Daily GK Update- 11th Aug, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ministry for Social Justice launches ‘PM-DAKSH’ Portal and Mobile App: The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment DrVirendra Kumar has unveiled a portal and mobile application named ‘PM-DAKSH’, which aims to make the skill development schemes accessible to the target groups. The ‘PM-DAKSH’ stands for Pradhan MantriDakshtaAurKushaltaSampannHitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana. The portal can be accessed at: http://pmdaksh.dosje.gov.in. The platform has been developed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in collaboration with National E-Governance Division (NeGD), under the Department Of Electronics And Information Technology. The training programs will be implemented through Government Training Institutes, Sector Skill Councils constituted by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and other credible institutions.

Features of PM DAKSH: Through PM DAKSH, youths of the target groups can get information about skill development training happening near them and can easily register to avail the benefits of skill development training programmes more easily.

 

2. Indian Railways Launches Rail Madad: A Unified Customer Care Solution: Indian Railways has launched an integrated one-stop solution “Rail Madad” in which the national transporter has merged a number of existing helplines that were used for various purposes into one. The Railway ministry toll-free number 139 can be used for all kinds of enquiries and making complaints and the helpline facility is available round-the-clock in 12 languages.

About the Rail Madad: Rail Madad, the integrated and innovative one-stop solution for customer grievance, enquiry, suggestion and assistance, providing passengers with the choice to access RailMadad through multiple channels, namely, Web, App, SMS, Social Media and Helpline number (139) during the journey for expeditious resolution of their complaints.

 

3. Haryana govt signs MoU with Walmart Vriddhi to help MSMEs: The Haryana government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ‘Walmart Vriddhi’ and ‘Haqdarshak’ to create a pathway for Indian MSMEs’ products to move to the international markets. The MoU was signed in the presence of Haryana Deputy Chief Minister DushyantChautala, Vikas Gupta, MSME Department Director-General, the Indian government, Nitin Dutt from Walmart Vriddhi, and AniketDoegar (CEO of Haqdarshak). To promote MSMEs apart from large industries, many important concessions have been given to investors in ‘Haryana Enterprises and Employment Policy-2020’. This move will bring a big opportunity for the MSME sector, as their products will be displayed in 24 countries and will be available in 10,500 stores under 48 banners.

Note: Haryana Capital: Chandigarh; Haryana Governor: BandaruDattatraya; Haryana Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar.

 

4. Karnataka becomes first state to issue order implementing NEP-2020: Karnataka has become the first state in the country to issue the order with regard to the implementation of the National Education Policy-2020. The state government has issued an order on the implementation of NEP-2020 with effect from the current academic year 2021-2022.

About the policy: This policy seeks to entirely overhaul the system through various reforms: A single regulator to oversee higher education; no more MPhil courses before PhD; fixed fees for public and private institutions; students can choose between three and four-year undergraduate courses; multiple entries and exit points in degree courses.

Note: Chief Minister of Karnataka: Basavaraj S Bommai; Karnataka Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot; Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru.

 

5. GoI approves 1-year extension to Rajiv Gauba’s term as Cabinet Secretary: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has extended the term of service of Rajiv Gauba, as the Cabinet Secretary of India, for a further period of one year. Gauba, a 1982-batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, was appointed to the top bureaucratic post of the country in August 2019 for two years. His term of service was to end on August 30, 2021. Prior to this, MrGauba was Union Home Secretary from August 2017 to August 2019.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi becomes first Indian PM to Chair a UNSC Debate: Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has chaired the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate, via video conferencing. With this, PM Modi has become the first Prime Minister of India to chair a UNSC open debate. It must be remembered that India has assumed the Presidency of the UNSC for August 2021, taking over from France. The theme of the high-level open debate was ‘Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation’. India will organize two more meetings during its presidency, on peacekeeping and counterterrorism.

During the debate, PM Modi also underlined five principles that need to be followed in terms of maritime trade and security, which included:

(1) free maritime trade sans barriers,

(2) peaceful settlement of maritime disputes,

(3) combating maritime threats,

(4) encouraging responsible maritime connectivity and

(5) preserving maritime environment and resources

 

2. KirenRijiju attends 8th SCO Meeting of Ministers of Justice: The Union Law Minister KirenRijiju has virtually attended the eighth meeting of Ministers of Justice of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The Minister of State for Law & Justice, Prof SP Singh Baghel also attended the meeting. During the virtual event, Rijiju highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government of India for providing affordable and easy access to justice for all.

About the meeting: The three days’ meeting was hosted by Tajikistan, and chaired by Tajikistan’s Justice Minister, MK Ashuriyon. The Ministers of (Law and) Justice and senior officials and experts from the Ministries of Law & Justice of ‘India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan’ participated in the meeting.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. 7th August to be named “Javelin Throw Day” to honourNeeraj Chopra: The Athletics Federation of India has decided that javelin throw day will be on 7th August every year in honour of Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra. The 23-year-old Neeraj is India’s second individual Olympic gold medallist after AbhinavBindra. Neeraj bagged the gold medal in men’s javelin throw at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on 7th August 2021. Neeraj has scripted the history at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo when he threw the javelin to a distance of 87.58m to end India’s medal drought in athletics at the Olympics. This is India’s first-ever gold medal in athletics in the history of the Olympics.  AFI’s bid to name August 7 as Javelin Throw Day is an attempt to attract more youth towards the sport.

Note: Athletics Federation of India President: Adille J Sumariwalla; Athletics Federation of India Founded: 1946; Athletics Federation of India Headquarters location: New Delhi.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI hikes collateral-free loans to Self Help Groups: The Reserve Bank of India has raised the limit for collateral-free loans to Self-Help Groups (SHG) under the DAY-NRLM (DeendayalAntyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission) from Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 20 Lakhs. The DAY-NRLM is the flagship program of Govt. of India for promoting poverty reduction through building strong institutions for the poor, particularly women, and enabling these institutions to access a range of financial services and livelihoods.

Commercial banks provide loans to SHG. The new directions from RBI to commercial banks for this type of loan is as under:

(1) For loans to SHGs up to Rs 10 lakh, no collateral and no margin will be charged. No lien should be marked against the savings bank account of SHGs and no deposits should be insisted upon while sanctioning loans.

(2) For loans to SHGs above Rs 10 lakh and up to Rs 20 lakh, no collateral should be charged and no lien should be marked against the savings bank account of SHGs. However, the entire loan (irrespective of the loan outstanding, even if it subsequently goes below Rs 10 lakh) would be eligible for coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU).”

About the DAY-NRLM: The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India launched the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) by restructuring Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY). NRLM was renamed as DAY-NRLM (DeendayalAntyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission) w.e.f. March 29, 2016.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ADB approves USD 300 million additional loan for Maharashtra: The Manila-based Asian Development Bank has approved a USD 300 million loans as additional financing for the ongoing Maharashtra Rural Connectivity Improvement Project for upgrading rural roads and connecting remote areas with markets. The additional financing will be used for improving an additional 1,100 rural roads and 230 bridges for a total length of 2,900 km in 34 districts of the state. The project was approved in August 2019, for improving and maintaining the condition and safety of 2,100 kilometres (km) of rural roads across Maharashtra.

Note: Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari; Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai; Maharashtra CM: Uddhav Thackeray.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India-UAE Navy undertakes bilateral exercise ‘ZayedTalwar 2021’: The Indian Navy and UAE Navy conducted the bilateral naval exercise ‘ZayedTalwar 2021’ on August 07, 2021, off the coast of Abu Dhabi. The main objective of the ‘ZayedTalwar 2021’ naval exercise was to enhance interoperability and synergy between the two navies. Indian Navy participated with INS Kochi, with two integral Sea King MK 42B helicopters, deployed in the Persian Gulf. From UAE, UAES AL – Dhafra, a Baynunah class guided missile corvette and one AS – 565B Panther helicopter took part in the exercise.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. War hero Commodore KasargodPatnashetti Gopal Rao passes away: Commodore KasargodPatnashetti Gopal Rao, a 1971 war hero and recipient of the Mahavir Chakra, passed away. Rao was a recipient of the Veer Seva Medal also. He played a key role in the war with Pakistan to liberate East Pakistan that is now Bangladesh. Rao led a small task group of the Western Fleet and launched an offensive off the coast of Karachi as part of Operation Cactus Lily. Notwithstanding the threat of air, surface and submarine attack, he led the group into enemy waters on the night of December 4, 1971.