Daily GK Update- 20th July, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Digital Platform “KisanSarathi” launched to facilitate farmers: In order to facilitate farmers to get ‘right information at right time’ in their desired language, a digital platform namely ‘KisanSarathi’ was launched jointly by Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. This initiative of KisanSarathi empowers farmers with technological interventions to reach farmers in remote areas.

The ICAR Scientists to take-up research on new technological interventions in the area of transportation of farmer’s crop from their farm gate to warehouses, markets and the places where they want to sell with minimum damage. Union IT Minister assured that Ministry of Electronics and IT and Ministry of Communications will always be ready to provide all necessary support to Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying for Empowerment of Farmers. He also mentioned that the Ministry of Railways is making a plan to minimise the time taken for the transportation of crops.

 

2. Karnataka CM unveils bike taxi scheme for state: Karnataka Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa has unveiled the Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi scheme-2021. This will serve as a bridge between public transport and daily commuters. The scheme aims to reduce travel time and inconvenience in reaching bus, railway and metro stations. It will allow people, partnership firms and companies to participate. The authority concerned will issue licences under this scheme. Vehicles registered under this scheme will be in the transport category for which the government has given several exemptions like permits, tax and financial benefits for electric vehicles manufacturers.About the scheme:

(1) The Karnataka Electric Bike Taxi Scheme-2021 will boost self-employment, promote an eco-friendly environment, fuel conservation, strengthen public transport and encourage establishing related industries.

(2) The distance between the origin and destination for a trip shall not be more than 10 km, and the authority concerned will decide, from time to time, the routes that shall be excluded from the operation of the bike taxis.

Note: Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru; Karnataka Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa; Karnataka Governor: ThawarchandGehlot.

 

3. Rajnath Singh launches AI-based grievance analysis app “CPGRAMS”:Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched a mobile application, called CPGRAMS to lodge grievances using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools. The RakshaMantri was briefed that this AI-powered application will automatically handle and analyse the complaints of the people and would reduce human intervention, save time and bring more transparency to their disposal.

About the app:

(1) This is the first AI-based system developed to improve grievance redressal in the Government.

(2) The AI tool developed as part of the initiative has the capability to understand the content of the complaint based on the contents therein.

(3) As a result, it can identify repeat complaints or spam automatically. Based on the meaning of the complaint, it can categorise complaints of different categories even when keywords normally used for such search are not present in the complaint.

(4) It enables geographical analysis of complaints in a category including analysis of whether the complaint was adequately addressed or not by the concerned office.

(5) Easy user-friendly search enables user to formulate his own queries/categories depending on management requirements and seek performance results based on the query.

 

4. Covid vaccination campaign for pregnant women in Kerala, “Mathrukavacham”: The Kerala government’s campaign ‘Mathrukavacham’ to vaccinate all the pregnant women in the state against COVID-19 infection was inaugurated at the district level recently. Spot registrations for vaccination of pregnant women would be carried out at various government hospitals. Pregnant women can receive the COVID vaccine at any time during their pregnancy. The special vaccination drive comes as a strong defence to protect pregnant women.

About the campaign: Vaccination will be made available in all district hospitals as part of the model program. In the beginning, the covid vaccine will be given to 100 pregnant women through spot registration.

The State Health Ministry assured that in the coming days, covid vaccination for more pregnant women will be made accessible in all hospitals, depending on the availability of the vaccine.

Note: Kerala CM: PinarayiVijayan; Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.

 

5. India’s first pod taxi to operate between Noida Airport and Film City: Indian Port Rail and Ropeway Corporation Ltd (IPRCL) has prepared a Detailed Project Report or DPR for the pod taxi service between Noida Airport at Jewar and Film City. There are plans to run a driverless taxi between the two destinations. This will cost about Rs 862 crore, according to the detailed project report (DPR) submitted to the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida). This is a 14 km stretch. This will be India’s first pod taxi service.

Pod taxis can accommodate four to six passengers per car. This important project will provide smooth connectivity to residential and industrial areas falling between film city and the Noida International Airport. As per the DPR, the corridor will pass through various sectors such as 21, 28, 29, 30 and 32, among others, falling under the Yeida region.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. US, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan to form new quad grouping: The US, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed in principle to establish a new quadrilateral diplomatic platform focused on enhancing regional connectivity. The parties consider long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan critical to regional connectivity and agree that peace and regional connectivity are mutually reinforcing. Afghanistan’s strategic location has for a long time been touted as a competitive advantage for the country. Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, and China to the northeast.

The formation of the new quad group is important amid China’s desire to extend its Belt Road Initiative (BRI) to Afghanistan. The BRI, a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013, aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes. By virtue of its location, Afghanistan can provide China with a strategic base to spread its influence across the world.

 

2. Science Exploration Day: 20th July: Science Exploration Day (also called Moon Day) is marked every year on 20 July. It was on this day in 1969 that Neil Armstrong and Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin became the first humans to land on the Moon’s surface. The origins of Space Exploration Day date back to man first walking on the moon, with the day itself first observed to commemorate this historic event during events held in the early 1970s.Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon’s surface. The Armstrong- Aldrin duo spent 21.5 hours on the surface of the moon out of which they spent 2.5 hours outside of their capsules. To commemorate their achievement, the day was declared a holiday in 1984 by the then President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.

 

3. International Chess Day: 20th July: The International Chess Day is celebrated annually on July 20, since 1966, to celebrate one of the most ancient and most popular games in history that promote fairness, equality, mutual respect and understanding among nations. It was on this day that the International Chess Federation (FIDE) was founded, in 1924. The idea to celebrate the day as the international chess day was proposed by UNESCO. This day has been celebrated in as many as 178 countries, and a resolution officially recognizing it was signed by the United Nations in 2019.

About the chess: Invented in India in the fifth century, this board game was originally named “Chaturanga”. Chess is likely one of the oldest games of this era. After the development of the game in India, it eventually spread to Persia. The first modern chess tournament was held in London in 1851 and won by German Adolf Anderssen. On July 20, 1924, at the eighth summer Olympic games in Paris, France, the FIDE (World Chess Federation) was founded.

Note: World Chess Federation Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; World Chess Federation Founded: 20 July 1924, Paris, France; World Chess Federation CEO: Geoffrey D. Borg.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. IOA names B K Sinha as Press Attache of India’s Olympic contingent: Indian Olympic Association has appointed retired IPS officer B K Sinha will perform the dual role of Security as well as Press Attache of the country’s contingent at the Tokyo Games, which begins on July 23. Sinha is a former Haryana DGP and also a recipient of the President’s Police Medal. India will be represented by a 228-strong contingent, including 119 athletes, at the Tokyo Olympics, being held under strict health protocols sans spectators in the wake of the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

Note: Indian Olympic Association President: Narayana Ramachandran; Indian Olympic Association Founded: 1927.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Centre releases Rs 75,000 crore to states as GST compensation: The government has borrowed and given to the states Rs 75,000 crore to make up for the shortfall in their revenues because of the GST implementation. The Finance Ministry in a statement said the amount released is about half of the Rs 1.59 lakh crore that was agreed to be borrowed in the current fiscal by the Centre and passed on to the states and Union Territories on a back-to-back basis to meet their resource gap.

 

2. BUSY Accounting Software integrates with ICICI Bank for Banking solutions within the Software: BUSY, one of India’s leading business accounting software, has partnered with ICICI Bank for banking solutions. The integration will help BUSY users gain better accessibility in managing their Banking, improving their business efficiencies from BUSY itself. Under this partnership, ICICI Bank’s current account holders can now securely connect their bank account to their BUSY Accounting Software.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Microsoft acquires cybersecurity firm RiskIQ for $500M: Microsoft has reached a deal to acquire RiskIQ, a San Francisco-based provider of cybersecurity services, including malware and spyware monitoring and mobile app security. RiskIQ’s services and solutions will join Microsoft’s suite of cloud-native security products, including Microsoft 365 Defender, Microsoft Azure Defender, and Microsoft Azure Sentinel. While Microsoft hasn’t valued the deal, Bloomberg reported that the company is said to be paying more than $500 million for RiskIQ.

RiskIQ uses machine learning applications to analyze threats. The cloud-based RiskIQ software detects security issues across networks and devices, and the company lists Box, the US Postal Service, BMW, Facebook, and American Express as customers. RiskIQ was originally founded in 2009 and has gradually become an important player in analyzing security threats.

Note: Microsoft CEO and Chairman: Satya Nadella; Microsoft Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Cannes Film Festival 2021 winners list announced: The Cannes Film Festival 2021 concluded on 17 July 2021. The jury, presided by Spike Lee, presented the awards at the Closing Ceremony. Julia Ducournau won the Cannes’ top prize, the Palme d’Or, for her film Titane, making her the second woman ever to win the award. The first was Jane Campion in 1993. This year’s Cannes had a wide range of films, from Wes Anderson The French Dispatch to Julia Ducournau’sTitane, and Leos Carax’ Annette. Jodie Foster and Marco Bellocchio won the Honorary Palme d’Or.

Here is the list of Cannes 2021 winners in key categories:

Palme d’Or: Julia Ducournau for Titane (France)

Grand Prix (TIE): AshgarFarhadi for A Hero (Iran) and JuhoKuosmanen for Compartment No.6 (Finland)

Best Director: Leos Carax Annette (France)

Best Actress: Renate Reinsve for Worst Person in the World (Norway)

Best Actor: Caleb Landry Jones for Nitram (US)

Best Screenplay: HamaguchiRyusuke and Takamasa Oe for Drive My Car (Japan)

Jury Prize (TIE): Shared by NadavLapid for Ahed’s Knee (Israel) and ApichatpongWeerasethakul for Memoria (Thailand)

Best First Film: AntonetaKusijanovic for Murina (Croatia)

Best Short Film: Hong Kong’s All The Crows In The World Tang Yi

Short Film Palme d’Or: Tian Xia Wu Ya by Tang Yi

Special Jury Mention for Short Film: Ceu de Agosto by Jasmin Tenucci

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Pakistan president Mamnoon Hussain passes away: Former president of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain passed away. Mamnoon Hussain, who was born in Agra in 1940 and migrated with his parents to Pakistan in 1947, served as the 12th President of Pakistan between September 2013 and September 2018. He was governor of Sindh from June to October 1999 when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government was overthrown by the then Pakistan Army chief, Gen Pervez Musharraf.