Daily GK Updates – 23rd Nov, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Vijayanagara becomes 31st District of Karnataka, carved out of Ballari district: The Karnataka Government has approved to carve out Vijayanagara as new district of the state. Vijayanagara will be the 31st district of the State. The new district would be carved out of Ballari and named after the Vijayanagara Empire that ruled from this region. Hospete, Kampli, Hagaribommanahalli, Kottur, Hadagali and Harapanahalli will form the new district of Vijayanagara with Hospete as the district headquarters. Ballari, Kurugodu, Siraguppa, Sandur and Kudligi taluks will continue to be part of Ballari district, with Ballari city as headquarters.

 

2. World Bank Signs $120 Million Project to Improve Connectivity in Meghalaya: The World Bank has inked USD 120 million project with the Government of India and the Government of Meghalaya on 19 November 2020, which will help to improve and modernize the transport sector of Meghalaya. The loan has been sanctioned for the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Project (MITP). This will improve about 300 km of strategic road segments and stand-alone bridges by using innovative, climate resilient, and nature-based solutions and eventually help Meghalaya to harness its vast growth potential for high-value agriculture and tourism.

 

3. L&T delivers India’s first launch hardware for human space programme: Larsen & Toubro has delivered the first hardware, a booster segment, for the Gaganyaan Launch Vehicle to the Indian Space Research Organisation ahead of schedule, in a virtual flag-off ceremony presided by Isro chairman K Sivan. The segment was produced at L&T’s Powai Aerospace Manufacturing Facility and meets the enhanced quality and timeline requirements for India’s maiden manned mission. The critical booster segment, with a diameter of 3.2 metres, length of 8.5 metres and weighing 5.5 tonnes.

 

4. Arunachal records best sex ratio, Manipur the worst: Arunachal Pradesh recorded the best sex ratio in India with 1,085 females born per thousand males, followed by Kerala at 963 and Karnataka at 957.The report was released by the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner. A 2018 report on the ‘vital statistics on India based on the Civil Registration System‘ has revealed this.  Besides Arunachal Pradesh, two other Northeastern states topped the list. Nagaland (965) took the second spot and Mizoram (964), the third. Manipur, which recorded the lowest sex ratio, was followed by Lakshadweep at 839 and Daman & Diu at 877, Punjab at 896 and Gujarat at 896.

 

5. Mumbai becomes the 1st Indian city with designated infrastructure for women in its urban plan: Mumbai has become the first city in India to design a plan for development of designated spaces for women’s needs. The city has designed an urban plan with gender-focus on reserving physical and social infrastructure for women. The plan provides about 90 land reservations to address women’s needs including education, health, housing and safety. It has been designed under the Revised Draft Development Plan 2034. Among the planned developments, construction of a child-care centre in Goregaon and a skills development facility in Sion-Koliwada is almost complete.Project designs which have been finalised and await bids include two homes for the elderly in Bhandup and Goregaon, and rental housing for women in Antop Hill, Bhandup and Goregaon.

 

6. Punjab Govt. launches Punjab Divyangjan Shaktikaran Yojna: In  a bid to empower persons with disabilities, the Punjab Cabinet approved a new scheme Punjab Divyangjan Shaktikaran Yojna (PDSY), to be implemented in a phased manner across the state. The first phase of the scheme will involve strengthening the existing programmes to ensure that their benefits reach the persons with disabilities in a more effective manner, while in the second phase 13 new interventions are proposed to be undertaken for the empowerment of such persons. For overall guidance and policy support for the scheme, a consultative group headed by the Minister of Social Security and Women and Child Development is proposed to be constituted with all Cabinet Ministers concerned as members.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. WHO rolls out global strategy to eradicate cervical cancer by 2050: The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the global strategy to fast track the eradication of cervical cancer. WHO aims to reduce more than 40% of new cases and 5 million related deaths by 2050, with a combination of vaccination, screening and treatment. For the first time, 194 countries, including India, committed to eliminate cancer, following the adoption of a resolution at the World Health Assembly 2020 in Geneva. The countries should vaccinate 90% of girls aged 15 years with the HPV vaccine by 2030, while 70% of women up to the age of 35 years should be screened using a high-performance test and 90% of women of up to 45 years diagnosed with cervical cancer must receive treatment.

 

2. India Ranks 77 in TRACE Bribery Risk Matrix 2020: India is placed at 77th position in the TRACE Bribery Risk Matrix 2020. India has achieved the score of 45 in a global list that measures business bribery risks of 2020. India’s rank stood 78th position in 2019. North Korea, Turkmenistan, South Sudan, Venezuela and Eritrea had the highest commercial bribery risk. Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and New Zealand showed the lowest bribery risk. India fared better than its neighbours- Pakistan, China, Nepal and Bangladesh. Bhutan, meanwhile, secured 48th rank with a score of 37, the data showed.  The TRACE Matrix list is released by TRACE International, an anti-bribery standard setting organisation, which measures business bribery risk in 194 countries, territories, and autonomous and semi-autonomous regions.

 

3. London tops list of World’s Best Cities 2021, Delhi ranked 62: Vancouver-based Resonance Consultancy Ltd., which deals in real estate, released its “World’s Best Cities for 2021” list, naming London as the best city.  London was followed by USA’s New York. Only one Indian city Delhi made it to the list, taking the 62nd position. Paris (France), Moscow (Russia), Tokyo (Japan), Dubai (UAE), Singapore, Barcelona (Spain), Los Angeles (USA), and Madrid (Spain) took the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth rank respectively.The other cities that were named are Rome (Italy) and Toronto (Canada).

 

4. World Antimicrobial Awareness Week: 18th to 24th November: Every year, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week observed from November 18 to 24. The aim of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to stop the further emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections. The slogan for 2020 will be “Antimicrobials: handle with care” applicable to all sectors. The theme for the human health sector for WAAW 2020 is “United to preserve antimicrobials”.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC Bank launches ‘Mooh Band Rakho’ campaign to create awareness on Cyber Frauds: HDFC Bank Ltd.announced the launch of “Mooh Band Rakho,” a campaign to increase awareness on cyber frauds and preventing them. The Bank will be conducting 1,000 workshops in the next 4 months across the country. Following simple steps such as not sharing card details, CVV, Expiry Date, OTP NetBanking/ MobileBanking Login ID & Password over Phone, SMS, email and social media can help general public keep their money safe.  It supports the International Fraud Awareness Week 2020, the global movement to minimise the impact of fraud which is being held from November 15 – 21.

 

2. RBI names 2 startups as a part of its regulatory sandbox programme: Reserve Bank of India has announced the names of two startups that have been selected as a part of its regulatory sandbox programme. RBI said, it has shortlisted six companies out of 32 entities that had applied for the ‘Test Phase’ of the first cohort. The two companies are Jaipur based Natural Support Consultancy Services Private Limited and New Delhi based Nucleus Software Exports Limited.  While the former has named its product ‘eRupaya’, which will facilitate offline Person-to-Merchant transactions and offline digital payments in remote locations. The second company’s product ‘PaySe’, proposes to help in digitisation of payments in rural areas, starting with Self Help Groups, through an offline payment solution and a digitised SHG-centered ecosystem.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Flipkart Acquires AR Startup Scapic to Enhance Immersive Shopping Experience: Flipkart Group has announced acquisition of Augmented Reality (AR) startup called Scapic for an undisclosed sum. The move is part of the company’s efforts to provide “deeper camera experiences, virtual storefronts and new opportunities for brand advertising” on its platform. It has also been investing in online technology to engage first-time users on its platform.

 

2. Retail inflation jumps to 7.61% in October, highest in six years: India’s retail inflation rose to the highest in more than six years on account of elevated food prices. According to Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, inflation stood at 7.61% in October — the highest since May 2014. Retail inflation recorded at 7.27% in September, according to data. The Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) jumped to 11.07% in October, up from 10.68% in September. In October, inflation in meat and fish rose to 18.7% while vegetable prices increased to 22.51%. Clothing and footwear inflation stood at 3.17% in October.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Delhi Airport becomes first airport in Asia-Pacific region to get Level 4+ carbon accreditation: Delhi Airport has become the first airport in Asia Pacific Region to achieve Level 4+ accredited airport under Airport Council International’s (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation program. This means Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in the national capital has been adjudged as the best airport in carbon emission reduction management in the Asia Pacific region. Back in 2016, Delhi Airport became the first Carbon Neutral Airport in the Asia Pacific region 2016. The GMR-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has said that it aims to become Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport by 2030.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. 2nd Trilateral Maritime Exercise SITMEX-20 held in Andaman Sea: The 2nd edition of India, Singapore and Thailand Trilateral Maritime Exercise SITMEX-20 was conducted from in the Andaman Sea. The 2020 edition of the exercise is being hosted by Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). Indian Navy (IN) Ships including indigenously built ASW corvette Kamorta and missile corvette Karmuk participated in the exercise.

About SITMEX: The SITMEX series of exercises are conducted to enhance mutual inter-operability between IN, RSN and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and also strengthen mutual confidence and develop common understanding and procedures towards enhancing the overall maritime security in the region. The first edition of SITMEX was hosted by Indian Navy in 2019 off Port Blair.

Note: Prime Minister of Thailand: Prayut Chan-o-cha; Thailand Capital: Bangkok; Thailand Currency: Thai baht.

Singapore Currency: Singapore dollar; Singapore Capital: Singapore; Prime Minister of Singapore: Lee Hsien Loong.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Ex-Navy Officer, Vice Admiral John Thomas Goslin Pereira passes away: Vice Admiral John Thomas Goslin Pereira (retd), Indian Navy’s former Chief of Materials, died after a brief illness. He was 97. Pereira was among the last surviving naval officers who served during the Second World War, Vice Adm I C Rao (retd), who served with him on board warship INS Delhi in 1958. ‘JTG” as he was known in Navy circles, was the Chief Staff Officer (Tech) of the Western Naval Command during the 1971 war. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for distinguished service during the war.