Daily GK Update- 2nd July, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. FM Sitharaman’s announces relief package worth Rs 6,28,993 crore against COVID-19: Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a slew of measures, to provide relief to people and businesses affected by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister announced a total of 17 measures worth Rs. 6,28,993 crore.

These 17 measures have further been grouped into 3 broad categories:

Economic Relief from Pandemic:

1. Rs 1.10 lakh crore Loan Guarantee Scheme for COVID Affected sectors:

2. Additional Rs 1.5 lakh crore for Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)

3. Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro Finance Institutions (New scheme): Amount per loan capped at Rs 1.25 lakh at an interest rate of MCLR (the minimum lending rate for a bank) plus 2 per cent.

4. Scheme for Tourists guides/ stakeholders: TTS’s (Travel and Tourism Stakeholders) will be eligible to get a loan up to Rs. 10 lakh each while tourist guides can avail of loan up to Rs 1 lakh each.

5. Free one-month tourist visa to 5 lakh tourists:

6. Extension of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ANBRY): The date of registration under the scheme has been extended from 30 June 2021 to 31 March 2022.

7. Additional Subsidy for DAP & P&K fertilizers: Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) increased to Rs 42,275 crore in FY 2021-22

8. Free food grains under Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Yojana (PMGKY) to be provided from May to November 2021: The estimated financial implications of the scheme will Rs 93,869 crore

Strengthening Public Health:

Rs. 23,220 crores in 2021-22, for public health with emphasis on children and paediatric care/paediatric beds

The impetus for Growth & Employment:

1. Release of Climate Resilient Special Traits Varieties;

2. Revival of North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation (NERAMAC);

3. Rs 33,000 crore additional boost for project exports through National Export Insurance Account (NEIA) over five years;

4. Rs 88,000 crore to be infused through equity in Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC) over five years to Export Insurance Cover;

5. Digital India: Rs. 19,041 crore for Broadband to each Village through BharatNet PPP Model;

6. Extension of Tenure of PLI Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing

7. Rs 3.03 lakh crore for Reform-Based Result-Linked Power Distribution Scheme;

 

2. Andhra Pradesh introduces SALT programme: Andhra Pradesh has started a Supporting Andhra’s Learning Transformation (SALT) programme to transform foundational learning in government schools for which the World Bank has approved a loan of 250 million dollars. The main objectives of the programme are strengthening foundation schools and providing training and skill development to teachers. Andhra Pradesh’s public school education system has more than 40 lakh children and nearly 2 lakh teachers.

About the programme:

(1) The five-year programme is result-oriented with the WB releasing funds after key goals are achieved. The government has converted all Anganwadis into pre-primary schools and attached them to the nearest schools.

(2) The government’s document on SALT documents several challenges to improving the learning outcomes.

(3) These include inadequate facilities in schools and a need for increased focus on foundational learning, the need for upgrading teaching skills of teachers, improving teacher-student interactions in classes, and capacity development of state-level institutions such as the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT), State Institute of Education Management and Training (SIEMAT) and District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs).

(4) The government is also setting up new administrative structures which will monitor the working of schools, like the AP School Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission.

Note: Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy; Governor: BiswaBhusanHarichandan.

 

3. A book titled “Kashmiri Century: Portrait of a Society in Flux” released:  A book titled “Kashmiri Century: Portrait of a Society in Flux” authored by KhemlataWakhlu. She is a writer, a political leader and a social worker, who has devoted the past fifty years to using her many talents to improve a lot of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The essence of the book: A Kashmiri Century is a powerful and rare compilation of human-interest stories. Spanning a full century, it throws a compassionate light on the innocent and hard-working people who live in the beautiful valley of Kashmir. The stories are all based on the author’s personal experiences and her intimate understanding of what it means to be a Kashmiri-speaking native. They cover the period from the late 19th century to the present day.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Swedish PM Stefan Lofven resigns following no confidence vote: The Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Lofven, has announced his resignation on June 28, 2021, after he lost a confidence vote in parliament. The 63-year-old Lofven is the first Swedish government leader to be defeated by a no-confidence vote. He was serving as the prime minister of Sweden since 2014. The confidence motion was filed by the far-right Sweden Democrats after the Left Party said it was planning such a motion itself in protest against a plan to ease rent controls.

Note: Sweden Capital: Stockholm; Currency: Swedish krona.

 

2. Turkey, Azerbaijan begin joint military drills in Baku: Turkey and Azerbaijan have begun joint military drills “Mustafa Kemal Ataturk – 2021” in Baku, deploying tanks, helicopters and drones in an effort to improve the two countries’ combat interoperability. The exercises involve up to 600 personnel in an effort to improve the allies’ combat interoperability. The main purpose of the exercises is to improve the interaction between the two countries’ army units during combat operations, to develop the commanders’ military decision-making skills and their ability to manage military units.

Note: Turkey President: RecepTayyip Erdogan; Turkey Capital: Ankara; Turkey Currency: Turkish lira;

Azerbaijan Capital: Baku; Azerbaijan Prime minister: Ali Asadov; Azerbaijan President: IlhamAliyev; Azerbaijan Currency: Azerbaijani manat.

 

3. World Sports Journalists Day: 2nd July: World Sports Journalists Day is observed globally on 2nd July every year. The day aims to acknowledge the work of sports journalists & to encourage them to do better at their work. Sports journalists help millions of people in the world to receive information on various sports. This professional has helped in the development of many kinds of games all over the world. These journalists have their associations to maintain their standards in their profession. It was found all over the world and united by the International Sports Press Association.

History of the day: World Sports Journalist Day was established by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) in 1994 to mark the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the organization. AIPS was formed on July 2 of 1924, during the Summer Olympics in Paris.

Note: AIPS of Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; AIPS of President: Gianni Merlo.

 

4. World UFO Day: 2nd July: The World UFO Day (WUD) is held on July 2 every year globally. It is a day dedicated to the existence of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) by the World UFO Day Organization (WUFODO). WUD aims to raise awareness about the existence of UFOs and encouraging people to think about the possibility of us not being alone in the Universe. Initially, the day was observed on June 24. Later, WUFODO established on July 2 to commemorate the day.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. ShafaliVerma becomes youngest Indian to make debut in all formats: Opener ShafaliVerma has become the youngest Indian cricketer to make a debut in all formats, when India took on England in the first ODI in Bristol. She took 17 years and 150 days to make her debut in all formats. She has become the fifth-youngest cricketer overall in the list of all format debuts. The list is topped by Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman at 17 years and 78 days is the youngest player to play all formats, followed by former England wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor. Australia’s Elysse Perry is third on the list, followed by Mohammad Amir.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Paisabazaar, SBM bank announce to launch Step Up credit card: Paisabazaar.com, India’s largest lending marketplace & Credit Score platform and SBM Bank India, the youngest universal Bank announced the launch of “Step Up Credit Card” – a credit-builder product designed for consumers with limited access to formal credit, due to ineligible credit score. It is the first product to be launched under Paisabazaar’s neo-lending strategy.

About the “Step Up Credit Card”: The Step Up Credit Card, built in partnership with SBM Bank India, is the first product to be launched under Paisabazaar’s neo-lending strategy. A secured card provided against a fixed deposit (with SBM Bank India), Step Up Card helps consumers with damaged credit or those with no credit history to steadily build their Credit Score.

Note: Paisabazaar Founded: 15 December 2011; Paisabazaar Founders: Naveen Kukreja, YashishDahiya.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Ind-Ra revises India’s GDP growth rate for FY22 at 9.6%: India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has projected the GDP growth rate of India for fiscal year FY22 (2021-22) at 9.6 per cent. Earlier this was estimated at 10.1 per cent by the rating agency. This rate is, however, contingent upon India vaccinating its entire adult population by December 31, 2021.

 

2. Amazon’s AWS Acquires Encrypted Messaging App Wickr: Amazon has acquired an American instant messaging app ‘Wickr’ to offer secure communications for businesses, government agencies, and individuals, who are moving to hybrid work environments, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It must be noted that Wickr offers the most secure, end-to-end encrypted, communication technology, with advanced security features, that are not available with traditional communications services across messaging, voice and video calling, file sharing, and collaboration.

About Wickr app: Wickr app has been acquired by Amazon.com Inc’s cloud computing unit Amazon Web Services (AWS), for an undisclosed amount. Wickr is an encrypted messaging services, founded in 2012, and primarily used by government agencies in the United States.

Note: Amazon CEO: Jeff Bezos (May 1996–5 Jul 2021); Amazon Founded: 5 July 1994.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Journalist P Sainath wins Japan’s Fukuoka Grand Prize: Journalist PalagummiSainath has been awarded the Fukuoka Grand Prize for 2021. He is a committed journalist who has continued to investigate impoverished farming villages in India and captured the reality of the lifestyle of the residents in such areas. The award, established by Japan’s Fukuoka city and the Fukuoka City International Foundation, is given to individuals and organisations for their work in preserving Asian culture.

Besides the Grand Prize, there are two more award categories, academics and culture. The Academics Prize was given to Professor Kishimoto Mio, a historian from Japan who specialisesin the socio-economic history of China in the Ming-Qing period. Thailand-based writer and filmmaker Prabda Yoon received the Arts and Culture Award.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. DRDO successfully flight-tests ‘Agni P’ Ballistic Missile off Odisha Coast: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested a New Generation Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile “Agni P (Prime)” from Dr APJ Abdul Kalamisland off the coast of Odisha, Balasore. As per Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials, Agni-Prime is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles.

About the Agni P: Agni P (Prime) is a new-generation advanced variant from the Agni class of missiles. It is a canisterised surface-to-surface ballistic missile having a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km.