Daily GK Updates - 7th Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Puducherry airport becomes AAI’s first 100% solar-powered airport: The Puducherry airport has become the first airport of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) which is entirely solar-powered. The 500KWp ground-mounted solar power plant was commissioned on 2nd October 2020. The approx cost of the plant is Rs 2.8 crore. With becoming absolutely power-neutral, the Puducherry airport will be able to meet its entire power requirement through the solar power plant.

Note: Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry (UT): Dr Kiran Bedi; Chief Minister of Puducherry: V. Narayanasamy.

 

2. Famous chilli of Sikkim “Dalle Khursani” gets GI Tag: The red cherry pepper chilli of Sikkim which is locally known as the “Dalle Khursani” has earned the geographical indication (GI) tag from the Union department of Industry promotion and internal trade. Notably, it is considered as one of the hottest chillies in the world. Dalle Khursani fetches as much as Rs 480 per kg in the local market today. Dalle Khursani has been included in the GI Registry of the Government of India on the basis of an application filed by the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (Neramac) on behalf of Sikkim. It is to be mentioned that the largest manufacturer of Dalle Khursani products is the state government-owned Sikkim Supreme.

Note: Chief Minister of Sikkim: PS Golay; Governor of Sikkim: Ganga Prasad.

 

3. CM Arvind Kejriwal launched ‘Yudh Pradushan Ke Virudh’ campaign: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has announced the launch of the anti-pollution campaign ‘Yudh Pradushan Ke Virudh’ to reduce the pollution level in Delhi. An anti-dust campaign is being initiated by the Delhi government to settle the dust. As part of the campaign, a technology developed by Pusa Agriculture Institute would be used to curb the menace of stubble burning. The government will launch a photo-based app ‘Green Delhi’ for complaints related to pollution. This App will be launched for citizens before the end of this month.

Note: Lieutenant Governor of Delhi: Anil Baijal.

 

4. Union Minister Harsh Vardhan digitally inaugurates Super Speciality Block dedicated to COVID at Motilal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj : The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh inaugurated the Super Speciality Block (SSB) at Motilal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj on 5 October 2020 via video conferencing. The Super Speciality Block (SSB) is a 220-bedded facility, dedicated as a COVID Hospital (DCH) to the nation. It has been built with an investment of Rs 150 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Apart from this, the Union Health Minister also digitally inaugurated first high throughput COBAS 6800 machine. It is the first such machine in Uttar Pradesh, installed by ICMR. The COBAS 6800 is a fully automated, high end machine for performing real time PCR testing for COVID-19 to provide quality, high-volume testing with a high throughput of around 1200 samples in 24 hours.

 

5. NCERT books to be converted into Indian Sign Language: According to Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to make educational materials accessible for hearing impaired children. It is a historic decision for people with difficulties in speaking or hearing and will empower differently-abled persons. The conversion of all education material in sign language will strengthen the concept of equal opportunity for everyone irrespective of their physical inability. The signing of MoU between ISLRTC and NCERT was attended by Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Union Cabinet Minister for Education amongst other members of the NCERT, ISLRTC, and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Note: Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment: Thaawar Chand Gehlot.

 

6. IPS officer MA Ganapathy appointed DG of BCAS: Senior IPS officer, M A Ganapathy has been appointed as the Director-General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). He is a 1986 batch IPS officer of Uttarakhand cadre. The post of BCAS chief fell vacant after Rakesh Asthana was appointed as the Director-General of Border Security Force in August. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Ganapathy to the post of Director-General, BCAS, for a tenure up to his superannuation on February 29, 2024.

Note: Bureau of Civil Aviation Security Founded: 1978; Bureau of Civil Aviation Security Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian-built Sittwe port in Myanmar to be operational in 2021: India and Myanmar are working towards the operationalization of the Sittwe port in the Rakhine state of Myanmar in the first quarter of 2021. The port is part of the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project which is being viewed as India’s gateway to Southeast Asia. About Sittwe Port: Sittwe Port is a deepwater port constructed by India in 2016 at Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State in Myanmar, on the Bay of Bengal. The port will connect India’s landlocked northeastern region with the Bay of Bengal through Mizoram.

Note: Capital of Myanmar: Naypyitaw; Currency of Myanmar: Burmese kyat; President of Myanmar: Win Myint.

 

2. Quad Countries’ Foreign Minister Meet held in Tokyo: Quad Countries’ Foreign Minister meet held in Tokyo, Japan. All four Quad countries the United States, Japan, India and Australia to hold bilateral discussions over “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) initiative amid coronavirus pandemic. This is the second Quad FM meeting. The first was held in 2019. The Quad FM meeting was represented by External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. They discussed the post-COVID-19 international order and the need for a coordinated response to the various challenges emerging from the pandemic.

About Quadrilateral Security Dialogue: Quad or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD), is an Inter-governmental security forum between the United States, Japan, Australia and India. The ministers discussed regional issues and collectively affirmed the importance of maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

 

3. World Cotton Day: 7th October: World Cotton Day (WCD) is observed globally on 7th October since 2019. The international day aims to celebrate the advantages of cotton, ranging from its qualities as a natural fibre to the benefits people obtain from its production, transformation, trade and consumption. The day was inaugurated by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva on October 7, 2019. WCD Day was initiated by the Group of Cotton-4 countries namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali to the reflect the importance of cotton as a global commodity.

Note: World Trade Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; World Trade Organization Founded: 1 January 1995; World Trade Organization Director-General: Roberto Azevêdo.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Bank offers debit card for customers availing LAS: ICICI Bank has launched a debit card facility for the customers availing the Loan Against Securities (LAS) from the Bank. The debit card is available on the Visa platform. With this launch, ICICI Bank has become the first bank in India to launch such a facility. The LAS debit can be used by customers across all domestic merchant establishments to make seamless POS and online transactions like payments on e-commerce portals among others, using their sanctioned LAS amount. Benefits of the debit card:

Transaction limit: The card offers a maximum daily transaction limit of Rs. 3 lakh each for POS and online transactions.

Digital card: The Bank provides a digital card to customers, which is made available on iMobile app within one business day. (Physical card will be made available within seven business days.)

Automatic renewal: The card is automatically renewed upon renewal of the LAS account.

Note: CICI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; ICICI Bank MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi; ICICI Bank Tagline: Hum Hai Na, Khayal Apka.

 

2. Dinesh Kumar Khara becomes new Chairman of SBI: The government of India has appointed Dinesh Kumar Khara as the new Chairman of State Bank of India for a period of three years. His appointment is effective from October 7. Currently, Khara is the Managing Director in-charge of Global Banking & Subsidiaries. The Banks Board Bureau (BBB) had recommended Khara for the post of Chairman of SBI on August 28, ruling out an extension to Rajnish Kumar, whose term is ending on October 6. Khara holds a Masters in Business Administration from FMS New Delhi and is a post-graduate in Commerce. He is also a Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB). Prior to being appointed as SBI MD, Khara was the MD and CEO of SBI Funds Management Pvt. Ltd.

Note: SBI Founded: 1 July 1955; SBI Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020 announced: The 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna “for the development of a method for genome editing”. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is awarded by The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden.

Genetic scissors: a tool for rewriting the code of life: Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna have discovered one of gene technology’s sharpest tools: the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors. Using these, researchers can change the DNA of animals, plants and microorganisms with extremely high precision. This technology has had a revolutionary impact on the life sciences, is contributing to new cancer therapies and may make the dream of curing inherited diseases come true.

About Emmanuelle Charpentier: Emmanuelle Charpentier, born 1968 in Juvisy-sur-Orge, France. PhD. 1995 from Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. Director of the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens, Berlin, Germany.

About Jennifer A. Doudna: Jennifer A. Doudna, born 1964 in Washington, D.C, USA. PhD. 1989 from Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, USA and Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Coast Guard 7th Offshore Patrol Vessel ‘Vigraha’ launched: The seventh offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), “Vigraha” was formally unveiled at the Kattupalli port, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The vessel, built by Larsen and Toubro, is the last in the series of seven OPVs contracted to the company by the Ministry of Defence in 2015. It was the first time a private sector shipyard has undertaken the design and construction of offshore patrol vessel class of ships. About Vigraha:

(1) The OPV is 98 metres long, 15 metres wide, has 3.6 m draught, 2140T displacement and a range of 5,000 nautical miles.

(2) It can attain a sustained speed of up to 26 knots and would be fitted with 30mm 2A42 gun and two 12.7 mm guns and equipped with twin-engine helicopters enhancing its operational, surveillance, search and rescue capability.

(3) The vessel is expected to be inducted into the Coast Guard after completion of extensive trials and testing for the equipment and machinery by March 2021.

(4) The vessel would be manned by 102 crew including 14 officers and 88 subordinate officers. Its life span is expected to be more than 25 years.

About Offshore Patrol Vessels: Offshore Patrol Vessels are long-range surface ships, capable of operation in maritime zones of the country including island territories with helicopter operation capabilities. Some of the roles undertaken by the OPVs include coastal and offshore patrol, policing maritime zones of the country, surveillance, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations.

Note: Indian Coast Guard Director General: Krishnaswamy Natarajan; Indian Coast Guard Founded: 18 August 1978; Indian Coast Guard Headquarters: Ministry of Defence, New Delhi.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran Actor Vishal Anand, Who Starred In 1976 Chalte Chalte, Passes Away: Veteran Bollywood actor Vishal Anand, who came to fame with 1976 super-hit song and film ‘Chalte Chalte’ has passed away, due to prolonged illness. He was 82. His real name was Bhishmam Kohli. He has appeared in 11 Hindi films during his acting career like Hindustan Ki Kasam and Taxi Driver. Apart from acting, Anand had also directed and produced a few films, including Chalte Chalte.

 

2. Afghanistan Batsman Najeeb Tarakai passes away: Najeeb Tarakai, the Afghanistan right-handed batsman has passed away from injuries following a road accident on 2nd October 2020. He was 29. Tarakai played 12 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for Bangladesh, after making his international debut in the 2014 T20 World Cup. He played his only one-day international against Ireland in 2017.