Daily GK Updates – 10th Nov, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 1st solar-based water supply project of India launched in Arunachal Pradesh: Union Jal Shakti Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has launched India’s first solar-based Integrated Multi-Village Water Supply Project (IMVWSP) in Arunachal Pradesh. The solar-based lift water supply project is ‘first of its kind’ in the country, and has been commissioned at a cost of Rs 28.50 crore. However, such projects will be carried out in other parts of the country too.

About the project: The project would provide drinking water to 17,480 people in 39 villages of Lower Dibang Valley district in Arunachal Pradesh. The solar-based Integrated Multi-Village Water Supply Project has been designed as an integrated project with three components, which are drinking water, green energy and tourism. The project uses a green energy-solar grid, SCADA automation system, pre-fabricated zinc alum storage tank and HDPE conduit for mains, sub-mains and distribution networking system. The project also includes amusement park including swimming pool, amphitheatre, fountains, and sit-outs.

Note: Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh: Pema Khandu; Governor: B.D. Mishra.

 

2. PM Modi: Shipping ministry to be renamed: The Ministry of Shipping is being expanded and renamed as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. This information was given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 8 November 2020, during a launch event of Ro-Pax terminal at Hazira and flagging off the Ro-Pax ferry service between Hazira and Ghogha in Gujarat, which will reduce the 370-km road distance between the two places to 90-km by sea route. The service will also cut the travel time between the two places to about four hours from 10 to 12 hours. The ferry will make three trips daily, annually transporting five lakh passengers, 80,000 passenger vehicles, 50,000 two-wheelers and 30,000 trucks, as per the release.

Note: Minister of State (IC) of the Ministry of Shipping: Mansukh L. Mandaviya.

 

3. AAI Signs MoU With NTPC Subsidiary, NVVN: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a subsidiary of NTPC Ltd, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), to promote usage of electric vehicles and set up solar power plants at the airports managed and operated by AAI.

Under the MoU: NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) will be provided adequate land and rooftop space by AAI, free of cost, at identified AAI airports to set up solar power plants. Initially, NVVN will begin working on the projects at airports in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. The solar capacity required at airports in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan is around 55 MW and 8 MW, respectively to become 100% solar-powered airports. Apart from this, AAI and NVVN will jointly work towards supporting the government of India’s initiatives for the adoption of electric vehicles by the creation of public charging infrastructure and promoting the usage of electric vehicles at airports.

Note: Airports Authority of India Headquarters: New Delhi; Airports Authority of India Founded: 1 April 1995; Chairman of Airports Authority of India: Arvind Singh.

 

4. ISRO launches PSLV C49 with 10 satellites: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched the 51st mission of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). This is the first mission by ISRO in 2020. The carrier vehicle PSLV C49 will deliver 10 satellites in all with EOS-01 as the primary one. It is the 51st mission of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The carrier was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The EOS-01, an earth observation satellite, was intended to provide agriculture, forestry and disaster management support. The nine customer satellites are from Lithuania (1), Luxembourg (4) and USA (4). The customer satellites were being launched under a commercial agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), department of space.

Note: ISRO Chairman: K. Sivan; ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Joe Biden defeats Trump to become 46th President of the USA: Joe Biden has defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States. He is from the Democratic Party one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States. Other is the Republican Party. His full name is Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. and has served as Vice President of the United States under Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Biden will become the oldest president-elect in U.S. history and the first to oust a sitting commander-in-chief after one term since Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush in 1992. Joe got 284 electoral college votes while Trump got 214 votes. Kamala Harris, 56, will be the vice president and will be the first Indian-American woman to serve as Vice Present of the USA.

 

2. Indian diplomat Vidisha Maitra elected to UN advisory committee: Indian diplomat, Vidisha Maitra has been elected to the UN’s Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). The election was a tightly contested one but Maitra won with 126 UN members supporting her candidature for the only post for the Asia-Pacific group while 64 voted for the opposing candidate who was from Iraq. India has been a member of the committee since its inception in 1946.  India’s win in this committee comes as India also prepares to take a seat as one of 10 non-permanent members in the UN Security Council for a two year period starting 1 January 2021.

About the UN’s Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ): The committee is one of the most coveted in the United Nations system as it controls the financial and budgetary purse of the UN. The ACABQ performs several functions including the examination of the budget submitted by the UN Secretary-General to the General Assembly and advising the Assembly on administrative and budgetary matters referred to it. The ACABQ is a crucial component in ensuring that resources of the Member states are used to good effect and that mandates are properly funded. Members are elected by the General Assembly, consisting of 193 member states, on the basis of broad geographical representation, personal qualifications and experience and service for a period of three calendar years. Members serve in a personal capacity and not as representatives of Member States.

Note: United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA; Mr Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

 

3. World Science Day for Peace and Development: 10th November: World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated each year on November 10 every year. This day is celebrated to highlight the important role that science play in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues. This year World Science Day for Peace and Development theme is “Science for and with Society”. This year, at a time when the world is struggling with the global COVID-19 pandemic, the focus of World Science Day is on “Science for and with Society in dealing with the global pandemic.” World Science Day was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2001 and celebrated for the first time in 2002.

Note: Director-General of UNESCO: Audrey Azoulay; UNESCO formation: 4 November 1946; UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Manipur’s Gyanendro Ningombam becomes new president of Hockey India: Manipur’s Gyanendro Ningombam was elected unopposed as the President of Hockey India, while former President Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad is back in the Hockey India Executive Board after being Elected Unopposed for the Senior Vice President post. Earlier, Gyanendro Ningombam has been serving as the Officiating President of Hockey India since July 2020.

About Gyanendro Ningombam: On being elected unopposed, Gyanendro becomes the first President from northeast India to spearhead Hockey India. He will serve as Head of the national federation for two years. Gyanendro has been associated with the discipline of Hockey in Manipur for the last 40 years, and has impressed with his work at the grassroots level. He was Senior Vice President of Hockey India, Senior Vice President of Manipur Hockey, and also Chief Executive Officer of Manipur Hockey. He also served as the editor of Meeyam, an evening daily in Manipur.

Note: Hockey India Founded: 20 May 2009; Hockey India Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Visa partners with DigitSecure, HDFC Bank for global-first live deployment of PCI certified Tap to Phone card acceptance solution: Visa recently announced the first successful live deployment of a PCI certified Tap to Phone card acceptance solution, in partnership with DigitSecure and HDFC Bank. DeliveryPlus is the first merchant to go live with HDFC Bank as acquirer. This solution enables merchants to securely accept contactless card payments in seconds through an app on their NFC-enabled Android smartphones, and without having dedicated card acceptance devices. In line with the ‘Make in India’ goal of local innovation, DigitSecure is the first company based in Asia Pacific to receive PCI security certification for deploying this technology.

 

2. Paytm partners with SBI to offer Credit Card through its app: SBI Cards and Payment Services (SBI Card) said it has launched credit cards in partnership with the digital payment platform Paytm. Available in two variants, Paytm SBI Card and Paytm SBI Card SELECT, the product has been launched on the Visa platform. The partnership aims to bring ‘new to credit’ users into the formal economy and empowering them to control their finances. The card which can be used across Paytm ecosystem, third-party platform and offline retail stores, will also enable digital process for the card application, issuance and managing the expenses.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Whatsapp Partners with 5 Banks for UPI Payment: WhatsApp has partnered with five Indian banks to process its payment services. These are State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Jio Payments Bank. The Facebook-owned messaging platform, WhatsApp Inc., has received the approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based payments services in India, to let users send or receive money across the country. The service can however be expanded in a graded manner. It means that initially, Whatsapp can only roll out the payments service to only its 20 million users. The payment system will be rolled out in ten Indian regional languages in the latest version of WhatsApp app.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India’s Special Forces conducted ‘Bull Strike’ triservice exercise: Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) has conducted a three-day Tri-Service Combat Exercise code-named “Bull Strike” at Teressa Island in Nicobar Group of Islands. The exercise focussed on interoperability and synergy among three services – Army, Navy and Air Force to maximise combat potential.

About “Bull Strike” Exercise: The exercise saw participation from three services components of ANC, elements of Indian Army’s Parachute Brigade, MARCOS (Marine Commando Force) and Special Forces. The training activities included combat free fall and paradrop from Advanced Airlifter C-130J “Super Hercules” by a company of Para Commandos, action by MARCOS of Indian Navy and Special Heli Borne Operations (SHBO) by Indian Army Ghatak platoons. Search and rescue (SAR) and medical evacuation procedures were also practised by the participating troops.

Note: Chief of Defence Staff of India: General Bipin Rawat; Commander-in-Chief of Indian Armed Forces: Ram Nath Kovind (President of India).

 

2. Two-day joint coastal security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’ begins: A two-day joint coastal security exercise, “Sagar Kavach” was launched at Paradip Coast, Odisha. The exercise is being carried out by a joint effort of the state of Odisha and West Bengal governments.

About the “Sagar Kavach”: The main purpose of the exercise is to carry out the exercise on the coast of Paradip this year, just like every year after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The exercise is being carried out to prevent a repeat of the Mumbai attacks by sea. More than 10 such departments, including the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, the Odisha Police, the local fishermen, the forest department, and the port marine department, have joined the joint exercise. It will run for two days, with red and green forces being formed to infiltrate and prevent attacks. This year for coastal security the exercise was named “Sagar Kavach”.

Note: Chief of the Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Filmmaker Sudarshan Rattan passes away: Bollywood filmmaker Sudarshan Rattan passed away due to COVID-19. He was known for his 1986 film Manav Hatya, starring Madhuri Dixit and Shekhar Suman. Apart from this, the late filmmaker had also written, directed and produced the 1996 action drama film Hahakaar, starring Sudhir Pandey, Shafi Inamdar, Neelima Azeem and Johny Lever among others.