Daily GK Updates - 24th April, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Cabinet clears Silk Board-Airport metro line, to complete in 54 months: The Union Cabinet cleared Bangalore Metro Rail’s ambitious Silk Board to international airport line project, which is estimated to cost about Rs 14,788 crore. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) is implementing the project in two phases. While phase 2A covers Central Silk Board Junction to K.R. Puram, the phase 2B runs from K.R. Puram to Airport via Hebbal Junction. The two phases cover a length of 58.19 km. Once completed in the estimated 54 months, this project will play a key role in decongesting the city which contributes 40% to India’s IT exports & is home to a large number of IT parks, hubs and industries.

 

2. Centre extends insurance scheme for health workers under Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Package for one year: Central government has extended the insurance scheme under the Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Package for health workers for a period of one year. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harshvardhan said that Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Package has provided a safety net to the dependents of corona warriors who lost their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic

 

3. ISRO to support eight joint research projects of IIT-D: Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi said that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that it will support eight joint research projects mooted by the Space Technology Cell (STC), IIT-Delhi. The ISRO will support the projects under its RESPOND programme with varying duration of 1-3 years, it added. Some of the projects include developing a system for drought and flood forecasting and understanding land-atmosphere interactions, a project that aims to understand the plasma dynamics in electrode-less thrusters, which are used for electric propulsion and have a longer lifespan than their electrode-based counterparts, an indigenous sensor based real time flood warning smart system and other projects.

 

4. AakashRanison launches his E-Book “Climate Change Explained – For One And All”: The climate activist-author, AakashRanison has come out with a new e-book titled “Climate Change Explained – for one and all”, on the occasion of Earth Day. Through the e-book, the author explains the impact of climate change and aims to motivate readers to reduce its outcome with the help of simple sustainable solutions. The book is a mix of facts, data, and information about climate change, having topics like “Greenhouse effect, global warming, Carbon footprint” and their effects on earth in the near future.

 

5. National Panchayati Raj Day: 24th April: Nation celebrates National Panchayati Raj Day on 24 April every year. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj organizes the National Panchayati Raj day or the National Local Self Government Day. India celebrates the first National Panchayati Raj Day or the National Local Government Day on April 2010.

History of Panchayat Raj: 24th April 1993 marks a defining moment in the history of decentralization of power to the grassroots, with the institutionalization of Panchayati Raj, through the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 which came into force with effect from that day. Rajasthan was the first state that carried the Panchayati Raj System in 1959 during the times of late Prime Minister Jawarharlal Nehru.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi Participates in Leaders’ Summit on Climate: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the “Leaders’ Summit on Climate”, hosted by the President of the U.S.A. Joe Biden. The two-day conference has been organised virtually on 22-23 April 2021, which coincides with the fifth anniversary of the opening of the Paris Agreement on climate change for signature.

About the summit: The theme of the summit: Our Collective Sprint to 2030. A total of 40 national leaders have been invited by Biden to attend this two-day virtual climate summit. The Summit is being held in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) that will take place in November 2021 in Glasglow.

 

2. Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 held: The opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 was held in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province. The theme of the conference – “A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and Advance Belt and Road Cooperation”. The forum, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, has not only played a unique role in pooling consensus and putting forward valuable “Boao proposals,” but also engaged countries in addressing global issues and promoting world development and prosperity.

 

3. World Veterinary Day 2021: 24th April: The World Veterinary Day is observed on the Fourth Saturday of April every year. In 2021, the day falls on April 24, 2021. The theme of the 2021 World Veterinary Day is ‘Veterinarian response to the COVID-19 crisis.’ The day was created by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) in 2000 to celebrate the contributions of veterinarians to the health of animals and society.

 

4. International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace: 24th April: The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace observed globally on 24 April. ‘International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace’ was first observed by the United Nations (UN) on April 24, 2019. The day aims to spread knowledge about the advantages of multilateralism and diplomacy for peace, including through educational and public awareness-raising activities. The Assembly proclaimed the day while considering that preserving the values of multilateralism and international cooperation is fundamental to promote and support the three pillars of the UN – Peace and Security, Development and Human Rights.

 

5. World Day for Laboratory Animals: 24th April: The World Day For Animals In Laboratories (WDAIL); also known as World Lab Animal Day or World Day for Laboratory Animals, is observed every year on 24 April. The day was instituted in 1979 by the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS), as an “international day of commemoration” for animals in laboratories. WDAIL aims to end the suffering of animals in laboratories around the world and promote their replacement with advanced scientific non-animal techniques. Apart from this, the “World Week for Animals In Laboratories” (Lab Animal Week) is celebrated from April 20 to 26.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India Claims Historic Win with 11 Medals at 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships: The 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships was held in Kielce, Poland, from 13 to 23 April 2021. A 10-day biennial event witnessed 414 boxers from 52 countries. From India, eight boxers competed in the finals, including 7 female players and one male. Eight out of the eight boxers created history by claiming top spot in their respective category. With this, India ended the tournament with 11 medals (8 gold & 3 bronze) to finish top in the medal table.

List of Winners:

Gold Medal Winners:

(1) Gitika – 48kg Light flyweight

(2) NaoremBabyrojisanaChanu – 51kg Flyweight

(3) Poonam Pinia – 57kg Featherweight

(4) Vinka – 60kg Lightweight

(5) Arundhati Choudhary – 69kg Welterweight

(6) ThokchomSanamachaChanu – 75kg Middleweight

(7) AlfiyaPathan – +81kg Heavyweight

(8) Sachin – 56kg Bantamweight

 

Bronze Medal Winners:

(1) BishwamitraChongtham – 49kg

(2) Ankit Narwal – 64kg

(3) Vishal Gupta – 91kg

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI allows commercial banks to pay up to 50% of pre-Covid dividends: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed commercial banks to pay dividends on equity shares for FY21, from the profits for the fiscal ended March 31, 2021, subject to certain conditions and limits. The new notification of RBI allows commercial banks to pay dividends not more than 50 per cent of the amount determined as per the dividend payout ratio prescribed. This means that banks may pay dividends up to 50% of what they paid before the Covid scenario.

Earlier, RBI had asked all banks not to make any dividend payment on equity shares for FY20 from the profits due to the ongoing stress and heightened uncertainty on account of Covid-19. For co-operative banks, all the restrictions on dividends have been removed and they have been permitted to pay the dividend on equity shares from the profits of the financial year ended March 31, 2021. However, RBI has also instructed all banks to continue to meet the applicable minimum regulatory capital requirements after dividend payment.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Fitch Ratings Affirms India’s Sovereign Rating at ‘BBB-‘: Rating agency Fitch Ratings has kept the sovereign rating of India unchanged at ‘BBB-‘ with a negative outlook. Earlier, Fitch had estimated GDP contraction of 7.5 per cent in 2020-21 and growth of 12.8 per cent in the fiscal year FY22, followed by 5.8 per cent in FY23.

 

2. Ind-Ra Projects India’s GDP Growth Rate at 10.1% in FY22: India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has revised downwards the GDP growth forecast of India in FY22 (2021-22) to 10.1 per cent. Earlier Ind-Ra estimated this at 10.4 per cent. The downward revision is due to the second wave of COVID-19 infections and the slower pace of vaccination. For FY21 (2020-21), the economy is estimated to have contracted by 7.6 per cent. Ind-Ra is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fitch Group.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Rumana Sinha Sehgal won the Nelson Mandela World Humanitarian Award 2021:Rumana Sinha Sehgal, Software engineer turned entrepreneur from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, won the Nelson Mandela World Humanitarian Award 2021 by the Diplomatic Mission Global Peace. She was virtually awarded for her contribution to the field of developing innovative and functional green products by recycling varied materials and non-biodegradable materials. Other Awards:

-Nationwide Award -under 50- Business Leader 2021 of Social entrepreneurship.

-International Influencer of the year 2021’ at the Influencer Summit in January 2021.

-ReXKarmaveer Chakra (silver) and Global Fellowship award 2019 for her work in the zone of women and child empowerment.

-She was crowned as the ‘Mrs Universe Successful 2018’.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Padma awardee winning Indian Islamic Scholar MaulanaWahiduddin passes away: Noted Indian Islamic scholar, spiritual leader and author MaulanaWahiduddin Khan has passed away due to Covid-19 complications. He has written over 200 books on several aspects of Islam and is best known for having written a commentary on the Quran and its translation in English, Hindi and Urdu. He was the recipient of several notable honours like Padma Vibhushan (2021), Padma Bhushan (2000) and the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award (2009).

 

2. Music Composer Shravan Rathod of “Nadeem-Shravan” Fame Passes Away: Veteran music composer Shravan Rathod of Nadeem-Shravan fame has passed away due to coronavirus complications. The iconic composer duo Nadeem-Shravan (Nadeem Saifi and Shravan Rathod), were among the most sought-after composers of the 90s. Together they composed some of the iconic hits for movies such as Aashiqui (1990), Saajan (1991), Hum Hain RahiPyarKe (1993), Pardes (1997) and Raja Hindustani (1996), among others. The Nadeem-Shravan duo parted ways in the 2000s, however, they again reunited to compose for David Dhawan-directed Do Knot Disturb in 2009.