Daily GK Update - 22nd March, 2021

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Maharashtra farmers start fresh fruit cake ‘movement’: Fruit growers in rural Maharashtra have started an innovative ‘movement’ to promote fresh fruit cakes as a healthier option, instead of the traditional bakery-made cakes. According to farmers and agrarian experts, the aim of this ‘spontaneous’ movement is to encourage farmers and their families to increase the intake of fruits in their diet and to find a new way of selling their produce in times of the pandemic. As part of the movement, farmers, their families and various organisations of cultivators are encouraging cakes made locally using fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, grapes, orange, pineapple and banana while celebrating special events.

Note: Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari; Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai; Maharashtra CM: Uddhav Thackeray.

 

2. Jharkhand launches ‘SAAMAR’ campaign to fight malnutrition: The state government of Jharkhand has launched a campaign called SAAMAR to tackle malnutrition in the state. SAAMAR stands for Strategic Action for Alleviation of Malnutrition and Anemia Reduction. The campaign has been launched with a 1000 days target, where annual surveys will be conducted to track the progress. The campaign will bring together various departments to identify anaemic women and malnourished children to effectively deal with the problem in a state where malnutrition has been a major problem. Most importantly, the campaign, as per the note, also tries to target Primarily Vulnerable Tribal Groups. Stating that there is no research-based information available on their food and nutritional habits, it encourages research and proposes fellowships on the nutritional behaviour of these groups for effective implementation.

Note: Chief Minister of Jharkhand: Hemant Soren; Governor: Shrimati Droupadi Murmu.

 INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Dutch PM Mark Rutte powers to fourth straight election win: Netherlands Prime Minister, Mark Rutte has won the 2021 parliamentary elections with most seats to be sworn in as the Prime Minister for the fourth straight term. Earlier Rutte and his entire Cabinet offered their resignation on 15 January 2021 in response to a scandal relating to child welfare fraud, however, Rutte remained in office till the conclusion of the 2021 election. Rutte has been Prime Minister of the Netherlands since October 2010.

Note: Netherlands Capital: Amsterdam; Currency: Euro

2. Samia Suluhu Hassan sworn in as Tanzania’s first woman President: Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in as the sixth President of Tanzania, becoming the first female leader of the East African country. The 61-year-old Hassan assumed the presidency, following the death of previous President John Magfufuli, due to a heart condition. She will finish Magufuli’s second five-year term, which will run until 2025. Prior to taking charge as President, Hassan was the Vice-President of Tanzania, also being the first female vice-president of the country, since November 2015.

3. USAID & DFC jointly announce $41 million financing for renewable energy in India: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) have announced a USD 41 million-loan guarantee program to finance investment in renewable energy solutions by Indian SMEs. The USD 41 million loan portfolio guarantee program by USAID and DFC will enable finance investments by Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in renewable energy solutions, including rooftop solar installations. These loans will enable SMEs to access reliable power and cut costs. The investments in solar solutions, secured by these credit guarantees, will improve access to clean, steady, and affordable energy as well as further progress towards India’s clean energy transition and climate change mitigation.

4. World Poetry Day: 21st March: World Poetry Day is celebrated on 21 March every year to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world. The Day celebrates one of humanity’s most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expression and identity. Practised throughout history – in every culture and on every continent – poetry speaks to our common humanity and our shared values, transforming the simplest of poems into a powerful catalyst for dialogue and peace.

History of the day: UNESCO first adopted 21 March as World Poetry Day during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999, with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.

Note: UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay; UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.

5. World Puppetry Day: 21st March: The World Puppetry Day is observed every year on March 21, to promote the puppet arts. The first celebration was held in 2003. The idea of World Puppetry Day was proposed the Iranian puppet theater artist Javad Zolfaghari in 2000 at the XVIII Congress of the Union Internationale de la Marionnette, (UNIMA) in Magdeburg. Two years later in June 2002, the date of the celebration was identified by UNIMA.

6. World Water Day: 22nd March: The UN recognised World Water Day is held annually on March 22. The day highlights the importance of freshwater and to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. World Water Day Theme 2021: Valuing Water. The UN World Water Development Report (WWDR) is released each year around World Water Day.

 OTHER UPDATES:

 SPORTS

1. Athlete Avinash Sable Sets New National Record In Men’s 3000m Steeplechase: The Indian athlete Avinash Sable set a new national record in the men’s 3000m steeplechase event in the ongoing Federation Cup Senior National Athletics Championships in Patiala, with timing of 8:20.20. With this, the 26-year-old Avinash broke his own record of 8:21.37 which he set in 2019, after finishing 13th in the final of the World Athletics Championships in Doha. The army man from the arid Beed district of Maharashtra broke the national record for the fifth time in his career. Sable has already secured a berth in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 in men’s 3000m steeplechase during the 2019 World Athletics Championships.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. PNB sets-up subsidiary to manage credit card business: Punjab National Bank (PNB) has set up a wholly-owned subsidiary namely “PNB Cards & Services Ltd” to manage its credit card business. The PNB Cards & Services Ltd has been incorporated on March 16, 2021, by the Registrar of Companies, Delhi. The new subsidiary will undertake the non-financial support services related to the credit card business of the bank. The authorised capital of the company is Rs 25 crore and the paid-up capital is Rs 15 crore.

Note: Punjab National Bank Headquarters: New Delhi; Punjab National Bank MD and CEO: S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao; Punjab National Bank Founded: 19 May 1894, Lahore, Pakistan.

2. SEBI approves Paytm UPI handle for IPO applications: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved IPO application requests via Paytm UPI handle. This will help enable fast and seamless applications for the IPO, Paytm Payments Bank Ltd said. Paytm Payments Bank (PPBL) has also entered into a partnership with Paytm Money to enable payment mandates for IPO applications. Paytm Money has the aim to bring 10 million Indians to equity markets by the financial year 2022.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. UNCTAD projects India’s GDP to grow 5% in 2021: The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has projected India’s economy to contract by 6.9 per cent in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, is forecast to record a “stronger recovery” in 2021 and grow by 5 per cent. Further, the UNCTAD estimates the global economy to grow by 4.7 per cent in 2021. The report noted that the deeper than expected downturn in 2020 explains in part the stronger recovery now projected for 2021 for India. According to a UN report which said the country’s current fiscal year budget points to a shift towards the demand-side stimulus, with an uptick in public investment.

Note: UNCTAD Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

UNCTAD Founder: United Nations General Assembly.

UNCTAD Founded: 30 December 1964.

2. NeoGrowth appoints Ajinkya Rahane as brand ambassador: NeoGrowth Credit Pvt. Ltd, a lender to small businesses, has announced the appointment of cricketer Ajinkya Rahane as its brand ambassador. The agreement is for a year which can be extended further. Rahane will feature in a campaign slated to be released in the first week of April, which will talk about the ease of procuring loans through NeoGrowth for small businesses. The campaign “Keeping it simple” will show the day-to-day struggles of small businesses while scaling up and how NeoGrowth can help them overcome them.

 DEFENCE

1. Indian Army Decommissions two of longest serving artillery systems ‘130mm Self Propelled Catapult Guns’ and ‘160mm Tampella Mortars’ from Service: The Indian Army decommissioned two of the longest serving artillery systems from service in March 2021 at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan. These include: 130mm Self Propelled M-46 Catapult Guns and the 160mm Tampella Mortars. The two weapon systems, have been in the inventory of the Indian Army for around 60 years. They have been decommissioned to make way for newer equipment with the latest technologies.

130mm Catapult: It had a range of more than 27 km. The system was developed by merging two existing weapon systems: Vijayanta tanks and 130mm M-46 guns. The guns were inducted in 1981

160mm Tampella mortars: It had a range of 9.6km. They were inducted after the 1962 war with China to fulfill the need for a weapon system to clear high crests of the Northern borders. Originally the system was imported from the Israeli Defence Forces. This mortar was successfully deployed on the Line of Control in the Leepa valley and the Hajipir Bowl and played a crucial part in maintaining the sanctity of the Line of Control.