Daily GK Updates – 28th Feb, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. National Urban Digital Mission Launched by Centre: Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri and Minister of Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad launched the National Urban Digital Mission’ (NUDM) at a virtual event, to create a digital infrastructure for cities in India. The NUDM has been launched jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs along with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. About the Mission:

(1) The mission aims to put in place a “citizen-centric” and “ecosystem-driven” approach to ‘urban governance and service delivery in cities by 2022, and across all cities and towns by 2024. The mission has three pillars – people, process, and platform.

(2) The NUDM will create a shared digital infrastructure for Urban India that can consolidate and cross-leverage the various digital initiatives of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to enable cities and towns across India to benefit from holistic and diverse forms of support, in keeping with their needs and local challenges.

(3) Apart from this, several other digital initiatives of MoHUA was also launched which includes: India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX), SmartCode platform, Smart Cities 2.0 website, and Geospatial Management Information System (GMIS).

 

2. PM Modi inaugurates and lays foundation stone of various development projects in Coimbatore: Prime Minister visited Tamil Nadu on 25 February 2021 to dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure projects in Coimbatore. Projects dedicated to the nation:

(1) 1000 MW Neyveli New Thermal Power Project – Rs 8000 crore

(2) 709 MW Solar Power Project of NLCIL – Rs 3000 crore

(3) 8-laning of Korampallam Bridge

(4) Rail Over Bridge (ROB) at V.O.Chidambaranar Port

(4) The tenements constructed under the Pradhan MantriAwasYojana (Urban) scheme.

Projects whose foundation stone were laid:

(1) Design, supply, installation and commissioning of a 5MW grid connected ground based solar power plant at V.O.Chidambaranar Port – Rs 20 crore

(2) Extension, renovation and modernisation of Lower Bhavani Project System

(3) Development of Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCC) in nine Smart Cities including Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Thanjavur, Vellore, Tiruchirappalli, Tiruppur, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.

 

3. Karnataka to set up a Flower Processing Centre: The Karnataka State Horticulture Department is setting up a “Flower Processing Centre”, in collaboration with the International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB), to convert unsold flowers into various useful products. The facility will provide support to the flower farmers who suffer huge losses whenever there is a glut or market disruption. Growers can learn the art of flower processing from the centre. The incubation centre will process flowers and convert them to value-added products such as natural dyes, floral papers, incense sticks, flower petal powder for cosmetic usage, floral embedded works, floral arts, and silica-stored flowers.

Note: Chief Minister of Karnataka: B.S. Yediyurappa; Governor: VajubhaiVala.

 

4. Kerala Governor Inaugurates India’s First Digital University: Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammed Khan has inaugurated India’s first Digital University named Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology. A Digital University has been set up in Kerala’s Technocity, Mangalapuram. Kerala University is established by upgrading the two-decade-old state government’s Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala.

About Digital University In Kerala: India’s first Digital University will focus on postgraduate programmes and research along with building strong industry-academic and academic-academic linkages with leading institutions in India and abroad. Developed on a 10-acre campus in Technocity, the university will provide education to 12,000 residential scholars on the campus and many technology-linked learners outside. The university seeks to lead the Digital Transformation Initiatives announced by the Kerala Government in the Budget 2021.

Note: Kerala CM: PinarayiVijayan; Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.

 

5. KabirBedi’s autobiography to release in April: Veteran actor KabirBedi will tell his life story in his memoir, which will be released in April. Entitled “Stories I Must Tell: An Actor’s Emotional Journey,” the actor will provide an honest glimpse into his life. The book will take readers through the ups and downs of KabirBedi’s life, both professional and personal. He will also talk about his relationships, including marriage and divorce, why his beliefs have changed, and his days in movies, television and theatres in India, Europe and Hollywood.

 

6. Protein Day: 27th February: In India, February 27th is celebrated as the National Protein Day, to create awareness about protein deficiency and encourage people to include this macronutrient in their diet. The day was launched by the ‘Right to Protein’, a national-level public health initiative on February 27, 2020. This year theme of National Protein Day is “Powering with Plant Protein”. 2021 marks the second year for this nutritional awareness milestone in India by ‘Right to Protein’.

 

7. National Science Day: 28th February: National Science Day is celebrated all over India on 28th February. On this day, Sir CV Raman had announced the discovery of the Raman Effect for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930. The government of India designated 28 February as National Science Day (NSD) in 1986. The theme for this year’s National Science Day is ‘Future of STI: Impact on Education Skills and Work’. The National Science Day 2021 aims to motivate the students to gain hands-on experience in the field of science.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. China Surpasses US to become India’s top trade partner in 2020: China has regained its position as the top trading partner of India in 2020, which was held by the United States, since 2018-19. The two-way trade between India and China stood at $77.7 billion in 2020 despite the conflict along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the rising anti-China sentiment. The India-US bilateral trade stood at $75.9 billion, according to provisional data from the commerce ministry. Meanwhile, the UAE continues to remain India’s third-biggest trading partner.

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

 

2. World NGO Day: 27th February: World NGO Day is celebrated every year on 27th February globally. World NGO Day aims to inspire people to become more actively involved within NGOs (Charities, NPOs, CSOs) and encourage a greater symbiosis between NGOs and both the public and private sector. The universal concept of World NGO Day is Celebrate, Commemorate and Collaborate the various NGOs around the world, and the people behind them. World NGO Day is a day for NGOs around the globe to share knowledge and experiences with one another. The Day was officially recognised and declared by the 12 member countries (Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Norway and Sweden). It was marked for the first time by the UN, EU leaders and international organisations in 2014.

 

3. Rare Disease Day: 28th February: Rare Disease Day is observed every year on the last day of February. This year in 2021 it falls on February 28, 2021. The day is observed to raise awareness for rare diseases and improve access to treatment and medical representation for individuals with rare diseases and their families. Rare Disease Day was first launched by EuropeanOrganisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) and its Council of National Alliances in 2008.

Note: EURORDIS Founded: 1997; EURORDIS Headquarters location: Paris, France.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. DushyantChautala re-elected as President of TTFI: DushyantChautala has been re-elected as the President of Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) for a period of four years. He was elected unanimously during the 84th annual meeting of the TTFI, on February 24, 2021. He is also the current Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana. The 32-year-old was first elected as President of the TTFI in January 2017, becoming the youngest President in the history of TTFI.

Note: Headquarters Table Tennis Federation of India: New Delhi; Table Tennis Federation of India Founded: 1926.

 

2. PM Modi virtually addresses 2nd Khelo India National Winter Games: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered the inaugural address at the 2nd Khelo India National Winter Games through a video conference. The second edition of the Khelo India-Winter Games has been organised at the world-famous ski-resort Gulmarg in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. The event has been organised by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council and the Winter Games Association of J&K. The sports activities at the games will include alpine skiing, nordic ski, snowboarding, ski mountaineering, ice hockey, ice skating, ice stock etc.

Note: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports: KirenRijiju.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI joins JPMorgan’s blockchain payments network: State Bank of India has tied up with JPMorgan to use the US bank’s blockchain technology to speed up overseas transactions. The tie-up is expected to reduce SBI customers’ transaction costs and time taken for payments. SBI has joined Liink, a new blockchain-based interbank data network developed by JPMorgan. By integrating the technology, the bank expects to reduce transaction costs and improve cross-border payments for its customers.

About the Liink: Liink is a peer-to-peer network and ecosystem operating under the umbrella of JPMorgan’s blockchain- and digital-currency-focused business, dubbed Onyx. Piloted in 2017, the product was originally referred to as Interbank Information Network and rebranded as Liink in October 2020. The Liink solution has enlisted more than 400 financial institutions and corporations in 78 countries, including 27 of the world’s top 50 banks. The network has around 100 live banks on the network, including both state-owned and private institutions.

Note: JPMorgan CEO: Jamie Dimon; JPMorgan Headquarters: New York, United States; JPMorgan Founder: J. P. Morgan.

SBI Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara; SBI Headquarters: Mumbai; SBI Founded: 1 July 1955.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ICRA expects Indian economy to contract 7% in FY21: India’s rating agency, ICRA has projected the Indian economy to contract 7 percent in the current fiscal (FY21). For the next fiscal, i.e. FY22 (2021-22), ICRA expects a considerable rebound in India’s economic growth to 10.5 per cent due to higher central government spending, and a pick-up in consumption.

Note: ICRA Headquarters: Gurgaon, Haryana; ICRA Non-Executive Chairman and Director: Arun Duggal.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Biden admn names Anjali Bharadwaj for anti-corruption award: Anjali Bharadwaj, an Indian social activist working on issues of transparency and accountability, is one of the 12 “courageous” individuals named by the Biden administration for the newly-instituted International Anti-Corruption Champions Award. The 48-year-old Bhardwaj has served as an active member of the Right to Information Movement in India for over two decades. She is the founder of the SatarkNagrikSangathan (SNS), a citizens’ group which promotes transparency and accountability in government and encourage the active participation of citizens.

About the International Anti-Corruption Champions: The Biden administration has announced this International Anti-Corruption Champions Award, to recognise individuals who have worked tirelessly, often in the face of adversity, to defend transparency, combat corruption, and ensure accountability in their own countries, so as to combat such issues.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Papua New Guinea’s first Prime Minister, Michael Somare, passes away: Michael Somare, the first prime minister of Papua New Guinea has passed away. He was 84. Michael Somare was known as the “father of the nation” because he led the Pacific archipelago to independence from Australia in 1975. Somare had served as the prime minister of the country four times, between 1975 to 2011, and has been the longest-serving prime minister (17 years).