Daily GK Updates - 27th January, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 3rd Global Potato Conclave to Begin in Gandhinagar from 28 January: The Third edition of the Global Potato Conclave will be held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat on 28 to 31 January 2020. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will address the conference through remote video conferencing, which aims to highlight achievements and opportunities in the area of potato research, trade and industry, and value chain. Earlier, two Global Potato Conferences were organized in 1999 and 2008. The Global Potato Conclave will provide a common platform to all stakeholders to discuss issues and make future plans involving everyone related to the potato sector. The conclave is being organized by Indian Potato Association in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research New Delhi and ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla and International Potato Center, Lima, Peru.

2. Kerala Partners MIT to Unveil India’s First ‘Super Fab Lab’ in Kochi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated India’s first Super Fab Lab at the Integrated Startup Complex of the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) in Kochi that will give India’s hardware industry a huge leap.

The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) Super Fab Lab has been has been built in collaboration with the US-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It is the world’s first such facility to function outside the United States. The facility has state-of-the-art machines worth more than Rs 7 crore built in an area of 10,000 square feet. Kerala presently has two electronic fab labs already functioning at Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.

Note: Fab Lab and Super Fab Lab: Fab Labs are fabrication laboratories offering digital fabrication and computation. A Fab Lab lets you make almost anything; make the products you can consume. A Super Lab lets you make a Fab Lab. It is an amazing facility that has the tools not just to make anything, but make the tools that make things.

3. World Bank Approves USD 210 Million Loan for Maharashtra Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project: The Government of India along with the Government of Maharashtra has signed a loan agreement of USD 210 million with World Bank under Maharashtra Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project. The project aims to support small holder farmers participate in competitive agriculture value chains, facilitate agri-business investments, increase market access and productivity in focus commodities, and build resilience of crops to recurrent floods or droughts in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The USD 210 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a 6-year grace period and a maturity period of 13.5 years.

Note: Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray; Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

President of World Bank: David R. Malpass; Headquarter: Washington DC.

4. GeM Signs MoU with Uttar Pradesh to Set Up Project Management Unit: The Uttar Pradesh government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government eMarketplace (GeM), under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, to set up a GeM Organizational Transformation Team (GOTT) Project Management Unit (PMU) in the state. Uttar Pradesh government is the second state after Punjab to establish a GOTT-PMU for inclusive, efficient and transparent procurement system. Among the CPSEs, SAIL is the only one till now to sign MoU for setting up a PMU.

5. Ministry proposes 6th Schedule Area status to Ladakh: Union Tribal Affairs Ministry has proposed 6th Schedule Area status to Union Territory of Ladakh. Tribal Affairs Minister also assured that his ministry will take all necessary measures to preserve and enrich the rich legacy of Ladakh. Sixth Schedule (in Article 244 of the Indian Constitution) allows constitution of Autonomous District Councils in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram to safeguard the rights of tribal population.

6. Indian Railway’s First Waste-To-Energy Plant Commissioned in Bhubaneswar: The first waste-to-energy plant of the Indian Railways has been commissioned at Carriage Repair Workshop, Mancheswar, in Bhubaneswar by the East Coast Railway (ECoR) zone. The plant is the first Government of India initiative in waste to energy plant and fourth such plant in the country. It has been built at a cost of Rs 1.79 crore and has the capacity to dispose 500 kg waste, including plastic and e-waste. This waste-to-energy plant uses a patented technology called ‘Polycrack’, which is world’s first patented heterogeneous catalytic process to convert multiple feed stocks into hydrocarbon liquid fuels, gas, carbon and water. This process will produce energy in the form of light diesel oil which is used to light furnaces.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Sarec Announces Resignation: Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Sarec announced his resignation and called for fresh elections, following weeks of rising tensions within his minority five-party coalition government. Sarec's minority government, consisting of five center-left parties in Slovenia, was established in September 2018.  Mr Sarec's resignation came almost at the same time as Finance Minister Andrej Bertoncelj announced that he too would quit in a row over health care funding. Mr Sarec, is Slovenia's youngest-ever Prime Minister. He was previously best known as a comedian and political satirist before he launched himself as an anti-establishment politician.

Note: Slovenia Capital: Ljubljana; Currency: Euro

2. Switzerland Mints World’s Smallest Gold Coin; Features Albert Einstein: In Switzerland, State-owned Swissmint has minted world’s smallest gold coin measuring 2.96-millimeter (0.12-inches). The coin features the image of Albert Einstein sticking out his tongue. Swissmint has minted just 999 such coins.

Features of the Coin: The size of the coin is 2.96-millimeter (0.12-inches); It weighs 0.063 grams (1/500th of an ounce); The coin has a nominal value of 1/4 Swiss francs (USD 0.26); It will be sold for 199 francs, along with a special magnifying glass so that owners can see the famous physicist on its face.

3. UK introduces new fast-track visa to attract scientists: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced a new fast-track visa to attract more of the world's best scientists to the U.K. in hopes of creating a global science "superpower." Johnson paired the announcement of the Global Talent route program with a pledge of USD 392 million for research into advanced mathematics. The money will help fund researchers and doctoral students whose work in math underpins myriad developments.

4. International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust: 27 January: International Holocaust Remembrance Day is held on 27 January to commemorate the tragedy of the Holocaust that occurred during the Second World War due to the genocide that resulted in the deaths of 6 million Jews and 11 million others, by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz (the largest Nazi concentration and death camp), the ending of the Second World War, and the ending of the Holocaust. Theme 2020: “75 years after Auschwitz – Holocaust Education and Remembrance for Global Justice”.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Brazil's Joao Souza gets life ban for match-fixing: Brazilian Joao Souza has been banned from tennis for life after being convicted of multiple match-fixing and other corruption offences. A Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) investigation found that the 31-year-old had committed several anti-corruption breaches between 2015 and 2019 including fixing matches at ATP Challenger and ITF Futures tournaments in Brazil, Mexico, the United States and Czech Republic.

Souza, who had been provisionally suspended since March 2019 pending completion of the investigation, was also fined $200,000 following a disciplinary hearing in London on 14th Jan. The TIU said Souza had not reported corrupt approaches, had failed to co-operate with their investigation, including destroying evidence, and “solicited other players to not use best efforts” in matches.

2. Anil Khanna nominated Life President of Asian Tennis Federation: Senior sports administrator Anil Khanna, who recently decided not to contest the President’s post of the Asian Tennis Federation, was nominated Life President of the continental body. Khanna had served as ATF President from 2005 to 2019 and also ITF Vice President from 2015-19. The ATF’s Board of Directors also appointed Khanna as the Chairman of the Finance Committee as well as Co-Chairman of the ATF foundation. CS Sunder Raj was voted as the Senior Vice President of the federation, representing South Asia. Anil Dhupar was elected as the member of the Senior Committee while VK Batra was voted as a member of the Constitution Committee of the ATF.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Sunil Mehta Sworn in as IBA Chief Executive: Former MD & CEO of Punjab National Bank, Sunil Mehta, has taken charge as the chief executive of the Indian Bank’s Association (IBA) from 27 January 2020. Mehta recently retired as the Managing Director and CEO of Punjab National Bank. He has succeeded VG Kannan, who demitted once as chief executive of IBA on December 31, 2019.

Note: Indian Banks Association Founded: 26 September 1946; Headquarters: Mumbai

2. India’s GDP to grow at 5.0% in FY20 & 5.5% in FY21: India Ratings: India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has projected India’s GDP growth rate for fiscal 2019-2020 at 5 percent, which is a multi-year low. Ind-Ra expects gross domestic product (GDP) to grow at 5.5 percent in FY21.

OBITUARIES

1. NBA legend Kobe Bryant passes away: National Basketball Association (NBA) legend Kobe Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. The crash occurred in the foggy hills above Calabasas, California, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Bryant was a 5-time NBA champion and 2-time Olympic gold medallist is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history.

2. Former Karnataka Minister Amarnath Shetty Passes Away: Former Karnataka Minister and senior Janata Dal(S) leader Amarnath Shetty has passed away due to age-related ailments. Shetty was 80. Shetty, who began his political career in 1965, was minister for Tourism and Muzarai in the Janata Dal government. He was elected to the state Assembly from Moodbidri constituency in Dakshina Kannada district three times in 1983, 1987 and 1994.

Daily GK Updates - 26th January, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India Celebrates 71st Republic Day on 26 January 2020: Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950. It replaced the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India. Nation celebrated the 71st Republic Day with a grand military parade and exhibition of its history, cultural diversity and strategic weaponry at the Rajpath in New Delhi on 26 January 2020. President Ram Nath Kovind unfurled the tricolour and took the salute of the parade. President of Brazil Jair Messias Bolsonaro was the Chief Guest at the Parade. Every year, on Republic Day, the President of India distributes Padma Awards to the civilians of India. Padma Awards are given in three categories – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, in decreasing order of importance. For 2020, 141 Padma Awards have been announced. The list comprises 7 Padma Vibhushan, 16 Padma Bhusan and 118 Padma Shri awards..

2. Bharat Parv 2020 begins at Red Fort in Delhi: Tourism Ministry has inaugurated the six-day cultural extravaganza 'Bharat Parv' at the Red Fort in Delhi. The objective of Bharat Parv is to encourage people to visit different tourist places of the country and to inculcate the spirit of ‘Dekho Apna Desh’. Choreographed Folk, Tribal Dances and Music from the different States showcased during cultural programmes. Bharat Parv will remain open for public from 12 Noon to 10 PM until 31st January. The theme of this year’s Bharat Parv is ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ and ‘Celebrating 150 Years of Mahatma Gandhi.

3. Corona Virus: Government launches 24X7 call centre: Seven central teams will visit states and designated airports to review the end-to-end preparedness for management and control of Novel Corona virus in India. These airports are New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi. A 24x7 National Centre for Disease Control Call Centre - 011 -23978046 has been made operational. The decision was taken by the Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan at a review meeting held in New Delhi.

4. Government announces sale of 100% stake in debt-laden Air India: The government of India announced sale of 100 per cent stake in debt-laden Air India as it issued the preliminary bid document for the strategic disinvestment with the deadline for submitting expression of interest set as March 17. As part of the strategic disinvestment, Air India would also sell 100 per cent stake in low-cost airline Air India Express and 50 per cent shareholding in joint venture AISATS. Management control of the airline would also be transferred to the successful bidder. This is the second time in less than two years that the government has come out with proposal for selling stake in Air India, which has been in the red for long. The government has set March 17 as the deadline for submitting the expression of interest (EoI).

AISATS is an equal joint venture between Air India and Singapore Airlines. It offers ground handling services. Air India also has interests in Air India Engineering Services, Air India Air Transport Services, Airline Allied Services and Hotel Corporation of India. These entities are in the process of being transferred to a separate company - Air India Assets Holding Ltd (AIAHL) - and would not be a part of the proposed transaction.

5. West Bengal emerges at the top in vegetable production: West Bengal has overtaken Uttar Pradesh and emerged as the top State in vegetable production in 2018-19. According to the State-wise horticulture production data released at a conference organised by the Agriculture Ministry last week, West Bengal produced 29.55 million tonnes (mt) of vegetables last year. Andhra Pradesh continued to hold on to the pole position in fruits with 17.61 mt, followed by Maharashtra (10.82 mt) and Uttar Pradesh (10.65 mt).

Note: West Bengal CM: Mamta Banerjee; Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar

6. ‘Innovation Festival’ begins at Science Centre in Arunachal Pradesh: The ‘Innovation Festival’ kicked off at the Science Centre in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. The festival is being organized by the Arunachal Pradesh State Council for Science & Technology in collaboration with the National Innovation Foundation. The aim of the festival is to foster the culture of innovation among all people of the state, especially in all the educational institutions.

Note: Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh: Pema Khandu; Governor: B. D. Mishra.

7. Cabinet Minister Naqvi Pens Hindi Novel “Balwa”: Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has penned a Hindi novel titled “Balwa”, which loosely translates to turmoil. The book is scheduled to be released on 28 January 2020, and published by Diamond Pocket Books. Balwa is a story based on the happenings like communal conflicts that shook the country in the 90s, and about the kind of people who would be behind those.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Inaugural Ganga-Volga Dialogue of Civilizations between India and Russia held in New Delhi: The maiden Ganga Volga Dialogue of Civilization took place in New Delhi to provide a platform for enhancing the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia. The idea of the Dialogue was conceptualized during the October 2018 India-Russia Summit between President Putin and Prime Minister Modi. The event was inaugurated by India’s Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan. The Dialogue was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation. The dominant theme of the Dialogue was Connectivity. As many as 15 eminent scholars from India and Russia participated in the event to deliberate upon the existing and emerging spheres of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in matter relating to education, culture and civilization, entrepreneurship, innovation and trade routes, among others.

2. India Inks Agreement with Bangladesh to Upgrade Ashuganj-Akhaura Road into 4-lane Highway: India and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to upgrade the 50.58 kilometre long road between Ashuganj river port and the Akhaura land port in Bangladesh into a 4-lane highway. This upgradation project is part of the USD 2 billion second line of credit (LoC) extended by India to Bangladesh in 2016. The cost of constructing one lane is estimated to be Tk. 3,460 crore. The project will boost connectivity between Bangladesh and North-eastern part of India as well as facilitate sub-regional connectivity among South and South-east Asian countries.

3. Sri Lanka Tops among 97 Countries in Breast Feeding support Policies and Program: Sri Lanka has emerged at top position among 97 countries globally on breastfeeding rate according to a new survey conducted by the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi). Sri Lanka has scored 91 out of 100 points and is the only country to earn a green color code, which implies best level of performance. India has been ranked at 78th position with a score of 45, with yellow code. Libya is the lowest ranking country with a score of 19 and red color code

Note: The World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi), launched in 2004, assists countries to assess the status of and benchmark the progress in implementation of the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding. The WBTi report is based on ten parameters of policy and programmes to rank countries. Each parameter has a score of 10.Based on the score, each country gets the colour code as Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green in ascending order of performance based on the WBTi guideline. Green denotes the best level of performance.

4. International Customs Day: 26 January: The International Customs Day (ICD) is held on 26 January every year to recognise the role of customs officials and agencies and focuses on the working conditions and challenges that customs officers face in their jobs. The Theme of 2020 is “Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet”.

Note: The day was instituted by the World Customs Organization (WCO) to commemorate the day in 1953 when the inaugural session of the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) was held in Brussels, Belgium. In 1994 the CCC was renamed World Customs Organization (WCO).

WCO headquarter- Brussels, Belgium; Membership- 182 countries

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Global Unemployment to increase by around 2.5 million in 2020: The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a report titled “World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2020” which predicts that unemployment is likely to increase by around 2.5 million in 2020. However, the report also revealed that after nine years in decline, the rate of global unemployment remained unchanged in 2019, at 5.4%, and is expected to stay the same for the next two years, due to fluctuations in the population seeking work.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Govt. announces 141 Padma Awards for this year: Padma Awards— one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. This year the President has approved conferment of 141 Padma Awards (7 Padma Vibhushan, 16 Padma Bhusan and 118 Padma Shri) for this year. 34 awardees are women, 18 foreigners and 12 persons are awarded posthumously.

Former Union Ministers George Fernandes, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley will be awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously. Late Vishveshateertha Swamiji will be awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously.

Former Prime Minister of Mauritius Anerood Jugnauth, Hindustani classical vocalist Chhannulal Mishra and Boxer MC Mary Kom will also get Padma Vibhushan.

Former Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar and Legal luminary and educator NR Madhava Menon to be conferred Padma Bhushan posthumously. Eminent Writer Manoj Das, Shuttler PV Sindhu, industrialist Anand Mahindra will get Padma Bhushan.

Footballer Oinem Bembem Devi, Film Director Karan Johar, Actress Kangna Ranaut will get Padma Shri.

OBITUARIES

1. Noted artist and sculptor Sher Singh Kukkal passes away: Noted artist and sculptor Sher Singh Kukkal (86-years) passed away after a brief illness. He was awarded Senior Fellowship in Visual Art Photography by Union Ministry of Culture during 2008-09. He received a gold medal in painting from Queens College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP) & Rajiv Gandhi Foundation award for his photography and painting.

2. Film Producer Vinay Sinha of ‘Andaz Apna Apna’ Passes Away: Noted Indian film producer Vinay Kumar Sinha passed away recently due to unknown causes. The veteran producer was known for producing films like ‘Andaz Apna Apna’ and ‘Rafoo Chakkar’, Chor Police, Ameer Aadmi Gharib Aadmi and Naseeb, among others. He was also the vice president of Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association.

Daily GK Updates - 25th January, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. International Summit on Women in STEM Held in New Delhi: The Department of Biotechnology, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, organized two-day International Summit on Women in STEM under the theme “Visualizing the Future: New Skylines” in New Delhi. The Summit was held on 23 and 24 January, 2020, with an aim to boost the participation of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) field for development of scientific career. The summit provided a platform for young students and researchers to interact and network with leaders in the field, to develop ideas and generate a future action plan for making career in STEM fields. Around 350 participants from different STEM field across the globe participated in the event including scientists, socialists, entrepreneurs, researchers, teachers and students.

2. CJI Bobde inaugurates All India Members’ Conference: The Chief Justice of India, Justice S.A. Bobde, inaugurated the All India Members’ Conference of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in New Delhi. The two-day event was held as a part of the 79th Foundation Day Celebrations of ITAT.

Note: India’s Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) was set up on 25 January 1941.

ITAT functions under the Department of Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Law and Justice.

3. Nitin Gadkari Launches Web Portal “GATI” to Monitor Road & Highways Projects: The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSMEs Shri Nitin Gadkari has launched an online Web Portal ‘GATI’ on the pattern of ‘PRAGATI’, the portal used by the Prime Ministers’ Office (PMO) for monitoring Road & Highways projects. The GATI portal has been created by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and can be accessed from NHAI Website. The portal was launched by the minister during the two-days long review meeting of NHAI-Ministry projects in Haryana’s Manesar on 23 & 24 January 2020. A total of 500 projects (including delayed ones) costing around Rs 3 lakh crore were taken up for review during the meeting.

4. India's first e-waste clinic opens in Bhopal: India's first e-waste clinic has been inaugurated by the Union Environment Secretary in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.It would enable segregation, processing and disposal of waste from both household and commercial units. The e-waste clinic is jointly set up by the Central Pollution Control Board-CPCB and Bhopal Municipal Corporation-BMC. The e-waste clinic is being started on the basis of a three-month pilot project.

Note: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh: Kamal Nath; Governor: Lal Ji Tandon.

5. NITI Aayog to develop User-Centric “National Data and Analytics Platform”: Government think-tank NITI Aayog has announced to develop a National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP) to make all government data accessible to stakeholders in a user-friendly manner. NDAP is a flagship initiative of NITI Aayog in the space of promoting larger access and better use of data, tailored to the needs of policymakers, bureaucrats, researchers, innovators, data scientists, journalists and citizens alike. The Vision Document for the National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP) has been released by NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar. The first version of National Data and Analytics Platform is proposed to be released in 2021. The NDAP will provide access to data from multiple sectors in one place. The data will be sourced from different Central and State Ministries and Departments.

6. AV Organics Launches India’s First Alkaline Water “EVOCUS”: The Vadodara-based start-up AV Organicis launched its product ‘Evocus’, natural black alkaline water, in Hyderabad. Evocus is India’s first natural black alkaline water and is enriched with 70+ natural minerals. “EVOCUS” is black because it is alkaline water enriched with 100% organic minerals, sourced from the depths of the earth. The company has already launched its product in 16 cities and has sold over 7,000 cases (one case consists of 24 bottles) since June 2019 and are expecting to sell over 3 million bottles by June 2020. The packaged product has been approved by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and ranges in price between Rs 100 per 500 ml and Rs 60 per 250 ml.

7. National Voters’ Day: 25 January: In India, the National Voters’ Day is celebrated on 25 January every year in a bid to encourage more young voters to take part in the political process. The day is being observed since 2011 to mark the foundation day of Election Commission of India (ECI), formed on 25 January 1950, to overlook the smooth running of elections in India. The theme of National Voters’ Day 2020 is ‘Electoral Literacy for a Stronger Democracy.’

Note: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India: Sunil Arora.

8. National Tourism Day: 25 January: The National Tourism Day is celebrated on 25th January in India every year to raise awareness about the importance of tourism for the country’s economy. The Indian government established the National Tourism Day to cultivate awareness among the global community on the importance of tourism and to demonstrate how it affects social, political, financial, cultural worth and economic values worldwide.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India & Brazil Signs 15 Pacts to Boost Strategic Ties: President of Brazil Jair Messias Bolsonaro arrived in New Delhi on 24 January 2020 on four-day state visit to India. He is also the chief guest at the 2020 Republic Day of India celebrations. Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro and Prime Minister Narendra Modi inked 15 agreements on 25 January to boost cooperation in a wide range of areas between the two countries.

Some of MoUs Signed Include: (1) MoU on Bio-energy Cooperation; (2) MoU for Cooperation in the field of Oil and Natural Gas; (3) Investment Cooperation and Facilitation Treaty; (4) MoU in the field of Early Childhood; (5) MoU on Cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine; (6) Cultural Exchange Programme for the period 2020-2024; (7) Agreement on Social Security; (8) MoU between Invest India and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex Brazil), etc.

2. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Signs Brexit Withdrawal Deal: The Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Boris Johnson has signed the Brexit withdrawal agreement on 24 January 2020. The signing of the agreement now paves the way for the UK’s exit from the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020, ending its decades-long membership of EU. The European Parliament will vote on the agreement on 29 January and then finally on 31 January, Britain will spend its last day in the European Union before leaving the bloc. The UK will remain in the EU’s single market and customs union, but none of the decision-making bodies, until the end of 2020.With the exit of UK, the European Union (EU) will remain a political and economic union of 27 member states, from the current 28 members.

3. Sunil Arora assumes Chairmanship of FEMBoSA for 2020: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora has assumed Chairmanship of the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) for the year 2020. CEC of Bangladesh SA KM Nurul Huda (Outgoing Chair of FEMBo) handed over the Logo of FEMBoSA to Mr Arora at the 10th Annual Meeting in New Delhi. The 10th Annual Meeting of The Forum of the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of South Asia (FEMBoSA) was held in New Delhi on 24 January 2020. An International Conference was also organised on the theme “Strengthening Institutional Capacity”. Earlier in September 2019, ECI took over as Chair of the 115 member Association of World Election Bodies for 2019-21 term.

Note: FEMBoSA was established at the 3rd Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies of SAARC Countries held at New Delhi in May 2012.

4. India Ranks 80th among 180 Countries in Corruption Perception Index 2019: India has been ranked at the 80th position among 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2019 prepared by Transparency International. The CPI Index, released at the WEF 2020 in Davos, ranks countries and territories on how corrupt their public sectors are perceived by the experts and business people. Denmark and New Zealand jointly scored the top spot with a score of 87.

With a score of 41, India shares the 80th spot with China, Benin, Ghana and Morocco.

The Top 10 countries include

1. Denmark

1. New Zealand

3. Finland

4. Singapore

4. Sweden

4. Switzerland

7. Norway

8. Netherlands

9. Germany

9. Luxembourg

5. Agni Sapkota elected speaker of House of Representatives: Nepal Communist Party's Agni Sapkota has been elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament in Nepal. His name was proposed by Subhash Chandra Nembang of Nepal Communist Party. The post of Speaker was lying vacant since October last year after Mr Krishna Bahadur Mahara resigned following allegations of attempted rape.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Rowing Federation of India lifts two-year suspension on Rower Dattu Bhokanal: The Rowing Federation of India (RFI) removed the two-year ban imposed on 2018 Asian Games gold medallist rower and Olympian Dattu Baban Bhokanal, after the intervention of the Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra. Bhokanal’s ban, which was imposed on April 30, 2019, was set to end on April 30, 2021. Now India’s top rower, Bhokanal will be able to participate in the Olympic Qualification Regatta to be held at Chungju, South Korea from April 27-30, 2020.

Note: Ministers of State (I/C) of Youth Affairs and Sports: Kiren Rijiju.

2. IWF President Tamas Ajan Steps aside for 90 days after doping: The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) president Tamas Ajan has stepped aside to voluntarily cease his duties for 90 days while an independent investigation into allegations of corruption and doping violations are being carried out against him. Ajan has till then delegated the operational responsibilities to IWF Vice-president Ursula Papandrea, who also is the President of USA Weightlifting.

Note: International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) headquarter: Budapest, Hungary

3. Prem Chand Verma appointed India's Deputy Chef de Mission for Tokyo Olympics: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed Prem Chand Verma as the Deputy Chef de Mission of India for the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In a letter written to Verma, IOA President Narendra Dhruv Batra has asked him to accept the position and send an acknowledgment of acceptance. Rakesh Sharma will not be accompanying the Indian Contingent to the Olympics due to personal reasons and IOA relieved him of his duties. As a result, Prem Chand Verma has been given responsibility.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. IndusInd Bank Launches Wealth Management Platform ‘PIONEER’ Banking: Private sector lender IndusInd Bank has launched its wealth management platform under the name “Pioneer Banking”. The new offering will cater to the distinct and advanced wealth needs of the high net-worth customers of the bank.

Benefits under Pioneer Banking: (1) No Charges on Non-Maintenance of Minimum Balance; (2) Benefits that Extend to all family and business Accounts; (3) Complimentary access to exclusive PIONEER ‘Lobbies’; (4) Free Doorstep Banking at no additional cost; (5) No Transaction Charges on requests pertaining to cheque books, demand drafts, passbooks, statements, alerts, or TDS certificates; (6) Holistic Wealth Management Services; (7) Lifestyle benefits

2. MSCB submits merger proposal with Rupee Bank to RBI: The Maharashtra State Cooperative (MSC) Bank has submitted a joint proposal to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a merger with the Rupee Cooperative Bank. The mounting bad debt of the Rupee Bank had led RBI to put severe sanctions on the bank while superseding the erstwhile board of directors in 2013. The total deposit in the bank is around Rs 1,290.96 crore. The bank also has 304 employees who will be absorbed within the rolls of the MSC Bank.

Daily GK Updates - 24th January, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India’s First War Memorial for Animals in Meerut: Meerut city in Uttar Pradesh will be host to India’s first war memorial for service animals including dogs, horses and mules. This place will dedicate itself to the contributions and heroics of animals who have helped the army in counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir and in the battlefield during the Kargil War.

Note: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath; Governor: Anandiben Patel; Capital: Lucknow

2. New Delhi Airport Begins ‘Women with wheels’ Cab Service for Female Safety: In an effort to make women feel safe in New Delhi, an exclusive taxi service named ‘Women with wheels’ has been launched from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the city. The unique all-women cab service is an initiative by ‘Sakha cabs’. It can be availed for any part of Delhi. The cabs are run exclusively for women commuters and are driven only by women drivers.

Note: CEO of Sakha Consulting Wings: Arvind Vadera.

3. Russia is Theme Country for International Kolkata Book Fair 2020: The 44th International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF) will be held from 29th January to 9th February 2020. Twenty countries will participate in the 2020 edition of Kolkata International Book Fair. Russia is the theme country for IKBF 2020. The theme gate will be a replica of the iconic Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. The book fair will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Central Park Mela Complex in Salt Lake, in presence of Russian ambassador Nikolay Rishatovich Kudashev. IKBF is the world’s largest non-trade book fair, Asia’s largest book fair and the most attended book fair in the world in terms of footfall.

Note: West Bengal CM: Mamta Banerjee; Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar

4. National Girl Child Day: 24th January: National Girl Child Day celebrated by India every year on 24th January.  The purpose of the day is to spread awareness among the people about the inequalities girls face in India. It also aims towards promoting awareness about the rights of the girl child and to increase awareness on the importance of girl education, and their health and nutrition.

Note: National Girl Child Day is started by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Government of India in 2008.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Katerina Sakellaropoulou Elected as First Women President of Greece: The Parliament of Greece elected Katerina Sakellaropoulou as the country’s first female president. The 63-year-old received support of 261 MPs in the 300-seat Parliament, including the support of members of the ruling New Democracy Party. Katerina will serve for five years starting on 13 March 2020, when the incumbent president, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, will vacate the post following the end of his term.

Note: Capital of Greece: Athens; Currency of Greece: Euro.

2. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Launches E-passport Facility: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched the e-passport facility for its citizens, terming it as a gift to the nation in the Mujib centenary year. With this, Bangladesh becomes the first country in South Asia and 119th country in the world to provide e-passport facility. The e-passports will have an embedded chip in them. The chip will contain the bio-metric data of the passport holder, photograph and other information. It will also include digital security features in it.

3. International Day of Education: 24 January: International Day of Education is celebrated globally on 24 January annually to celebrate the role of education in bringing global peace and sustainable development. The theme of 2020 International Day of Education is “Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace”. On 3rd December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming January 24 as International Day of Education. The first International Day of Education was held in 2019.

4. India Ranks at 8th Position among Recipients of Foreign Direct Investment in 2019: UNCTAD Report: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released the Global Investment Trend Monitor report. Global FDI: As per the report, the global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2019 stood at $1.39 trillion, which is one percent decline from $1.41 trillion in 2018. India’s Position: India is among the top 10 recipients of Foreign Direct Investment in 2019, at 8th position, attracting $49 billion FDI inflows, showing a 16 percent increase from the previous year. The United States remained the largest recipient of FDI, attracting $251 billion in inflows.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. World Archery Conditionally Lifts Ban Imposed on Archery Association of India: The World Archery has lifted the suspension on Archery Association of India with effect from 23 January 2020; however, it is subjected to certain conditions. AAI had been suspended since 5 August 2019, allowing Indian Archers to participate only under the World Archery flag until suspension is lifted. With the lifting on the ban, Indian archers are now free to compete under the Indian flag and can now focus on getting ready for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. World Archery has instructed the AAI to change its constitution regarding the membership of sportspersons, resolve operational issues and prepare a strategic plan, as well as submit quarterly reports on these issues.

2. 2021 ICC Women’s World Cup Final to be held at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand: Hagley Oval, a Cricket club in Christchurch, New Zealand will host the final match of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup 2021. Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga, Dunedin and Christchurch are the six New Zealand cities which will host the 2021 edition of the Women’s World Cup matches. The tournament will features 31 matches to be played from February 6 to March 7, 2021.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Vodafone m-pesa’s certificate of authorisation cancelled by RBI: The Reserve Bank of India cancelled the Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) of Vodafone m-pesa after its voluntary surrender of authorisation. The company henceforth cannot transact business of issuance and operation of Prepaid payment Instruments. Customers or merchants having a valid claim on the company as a PSO, can approach the company till September 30, 2022, for settlement of their claims within three years from the date of cancellation. Vodafone Idea closed the m-pesa after getting merged with the Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank Limited in 2019.

Note: Vodafone M-pesa Limited Formation: 13 September 2014; Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

2. RBI Raises FPI Investment Limit in Government and Corporate bonds from 20% to 30%: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the investment limit for Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) in government and corporate bonds, in a move to bring in more foreign funds in the country. Under the new norms, the short term investment limit for FPI has now been increased from 20 percent to 30 percent for both, government and corporate bonds. Until now, short-term investments by a foreign portfolio investor (FPI) could not exceed 20 percent of the total investment of that FPI in either central government securities (including treasury bills) or state development loans or even in corporate bonds. Besides this, RBI has also made relaxation in the Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) for FPI investments in debt. The investment cap through VRR has been doubled to Rs 1.5 lakh crore, from 75,000 crore. Additionally, FPIs are now also allowed to invest in exchange-traded funds (ETF) that invest only in debt instruments.

3. Reliance Jio becomes 1st Telecom to launch UPI Payments Feature: Reliance Jio has become the 1st telecom operator to facilitate UPI payments feature through its platform after launching the feature on the MyJio app and will be now competing with other private UPI payment providers such as Paytm, Google Pay and PhonePe.

Note: Reliance Industries Ltd Founder: Dhirubhai Hirachand Ambani; Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani; Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. DMMC and IPS Kumar Munnan Singh jointly win Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar: Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2020 was announced on the occasion of Subhash Chandra Bose birth anniversary which was celebrated on 23 January 2020.

Awardees: Disaster Mitigation & Management Centre (DMMC), Uttarakhand under the institution category won the award. DMMC received a certificate and a cash prize of Rs.51 lakhs. The cash prize will be used by the winning institution for Disaster Management related activities only.

Under the Individual category, the former IPS Shri Kumar Munnan Singh received the award. The award recognized their commendable work in Disaster Management. Munnan Singh received a certificate and a cash prize of Rs.5 lakhs.

Note: On 23 January 2019, the government instituted an annual award titled Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar. The award recognizes the efforts of disaster, many organizations and individuals work effectively to help the people. The 8th Battalion of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) located at Ghaziabad won the award for the year 2019.

DEFENCE

1. DAC approves the procurement of about Rs 5100 crore Indigenous Equipments: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has approved the procurement of Indigenous Equipments valued at Rs 5100 crore. These indigenous equipments have been manufactured by the Indian industry and designed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army.

Note: 28th Chief of Army Staff: General Manoj Mukund Naravane.

Daily GK Updates - 23rd January, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Agricultural land leasing policy will be implemented in Uttarakhand: Uttarakhand has become the 1st state in the country where the government has made a policy to lease agricultural land. In lieu of giving land on a 30-year lease, the concerned farmer will get the rent for the land. In the hilly areas of the state, the obstacles of leasing land for farming, agriculture, horticulture, herbs, off-season vegetables, milk production, tea plantation, fruit hybridization and solar energy has been removed with this step.

Note: Uttarakhand Chief Minister: Trivendra Singh Rawat; Governor: Baby Rani Maurya; Capital: Dehradun.

2. Jaipur Literature Festival begins: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has inaugurated the five- days Jaipur Literature Festival 2020 (13th) in the royal Diggi Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan.  It is the world's largest free literary festival. Around 300 speakers of different fields are participating in this festival. Jaipur Literature Festival is the platform where people can share their views without any hesitation.

3. EC to host 1st Sukumar Sen Memorial Lecture: Election Commission will host Sukumar Sen's (1898-1963) Memorial Lecture at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, New Delhi. Former President Pranab Mukherjee will deliver the first of the Lectures. The EC has decided to institute an Annual Lecture Series as a tribute to the first Chief Election Commissioner of India, Sukumar Sen.

Note: The first Chief Election Commissioner of India Mr. Sen (Indian Civil Services-1922) commendably conducted the first two General Elections to the Lok-Sabha (1952 and 1957) & State Legislative Assemblies, thereby putting India firmly on the map of democracy.

4. ISRO to send robot 'Vyommitra' to space on 'Gaganyaan': The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has unveiled a lady robot named ‘Vyommitra’, which is a prototype of humanoid, to go as a trial to space under ‘Gaganyaan’ mission, before sending astronauts. Vyommitra is a combination of two Sanskrit words Vyoma (Space) and Mitra (Friend), thus meaning ‘friend in the space’. ISRO will send two unmanned missions, before the Ganganyaan mission goes with astronauts, to monitor how the human system will behave in the environment control life support system. The half-humanoid robot ‘Vyom Mitra’ will be placed in the first unmanned mission under ‘Gaganyaan’ and will simulate most of the human body functions like conversing with astronauts, recognising them, and responding to their queries.

Note: Humanoid is a kind of robot, which can move like a human and can also understand human gestures. Humanoids can also answer questions through artificial intelligence programming.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India advances 8 places to 72nd spot on GTC I- 2020: India has moved up 8th places to the 72nd position in the 2020 Global Talent Competitiveness Index. Switzerland topped this year's ranking, followed by the USA, while Singapore is the third most talent-competitive country. The index is based on research done by INSEAD in partnership with The Adecco Group and Google. Global Talent Competitiveness Index measures and ranks countries based on their ability to grow, attract and retain talent.

2. India falls to 51st spot in EIU's Democracy Index: India slipped 10 places to 51st position in the 2019 Democracy Index's global ranking. The overall list was topped by Norway, followed by Iceland & Sweden. Top 8 countries are New Zealand (4th), Finland (5th), Ireland (6th), Denmark (7th) and Canada (8th). The index is based on five categories - electoral process and pluralism; the functioning of government; political participation; political culture and civil liberties.

3. Mansukh Mandaviya participates in the Round-table of UNAIDS in Davos: The Union Minister of State for Shipping (I/C) and Chemical & Fertilizers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya is on four-day official visit to at Davos, Switzerland to attend 50th World Economic Forum annual meeting. Mandaviya participated in the High-level roundtable of UNAIDS (The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) held as a part of the meeting. The theme of the Round-table of UNAIDS was ‘Access for all: Leveraging Innovations, Investments and Partnerships for Health’. UNAIDS is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Note: World AIDS Day: 1 December.

United Nations AIDS Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

Winnie Byanyima is the Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

4. Indian Oil Signs MoU with National Petroleum Authority of Ghana: Indian Oil has signed an MoU with Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority for proper execution of the Ghana’s National LPG Promotion Policy. According to the MoU, Indian Oil will provide its technical expertise and assistance to Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority.

Note: President of Ghana: Nana Akufo-Addo; Capital: Accra; Currency: Ghanaian Cedi.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Khelo India Youth Games 2020 Concludes; Maharashtra Crowned Champion: The 3rd Khelo India Youth Games was held from 10 to 22 December 2020 in Guwahati, Assam. Maharashtra finished at the top of the medal table for second consecutive year in the 13-day sporting extravaganza with 256 medals, comprising 78 gold, 77 silver and 101 bronze. Haryana with 200 medals (68-60-72) and Delhi with 122 medals (39-36-47) were second and third respectively. The winner’s received the trophy from Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

2. India’s only women’s polo tournament concludes in Imphal: The 5th edition of Manipur Statehood Day Women’s Polo Tournament was held from 17 to 21 January 2020 at Mapal Kangjeibung in Imphal, which is the oldest living polo ground in the world. The Great Britain women polo team won the coveted title of 2020 by defeating United States of America (USA) 5-2 in the final match. Apart from the Manipur team and the Indian Polo Association’s women team, polo teams from USA, Great Britain, Argentina, and Egypt participated in the tournament.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Challa Sreenivasulu Setty Appointed as Managing Director of SBI: The government has appointed Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the Managing Director (MD) of the State Bank of India (SBI) for a period of three years, from the date of his taking over the charge of the post or until further orders. Setty is currently serving as the deputy managing director of the SBI. As per the SBI Act, the bank can have four managing directors. The other three MDs of the SBI include: Parveen Kumar Gupta, Dinesh Kumar Khara and Arijit Basu

Note: Rajnish Kumar is the Chairman of the State Bank of India.

2. ICICI Bank introduces cardless cash withdrawal facility through ATMs: ICICI Bank has come out with an innovative method to withdraw cash from ATM machines without debit card. The private lender has introduced 'Cardless Cash Withdrawal' facility which enables customers to withdraw cash through an app. “Cardless Cash Withdrawal” service can be used for cash withdrawal having a per day transaction limit of Rs 20,000. An ICICI customer can withdraw cash from over 15,000 ATMs of the bank by raising a request on 'iMobile'-its mobile banking application. The service can be used for self-withdrawal when customers do not wish to carry the debit card.

Note: MD & CEO of ICICI Bank: Sandeep Bakhshi; Headquarters: Mumbai.

AWARDS AND HONOUR

1. Priya Prakash wins Cisco Youth Leadership Award 2019: The founder and CEO of India based HealthSetGo, Priya Prakash, has won the Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award for 2019. The award was given for her school health program that provides healthcare support to children. The prestigious award honours an individual aged 18 – 30 who is bringing about a positive change in the world by solving some of its biggest global challenges. The award includes a USD 250,000 prize paid to the individual’s organisation to which the individual contributes, to further their mission of accelerating global problem-solving.

Note: HealthSetGo is a healthcare organisation that supports the UN’s (United Nation) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to improve the health & lives of children. HealthSetGo in a span of 4 years has become India’s largest healthcare organisation for schools.

2. President Ramnath Kovind Presents 14th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards: The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, presented the 14th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards (RNG awards) in New Delhi. RNG awards are one the most prestigious awards in India in the field of journalism, held annually since 2006. The 12th edition was held in 2017. These are awarded to honour journalists across the country from print, broadcast and digital media who have maintained the highest standards of their profession and, despite immense challenges, produced work that sustains public trust in the media and impacts the lives of people.

Note: The award is named after Ramnath Goenka, who was an Indian newspaper publisher and founder of “The Indian Express” and Indian Express Group.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Indian cricketer Man Mohan Sood passes away: Former Test batsman and National selector Man Mohan Sood passed away at the age of 80. Sood played one Test and 39 first-class matches with one century in his cricket career. Sood made his first class debut against Services in 1957 and played his final Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir in 1964. His lone Test appearance came against Richie Benaud-led Australia at Madras in 1960 when India lost by an innings and 55 runs.