Daily GK Update- 10th Sept, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurates PRANA portal: Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav launched a portal named PRANA, for the regulation of air pollution in 132 cities across the country. PRANA stands for Portal for Regulation of Air pollution in Non-Attainment cities. The portal (prana.cpcb.gov.in) will support tracking of physical as well as the financial status of city air action plan implementation and disseminate information on air quality to the public. The cities which come under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) will be covered. Apart from this, the Union Minister also dedicated the first functional smog tower of India, installed in Anand Vihar in New Delhi to the country.

 

2. Gujarat govt launches Vatan Prem Yojana: The Government of Gujarat announced, that it plans on undertaking public welfare projects worth Rs. 1,000 crores jointly with non-resident Gujaratis by December 2022. The projects will be under the state government’s ‘Vatan Prem Yojana’. The Yojana was launched in Gujarat focusing on rural development through public and state contributions. Under this scheme:

(1) The state government will undertake various rural development projects and activities.

(2) This scheme will be undertaken with 40% state government’s contribution and 60% contribution from the general public.

(3) The state government has invited Non-Resident Gujaratis and NRIs are also invited to contribute.

(4) This scheme aims to provide them with an opportunity to change their love for the nation into service for the nation. This scheme aims at making the rural areas self-reliant. It is an important step in the holistic development of villages.

(5) Projects covered under the Vatan prem yojana will cover village-level projects such as: Smart classes in schools and Library; Community hall, Primary health centre and Anganwadi; CCTV surveillance system; Water recycling, drainage, sewage treatment and beautification of ponds; Bus-stand; Solar energy powered streetlights, etc.

Note: Gujarat Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani; Gujarat Governor: Acharya Devvrat.

 

3. India’s tallest air purifier tower installed in Chandigarh: India’s tallest air purification tower has been inaugurated in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The tower has been installed at the initiative of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) at Transport Chowk, Sector 26, by Pious Air Pvt Limited. This is the highest air purifier tower of the country and covers an area of around a 500-metre radius and is 24-metre-high. The purification tower will clean 3.88 crore cubic ft of air from the surrounding environment.

 

4. AP Govt. appoints former SBI Chairperson Rajnish Kumar as economic advisor: The Andhra Pradesh government has appointed Rajnish Kumar as its economic advisor. A former SBI chairman, Rajnish Kumar’s tenure in the cabinet rank position is for two years. Rajnish Kumar who had retired as SBI chairman in October 2020, is an independent non-executive director at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. He joined SBI as a Probationary officer in 1980. The appointment comes amid the growing concerns over the state’s financial situation which has been badly hit by the Covid pandemic, even as the opposition has been critical over the sops and freebies being distributed by the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led state government. Rajnish Kumar’s appointment is expected to help the state government steer through the financially tough juncture.

Note: Andhra Pradesh Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan; Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy; Andhra Pradesh Capitals: Visakhapatnam (executive capital), Kurnool (judicial capital), Amaravati (legislative capital).

 

5. Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya Resigns: Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya has announced her resignation from the position on September 08, 2021, almost two years before completing her term, citing personal reasons. The 64-year-old Baby Rani Maurya was appointed as the Governor of Uttarakhand in August 2018, succeeding Krishan Kant Paul. Prior to becoming the governor of Uttarakhand, she served as the mayor of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, from 1995 to 2000.

 

6. A book titled “Gita Govinda: Jaydeva’s Divine Odyssey” by Utpal K. Banerjee: Union Minister of Culture Shri Kishan Reddy Gangapuram has launched a book titled “Gita Govinda: Jaydeva’s Divine Odyssey” authored by Dr Utpal K. Banerjee. The book is the first-ever fully-rhymed translation of the book GeetaGovindam by great 12th-century poet Jayadeva. Union Minister also launched a programme named ‘BujurgonkiBaat–DeshKeSaath’ that aims at enhancing the interaction between the youth and the elder persons who are 95 years and above and thus have spent around 18 years in India before independence.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. India to host G-20 summit in 2023: India will hold the G20 presidency from December 1, 2022, and will convene the G20 leaders’ summit in 2023 for the first time. Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Minister has been appointed as India’s Sherpa for the G20 in 2023 (18th edition). A sherpa is a diplomat who undertakes preparatory work prior to a summit conference. The 2021 edition of the G20 meet will be held in Rome, Italy. The 2022 G20 meet will be held in Bali, Indonesia.

 

2. World Suicide Prevention Day: 10th September: International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) observes World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) on 10 September every year. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented. The theme for the 2021 World Suicide Prevention Day is “Creating hope through action”.

History of World Suicide Prevention Day: The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) to host World Suicide Prevention Day with various activities around the world since 2003.

Note: IASP Founded by the late Professor Erwin Ringel and Dr Norman Farberow in 1960.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Guinness World Records recognise Ronaldo for most goals scored: Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo has broken the world record for most goals scored in men’s international football. Ronaldo surpassed Iranian striker Ali Daei’s long-held record of 109 international goals by scoring a brace against Ireland in a World Cup Qualifier. Ronaldo at 36 years of age is now a Guinness world record holder of most international goals of all time with 111 goals.

The Guinness world book of records has recognised Cristiano Ronaldo as a world record breaker for the most goals scored in international football (soccer) matches scored by an individual (male). Ronaldo achieved the feat scoring goals for his native Portugal between 2003 and 2021 proactively over a span of 18 years with a career still going strong as he looks to overcome yet another new challenge after his move away from Turin with a year left on his contract with the Bianconeri.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI removes lending curbs on UCO Bank: Reserve Bank of India has taken public sector lender UCO Bank out of the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework on improvement in financial and credit profile. This decision gives the bank more freedom for lending, especially to corporations and grow the network, subject to prescribed norms. The Kolkata-based lender was placed under PCA in May 2017 on account of high Net Net-Performing Assets (NPAs) and negative Return on Assets (RoAs). Following UCO Bank’s exit, two banks — Indian Overseas Bank and Central Bank of India — remain under PCA. The central bank uses the PCA framework to rein in banks that have breached certain regulatory thresholds in bad loans and capital adequacy. PCA entails curbs on high-risk lending, setting aside more money on provisions and restrictions on management salary.

Note: UCO Bank Headquarters: Kolkata; UCO Bank MD and CEO: Atul Kumar Goel; UCO Bank Founder: Ghanshyam Das Birla; UCO Bank Founded: 6 January 1943.

 

2. Karnataka Bank launches POS device ‘WisePOSGo’: The Karnataka Bank has launched an all-in-one Point-of-Sales (POS) swiping machine dubbed as ‘WisePOSGo’, for its merchant customers to process business payments. The private sector lender has rolled out this POS device in collaboration with Mswipe Technologies Pvt Ltd. The introduction of ‘WisePOSGo’ is yet another step in the direction of expanding the digital payment infrastructure in the country and promote a cashless economy. About the “WisePOSGo”:

(1) WisePOSGo is a compact, lightweight and user-friendly device, designed to keep in view the specific cost-centric requirements of the bank’s MSME customers.

(2) Apart from processing payments, merchants can also make calls using the WisePOSGo swiping machine.

(3) This device is an all-in-one swiping machine loaded with advanced features such as contactless payment, mobile phone, QR code, pay by link, magstripe and barcode scanner.

(4) The ease of processing transactions through ‘WisePOSGo’ will help the bank’s retail and MSME customers augment their businesses by providing their consumers with a convenient and flexible way of shopping.

Note: Karnataka Bank Headquarters: Mangalore; Karnataka Bank CEO: Mahabaleshwara M. S; Karnataka Bank Founded: 18 February 1924.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. S&P Global Ratings Projects India’s GDP for FY22 at 9.50%: S&P Global Ratings has revised India’s growth forecast and now expects the economy to grow 9.5 per cent in 2021-22 (FY22) and 7.0 per cent in 2022-23 (FY23). India’s external position is very strong and this is quite supportive of India’s sovereign rating despite the fact that we have had this deterioration in fiscal position concurrently. India is expected to post strong economic growth in the coming quarters, even as inflation, led by food prices, is likely to remain elevated.

 

2. Tata AIA Life names Neeraj Chopra as brand ambassador: Tata AIA Life Insurance has announced the signing of a multi-year brand partnership with Indian athlete and Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, as its brand ambassador. This association also marks the very first brand partnership to be signed with the champion javelin thrower, post his historic win at the recent Tokyo Olympics. Neeraj Chopra closely embodies Tata AIA’s vision of enabling dreams and inspiring healthier and happier lives and its core value of passion for excellence. He has consistently set high benchmarks and pioneered change through dedication to his sport. Over the next few years, Neeraj will support Tata AIA’s efforts in offering solutions to its consumers across the country.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Namita Gokhale honoured with 7th Yamin Hazarika Woman of Substance Award: Writer Namita Gokhale has been chosen as the recipient of the seventh Yamin Hazarika Woman of Substance Award. She was conferred upon the honour recently in a virtual ceremony. She is a co-founder and co-director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, Gokhale also mentors Himalayan Echoes and the Kumaon Festival of Literature and the Arts.

About the award: The award was organised by a collective of women professionals from the year 2015, the annual award honours Yamin Hazarika, the first woman from Northeast India to be selected for DANIPS, a federal police service that administered Delhi and the Union Territories in 1977.

 

2. Ramesh Narayan to be inducted into AFAA Hall of Fame: Indian advertising doyen Ramesh Narayan will be inducted into the Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) Hall of Fame at AdAsia 2021. The AFAA Hall of Fame sets out to recognise the best of the very best. It’s for those who’ve defined a generation of advertising. Ramesh has been honoured with AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award, the International Advertising Association Global Champion Award, the Public Relations Society of India Special Award, the Association of Business Communicators of India Lifetime Achievement Award, and an induction into the Hall of Fame of the India chapter of the IAA.

 

3. Indian biologist Shailendra Singh wins global award in turtle conservation: Indian biologist Shailendra Singh has been awarded the Behler Turtle Conservation Award for bringing three critically endangered turtle conservation species back from the brink of extinction. Shailendra Singh was named to lead the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)/ Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India turtle programme.

About the award: The award has been bestowed by several global bodies involved in turtle conservation such as Turtle Survival Alliance, IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, Turtle Conservancy, and Turtle Conservation Fund.  The Behler Turtle Conservation Award was established in 2006 to recognise outstanding achievements, contributions and leadership excellence in international turtle conservation and biology.