Daily GK Updates – 8th Dec, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Govt Forms Task Force to Impart Technical Education in Mother Tongue: In an effort to bring major changes in technical education, the Ministry of Education under the leadership of Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has set up a task force for preparing a roadmap on imparting technical education in Mother Tongue. As per updates, the task force set up under the chairmanship of Amit Khare, Secretary of Higher Education Department, will take into consideration the suggestions made by various stakeholders and will submit a report in a month.

 

2. Madhya Pradesh Aims to completely eliminate AIDS by 2030: Madhya Pradesh did not see a significant increase in the number of HIV patients in the last two years. As per Union health ministry report issued this September 20, the state reported 0.59 lakh patients in 2018 and the government aims to completely eliminate AIDS by 2030. The highest number 12 thousand 773 patients reported in Indore. Bhopal is at number two with more than 7 thousand patients. Jabalpur has around 6 thousand patients while Gwalior has more than 3 thousand HIV patients. The highest 68 percent HIV infected people belong to the age group of 25 to 49 years.

 

3. V. Naidu virtually releases postage stamp in former PM IK Gujral’s honour: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu has virtually released a commemorative Postage Stamp in honour of the late Prime Minister of India & Freedom Fighter, I K Gujral (Inder Kumar Gujral). I K Gujral was the 12th Prime Minister of India, he served as the Prime Minister from April 1997-March 1998. He was born in Jhelum (now in Pakistan) in 1919. During his tenure as India’s External Affairs Minister, I K Gujral laid a set of five principles – ‘Gujral Doctrine’ to guide the conduct of foreign relations with India’s immediate neighbours. He passed away in 2012 due to a lung infection.

 

4. Vice President releases a book on Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam: The Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu has released the book titled “40 Years with Abdul Kalam- Untold Stories”, a book on the life of the former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The book was authored by Dr A.Sivathanu Pillai. The book is published by Pentagon Press LLP and the foreword was written by Pranab Mukherjee, former president of India.

About the book: The book provided a first-hand account of the life of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who was described as the epitome of simplicity, honesty and wisdom. Dr. Kalam strengthened the Defence sector of India and contributed to the development of India’s space capabilities. The book discusses his life events including the events at ISRO, DRDO and BrahMos and his interaction with the power corridors

About Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai: Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai has assisted Dr Vikram Sarabhai during the evolution of the ten-year space profiles and worked with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 (SLV3) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) configuration design and with Prof. Satish Dhawan in the study of future ISRO launch vehicles and missions.

 

5. Rajnish K Jenaw posted as CMD, NSFDC: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Rajnish Kumar Jenaw (IP&TA&FS) as new Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of National Scheduled Castes Finance & Development Corporation (NSFDC) under the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment. Jenaw has been appointed to the post with effect from the date of assumption of charge and for a period up-to August 31, 2024, i.e. date of his superannuation or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He is a 1992-batch Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service officer.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. China becomes second nation to plant flag on the Moon: China has become the second country in the world to unfurl its national flag on the moon surface. Earlier this feat was achieved only by the USA when it planted its flag on the Moon during the Apollo mission in 1969. China achieved the historic feat when ‘Chang’e 5‘ probe of China, which was launched to collect soil and rock samples of the lunar surface, took off from the moon to return to earth after planting the national flag on 3rd December 2020.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; China Currency: Renminbi; China President: Xi Jinping.

 

2. Britain becomes first country in world to approve coronavirus vaccine: In a historic move, Britain has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine will be rolled out from next week onwards. Priority for vaccination will be given to healthcare workers and care home residents.

 

3. Indian oil Chairman Shri SM Vaidya taken charge as VP of the World LPG Association: Shri SM Vaidya is appointed as the first Vice President of the World LPG Association (WLPGA). The World LPG Association (WLPGA) is the authoritative voice of the global LPG industry representing the full LPG value chain. Shri SM Vaidya currently is the Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. FIFA extends 7-team Club World Cup to 2021; Japan to host: Japan was chosen to host a traditional, seven-team Club World Cup in December 2021. FIFA wanted a December 2020 edition in Qatar to be the last with seven teams, six continental champions and the host nation’s domestic league winner. The format often attracts little interest and is routinely won by the European club.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Paytm partners with Suryoday Small Finance Bank to empower MSMEs with instant digital loans: Paytm has announced its partnership with Suryoday Small Finance Bank to empower MSMEs with instant digital loans. The company is offering instant microloans to businesses that are unable to access financial services from traditional banking players. The company through this partnership is aiming at disbursing loans to over 1 lakh small businesses in the next 12 to 18 months.

 

2. NABARD and SBI sign MoU to extend concessional refinance facility in Karnataka: The Karnataka regional office of NABARD and State Bank of India have signed an MoU to extend concessional refinance facility to the beneficiaries of watershed development and tribal development projects. The MoU aims to benefit 45000 beneficiaries from 260 Farmers Producers Organisations in 28 districts. In addition 8500 beneficiaries from Self Help groups and Joint Liability Groups will be covered. The MoU signed will enable SBI to act as an implementing agency for digitilising the Self Help Groups and uploading data on E-Shakti portal across the state.

 

3. ICICI Bank Opens Representative Office in Nepal, First Pvt Sector Lender to do so: ICICI Bank opened its representative office in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. The representative office will closely work with the domestic banks in Nepal to facilitate investment, trade, payments and treasury business between the two countries. With this foray, ICICI Bank has expanded its footprint to 15 countries, including India.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. RBI Projects 6.8% Retail Inflation in December Quarter: The Reserve Bank of India said retail inflation is likely to remain elevated and pegged it at 6.8 per cent for the third quarter of the current fiscal. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is of the view that inflation is likely to remain elevated, barring transient relief in the winter months from prices of perishables

 

2. India Economy Likely to Contract by 10% in FY21, Says Former Planning Commission Member Abhijit Sen: India’s economy is likely to contract by around 10 per cent in the current fiscal, eminent economist and former Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen said. Sen, also an expert on issues related to agriculture, further said that the government would not be able to double farmers’ income by 2022.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Ranjitsinh Disale becomes 1st Indian to win 2020 Global Teacher Prize: Ranjitsinh Disale, a government teacher from Zilla Parishad Primary School, in Paritewadi village, Solapur district of Maharashtra, has won the 2020 Global Teacher Prize. He is the first Indian to win this award, which carries prize money of $1 million (Rs 7.4 crore).

The 32-year-old has won the annual Global Teacher Prize 2020 in recognition of his efforts to promote girls’ education in his village and trigger a quick-response (QR) coded textbook revolution in India. He made efforts and added QR codes to textbooks of primary classes to provide links to audio poems, video lectures, stories and assignments. He also worked towards education for girls and teaching people about the ill-effects of teenage marriage and even helped to achieve 100% attendance of girls.

Ranjitsinh has also created history by announcing to share half the prize money with the nine finalists from across the world for the award, where each one will receive about $55,000 each. He also becomes the first winner to share the prize money with the finalists.

About the Global Teacher Prize: The Global Teacher Prize is an annual prize founded by the Varkey Foundation in 2014 to recognise an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession. The award is given in partnership with UNESCO.

Note: UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay; UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.

 

2. Gitanjali Rao becomes 1st-ever TIME’s “Kid of The Year”: The Indian-American young scientist and inventor, Gitanjali Rao, has been named as the first-ever ‘Kid of the Year’ by the iconic TIME magazine. This is the first time that the TIME magazine has launched the Kid of The Year” award.

About Gitanjali Rao: The 15-year-old Gitanjali Rao was chosen from among more than 5,000 nominees, for her “astonishing work” using technology to tackle issues ranging from contaminated drinking water to opioid addiction and cyberbullying. She has created applications named ‘Kindly’ to help people, especially kids, fight opioid addiction and cyberbullying. TIME magazine had partnered with Nickelodeon and searched social media and school districts across the country to shortlist the most influential child of 2020.

Note: TIME magazine Headquarters: United States; TIME magazine Editor: Edward Felsenthal; TIME magazine First issue date: 3 March 1923.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. PASSEX conducted by Indian Navy and Russian Navy: The Indian Navy (IN) and the Russian Federation Navy (RuFN) are undertaking Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in the Eastern Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The exercise will help in enhancing interoperability, improving understanding and imbibing best practices between both the friendly navies. It involves advanced surface and anti-submarine warfare exercises, weapon firings, seamanship exercises and helicopter operations.

Indian Navy is being represented by indigenously constructed guided-missile frigate Shivalik and anti-submarine corvette Kadmatt along with integral helicopters. Russian Federation Navy includes guided-missile cruiser Varyag, the large anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleyev and medium ocean tanker Pechenga. The PASSEX’s are conducted regularly by Indian Navy with units of friendly foreign navies.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Lakshadweep Administrator Dineshwar Sharma passes away: Lakshadweep Administrator, Dineshwar Sharma passed away. He was earlier headed the Intelligence Bureau and was also the Interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir. The 66-year-old retired IPS officer of the Kerala cadre had been appointed administrator of the Lakshadweep Union Territory in October 2019. He was assistant director in the IB in Kashmir between 1994 and 1996 and then went on to serve on the Kashmir desk of the bureau in the national capital.