020, India has been ranked at the 89th spot among 181 Countries. WRI has been developed in cooperation with the United Nations University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNUEHS) and calculated by the International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV).  India is behind Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives in terms of abilities to cope with extreme disasters, lack of adaptive capacities and the preparedness to deal with extreme events. The Pacific island state of Vanuatu leads the index as the country with the highest disaster risk (49.74). Qatar has the lowest risk (0.31). In terms of the continents, Oceania ranks first in terms of highest disaster risk, followed by the Americas, Asia and Europe.

The World Risk Report is released annually since 2011 by the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and Bundnis Entwicklung Hilft, in cooperation with the University of Stuttgart in Germany.

Note: United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security Director: Shen Xiaomeng; Headquarters of United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security: Germany.

 

4. World Environmental Health Day: 26th September: World Environmental Health Day is observed globally on 26th September every year. This day is celebrated to shed the light on important work of environmental health around the world. The Theme for the 2020 World Environmental Health Day: “Environmental health, a key public health intervention in disease pandemic prevention”. It has been targeted towards preventing the disease and creating health-supportive environments. In 2011, the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) declared to observe World Environmental Health Day on 26 September.

Note: International Federation of Environmental Health Established: 1986; Headquaters: London, England.

 

5. International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons: 26th September: The United Nations observes 26 September every year as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. The day provides an occasion for the world community to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament as a priority. It provides an opportunity to educate the public and their leaders about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons, and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them. The General Assembly declared the International Day in December 2013, in its resolution 68/32 as a follow-up to the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament held on 26 September 2013, in New York.

Note: Headquarters of United Nations: New York, USA; Founded: 24 October 1945; Secretary-General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI publishes “’Technology Vision for Cyber Security’ for UCBs: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will implement the “Technology Vision for Cyber Security’ for Urban Co-operative Banks (2020-2023) to enhance the IT security system of Urban Co-operative banking to prevent, detect, respond to and recover from cyber-attacks. The Technology Vision Document aims at enhancing the cybersecurity posture of the Urban Co-operative banking sector against evolving IT and cyber threat environment. RBI will achieve this objective using its five-pillared strategic approach ‘GUARD’. GUARD denotes:

G – Governance Oversight,

U – Utile Technology Investment,

A – Appropriate Regulation and Supervision,

R – Robust Collaboration

D – Developing necessary IT, cybersecurity skills set.

To accomplish the five pillared approach, RBI has established 12 specific action points spires to:

Involve more Board Oversight over Cybersecurity. Enable UCBs to better manage and secure their IT Assets. Implement an offsite supervisory mechanism framework for UCBs on cybersecurity-related controls. Develop a forum for UCBs so that they can share best practices and discuss practical issues and challenges.

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

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Kerala wins UNIATF award for prevention and control of NCD 2020: Kerala has won the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases Awards 2020 for its “outstanding contribution” towards the non-communicable diseases-related sustainable development goals. Kerala has been awarded for the tireless service of the state in the health sector. This is the first time for Kerala to be recognised by this annual UN Award and along with Kerala 6 other health ministries across the globe have won the 2020 UNIATF Award.

About UNIATF Award 2020: The 2020 award recognises the contributions and achievements of the year 2019 on the multisectoral actions in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, Mental Health and other SDGs related to non-communicable diseases. The award also recognised the state of the art lung disease control program, cancer treatment program and paralysis control programme of the state.

Note: WHO Director-General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; WHO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

Chief Minister of Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan; Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Shivangi Singh set to become India’s 1st woman fighter pilot to fly Rafale: Flight Lieutenant, Shivangi Singh to become the first woman fighter pilot of India to fly the Rafale combat aircraft that was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force(IAF) September 10, 2020.  She is one of the 10 Indian women fighter pilots in IAF. Five Rafale Aircraft were formally inducted into the IAF’s 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’ on September 10, 2020, at a function held at Air Force Station, Ambala (Haryana).

About Shivangi Singh: Shivangi hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Shivangi Singh was among the 2nd batch of women fighter pilots who were commissioned in 2017. After joining IAF, she has been flying the MiG-21 Bison aircraft. Currently, she is undergoing training and will soon join Golden Arrows.

Note: Indian Air Force Chief of the Air Staff (CAS): Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Sekhar Basu passed away: Veteran Indian nuclear scientist Sekhar Basu (68 years) passed away due to COVID-19 in Kolkata. He was the chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and as the Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). He is known for building the nuclear reactor for India's first nuclear powered subnarmine INS Arihant, nuclear power plants in Tarapur and Kalpakkam, and the Indian Neutrino Observatory in Theni, Tamil Nadu. He also served as the Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). He was honoured with Padma Shri in 2014.