Daily GK Updates – 15th Feb, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Centre Launches Official Website of India Toy Fair 2021: The Government of India will organise the first-ever ‘The India Toy Fair, 2021′ from February 27, 2021, to March 02, 2021, on a virtual platform. The official website for India Toy Fair-2021 is www.theindiatoyfair.in. This initiative is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a global hub for the Toy Industry. The website and online registration were inaugurated on February 11, 2021, jointly by the Union Education Minister, Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Union Minister of Textiles, Smt. SmritiZubinIrani and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri PiyushGoyal.

 

2. Meghalaya police inks MoU with SBI for e-Challan: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Meghalaya police and the State Bank of India for implementation of the e-Challan within the jurisdiction of the Shillong Traffic Police (STP). The e-Challan system which will be launched in the days to come is a digital traffic enforcement solution whereby, imposing penalties on violators of traffic rules and generating of challan will be done digitally.

About the system: The system has been integrated with VAHAN & SARATHI applications and this will enable the Traffic Officials to fetch the details of the traffic violator such as vehicle and driver’s details through these applications, thereby, reducing the time taken to issue challan. The payment for traffic violations can be transacted on the spot through cash payment or through instant card payments by swiping at Point of Sale (POS) machine available with the Traffic Officials; options are also available for the traffic violator to make payments at the Traffic Branches by producing the issued e-Challan at the respective Traffic Units.

Note: Meghalaya Capital: Shillong; Meghalaya Governor: Satya Pal Malik; Meghalaya Chief minister: Conrad Sangma.

 

3. World Bank Signs $100 million Project with Chhattisgarh: Indian Govt and Chhattisgarh Govt has signed a $100 million for CHIRAAG (Chhattisgarh Inclusive Rural and Accelerated Agriculture Growth) project with the World bank. The main purpose is to develop sustainable production systems that allow tribal households in remote areas of Chhattisgarh to practice round-the-year production of diversified and nutritious food. The project will be implemented in the southern tribal-majority region of the state where a large population is undernourished and poor. Over 180,000 households from about 1,000 villages in eight districts of Chhattisgarh, will be benefited from this project.

Note: Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh: BhupeshBaghel; Governor: AnusuiyaUikey.

World Bank Headquarters: Washington DC, United States; World Bank President: David Malpass; World Bank Founded: July 1944.

 

4. Annual Convention of Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India Begins at Statue of Unity in Gujarat: The Union Minister of State (IC) for Tourism & Culture, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the 10th Annual Convention-cum-Exhibition of Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI) at the Statue of Unity (SOU) in Kevadia, Gujarat. The three-day event has been organised from February 12 to 14, 2021. The theme of the convention is ‘Domestic Tourism – Hope for the revival- DekhoApnaDesh’. The convention has been jointly organized by the Ministry of Tourism and ADTOI with support from Gujarat Tourism. The objective of this convention is building public confidence to travel for the revival of domestic tourism in the country. Around 400 delegates comprising of ADTOI members from across India will be ateending the event along with  hoteliers, airlines representatives, senior government officials, media-persons among other stakeholders of the tourism industry.

 

5. Famous Mandu Festival Begins in Madhya Pradesh: The three-day famous “Mandu Festival” began at the historic town of Mandu in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh on February 13, 2021. The festival will culminate on February 15, 2021. The festival is organised by the state government of Madhya Pradesh to showcase each and every aspect of the ancient Mandu city, ranging from food, music, history & heritage, art & craft etc.During the festival, the state culture and tourism minister Usha Thakur inaugurated the newly constructed Dino Adventure Park and Fossils Museum in Mandu and construction of Astro Park building at a cost of Rs 59 lakh. The Dinosaur Park is the first modern fossil park in India which has 24 eggs and other fossils of dinosaurs on display.

Note: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Governor: Anandiben Patel.

 

6. JualOram launches book on economic awareness in India: Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Defence and MP JualOram has launched ‘Turn Around India: 2020- Surmounting Past Legacy’, a book on creating economic awareness among masses. The book is authored by RP Gupta.

The essence of the book: ‘Turn Around India: 2020’ is an intimate narrative of Gupta’s experiences and how he attained success through sheer hard work and determination. The book provides a practical and viable option for reviving Indian economy for creating new jobs and enlarging public income and also, the structural reforms such as fiscal and monetary stimuli for overcoming economic crisis arising due to pandemic. The book talks about the economic history of India enabling to identify the strengths and weakness and take corrective actions.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Mario Draghi sworn in as Italy’s new prime minister: The former European Central Bank Chief Mario Draghi has been sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Italy on 12 February 2021. The 73-year-old had served as President of the European Central Bank from 2011 until 2019. He replaces Giuseppe Conte, who resigned recently after losing majority support from his coalition government over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Here Italy goes again, with its 67th government since World War Two.

Note: President of Italy: Sergio Mattarella; Capital of Italy: Rome; Currency of Italy: Euro.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI releases Annual Report of Ombudsman Schemes for 2019-20: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the Annual Report of the Ombudsman Schemes for the year 2019-20. There was an increase of around 65 per cent in the receipt of complaints out of which almost 92 per cent have been disposed of. RBI has three Ombudsman- Banking, Non-Banking Finance Company (i.e. NBFC) and digital transactions. A common man can approach this Ombudsman for their grievances. As per the RBI’s report, all three received in total 3,30,543 complaints in 19-20 as compared to 2,00,362 in 18-19. Banking Ombudsman received major complaints regarding ATM & Debit Cards, Mobile & Electronic Banking while NBFC’s Ombudsmen received most complaints about non-observance of regulatory guidelines, lack of transparency in contract/ loan agreement and levy of charges without notice. Important Points:

(1) The Banking Ombudsman received major complaints regarding ATM & Debit Cards, Mobile & Electronic Banking.

(2) NBFC’s Ombudsman received most complaints about non-observance of regulatory guidelines, lack of transparency in contract/ loan agreement and levy of charges without notice.

(3) Digital Transactions Ombudsmen received most complaints about fund transfer. RBI has taken various measures for creating awareness among various stakeholders to minimise the grievances.

(4) As announced in the Monetary Policy Statement last week, the three Ombudsman Schemes are being merged and integrated into a single scheme which will be rolled out starting from June this year.

 

2. SatishwarBalakrishnan appointed as Aegon Life’s MD & CEO: Aegon Life Insurance, India’s first digital-only life insurance company, elevated SatishwarBalakrishnan to be the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer.  Prior to joining Aegon Life, he has worked with IndiaFirst Life, Reliance Life and ICICI Prudential Life. He is a Chartered Accountant by qualification. Satishwar, who joined the company in July 2019 as Chief Financial Officer, will spearhead Aegon Life’s transformation into a digital-only life insurance company.

Note: Aegon Life Insurance is headquartered in Mumbai; Aegon Life Insurance Founded in 2008.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Tata Motors appoints Marc Llistosella as new CEO & MD: Tata Motors Limited has appointed Marc Llistosella as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD). The appointment of Llistosella will be effective from July 1, 2021. He will replace current CEO & MD of Tata Motors, GuenterButschek, who had expressed his desire to relocate to Germany at the end of the contract for personal reasons. Llistosella is the former president and CEO of Fuso Truck and Bus Corp. and head of Daimler Trucks in Asia.

Note: Tata Motors Founder: J. R. D. Tata; Tata Motors Founded: 1945, Mumbai.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Navy undertaking exercise “TROPEX” in Indian Ocean Region: The Indian Navy is carrying out a mega war game involving almost all operational assets like warships, submarines and aircraft over a vast geographical expanse in the Indian Ocean Region to test the force’s combat readiness in a complex multi-dimensional scenario. The biennial ‘Theatre Level Operational Readiness Exercise (TROPEX)’ aims to validate the Navy’s offensive as well as defence capabilities and safeguard national interests in the maritime domain besides promoting peace and stability in the Indian Ocean. The exercise is being conducted over a vast geographical expanse in the Indian Ocean Region including its adjunct waters and is aimed at testing combat readiness of the Navy in a complex multi-dimensional scenario set in the context of the current geostrategic environment.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Indo-Pak War Veteran Retired Major General BK Mahapatra Passes Away:  War veteran Major General (retired) Basant Kumar Mahapatra, who had participated in major battles including the 1962 Indo-China war, and 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan war, has passed away. He was 87.  Hailing from Bhubaneswar in Odisha, Mahapatra was commissioned into armoured corps (Tanks) of the Indian Army as a Combat Officer and was popularly known as ‘Tank Man’. Mohapatra was conferred with the prestigious AtiVishishtSeva Medal (AVSM).