Daily GK Updates - 26th April, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. COVIRAP Technology IIT Kharagpur: The IIT Kharagpur has efficiently commercialised the healthcare product COVIRAP. COVIRAP is a diagnostic technological know-how to become aware of COVID-19 virus. The technology is also successful in trying out influenza, dengue, and malaria. Tuberculosis and Japanese Encephalitis. Also, science can be used to take a look at different vector-borne diseases. About COVIRAP:

(1) The trying out fee of the COVIRAP based totally system is Rs 500. COVIRAP is a cuboid formed portable testing device.

(2) The gadget will minimise the want for real time PCR machines and also for thermal cyclers.

(3) It is successful in delivering the outcomes in an hour. This will assist to scale up the screening of COVID-19 in rural and peripheral areas.

(4) The COVIRAP based totally machines can be developed at a cost of much less than Rs 10,000.

(5) COVIRAP conducts COVID-19 test the usage of a swab sample. It does not require a separate facility for RNA extraction.

 

2. Appointment of Retired Judges as Ad-Hoc Judges in HC: The Supreme Court cleared the way for the appointment of retired judges as ad-hoc judges in High Courts (HCs) below Article 224A of the Constitution to deal with the mounting backlog of cases. Around fifty-seven lakh cases in HCs are pending. This will be relevant for two to three years to clear the backlog.

Article 224A: The Chief Justice of an HC for any State might also at any time, with the preceding consent of the President, request any person who has held the workplace of a Judge of that Court or of any different High Court to sit down and act as a Judge of the High Court for that State.

 

3. Special Task Force to Monitor J&K Government Employees: The government of J&K constituted a Special Task Force (STF) for identifying and scrutinising the authorities personnel who are involved in any cases associated with posing a chance to the security or anti-national activities.The Special Task Force will have the ADGP, (CID), J&K, as its chairman and the IGP, representatives of the Home Department; Law Department, Justice Member and Parliamentary Affairs and the concerned department as its members. The STF will scrutinise instances of personnel suspected of activities requiring action under Article 311(2)(C) of the Indian Constitution. The STF has been tasked to collect documents of such personnel and engage with other contributors of the Terror Monitoring Group (TMG) for identifying such different employees.

 

4. A new book title “Living Mountain” by Amitav Ghosh: “The Living Mountain” is a new story by Jnanpith winner and internationally renowned author Amitav Ghosh, written during the course of the pandemic. It is a fable for the current times: a cautionary tale of how humans have systematically exploited nature, leading to an environmental collapse. HarperCollins Publishers India will publish The Living Mountain as a special standalone edition in January 2022 under its prestigious Fourth Estate imprint. The book will also be published simultaneously in Hindi, and as an ebook and an audiobook.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. China names its first-ever Mars rover “Zhurong”: China has named its first-ever Mars rover “Zhurong” after an ancient fire god ahead of a landing attempt on the Red Planet in May. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) revealed the name at the sixth China Space Day held in Nanjing. The Chinese name for Mars, “Huoxing,” literally means “fire star.” Zhurong was the most popular of 10 shortlisted names for a public vote that opened in January, and that choice was backed by an expert panel and the CNSA itself. The rover carries panoramic and multispectral cameras and instruments to analyze the composition of rocks. Zhurong will also investigate subsurface characteristics with ground-penetrating radar if all goes according to plan.

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

 

2. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham leads global vaccination drive: UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, David Beckham, is fronting a global initiative to inspire confidence in vaccines and encourage parents around the world to vaccinate their children against deadly diseases. In a powerful video released ahead of World Immunization Week, Beckham talks about the loss of everyday activities due to COVID-19, such as hugs with family, spending time with friends, and being with the people we love, and encourages parents to vaccinate themselves so that they can be safe.

Note: UNICEF Headquarters: New York, United States of America; UNICEF Executive Director: Henrietta H. Fore.

 

3. World Intellectual Property Day: 26th April: World Intellectual Property Day is observed globally on April 26 every year. It was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000 to “raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life” and “to celebrate creativity and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the world”. Theme 2021: ‘Intellectual property and small businesses: Taking big ideas to market’.

History of World Intellectual Property Day: WIPO proclaimed, 26 April was chosen as the date for World Intellectual Property Day because it coincides with the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization entered into force in 1970.

Note: Headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organization: Geneva, Switzerland; CEO of World Intellectual Property Organization: Daren Tang.

 

4. International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day: 26th April: The International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is observed every year on April 26 to raise awareness of the consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the risks of nuclear energy in general. The United Nations (UN) proclaimed the day on April 26, 2016, that marked the 30th anniversary of the 1986 nuclear disaster. On this day in 1986, a reactor exploded at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine with devastating consequences.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Rafael Nadal clinches 12th Barcelona Open title: Rafael Nadal beat StefanosTsitsipas 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 to win his 12th Barcelona Open title. It was Nadal’s 87th career title, and his 61st title on clay. This is the second tournament where Nadal has captured 12 or more titles. The 13-time Roland Garros champion will return to No. 2 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI cancels licence of Bhagyodaya Friends Urban Co-operative Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of Maharashtra-based Bhagyodaya Friends Urban Co-operative Bank Limited due to inadequate capital. On liquidation, every depositor is entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5 lakhs from the DICGC subject to the provisions of the DICGC Act, 1961.

According to the regulator, the bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in the full and public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further. The bank has failed to comply with the requirements and the continuance of the bank is prejudicial to the interests of its depositors.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Goldman Sachs Downgrade India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 10.5% for FY22: Wall Street brokerage, Goldman Sachs revised downward the GDP growth forecast of India for the fiscal year 2021-22 (FY22) to 10.5 per cent from the earlier estimate of 10.9 per cent. The downward revision is due to the increasing number of pandemic cases and a host of key states announcing stricter lockdowns, thus affecting economic activities.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. 19th India-Franch Naval Exercise “VARUNA” begins: The 19th edition of the Indian and French Navy bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA-2021’ conducted in the Arabian Sea from 25 to 27 April 2021. During the three day exercise, the units of both the navies will undertake high tempo-naval operations at sea, which will include advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, intense fixed and rotary wing flying operations, tactical manoeuvres, surface and anti-air weapon firings, underway replenishment and other maritime security operations.

Indian Navy: The Indian Navy will participate with its guided-missile stealth destroyer INS Kolkata, guided-missile frigates INS Tarkash and INS Talwar, Fleet Support Ship INS Deepak, with Seaking 42B and Chetak integral helicopters, a Kalvari class submarine and P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

French Navy: The French Navy will be represented by the Aircraft Carrier Charles-de-Gaulle with Rafale-M fighter, E2C Hawkeye aircraft and helicopters Caïman M and Dauphin embarked, Horizon-class Air defence destroyer Chevalier Paul, Aquitaine-class multi-mission frigate FNS Provence with a Caïman M helicopter embarked and Command and supply ship war.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Supreme Court judge MM Shantanagoudar passes away: Supreme Court judge Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar passed away. Justice Shantanagoudar was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on February 17, 2017. He would have remained in office till May 5, 2023.

About the Mohan M Shantanagoudar: Shantanagoudar was born on May 5, 1958, in Karnataka and got himself enrolled as an advocate on September 5, 1980. He was appointed as an additional judge of the Karnataka High Court on May 12, 2003, and became a permanent judge in the court in September 2004. Later, Justice Shantanagoudar was transferred to the Kerala High Court, where he assumed charge as the acting chief justice on August 1, 2016. He became the chief justice of the Kerala High Court on September 22, 2016, before being elevated as an apex court judge.

 

2. Former Maruti Suzuki MD JagdishKhattar Passes Away:JagdishKhattar, the former Managing Director of Maruti Suzuki, has passed away. He had served at Maruti Suzuki India Limited from 1993 to 2007. He is credited for establishing Maruti as India’s largest car company.

Khattar joined Maruti in July 1993 as Director, and was eventually elevated as Managing Director in 1999, first as government nominee, and then in May 2002, as Suzuki Motor Corporation nominee. After his retirement from Maruti in October 2007, Khattar launched an entrepreneurial venture named Carnation Auto.