Daily GK Updates - 3rd Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Power Minister RK Singh launches “Green Term Ahead Market”: Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Raj Kumar Singh launched the Pan-India Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) in New Delhi virtually, for electricity. GTAM is the World’s First Exclusive Product Market for the renewable energy sector. GTAM will lead to an increase in the number of participants in the Renewable Energy Sector. It will benefit buyers of Renewable Energy (RE) by providing them competitive prices, and transparent, flexible procurement. Benefits of Green Term Ahead Market:

(1) It will benefit RE sellers by providing them access to the Pan-India market.

(2) It will help in achieving the Government of India’s target of 175 GigaWatt (GW) RE Capacity by 2022.

(3) The initiative promotes RE merchant capacity addition and helps in achieving the RE capacity additions across the country.

(4) GTAM contracts will provide additional avenues to RE Generators for the sale of renewable energy.

 

2. Government of India Blocks 118 Mobile Apps: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India has decided to block 118 mobile apps in view of the emergent nature of threats. These applications have been blocked as there was information that these apps are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state as well as public order. The step is expected to safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users and will also ensure safety, security and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace.

118 mobile apps have been blocked by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology by invoking it’s power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009.

 

3. Ladakh, Lakshadweep joins ‘One Nation-One Ration Card’ scheme: The Union Territories (UTs) Ladakh & Lakshadweep have been included in the ‘One Nation-One Ration Card’ scheme on ‘Integrated Management of Public Distribution System’ (IM-PDS). After the integration of these two UTs, a total of 26 States /UTs Connected with the Scheme and will benefit about 65 crore people. Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan has recently approved the integration of Ladakh and Lakshadweep with the scheme in a review meeting chaired by him. Ladakh and Lakshadweep have completed the trial and testing of national portability transactions with other states/UTs in the national cluster. The remaining states will be integrated into the scheme by March 2021.

Note: Lieutenant Governorof Ladakh: Radha Krishna Mathur; Ladakh Capital: Leh & Kargil.

Lakshadweep Capital: Kavaratti; Lakshadweep Administrator: Dineshwar Sharma.

 

4. National Nutrition Week 2020: National Nutrition Week is observed every year from 1st September to 7th September since 1982 and can be considered a significant period to raise awareness on the therapeutic effects of foods. The events of NNW are organised by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD), Government of India to educate the importance and role of nutrition in the human body.

Note: Minister of Women and Child Development: Smriti Zubin Irani.

 

5. Madhya Pradesh govt launches ‘Gandagi Bharat Chhodo’ campaign: Madhya Pradesh government has launched a 15-day campaign named ‘Gandagi Bharat Chhodo’. Under the campaign awareness programmes were organized in seven thousand 178 settlements. About 35 lakh people from 378 urban bodies in Madhya Pradesh took part in the campaign. Under the Gandagi Bharat Chhodo campaign:

(1) During the campaign, as per the performance of the urban bodies, the best ones were awarded by the chief minister.

(2) During the campaign over 7 lakh, people took the oath to maintain cleanliness and eight lakh 70 thousand people were approached to make compost from wet waste.

(3) Four lakh 65 thousand masks were distributed with the help of citizens under the mask awareness campaign.

(4) About 10,000 Corona Warrior sanitation workers were honoured. A total of 18 thousand 560 challans were made against polythene carry-bags.

Note: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Governor: Anandiben Patel.

 

6. Usha Padhee becomes 1st woman DG of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security: Joint secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Usha Padhee has been given additional charge as Director-General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). She is the first woman and third IAS officer to have been appointed to the post. The central deputation tenure of Usha is scheduled to end on 16th July 2022. She succeeds Rakesh Asthana (IPS) who was appointed as the Director-General of Border Security Force (BSF) on 17th August 2020.

 

7. Union Cabinet approves J&K official languages Bill 2020: The Union Cabinet has approved J&K official languages Bill 2020. According to the J&K official languages Bill 2020, Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi along with Urdu and English, will be the official languages in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The J&K official languages Bill 2020 will be introduced in Parliament in the upcoming Monsoon Session. This bill will include Dogri, Hindi and Kashmiri as officials’ languages of the Union Territory.

Note: Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir: Manoj Sinha;

Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting: Prakash Javadekar.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India, Japan, and Australia to launch trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative in Indo-Pacific region: The trade ministers of India-Japan-Australia held a trilateral meeting on 01 September through videoconferencing to plan on launching a trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) for building a resilient supply chain in the Indo-Pacific region. The main motive of the trilateral Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) is to reduce dependency on China and create a free and transparent trade & investment environment. The virtual meeting was addressed by Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Simon Birmingham, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Kajiyama Hiroshi. The initiative was first proposed by Japan. The new initiative is expected to be launched by 2020 end. The ministers have called on other countries in the region with similar views to join the initiative.

 

2. India ranks 48th in Global Innovation Index 2020: India has joined the group of top 50 countries in the global innovation index for the first time, moving up four places to the 48th rank and keeping the top position among the nations in central and southern Asia. India ranks in the top 15 in indicators such as ICT (Information and Communication Technology) services exports, government online services, graduates in science and engineering, and R&D-intensive global companies. Switzerland, Sweden, the US, the UK and the Netherlands lead the innovation ranking, and the top 5 positions are dominated by high-income countries. The 13th edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2020 has jointly released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Cornell University and INSEAD Business School.

About the Global Innovation Index (GII): The Global Innovation Index (GII) provides detailed metrics about the innovation performance of 131 countries and economies around the world. Its 80 indicators explore a broad vision of innovation, including political environment, education, infrastructure and business sophistication.

 

3. India Placed 72nd on global list with average monthly wage of Rs 32,800: With an average monthly wage of Rs 32,800 (USD 437), India has been ranked a lowly 72nd among 106 countries in terms of the average wage per month, while Switzerland topped the chart, according to a global ranking of average wages prepared by Picodi.com, an international e-commerce platform which provides discount coupons. Switzerland, where the average wage converted into rupees amounts to Rs 4,49,000 (USD 5,989), topped the ranking, while in Cuba the average wage is the lowest at Rs 2,700 (USD 36), report said.

 

4. A new book titled “Let Us Dream” by Pope Francis: Pope Francis is set to release the book “Let Us Dream” in December 2020. In the book, Pope Francis explains how a crisis can teach an individual to deal with problems they face in their lives. He cites three major crises from his own personal life. The book will be an outcome of numerous exchanges between Pope Francis and his Biographer Austen Ivereigh in the weeks following the Coronavirus outbreak around the world. Austen Ivereigh is a Roman Catholic Journalist, Commentator, the author based out of Britain. The book is being published by Simon & Schuster and will be released in English and Spanish Editions simultaneously.

 

5. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina re-elected as President of the African Development Bank Group: Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina was re-elected to serve a second five-year term as president of the African Development Bank Group by the board of governors of the bank. Adesinae was first elected as president of the bank on May 28, 2015. As newly re-elected president, Dr Adesina, a former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, will begin his new term on this Sept 1.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. S Krishnan becomes new MD & CEO of Punjab & Sind Bank: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of S Krishnan as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Punjab & Sind Bank. He will replace S Harishankar. ACC has given permission to S Harishankar to voluntarily retire with effect from the date of notification of the acceptance. Earlier to this elevation, S Krishnan was as an Executive Director at Canara Bank.

Note: Punjab & Sind Bank Non-Executive Chairman: Dr Charan Singh; Punjab & Sind BankHeadQuarters: NewDelhi, India; Punjab & Sind Bank Tagline: Where Service is a Way of Life.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Adani Group buys 74% stake in Mumbai International Airport: Adani Group has acquired 74% stake in Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) that operates Mumbai Airport. Mumbai Airport is the second largest airport in India. Under this, Adani Group will acquire 50.5% stake of GVK group. Additionally, Adani will also acquire 23.5% stake of minority partners Airport Company of South Africa (ACSA) and Bidvest. The acquisition will also give Adani’s ownership of the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport in which MIAL holds 74% stake.

 

2. Myntra appoints Kiara Advani as brand ambassador: E-commerce website Myntra has appointed Kiara Advani as its brand ambassador. Actress Kiara Advani will be the brand ambassador and nationwide celebrity endorser for Myntra. Her mass appeal as an actor and fashion trendsetter is poised to accelerate conversations around Myntra’s apparel segments.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Hyderabad International Airport wins CII-GBC ‘National Energy Leader’ award: The Hyderabad International Airport or GMR led Rajiv Gandhi International Airport won the ‘National Energy Leader’ and ‘Excellent Energy Efficient Unit’ awards at the 21st National Awards for ‘Excellence in Energy Management’.  Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited-Vizag Steel Plant (RINL-VSP) has also been awarded ‘Excellent Energy Efficient Unit’ award by CII-GBC in national award competition for excellence in energy management.

About CII-GBC ‘National Energy Leader’ award: The ‘National Awards for Excellence in Energy Management’ is instituted by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Godrej Green Business Centre (GBC) to recognize significant and innovative practices of the energy efficiency sector, for the energy-efficient and sustainable growth of the Indian industry.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Katyayani Shankar Bajpai, Doyen of Indian Foreign Policy, passes away: Former diplomat Katyayani Shankar Bajpai, who had been the ambassador in India’s three most important and challenging posts, has passed away at the age of 92. Bajpai served as India’s ambassador to the US, China, and Pakistan. He had also served as the Chairman National Security Advisory Board from 2008 to 2010. Popularly known as Shankar Bajpai, he was the son of Girja Shankar Bajpai, first secretary-general of the Ministry of External Affairs.