Daily GK Updates – 29th Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Dr Harsh Vardhan launches ICMR’s vaccine web portal: Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has launched the ICMR’s vaccine web portal and National Clinical Registry for Covid-19. This vaccine web portal will provide information related to the COVID-19 vaccine development in India and abroad. Through this, all the information about the vaccine development would be provided in a simple and transparent manner. The National COVID-19 Clinical Registry will collect data regarding clinical and laboratory investigations, treatments, management protocols and outcomes of hospitalized COVID patients in India. ICMR’s Mobile Stroke Unit was also launched. The Mobile Stroke Unit will ensure timely and appropriate treatment to people suffering from heart disease and hypertension.

 

2. PFC signs MoU with Govt. of India detailing targets for FY 2020-21: Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC) has signed a performance-based Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ministry of Power, Government of India detailing various targets to be achieved by PFC during Fiscal Year 2020-21. Government of India has set an ambitious revenue target of Rs. 36,000 Crores. This target has been set along with various performance-related parameters such as Operating Profit as percentage of Revenue from Operation, PAT as a percentage of Average Net-worth and Non-financial parameters viz., IPDS-related parameters. PFC has been delivering exemplary performance from the past years and the ratings from the Government of India stands testimony to the performance.

Note: Chairman of Power Finance Corporation Ltd: Shri Ravinder Singh Dhillon.

Minister of State (I/C) for Power: Raj Kumar Singh.

 

3. KVIC appoints Sunil Sethi as its Advisor: The Khadi and Village Industries Commission has appointed Sunil Sethi as its Advisor. Sunil Sethi is the Chairman of the Fashion Design Council of India. He has been appointed for a period of one year. He will succeed fashion designer Ritu Beri. Sunil Sethi will advise the Commission on latest design interventions in the readymade garments segment as well as promotion of Khadi in India and abroad. Sustainable growth of Khadi in the fashion industry, both locally and internationally, is the key idea behind the appointment.

Note: Chairman of Khadi and Village Industries Commission: Vinai Kumar Saxena.

 

4. GoI appoints P.D. Vaghela as new chairman of TRAI: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed P.D. Vaghela as the chairman of the Telecom Regulatory of India (TRAI). He will succeed RS Sharma, who was at the helm of the sector regulator for five years. He is currently in the department of pharmaceuticals (DoP) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, where he was appointed as the secretary for a year till 30 September.

Note: Telecom Regulatory of India Founded: 20 February 1997; Telecom Regulatory of India Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

5. Union Ministers inaugurate Post-Harvest Management Centre for medicinal plants, AYUSH units in J&K: Union Minister for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik and Union Minister of State PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh jointly laid e-foundation of Post-Harvest Management Centre for Medicinal Plants at Bhaderwah in Jammu and Kashmir. 21 AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres were also e-inaugrated across different districts of the Union Territory. Work is underway for establishing 194 health and wellness centres in Jammu and Kashmir this year and the Ministry of AYUSH has provided Rs 12.81-crore central grant for this purpose. There is a target of establishing 319 such centres in the Union Territory in the next three years.

 

6. Kerala to have one of the first medical device parks: Kerala will soon house one of the first medical device parks in the country, focusing on the high-risk medical device sector to provide a full range of services for the medical devices industry like Research and Development (R and D) support, testing, and evaluation. MedSpark is going to be established at the Life Science Park, Thonnakkal, in Thiruvananthapuram district. The medical devices park is envisaged as a joint initiative of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), an institute of the DST, and the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC).

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Moctar Ouane appointed as new Prime Minister of Mali: The interim President of Mali, Bah Ndaw, has named former Malian Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane as the new prime minister of Mali. Moctar Ouane has served as Mali’s ambassador to the United Nations from 1995-2002, and as foreign minister from 2004-2009 during Amadou Toumani Toure’s presidency.

Note: Republic of Mali Capital: Bamako; Currency: West African CFA franc.

 

2. International Week of the Deaf: 21st-27th September 2020: Every year, the last full week of September ending on the last Sunday is observed as the International Week of the Deaf (IWD). In 2020, it was held from September 21-27. The week ends on the last Sunday of the month of September and that day is celebrated as the World Day of Deaf or International Day of the Deaf (September 27, 2020). It is an initiative of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and was first launched in 1958 in Rome, Italy to commemorate the month when the first World Congress of the WFD was held. The theme of 2020 IWD is “Reaffirming Deaf People’s Human Rights”

 

3. International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste: 29th September: In 2020, the world is observing the first edition of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste to promote and implement global efforts to resolve the issue of food wastage. The United Nations General Assembly designated 29 September as International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste in 2019. The theme for 2020 is “Stop food loss and waste. For the people. For the planet”. The main objective of this day is to take steps towards responsible consumption and production as well as zero hunger, along with working towards addressing the problem of climate change through sustainable food habits.

 

4. World Heart Day: 29th September: World Heart Day is observed on 29th September annually to draw people’s attention to heart illness and the range of associated health issues. The day which is celebrated annually creates awareness of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) including heart disease & stroke and highlights the preventive and control measures. The theme for World Heart Day 2020: “Use Heart To Beat Cardiovascular Disease”.

Note: World Heart Federation Founded: 2000; World Heart Federation Headquarters location: Geneva, Switzerland; World Heart Federation Chairman: Rajeev Gupta.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. All India Football Federation awards 2019-20 announced: All India Football Federation (AIFF) awards 2019-20 has announced. Indian men’s team Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has won the 2019-’20 AIFF Player of the year awards in men’s category. The women’s squad’s midfielder Sanju Yadav from Haryana has won the 2019-’20 AIFF Player of the year awards in women’s category.

Here is the complete list of 2019-20 AIFF AWARDS:

2019-20 AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

2019-20 AIFF Women’s Player of the Year: Sanju Yadav.

2019-20 AIFF Men’s Emerging Footballer of the Year: Anirudh Thapa.

2019-20 AIFF Emerging Women’s Footballer of the Year:  Ratanbala Devi.

2019-20 AIFF Award for the Best Assistant Referee: P. Vaira-Muthu (from Tamil Nadu).

2019-20 AIFF Award for the Best Referee: L. Ajit Kumar Meetei (from Manipur).

2019-20 AIFF Award for the Best Grassroots Development Programme: West Bengal (based on E-licence courses and Golden Baby Leagues).

Note: President of AIFF: Praful Patel; AIFF founded: 23 June 1937; FIFA affiliation of AIFF: 1948; Headquarters of AIFF: Dwarka, Delhi.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI Card starts new brand campaign ‘Contactless Connections’: SBI Card has launched its new brand campaign titled ‘Contactless Connections’, which aims to spreads the message that love and care can be shared even during this difficult period where social distancing is the norm. The campaign endeavours to bring a fresh breath of positivity by demonstrating that people can connect emotionally and spread joy despite the social distancing practices by which we are bound. Contactless payments, enabled by SBI Card, allow consumers to simply wave their card or phone or scan a QR code to make safe, secure payments, without handing over their card or punching in the PIN.

Note: CEO of SBI Card: Ashwini Kumar Tewari; Founded: October 1998; SBI Card Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana.

 

2. RBI approves 3-member committee of directors for Lakshmi Vilas Bank; Head- Meeta Makhan: The Reserve Bank of India has appointed a 3 member Committee of Directors (CoD) to look after the affairs of Lakshmi Vilas Bank. The three members are- Meeta Makhan, Shakti Sinha, and Satish Kumar Kalra. Meeta Makhan is the head of this Committee of Directors (CoD). This comes after, RBO had earlier removed seven directors of the board of LVB.

 

3. Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) - Extension of Relaxation extended till March 31, 2020: The Reserve Bank of India has extended the timeline for which banks can avail funds under the marginal standing facility (MSF) at the rate of 3% of its NDTL till March 31, 2021. Normally, banks are allowed to avail maximum funds under MSF from RBI at 2% of its net demand and time liabilities (NDTL). After COVID-19, RBI had allowed banks to dip 1% extra to this limit, that is now banks could borrow money from RBI under MSF, at 3%.

 

4. RBI ropes in Amitabh Bachchan for customer awareness campaign: The Reserve Bank of India has roped in Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan for the customer awareness campaign. The campaign aims to prevent gullible account holders from being duped by fraudsters. As part of the RBI’s public awareness initiative, the regulator will keep informing customers about dos and don’ts that have to be followed by them to transact safely and securely. The regulator has been running the campaign for more than a year not only in English and Hindi but in various regional languages for maximum reach. It keeps on repeating the message so that people don’t forget their rights and responsibilities.

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

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ICRA projects India’s GDP for FY21 to contact by 11%: Rating agency ICRA has revised its forecast for the contraction in India’s FY21 GDP to 11 per cent from its earlier assessment of 9.5 per cent. The reason behind contraction is an increase in a growing number of COVID-19 cases in India. Besides, the agency revised its year-on-year (YoY) forecasts for Q3FY21 to (-) 5.4 per cent from (-) 2.3 per cent and Q4FY21 to (-)2.5 per cent from (+) 1.3 per cent.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Usha Mangeshkar honoured with Lata Mangeshkar award 2020-21: The Maharashtra government has announced the Gan Samragni Lata Mangeshkar award for the year 2020-21 to veteran female playback singer Usha Mangeshkar. The award is given by the cultural department of the state government. The award includes a cash prize of five lakh rupees, a certificate and a memento. The veteran singer has sung songs in Marathi, Hindi and several other Indian language films. Her songs from the film ‘Subah ka Tara’, ‘Jay Santoshi Maa’, ‘Azad’, ‘Chitrlekha’, ‘Khatta Meetha’, ‘Kala Pathar’, ‘Naseeb’, ‘Khubsurat’, ‘Disco Dancer’, ‘Inkar’ ruled the chartbuster.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. ITBP chief S S Deswal given additional charge of NSG DG: ITBP Director General, S S Deswal has been given the additional charge of counter-terrorism force National Security Guard (NSG) as its incumbent chief A K Singh is going to retire on September 30. This is the second time that Deswal, a 1984-batch Indian Police Service officer, has been directed to lead the NSG in an additional capacity.

About National Security Guard: The NSG was raised as the federal contingency force in 1984 to undertake specific counter-terrorism operations and hijack-like incidents. The ”black cat” commandos of the force are based in five hubs across the country, apart from their main garrison in Gurgaon”s Manesar. They also render personal security to some high-risk VVIPs like Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and some chief ministers.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Assam’s only woman CM Syeda Anwara Taimur passes away: Assam’s first and only woman chief minister, Syeda Anwara Taimur passed away. A four-time Congress MLA beginning with her first election in 1972, Taimur held portfolios like education before becoming chief minister for a brief period from December 6, 1980, to June 30, 1981. She was nominated for a Rajya Sabha term in 1988. She joined the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in 2011. 

Daily GK Updates – 28th Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s top regulator of medical education, National Medical Commission (NMC) comes into existence, replacing Medical Council of India (MCI): India’s new apex regulator of medical education and profession, the National Medical Commission (NMC), came into existence with effect from 25 September 2020.

National Medical Commission (NMC): NMC replaces the Medical Council of India (MCI). Dr Suresh Chandra Sharma, former head of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS-ENT department), Delhi, has been appointed as Chairman of NMC for a period of three years. The NMC Board comprises of a chairman, 10 ex-officio members and 22 part-time members. The nearly 64-year-old Indian Medical Council Act has been abolished and replaced with NMC Act, which received the assent of the president on 8th August 2019. The Board of Governors (BoG) of MCI has also been dissolved.

 

2. ADB approves 300 million dollar loan for Rajasthan’s towns: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 300 million dollar loan to finance inclusive water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services in secondary towns of Rajasthan. The project is expected to build citywide access for improved water supply services for about 5.7 lakh people. It will also enhance the sanitation services for about 7.2 lakh people in at least 14 secondary towns. Through the project, water supply systems in at least eight project towns are expected to improve by 2027 with about one lakh households including all urban poor households benefiting from five new or rehabilitated water treatment plants and 1,350 km of distribution networks.

Note: Chief Minister of Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot; Governor: Kalraj Mishra.

 

3. MeitY & NITI Aayog to organize “RAISE 2020” summit: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and NITI Aayog will organize a summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI), RAISE 2020- ‘Responsible AI for Social Empowerment 2020′ from October 5-9, 2020. RAISE 2020 will be a global meeting of minds to exchange ideas and chart a course for using AI for social transformation, inclusion and empowerment in areas like Healthcare, Agriculture, Education and Smart Mobility, among other sectors. At the RAISE 2020 Summit, delegates and experts in research, policy and innovation on Artificial Intelligence will join from across the globe. The RAISE 2020 Summit will also feature some of the most exciting startups working in Artificial Intelligence-related fields. The Summit will explore in-depth, the role of AI in accelerating social empowerment.

Note: CEO of NITI Aayog: Amitabh Kant.

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology: Ravi Shankar Prasad.

 

4. 51st edition of IFFI postponed to January 2021: The 51st Edition of the International Film Festival of India, IFFI will be held from 16th to 24th January, next year in Goa. Earlier it was scheduled to be held from 20th November to 28th November, this year. It has also been jointly decided to hold the festival on new dates as per the International Film Festival guidelines and protocols. The festival will be conducted in a Virtual and Physical format. All COVID related protocols will be strictly enforced as per the festivals convened recently in the International Film Festival circuit.

 

5. IIT Madras Develops ‘MOUSHIK’ Microprocessor For IoT Devices: The Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have come up with an indigenously-made Microprocessor, named ‘MOUSHIK.’ Moushik is a processor cum System on Chip(SoC), which means that, as a processor it can execute the instructions and as a SoC, different components can be attached to the it. Moushik is the third in the series of six computer chips being designed as a part of the Shakti Microprocessor programme of IIT Madras.  The Project Shakti is funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Prakash Javadekar addresses virtual Ministerial Roundtable Dialogue on Biodiversity Beyond 2020: The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar represented India at the virtual Ministerial Roundtable Dialogue on Biodiversity held on 24 September 2020. The theme of the Ministerial Dialogue was Biodiversity Beyond 2020: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth. The event was hosted by China, ahead of the upcoming United Nation Summit on Biodiversity on 30 September 2020. Around 15 ministerial representatives as well as the heads from relevant international organizations participated in the event to exchange views on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Mr. Javadekar also informed that India aims to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land, and achieve land-degradation neutrality by 2030.

 

2. Lebanon’s PM designate Mustapha Adib steps down: The Prime Minister-designate of Lebanon, Mustapha Adib has announced his resignation following his failure to form a new cabinet. Mustapha Adib, Lebanon’s former ambassador to Germany, was selected for the post on 31 August 2020. The previous government led by Hassan Diab resigned following the Beirut port blast on August 4 that killed some 200 people and left thousands homeless.

Note: Capital of Lebanon: Beirut; Currency of Lebanon: Lebanese pound.

 

3. S. Jaishankar participates in virtual Informal Meeting of SAARC Council of Ministers : The Union Minister of External Affairs  of the Republic of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar, represented India in the annual Informal Meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers on 24th September 2020, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. The meeting was held in virtual mode under the chairmanship of Nepal and reviewed regional efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Such Informal meetings are being held since 1997.

 

4. World’s top emitter China aims to go Carbon Neutral by 2060: Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country will aim to stop pumping additional carbon dioxide, the main global warming gas, into the atmosphere by 2060. Citing the Paris Agreement that he and former US President Barack Obama helped forge in 2015, Xi said his country would raise its emissions reduction targets with vigorous policies and measures. We aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Many countries have pledged they will aim to go carbon neutral by 2050, including the European Union.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; Currency: Renminbi

 

5. World Tourism Day: 27 September: World Tourism Day is observed globally on 27th September every year. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide. This date was chosen by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The 2020 edition of World Tourism Day, with the theme of “Tourism and Rural Development”, will celebrate the unique role that tourism plays in providing opportunities outside of big cities and preserving cultural and natural heritage all around the world.

Note: United Nations World Tourism Organization Headquarters location: Madrid, Spain; United Nations World Tourism Organization Head: Zurab Pololikashvili; United Nations World Tourism Organization Founded: 1 November 1974.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Neetu David becomes new head of India women’s selection committee: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Neetu David, one of finest woman cricketers of India in the late ’90s and early 2000, as the Chairman of the 5 member women’s national selection panel. The other member of the newly-elected panel includes Mithu Mukherjee, Renu Margrate, Arati Vaidya and V Kalpana. The Neetu David-led panel has been appointed for a period of four years. It replaces the previous panel, led by Hemlata Kala, whose term ended in March 2020. The first assignment of the David-led panel will be to pick three teams for the Women’s T20 Challenge, to held in UAE in November 2020 alongside the IPL play-offs.

Note: BCCI interim CEO: Hemang Amin; BCCI President: Sourav Ganguly; BCCI Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; BCCI Founded: December 1928.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI to launch “Positive Pay System” for Cheque Truncation System: The Reserve Bank of India has announced that it will launch “Positive Pay System” for Cheque Truncation System from 01st January, 2021. The “Positive Pay System” will be developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and make it available to participant banks. Banks will be required to enable the system for all account holders issuing cheques for amounts of Rs 50,000 and above. While availing of this facility is at the discretion of the account holder, banks may consider making it mandatory in case of cheques for amounts of Rs 5,00,000 and above.

The RBI had announced the Positive Pay mechanism in order to prevent frauds with high value cheques. Under this mechanism, cheques will be processed for payment by the drawee bank based on information passed on by its customer at the time of issuance of cheque. Banks are advised to create adequate awareness among their customers on features of Positive Pay System through SMS alerts, display in branches, ATMs as well as through their web-site and internet banking.

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

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. NCAER predicts India GDP for FY21 at -12.6%: The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has projected the GDP growth for the Indian economy at -12.6% For 2020-21 (FY21) with the remaining three quarters expected to witness a fall. For 2021-22, NCAER projects the GDP of India to grow by 7%.

Note: National Council of Applied Economic Research Headquarters location: New Delhi; National Council of Applied Economic Research Founded: 1956.

 

2. Visa extends global partnership with IFundWomen to entrepreneurs in India: Visa has announced the launch of a grant program in India to support women entrepreneurs with its partner, IFundWomen. As an extension of two programs launched in the US this year, women entrepreneurs in India will now receive funding from Visa to grow and expand their business. Visa’s partnership with IFundWomen is designed to help women entrepreneurs secure the funding they need through a series of grants.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India Successfully test-fires indigenously developed surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile: India successfully test-fired the indigenously developed nuclear-capable missile Prithvi-II, on 23 September 2020, from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off the Odisha coast. The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was a routine exercise by the DRDO. Prithvi-II missile has a strike range of 350 km. It is capable of carrying 500 to 1000 kg of warheads and is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Noted Economist Dr Isher Judge Ahluwalia passes away: Noted economist Isher Judge Ahluwalia (74 years) passed away in New Delhi due to brain cancer. She served as the director and chairperson of Delhi-based Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) for 15 years building ICRIER into a leading global think tank. She was awarded with Padma Bhushan in 2009 in the field of education and literature. Her books include Breaking Through, Industrial Growth in India and Growth in Indian Manufacturing. 

Daily GK Updates – 27th Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s top regulator of medical education, National Medical Commission (NMC) comes into existence, replacing Medical Council of India (MCI): India’s new apex regulator of medical education and profession, the National Medical Commission (NMC), came into existence with effect from 25 September 2020.

National Medical Commission (NMC): NMC replaces the Medical Council of India (MCI). Dr Suresh Chandra Sharma, former head of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS-ENT department), Delhi, has been appointed as Chairman of NMC for a period of three years. The NMC Board comprises of a chairman, 10 ex-officio members and 22 part-time members. The nearly 64-year-old Indian Medical Council Act has been abolished and replaced with NMC Act, which received the assent of the president on 8th August 2019. The Board of Governors (BoG) of MCI has also been dissolved.

 

2. ADB approves 300 million dollar loan for Rajasthan’s towns: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 300 million dollar loan to finance inclusive water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services in secondary towns of Rajasthan. The project is expected to build citywide access for improved water supply services for about 5.7 lakh people. It will also enhance the sanitation services for about 7.2 lakh people in at least 14 secondary towns. Through the project, water supply systems in at least eight project towns are expected to improve by 2027 with about one lakh households including all urban poor households benefiting from five new or rehabilitated water treatment plants and 1,350 km of distribution networks.

Note: Chief Minister of Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot; Governor: Kalraj Mishra.

 

3. MeitY & NITI Aayog to organize “RAISE 2020” summit: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and NITI Aayog will organize a summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI), RAISE 2020- ‘Responsible AI for Social Empowerment 2020′ from October 5-9, 2020. RAISE 2020 will be a global meeting of minds to exchange ideas and chart a course for using AI for social transformation, inclusion and empowerment in areas like Healthcare, Agriculture, Education and Smart Mobility, among other sectors. At the RAISE 2020 Summit, delegates and experts in research, policy and innovation on Artificial Intelligence will join from across the globe. The RAISE 2020 Summit will also feature some of the most exciting startups working in Artificial Intelligence-related fields. The Summit will explore in-depth, the role of AI in accelerating social empowerment.

Note: CEO of NITI Aayog: Amitabh Kant.

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology: Ravi Shankar Prasad.

 

4. 51st edition of IFFI postponed to January 2021: The 51st Edition of the International Film Festival of India, IFFI will be held from 16th to 24th January, next year in Goa. Earlier it was scheduled to be held from 20th November to 28th November, this year. It has also been jointly decided to hold the festival on new dates as per the International Film Festival guidelines and protocols. The festival will be conducted in a Virtual and Physical format. All COVID related protocols will be strictly enforced as per the festivals convened recently in the International Film Festival circuit.

 

5. IIT Madras Develops ‘MOUSHIK’ Microprocessor For IoT Devices: The Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras have come up with an indigenously-made Microprocessor, named ‘MOUSHIK.’ Moushik is a processor cum System on Chip(SoC), which means that, as a processor it can execute the instructions and as a SoC, different components can be attached to the it. Moushik is the third in the series of six computer chips being designed as a part of the Shakti Microprocessor programme of IIT Madras.  The Project Shakti is funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Prakash Javadekar addresses virtual Ministerial Roundtable Dialogue on Biodiversity Beyond 2020: The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar represented India at the virtual Ministerial Roundtable Dialogue on Biodiversity held on 24 September 2020. The theme of the Ministerial Dialogue was Biodiversity Beyond 2020: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth. The event was hosted by China, ahead of the upcoming United Nation Summit on Biodiversity on 30 September 2020. Around 15 ministerial representatives as well as the heads from relevant international organizations participated in the event to exchange views on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Mr. Javadekar also informed that India aims to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land, and achieve land-degradation neutrality by 2030.

 

2. Lebanon’s PM designate Mustapha Adib steps down: The Prime Minister-designate of Lebanon, Mustapha Adib has announced his resignation following his failure to form a new cabinet. Mustapha Adib, Lebanon’s former ambassador to Germany, was selected for the post on 31 August 2020. The previous government led by Hassan Diab resigned following the Beirut port blast on August 4 that killed some 200 people and left thousands homeless.

Note: Capital of Lebanon: Beirut; Currency of Lebanon: Lebanese pound.

 

3. S. Jaishankar participates in virtual Informal Meeting of SAARC Council of Ministers : The Union Minister of External Affairs  of the Republic of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar, represented India in the annual Informal Meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers on 24th September 2020, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. The meeting was held in virtual mode under the chairmanship of Nepal and reviewed regional efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Such Informal meetings are being held since 1997.

 

4. World’s top emitter China aims to go Carbon Neutral by 2060: Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country will aim to stop pumping additional carbon dioxide, the main global warming gas, into the atmosphere by 2060. Citing the Paris Agreement that he and former US President Barack Obama helped forge in 2015, Xi said his country would raise its emissions reduction targets with vigorous policies and measures. We aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Many countries have pledged they will aim to go carbon neutral by 2050, including the European Union.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; Currency: Renminbi

 

5. World Tourism Day: 27 September: World Tourism Day is observed globally on 27th September every year. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide. This date was chosen by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The 2020 edition of World Tourism Day, with the theme of “Tourism and Rural Development”, will celebrate the unique role that tourism plays in providing opportunities outside of big cities and preserving cultural and natural heritage all around the world.

Note: United Nations World Tourism Organization Headquarters location: Madrid, Spain; United Nations World Tourism Organization Head: Zurab Pololikashvili; United Nations World Tourism Organization Founded: 1 November 1974.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Neetu David becomes new head of India women’s selection committee: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Neetu David, one of finest woman cricketers of India in the late ’90s and early 2000, as the Chairman of the 5 member women’s national selection panel. The other member of the newly-elected panel includes Mithu Mukherjee, Renu Margrate, Arati Vaidya and V Kalpana. The Neetu David-led panel has been appointed for a period of four years. It replaces the previous panel, led by Hemlata Kala, whose term ended in March 2020. The first assignment of the David-led panel will be to pick three teams for the Women’s T20 Challenge, to held in UAE in November 2020 alongside the IPL play-offs.

Note: BCCI interim CEO: Hemang Amin; BCCI President: Sourav Ganguly; BCCI Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; BCCI Founded: December 1928.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI to launch “Positive Pay System” for Cheque Truncation System: The Reserve Bank of India has announced that it will launch “Positive Pay System” for Cheque Truncation System from 01st January, 2021. The “Positive Pay System” will be developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and make it available to participant banks. Banks will be required to enable the system for all account holders issuing cheques for amounts of Rs 50,000 and above. While availing of this facility is at the discretion of the account holder, banks may consider making it mandatory in case of cheques for amounts of Rs 5,00,000 and above.

The RBI had announced the Positive Pay mechanism in order to prevent frauds with high value cheques. Under this mechanism, cheques will be processed for payment by the drawee bank based on information passed on by its customer at the time of issuance of cheque. Banks are advised to create adequate awareness among their customers on features of Positive Pay System through SMS alerts, display in branches, ATMs as well as through their web-site and internet banking.

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

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. NCAER predicts India GDP for FY21 at -12.6%: The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has projected the GDP growth for the Indian economy at -12.6% For 2020-21 (FY21) with the remaining three quarters expected to witness a fall. For 2021-22, NCAER projects the GDP of India to grow by 7%.

Note: National Council of Applied Economic Research Headquarters location: New Delhi; National Council of Applied Economic Research Founded: 1956.

 

2. Visa extends global partnership with IFundWomen to entrepreneurs in India: Visa has announced the launch of a grant program in India to support women entrepreneurs with its partner, IFundWomen. As an extension of two programs launched in the US this year, women entrepreneurs in India will now receive funding from Visa to grow and expand their business. Visa’s partnership with IFundWomen is designed to help women entrepreneurs secure the funding they need through a series of grants.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India Successfully test-fires indigenously developed surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile: India successfully test-fired the indigenously developed nuclear-capable missile Prithvi-II, on 23 September 2020, from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off the Odisha coast. The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was a routine exercise by the DRDO. Prithvi-II missile has a strike range of 350 km. It is capable of carrying 500 to 1000 kg of warheads and is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Noted Economist Dr Isher Judge Ahluwalia passes away: Noted economist Isher Judge Ahluwalia (74 years) passed away in New Delhi due to brain cancer. She served as the director and chairperson of Delhi-based Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) for 15 years building ICRIER into a leading global think tank. She was awarded with Padma Bhushan in 2009 in the field of education and literature. Her books include Breaking Through, Industrial Growth in India and Growth in Indian Manufacturing. 

Daily GK Updates – 26th Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Uttar Pradesh Govt launches unified portal ‘U-Rise’: The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath has launched a unified portal called ‘U-Rise’. Uttar Pradesh is the first state to launch such a unified portal along with the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020.  About ‘U-Rise’: The U-Rise portal would empower the students by providing them with practical and technical knowledge ranging from online exams, digital content, digital assessment, digital examination papers, webinars, internship, e-library, recorded video content to employment. The U-Rise portal will guide around 20 lakh students, in learning, career counselling, and getting employment in the state. The e-content, e-library, and online courses available on this portal will be accessible by students even in the most interior areas of the state.

Note: Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Aditya Nath; Governor: Anandiben Patel.

 

2. Assam Govt launched “Mukhyamantrir Grammya Paribahan Achoni Yojana”: The Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal has launched the “Mukhyamantrir Grammya Paribahan Achoni Yojana” of the state transport department. Under the scheme, Light Motor Vehicle Service would be launched in all the villages of the state to improve rural connectivity and generate employment in the villages. One vehicle would be provided to one beneficiary per village. In the first phase of the scheme, 10,000 villages would be covered with a financial outlay of Rs 100 crore. The state government shall financially assist the eligible entrepreneurs with 25 per cent of the cost of the vehicle or Rs 1 lakh, whichever is less.

Note: Chief Minister of Assam: Sarbananda Sonowal; Governor: Jagdish Mukhi.

 

3. Rajasthan CM approves ‘Moksha Kalash Yojana-2020’: The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot has approved the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation’s scheme called ‘Moksha Kalash Yojana-2020’. This Moksha Kalash Yojana aims to allow free bus travel to two members of the family of the deceased to immerse ashes of their loved ones in the Ganga in Haridwar. The state road transport corporation would be the nodal agency to run the scheme and the expenses would be borne by the Devasthan Department. Passengers will be required to register for availing the facility by providing details including about the dead person. A copy of related documents will have to be kept with those carrying the ashes. RSRTC will provide an interface for online registration, make arrangements for transport to the destination, and other facilities during the journey.

Note: Rajasthan Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot; Rajasthan Governor: Kalraj Mishra; Rajasthan Capital: Jaipur.

 

4. ‘Saubhagya’ scheme completes three years of inception: The Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana -“Saubhagya Scheme” has completed three years of inception on 25 September 2020. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25th of September, 2017 with an outlay of Rs. 16,320 crore Saubhagya scheme aims to achieve universal household electrification by providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all households in rural areas and all poor households in urban areas across the country.

 

5. Bollywood actor Aamir Khan becomes Brand Ambassador of CEAT: A tyre company of RPG Enterprises (Rama Prasad Goenka Group), CEAT Limited has signed Indian Actor Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador for 2 years. As part of an integrated marketing campaign, he will feature in 2 commercials during the on-going Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in Dubai to promote CEAT’s SecuraDrive, a range of mass premium tyres. CEAT has been associated with cricket since 1995 with CEAT Cricket Ratings.

 

6. Acer India signs Sonu Sood as brand ambassador: A leading Personal Computer(PC) brand, Acer India has appointed actor Sonu Sood as its brand ambassador. As the brand ambassador of Acer India, Sonu Sood will support the range of innovative products of Acer over the social media and campaign on the commitment of Acers in improving the lives of the people through technology.

Note: Acer India President & Managing Director: Harish Kohli; Acer India Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UN and United Kingdom to co-host Global Climate Summit 2020: The United Kingdom and the United Nations are going to co-organise a global climate summit on December 12, 2020, to mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will co-host the event. The summit will increase the momentum ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) to be held in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021. The Summit will invite National governments to present more ambitious and high-quality climate plans.

Note: United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. It was founded on 24 October 1945; Mr Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Prime minister of United Kingdom: Boris Johnson; Capital of the United Kingdom: London.

 

2. Mohamed Hussein Roble appointed as new Prime Minister of Somalia: President of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has appointed Mohamed Hussein Roble as the new Prime Minister of Somalia. He will replace former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, who was voted out of office by parliament in July for failing to pave the way for fully democratic elections due before February 2021. All the 215 MP’s who attended the session chaired by President Farmaajo voted in support of the appointment of Hussein Roble as PM.

Note: Somalia Capital: Mogadishu; Somalia Currency: Somali Shilling.

 

3. India ranked 89th in World Risk Report 2020: According to the World Risk Index (WRI) 2020, India has been ranked at the 89th spot among 181 Countries. WRI has been developed in cooperation with the United Nations University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNUEHS) and calculated by the International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV).  India is behind Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives in terms of abilities to cope with extreme disasters, lack of adaptive capacities and the preparedness to deal with extreme events. The Pacific island state of Vanuatu leads the index as the country with the highest disaster risk (49.74). Qatar has the lowest risk (0.31). In terms of the continents, Oceania ranks first in terms of highest disaster risk, followed by the Americas, Asia and Europe.

The World Risk Report is released annually since 2011 by the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and Bundnis Entwicklung Hilft, in cooperation with the University of Stuttgart in Germany.

Note: United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security Director: Shen Xiaomeng; Headquarters of United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security: Germany.

 

4. World Environmental Health Day: 26th September: World Environmental Health Day is observed globally on 26th September every year. This day is celebrated to shed the light on important work of environmental health around the world. The Theme for the 2020 World Environmental Health Day: “Environmental health, a key public health intervention in disease pandemic prevention”. It has been targeted towards preventing the disease and creating health-supportive environments. In 2011, the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) declared to observe World Environmental Health Day on 26 September.

Note: International Federation of Environmental Health Established: 1986; Headquaters: London, England.

 

5. International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons: 26th September: The United Nations observes 26 September every year as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. The day provides an occasion for the world community to reaffirm its commitment to global nuclear disarmament as a priority. It provides an opportunity to educate the public and their leaders about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons, and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them. The General Assembly declared the International Day in December 2013, in its resolution 68/32 as a follow-up to the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on nuclear disarmament held on 26 September 2013, in New York.

Note: Headquarters of United Nations: New York, USA; Founded: 24 October 1945; Secretary-General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI publishes “’Technology Vision for Cyber Security’ for UCBs: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will implement the “Technology Vision for Cyber Security’ for Urban Co-operative Banks (2020-2023) to enhance the IT security system of Urban Co-operative banking to prevent, detect, respond to and recover from cyber-attacks. The Technology Vision Document aims at enhancing the cybersecurity posture of the Urban Co-operative banking sector against evolving IT and cyber threat environment. RBI will achieve this objective using its five-pillared strategic approach ‘GUARD’. GUARD denotes:

G – Governance Oversight,

U – Utile Technology Investment,

A – Appropriate Regulation and Supervision,

R – Robust Collaboration

D – Developing necessary IT, cybersecurity skills set.

To accomplish the five pillared approach, RBI has established 12 specific action points spires to:

Involve more Board Oversight over Cybersecurity. Enable UCBs to better manage and secure their IT Assets. Implement an offsite supervisory mechanism framework for UCBs on cybersecurity-related controls. Develop a forum for UCBs so that they can share best practices and discuss practical issues and challenges.

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

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Kerala wins UNIATF award for prevention and control of NCD 2020: Kerala has won the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases Awards 2020 for its “outstanding contribution” towards the non-communicable diseases-related sustainable development goals. Kerala has been awarded for the tireless service of the state in the health sector. This is the first time for Kerala to be recognised by this annual UN Award and along with Kerala 6 other health ministries across the globe have won the 2020 UNIATF Award.

About UNIATF Award 2020: The 2020 award recognises the contributions and achievements of the year 2019 on the multisectoral actions in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, Mental Health and other SDGs related to non-communicable diseases. The award also recognised the state of the art lung disease control program, cancer treatment program and paralysis control programme of the state.

Note: WHO Director-General: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; WHO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

Chief Minister of Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan; Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Shivangi Singh set to become India’s 1st woman fighter pilot to fly Rafale: Flight Lieutenant, Shivangi Singh to become the first woman fighter pilot of India to fly the Rafale combat aircraft that was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force(IAF) September 10, 2020.  She is one of the 10 Indian women fighter pilots in IAF. Five Rafale Aircraft were formally inducted into the IAF’s 17 Squadron ‘Golden Arrows’ on September 10, 2020, at a function held at Air Force Station, Ambala (Haryana).

About Shivangi Singh: Shivangi hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Shivangi Singh was among the 2nd batch of women fighter pilots who were commissioned in 2017. After joining IAF, she has been flying the MiG-21 Bison aircraft. Currently, she is undergoing training and will soon join Golden Arrows.

Note: Indian Air Force Chief of the Air Staff (CAS): Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Sekhar Basu passed away: Veteran Indian nuclear scientist Sekhar Basu (68 years) passed away due to COVID-19 in Kolkata. He was the chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and as the Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). He is known for building the nuclear reactor for India's first nuclear powered subnarmine INS Arihant, nuclear power plants in Tarapur and Kalpakkam, and the Indian Neutrino Observatory in Theni, Tamil Nadu. He also served as the Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). He was honoured with Padma Shri in 2014.