Daily GK Update- 2nd Aug, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi to launch e-RUPI digital payment solution: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch e-RUPI, an e-voucher-based digital payment solution, via video conferencing. The e-RUPI initiative will be one of the programmes launched over the years to limit touchpoints between the government and the beneficiary and “ensure that the benefits reach its intended beneficiaries in a targeted and leak-proof manner”.About the e-RUPI:

(1) e-RUPI is a cashless and contactless instrument for digital payments. It acts as an e-voucher based on a QR code or SMS string, which is delivered to the mobile phones of the beneficiaries.

(2) e-RUPI connects the sponsors of the services with the beneficiaries and service providers in a digital manner without any physical interface. It also ensures that the payment to the service provider is made only after the transaction is completed.

(3) Being prepaid in nature, it assures timely payment to the service provider without the involvement of any intermediary.

(4) The one-time payment mechanism of e-RUPI will allow users to redeem the voucher without a card, digital payments app or internet banking access, at the service provider.

(5) The e-RUPI platform has been developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on its UPI platform, in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Health Authority.

 

2. Deepak Das takes charge as new Controller General of Accounts: Deepak Das has taken over as the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) on August 01, 2021. Prior to assuming charge of CGA, Mr Das served as the Principal Chief Controller of Accounts in the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). Deepak Das, a 1986-batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer, is the 25th officer to hold the position of CGA.

About the CGA: CGA is the account keeper of the government and derives its mandate from Article 150 of the Constitution. It reconciles the cash balance of the centre with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) apart from consolidating monthly accounts; preparing trends of revenue realization and expenditures as well as annual accounts of the central government.

 

3. Vice Admiral SN Ghormade takes charge as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff: Vice Admiral SN Ghormade has assumed charge as the Vice Chief of Naval Staff at a formal ceremony in New Delhi. He succeeds Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar who retired on July 31, 2021, after more than 39 years of illustrious service. The Flag officer SN Ghormade was commissioned in the Indian Navy on January 01, 1984. He was awarded the AtiVishishtSeva Medal (AVSM) on January 26, 2017, and Nausena Medal (NM) in 2007 by the President of India, and a Commendation by the Chief of the Naval Staff in 2000.

 

4. Novelist KunalBasu’s ‘In An Ideal World’ to come out in 2022: Renowned novelist KunalBasu’s new work of fiction, In An Ideal World, will be released next year, Penguin Random House India (PRHI) announced. The book, scheduled to be released under the publishing house’s ‘Viking’ imprint, is touted to be a “powerful, gritty and fast-paced literary novel” exploring a variety of themes relevant to the current times — college, politics, family, crime investigation and fanaticism. According to the publishers, the story of his upcoming book revolves around the disappearance of a member of the Liberal Party of a college in Manhar. The prime suspect of this abduction is the leader of the Nationalist group of the same college.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. India takes over UNSC presidency for August 2021: India took over from France to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August 2021. This is the first presidency for India during its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the first Indian PM to preside over a meeting of the UNSC. As the president of the top UN Body, India will decide the agenda for the month, coordinate important meetings and other related issues. India will focus on three priority areas during its presidency. These include maritime security, peacekeeping, and counter-terrorism.

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

 

2. India Placed among Top 10 Agricultural Produce Exporters of 2019: WTO Report: India has find place among the top 10 list of the countries exporting agricultural produce in the year 2019, according to a World Trade Organisation (WTO) report on trends in world agricultural trade in recent 25 years. The last such report was released in 1995, in which India was not in top 10. In the 2019 report, India has outclassed New Zealand to be ranked at 9th spot. India’s share in the global agri exports was recorded to be 3.10%, with a sizable share in the export of rice, cotton, soya beans and meat. Top Three Nations in the List:

1. The European Union (EU) – 16.1% share (ranked 2nd in 1995)

2. The United States – 13.8% share (ranked first in 1995 with 22.2% share)

3. Brazil – 7.8% share (ranked third in 1995 with 4.8%)

 

3. World Lung Cancer Day: 1st August: Every year, World Lung Cancer Day is observed on August 1 to raise awareness about the causes and treatment of lung cancer and highlight the issues of lack of sufficient research funding for the ailment. The campaign was first organized in 2012 by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) , in collaboration with the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) and also the American College of Chest Physicians. The IASLC is the largest organization in the world of its kind that only deals with lung cancer.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Esteban Ocon wins Hungarian GP 2021: Esteban Ocon, Alpine-Renault/ France, has won the Hungarian Grand Prix 2021, held on August 01, 2021, at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród, Hungary. This is the maiden F1 race win for Esteban Ocon. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin-Mercedes/Germany) came second. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) finished third. With this win, he took the Formula One championship lead from Max Verstappen. Hungarian Grand Prix was the eleventh round of the 2021 Formula One World Championship.

 

2. Sri Lanka bowling all-rounder IsuruUdana retires from international cricket: Sri Lanka left-arm seam bowling all-rounder, IsuruUdana has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. Udana had a very modest international career with sporadic appearances over 12 years in which he played only 21 ODIS and 35 T20 Internationals with just 45 wickets to show for his efforts. The left-arm medium-pacer had made his T20I debut in 2009 against Australia at the T20 World Cup in which Sri Lanka lost the final to Pakistan. His maiden ODI game came against India in 2012.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. LIC Cards Services, IDBI Bank launch RuPay credit cards Lumine, Eclat: LIC Cards Services Limited (LIC-CSL) has partnered with IDBI Bank to launch ‘Lumine’ Platinum Credit Card and ‘Eclat’ Select Credit Card on the RuPay platform. The cards will initially be available to LIC policyholders, agents, as well as employees of the corporation and its subsidiaries. The cards will offer a wide range of benefits to users. About the cards:

(1) Lumine and Eclat cardholders will have a credit limit that suits their lifestyles. The cardholders will earn 3 ‘delight’ points on every spend of Rs 100 via the Lumine card and 4 points on the Eclat card.

(2) The cards also offer a special benefits of 2x reward points while paying the renewal insurance premiums of LIC. The cards also have a ‘Welcome Aboard’ offer for initial customers.

(3) Lumine and Eclat cardholders will earn ‘Welcome Bonus Delight Points’ of 1,000 and 1,500, respectively, on spending Rs 10,000 within 60 days of card issuance.

(4) Both cards offer users the facility to convert their transactions of over Rs 3,000 to EMI with zero processing and foreclosure fee, along with a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions of Rs 400 onwards.

(5) Cardholders can also choose their EMI tenure options of 3, 6, 9 or 12 months as per their requirements. Moreover, Eclat cardholders will get complimentary lounge access at all domestic and international airports.

(6) The cards also come with insurance coverage viz air accident insurance cover, personal accident or permanent disability cover, credit shield cover and zero lost card liability. They have a validity of 4 years and an interest-free credit period of up to 48 days.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. GST Collections Touched ₹ 1.16 Lakh Crore In July 2021: Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for July 2021 were ₹ 1.16 lakh crore, 33 per cent more than the corresponding period of last year. GST collections in July 2020 had stood at ₹ 87,422 crore, while sequentially they had stood at ₹ 92,849 crores in June this year. According to figures released by Finance Ministry, gross GST revenue collected in July 2021 are ₹ 1,16,393 crore, out of which Central GST is ₹ 22,197 crores, State GST is ₹ 28,541 crore and Integrated GST is ₹ 57,864 crore (including ₹ 27,900 crores collected on import of goods) and cess of Rs 7,790 crore (including ₹ 815 crores collected on import of goods).

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Asha Bhosle to get prestigious Maharashtra Bhushan award 2021: The Maharashtra Bhushan Selection Committee chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has unanimously selected legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle for the prestigious award. Asha Bhosle is best known for her playback singing in Hindi cinema, although she has a wider repertoire. Bhosle’s career started in 1943 and has spanned over seven decades. She has done playback singing for over a thousand movies. Asha Bhosle was officially acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most recorded artist in music history. The Government of India honoured her with the DadasahebPhalke Award in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. Bhosle is the sister of playback singer LataMangeshkar and belongs to the prominent Mangeshkar family.

 

2. Cyrus Poonawalla wins LokmanyaTilak National Award: Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman of the Pune-based vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII), has been selected for the prestigious LokmanyaTilak National Award for 2021. He has been named for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic, by manufacturing the Covishield vaccine. He will receive the award on August 13. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs one lakh and a memento.

About the award: The LokmanyaTilak national award is given annually since 1983 on August 1, the death anniversary of LokmanyaTilak, by the LokmanyaTilak Trust. However this year the date has been changed due to the coronavirus situation.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. World Masters gold medal winner Man Kaur passes away: Multiple World Masters Championship gold medallist and multiple Asian Masters Championship medallist athlete 105-year-old, Man Kaur passed away. She started running and won her first medal in Chandigarh Masters Athletics meet in 2007 before she won the gold in 100 m as well 200 m race in the National Masters Athletics meet in 2011. Kaur would become the 100 m and 200 m champion in the World Masters Athletics Championships in the USA and was also adjudged the best athlete. But it was her feat of becoming the champion in the 100 m in the 100+ category in the World Masters Athletics Championships in Auckland in 2017, which got her into the limelight.