Daily GK Updates – 5th Jan, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. INCOIS launches “Digital Ocean” app for information sharing: The Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Science & Technology, Dr Harsh Vardhan virtually inaugurated the web-based application “Digital Ocean”. It has been developed by Hyderabad-based Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) an autonomous organization under M/o Earth sciences. Digital Ocean is a first of its kind digital platform for Ocean Data Management.

About “Digital Ocean App”: Digital Ocean is a step towards Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India, to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Digital Ocean will serve as a one-stop-solution for all the data related to the ocean. It will help to share this knowledge about the ocean with a wide range of users including research institutions, operational agencies, strategic users, the academic community, maritime industry and policymakers, as well as general public and the common man that too free of cost.

Note: Director of INCOIS: T. Srinivasa Kumar; INCOIS Founded: 1998; Headquarters of INCOIS: Pragathi Nagar, Hyderabad.

 

2. Nitin Gadkari announces Multi-Model Logistics Park in Assam’s Silchar: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari has announced that a multi-modal logistics park in Assam. It will be constructed in Silchar and the Balacherra-Harengajao section of the Silchar-Saurashtra Highway will be completed in March 2022. Mr Gadkari made this announcement at a public meeting at Zero Point on the East-West Corridor at Madhurmukh at Rangpur.

About the Project: The Union Minister for Road Transport laid the foundation stone of 20 projects and inaugurated seven projects worth Rs 2,366 crores for Assam with a total length of 439 km. The logistics park will be constructed in Silchar and construction works of East-West Corridor would be expedited and two new bridges would come up over the Barak river. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to send a proposal for ₹ 250 crore project in the Corporate Social Responsibility Fund for the Barak Valley. The water transport system of Brahmaputra would be strengthened, the Union Minister said that dredging work on Barak river has also been completed.

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

 

3. Centre Extends Deadline for mandatory FASTag till February 15, 2021: The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has extended the deadline for mandatory usage of FASTag for all four-wheel on the National Highway till February 1, 2021. Earlier the ministry had announced to make FASTag mandatory for all four-wheel vehicles with effect from January 1, 2021. It has also been mandated that a valid FASTag is mandatory while getting new third party insurance. This shall be applicable w.e.f. 1 April 2021. The compulsory use of FASTags will help vehicles pass through the toll plazas swiftly, preventing long queues.

 

4. Cabinet Approves Multi Modal Logistics Hub & Multi Modal Transport Hub (MMTH) at Greater Noida: The Union Cabinet has approved proposals of Department of Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT) for construction of of various trunk infrastructure components, which includes:

(1) Krishnapatnam Industrial Area in Andhra Pradesh (estimated cost of the project of Rs. 2,139.44 crore);

(2) Tumakuru Industrial Area in Karnataka (estimated cost of Rs. 1,701.81 crore)

(3) Multi Modal Logistics Hub (MMLH) and Multi Modal Transport Hub (MMTH) at Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh (estimated cost of Rs. 3,883.80 crore).

 

5. Late Justice Rajindar Sachar’s Autobiography: ‘In Pursuit of Justice’: The family of Late Justice Rajindar Sachar in association with The Indian Society of International Law and The Indian Law Institute is organizing the book launch “In Pursuit Of Justice: An Autobiography” written by Late Justice Rajindar Sachar. The book has been posthumously published.

About Justice Rajindar Sachar: Justice Rajindar Sachar was a socialist, an egalitarian, a defender of civil liberties, a deeply engaged citizen of India, and, above all, a humanist. He joined the Delhi High Court in 1970 but was transferred out of Delhi for voicing his opposition to the Emergency. During those dark days, he shared a close bond with justice H.R. Khanna, the lone voice of dissent in a Supreme Court that chose to side with Indira Gandhi. Brought back to Delhi after the Emergency, he rose to become the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Harsh Vardhan nominated to the Board of ‘GAVI’, The Vaccine Alliance: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has been nominated as the board member of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI). The seat is currently held by Myint Htwe of Myanmar. Dr Vardhan will represent the South East Area Regional Office (SEARO)/ Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) constituency on the GAVI Board.  Dr Vardhan will assume the charge with effect from January 1, 2021, and serve till December 31, 2023.

About GAVI: The vaccine alliance GAVI is an international organisation, that provides a forum for balanced strategic decision-making, innovation and partner collaboration. It was created to improve access to new and underused vaccines for numerous vaccine-preventable diseases for children who live in the world’s poorest countries. The GAVI board is responsible for the strategic direction and policy-making oversees the operations of the Vaccine Alliance and monitors programme implementation.

Note: GAVI Headquarters location: Geneva, Switzerland; GAVI Founded: January 2000.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. YES Bank appoints Niranjan Banodkar as new CFO: The private sector lender Yes Bank has appointed Niranjan Banodkar as its new Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He will take over from Anurag Adlakha, who has been designated as the new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). Both of them will assume the new role with effect from January 1, 2021. Banodkar, who started working with Yes Bank in April 2006, is currently Group President & Head of Strategy, Sustainability & Investor Relations.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ICICI Bank to acquire 9.09% stake in ed-tech platform Myclassboard Educational Solutions: Private sector lender ICICI Bank has announced to acquire 9.09 percent stake in educational technology platform Myclassboard Educational Solutions Pvt Ltd (MESPL) for cash value of Rs 4.5 crore. The acquisition is expected to be completed by end of February 2021. MESPL is an educational technology company set up in December 2009, which offers an online school management platform. It reported turnover of Rs 12 crore in FY 2020.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. K. Veeramani honoured with Dr. Narendra Dabholkar Memorial Award: The Dr Narendra Dabholkar Memorial Award for this year has been conferred upon Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani. The award was instituted in the memory of the Maharashtra-based rationalist Dabholkar. The U.S.-based Maharashtra Foundation had instituted the award in his memory, a release issued by the Dravidar Kazhagam. The award includes ₹1 lakh and a citation. Mr Veeramani has dedicated his whole life to propagate rationalism and served for the cause of social justice in society.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Navy, DRDO conduct maiden trial of air dropped container ‘SAHAYAK-NG’: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with the Indian Navy conducted the successful maiden test trial of ‘SAHAYAK-NG’ India’s first indigenously designed and developed Air Dropped Container from IL 38SD aircraft (Indian Navy) off the coast of Goa. The trial was conducted by the Indian Navy to enhance its operational logistics capabilities and provide critical engineering stores to ships that are deployed more than 2000 kilometres from the coast.

About “SAHAYAK-NG”: SAHAYAK-NG is an advanced version of SAHAYAK Mk I. The newly developed GPS aided air dropped container is having the capability to carry a payload that weighs up to 50 kilograms and can be dropped from heavy aircraft. Two DRDO laboratories, Naval Science and Technological Laboratory, Visakhapatnam and Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment, Agra were involved in the development of the SAHAYAK-NG container along with the industry partner M/s Avantel for GPS integration.

Note: DRDO Chairman: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy; DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi; DRDO Established: 1958.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran broadcaster Indira Joseph Venniyoor passes away: Veteran broadcaster, Indira Joseph Venniyoor passed away. She was a renowned broadcaster, All India Radio veteran & first English news announcer of Travancore Radio when its English service began in 1949. She was the wife of well-known literary scholar & art critic the late E.M.J. Venniyoor.