Daily GK Update- 13th, May 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ISRO develops 3 cost-effective ventilators, oxygen concentrator: The Indian Space Research Organisation’sVikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), has developed three different types of ventilators and an oxygen concentrator at a time when a shortage of this critical medical equipment resulted in the deaths of many Covid-19 patients across the country. Based on designs, features and specifications, we have named them, Prana, VaU and Svasta. All three are user-friendly, fully automated and with touch-screen specifications, meeting all safety standards.Technology transfer will be done for the commercial production of these three ventilators and the one oxygen concentrator by this month itself. Likely to be priced around ₹1 lakh, the ventilators developed by the ISRO were cost-effective and easy to handle compared to the mini conventional ventilators that are currently priced around ₹5 lakh.

About the Prana, VaU, Svasta and Shwaas:

(1) Prana is meant to deliver respiratory gas to the patient by automated compression of an Ambu bag, Svasta is designed to work without electric power, and the VaU is a low-cost ventilator equivalent to commercially available high-end ventilators.

(2) The VSSC has also developed a portable medical oxygen concentrator called Shwaas.  It is capable of supplying 10 litres of enriched oxygen per minute, adequate for two patients at a time.

(3) It enhances the oxygen gas content by selectively separating the nitrogen gas from ambient air through Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) which is commonly used for the production of oxygen from the air.

Note: ISRO Chairman: K.Sivan; ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka; ISRO established: 15 August 1969.

 

2. Haryana Police comes up with “COVID-19 Hospital Transport Service” for free transportation of needy infected patients: The Haryana Police has come up with “COVID-19 Hospital Transport Service” (COV-HOTS) for free transportation of needy infected patients from their homes to hospitals or nursing homes and back. The service is free and exclusively meant for COVID patients. A total of 440 vehicles are being provided for this service and every police district would get 20 SUVs for this purpose. These vehicles are being provided after the instances of either shortage of ambulances or overcharging by private ambulance service providers came to the notice of the police.

 

3. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan flags off 1st supply of UCO based Biodiesel blended Diesel: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remotely flagged off the first supply of UCO, Used Cooking Oil based Biodiesel blended Diesel from Indian Oil’s Tikrikalan Terminal, Delhi. Centre had initiated Expressions of Interest for “Procurement of Bio-diesel produced from Used Cooking Oil” on the occasion of World Biofuel Day on 10th August 2019.Such “Expressions of Interest” are being periodically released by Oil Marketing Companies. This initiative will garner substantial economic benefits for the nation by shoring up indigenous Biodiesel supply, reducing import dependence, and generating rural employment.

 

4. India, EIB sign finance contract for second tranche of 150 mn Euro for Pune Metro Rail: The Government of India and European Investment Bank (EIB) signed the finance contract for second tranche of 150 million Euro for Pune Metro Rail project through a virtual signing ceremony. The project aims to provide efficient, safe, economic and pollution-free Mass Rapid Transit System in densely populated area in the city of Pune served with heterogeneous traffic options.The financing from EIB will help to fund construction and operation of Corridor 1: PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation to Swargate and Corridor 2: Vanaz to Ramvadi, totaling about 31.25 kilometer and purchase of a related fleet of metro cars. Further, the project will serve large population which consisting working class in providing urban mobility for their livelihood. The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd is the implementing agency for this project.

 

5. MP govt launches new COVID-19 treatment scheme to help people: The Madhya Pradesh government announced the launch of the ‘Mukhyamantri COVID Upchar Yojana’ amid a rise in cases in the state. The scheme has been divided into three sections. ‘Under the first section, hospitals run by state medical colleges, district and civil hospitals and community health centres will give free treatment to COVID-19 patients. In the second section, 20 per cent ICU/HDU and isolation beds will be reserved in hospitals run by private medical colleges to give free treatment,’. In the third section of the scheme, 20 per cent beds will be reserved for free treatment in hospitals accredited under Ayushman scheme for economically weaker sections of the society holding Ayushman cards.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. K P Sharma Oli loses vote of confidence in House of Representatives: Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has lost the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives. K P Sharma Oli got 93 votes in his favour while 124 voted against him. In the 275-member House of Representatives, he required at least 136 Votes to win the trust vote in the lower of the House of Representatives. After the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) withdrew its support from the government, PM Oli faced a vote of confidence. In January, K P Sharma Oli was expelled from the primary membership of the Nepal Communist Party for his decision to dissolve the Parliament.

Note: Nepal capital: Kathmandu; Currency: Nepalese Rupees; President of Nepal: Bidya Devi Bhandari.

 

2. Mayflower 400: World’s First Unmanned Vessel to Navigate across Atlantic: World’s First Unmanned Vessel named “Mayflower 400” is set to Navigate Across the Atlantic. It has been built by the marine research organization ProMare in collaboration with IBM. It will begin its transatlantic voyage on May 15, 2021, to track aquatic mammals, analyze plastic in the water, and study marine pollution.

About the Mayflower 400:

(1) Mayflower 400 is a completely autonomous ship. It is a 15-m-long trimaran that weighs 9 tons. It is powered by Artificial Intelligence and the Sun’s energy via solar panels.

(2) ProMare invested $1 million along with global contributions in the form of technology from India, the United States, and Switzerland to build the ship.

(3) The ship, equipped with a smart captain, six high-tech cameras and radars, has been trained with audio data to avoid collisions, correct its course, detect marine animals, and gather information of the population of the aquatic animals.

(4) The ship can also listen to whales with a self-activating hydrophone.

(5) Currently, the ship is trained to handle 50 meters high waves.

(6) Mayflower 400 autonomous ship provides an edge to the scientists in exploring the rough seas as the ship will be unmanned.

Note: IBM Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Arvind Krishna; IBM Headquarters: Armonk, USA.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India 2nd in ICC T20 rankings, drop to 3rd in ODI chart after annual update: India retained the second place in the ICC Twenty20 team rankings but dropped a rung to third in the ODI chart following the annual update carried out. India are trailing top-ranked England (277) by five rating points in the T20 team rankings. New Zealand have also gained in the annual T20I update, moving up from fifth to third after series wins over the West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Bangladesh. Australia have moved the other way, down from third to fifth. In the annual update of the ODI Team rankings, India dropped a place to third behind Australia and new table toppers New Zealand. The Kiwis have replaced reigning world champions England as the number one ranked side in the ODI rankings.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bajaj Finserv launches ‘SavdhanRahein, Safe Rahein’, a public awareness campaign on financial fraud risks: Bajaj Finserv launches ‘SavdhanRahein, Safe Rahein’, across digital and social media platforms, to educate customers and public at large on financial fraud risks and how to stay protected. Through this awareness initiative, Bajaj Finserv aims to convey a very important message to its customers and prospects to strictly avoid making any refundable advance payments in the name of loan processing fee, bank charges, GST, verifications etc., and verifying all loan offers at the Bajaj Finance’s official website, only.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. With Rs 55,500 crore m-cap, SAIL enters 100 most-valued Indian firms’ club: Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) regained market capitalisation (m-cap) of Rs 50,000 crore, after its stock climbed over 80 per cent in the past one and half month, on expectations of strong earnings in March quarter (Q4FY21) and a healthy outlook going forward. The state-owned steel major also entered into the league of top 100 most valued companies in terms of market capitalisation. SAIL stood at 78th position in the overall m-cap ranking with a market cap of Rs 55,529 crore, BSE data shows.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. KVG Bank bags PFRDA awards: Karnataka VikasGrameen Bank (KVGB), a regional rural bank headquartered in Dharwad, has bagged five awards (Lead to Leap, APY Makers of Excellence, Game Changers, Leadership Capital and Amazing Achievers) under various campaigns held for enrolment of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The bank is playing a pivotal role in implementation of social security schemes such as Atal Pension Yojana (APY), Prime Minister Jeevan Jyothi Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), and Prime Minister Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Kerala’s Oldest Serving MLA KR GouriAmma Passes Away at 102: The senior-most communist leader of Kerala, KR GouriAmma, who was the first Revenue Minister in the first communist ministry of the state in 1957, has passed away due to age-related ailments. She was 102. She was the second longest-serving MLA in Kerala Legislative Assembly and also the last surviving member of the first Kerala government. After the split of the Communist Party in 1964, K. R. Gouri joined the newly formed Communist Party of India (Marxist). She formed and headed the political party JanathipathiyaSamrakshanaSamithy (JSS) in 1994 after her ouster from CPI (M). She was the driving force behind the historic Land Reforms Bill in Kerala. She had won 13 assembly elections, out of the total 17 contested.