Daily GK Update- 19th July, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Rajasthan introduces the first digital Lok Adalat in India: During the 18th All India Legal Services Authorities’ convention, which was held here, National Legal Services Authority Chairman Uday Umesh Lalit unveiled the first digital Lok Adalat driven by artificial intelligence. Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority’s (RSLSA) digital Lok Adalat was created by Jupitice Justice Technologies, the organization’s technological partner. Key Points:

a)      N V Ramana, the Chief Justice of India, opened the two-day event in the presence of Kiren Rijiju, the Union Minister of Law and Justice, and Ashok Gehlot, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

b)      India’s increasing litigation backlog has recently made attention, particularly during the pandemic when courts were temporarily halted.

c)       The oldest pending case in the nation was recently resolved by a district court in Bihar after 108 years of deliberation.

d)      The NITI Aayog report also estimated that it would take 324 years to resolve every case now outstanding in India.

e)      According to the survey, between 5 million and 40 million legal issues arise each month but only between 75% and 97% of them end up in court.

Note: Chief Justice of India: N V Ramana; Union Minister of Law and Justice: Kiren Rijiju

 

2. Consumer Affairs Department launches Jagriti, its new mascot: Jagriti is a mascot created by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) with the goal of empowering customers and raising awareness of their rights. Jagriti will be shown as an educated consumer who is advocating for her rights and finding answers to the issues she encounters. The Jagriti mascot will be employed to raise consumer awareness of a variety of Departmental topics, including the provisions of the 2019 Consumer Protection Act, hallmarking, the National Consumer Helpline toll-free number 1915, provisions of the Weights and Measures Act, decisions of the Central Consumer Protection Authority, and consumer testimonies regarding grievance redressal.

 

3. Kerala becomes first state to have own internet service: Kerala is now the first and only state in the country to have its own internet service, according to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who made the announcement. The announcement followed the Department of Telecommunications’ granting of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) licence to the IT infrastructure project of the Kerala Fiber Optic Network Ltd (K-Fon), which aims to provide everyone in the state access to the internet. K-FON:

a)      K-Fon or Kerala Fiber Optic Network Ltd is a state government initiative that aims to eliminate the digital gap. As per the government, the infrastructure created by this project is expected to complement the state’s current telecom ecosystem.

b)      Create a core network infrastructure (information highway) with non-discriminatory access to all service providers so that they can augment their connectivity gap.

c)       Provide a reliable, secure and scalable intranet connecting all government offices, educational institutions, hospitals, etc.

d)      Partner with Multiple System Operators, Telecommunication Service Providers, and Internet Service Providers for providing free internet to economically backward households.

Note: Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan; Kerala Capital: Thiruvananthapuram; Kerala Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan.

 

4. Govt establishes commission to build a framework for right to repair: The Department of Consumer Affairs has formed a committee under the leadership of Additional Secretary Nidhi Khatri in an effort to provide an overall framework for the Right to Repair. Anupam Mishra, Joint Secretary DoCA, Justice Paramjeet Singh Dhaliwal, G.S. Bajpai, Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, Ashok Patil, Chair of Consumer Law and Practice, and members from stakeholders like ICEA, SIAM, consumer activists, and consumer groups make up the committee. Key Points:

a)      Creating a framework for the right to repair in India aims to empower local consumers and product buyers, harmonise commerce between original equipment makers and third-party buyers and sellers, place an emphasis on establishing sustainable use of products, and reduce e-waste.

b)      Spare components are under the exclusive responsibility of manufacturers (regarding the kind of design they use for screws and other). A repair industry monopoly violates the customer’s freedom to chose.

c)       Digital warranty cards make sure that a customer loses the ability to make a warranty claim if they purchase a product from a non-recognised business.

 

5. First-Ever ‘Made In India’ surgical robotic system installed at Rajiv Gandhi Institute: Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center, New Delhi (RGCI) have installed the first-ever Made-in-India Surgical Robotic System, “SSI-Mantra”, devised by the new-age Indian med-tech start-up SS Innovations. The ingenious SSI Mantra will be signifying the beginning of a new era of surgical procedures in India, making robotic surgery accessible and affordable for the people of our country. After two pilot projects where Dr Sudhir Rawal and his team from RGCI successfully performed a total of 26 surgeries with SSI Mantra, thereby validating safety, feasibility and effectiveness, the robot is now ready to provide an advanced method of surgery, which will be accessible to the general public at a much lower cost.

 

6. Manoj Kumar assumes charge as KVIC’s new chairman: Manoj Kumar, former expert member of marketing at Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), has been promoted to take charge as Chairman of the Government of India’s statutory body. KVIC’s former Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena has moved on to take charge as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Manoj Kumar was earlier part of KVIC as the Expert Member (Marketing) and has professional experience in the areas of marketing and rural development.

Note: KVIC Founded: 1956; KVIC Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. British govt launched ‘Aviation Passenger Charter’ to help passengers know their rights: The British government has launched an “Aviation Passenger Charter”  to help passengers know their rights if they are faced with problems at airports after the widespread disruption seen this year. The new charter will help passengers know what to do if they are confronted by cancellations, delays or missing baggage. It has been developed by the British government in partnership with the aviation sector & travel industry.

Long queues and cancelled flights caused by staff shortages have caused chaos at times, prompting airlines to cut back their schedules as the industry struggles to keep up with a surge in demand after the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, the government published a 22-point support plan to avoid further disruption, including telling airlines to run “realistic” summer schedules and promising to speed up security checks.

 

2. Expat Insider Rankings for 2022: India ranks 36th: Mexico has topped the Expat Insider Rankings for 2022, which was released by the InterNations recently, while India has been ranked on 36th position out of the 52 countries on the list, with a high affordability score. Kuwait is the worst country for expats in the ranking. The best and the worst:

Top 10: Mexico, Indonesia, Taiwan, Portugal, Spain, UAE, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, Singapore.

11 to 20: Estonia, Oman, Kenya, USA, Bahrain, Brazil, Russia, Malaysia, Switzerland, Czechia.

21 to 30: Philippines, Netherlands, Canada, Austria, Hungary, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Belgium, Denmark.

31 to 40: France, Finland, China, Norway, Egypt, India, UK, Ireland, Sweden, South Korea.

41 to 52: Greece, Germany, Malta, Italy, Turkey, South Africa, Japan, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Kuwait.

About the Expat Insider Rankings: The Expat Insider survey is conducted every year by InterNations, a community for expatriates. The survey takes a look at some of the best possible ex-pat destinations around the world, which offer the best quality of life to the people who move abroad to improve their quality of life.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. West Indies Cricketers Lendl Simmons & Denesh Ramdin Announce Retirement: Former West Indies skipper Denesh Ramdin announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. He played his last match for West Indies in a T20I in December 2019. However, he will continue to play franchise cricket. He has played 74 Tests, 139 ODIs and 71 T20Is. He started out in Test cricket, making his debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo in July 2005. He played a part in West Indies T20 World Cup triumphs in 2012 and 2016.

Meanwhile, West Indies batter Lendl Simmons also announced his retirement from international cricket. His decision came to the fore after his Caribbean Premier League franchise Trinbago Knight Riders posted a congratulatory message for the player. Simmons made his international debut way back in 2008 in an ODI against Pakistan at Faisalabad. Thereafter, he made his T20I and Test debuts in 2007 and 2009 respectively. In 8 Tests, 68 ODIs and 68 T20Is, the right-handed batter scored 278, 1958 and 1527 runs respectively, with the help of 2 centuries and 25 half-centuries.

 

2. Mairaj Ahmad Khan of India writes history by winning gold medal in skeet: Veteran Indian shooter Mairaj Ahmed Khan made history by becoming the first person to ever win a men’s skeet gold medal at an ISSF World Cup. The 46-year-old from Uttar Pradesh shot 37 in the 40-shot final to finish ahead of Minsu Kim from Korea (36), who took second place, and Ben Llewellin from Britain (26), who took third place. Key Points:

a)      The shooter qualified over two days with a score of 119/125 before winning his first individual gold in a five-way shoot-off. The two-time Olympian, who is now the oldest participant for India at Changwon, won silver in the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

b)      Anjum Moudgil, Ashi Chouksey, and Sift Kaur Samra won bronze in the women’s 50m rifle 3P team competition earlier in the day.

c)       In the bronze medal match, the Indians easily defeated the Austrian team of Sheileen Waibel, Nadine Ungerank, and Rebecca Koeck 16-6 to take the podium spot. But Khan unquestionably owned the day.

d)      After placing 119th overall, he found himself competing for two last qualification berths alongside four other athletes, including Kuwaiti Abdullah Al Rashidi, a two-time Olympic medalist.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Following $100 million in investment, OneCard becomes India’s 104th unicorn: OneCard, a mobile-first credit card company, raised $100 million in a series D round of funding backed by Temasek, making it the 104th unicorn in India. India has created more than 20 financial unicorns so far in 2022, including OneCard, Open, Oxyzo, and Yubi (formerly CredAvenue). Existing investors including QED, Sequoia Capital, and Hummigbird Ventures also made investments in OneCard‘s most recent round, which is owned by FPL Technologies of Pune.

Key Points:

a)      According to Mohit Bhandari, managing director, investment (India), of Temasek, OneCard is not affected by the PPI guidelines because it was not a PPI issuer and like some of the other businesses, which now have to restructure their business models.

b)      Onecard offers technological solutions to banks. The banks issue legitimate credit cards. Of course, OneCard participates in that as a provider of technological solutions.

c)       As part of its Series C fundraising, FPL Technologies earlier this year received $75 million. Existing investors QED Investors, Janchor Partners, Sequoia Capital India, Matrix Partners, and others helped to raise the round.

d)      Rupesh Kumar, Vibhav Hathi, and Anurag Sinha launched the business in 2015. The trio has experience in banking.

e)      India will have 122 new unicorns in the next two to four years, predicts the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2022.

 

2. Facebook-owner Meta released first annual human rights report: Facebook owner Meta released its first annual human rights report, following years of accusations that it turned a blind eye to online abuses that fueled real-world violence in places like India and Myanmar. The report, which covers due diligence performed in 2020 and 2021, includes a summary of a controversial human rights impact assessment of India that Meta commissioned law firm Foley Hoag to conduct.

Human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have demanded the release of the India assessment in full, accusing Meta of stalling in a joint letter sent in January. In its summary, Meta said the law firm had noted the potential for “salient human rights risks” involving Meta’s platforms, including “advocacy of hatred that incites hostility, discrimination, or violence.”

Note: Facebook Founded: February 2004; Facebook CEO: Mark Zuckerberg; Facebook Headquarters: California, United States.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. INS Sindhudhvaj decommissioned after 35 years of service: INS Sindhudhvaj has decommissioned after 35 years of glorious service to the nation. Vice Adm Biswajit Dasgupta Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command was the Chief Guest for the ceremony. The submarine crest depicts a grey colour nurse shark and the name means flag bearer at sea. About the INS Sindhudhvaj:

a)      Sindhudhvaj, as the name suggests, was the flag bearer of indigenization and the Indian Navy’s efforts towards achieving Atmanirbharta in the Russian-built Sindhughosh class submarines throughout her journey in the navy.

b)      Commissioned into the Navy in 1987, Sindhudhvaj, was one of the 10 Kilo-class submarines India acquired from Russia between 1986 and 2000. It was the only submarine to be awarded the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) rolling trophy for Innovation by PM Modi.

 

2. First mountain warfare training school established in NE by ITBP: As part of its mission to train its troops in high-altitude combat and survival techniques, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which is tasked with securing the Line of Actual Control with China, has established its first mountain warfare training facility in northeast India and its second overall. The facility was built nearly 50 years after the founding of the first institution of its kind, the Mountaineering and Skiing Institute (M&SI), which opened in Auli, near Joshimath, in 1973–74.

Key Points:

a)      The M&SI, which is situated in the Himalayan hills of Uttarakhand at a height of over 9,000 feet, has taught hundreds of members of the ITBP, army, air force, and other security professionals in this field as well as that of adventure sports.

b)      The new centre is situated in Sikkim, which shares a frontage of 220 kilometres with the India-China LAC, at a height of 10,040 feet with distant Dombang, which borders the LAC.

c)       According to a senior ITBP officer, the Sikkim training centre was conceptualised to improve the ability to train newly recruited and serving troops in mountain warfare, rock climbing, high-altitude survival, and patrol even though the need for a second facility beyond Auli had long been felt given the rising level of engagement of its troops with the Chinese PLA in recent years.

Note: Chief of Army Staff: General Manoj Pande

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Renowned Ghazal Singer Bhupinder Singh passes away: Legendary ghazal singer, Bhupinder Singh passed away due to suspected colon cancer and COVID-19-related complications. He was 82. Singh was best known for songs such as ‘Duniya Chhute Yaar Na Chhute’ (“Dharam Kanta”), ‘Thodi Si Zameen Thoda Aasman’ (“Sitara”), which he sang with the late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, ‘Dil Dhoondta Hai’ (“Mausam”), ‘Naam Gum Jayega’ (“Kinara”).