Daily GK Update- 20th Jun, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cabinet approves Deep Ocean Mission of Ministry of Earth Sciences: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the implementation of  “Deep Ocean Mission”.  This mission is proposed by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), to explore the deep ocean for resources and develop deep-sea technologies for sustainable use of ocean resources.

About the Mission: The 5 year Mission will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs. 4077 crore in a phase-wise manner. The first phase will be carried during 2021-2024, at an estimated cost of Rs. 2823.4 crore. The main objective of the Deep Ocean Mission is to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India. Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) will be the nodal Ministry for implementing this multi-institutional ambitious mission.

Note: Union Minister of Earth Sciences: Dr Harsh Vardhan.

 

2. Dr. Harsh Vardhan addresses the Global Yoga Conference 2021:Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare addressed the inaugural ceremony of Global Yoga Conference 2021. The event was organised by ‘MokshayatanYogSansthan’ along with the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India &Indian Council for Cultural Relations to mark the occasion of the 7th International Day of Yoga which falls on 21st June 2021. Dr Harsh Vardhan highlighted how Yoga has helped people during COVID restrictions on public activities. The benefits of Yoga in immunity building and management of stress are well documented with evidence. With programmes like this Global Yoga Conference, more people shall be drawn into the fold of practising Yoga and related activities.

 

3. IIT Ropar develops India’s first power-free CPAP device ‘Jivan Vayu’: The Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Ropar has developed a device dubbed ‘Jivan Vayu’ which can be used as a substitute for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.  Jivan Vayu can deliver high flow oxygen up to 60 LitresPer Minute (LPM).

About the Jivan Vayu: This machine is India’s first such device that functions even without electricity and can work on both kinds of oxygen generation units like O2 cylinders and oxygen pipelines in hospitals. Earlier these provisions were not available in existing CPAP machines. CPAP therapy is a treatment method for patients having breathing problems during sleep called sleep apnea.

 

4. Sikkim CM presents Rs 9852.85 crore budget for 2021-22: Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang presented a Rs 9852.85 crore budget for the financial year 2021-22, saying that the Covid-19 pandemic has damaged the backbone of small Himalayan state’s economy.Of the Rs 9852.85 crore, the net outgo has been kept at Rs 9588.65 crore, Tamang said while presenting the budget on the inaugural day of the two-day assembly season. The differential amount of Rs 264.20 crore has been calculated as the recoveries from various heads. The chief minister, in his speech, threw light on the economic scenario in Sikkim saying that the restrictions imposed in the state during the two waves of the pandemic has damaged the backbone of the state’s economy. The tourism sector, in particular, has taken a hit by more than Rs 900 crore, while the state’s Gross Domestic Product has been pegged back by more than Rs 2200 crore, he said.

             

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. 2021 NATO Summit Held in Brussels, Belgium: The leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held a face-to-face summit on NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The 2021 Brussels summit of NATO was the 31st formal meeting of the heads of state and heads of government of the alliance. The summit of the 30-member NATO group was held as a part of U.S. President Joe Biden’s first foreign trip since he took office.About the summit:

(1) All the leaders agreed on the “NATO 2030” agenda, a comprehensive initiative to make sure that the alliance remains ready to face future challenges.

(2) The agenda also states that NATO will strengthen political consultation and the resilience of society, reinforce defence and deterrence, sharpen the technological edge, and develop its next Strategic Concept in time for the summit in 2022.

(3) The bloc agreed on a new cyber defence policy, to ensure that the bloc has strong technical capabilities, political consultations, and military planning in place to “keep its systems secure.”

Note: NATO Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium; NATO Chairman of the NATO Military Committee: Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach; Member countries of NATO: 30; Founded:  4 April 1949.

 

2. Naftali Bennett Takes Charge as Israel’s new Prime Minister: Naftali Bennett, the former Defence Minister of Israel, and leader of the Yamina party took oath as the Prime Minister of the country. The 49-year-old former tech entrepreneur replaces Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been forced out of office after 12 years (2009 to 2021). (Netanyahu is the longest-serving PM of Israel). Bennett will lead a new coalition government, formed with YairLapid, head of the centrist YeshAtid party. The new Coalition government will run on a rotation basis, which means that Bennett would serve as Israel’s prime minister until September 2023, following which Lapid would take charge of the office, for the next two years, until 2025.

 

3. India slips 12 spots to 55th position in Global Home Price Index: India has moved down 12 spots in the global home price index to 55th rank in Q1 2021 against 43rd rank in Q1 2020, with a decline of 1.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in home prices, Knight Frank, in its latest research report “Global House Price Index” – Q1 2021. Global Home Price Index is prepared by the London-based Knight Frank, which monitors housing prices in 56 countries. Turkey continues to lead the annual rankings with prices up by 32 per cent YoY, followed by New Zealand.

Note: Knight Frank Established: 1896; Knight Frank Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.

 

4. UAE, Brazil, Albania, Gabon, Ghana elected to UNSC: UN Security Council elected Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and UAE as non-permanent members for the 2022-23 term. All ve countries, elected unopposed, will begin their term from 1 January 2022. The election for the non-permanent members of the Security Council is held through secret ballot and candidates require a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly to get elected.

India, Ireland, Mexico and Norway had begun the term as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council from 1 January 2021. In the election, Ghana obtained 185 votes while Gabon received 183 votes. The United Arab Emirates received 179 votes and Albania got 175 votes. Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirate were elected from the African and Asian States seats. Brazil is elected from Latin American and Caribbean Group seat and the Eastern European Group seat went to Albania.

Note: UN Security Council Headquarters: New York, United States; UN Security Council Founded: 24 October 1945.

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Sports brand Puma India extends partnership with Yuvraj Singh: Global sports brand Puma India has extended partnership with former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who has been associated with the brand for over a decade. Moving from cricket to the fast lane, Yuvraj will now be seen in a new avatar as the face of Puma Motorsport in India, showcasing his passion for fast cars and sports-inspired fashion. With this, Yuvraj has joined the brand’s global league of legends like Thierry Henry, Boris Becker and Usain Bolt. Globally, Puma is associated with Scuderia Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, BMW M Motorsport and Porsche Motorsport. With India being one of the biggest markets for Puma motorsport, the brand looks to capitalise on the growing demand for streetstyle products inspired by performance gear.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Bank launches ‘ICICI STACK for Corporates’: ICICI Bank has announced the launch of ‘ICICI STACK for Corporates’, a comprehensive set of digital banking solutions for corporates and their entire ecosystem including promoters, group companies, employees, dealers, vendors and all other stakeholders. The wide range of 360-degree solutions enables corporates to seamlessly meet all banking requirements of their ecosystem in an expeditious and frictionless manner.With this launch, ICICI Bank aims to be the preferred banking partner for companies and their entire ecosystem. The environment in which corporate customers operate is becoming increasingly dynamic and competitive with accelerated digital adoption transforming every business. In this ever-changing environment, a banking partner, which can serve not only the corporates but also the entire ecosystems where they operate, adds significant value to corporate customers.

Note: ICICI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; ICICI Bank MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi; ICICI Bank Tagline: Hum Hai Na, KhayalApka.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. RBI allows prepaid mobile recharges through Bharat Bill Payment System: According to RBI, The scope of the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) will be expanded by August 31 this year by adding ‘mobile prepaid recharges as a biller category. BBPS is an interoperable platform for recurring bill payments operated by the National Payments Corporation of India. In May, 213.59 million bill payment transactions were carried out through the BBPS channel. BBPS was started in 2014 as a platform for repetitive bill payments.

Note: National Payments Corporation of India MD & CEO: DilipAsbe; National Payments Corporation of India Headquarters: Mumbai; National Payments Corporation of India Founded: 2008.

 

2. Wholesale inflation hits record high of 12.94% in May: The wholesale price-based inflation accelerated to a record high of 12.94 per cent in May, on rising prices of crude oil and manufactured goods. The low base effect also contributed to the spike in WPI inflation in May 2021. In May 2020, WPI inflation was at (-) 3.37 per cent. In April 2021, WPI inflation hit double-digit at 10.49 per cent. The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, was 12.94 per cent for the month of May 2021 (over May 2020) as compared to (-) 3.37 per cent in May 2020.

 

3. Federal Bank enlists Infosys for Oracle CX implementation: Federal Bank has expanded its strategic collaboration with Oracle and Infosys, to offer an enhanced customer experience through Oracle CX (Customer Experience) platform. The collaboration will focus on creating a comprehensive integrated Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution across marketing, sales, customer service, and social listening to strengthen Federal Bank’s operations, and to deliver connected, data-driven, and intelligent customer experiences across all touchpoints.Federal Bank will launch a 360-degree view of the customer portfolio in a single application for its users, to achieve a ‘Single Source of Truth’. These services will help improve productivity and customer satisfaction by using the financial, biographical, and demographical information of customers. Oracle will co-innovate by partnering with the broader ecosystem of Infosys.

Note: Federal Bank MD & CEO: Shyam Srinivasan; Federal Bank HQ: Aluva, Kerala.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Defence Minister Approves Budgetary Support of Rs 499 cr for innovations: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the budgetary support of Rs 498.8 crore for iDEX-DIO (Innovations for Defence Excellence – Defence Innovation Organisation) for the next five years. The funds will be used to provide financial support to nearly 300 start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and individual innovators with a larger goal of ensuring self-reliance in the defence sector. The scheme is in sync with the government’s push to cut imports of military hardware and weapons and make India a hub for defence manufacturing.

Objectives of IDEX: Facilitate rapid development of new, indigenized, and innovative technologies for the Indian defence and aerospace sector in shorter timelines. Create a culture of engagement with innovative startups, to encourage co-creation for defence and aerospace sectors. Empower a culture of technology co-creation and co-innovation within the defence and aerospace sectors.

About Defence Innovation Organization (DIO): Defence Innovation Organisation(DIO) is a not-for-profit Organisation, incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act. Founding Members: Its two founding members are Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) & Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) – Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). DIO will provide high-level policy guidance to iDEX. However, iDEX will be functionally autonomous. The CEO of both DIO and iDEX will be the same. It will facilitate coordination and separation of functions also without any conflicts.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Pritzker Prize Laureate Gottfried Bohm Passes Away: Gottfried Bohm, the first German architect to be awarded the Pritzker Prize, has passed away at 101. Most of his most notable projects were built in Germany-such as Neviges Pilgrimage Church (1968), Bensberger City Hall (1969), and the Museum of the Diocese (1975). Bohm, who was the eighth winner of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize, was widely known for his concrete churches that were largely built in Germany.