Daily GK Updates – 31th Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Kerala becomes the first state to fix floor price for vegetables: Kerala becomes the first state in the country to fix the floor price for vegetables. The floor price will be 20 per cent above the production cost of the vegetable. Even if the market price goes below the floor price, the product will be procured at the floor price from the farmers. This is the first time in the country that the floor price is being fixed for vegetables produced in the state. Benefits of the scheme:

(1) This is going to provide relief as well as support for the farmers.

(2) The produce will be graded and the floor price will be fixed based on the quality.

(3) Sixteen varieties of vegetables would be covered in the first phase and there is a provision to revise the floor price on a regular basis.

(4) Farmers can register on the agriculture department’s registration portal after insuring the crop to get the benefit of the floor price.

(5) The scheme also envisages setting up the entire supply chain process like cold storage facilities and refrigerated vehicles for transporting the produce.

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

 

2. Young Advocates Welfare Fund launched in Tamil Nadu: The Young Advocates Welfare Fund has been launched in Tamil Nadu. The Young Advocates Welfare Scheme is aimed at helping such fresh candidates to withstand the initial challenges. It provides monthly financial assistance of three thousand rupees each for two years to the lawyers who just come out of law colleges. Normally a fresher from law colleges takes three to four years to begin practice as an advocate in the court as the registration in the Bar Council, and the mandatory practicing under a senior advocate takes time. Unable to sustain themselves during the initial period, many from poor and rural backgrounds shifted their profession.

Note: Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai; Tamil Nadu Chief Minister: Edappadi K. Palaniswami; Tamil Nadu Governor: Banwarilal Purohit.

 

3. Odisha CM launches ‘Sumangal’ & Student Scholarship web portals: Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik has launched two web portals named ‘Odisha State Scholarship Portal’ and ‘Sumangal Portal’. The former portal is to help eligible students of the state to avail scholarship benefits in a seamless and transparent manner, while the latter one is to help people avail inter-caste marriage incentives.

Benefits of Both web portals: According to a government release, 21 scholarships would be offered by eight state departments and more than 11 lakh beneficiary students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and educationally backward classes would benefit from the scholarship portal. Through the State Scholarship Portal, scholarships will be credited directly to students’ bank accounts as the portal is linked to the state treasury. Moreover, professional programs of the SC and ST Department, Higher Education, Schools and Mass Education, Labor and ESI, Skills Development and Technical Education, and Agriculture Department will be administered on the portal.

Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik; Odisha Capital: Bhubaneswar; Odisha Governor: Ganeshi Lal.

 

4. A book titled “Night of the Restless Spirits” authored by Sarbpreet Singh: A book titled “Night of the Restless Spirits: Stories from 1984″ authored by Sarbpreet Singh. The author Sarbpreet Singh’s recounts the Sikh massacre of 1984 in this book. The book is a fictionalised version of real happenings comprising just eight chapters. It shows the events of 1984 through the prism of many lives & impact on Sikhs. The book is published by Penguin Publication.

 

5. National Unity Day: 31st October: In India, the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day is observed every year on October 31 since 2014, to commemorate the birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. This year marks the 145th anniversary of the great leader who played an instrumental role in India’s struggle for independence, and later during the integration of the country.

About Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: He was born on 31st October 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat. He was the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of independent India. He played an important role in the integration of many Indian princely states to make an Indian federation. At the time of independence, he played a key role in convincing several princely states to align with the Indian Union. He also worked hard as a social leader for the independence of India.

Women of Bardoli bestowed the title ‘Sardar’ on Vallabhbhai Patel, which means ‘a Chief or a Leader’. He is recognized as the real unifier of India for his colossal contribution to integrate and make India a united (Ek Bharat) and an independent nation. He requested the people of India to live together by uniting in order to create Shresth Bharat (Foremost India). He is also remembered as the ‘Patron saint of India’s civil servants’ as he established the modern all-India services system. The Statue of Unity at Kevadiya in Narmada district of Gujarat was built in his honour.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NATO plans to set up new space center in Germany: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance, plans to build a headquarters for space operations at its airbase in Ramstein in Germany, to counter a rising Russian and Chinese threat. The new centre is to be a central point of contact to support NATO missions with communication and satellite images. It will also be a place to exchange information on potential threats to satellites. Some 2,000 satellites orbit the Earth, more than half of which are operated by NATO members, allowing everything from mobile phone services to weather forecasts. Currently, at least 40 per cent of NATO’s communications are via satellite.

Note: NATO Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium; NATO Chairman of the NATO Military Committee: Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach; Member countries of NATO: 30; Founded:  4 April 1949.

 

2. Japan to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050: Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga has stated that the country will achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Prime Minister stated he intends to make a sustainable economy a pillar of his growth strategy and put maximum effort into achieving a green society. Suga emphasized the need to shift away from fossil fuels to counter climate change as an opportunity rather than a burden. As per Japan’s current energy plan, 56 per cent of its energy requirements come from fossil fuels.

Note: Japan Capital: Tokyo; Japan Currency: Japanese yen; Japan Prime minister: Yoshihide Suga.

 

3. ISRO-NASA Satellite NISAR Scheduled to Be Launched by 2022: According to a joint statement issued after a strategic dialogue between India and the US, the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite is expected to be launched by 2022 as India and the U.S. have decided to share Space Situational Awareness Information, which will catalyse efforts to create the conditions for a safe and sustainable space environment. The two sides also expressed the intent to continue the India-U.S. Space Dialogue as well as discussions on areas of potential space defense cooperation.

 

4. World Cities Day: 31st October: The United Nations General Assembly has designated the 31st of October as World Cities Day. The Day is celebrated to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world. 2020 Theme: Valuing Our Communities and Cities.

History of World Cities Day:  Urban October was launched by UN-Habitat in 2014 to emphasize the world’s urban challenges and engage the international community towards the New Urban Agenda. World Cities Day 2020 is the seventh global celebration since the day was launched on 31 October 2014 in Shanghai, China.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian Chess Player Leon Mendonca Wins Tournament in Hungary: Young Indian International Master Leon Luke Mendonca earned his maiden Grandmaster norm after winning the title in Rigochess International Festival tournament in Hungary. The 14-year old Mendonca won six games, drew two and lost one to emerge winner in the 10-player field which included three GMs and was played over the board. He secured seven points from nine rounds in the tournament.

 

2. Sabalenka beats sick Azarenka to win Ostrava Open: Third seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus won the Ostrava Open WTA tournament after beating her visibly struggling compatriot Victoria Azarenka in straight sets. It was Sabalenka’s second title this year after a win at the Qatar Open in February, before the coronavirus pandemic broke out.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI signs $1 billion loan agreement with JBIC: State Bank of India (SBI) has signed a loan agreement of up to $1 billion with The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The loan will facilitate the operations of Japanese car companies in India. The financing will assist in Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. While $600 million will be financed by JBIC, the rest will come from other participating lenders which include the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, MUFG Bank, , Mizuho Bank, Shizuoka Bank and Bank of Yokohama. JBIC will provide a guarantee for the portion co-financed by the participating banks. The loan is intended to promote the smooth flow of funds for the whole range of business operations of Japanese automobile manufacturers in India.

About SBI: The bank has the largest network of over 22,100 branches in India with an ATM/CDM network of over 58,500 and total BC outlets of more than 62,200. The number of customers using internet banking facilities is about 76 million and mobile banking services stand a little more than 17 million.

About JBIC: JBIC is a policy-based financial institution, wholly owned by the Japanese government, with the objective of contributing to the sound development of Japan, the international economy and society.

Note: Chairman of State Bank of India: Dinesh Kumar Khara; SBI Founded: 1 July 1955; SBI Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Japan Bank for International Cooperation Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President & CEO of Japan Bank for International Cooperation: Tadashi Maeda; Japan Bank for International Cooperation Founded: 1 October 1999

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India Post, US Postal Service sign pact for electronic exchange of customs: Indian Posts & US Postal Service entered into an agreement for the electronic exchange of customs data related to postal shipments. It will enable to transmit & receive electronic data of international postal items prior to their physical arrival. About the agreement:

(1) The agreement will make it possible to transmit and receive electronic data of international postal items prior to their physical arrival at the destination and would enable customs clearance of postal items in advance in line with the evolving global postal framework.

(2) This will also improve the performance of postal services in terms of reliability, visibility and security.

(3) Exchange of Electronic Advance Data as per the Agreement will be a key driver towards promoting mutual trade with emphasis on the exports from different parts of India to the USA through the postal channel.

(4) USA is a major destination of MSME products, Gems and Jewellery, Pharmaceuticals and other local products from India. This will fulfil a major demand of export industry to expedite customs clearances of export items.

Note: Indian Post Headquarters: New Delhi; Director-General of Indian Post: Arundhaty Ghosh.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Dr Satish Mishra bags “Dr Tulsi Das Chugh Award-2020: The National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) has selected the Principal Scientist, Division of Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, (CSIR-CDRI)-Lucknow, Dr Satish Mishra for “Dr.Tulsi Das Chugh Award 2020”. He is awarded for his research work on Malaria parasite’s life cycle which is a complex process involving two hosts and three invasive stages.

Research work: Invasion in both mammals and mosquitoes requires a coordinated sequence of events to be played out successfully. His outstanding work focused on “Secreted Protein with Altered Thrombospondin Repeat (SPATR) which is Essential for Asexual Blood Stages but not Required for Hepatocyte Invasion by the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium Berghei”. This study focuses on the dispensability of SPATR in P. berghei sporozoites and its importance for the establishment of blood-stage infection, further investigation is needed to unravel its precise role during this process.

Dr Satish Mishra has also awarded with: Elected, a member in 2019, National Academy of Medical Sciences, India. Elected, a member in 2018, The National Academy of Sciences, India. Shakuntala Amir Chand Prize in 2018 by Indian Council of Medical Research, Government of India. Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship in 2013 by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.