Daily GK Updates – 24th Nov, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of rural drinking water supply projects in UP: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone of rural drinking water supply projects in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts of Vindhyachal region in Uttar Pradesh via video conference. The total estimated cost of the projects is around Rs 5,555.38 Crore.

About the project: The projects will provide household tap water connections in all rural households of 2,995 villages and will benefit about 42 lakh population of these districts. Village Water and Sanitation Committees/ Paani Samiti have been constituted in all these villages, who will shoulder the responsibility of operation and maintenance. The projects are planned to be completed in 24 months.

Note: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Aditya Nath; Governor: Anandiben Patel.

 

2. India’s first ‘Moss Garden’ comes up in Nainital district: The Uttarakhand forest department has dedicated the newly-built Moss Garden to the people, claiming that it is the country’s first such garden, spread over 10 hectares in Kumaon’s Nainital district. The moss garden, which took nearly a year to build, was inaugurated by Water Man of India Rajendra Singh. The state forest department had approved research projects to study moss species, considered the most significant indicator of ecosystem fluctuations as they are more sensitive towards habitat and climate changes.

About “Moss Garden”: The Moss Garden built near Khurpatal under the CAMPA scheme was developed under a project approved in July 2019, with the aim to conserve various species of moss and other bryophytes and to make the people aware of ecological and other useful roles of moss in our environment. The country’s first moss garden spread over 10 hectares, with an interpretation centre, 30 representative moss species and other bryophyte species, including two species listed in IUCN Red List (Hyophila involuta and Brachythecium buchananii) and a moss trail nearly 1.25 km long. Of the 2,300 moss species found in India, 339 are found in Uttarakhand according to experts. Mosses are non-vascular plants that belong to Bryophyta division. They are small flowerless plants that typically grow in damp and shady locations. They play a very important role in maintaining and developing the ecosystem and biodiversity including soil formation, water retention, checking erosion and acting as a nutrient sink.

Note: Uttarakhand Chief Minister: Trivendra Singh Rawat; Governor of Uttarakhand: Baby Rani Maurya.

 

3. National Pharmacy Week: 16th - 22nd November: The 59th National Pharmacy Week (NPW) was celebrated throughout the country from November 16-22, 2020. The theme of the NPW 2020 is “Pharmacists: Frontline Health Professionals”. The Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) organises NPW during the third week of November every year. The main aim to this week is to make all stakeholders aware of the presence of pharmacists in the society and to know the role played by registered pharmacists with respect to medicines, their usage, handling and dispensing.

Note: Indian Pharmaceutical Association President: T.V. Narayana; The Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) founded in 1939.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India becomes 4th nation to get IMO nod for navigation satellite system: The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) has been recognised by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a part of the World Wide Radio Navigation System (WWRNS) for operation in the Indian Ocean Region. India has become the fourth country in the world to have its independent regional navigation satellite system recognised by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The other three countries that have its navigation systems recognised by the IMO are the US, Russia and China.

About IRNSS: The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) was designed to provide accurate position information services to assist in the navigation of ships in Indian Ocean waters. The Director-General of Shipping (DGS) had approached the IMO for granting recognition to the IRNSS as a component of the WWRNS, similar to the US-owned Global Position System (GPS) or Russia’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) – a process that took two years. The IRNSS was a modern and more accurate navigation system and at any given time, there are at least 2,500 merchant vessels in Indian waters that will now be able to use the system. The IRNSS will be used to assist in the navigation of ships in ocean waters within the area of approximately 1,500 km from the Indian boundary.

 

2. 15th G20 Summit held under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia: The 15th G20 Summit was held under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia chaired the Summit through video-conferencing, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The two-day Summit was held under the theme “Realising the Opportunities of the 21st Century for All”.

About the Summit: The focus of the G20 Summit was on an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 and the leaders discussed pandemic preparedness and the ways and means to restore jobs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, participated in the Summit along with the respective Heads of State/ Government of 19 member countries, EU, other invited countries and international organizations. Italy will take over the Presidency of the 16th G20 on 1st December 2020.

 

3. Peru’s congress elects Francisco Sagasti as new interim president: Peruvian lawmaker Francisco Sagasti is set to be sworn in as interim President after being voted for by Congress in a bid to help calm anger on the streets amid deadly protests and the departure of two presidents over the last week. Mr. Sagasti, a legislator from the centrist Purple Party, will be sworn in to fulfil a government mandate until July next year, which would include holding a new presidential election scheduled for April 11.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. LIC launches 1st digital app ‘ANANDA’: Life Insurance Corporation of India has launched a digital application for agents for onboarding to get a life insurance policy. The Digital Application is called “ANANDA”, which is an acronym for Atma Nirbhar Agents NewBusiness Digital Application. The Digital application is a tool for the onboarding process to get the life insurance policy through a paperless module with the help of the agent or intermediary.

Note: Life Insurance Corporation of India Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Life Insurance Corporation of India Chairperson: M R Kumar; Life Insurance Corporation of India Founded: 1 September 1956.

 

2. 14,34,000 loans sanctioned under PM SVANidhi scheme: The Centre has said that over 27 lakh 33 thousand applications have been received under Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atma-Nirbhar Nidhi- PM- SVANidhi Scheme. Out of the total applications received, over 14 lakh and 34 thousand have been sanctioned and about 7.88 lakh loans disbursed. The provision of applying for the loan under the scheme has now become hassle-free as one can easily upload the application online on their own by going to a bank or at any common service centre.             Under the scheme, banks have also been reaching the doorsteps of the people for providing them loans to help them start their ventures.

 

3. Yes Bank launches co-branded prepaid card with Neokred for cashless payments: Yes Bank said it has launched a co-branded prepaid card named ‘Yes Bank Neokred Card’, in partnership with Neokred Technologies to facilitate cashless payments. The card offerings can be personalised to suit the requirements of corporates seeking salary cards or expense cards for their employees. The prepaid card will be offered to Neokred’s corporate partners across various sectors, including healthcare, financial institutions, NBFCs, oil companies, educational institutions, FMCG and infrastructure.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Barclays revises India’s FY21 GDP growth estimate to -6.4% from -6%: Barclays has modestly revised its FY21 GDP forecast downwards to -6.4 per cent from -6 per cent earlier, to reflect the marginally weaker incoming data than it had earlier anticipated. However, Barclays has raised its FY22 growth forecast to 8.5 per cent from 7 per cent to reflect a faster recovery in services amid continued policy support. On a calendar year basis, Barclays has now estimated a 7.1 per cent contraction in GDP in 2020 (previously: -6.5 per cent), followed by a stronger bounce in 2021 to 8.9 per cent growth, from 7.1 per cent previously.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Department of Fisheries presents first Fisheries Awards: Department of Fisheries presents Fisheries Sector Awards for the first time on the occasion of the ‘World Fisheries Day’, to recognise their accomplishments in the field and their contribution into the growth of the sector. The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying awarded best performing States, Organisations and Districts for 2019-20.

Top States: Marine states: Odisha

Inland states: Uttar Pradesh.

Hilly and NE states: Assam.

Top Organisations: Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd. (for Marine).

Telangana State Fishermen Cooperative societies Federation Ltd (for Inland).

Assam Apex Cooperative Fish Marketing and Processing Federation Ltd. (for Hilly region).

Top Districts: Best Marine District: Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh.

Best Inland District: Kalahandi, Odisha.

Best Hilly and NE Distric: Nagaon, Assam.

Note: Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: Giriraj Singh.

 

2. Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ conferred with Vatayan Lifetime Achievement Award: Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ was conferred with the 2020Vatayan Lifetime Achievement Award on 21 November 2020 at a virtual ceremony for his excellent contribution to the literary works of India. Vatayan International Awards are given by the Vatayan-UK organization in London to honour poets, writers and artists for their exemplary work in their respective fields. Past recipients of the award includes Prasoon Joshi, Javed Akhtar for their literary contribution.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Navy gets 9th P-8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft: Indian Navy has got its ninth Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, part of the nearly $1 billion deal with the US for four additional planes signed in 2016. India, which had first signed a contract for eight such aircraft in 2009, is also negotiating a deal for six more P-8Is with the US under the government-to-government route. While the ninth aircraft was scheduled to be handed over to the Indian Navy in July this year, the Covid pandemic delayed plans. The remaining three are scheduled to be handed over to India in 2021. Incidentally, the aircraft, the latest of which landed at INS Hansa in Goa.

The aircraft is also being used by India in Ladakh for surveillance besides the Indian Ocean Region. It was deployed during the 2017 Doklam standoff as well. The Indian fleet of P-8I aircraft, a variant of the P-8A Poseidon aircraft that Boeing developed as a replacement for the US Navy’s ageing P-3 fleet, has surpassed 25,000 flight hours since it was inducted in 2013. India had become the first international customer for the P-8 aircraft with the conclusion of the nearly $2.1 billion contracts on 1 January 2009 for a total of eight aircraft. India is also the second-biggest operator of the aircraft in the world.

About The P-8I: The P-8I is equipped for long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of the broad area, maritime and littoral operations. Incidentally, its communication and sensor suite includes indigenous equipment developed by defence PSUs and private manufacturers.

Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Sahitya Academy award winner Shaik Khaja Hussain passes away: Noted Telugu poet, journalist, scriptwriter, and Kendra Sahitya Academy award winner Shaik Khaja Hussain, popularly known as Devi Priya, passed away. He was born in Tadikonda in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. He bagged the Sahitya Akademi Award 2017, for his book Gaali Rangu. His “Running Commentary” on contemporary politics in Udayam Telugu daily was very popular and thought-provoking. Apart from penning poetry, he has also written several lyrics for Telugu movies. His song Jambhal Bhari Bhai penned for Maa Bhoomi was very popular among all. He authored several books including Gareebi Geetaalu, Amma Chettu Chepa Chiluka, and others. During his journalism stint, Devipriya was instrumental in making noted Telugu poet Sri Sri to write his autobiography.