Daily GK Update- 21st, May 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s First Agriculture Export Facilitation Centre Launched in Pune: The Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (MCCIA) has launched India’s first agro-export facilitation centre in Pune, in collaboration with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The new Facilitation Centre will work as a one-stop-centre for the exporters in the agricultural sector as well as boost agricultural exports from the region, as per global standards.

The Center would guide the prospective exporters on various relevant aspects of the ‘farm-to-fork chain of agro-exports through its experts. It would organize awareness programs, training programs and workshops on the related aspects, organise visits to export houses for getting practical guidance, organise buyer-seller meetings etc.

Note: NABARD Founded: 12 July 1982; NABARD Headquarters: Mumbai; NABARD Chairman: G R Chintala.

 

2. India-Microsoft MoU on Digital Transformation of Tribal Schools: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Microsoft signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the joint initiative for Digital Transformation of Tribal Schools. This includes the introduction of Ashram Schools and Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in tribal areas. About the project:

(1) Microsoft will make an Artificial Intelligence curriculum available for the tribal students in Hindi and English.

(2) In the first phase of the programme, 250 EMRS are to be established. Out of these 250 schools, 50 schools will be given intensive training. And five hundred master trainers will be trained in the first phase.

(3) The teachers are to be trained in a phased manner to use Artificial Intelligence application and production technologies such as Office 365. This will introduce the teachers to the world of collaboration and help them understand how teaching shall be increased with virtual field trips.

(4) The teachers will also be provided with E-Certificates and E-badges from the Microsoft Education centres at the end of the programme.

Note: Minister of Tribal Affairs: Arjun Munda; Microsoft CEO: Satya Nadella; Microsoft Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States.

 

3. 26th Meeting of Group of Ministers on COVID-19: The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harsh Vardhan chaired the 26th meeting of the Group of Ministers on COVID-19. CoWIN platform-the government developed a website for the registration and booking of vaccine appointment- will be soon accessible in Hindi and 14 other regional languages, informed in the 26th GOM meeting.

Key Outcomes of the meet:

(1) Around seventeen more laboratories will be added to the INSACOG (Indian SARS CoV-2 Genomics Consortium) network.

(2) These laboratories are being added to monitor COVID-19 variants. Currently, there are ten laboratories in the network.

(3) The manufacturing of Amphotericin-B is to be increased to treat COVID-19 black fungal infections called Mucormycosis.

 

4. Centre has released over Rs 5950 Crore to 15 States in current FY for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission: Centre has released over Rs 5950 Crore to 15 States in the current financial year for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission. It is being implemented in partnership with States and Union Territories. The Ministry of Jal Shakti has said that this is the first tranche of the four to be released in this financial year. Other 17 States and Union Territories have been asked to send their proposals to National Jal Jeevan Mission for release of funds.

 

5. National Anti-Terrorism Day: 21st May: In India, the National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed on May 21 to commemorate the death anniversary of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. The day is also observed to spread the message of peace, harmony, and humankind and to promote unity among the people. Rajiv Gandhi was India’s youngest Prime Minister. He was appointed as the sixth Prime Minister of the country and served the nation from 1984 to 1989. Mr Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by a human bomb. He was killed in Tamil Nadu in a campaign by a terrorist. Then, under the V.P. Singh government, the centre has decided to observe 21st May as Anti-Terrorism Day.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. PenpaTsering elected president of Tibetan exile government: The former speaker of Tibet’s parliament-in-exile, PenpaTsering, has been elected the new president of the exile government. Nearly 64,000 Tibetans living in exile in India, Nepal, North America, Europe, Australia and elsewhere voted in the election, which was held in two rounds in January and April. It was 3rd direct election of leadership after the withdrawal of Dalai lama from politics.

Note: Tibet Capital: Lhasa; Tibet Currency: Renminbi.

 

2. Atlas V rocket launches SBIRS Geo-5 missile warning satellite for US Space Force: The United Launch Alliance launched the Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The Atlas V rocket carried SBRIS Geo-5 Missile Warning Satellite. The full form of SBRIS is the Space-Based Infrared System. It is designed for missile warning, missile battlespace and defence characterization. SBRIS is basically a Space Tracking and Surveillance System. SBRIS was designed to meet the Infrared Space Surveillance of the United States Space Force System. In 2020 alone, the SBRIS satellites detected more than a thousand missiles.

About the satellite: The satellite will provide key capabilities in missile warning, battlespace, missile defence. It weighs 4,850 kilograms. As of 2018, ten SBRIS satellites were launched. Atlas V is a two-stage rocket. It is fueled with rocket grade kerosene and liquid oxygen in its first stage and hydrogen and liquid oxygen in the second stage. The rocket put SBRIS at a height of 35,753-kilo metres.

Note: United Launch Alliance CEO: Tory Bruno; United Launch AllianceFounded: 1 December 2006; United Launch Alliance Headquarters: Centennial, Colorado, United States.

 

3. International Tea Day: 21st May: International Tea Day is observed globally on May 21 on the recommendation of India. The purpose of International Tea Day is to try to improve the condition of tea producers and tea workers. The United Nations recognised International Tea Day by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to raise awareness of the deep cultural and economic significance of tea around the world and promote its importance in fighting hunger and poverty.

History of International Tea Day: The United Nations General Assembly has designated May 21 as International Tea Day based on a proposal moved by India at the FAO Intergovernmental Group (IGG) on Tea in October 2015. Before 2019, December 15 is celebrated as International Tea Day in tea producing nations such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda, India and Tanzania.

 

4. World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development:21st May: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is observed globally on 21 May every year. The day aims to celebrate the richness of the world’s cultures and highlight the significance of its diversity as an agent of inclusion and positive change for achieving peace and sustainable development.

History of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development: In the year 2001, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the ‘Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity’ as a result of the destruction of the Buddha statues of Bamiyan in Afghanistan in 2001. Then in December 2002, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in its resolution 57/249, declared 21 May to be World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

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

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Arjan Bhullar becomes first Indian-origin fighter to win MMA title: Arjan Bhullar became the first Indian-origin fighter to win a world title in a top-level MMA promotion when he beat Brandon Vera to become the heavyweight world champion at the Singapore-based One Championship. By defeating Vera, Bhullar ended the Filipino-American’s five-year championship-winning run. Bhullar had won the commonwealth games gold medals in 2010 and 2012. He became the first Indian-origin freestyle wrestler to represent Canada at the Olympics.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bajaj Finserv launches assistance programme for families of its deceased employees: Bajaj Finserv, the holding company for the financial services business of Bajaj Group, announced a new comprehensive family assistance programme to extend support and financial assistance to families of employees who have passed away due to the COVID pandemic. This programme ‘Together as One’ aims to support their children’s education till graduation, provide financial assistance to such families as well as extended medical insurance coverage. The initiative is being rolled out across Bajaj Finserv and its companies — Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, Bajaj Housing Finance, Bajaj Finserv Health, Bajaj Financial Securities, Bajaj Finserv Markets and Bajaj Holdings & Investment. It will be effective retrospectively from April 1, 2020.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Reliance Jio joins global consortium to build undersea cable network: Telecom operator Reliance Jio is constructing the largest international submarine cable system centred on India with global partners and submarine cable supplier Subcom to cater to increased data demand. The two submarine cable systems which the company plans to deploy will connect India with Asia Pacific markets (Singapore, Thailand & Malaysia) and others with Italy & Africa.

About the Submarine cable networks:

(1) Submarine cable networks connect several nations for the flow of internet & telecom services. This high capacity and high-speed systems will provide more than 200 Tbps (terabits per second) of capacity spanning over 16,000 kilometres.

(2) The IAX system that will connect India from Mumbai and Chennai to Thailand, Malaysia, and is expected to be ready for service by mid-2023 and the IEX system that will extend India’s connectivity to Italy, landing in Savona and additional landings in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to be ready for service in early 2024.

Note: Reliance Jio President Infocomm: Mathew Oommen; Reliance Jio Founder: MukeshAmbani; Reliance Jio Founded: 2007; Reliance Jio Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. DNA sequencing pioneers from Cambridge win 1 million euro tech Nobel prize: Two British chemists who developed a super-fast DNA sequencing technique that paved the way for revolutionary healthcare advances were awarded Finland’s version of the Nobel science prizes. Cambridge University professors Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman took home the 1 million euro ($1.22 million) Millennium Technology Prize for their work over 27 years creating ever faster and cheaper ways to sequence the human genome. The pair’s Next-Generation DNA Sequencing technology (NGS) “means huge benefits to society, from helping the fight against killer diseases such as Covid-19 or cancer to better understanding crop diseases and enhancing food production,” the Technology Academy Finland, which awards the biennial prize.

About the award: The Finnish Millennium Technology Prize, founded in 2004, singles out innovations that have practical applications and which “enhance the quality of people’s lives.” It aims to be a technology equivalent of the Nobel science prizes, which have been criticised by some for focusing too much on traditional, decades-old scientific research.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former President of Indian Medical Association Dr. KK Aggarwal Passes Away:  Renowned cardiologist and former national president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr KK Aggarwal, has passed away battling with Covid. He was an eminent physician and cardiologist, who also has served as the head of the Heart Care Foundation of India. He was honoured with the Dr BC Roy Award in 2005 and the Padma Shri in 2010, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his contributions to the field of medicine.