Daily GK Updates - 23rd April, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. CAG GC Murmu selected as external auditor for Hague: India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), GC Murmu has been chosen as the external auditor by the Hague-based Conference of State Parties of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), for a three-year term starting 2021. India was also selected as a member of the executive council of the OPCW representing the Asia group for another two-year term.

 

2. Rekha Menon takes over as first woman chairperson of Nasscom: Accenture India’s chairperson, Rekha M Menon has been appointed as chairperson of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), becoming the first woman to take the top role in the software lobby group’s 30-year history. She succeeds U B Pravin Rao, chief operating officer of Infosys as Nasscom’s chairperson. TCS President Krishnan Ramanujam will be the vice-chairperson.

Note: NASSCOM Headquarters: New Delhi; NASSCOM Founded: 1 March 1988.

 

3. Ministry of Tourism signs MOUs with online travel companies to strengthen hospitality and tourism industry: In its ongoing effort to strengthen the Hospitality & Tourism Industry especially in the times of the pandemic, the Ministry of Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cleartrip and Ease My Trip. The primary objective of this MoU is to provide extensive visibility to accommodation units which have self-certified themselves on SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for the Hospitality Industry) on the OTA platform. The MoU also outlines both parties to encourage Units to register on NIDHI and thereby on SAATHI and encourage local tourism Industry with appropriate safeguards for curbing spread of COVID-19.

 

4. Facebook signs first deal to buy renewable energy in India: Facebook has signed a deal to buy renewable energy in India from a local firm’s wind power project, the social media giant’s first such deal in the South Asian nation. The 32 megawatt wind power project, located in southern Karnataka state, is part of a larger portfolio of wind and solar projects that Facebook and Mumbai-based CleanMax are working together on for supplying renewable power into India’s electrical grid. CleanMax will own and operate the projects, while Facebook will buy the power off the grid using environmental attribute certificates, or carbon credits.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Australia announces partnership with India for Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative: Australia has announced a grant of Rs 81.2 million (AUD 1.4 million) under the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). IPOI was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Modi at the East Asia Summit in November 2019 and Australia is co-leading New Delhi in the marine ecology pillar of the initiative.

About the partnership:

(1) The initiative will help to support a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

(2) The Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Partnership forms the core of this “shared vision” of both countries.

(3) To apply for the grant, the company or organization should be located in either India or Australia and have partners in either of the two countries.

(4) Up to $350,00 is anticipated to be available for allocation in 2020-21. All applications will be assessed on a competitive basis.

Note: Australia Capital: Canberra; Australia Currency: Australian dollar; Australia PM: Scott Morrison.

 

2. NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover extracts first oxygen from Red Planet: According to NASA a toaster-size experimental instrument aboard Perseverance called the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) accomplished the task. Mars’ atmosphere is 96 per cent carbon dioxide. MOXIE works by separating oxygen atoms from carbon dioxide molecules, which are made up of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. MOXIE is expected to extract oxygen at least nine more times over the course of a Martian year (nearly two years on Earth).

This technology demonstration was designed to ensure the instrument survived the launch from Earth, a nearly seven-month journey through deep space, and a touchdown with Perseverance on February 18. The growing list of “firsts” for Perseverance, NASA’s newest six-wheeled robot on the Martian surface, includes converting some of the Red Planet’s thin, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere into oxygen.

Note: Acting Administrator of NASA: Steve Jurczyk; Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States; NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.

 

3. World Book and Copyright Day: 23rd April: The World Book and Copyright Day (also known as ‘International Day of the Book’ and ‘World Book Day’), is an annual event organized on April 23 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. April 23 is chosen because it marks the birth and death of several prominent authors. For instance, William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and JosepPla died on April 23 and Manuel Mejia Vallejo and Maurice Druon were born on April 23.

World Book Capital: As a part of the Day, UNESCO selects the World Book Capital every year for a one-year period, effective 23 April each year. The World Book Capital for 2021 is Tbilisi, Georgia.

History of World Book and Copyright Day: Originally on 23rd April 1995, it was declared by UNESCO’s General Conference which was held in Paris and after that, every year 23rd April has been declared as World Book Day or World Book & Copyright Day or International Day.

Note: Director-General of UNESCO: Audrey Azoulay; UNESCO formation: 4 November 1946; UNESCO Headquarters: Paris, France.

 

4. UN English Language Day & UN Spanish Language Day: 23rd April: The UN English Language Day and UN Spanish Language Day is observed annually on 23 April. For English, 23 April has been chosen to mark both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare. For the Spanish Language, the Day was chosen because the day is also observed as Hispanic Day in Spain, meaning the Spanish speaking world.

Why is the Day observed: They are one of the six official languages used by the United Nations throughout the Organization. These are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Each language has been assigned a day of celebration by the UN’s Department of Public Information in 2010 to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Puma ropes in Washington Sundar, DevduttPadikkal as brand ambassadors: Global sportswear brand Puma has signed long-term endorsement deals with cricketers Washington Sundar and DevduttPadikkal. Puma India, which recently announced its partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalore, has been consistently investing in India’s sports ecosystem. The duo will be joining the company’s roster of brand ambassadors that include Indian captain ViratKohli; wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul; women’s national cricketer, SushmaVerma and veteran cricketer Yuvraj Singh.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to Cancel Licence of SambandhFinserve: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a show-cause notice prior to cancelling the licence of fraud-hit SambandhFinservePvt Ltd. after its networth eroded below the regulatory minimum and financial situation worsened beyond redemption over the recent months. Sambandh is registered as an NBFC-MFI. The Managing Director and CEO of Sambandh, Deepak Kindo, who was allegedly the main perpetrator of the fraud, has been arrested by Economic Offence Wing, Chennai. According to the RBI norms, NBFC is required to maintain minimum capital levels consisting of Tier-I and Tier-II capital, of not less than 15 per cent of their aggregate risk-weighted assets.

Note: SambandhFinserve Private Limited founded: 1992; SambandhFinserve Private Limited Headquarters: Odisha.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ICRA Slashes India’s GDP Forecast by 0.5% to 10.5% in FY22: The domestic rating agency ICRA has cut the growth estimate of India for 2021-22 by 0.5 per cent on the upper end and now expects the economy to grow 10-10.5 per cent in 2021-22 as against 10-11 per cent estimated earlier. The downward revision in the forecast follows the lockdowns and restrictions which are getting imposed once again due to rising COVID-19 cases.

 

2. S&P Projects India’s GDP Growth Forecast at 11% in FY22: The S&P Global Ratings has estimated the Indian economy to grow at 11 per cent in the current fiscal, i.e. 2021-22 (FY22). In terms of the sovereign rating, S&P currently has a ‘BBB-‘ rating on India with a stable outlook. Earlier, for 2020-21, the S&P estimated the Indian economy to contract 8 per cent.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Chad President IdrissDeby passes away: The President of the Republic of Chad, IdrissDebyItno, has passed away, following a confrontation with rebels after which he suffered wounds on the battlefield. He had ruled the central African nation for more than three decades and was even declared winner of the 2021 presidential election, paving the way for him to stay in power for six more years. Deby first won elections in 1996 and 2001. After this, he continued to win in 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021.

 

2. Veteran actor Kishore Nandlaskar passes away: Veteran actor Kishore Nandlaskar, who was a popular face in both Marathi and Hindi films, has passed away due to COVID-19 complications. The actor made his debut with Marathi film in 1982 titled ‘Navare Sagle Gadhav’ and went to act in movies like ‘BhavishyachiAishiTaishi: The Prediction’, ‘Gaon Thor PudhariChor’ and ‘JaraJapun Kara’. In Hindi films, Nandlaskar is known for his roles in Khakee (2004), Vaastav: The Reality (1999), Singham (2011), JisDesh Mein Ganga Rehta Hain (2000), Simmba (2018) and many more. He was last seen in the Mahesh Manjrekar web series ‘1962: The War In The Hills’.

 

3. Renowned Qawwali Singer FaridSabri Passes Away:Qawwali singer FaridSabri, of the famous Sabri Brothers duo, has passed away. Sabri Brothers (FaridSabri and Amin Sabri) were known for their evergreen numbers like ‘Der Na Ho Jaye Kahin Der Na Ho Jaye’ and ‘EkMulakatZaruri Hai Sanam’. The brothers and their father Saeed Sabri performed qawwali at several events held in Indian and abroad.