Daily GK Updates - 2nd Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. CFI to host first-ever Cycling Summit in 2021: The Cycling Federation of India (CFI) is all set to host the first-ever Cycling Summit in 2021, with an aim to promote the culture of cycling in the country. This one-day summit is designed to promote the culture of cycling and exchange knowledge with budding and professional cyclists.

The Cycling Summit 2021 will be hosted in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore and is expected to be a unique confluence of cycling enthusiasts, renowned athletes, and businesses from all over the country.  The Cycling Summit 2021 will consist of cyclists, athletes, fitness and sports enthusiasts, cycling coaches, health and nutrition experts, and influencers. There will also be indigenous and global brands that cater to the needs of health, fitness and cycling enthusiasts. The summit is estimated to attract around 25,000 people in each city.

Note: President of Cycling Federation of India: Parminder Singh Dhindsa; Cycling Federation of India Established: 1946; Cycling Federation of India Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

2. IIT-Bombay students launch AI-based scanning app “AIR Scanner”: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, students have launched a free-of-cost mobile scanner application “AIR Scanner”. The app saves the scanned document in PDF format and stores directly in the device. The AI (Artificial Intelligence) based Reading Assistant and Document Scanner app is developed by Rohit Kumar Chaudhary and Kavin Agrawal. About “AIR Scanner” App: AIR Scanner app does not collect any information about the user and all the documents are stored in the phone’s local storage. The document scanned using a mobile camera will be saved in PDF format and will be stored in the device only.

Note: IIT-Bombay Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Director of IIT-Bombay: Subhasis Chaudhuri.

 

3. Aveek Sarkar becomes new Chairman of Press Trust of India: The Editor Emeritus and Vice Chairman of the Ananda Bazar Group of Publications, Aveek Sarkar has been elected as the chairman of Press Trust of India (PTI). He succeeds Vijay Kumar Chopra, Chief Editor of the Punjab Kesari Group of newspapers. Aveek Sarkar was the founding Managing Director of Penguin India, the Indian counterpart of Penguin Books, the founding Editor of Business Standard and also the pivotal figure behind the acquisition of STAR News by the ABP Group in 2003.

Note: PTI Headquarters location: New Delhi; PTI Founded: 27 August 1947.

 

4. Hemant Khatri becomes new CMD of Hindustan Shipyard Limited: Commodore, Hemant Khatri (Retd) has assumed charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of state-owned defence shipbuilder, Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. He will replace Rear Admiral L V Sarat Babu (Retd). Previously, Hemant Khatri was serving as the Director of Strategic Projects HSL. Hemant Khatri was appointed as the CMD of HSL was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on 27th May 2020 with effective from 1st September 2020 till 31st July 2025 the date of his superannuation or until further orders.

Note: Hindustan Shipyard Ltd Established: 22 June 1941; Hindustan Shipyard Ltd Headquarters: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

 

5. Tamil Nadu appoints India’s 1st-ever woman ambulance driver: Tamil Nadu has appointed India’s first-ever woman ambulance driver, M Veeralakshmi under a new initiative by CM Palaniswami. M Veeralakshmi was appointed as the driver of one of the newly launched ‘108’ ambulances. As per the Tamil Nadu government, this is the first such instance in the country. Palaniswami on March 24, had announced that to strengthen the 108 ambulance emergency services, ‘500 new ambulances would be dedicated to the state at a cost of about Rs 125 crore’.

Note: Tamil Nadu's Governor: Banwarilal Purohit; Tamil Nadu's Capital: Chennai

 

6. A book title “The Big Thoughts of Little Luv” authored by Karan Johar: Bollywood Filmmaker, Karan Johar authored a children’s picture book titled “The Big Thoughts of Little Luv” inspired by his Twins Yash and Roohi. The book will be published by Juggernaut Books. The book narrates the story of the twins Luv and Kusha and features the challenges faced by the parents and the difference imposed between the boys and girls by the parents while raising them. Karan Johar released his autobiography titled “An Unsuitable Boy” in 2017.

 

7. Centre to develop three Bamboo Clusters in Jammu, Katra and Samba areas of J&K: Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr Jitendra Singh said that three Bamboo Clusters will be developed in Jammu, Katra and Samba areas for making of Bamboo basketry, Agarbatti and Bamboo Charcol. Apart from this a Mega Bamboo Industrial Park at Ghati near Jammu and Bamboo Technology Training Centre will also come up in the region. It will provide direct employment to nearly 25 thousand people.

 

8. Tripura University scientist designs WARBOT to protect doctors: To extend a big help to the doctors, attending the infected patients, a scientist at Tripura University has designed a robot which can prevent the doctors, nurses and health staff from getting infected while they come in contact with patients infected with the virus. The robot is named as Covid-19 WARBOT. The “COVID 19 Warbot” stands upon a box-shaped structure that has been attached to four wheels that ensures the free movement of it. The electronic transmission system has been used in it so that it can be operated from 20-meter distance at the most and it has the ability to bear a weight of 30 Kgs.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Mustapha Adib becomes new Prime Minister of Lebanon: Lebanon’s ambassador to Germany, Mustapha Adib was appointed prime minister in crisis-hit Lebanon. Adib, who has been Beirut’s Berlin envoy since 2013, is affiliated with a small Sunni party headed by former Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Days after the blast, the government of Prime Minister Hassan Diab, a self-styled technocrat, stepped down. President Michel Aoun asked Lebanon’s ambassador to Germany Mr Adib to form a new government after he secured 90 votes in the 128-member Parliament.

Note: Capital of Lebanon: Beirut; Currency of Lebanon: Lebanese pound.

 

2. Ericsson & UNICEF Partnered to Map School Internet Connectivity in 35 Countries: Ericsson, Swedish Telecom Company, partnered with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to map internet connectivity landscape for schools in 35 countries by the end of 2023 to provide digital learning access to the children. This joint initiative is a part of the Giga initiative launched by UNICEF and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in September 2019 to provide internet connection to every school and their surrounding communities. Ericsson is the first private sector partner to make a million-dollar invest to the Giga initiative and global UNICEF partner for School Connectivity Mapping.

Note: UNICEF Headquarters: New York; Head: Henrietta H. Fore; Founded: 11 December 1946

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

 

1. AIFC, FCA signs MoU for the development of football in India and Australia: The Association of Indian Football Coaches (AIFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Football Coaches Australia (FCA) for the development of football in India and Australia. The aim is to promote enrollment of female coaches and make football more accessible for all participants. Highlights:

(1) Under this MoU, standard contracts for the coaches with the country will be introduced. This will inturn provide the minimum employment conditions and structured and resourced process for termination of employment.

(2) The two firm will look to encourage the involvement of more female coaches and increase access to football for all participants.

(3) The move aims to use the opportunities for both parties to collectively advance professional development, cultural, employment, and commercial opportunities for football coaches.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI Announces Measures to Foster Orderly Market Conditions: The Reserve Bank of India has announced the following measures to ensure the orderly functioning of financial markets in India (weakened due to COVID-19):

(1) Additional special open market operation of Rs 20,000 crore: The Reserve Bank will conduct additional special open market operation involving the simultaneous purchase and sale of Government securities for an aggregate amount of Rs. 20,000 crore in two tranches of Rs. 10,000 crore each.

(2) Term repo operations for an aggregate amount of Rs. 100,000 crore: The Reserve Bank will conduct term repo operations for an aggregate amount of ₹100,000 crore at floating rates (i.e., at the prevailing repo rate) in the middle of September 2020 to assuage pressures on the market on account of advance tax outflows. The banks which had availed of funds under the previous long-term repo operations (LTROs) may reduce their interest liability by returning funds taken at the repo rate prevailing at that time (5.15 per cent) and availing funds at the current repo rate of 4 per cent.

(3) Increase of HTM up to an overall limit of 22 per cent of NDTL: Currently, banks are required to maintain 18 per cent of their net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) in SLR securities. The extant limit for investments that can be held in HTM category is 25 per cent of total investment. Banks are allowed to exceed this limit provided the excess is invested in SLR securities within an overall limit of 19.5 per cent of NDTL. RBI has decided to allow banks to hold fresh acquisitions of SLR securities acquired from September 1, 2020 under HTM up to an overall limit of 22 per cent of NDTL up to March 31, 2021.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ICICI Prudential Life launched voice chatbot “LiGo” on Google Assistant: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited has introduced an Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered voice chatbot, “LiGo”, on Google Assistant. This will enable the company’s policyholders to address their queries by simple voice commands. It provides an easy to use and convenient service touch-point for customers. About LiGo on Google Assistant:

(1) Expanding the functionalities of LiGo to Google Assistant is part of the company’s strategy to be on platforms that customers prefer and to offer them an immersive experience.

(2) The customers by activating ‘Google Assistant’ on their Android smartphones and speaking out their policy number or registered phone number, they can instantly access the information about their policies.

(3) The assistance is available in ‘Indian English’ and supports 9 Indian Languages.

(4) The introduction provides an additional layer of convenience for customers, i.e., further strengthens the digital platform.

Note: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited CMD:  N. S. Kannan.; ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company Limited Head Office: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

           

DEFENCE

 

1. Committee set up to review effective utilisation of AFHQ CS cadre: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the setting up of 3-member committee headed by Lt. Gen. Shekatkar (retired) to review the effective utilisation of the Armed Forces Headquarters Civil Services (AFHQ CS) cadre. Two other members of the committee are R. Chandrashekhar, a retired AFHQ cadre officer, and AN Das from the MoD finance wing. The committee will enable the Defence Ministry to optimise the civil as well as military administrative appointments in the service headquarters.

The 3-member committee will conduct a study and find out such appointments in Service HQs and Inter-Service Organisations (ISO) that may fall under the domains of AFHQ CS officers as recognised in the report by the committee of experts due to their longer tenures and expertise. It will also interact with various branches, directorates of service headquarters as well as ISOs for the study. The committee is expected to submit its report by November.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. India’s 1st female cardiologist Dr S. Padmavati passes away: Noted cardiologist, Dr S Padmavati passed away at the age of 103 years due to COVID-19. She was the first female cardiologist of India and was popularly known as ”God Mother of Cardiology”. She was the founder of the National Heart Institute in 1981 and All India Heart Foundation in 1962. She was honoured with Fellowship of the American College of Cardiology and FAMS. She was also awarded with Padma Bhushan in 1967 and Padma Vibhushan in 1992. She was born in Burma (now Myanmar) in 1917, a year before the world was hit by the Spanish Flu pandemic.