Daily GK Update- 4th July, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Andhra Pradesh introduces programme to transform foundational learning with World Bank aid: Andhra Pradesh has started a 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 called Supporting Andhra’s Learning Transformation (SALT) are strengthening foundation schools and providing training and skill development to teachers. Establishing and strengthening foundation schools is in tune with the National Education Policy, 2020, and Andhra Pradesh aims to become the first state to do so.

 

2. Govt Allocates Additional Rs 19,041 Cr for Broadband Connectivity in Villages underBharatNet: The government allocated an additional Rs 19,041 crore to provide broadband connectivity in all villages under the BharatNet project. Under the BharatNet project, the government initially targeted to cover all 2.52 lakh gram panchayats with high-speed broadband services. The Prime Minister later announced expansion of the project to cover all villages as well.

 

3. ShambhuNath Srivastava appointed as the chairman of IFUNA: Justice (Retd.) ShambhuNath Srivastava, a former judge of Allahabad High Court and former chief Lokayukta of Chhattisgarh, has been appointed the chairman of the Indian Federation of United Nations Associations (IFUNA). Indian Federation of United Nations Associations, a non-profit organisation to promote objectives of the United Nations and its specialised agencies. IFUNA enjoys special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN.

 

4. India’s oldest running newspaper, Mumbai Samachar, turns 200: On July 1, India’s oldest running newspaper, Mumbai Samachar, will enter its 200th year. The Gujarati newspaper, with its office located in an iconic red building at Horniman Circle in Mumbai’s Fort area, was first published in 1822. It was founded by a Parsi scholar FardoonjiMurazban, who had experimented with various other publishing options before landing on this successful print run. Formerly called Bombay Samachar, in Gujarati, the paper has always run as Mumbai naSamachar. It started as a weekly edition, primarily covering the movement of goods across the sea and other business news, such as the sale of property, and passed through several hands until bankruptcy turned it over to the Cama family in 1933.

 

5. J&K Chief Secretary inaugurates helpline “Sukoon”: J&K Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta, inaugurated SDRF first Battalion’s 24×7 mental health helpline ‘SUKOON’ at its headquarters. This initiative, launched by SDRF First Battalion Kashmir in collaboration with Mission Youth J&K and Tourism department, will guide the caller to avail services of clinical psychologists, therapists, counsellors and psychiatrists.

About the ‘SUKOON’: ‘SUKOON’ is a mental health helpline initiative (toll-free number 1800-1807159) to offer guidance to persons (or their well-wishers) who are experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, panic attack, PTSD, adjustment disorder, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, mental health emergency and pandemic induced psychological stress. First, 200 SDRF and 40 NDRF personnel were trained for Covid care duties and then deployed at Seven hospitals in J&K while the launch of the Sukoon helpline is the second step to support persons facing health issues.

 

6. CJI NV Ramana release a book titled “Anomalies in Law and Justice”: Chief Justice of India Justice NV Ramana has released former Supreme Court judge RV Raveendran’s book “Anomalies in Law and Justice”. The book is an attempt to explain to the layman that the law and the legal system is still evolving and that it requires more critical thinking to resolve issues that have persisted in the system for a long time. The book covers procedural as well as substantive law relating to civil procedure, electoral reforms and the alternate dispute resolution mechanism.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. China turns on world’s 2nd-biggest hydropower dam: The Government of China officially turned on the first two generating units of the Baihetan Dam, the world’s second-biggest hydroelectric dam, to start generating energy. The Baihetan Dam is set up on the Jinsha River, in southwestern China.About the dam:

(1) The dam is a 289-meter-tall (954-foot-tall) double-curvature arch dam, having 16 generating units.

(2) Each unit will have to generate a capacity of 1 million kilowatts, making it the second biggest in size after the “Three Gorges Dam” opened in 2003 on the Yangtze, with 22.5 million kilowatts of generating capacity.

(3) Through the Baihetan Dam, the Chinese government aims to curb surging fossil fuel demand by building more hydropower capacity.

(4) Both the dams have been built by the state-owned Three Gorges Group Corp., the world’s biggest investor in hydro, solar and wind generation.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; China Currency: Renminbi; China President: Xi Jinping.

 

2. US Announces USD 41 Million Additional Covid-19 Assistance to India: The US has announced an additional USD 41 million assistance to help India respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and strengthen the country’s preparedness for the future health emergencies, taking the total aid to more than USD 200 million. USAID’s assistance will support access to Covid-19 testing, pandemic-related mental health services, timely referrals to medical services, and access to healthcare in remote areas. Through this additional funding, USAID will continue to partner with India to strengthen healthcare supply chains and electronic health information systems, support its vaccination efforts, and mobilize and coordinate private sector relief.

 

3. Japan to provide $9.3 Million Aid to India for Building Cold Chain System to Fight Covid: Japan announced that it will provide USD 9.3 million worth cold chain equipment and related assistance to India to help in the country’s fight against COVID-19 pandemic. The assistance, under Japan’s Emergency Grant Aid scheme, will provide India with cold chain equipment including medical equipment such as cold-storage facilities, as Last One Mile Support to ensure vaccination in each country, through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

 

4. G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting held in Catania: G20 Labour& Employment Ministers’ Meeting was held in Catania, Italy. Ministry of labour& employment, India was represented by MoS (I/C) Shri Santosh Gangwar along with minister of state for education, Sanjay Dhotre. Ministers reiterated to recognize the need to equip youth well for a smooth transition into work space after they complete their education. This move is especially important for learners belonging to socially and economically disadvantaged population groups, who are more at risk of being left behind.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Anshula Rao first woman cricketer to get dope ban: Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Anshula Rao became the first women cricketer to be handed a four-year ban after failing the dope test. She was handed the ban by the panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency for faking a dope test which dates back to July 2020. Earlier she was also found guilty of consuming a banned anabolic steroid ’19- Norandrosterone. The U-23 cricketer has taken part in several BCCI organised domestic tournaments. She last took part in the 2019-20 U-23 event organised by the governing body.

 

2. Shooting World Cup in Osijek, Croatia: Manu Bhaker& Saurabh Chaudhary win silver in mixed air pistol team event: India’s star shooters Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary won a silver medal at the ISSF World Cup in Osijek, Croatia o in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team Event. The Indian pair lost the gold medal match to Russia’s VitalinaBatsarashkina and ArtemChernousov 12-16. Meanwhile, India’s Abhishek Verma and YashaswiniDeswal lost their bronze medal match in the Mixed Team Air Pistol event to Iran’s GolnoushSebghatollahi and JavadForoughi 7-17 and finished outside the podium.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. State Bank of India celebrates 66th Foundation Day: The oldest commercial bank in the country, State Bank of India, SBI, is celebrating its 66th year on 1st July. SBI descends from the Bank of Calcutta founded in 1806 through the Imperial Bank of India. The Bank of Madras merged into the other two presidency banks, the bank of Calcutta and the bank of Bombay to form the Imperial Bank of India which in turn became the State Bank of India on this day in 1955.

Note: SBI Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara; SBI Headquarters: Mumbai; SBI Founded: 1 July 1955.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. NTPC sets target to install 60 GW renewable energy capacity by 2032: India’s largest power producer NTPC has set a target to install 60 GW (gigawatts) of renewable energy capacity as part of the plan to reduce by 10% its net energy intensity by 2032. In addition, the coal-burning behemoth has declared that it will form at least two international alliances/groups to facilitate clean energy research and promote sustainability in the energy value chain by 2025. These commitments make NTPC the first company in India’s energy domain to declare its Energy Compact goals as part of UN High-level Dialogue on Energy.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. ‘Decoding Shankar’, wins at Toronto International Women’s Film Festival: Freelance filmmaker Deepti Pillay Sivan’s most touted documentary, “Decoding Shankar” about the life and career of the celebrated musician Shankar Mahadevan, recently won the Best Film Award in the Documentary section (Best Biographical) at the Toronto International Women Film Festival, 2021. The 52-minute docu-film released a few years ago is a sketch of the life of the prolific musician focusing on how he balances his career as a singer, music composer, and teacher. The film gives interesting tidbits about his family life and shares interesting moments about his passion for cooking.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Editor of ‘Sudharma’ Sanskrit Daily, K.V. Sampath Kumar Passes Away: Editor of ‘Sudharma’ Sanskrit Daily, K.V. Sampath Kumar has passed away. He, along with his wife, was selected for the Padma Shri honour from the Government of India in 2020 for his contribution to the field of Literature & Education. He has also received several awards like the Siddarudha award, the Shivaratri Deshikendra Media award, the Abdul Kalam award and others. Sampath Kumar’s father PanditVaradarajaIyengar had launched ‘Sudharma’ in 1970. Sudharma is the only Sanskrit Daily in the world, printed and published from Mysuru.