Daily GK Updates – 16th Dec, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. The Second Cancer Genome Atlas Conference held in Delhi: The Minister of Science and Technology held the second TCGA-Cancer Genome Atlas 2020 conference in New Delhi. The conference brought together scientists and clinicians from all over the world to jointly establish the Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA). Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) aims to create an indigenous, open-source and comprehensive database to collect molecular profiles of all prevalent cancers in the Indian population. TCGA is a joint effort of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), which are both part of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was started in 2006.

 

2. Centre Releases Rs 6,195 Cr to 14 States as Instalment of Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant: The Centre released Rs 6,195 crore to 14 states as monthly instalment of post devolution revenue deficit grant. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal are the states to whom the amount has been released. A similar amount was released as grant for April-November months of the current financial year.

 

3. Mizoram launches project to assist migrant workers find employment: The Mizoram government has launched a project to assist the migrant workers, who lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic, find suitable employment. The Rs 3.3 project under the Mizoram Youth Commission (MZC) christened as ‘Livelihood Generation for Returned Migrant Workers’ was launched by Chief Minister Zoramathnga. The project funded by the North East Council will cover more than 2,600 people, who will be given skill-based training and entrepreneurship development training, to help them find suitable employment.

 

4. Central Govt Announces Co-WIN App That Will Let Indians Self-Register for COVID-19 Vaccine: The Union Health Ministry has developed a digital platform, including a mobile application, for real-time monitoring of COVID-19 vaccine delivery, recording data and to enable people to get themselves registered for vaccination. There are five modules in Co-WIN app – administrator module, registration module, vaccination module, beneficiary acknowledgement module and report module. The Co-WIN, will help monitor the entire vaccination process.The mobile application will also send real-time data of temperature of the cold-storage facilities to the main server

 

5. Andhra Pradesh signs MoU with Survey of India for historic land survey: Andhra Pradesh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Survey of India in the presence of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the implementation of the ‘YSR Jagananna Saswatha Bhoomi Hakku-Bhoomi Rakshana’, scheduled for launch on December 21. The State government in partnership with Survey of India will be conducting a comprehensive survey which will go down in history with the golden letters, as such a large scale survey is being conducted for the first time in the country after almost 100 years. The State government and Survey of India are putting together 70 base stations to take up this survey, which will be added to their network in future.

 

6. NE states, UP, Bihar top in pandemic management: Report: North-eastern states have topped the list of states in managing Covid-19 followed by Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, according to a study conducted by SBI Research. Northeast was combined into one. Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh, on the other hand, are at the bottom of the list. As far as the entire country is concerned, the estimated number of infections is 9,929,000 which is 466,000 higher than the 9,463,000 confirmed cases. This indicated that India has done a fairly good job on controlling the spread of the virus. The northeast topped the list in the macro economic parameters as well, followed by Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal were at the bottom. Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra were at the top on performance in the Centre’s schemes, while Goa, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh were the most laggard.

 

7. Nation Observes 49th Vijay Diwas on 16 December 2020: In India, Vijay Diwas (also called Victory Day) is celebrated every year on December 16. The country is celebrating thea 49th Vijay Diwas in 2020. Vijay Diwas is observed to commemorate the service, valour, and sacrifices of the gallant men of the Indian Armed Forces’ victory over Pakistan in 1971 war.

About Vijay Diwas: The Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 which began on December 3 lasted for 13 days and officially ended on December 16, after which Pakistan surrendered to India. It was on this day in 1971, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General AA Khan Niazi, along with 93 thousand troops, had surrendered unconditionally to the allied forces consisting of Indian Army and Mukti Bahini. The end of the war also resulted in subsequent secession of East Pakistan into Bangladesh.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India and Uzbekistan inks 9 Agreements to strengthen strategic partnership: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev co-chaired the virtual Summit held between the two countries, to strengthen strategic partnership among them. The Government of India also approved a US $448 million Line of Credit for four developmental projects in Uzbekistan in the fields of road construction, sewerage treatment and information technology.

India and Uzbekistan signed nine Agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in various areas including in the field of: (1) Solar Energy; (2) Digital Technologies; (3) High Impact Community Development Projects; (4) Trade, Economic and Investment Cooperation; (5) Defence and Security; (6) Civil Nuclear Energy; (7) Connectivity; (8) Culture, Education and People-to-People Contacts; (9) Terrorism.

Note: Capital of Uzbekistan: Tashkent; Currency: Uzbekistani Som.

 

2. India Drops to Second Position In BNEF’s 2020 Climatescope Ranking; Chile Bags Top Spot: India has dropped to the second position in Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s (BNEF) 2020 Climatescope survey ranking from first last year, as a result of a decline in clean energy investment, which fell 12 per cent in 2018-19 to $8.5 billion and has plummeted 32 per cent since 2017. Chile has bagged the top spot in the survey reflective of its strong clean energy policies while, Brazil remained at the third position. However, the report added that Mainland China and India continued to be the biggest markets for clean energy investment with Mainland China far and away the largest. The report also added that the total foreign direct investment (FDI) in renewables set a new record at $32 billion in 2019, up from a previous high of $24 billion in 2018. It said that the majority – 84 per cent – of the 2019 total came from international project developers, utilities, commercial banks and other private sources.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance launches digital campaign ‘heroes of my city’: Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance has launched its new digital campaign- ‘heroes of my city’ celebrating real life heroes and their acts of generosity during the ongoing pandemic. This two month long campaign is an extension to the initiative ‘me for my city’ which was launched in 2018 by Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance. The campaign is all about fulfilling promises to the society at large and making a difference to the cities. The campaign starts with actress Bhumi Pednekar lending a strong voice to the idea of recognising these real-life heroes that exist in every city.

 

2. Federal Bank ties up with OrbitRemit Limited, New Zealand to offer money transfer facility: Federal Bank has entered into a tie-up with OrbitRemit Limited to facilitate money transfer from New Zealand to India. NRIs and small businesses in New Zealand will now enjoy a modern, low cost, fast, easy and more reliable way of transferring money to India.Federal Bank currently processes more than 17 per cent of the personal inward remittances into India.

 

3. ICICI Bank to be designated bank for all financial transactions under National Health Mission in West Bengal: ICICI Bank has won the mandate to be the designated bank for all financial transactions under National Health Mission (NHM) in West Bengal, outbidding State Bank of India and other public sector lenders despite their bigger presence in the state. The West Bengal government has decided to implement a single bank account system for NHM. Under this, all financial transactions will be conducted through online software, integrated with bank accounts.

 

4. SBI General Insurance ties up with Mahindra Insurance to make deeper inroads into tier-2, 3 cities: SBI General Insurance has partnered with Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd (MIBL) to raise its penetration in tier-II and III cities. This association will enable the company to provide health insurance cover to a significant number of people in tier-II and III cities and generate employment. Under this ‘Sajhedaari programme’, the insurer said it hopes to make a significant milestone in realising its vision to be the most-trusted general insurer.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ADB narrows India’s FY21 GDP contraction projection to 8%: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) upgraded its forecast for the Indian economy, projecting 8% contraction in 2020-21 as compared to 9% estimated earlier, on the back of a faster-than-expected recovery. Observing that the economy had begun to normalise, the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) Supplement said the second quarter contraction at 7.5% was better-than-expected. The economy contracted by 23.9% in the June quarter on account of the impact of the COVID-19s pandemic.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Paul Sein Twa, co-founder of KESAN and Salween Peace Park in Myanmar, receives Goldman Environmental Prize 2020: The co-founder of KESAN and Salween Peace Park in Myanmar, Paul Sein Twa has won the Goldman Environmental Prize 2020 for Asia, in recognition of his efforts in promoting the self-determination of the Karen people in managing their natural resources. Sein Twa received the prestigious prize along with five other grassroots environmental activists from the Bahamas, Ghana, Ecuador, Mexico and France. Dubbed the “Green Nobel Prize,” this award is given annually to environmental heroes from each of the world’s six inhabited continents.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Dennis Ralston, Hall of Fame tennis player, passes away: Dennis Ralston, a five-time Grand Slam doubles champion who was one of the initial players signed to the professional World Championship Tennis tour in the 1960s and a member of the sport’s Hall of Fame has passed away. He was 78. He was considered the highest-ranked American player for three years in the 1960s, long before the sport’s computerized rankings system began.He was a three-time Grand Slam finalist in mixed doubles. Ralston was one of the so-called Handsome Eight who signed on with the WCT tour in 1967, along with John Newcombe, Tony Roche, Cliff Drysdale, Earl Buchholtz, Niki Pilic, Roger Taylor and Pierre Barthes.

 

2. Famous Hindi Poet and Journalist Manglesh Dabral passes away: Eminent Hindi poet and journalist Manglesh Dabral passed away after suffering from COVID-19-induced complications. He was 72. Dabral worked with several Hindi newspapers, including Jansatta and Pratipaksha. He had also worked with the National Book Trust as an Editorial Consultant. Dabral had written five poetry collections – Pahar Par Lalten, Ghar Ka Rasta, Hum Jo Dekhte Hain, Awaz Bhi Ek Jagah Hai and Naye Yug Me Shatru. He also wrote two collections of prose – Lekhak Ki Roti and Kavi Ka Akelapan. For his contribution to Hindi literature, he was given the Sahitya Akademi Award for his poetry collection Hum Jo Dekhte Hain.

Daily GK Updates – 15th Dec, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi delivers inaugural address at FICCI’s 93rd Annual General Meeting: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered the inaugural address at FICCI’s 93rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Annual Convention via video conferencing. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has organised the convention from December 11 to 14, 2020. The theme for the FICCI 93rd AGM is ‘Inspired India’. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the virtual FICCI Annual Expo 2020. It was started from 11 December 2020 and will continue for a period of a whole year.

About FICCI’s 93rd Annual General Meeting (AGM): FICCI AGM is the annual high-powered flagship event where Cabinet Ministers, Secretaries to Govt of India, Global Industry Captains, Diplomats, Political party leaders, and other thought leaders participate. More than 10000 delegates are virtually participating in this mega event from across the globe.

About FICCI Annual Expo 2020: The Expo is a one-of-its-kind virtual event in the country focused on the manufacturing and services sectors, which will provide an opportunity to exhibitors from across the globe to showcase their products and advance their business prospects.

 

2. ISRO to launch communication satellite CMS-01: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch a communication satellite CMS-01, formerly named GSAT-12R, on December 17, using its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket’s XL variant numbered as PSLV-C50. The CMS-01 will be a replacement for GSAT-12 that weighed 1,410 kg and was launched on July 11, 2011, with a mission life of eight years.

About CMS-01: CMS-01 is a communication satellite envisaged for providing services in Extended-C Band of the frequency spectrum, which will include the Indian mainland, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands. The 42nd communication satellite of India, it will have a mission life of seven years.

About PSLV-C50: The 44-metre-high four staged/engine PSLV-C50 is the 22nd flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration (with six strap-on motors hugging the first stage). The PSLV in the normal configuration is a four-stage/engine expendable rocket powered by solid and liquid fuels alternatively with six booster motors strapped on to the first stage to give higher thrust during the initial flight moments. The Indian space agency has PSLV variants with two and four strap-on motors, larger PSLV-XL and the Core Alone variant without any strap-on motors. The choice of the rocket to be used for a mission depends on the weight of the satellite and the orbit where the satellite has to be orbited.

Note: ISRO Chairman: K. Sivan; ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

 

3. West Bengal cabinet approves construction of ‘state’s first deep sea port in Tajpur’: West Bengal Chief Miniter Mamata Banerjee announced that the state cabinet has approved the construction of a deep sea port in Tajpur. Tajpur Deep Sea Port will be built at a cost of Rs 15,000 crore and will generate employment for 25,000 people. It will be the state’s first deep seaport. The concentration of iron and steel industries around Kharagpur will get a boost by having a port at their doorstep for exports.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 5th India – Myanmar bilateral meeting on Drug Control Cooperation: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), India and the Central Committee on Drug Abuse Control, Myanmar conducted the 5th edition of the India- Myanmar Bilateral Meeting on Drug Control Cooperation. The Indian delegation was led by the Director-General Narcotics Control Bureau, Shri Rakesh Asthana. The Myanmar delegation was led by Pol. Brig. Gen. Win Naing the Commander of the Drug Enforcement Division (DED) cum Joint Secretary of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control. About the Meeting:

(1) Both countries agreed on the exchange of intelligence information in a timely manner to conduct follow-up investigations in drug seizure cases, new psychotropic substances and their precursors.

(2) They also agreed to conduct Border Level Officers/Field Level Officers meetings on regular basis between frontline officers to strengthen the existing cooperation on drug law enforcement.

(3) It was decided to exchange information on illegal entry and exit points of illicit drug trafficking on the Myanmar-India borders and information on the technology being used to interdict drug trafficking.

(4) The meeting concluded with an exchange of thanks and greetings for constructive and meaningful discussions and committed to such cooperation in the future, with the decision to hold the 6th India – Myanmar Bilateral Meeting on Drug Control Cooperation in India in 2021.

 

2. India and Austria inks MoU on Technology Cooperation: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology of the Republic of Austria on Technology Cooperation in the Road Infrastructure Sector. The MoU will further strengthen ties, promote long-standing bilateral relations and enhance trade and regional integration between the two countries.

About the MoU: The MoU aims to create an effective framework for bilateral cooperation in the field of road transportation, road/highways infrastructure development, management and administration, road safety and intelligent transport systems between both countries. The Indo-Austria bilateral cooperation in the road transport sector would be beneficial both from the perspective of enhanced road safety as well as attractive financing possibilities for the sector, thus fostering and intensifying the already good relations between the two countries, through this MoU in the transport sector.

Note: Austria Capital: Vienna; Austria Currency: Euro; Austria President: Alexander Van der Bellen.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Max Verstappen wins 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) won the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2020, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This was his second victory of the season and 10th victory of his career. The race was the 17th and final round of the 2020 Formula One World Championship. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Finland) stood second, followed by world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) at third place.

 

2. Indian Tennis player Ankita Raina wins ITF doubles title in Dubai: Indian Tennis player, Ankita Raina clinched her third doubles title of the season after she won the 2020 Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge jointly with her Georgian partner Ekaterine Gorgodze in Dubai. The unseeded Indo-Georgian pair defeated the pair of Spain’s Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov and Slovakian Kaja Juvan by 6-4 3-6 10-6 to win the final of the USD 1,00,000 event.

About Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge: Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge is a professional female tennis tournament and part of the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour, held annually in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, since 1998.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI to set up Automated Banknote Processing Centre in Jaipur: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to set up an Automated Banknote Processing Centre (ABPC) in Jaipur for the receipt, storage and dispatch of currency notes. The functions of the ABPC will also include processing of banknotes received from currency chests (CCs) and bank branches and destruction of soiled banknotes in an automated manner. The volume of banknotes in circulation has increased three-fold from March 2001 to March 2019 and is expected to rise further in the years to come. About RBI Banknotes:

(1) RBI is the sole issuer of banknotes of the country and responsible for the management of currency and all its aspects.

(2) RBI is supplied with banknotes from four printing presses and coins from four mints.

(3) The new banknotes and coins are received at 19 issue offices of the bank located across the country from where these are further distributed to about 3,300 CCs operated by scheduled banks under an agency agreement with the RBI.

(4) The CCs act as storehouses and the currency stored there is distributed to various bank branches/ATM network for distribution to the public.

(5) The unfit notes withdrawn from circulation are verified through a Currency Verification and Processing System (CVPS) and destroyed by shredding.

Note: RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. BSE launches e-agricultural spot market platform ‘BEAM’: Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Ltd. has launched an electronic spot platform, “BSE E-Agricultural Markets Ltd (BEAM)”, for agricultural commodities through its subsidiary BSE Investments Ltd. The platform aims to boost the competitiveness of the Indian agricultural market by enhancing the strength of the BSE in financial markets, market technology and its vibrant ecosystem. About BEAM:

(1) BEAM will function as a national level, institutionalised, electronic, transparent commodity spot trading platform in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to create a single market.

(2) With the help of BEAM, farmers in one state will be able to reach out to markets in other states and auction their produce.

(3) The farmers will be able to discover the best prices for their products based on the quality, as well as build capacity to help intermediaries, processors and exporters procure from states.

(4) It helps to reduce the cost of intermediation, to improve procurement efficiency, to enhance producers’ realization and more competitive consumer prices.

(5) It helps to eliminate the obstructions related to procurement and trading.

Note: BSE is Asia’s first & world’s fastest Stock Exchange with a speed of 6 microseconds. It is one of India’s leading exchange groups

BSE Established: 1875; BSE Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; MD and CEO of BSE: Ashish Kumar Chauhan.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Ashraf Patel wins Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award – India 2020: Ashraf Patel, the founder member and Board member of Pravah and ComMutiny – The Youth Collective (CYC) has been declared as the winner of the Social Entrepreneur of the Year (SEOY) Award – India 2020. The award was presented by the Union Minister of Women & Child Development & Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani.

The SEOY award “recognizes entrepreneurs who implement innovative, sustainable and scalable solutions to solve India’s social problems. It is the 11th edition of the annual award, instituted by the Schwab Foundation and Jubilant Bhartia Foundation in 2010.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. 1st man to fly faster than speed of sound Chuck Yeager passes away: US Air Force officer and test pilot Chuck Yeager, who in 1947 became the first pilot in history to have exceeded the speed of sound in level flight, has passed away. As a test pilot, on October 14, 1947, Yeager became the first human to officially break the sound barrier, when he flew the experimental Bell X-1 aircraft at Mach 1 (speed of sound) at an altitude of 45,000 ft (13,700 m). Level flight means flying at a constant altitude, not going up and down.

About Chuck Yeager: Yeager had been associated with World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War and his three-war active-duty flying career spanned more than 30 years. Throughout his life, he flew more than 360 different types of aircraft and went on to break several other speed and altitude records in the following years.

 

2. Renowned Sanskrit Scholar Vidyavachaspati Govindacharya passes away: Renowned Sanskrit scholar, Vidyavachaspati Bannanje Govindacharya has passed away. He was well versed in Veda Bhashya, Upanishad Bhashya, Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas and had written commentaries on Veda Suktas, Upanishads, Shata Rudriya, Brahma Sutra Bhashya, and Gita Bhashya. Govindacharya was conferred the Padma Shri in 2009. He had authored around 150 books and translated several texts from Sanskrit to Kannada.

Daily GK Updates – 14th Dec, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 5th India Water Impact Summit begins: The 5th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) kicked off on 10th December 2020 virtually. The event was inaugurated by Ratan Lal Kataria, Minister of State for Jal Shakti. The objective of IWIS 2020 is Comprehensive Analysis and Holistic Management of Rivers and Water Bodies.

About IWIS 2020: IWIS 2020 has been organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga) to discuss water-related issues and steps taken to save the planet’s most precious resource. The theme of IWIS 2020 is Arth Ganga: River Conservation Synchronised Development. The conference will have a comprehensive analysis and review of river rejuvenation and local river. It will also have deliberation about Arth Ganga, i.e. how river conservation synchronised development can take place.

 

2. BSNL launches World’s 1st Satellite-based Narrowband-IoT Network: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has partnered with Skylotech India (Skylo), a global machine connectivity solutions company, to launch satellite-based narrow band-Internet of things (NB-IoT). This initiative is the world’s first satellite-based NB-IoT network.

The new indigenous IoT solution has been developed by Skylo and will connect with BSNLs satellite- ground infrastructure to provide PAN-India coverage, including Indian seas. To begin with, the solution will be extended to fishermen, farmers, construction, mining and logistics enterprises. The solution is in line with BSNL’s vision to leverage technology to provide affordable and innovative telecom services and products across India’s core sectors.

Note: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Chairman & MD: Pravin Kumar Purwar; Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

3. Lakshadweep becomes India’s 1st UT to be declared 100% Organic: The Ministry of Agriculture has declared Lakshadweep as India’s first Union Territory to become 100 per cent organic. All farming activity in the UT is carried out without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, which provides access to safer food choices and making agriculture a more environment-friendly activity. Lakshadweep is second only to Sikkim, which was India’s first state to be declared completely organic. This comes after the UT received proper certifications and declarations under the Centre’s Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (organic farming improvement programme).

Note: Lakshadweep Island is the smallest Union Territory in India 36 Islands. Includes: 12 atolls, 3 reefs, 5 submerged banks, 10 inhabited islands.

Lakshadweep Capital: Kavaratti; Lakshadweep Administrator: Praful Khoda Patel.

 

4. National Energy Conservation Day: 14th December: The National Energy Conservation Day is celebrated every year on 14 December by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under Ministry of Power. The day is celebrated to raise awareness among the general public about the importance of energy conversation and energy efficiency, as well as holistic development for overall effort towards climate change mitigation.

About the Bureau of Energy Efficiency: Bureau of Energy Efficiency is a constitutional body that comes under the Government of India and helps in the development of policies and strategies in order to reduce energy use. The Energy Conservation Act in India was executed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in the year 2001.

Note: Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Power: Raj Kumar Singh.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ADB launches $9 bn “APVAX” for Developing Countries: The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched an initiative called, the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX), for its developing member countries. The bank has allocated USD 9 billion for APVAX.

About Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility: APVAX will play a critical role in helping our developing members meet these challenges, overcome the pandemic, and focus on economic recovery. Through APVAX, the ADB will offer rapid and equitable support to its developing members, who need financing to procure vaccines as well as offer appropriate plans and knowledge to be able to safely, equitably and efficiently manage and deliver the COVID-19 vaccine.

 

2. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris jointly named Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ 2020: US President-elect, Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have been jointly named Time magazine’s 2020 “Person of the Year”. The TIME magazine releases the annual list since 1927, to recognise a person or organisation who affected the news or impacted the country and world the most, for better or worse, during the calendar year.

Apart from this, Time magazine has named the Korean pop group BTS as its Entertainer of the Year, and basketball star LeBron James as Athlete of the Year.  Zoom founder Eric Yuan was aptly named Businessperson of the Year, as the video communications company has come to define the way millions have connected with each other during the pandemic.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBL Bank, ICICI Prudential join hands for Bancassurance partnership: RBL Bank and ICICI Prudential have joined hands under a bancassurance partnership. 398 RBL Bank branches across 28 states will distribute ICICI Prudential Life’s protection and savings products. The protection products of ICICI Prudential Life will help the bank’s customers to develop a strong financial plan and its long-term savings products will help the customers of the bank to achieve their financial goals. About the Partnership:

(1) This partnership will allow more than 8.7 million customers of RBL Bank to access and purchase ICICI Prudential Life’s customer-centric protection and long-term savings products.

(2) It provides financial security to the customers and their families through life insurance cover.

(3) It will deepen and strengthen the multi-channel distribution network of ICICI Prudential Life.

(4) It will also accelerate the value creation for the bank and ICICI Prudential Life.

What is Bancassurance: Bancassurance means selling insurance products through banks. It is an arrangement between a bank and an insurance company, wherein the bank sells the tied insurance company’s insurance products to its clients.

Note: RBL Bank Ltd Incorporated: 1943, under the Indian Companies Act, 1913; RBL Bank Ltd MD and CEO: Vishwavir Ahuja; RBL Bank Ltd Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; RBL Bank Ltd Tagline: Apno Ka Bank.

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Ltd Commenced Operations: 2001; ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Ltd HeadOffice: Mumbai, Maharashtra; ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Ltd MD & CEO: N S Kannan.

 

2. Ujjivan SFB launches neighbourhood banking channel – Money Mitra: Ujjivan Small Finance Bank said it has introduced a new channel to make banking services accessible to customers in their neighbourhood. The channel- Money Mitra – will facilitate entrepreneurs running local businesses like Kirana, medical stores and insurance agencies to offer retail banking solutions to the bank”s customers exclusively. In these outlets, the lender”s customers can make a deposit, withdraw money, pay loan EMI and perform fund transfer without having to travel to branches.

 

3. ICICI Lombard and PLUM partner to provide technologically powered group health insurance products: ICICI Lombard General Insurance announced that it has tied up with Plum, an employee health insurance startup, to co-create technologically backed group health insurance products. The penetration of health insurance across India is abysmally low, with 0.29 per cent of GDP being spent on the health sector. There is an enormous unmet demand for healthcare, with only 2% of the total healthcare expenditure being currently covered by insurance providers.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Mastercard, CII come together to help over 3 lakh MSMEs digitise their businesses: Mastercard, the National Institute for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (ni-msme) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have partnered to launch Digital Saksham, a capacity building initiative to drive awareness around digitization for MSMEs in the country. Digital Saksham is an expansive program designed to strengthen the competitiveness of MSMEs through building their digital know-how and acceptance. The program will involve three key stages over three years from the launch, including outreach, capacity building and adoption of digital tools that will help small businesses.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. UNESCO launches Bangabandhu award on creative economy: UNESCO has launched an international award named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman following Bangladesh’s proposal. The UN agency’s executive board unanimously adopted the proposal on UNESCO-Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman International Prize for the “Creative Economy” in its 210th session. This is the first time a UN agency launched an award named after Bangabandhu.

About the Prize: The award will create the opportunity to spread Bangabandhu’s ideals across the world and inspire the global cultural activists to contribute to the field of the creative economy. It will also play a “special” role in branding and image-building of Bangladesh. The award will be given every two years with $50,000 prize money – three times in six years. The renewal of the award will be discussed later. The first UNESCO-Bangabandhu award is set to be given in the 41st session of the UNESCO’s general conference in November 2021. Bangladesh proposed the award in August 2019.

About the UNESCO awards: The UNESCO launches awards in recognition of the contribution of leaders in several fields, such as education, culture, science and technology, with the financial help of the member states.  It had launched 22 awards named after noted individuals or organisations.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Uruguay president Tabare Vazquez passes away: Former Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez died in Montevideo at the age of 80 after suffering from lung cancer. The center-left politician and oncologist was president of Uruguay twice in 2005-2010 and 2015-2020. Vazquez, who interchanged terms with Jose Mujica since Uruguay’s constitution bans presidents from serving consecutive terms, presided over the legalization of the state-controlled production, distribution and sale of cannabis.

 

2. Veteran Hindi writer Madhukar Gangadhar passes away: Veteran Hindi writer Madhukar Gangadhar passed away in a hospital in the National Capital. He was 88 years old.  Mr. Gangadhar had worked at Patna Akashwani and later also served as the director, AIR Allahabad.He also worked in the capacity of Deputy Director General (DDG), AIR at New Delhi. After serving for 39 years in All India Radio (AIR) he became an independent writer based in Delhi. ‘Motiyo Wale Hath’, ‘Hirna Ki Aankhen’ are some of his most well known works.

 

3. Popular TV actress Divya Bhatnagar passes away: Popular face in Indian TV Divya Bhatnagar passed away following Covid 19 complications. She was 36. Bhatnagar had acted in shows including “Udaan”, “Silsila Pyaar Ka”, “Sasural Genda Phool”, “Sawaare Sabke Sapne Preeto”, “Vish”, “Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai”among others.

Daily GK Updates – 13th Dec, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Cabinet approves historic PM-WANI Scheme: The Union Cabinet has approved a scheme called the Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI), to improve wireless connectivity and pave the way for free wireless internet in public spaces across the country. The scheme will allow anyone, from an individual in a residential area to a Kirana shop owner to a tea shop vendor, to set up public Wi-Fi hotspot and deliver wifi services. It aims to promote the growth of public wi-fi networks in the country. PM-WANI scheme will be operated by the following players:

(1) Public Data Office (PDO): It will establish, maintain, and operate only WANI compliant Wi-Fi Access Points and deliver broadband services to subscribers. (tea shop, or Kirana shop, individual or any organisation.)

(2) Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA): It will look after functions relating to Authorization and Accounting of PDOs.

(3) App Provider: It will develop an App to register users and discover WANI compliant Wi-Fi hotspots in the nearby area and display the same within the App for accessing the internet service.

(4) Central Registry: It will maintain the details of App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs. To begin with, the Central Registry will be maintained by C-DoT.

Note: Minister of Electronics and Information Technology: Ravi Shankar Prasad

 

2. PM Narendra Modi addresses International Bharati Festival 2020 virtually: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed the International Bharathi Festival 2020 through video conferencing. The festival was organised by Vanavil Cultural Centre in Chennai to celebrate the 138th birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi, an eminent writer, poet and journalist from Tamil Nadu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conferred the 2020 Bharathi Award to the noted writer Seeni Viswanathan, who is credited with compiling the voluminous works of Bharathi in chronological order. The Bharathi Award is conferred every year since 1994, to eminent persons who have done laudable service in any field of social relevance.

 

3. West Bengal CM announces ‘Swasthya Sathi’ health scheme: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently extended the Swasthya Sathi health insurance scheme to cover the entire population of the state. The scheme was launched by Banerjee in 2016. It is a basic health cover for secondary and tertiary care up to Rs five lakh per annum per family. It is quite popular among rural and economically deprived sections of the state’s population. Under the scheme, a smart card and is being issued in the name of a female family member.

 

4. Uday Shankar named FICCI President for 2020-21: Media executive Uday Shankar has been named as the president-elect of industry chamber Ficci for 2020-21. Shankar will be succeeding Sangita Reddy, president of Ficci and joint managing director, Apollo Hospitals Group, during Ficci’s 93rd annual general meeting. Presently Shankar is the president of The Walt Disney Company for Asia Pacific and the chairman of Star and Disney India.

 

5. Yogi launches Mera Covid Kendra in UP: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched COVID-19 testing centre detection app named the Mera Covid Kendra app which will help people get information about nearby testing labs.  ‘Mera COVID Kendra’ app which will help people in accessing public and private COVID testing labs available within 5 km of their location. All the data like map, centre timing, test type and other details of the testing labs are present in the map. This mobile application can be downloaded from Google Play Store.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Romanian PM Ludovic Orban resigns: The Prime Minister of Romania, Ludovic Orban has stepped down from his post after his ruling National Liberal Party (PNL) lost in 2020 parliamentary election. Following this, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis appointed the Minister of National Defense, Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca as the interim prime minister of the country.

Note: Romania Capital: Bucharest; Romania Currency: Romanian leu; Romania President: Klaus Iohannis.

 

2. World Economic Forum 2021 to be held in Singapore: The World Economic Forum (WEF) has decided to host its 2021 annual meeting in Singapore, which earlier was scheduled to take place in Lucerne-Burgenstock, Switzerland from 13-16 May 2021. The decision to shift the annual forum from Switzerland has been taken in view of the Covid-19 situation in Europe. This would be the second time since its inception in 1971 that the forum will be held outside Switzerland. In 2002, the forum was held in New York to show solidarity with the American people in the aftermath of 9/11. The meeting is generally held in Davos, Switzerland, but amid covid, the meeting was first shifted to Lucerne-Burgenstock, Switzerland in October 2020. Now again the venue has been shifted to Singapore. It would return to Davos, Switzerland, in 2022.

Note: World Economic Forum Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland; World Economic Forum Founder: Klaus Schwab; World Economic Forum Founded: January 1971.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. IOC gives Olympic status to Breakdancing: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has registered ‘Breakdancing’ as the newest entry into Olympics and an official Olympic sport, with the aim to attract a new and younger audience. Breakdancing will be known as ‘Breaking’ in Olympics event. Breaking will make its Olympic Games debut at the 2024 Paris Games (2024 Summer Olympics). It must be remembered that three new sports, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing, will make their Olympic debuts at the Tokyo Games 2021 (earlier 2020 Summer Olympics).

Note: International Olympic Committee Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; International Olympic Committee President: Thomas Bach; International Olympic Committee Founded: 23 June 1894 (Paris, France).

 

2. Bajrang Punia, Elavenil Valarivan bag Sportsperson of the Year awards: Indian athletes, Bajrang Punia (Freestyle-Wrestling) and Elavenil Valarivan (Shooting), bagged the top honours at the virtually held FICCI India Sports Awards 2020 on the back of the 10th Global Sports Summit. The two athletes, who have had an impressive 2019-20 season, won the Sportsperson of the Year awards in their respective categories. Here is the list of Winner in different Categories:

Award	Personality
Sportsperson of the Year (Female)	Elavenil Valarivan
Sportsperson of the Year (Male)	Bajrang Punia
Best State Promoting Sports Award	Madhya Pradesh
Best Company Promoting Sports (Private Sector)	Anil Kumble

About the award: The sports awards are an attempt by industry body, Federation of Indian Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to acknowledge and recognise the contribution of sportspersons and various stakeholders who deliver excellent results throughout the year.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. PayNearby partners NPCI and Yes Bank to launch retailer shopping card: PayNearby, India’s largest hyperlocal fintech startup has partnered with YES Bank and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch PayNearby Shopping Card, enabling its retail partners to derive maximum benefits of digital commerce in the mass market category. The new service will allow PayNearby retailers to avail a range of digital services in a secure, risk-free mode. The retailers can avail of services such as e-learning, e-commerce, online gaming, monthly recharges and utility payments, online music, and videos. The launch of the PayNearby shopping card is powered by RuPay and is targeted for enabling a mass-market adoption. This will likely allow for cash digitization options at the grass-root levels.

 

2. KVG Bank launches OD facility for farmers: The Dharwad-headquartered regional rural bank, Karnataka Vikas Grameen Bank (KVGB), has launched an overdraft (OD) facility for farmers. The farmers are provided with an OD facility based on the value of the land. The limit is capped to a maximum of ₹1.5 lakh per acre to irrigated lands and ₹1 lakh per acre to dry land. The facility can be used for working capital requirements such as maintenance of machinery and equipment, repair and replacement of machinery, agricultural allied activities and even for the repayment of private loans availed for personal use.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ADB Projects GDP of India at -8% in 2020: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected India’s economy to contract 8 per cent in 2020, as against (-)9.0 per cent previously forecast. In its latest Asian Development Outlook report released on 10 December 2020, ADB also expects the GDP of India to bounce back with growth of 8.0 per cent in 2021.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Carolina Araujo awarded 2020 Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians: The year 2020 Ramanujan Prize for Young Mathematicians was awarded to Dr Carolina Araujo, Mathematician from the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her work area focuses on birational geometry, which aims to classify and describe the structure of algebraic varieties. The prize is awarded annually to a researcher from a developing country funded by the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India in association with ICTP (International Centre for Theoretical Physics), and the International Mathematical Union (IMU) was given for her outstanding work in algebraic geometry.

About Carolina Araujo: Dr. Araujo, who is Vice President of the Committee for Women in Mathematics at the International Mathematical Union, is the first non-Indian women mathematician to receive this prize and will be a role model for all women around the world.

Note: International Mathematical Union President: Carlos Kenig; International Mathematical Union Headquarters location: Berlin, Germany; International Mathematical Union Parent organization: International Science Council; International Mathematical Union Founded: 1920.

 

2. Sonu Sood tops 50 Asian Celebrities in The World list 2020: Indian actor, Sonu Sood has topped the first-of-its-kind ’50 Asian Celebrities In The World’ 2020 list, published by UK based Eastern Eye newspaper. The 47-year-old talented Bollywood star has been honoured for his inspiring philanthropic work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, especially helping migrant workers reach their hometowns. Sonu Sood beat global stars, including from Hollywood, the music industry, television, literature and social media, to be named the number one Asian celebrity on the planet for 2020. Canadian YouTuber, social media star, comedian and TV personality Lilly Singh came in second for her “pathbreaking journey, remarkable output and entertaining audiences most when they needed it”.

Other Indian celebrities in the list: Indian singer Armaan Malik came in fifth for his immense musical output that included barrier-breaking English language songs. Sixth-placed Priyanka Chopra Jonas remains the most famous Indian star in the world, while the rest of the top 10 includes pan-Indian star Prabhas (7).

About the top 50 list: The top 50 list is based on those who did good work, made a positive impact, broke boundaries, shattered glass ceilings, gave hope, did philanthropic deeds or were just inspiring in their own unique way.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. VSSC former director Dr S Ramakrishnan passes away: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre’s former director S Ramakrishnan died in Thiruvananthapuram. He was 71. A recipient of Padma Shri in 2003, Ramakrishnan served as Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre director from June 2010 to December 2012 and as VSSC director from January 2013 to June 2014.He also served as Project Director of PSLV, GSLV Mk-III and Director (Projects). He had received ASI Award-1998, Dr. Biren Roy Award-1999 from Aeronautical Society of India, and ISRO Performance Excellence Award-2006. He held a masters degree in Aerospace Propulsion from IIT, Madras with first rank in the year 1972.