Daily GK Updates – 3rd Jan, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s first pollinator park opens in Uttarakhand: The country’s first pollinator park with over 40 species of butterflies, honeybees, birds and insects has been developed over four acres at Haldwani, Uttarakhand. The objective behind developing the park is to conserve various pollinator species, create awareness among people in general about the importance of conservation of these species and to promote further research on various aspects of pollination, including a threat to habitat and impact of pollution on pollinators.

There are at present 40 species of pollinators at the park, including common jezebel, common emigrant, red pierrot, common sailor, plain tiger, the common leopard, the common moron, common grass yellow, common blue bottle, common four-ring, peacock pansy, the painted lady, pioneer white, yellow-orange tip and lime butterfly.

About Pollinator: Pollinators provide pollination services to over 180,000 different plant species. Without them, existing populations of plants would decline, even if soil, air, nutrients, and other life-sustaining elements were available. The importance of pollinators was recognised long back in the west and to conserve pollinators, parks, gardens, strips and pathways were created on a large scale in countries like the USA.

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

 

2. ADB to provide $231 mn loan to enhance power generation capacity in Assam: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $231 million loan with the Government of India to augment electricity generation capacity in the state of Assam. This is the third tranche loan for the ‘Assam Power Sector Investment Programme’ that was approved by the ADB Board in July 2014. Under the project, 120 megawatts (MW) hydroelectric power plant would be constructed. The programme focuses on enhancing the capacity and efficiency of the energy generation and distribution systems in Assam to improve the availability of electricity service to end-users. The programme, including its two previous tranches, focuses on enhancing capacity and efficiency of the energy generation and distribution systems in Assam to improve electricity service to end-users.

Note: Chief Minister of Assam: Sarbananda Sonowal; Governor: Prof. Jagdish Mukhi.

 

3. ADB and India sign $10 million loan to support horticulture in HP: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a $10 million project readiness financing (PRF). This agreement aims to help finance piloting activities, and design and capacity building for an ensuing project that aims to expand horticulture production and farm household income in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh. About the project:

(1) The PRF project will support advance actions to achieve a high level of project readiness through detailed design activities, capacity building of state-level agencies, and creating an enabling environment for subtropical horticulture development in the state.

(2) The PRF project aims to ensure implementation readiness with prior testing of new production technologies and marketing systems so that the ensuing project is cost-effective and gets completed in a timely manner to enhance farm profitability.

(3) The ensuing project, to be designed by the PRF, will support the development of subtropical horticulture, including cultivation of fruits and vegetables, in the state’s southern region which is currently lagging due to limited access to perennial water sources, crops losses due to wild animal encroachment and limited access to high-value markets.

Note: Chief Minister of HP: Jairam Thakur; Governor of HP: Bandaru Dattatraya.

 

4. A book titled “Vahana Masterclass” launched by Italian Writer Alfredo Covelli: Alfredo Covelli, an Italy based author has launched his new book Vahana Masterclass for children and Young Audience. The books will be illustrated and published by Scholastic India. Alfredo had a keen interest in our Indian culture and mythology which inspired him to write a story on Lord Ganesh for children.

The essence of the Book: The book narrates the story of the Ganesha looking for a new vahana to accompany him to all the great adventures around the cosmos. After millenniums of service, the great VahanaMushika, holy mount of Lord Ganesha is about to retire to live the rest of his life in meditation. For this reason, 4 young mice (3 months each) are selected from different parts of India: intelligent Anand from Kolkata (selected by Goddess Kali), devoted Kanu from Gujarat (selected by Lord Krishna), brave Karthik from Chennai (selected by the other Vahanas), and compassionate Gitanjali from Uttarakhand (selected by Prakriti, nature).

 

5. India’s 1st Testbed TiHAN launched at IIT Hyderabad: Union Minister of Education, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has virtually laid the foundation stone of “TiHAN-IIT Hyderabad”, India’s first Testbed for Autonomous Navigation Systems (Terrestrial and Aerial) at IIT Hyderabad. The Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation Systems (TiHAN) for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Remotely Operated Vehicles at IIT Hyderabad. About the TiHAN Navigation Systems:

(1) The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has sanctioned Rs. 135 crores to IIT Hyderabad under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) to set up a Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation and Data Acquisition Systems.

(2) Two acres of land has already been allocated in the IIT Hyderabad campus and the facilities are planned in phases.

(3) All Smart poles are enabled with communication providing technology with some Poles designed with sprinklers to simulate rain scenarios. The developed testbed will be available for use by all the industries, R&D labs, academia conducting research and development in the broad areas of autonomous navigation.

Note: Director of IIT-Hyderabad: Budaraju Srinivasa Murty.

 

6. Soma Mondal takes charge as new SAIL Chairman: Soma Mondal has taken over as the new Chairman of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) with effect from January 01, 2021. She is the first-ever women-head of the body. She replaces Anil Kumar Chaudhary, who superannuated on 31 December 2020. She joined SAIL in 2017 as the director (commercial).

About Soma Mondal: A 1984-graduate in electrical engineering from the National Institute of Technology-Rourkela, Mondal started her career as a graduate engineer trainee at NALCO NSE and rose to become a director (commercial) at NALCO.

Note: SAIL Headquarters: New Delhi; SAIL founded: 19 January 1954.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India becomes co-chair of Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP), a regional forum to conserve wildlife: India has been chosen as the co-chair of the IUCN-supported Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP) for a period of three years till November 2023. The APAP is chaired by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Asia and co-chaired by an APAP nation member on rotational basis. India will replace South Korea, which held the post for 3 years until November, 2020. As a co-chair, India would be responsible to assist other Asian countries in managing their protected areas. India becomes co-chair of Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP), a regional forum to conserve wildlife.

Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP): The APAP was formally launched in 2014, at the IUCN World Parks Congress in Australia. It is a regional platform to assist governments and different stakeholders to collaborate for more practical administration of protected areas (PA) within the area. Currently there are 21 members from 17 international locations.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. YES BANK joins hand with Salesforce to boost retail growth: YES BANK said it has entered into collaboration with Salesforce, a leader in customer relationship management, to build a next generation technology platform to power the retail lending business, in line with the bank’s strategy to further scale up its retails assets portfolio. The private lender aims to deliver intelligent personalised customer experiences through the Salesforce platform. The lender claimed that it is among the first banks in India to move to Salesforce for loan origination and processing. The bank said the deployment of the Salesforce loan origination system for retail banking will enable it to provide personalised solutions and connected banking experiences for consumers across segments.

 

2. DBS Bank India introduces one-stop integrated travel marketplace ‘Travel Now’: DBS Bank India announced that it has introduced ‘Travel Now’, a one-stop travel marketplace within the digibank app. The new feature enables customers to browse and book flights, bus tickets and hotels across hundreds of destinations within and outside of India. Customers can also opt for travel insurance, offered by Bharti AXA General Insurance, with an automated claims process for flight cancellation, and flight departure and arrival delays of over 60 minutes.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. UNDP and PCMC join hands for ‘first social impact bond’: Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Pune has recently signed an MoU with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India to co-create India’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB). This is the first time that a government body will act as the ‘outcome funder’ in a bond, whereas traditionally most government-funded public projects require large and early investments by the government with a substantial gestation period of outcomes and involve various kinds of risks.

About Social Impact Bond: A Social Impact Bond also called pay-for-success bond or pay-for-success financing or simply social bond is basically a contract with public sector authority, where it pays for better social outcomes. This bond is a form of outcome-based contracting and aims at improving social outcomes for a specific group of citizens. The PCMC administration will bear the costs of a public welfare project associated with the bond if the pre-defined project targets are fulfilled.

Note: UNDP Headquarters: New York, New York, United States; UNDP Head: Achim Steiner; UNDP Founded: 22 November 1965.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Pt Satish Vyas conferred Tansen Samman at the World Music Festival: In Madhya Pradesh, 96th Tansen Music Festival began in Gwalior with strict COVID-19 guidelines in place. In the inaugural ceremony renowned santoor player, Pandit Satish Vyas was conferred upon the prestigious Tansen Samman. Bhopal-based institution Abhinav Kala Parishad was honoured with Raja Mansingh Tomar award. The festival pays tribute to Tansen, one of 9 gems in Akbar’s court.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Indian footballer Mir Sajjad Ali passes away: Former India football international Mir Sajjad Ali passed away. He was 66. Sajjad Ali, a resident of Zeba Bagh in Asif Nagar, played for BDL in the local league. He rose to prominence with his fine game as a left-winger. He was selected to play for India in 1977. The left-winger later on played for East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting.

 

2. 1956 Olympics 4th-place finishing Football Team Member Nikhil Nandy, passes away: A member of 1956 Olympics fourth-place finishing Indian football squad, Nikhil Nandy died after a prolonged illness. He was 88. Nandy, who formed the core of India’s defence in the late 1950s. The domestic front, Nandy was part of the triumphant Bengal team that won the Santosh Trophy in 1955. He had also won the Calcutta Football League with Eastern Railways in 1958. After retirement, Nandy had a coaching stint with the national team, as he took charge of the Blue Tigers dugout, jointly with J Kittu.