Daily GK Update - 10th March, 2021

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 1. President of India Inaugurates conservation works at Singorgarh Fort in MP: The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind has laid the foundation stone for the conservation works of Singorgarh Fort in Singrampur village of Damoh district, Madhya Pradesh. He also inaugurated the newly carved Jabalpur Circle of Archaeological Survey of India. Apart from this, President Kovind addressed the State Level Tribal Conference ‘Janjatiya Sammelan’ at Singrampur village in Damoh. The program was organized jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and the Tribal Affairs Department of Madhya Pradesh.

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

 2. Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat resigns: Trivendra Singh Rawat has resigned as the chief minister of Uttarakhand, a year before the hill state is scheduled to go to polls. Rawat, who became the CM after the BJP swept the assembly elections here in early 2017, tendered his resignation after meeting Governor Baby Rani Maurya. According to reports, the party is mulling bringing in a deputy chief minister, the frontrunners for the post include State Education MinisterDhan Singh Rawat, MP Ajay Bhatt and Satpal Maharaj. The central BJP leadership had recently sent two observers, party vice president Raman Singh and general secretary Dushayant Kumar Gautam, to Uttarakhand to get feedback from the party’s core group in the state amid reports of discontent against the chief minister.

 3. Dr Harsh Vardhan addresses the inaugural session of Techbharat 2021: Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan has addressed the inaugural session of TechBharat 2021. Laghu Udyog Bharati and IMS Foundation have organized the 2nd edition of the conclave bringing together stakeholders from the HealthTech & Edutech sector on a virtual platform.

About the TechBharat 2021: Techbharat is facilitating interactions & deliberations between thousands of domestic & global participants, including policymakers, government representatives, industry members, investors & start-ups to nurture resourceful partnerships and boost growth in the sectors. The Pradhan Mantri Aatmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, with a massive outlay of over 64 thousand crore rupees over the next six years, will develop capacities of primary, secondary and tertiary care, health care systems.

 4. India’s first forest healing centre inaugurated in Uttrakand’s Ranikhet: The First Forest Healing centre of the country was inaugurated at Ranikhet in Kalika Uttarakhand. The forest healing centre has been developed by the Research Wing of Uttarakhand Forest Department after research on the healing properties of the forests and its revitalizing impact on overall health and wellbeing. It is spread over an area of around 13 acres.

About the healing centre: This healing centre has been established in a pine-dominated forest as it has been found in various studies that coniferous like Pine trees emit certain oil compounds to safeguard themselves from various microbes and pathogens, which are called phytoncides. It has been found in various researches that these compounds help to multiply natural killer (NK) cells in our blood, which help in fighting infections and cancerous growth and enhance overall immunity. It has been found that because of typical molecular vibration patterns of trees, tree-hugging has a beneficial impact on the increase in the level of feel-good hormones like oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine, creating the pleasant effect and in countries like Iceland forest department has been making efforts to facilitate this activity for benefit of health purpose of local citizens.

Note: Governor of Uttarakhand: Baby Rani Maurya.

 5. NABARD’s Chintala takes charge as chairman of APRACA: NABARD chairman, G R Chintala has assumed charge as the chairman of APRACA (Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association). He has taken over from DPK Gunasekera, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Ceylon. Chintala, in his address as APRACA Chairman, appreciated the role of the members of APRACA in promoting the development of rural finance in Asia Pacific.

About the APRACA: APRACA, established in 1977, is an association of institutions involved in agricultural, rural and microfinance policy and development, representing 21 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

 6. Central Industrial Security Forces Celebrates its 52nd Raising Day: 10th March: The Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) – Raising Day (CRD) is observed on March 10 in India every year. In 2021, the nation is celebrating the 52nd Raising Day of CISF. The basic objective of the CISF is Better “protection and security” of industrial undertakings in both government and private sectors in the country.

About the CISF: CISF was set up under an Act of the Parliament of India on 10 March 1969, for the better protection and security of industrial undertakings in the country. Eventually, it was made an armed force of the Republic of India by another Act of Parliament passed on 15 June 1983. CISF is one of six paramilitary forces in India and functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs with its headquarters in New Delhi. The CISF has 12 reserve battalions and 8 training institutes.

Note: Director-General of Central Industrial Security Force: Subodh Kumar Jaiswal.

 INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 1. Google Launched “Women Will” Web Platform: Google has launched a new web platform ‘Women Will’ on March 8, 2021, on the occasion of “International Women’s Day”. This platform will provide its support to 1 million rural women in India in order for them to become entrepreneurs with the help of accelerator programmes, business tutorials and mentorship.

About the Portal: This web portal can be accessed in English and Hindi languages. It will offer guidance to the aspiring women in villages to turn their interest or a hobby like beauty services, tailoring, home tuition, food processing, etc. into the business. It will also be providing guidance to manage and promote the business. The Women Will platform is designed for women aspiring to explore entrepreneurship. To begin with, Google will work with 2,000 ‘Internet Saathis’ to help other women with this resource to start their entrepreneurial journey.

Google also announced a $500,000 Google.org grant to Nasscom Foundation to train 100,000 women Agri workers in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh on digital and financial literacy. The Foundation will set up a helpline where the women can get counselling on their entrepreneurship-related queries.

Note: Google CEO: Sundar Pichai; Google Founded: 4 September 1998, California, United States; Google Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin.

 2. Bangladesh to commemorate 50th anniversary of 1971 Liberation war: In the 50th year of Indian victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Liberation war, Indian Naval Ships arrived in the port town of Mongla for a three-day visit to Bangladesh. The Indian Naval Ships is on a three-day visit between March 8 to 10. This is the first time ever that any Indian Naval Ship is visiting the port of Mongla in Bangladesh. The basic aim of this visit is to pay homage to the Bangladeshi and Indian combatants and citizens who laid down their lives during the Liberation War of 1971 against Pakistan. The ships will take part in the ongoing Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations to commemorate 50 years of the Liberation War of 1971 and reiterating the historic Indo-Bangladeshi friendship.

Note: Prime Minister of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina; Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka; President of Bangladesh: Abdul Hamid.

3. UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WRAP released the Food Waste Index Report 2021 and highlights that food wastes by different countries in 2019. As per the report, Over 931 million tonnes of food were wasted globally in 2019. Highlights:

(1) In India, the household food waste estimate is 50 kg per capita per year, or 68,760,163 tonnes a year.

(2) The household food waste estimate in the US is 59 kg per capita per year, or 19,359,951 tonnes a year.

(3) China these estimates are 64 kg per capita per year or 91,646,213 tonnes a year.

Note: UNEP Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya; UNEP Head: Inger Andersen; UNEP Founder: Maurice Strong; UNEP Founded: 5 June 1972, Nairobi, Kenya.

 OTHER UPDATES:

 SPORTS

1. Bajrang Punia bags gold in Matteo Pellicon World ranking series: In wrestling, the World Championship bronze medallist Bajrang Punia won a gold medal at the Matteo Pallicone ranking series held in Rome, Italy. He defeated Mongolia’s Tulga Tumur Ochir 2-2 by criteria in the 65kg freestyle event final. It is the second successive gold medal for 27 years Haryana wrestler, who had won the previous gold at this competition in 2020 by beating Jordan Oliver of the USA in the final. Apart from this, the ace India woman wrestler Vinesh Phogat won the gold medal in the 53kg title. The 26-year-old Vinesh beat Canada’s Diana Weicker 4-0.

 2. India qualify for ICC World Test Championship Final: Indian Cricket Team have qualified for the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final after beating England in an innings and 25 runs in the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad on 6th March. New Zealand had already qualified for the WTC final with 420 points from 11 Tests with 7 wins and 4 losses. The World Test Championship final will be played at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London from June 18.

 3. Indian Boxers finishes with 10 Medals including one G old at Boxam International Tournament 2021: The 35th edition of the Boxam International Tournament was held from March 01 to 07, 2021, at Castellon, in Spain. A 14-member (8 men and 6 women) Indian contingent had participated in the event and concluded the game with 10 medals including 1 Gold, 8 Silver and 1 Bronze.

 BANKING AND FINANCE

 1. Alliance Insurance launches insurance portal ‘SMEInsure’: Alliance Insurance has launched the insurance portal ‘SMEInsure’ in order to provide financial security to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), small shop and business owners Alliance. It is a portal to insure 5 crores Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) under the insurance category. Notably, the portal will provide insurance services in a phygital formate. physical, through individual personal assistance and digital insurance through the portal. The target of Alliance Insurance is to reach more than 5 crore SMEs in the first year and expect revenue of Rs 10 crore. Approximately 97% of the SMEs in India are not insured. Important Points:

(1) Its objective is to help SMEs in managing multiple risks through a single platform ranging from buying insurance, renewing cover to filing claims.

(2) This portal will provide options to choose and compare products from various well-known insurance services including HDFC Ergo, Bajaj Allianz, Iffco Tokio, Tata Aig, Liberty General Insurance, Raheja QBE, Reliance General Insurance, and SBI General.

(3) SMEs can get their businesses insured for professional indemnity, director and officers, marine, fire and burglary etc

(4) In the first phase, the company will focus on the hospitality industry, shop owners, salon, offices and educational institutes.

Note: Alliance Insurance CEO & Principal Officer: S. V. Thakkar; Alliance Insurance Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 1. Crisil: Indian economy to grow at 11% in FY’22: India’s GDP growth is expected to rebound to 11% in FY’22 as people learn to live with the new normal, flattening of the Covid-19 affliction curve, the rollout of vaccinations, and investment-focused government spending converge, according to rating firm Crisil. But recovery won’t be easy, with scars of the pandemic deep for small businesses and the urban poor.

Note: CEO of Crisil: Ashu Suyash; Crisil Chief Economist: Dharmakirti Joshi; Headquarters of Crisil: Mumbai.

 DEFENCE

 1. Indian Navy’s ‘silent killer’ INS Karanj commissioned: The Indian Navy got its third Scorpene submarine, commissioned as INS Karanj, of Project P-75 in Mumbai. With the delivery of Karanj, India further cemented its position as a submarine-building nation. Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL), one of India’s leading shipyards with the capacity and the capability to meet the requirements and aspirations of the Indian Navy.  Before Karanj, INS Kalvari and INS Khanderi have been commissioned in the Indian Navy in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Salient features of Karanj:

(1) Karanj is seen as a small submarine having a length of 60 metres.

(2) It’s equipped with the best sensors in the world.

(3) Weapon package includes sufficient wire-guided torpedoes and sub-surface to surface missiles to neutralise a large enemy fleet. For self-defence, it has a state-of-the-art torpedo-decoy system.

(4) It is fitted with an integrated platform management system to provide centralised propulsion and machinery control. The powerful diesel engines can quickly charge batteries for a stealthy mission profile.

(5) It is fitted with a permanent magnet synchronous motor, making it one of the quietest submarines in the world.

(6) Its modular construction enables up-gradation to air-independent propulsion in future.

Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh; Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950.

OBITUARIES

1. Dhyan Chand Awardee Veteran Indian Athlete Ishar Singh Deol passes away: Dhyan Chand National Sports Award-winning veteran Indian athlete Ishar Singh Deol, has passed away. Punjab-based Deol won the Dhyan Chand National Award in 2009 for his lifelong contribution towards sports. He was specialised in the field sports of discus and shot put. He had competed in the first three Asian Games and won a bronze medal in the second Asian Games held in Manila, the Philippines in 1954.