Daily GK Update- 20th Oct, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Punjab CM Charanjit Channi launches ‘Mera Ghar Mere Naam’ scheme: In Punjab, Chief Minister Charanjit Channi launched a new scheme titled ‘Mera Ghar Mere Naam’, which aims to confer proprietary rights on the people living in the houses within the ‘Lal Lakir’ of villages and the cities. The land area which is a part of the village habitation and is used for non-agriculture purposes only is known as Lal Lakir.

The state government will undertake drone surveys of residential properties, both in rural and urban areas for digital mapping, following which all eligible residents would be given the property cards, after proper identification or verification, to confer proprietary rights upon them in a time-bound manner. The property card will serve the purpose of registry against which they can avail loans from the banks or even sell their properties.

Note: Governor of Punjab: Banwarilal Purohit.

 

2. WHO Global TB report for 2021: India worst-hit country in TB elimination: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released the ‘Global TB report for 2021, where it highlighted the effects of COVID-19 which led to a huge reversal in the progress of Tuberculosis (TB) elimination. The report also mentioned India as the worst-hit country in TB elimination, where the detection of new TB cases saw a huge impact in 2020. A dramatic reduction of 20% TB cases were witnessed in 2020 as compared to 2019, ie; a gap of 4.1 million cases. The progress in TB detection has gone back to the levels of 2012, with India accounting for 41% of the total case drops in 2020.

Note: WHO Established: 7 April 1948; WHO Director General: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; WHO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

 

3. NITI Aayog joins hand with ISRO to launch Geospatial Energy Map: NITI Aayog has launched the Geospatial Energy Map of India which will provide a holistic picture of all energy resources of the country. The map has been developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Energy Ministries of the Government of India.

About the Map: The comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) Energy Map of India was jointly launched by Dr Rajiv Kumar (Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog), Dr V K Saraswat (Member, NITI Aayog), and Shri Amitabh Kant (CEO, NITI Aayog) on 18 October 2021. The map will help to identify and locate all primary and secondary sources of energy and their transportation/transmission networks to provide a comprehensive view of energy production and distribution in a country, which would further help in planning and making investment decisions.

Note: NITI Aayog Formed: 1 January 2015; NITI Aayog Headquarters: New Delhi; NITI Aayog Chairperson: Narendra Modi; NITI Aayog CEO: Amitabh Kant.

 

4. NITI Aayog-UNDP India Launches Handbook On Sustainable Urban Plastic Waste Management: NITI Aayog and UNDP India have collaborated to launch a handbook titled ‘NITI Aayog-UNDP Handbook on Sustainable Urban Plastic Waste Management’, to promote sustainable management of plastic waste in the country. The Handbook is a repository of 18 case studies/best practices and examples from cities in India, including 4 from Southeast Asia, which face similar infrastructure and plastic waste challenges. It is divided into four major components:

(1) Technical models for recycling

(2) Material Recovery Facilities (MRF)

(3) Governance for effective plastic waste management

(4) IEC and Digitization

The book will enable the urban local bodies to learn from the successful business and service models covered under this handbook to plan for efficient plastic waste management in their cities.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sri Lanka seeks 500 million dollar as loan from India: The Government of Sri Lanka has sought a USD 500 million credit line from India to pay for its crude oil purchases, as the country is facing a severe foreign exchange crisis in the island nation after the pandemic hit the nation’s earnings from tourism and remittances. The USD 500 million credit line is part of the India-Sri Lanka economic partnership arrangement. The facility would be used for purchasing petrol and diesel requirements.

The country’s GDP contracted by a record 3.6 per cent in 2020 and its foreign exchange reserves plunged by over a half in one year through July to just USD 2.8 billion. This has led to a 9 per cent depreciation of the Sri Lankan rupee against the dollar over the past one year, making imports more expensive.

Note: Sri Lanka Capitals: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte; Currency: Sri Lankan rupee; Sri Lanka Prime Minister: Mahinda Rajapaksa; Sri Lanka President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

 

2. World Statistics Day: 20th October: World Statistics Day is celebrated around the globe every year on 20 October to highlight the achievements of the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics. The celebration of World Statistics Day 2021 is a global collaborative endeavour, organized under the guidance of the United Nations Statistical Commission.

History of World Statistics Day: The United Nations Statistical Commission proposed celebrating 20 October 2010 as World Statistics Day. The General Assembly adopted on 3 June 2010 resolution 64/267, which officially designated 20 October 2010 as the first-ever World Statistics Day under the general theme “Celebrating the many achievements of official statistics. In 2015, with resolution 96/282, the General Assembly decided to designate 20 October 2015 as the second World Statistics Day under the general theme “Better data, better lives,” as well as to celebrate World Statistics Day every five years on 20 October.

Note: United Nations Statistical CommissionFounded: 1947; United Nations Statistical Commission Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council; United Nations Statistical Commission Chair: Shigeru Kawasaki (Japan).

 

3. International Chef’s Day: 20th October: International Chefs Day is observed every year on 20 October. The day aims to celebrate and honour the noble profession and educate people around the world about eating healthy. It is also the day for experienced chefs to pass on their knowledge and culinary skills to the next generation with a sense of pride and commitment. The theme of the International Chefs Day 2021 campaign is Healthy Food for the Future. International Chefs Day was created by Dr Bill Gallagher, a renowned chef and the former president of the World Association of Chefs Societies (World Chefs), in 2004.

 

4. World Osteoporosis Day: 20th October: The World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) is observed annually on October 20. The day aims to raise global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. WOD is organized by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), by launch of a year-long campaign with a specific theme. In 2021 the Global WOD Campaign theme is “Serve Up Bone Strength”.

What is osteoporosis: Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and fragile so that they break easily – even as a result of a minor fall, a bump, a sneeze, or a sudden movement. Fractures caused by osteoporosis can be life-threatening and a major cause of pain and long-term disability. Osteoporosis is a growing global problem worldwide. It affects one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50.

Note: International Osteoporosis Foundation Headquarters location: Nyon, Switzerland; International Osteoporosis Foundation President: Cyrus Cooper; International Osteoporosis Foundation Founded: 1998.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India’s Bhavani Devi wins Charlellville National Competition in France: Fencer Bhavani Devi, who made history at the Tokyo Olympics by becoming the first Indian to compete in the sport at the Games, has won the Charlellville National Competition in France in the individual women’s sabre event. She is currently ranked 50th in the world and is the top-ranked fencer from India. She is eyeing a good show at the 2022 Asian Games and has started preparing for the multi-discipline sporting extravaganza.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI imposes Rs 1 crore penalty on State Bank of India: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 1 crore on India’s largest public lender State Bank of India (SBI). The penalty has been imposed for non-compliance with the directions contained in “RBI (Frauds classification and reporting by commercial banks and select FIs) directions 2016”. The penalty has been imposed in the exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of section 47A (1) (c) read with sections 46(4)(i) and 51(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

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

 

2. Pradeep Kumar Panja appointed as Chairman of Karnataka Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Pradeep Kumar Panja as the Chairman of Karnataka Bank Ltd. He will begin his role as the part-time non-executive Chairman with effect from November 14, 2021, for a period of three years. He will succeed P Jayarama Bhat, who will retire on November 13, 2021.

Note: Karnataka Bank Headquarters: Mangalore; Karnataka Bank Founded: 18 February 1924.

 

3. Navrang Saini gets additional charge as Chairperson of IBBI: Navrang Saini has been given the additional charge as the Chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI). The post fell vacant after M.S. Sahoo retired after a five-year tenure on September 30. Saini is a Whole Time Member of IBBI. The government has assigned additional charge of Chairperson to Mr Saini in addition to his existing duties. This will be for three months or till the joining of a new incumbent to the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier, it said in a release on October 13.

Note: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India Headquarters: New Delhi; Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India Founder: Parliament of India; Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India Founded: 1 October 2016.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. India’s “Takachar” Wins Prince William’s inaugural ‘Eco-Oscar’ Award: New Delhi-based 17-year-old entrepreneur Vidyut Mohan is among the five global winners for the inaugural ‘Earthshot Prize’, also known as the ‘Eco-Oscars’, that honours people trying to save the planet. Vidyut has been awarded in the Clean our Air category, for his technology called ‘Takachar’, a small and portable device that uses crop residue to convert it into bio-products like fuel and fertilisers to reduce smoke emissions and combat air pollution. Each of the five winners will receive £1 million for their project.

About the award: The ‘Eco-Oscars’ is an environmental award established by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and renowned British historian David Attenborough in 2020, to be awarded annually from 2021 to 2030 to 5 winners. The awards were announced in five categories namely: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean our Air, Revive our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix our Climate.