Daily GK Updates - 23rd February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian Railway has launched AI based ‘ASKDISHA’ chatbot: The Indian Railways has launched the Hindi Version of Artificial Intelligence-based chatbot called “ASKDISHA”. The hindi version has been launched to further enhance the customer services rendered and to further strengthen the services of the chatbot. The Indian Railways is also planning to launch the chatbot in more languages in the near future. The chatbot is a special computer programme designed to simulate conversation with users, especially over the internet. The first-of-its-kind initiative by IRCTC is aimed at facilitating accessibility by answering users’ queries pertaining to various services offered to railway passengers.

Note: Union Minister of Ministry of Railways: Piyush Goyal.

2. International Judicial Conference 2020 held in New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a two-day International Judicial Conference 2020 organized by Supreme Court in New Delhi. The conference was held with the theme of “Gender Just World”. The topic of the one-day conference is “Judiciary and The Changing World”. The changes made by GoI to bring gender equality including recruitment of women in military service, changes in the selection process of fighter pilots, and the freedom to work at night in the mines were discussed during the conference. Ram Nath Kovind, delivered the valedictory address at the International Judicial Conference.

3. Madhya Pradesh CM Inaugurates Indian Forest Service Officers Meet in Bhopal: The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Kamal Nath inaugurated the Forestry Conference of Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers at Noronha Academy of Administration in Bhopal on 22 February 2020. The event is being held in Bhopal for the first time. The main purpose of the conference is to deliberate on the usage of forest produce and the role of forests in economic growth.

4. India’s first floating jetty inaugurated in Goa: Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya has inaugurated the India’s first floating jetty and an immigration facility at a cruise terminal in Vasco at Goa. This floating jetty is the first such facility in the country. It will boost inland waterways. They are environment-friendly and can be built in a short time.  The floating jetty is made of cement concrete and is expected to boost inland waterways. The immigration counter at the cruise terminal in Mormugao Port will help foreign nationals who arrive on cruise ships.

Note: CM of Goa: Pramod Sawant; Governor: Satya Pal Malik

5. Govt to Launch Tilhan Mission to Boost Oilseed Production: The Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Minister of Rural Development, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has announced that the government will launch Tilhan Mission to make the country self-reliant in oilseed production. Agriculture is the important pillar of the India’s economy and contributes 14 percent to the GDP. Apart from this, the government has also decided to create 10 thousand Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO) across the country. For this, assistance of over Rs 6,000 crore will be provided. Besides, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana will not be mandatory for farmers and it will be voluntary for them.

6. NITI Aayog organizes meeting on Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients Industry: National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) has organized a meeting on Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (API) Industry. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of NITI Aayog’s CEO Amitabh Kant to induce growth in the API industry.  During the meeting, a detailed presentation on the history and status of the API industry and the challenges faced by it, was presented by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP). It also demonstrated the available options which can make India a powerhouse in Key Starting Materials, Intermediates and Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (API). It also discussed the recent measures taken to promote the bulk drug parks in the country.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India, Sri Lanka signs MoU for up-gradation of infra in plantation school: India and Sri Lanka have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for up-gradation of infrastructure in plantation schools for estate workers of Indian origin. The MoU was signed by acting High Commissioner Mr Vinod. K. Jacob and Secretary, Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka Mr NHM Chithrananda in Colombo.  The project is implemented to upgrade the infrastructure of 9 plantation schools under Indian grant assistance of Rs 30 crores.

2. SCO’s Defence Experts Working Group meeting was held in Pakistan: The 9th Defence and Security Expert Working Group (EWG) meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The meeting was the part of the ‘Shanghai Cooperation Organization Defense & Security Cooperation Plan 2020’. China, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and India including Pakistan participated in the event.

Note: Secretary-General of SCO: Vladimir Norov; SCO founded: 19 September 2003; Headquarters of SCO: Beijing, China.

3. US-India Business Council Appoints Vijay Advani as new Chairman of Global Board: The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has appointed Vijay Advani as new Chair of its Global Board of Directors. Prior to this, he served as Executive Chairman of the Board in January 2020. Apart from this, the council also announced two new members of the Global Board of Directors, which includes: Lockheed Martin International Senior Vice President Tim Cahill and GE South Asia President & CEO Mahesh Palashikar.

Note: Headquarters of US-India Business Council: Washington, D.C., United States; US-India Business Council founded: 1975.

4. India Ranks 35th in EIU’s Worldwide Education for the Future Index 2019: India has jumped five places to be ranked 35th in the Worldwide Educating for the Future Index (WEFFI) 2019, published by The Economist Intelligence Unit. India scored 53 points out of 100 in the overall index in 2019. It was ranked 40th with an overall score of 41.2 in 2018. The index has been topped by Finland (84.8), followed by Sweden (84.3) and New Zealand (79.9) at second and third respectively. Kenya (48), Nigeria (49) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (50) are the bottom three countries in the index.

5. India Ranks 77th on Sustainability Index and 131st in Child Flourishing Index rankings: UN report: India has been ranked at 77th position in the Sustainability Index 2020 and 131st on the Flourishing Index 2020, according to a UN-backed report.  The report commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The Lancet medical journal.

Note: The Sustainability Index 2020 takes into account per capita carbon emissions and ability of children in a nation to live healthy lives. It ranks countries on excess carbon emissions compared with the 2030 target.

The Flourishing Index 2020 measures the best chance at survival and well-being for children. Flourishing is the geometric mean of Surviving and Thriving. For Surviving, the authors selected maternal survival, survival in children younger than 5 years old, suicide, access to maternal and child health services, basic hygiene and sanitation, and lack of extreme poverty.

Note: Director-General of UNESCO: Audrey Azoulay; Headquarters: Paris, France.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. FC Goa has become 1st club from India to qualify for AFC Champions League: FC Goa became the first Indian club to qualify for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions’ League group stage. FC Goa sealed the top spot in the Indian Super League (ISL 2019-20) standings, finishing as the league’s table-topper after beating Jamshedpur FC 5-0 in an Indian Super League match. Indian clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have played in the Asian Club Championships but no team from the country has ever played in the group stage of AFC Champions League since its introduction in 2002. Recently, ISL was recognised as the top-tier league in the country by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and as a result, its top team in the league phase will be representing India in the AFC Champions League.

Note: President of Asian Football Confederation: Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa; Headquarters of Asian Football Confederation: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

2. AIBA World Cup 2020 to be held in Russia: Russia will be the first country to host the new format of the AIBA Team World Cup in 2020. The Boxing tournament will be coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II under the motto “Boxing for Peace”. This format is expected to make boxing more attractive to spectators and sponsors. The best national teams all over the world will take part in the tournament. The final match is scheduled in October 2020 in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

Note: AIBA Founded: 1946; AIBA Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; AIBA President: Dr Mohamed Moustahsane.

3. PM Modi Inaugurates first-ever Khelo India University Games at Cuttack: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first-ever Khelo India University Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha on 22nd February 2020 through video conferencing. About 3,400 athletes from 159 universities across the country will be participating across 17 disciplines.

Note: CM of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik; Governor of Odisha: Ganeshi Lal.

4. Rajalaxmi Deo elected as Rowing Federation of India President: Mrs Rajlaxmi Singh Deo has been re-elected as the president of the Rowing Federation of India (RFI) on 22nd February 2020. The presidential elections of the Rowing Federation of India were conducted under the observation of Indian Olympic Association (IOA)’s K Govindraj. Apart from this other RFI appointments include:

M V Sriram – Secretary General

Rajpal Singh, G Bhasker, Souvik Ghose and Sreekunara Kurup – Vice-presidents (4)

Nababudin Ahmed – Treasurer

Krishna Kumar Singh and Chirajit Phukan – Joint Secretaries (2)

Jasbir Singh, Venkateswara Rao, Ismail Baig, Jacob and Manjunatha – Executive Members (5).

All of the above will take the office from 1st April 2020 and remain at the post for a period of 4 years till 31st March 2024.

Note: Rowing Federation of India headquarter: Mumbai; Rowing Federation of India founded: 30 August 1976.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SEBI allows the use of regulatory sandbox by market players: Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed the use of regulatory sandbox by the market players on select customers. SEBI will also grant limited registration for such testing purposes. The decision is expected to facilitate the use of latest fintech innovations in capital markets. The decision was taken at the board meeting of the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Note: Chairman of SEBI: Ajay Tyagi; Headquarter: Mumbai.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Birla Estates has introduced “LIDEA” on WhatsApp for its customers: An interactive AI Powered ChatBot solution “LIDEA” has been launched by Birla Estates for its customers. “LIDEA” will enable the users to access authentic information of the projects which can be used for the evaluation of the residential developments of Birla Estates. The artificial intelligence empowered Chatbot will also offer features like viewing location, configurations, amenities, virtual tours and accepting site visit requests.

AWARDS AND REWARDS

1. Dr. Niti Kumar to be honoured with SERB Women Excellence Award-2020: Dr Niti Kumar, a Senior Scientist from Division of Molecular Parasitology and Immunology, CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow will be honoured with the SERB Women Excellence Award-2020. Her research team is testing the protein quality control machinery in human malaria parasite for exploration of alternative drug targets for malaria intervention. Award will be conferred by the President of India during National Science Day Celebrations on February 28, 2020, in Vigyan Bhawan. This award is given to women scientist below 40 years of age.  The women researchers will be supported by the research grant of 5 lakhs per annum for 3 years.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Indian footballer Ashok Chatterjee passes away: Former India footballer Ashok Chatterjee, who played for the club Mohun Bagan, has passed away. He was 78. Chatterjee has made 30 appearances for the senior national team. He was part of the Indian team’s bronze-medal winning squad in the Merdeka Cup in 1965 and 1966. He was honoured with the Mohun Bagan Lifetime Achievement Award by the club in 2019.

Daily GK Updates - 22nd February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Gold reserves found by GSI in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh: The Geological Survey of India and the Uttar Pradesh Directorate of Geology and Mining have discovered two goldmines with around 3,350 tonne gold ore in the Naxalite-affected Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. This gold deposits is around five times the current gold reserves of India, which is around 626 tonne, and estimated at Rs 12 lakh crore. The Gold deposits have been found at two places namely Sonpahadi and Hardi field. The estimated gold deposits at Sonpahadi is 2,943.26 tonnes, while 646.15 kilograms in Hardi field.

2. National Museum Inaugurates Exhibition Titled ‘Historical Gastronomica– The Indus Dining Experience’ in New Delhi: The National Museum in New Delhi is hosting a unique exhibition on India’s ancient food history titled “Historical Gastronomica – The Indus Dining Experience” from 19 to 25 February 2020, that goes back to more than 5000 years ago. ‘Indus Dining Experience’ has been organised jointly by the National Museum and One Station Million Stories (OSMS). The first of its kind exhibition demonstrates how the first humans evolved due to food habits, learnt to distinguish edible from non-edible substance, food processing techniques and related architecture of the Harappans. One of the main attractions of this exhibition is, recreation of food of the Indus-Saraswati Civilization by National Award-winning Chef Sabyasachi Gorai.

3. North East Sustainable Development Goals Conclave 2020 to be held in Assam: The North East Sustainable Development Goals Conclave 2020 will be held in Assam from February 24-26, 2020. The theme of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Conclave 2020 is Partnerships, Cooperation and Development of North Eastern States. The three-day event is being organised by the government think-tank Niti Aayog in association with the North Eastern Council, Government of Assam, Tata Trusts, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS).

4. Bhaskar Khulbe and Amarjeet Sinha Appointed Advisors to Prime Minister: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointments of retired IAS officers Bhaskar Khulbe and Amarjeet Sinha as Advisors to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both the Indian Administrative Service officers are appointed in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the rank and scale of Secretary. Bhaskar Khulbe is an IAS officer from 1983 batch from West Bengal cadre and Sinha is also from the 1983 batch but Bihar cadre. They both are appointed on contractual basis initially for a period of two years, or until further orders.

5. Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Harsimrat Kaur Badal Inaugurates Organic Food Festival: The Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Textiles, Smriti Irani jointly inaugurated the Organic Food Festival in New Delhi to be held from 21 to 23 February 2020. The Organic Food Festival would provide an opportunity to women entrepreneurs for capacity building and economic empowerment The festival, spread over an area of 6,000 sqm of space, is first of its kind event where more than 180 women entrepreneurs and self-help groups are participating from over 25 States and Union Territories with very interesting products on display from across the country. The festival is being organized by National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM) with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as the Industry Partner.

6. Mahant Nritya Gopal Das elected as President of Ram Mandir Trust: The first meeting of the Ram Mandir Trust to oversee the construction of Ram temple (in Ayodhya) was held in New Delhi. The 15-member trust was formed in adherence to the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya dispute in November 2019. Nripendra Misra will be the head of the temple construction committee. Mahant Nritya Gopal Das was elected as the president of the Trust whereas Champat Rai would be the general secretary.

Note: UP Present CM: Yogi Adityanath, Governor: Anandiben Patel.

7. Tripura Tea Board organizzes ‘Run for India Tea’ event: Tripura hosts the “Run for India Tea” which was organized in collaboration by Tripura Tea Development Corporation (TTDC) and Tea Board of India. The event aims to further promote and popularise Tripura tea alongside India tea and to boost the tea industry in the state. The event was followed by a colourful tableau procession which featured the participation of large number of tea workers wearing traditional dresses.

Note: Chief Minister of Tripura: Biplab Kumar Deb; Governor of Tripura: Ramesh Bais.

8. Indian Railways Launches HRMS Mobile App for its Employees: In order to bring transparency in the administrative functioning of the Indian Railways, Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman of Railway Board has launched HRMS Mobile App, for all the employees of Indian Railways. The HRMS Employee Mobile App has been designed and developed by Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS). It will act as a single window communication system between Railway employees and Administration. The app will enable the employees to see data related to their service as well as communicate with administration for any changes, if required.

9. Department of Telecommunications launches '5G Hackathon': The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched ‘5G Hackathon’ in association with government, academia and industry stakeholders to shortlist India’s focused cutting edge ideas that can be converted into workable 5G products and solutions. The 5G Hackathon is open to developers, students, start-ups, SMEs, academic institutions and registered companies in India and NRIs. Winners of the various phases will share a total prize pool of 2.5 crore rupees. The 5G technology provides quantum leap over 4G in terms of speed, spectrum efficiency and connection density.

Note: The DoT is a department of the Ministry of Communications of the executive branch of the Government of India.

Dhotre Sanjay Shamrao is Minister of State for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bangladesh Observes Language Martyrs’ Day ‘Amar Ekushey’ on 21 February 2020: On 21 February every year, Bangladesh observes the Shaheed Dibash known as ‘Amar Ekushey’ across the country to pay tribute to the martyrs of language movement. The day is observed to commemorate the martyrs, of the language movement, who were killed in firing by the Pakistani police on 21 February 1952 for establishing Bangla as the official language of the then East Pakistan.

2. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar Steps Down, to Remain in Caretaker Capacity: The Prime Minister of Ireland Leo Varadkar has tendered his resignation on 20 February to President Michael Higgins. However, Leo Varadkar and his government will continue to carry on their duties until successors have been appointed. Varadkar is Ireland’s first openly gay leader, as well as the youngest person to hold the office at 38 years age.

Note: Capital of Ireland: Dublin; President: Michael D Higgins; Currency of Ireland: Euro

3. Myanmar Prez U Win Myint will be on 4-day State Visit to India: President of Myanmar U Win Myint will be on a four-day State Visit to India from 26th Feb 2020. U Win Myint will be accompanied by the First Lady Daw Cho Cho. The visiting dignitary is expected to visit Agra and Bodh Gaya following his official meetings in New Delhi

4. World Thinking Day: 22 February: World Thinking Day is celebrated annually on 22 February. The day is celebrated by Girl Scouts, Girl Guides and other girl groups to set aside a day for girls all over the world to think of each other, and to give thanks and appreciation to “sister” Girl Scouts and Girl Guides. World Thinking Day Theme 2020: Living Threads.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Ross Taylor Becomes First Cricketer to play 100 International Matches in all 3 formats: Veteran New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor made history on 21st February 2020, as he became the first-ever cricket player in the world to play 100 matches in all three formats of the game. The 35-year-old right-handed middle-order batsman achieved the feat in Wellington on 21 February, in the first Test against India at Basin Reserve, which happened to be his 100th Test for Kiwis. He played his 100th T20 International against India in January 2020 and has also played 231 ODIs for New Zealand. He is already his country’s leading run-scorer in Test and ODI with 7174 and 8570 runs respectively.

2. Drass Red lifts 2020 Ladakh Winter Sports Carnival: In Ladakh, Drass Red lifted 2020 Ladakh Winter Sports Carnival, Junior (Under-18) Ice Hockey and Skating Championship by Defeating Drass Winter Games Association, by 4 -0. The Carnival was organized by Kargil Ice and Snow Sports Club in Collaboration with Letsleh.com from 15th to 20th February at Ice Hockey Rink of Kiss Club at Biamathang, Kargil in which six teams participated.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI Approves Appointment of Sunil Gurbaxani as MD and CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Sunil Gurbaxani as Managing Director and CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank. Currently Gurbaxani is working with Axis Bank. Sunil Gurbaxani will be appointed for a period of three years from the date of taking charge.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw wins EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2019: Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon, has been named as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 on 19 February 2020, at the 21st edition of the EY Entrepreneur of The Year India awards. She will now represent India at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award (WEOY) in Monte Carlo from 4–6 June 2020. Godrej Group Chairman Adi Godrej was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award. Winners were also announced over nine other Categories for the Entrepreneur of the Year Program.

Daily GK Updates - 21st February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Donald Trump’s India Visit: The President of the United States (POTUS) Donald Trump is arriving on a two-day visit to India on 24th February 2020. He will be accompanied by the First Lady of the United States Melania Trump along with other US delegates. As a welcome gesture, the Government of India is hosting an event named as ‘Namaste Trump’ at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and is expected to be similar to the ‘Howdy Modi’ event which was held last year in Houston, US. During this official visit, POTUS will explore the Indian culture and traditions complemented with the scheduled visit to some key places including Taj Mahal at Agra, Sabarmati Ashram as well as Rashtrapati Bhavan.

2. India Will Switch To World’s Cleanest Petrol, Diesel From 1 April 2020: India is all set to switch to the world’s cleanest petrol and diesel from 1st April 2020, as it will move to Bharat Stage VI-compliant fuel from the current BS-IV grades. This will make India join the select league of nations using petrol and diesel containing just 10 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur, whose emission standards are as good as CNG. Also, India will be the first nation to achieve this feat in just three years which neither of any other large economies around the globe have done in such short time. India adopted the BS-IV equivalent fuel in 2017, that had a sulphur content of 50 ppm. Shifting from BS-IV to BS-VI, it took just three years.

Note: Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas: Dharmendra Pradhan.

3. Indian Railways Constructs Country’s Tallest Pier Bridge in Manipur: The Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway Construction Organisation is constructing India’s tallest ever Pier Bridge in Manipur. The 100 metre tall bridge is being constructed across river Makru in Tamenglong District of Manipur. The total cost of the 555 metre-long bridge is approximately Rs.283.5 Crores. The Bridge is a part of 111 km Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal new broad gauge line project of Indian Railways. The project has total 47 tunnels. The longest tunnel is Tunnel No. 12 with a length of 10.280 Km. It will be the longest railway tunnel in the Northeast.

Note: Capital of Manipur: Imphal; Governor: Najma Heptulla; Chief Minister: N. Biren Singh.

4. Bharat-Bangla Tourism Festival Begins In Agartala: The first-ever 2 days long Bharat-Bangla Paryatan Utsav (Tourism Festival) was inaugurated in Agartala, Tripura on 20 February 2020 by Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb. The aim of the festival is to promote tourism in Tripura and apprise the people of the state and neighbouring Bangladesh of the tourist destinations in this state. Seminars, discussions, cultural events, visit the important tourist spots, historical and archaeological sites are the main parts of the two-day friendship festival. The festival was organized by Department of Tourism, Government of Tripura in memories of the contribution of Tripura in 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.

Note: Chief Minister of Tripura: Biplab Kumar Deb; Governor of Tripura: Ramesh Bais.

5. Third Edition of Chitra Bharati Film Festival organised in Ahmedabad: The third edition of the Chitra Bharati Film Festival (CBFF) will be inaugurated at the Gujarat University in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 21 February 2020 by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Bollywood filmmaker Subhash Ghai. The three day festival will conclude on 23 February 2020. Around 140 films falling under four categories, namely short film, documentary, animation and campus film, will be screened at the festival. The aim of this film festival is to establish a ‘Bharatiya’ narrative in Indian cinema. The first edition of the festival was held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in 2016, and the second at Delhi’s Siri Fort Auditorium in 2018.

6. Haryana Goverment to set up Atal Kisan Majdoor canteens: Haryana government will open Atal Kisan – Majdoor canteens across the state. These canteens provide affordable and cheap meals to farmers and labourers at a concessional rate of 10 rupees per plate in all mandis and sugar mills. 25 such canteens will be established this year. This was stated by Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya during his address to the Budget Session of State Assembly. Haryana government will also provide free and concessional travel facility to 41 different categories of residents in the ordinary buses of Haryana Roadways. Under a new initiative, the women and girls belonging to 11 lakh BPL families will be given sanitary napkins free of cost during the year 2020-2021.

Note: Governor of Haryana: Satyadeo Narayan Arya; Chief Minister of Haryana: Manohar Lal Khattar.

7. Sanjay Kothari appointed as new Central Vigilance Commissioner: Retired IAS officer Sanjay Kothari has been selected as the new Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) by a high-powered committee headed by PM Narendra Modi. He was currently serving as the Secretary to the President. Retired IAS officer Bimal Julka has been chosen as the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) in the Central Information Commission. The CVC is an an-corruption watchdog with autonomous status. The CIC is an independent and unconstitutional body to look after the complaints made to it.

Note: Central Vigilance Commission formed: February 1964; Central Vigilance Commission Headquarters: New Delhi.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Pakistan to Remain on the FATF Grey List: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided to keep Pakistan on the FATF Grey List till June 2020. The decision was taken during the group’s meeting and plenary in Paris. The anti-money laundering watchdog decided to keep Pakistan on its Grey List for failure to curb transfer of funds to terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and others.

Note: The headquarters of FATF is in Paris, France; FATF was founded in July 1989.

2. Pakistan Successfully Tested Nuclear-Capable Air-launched Cruise Missile Ra’ad-II: The Pakistan Armed Forces conducted a successful flight test of the air-launched nuclear-capable cruise missile Ra’ad-II on recently to boost the military’s “deterrence capability” on land and at sea. The Ra’ad-II weapon system is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance & navigation systems ensuring of engagement targets with high precision. Ra’ad-II missile (range of 600 km) is planned to be attached to Mirage aircraft or F-16 fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force.

Note: Prime Minister of Pakistan: Imran Khan; President of Pakistan: Arif Alvi; Capital of Pakistan: Islamabad.

3. International Mother Language Day: 21st February: The International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is held annually on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism. The theme of this year’s Mother Language Day is ‘Languages without borders". The day was first announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999 and was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2002.

Note: UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Director-General of UNESCO: Audrey Azoulay; Headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO established: 16 November 1945.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. IPL 2020: The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League 2020 has been announced by BCCI. The tournament will commence on March 29 and will conclude on May 24 after lasting for duration of 57 days. The 8 Teams participating in IPL 2020 are: Chennai Super Kings; Delhi Capitals; Kings XI Punjab; Kolkata Knight Riders; Mumbai Indians; Rajasthan Royals; Royal Challengers Bangalore; Sunrisers Hyderabad;

Note: BCCI President: Sourav Ganguly; Headquarter of BCCI: Mumbai.

2. ESPN India Awards 2019 announced: The ESPN.in Awards are the annual award to recognise the best individual and team performances in Indian sport on a calendar-year basis expect Cricket. Cricket is already covered by ESPNcricinfo’s annual awards, and so is not included in these awards. World Champion shuttler P V Sindhu has won the ESPN’s Female Sportsperson of the Year award for a third consecutive time. Young shooter Saurabh Chaudhary bagged the honour in the male category. ESPN Multi-Sport Awards recognized achievements across 10 categories. List of Winners:

Lifetime Achievement award: Balbir Singh Sr. (Hockey)

Sportsperson of the Year (Female): PV Sindhu (Badminton)

Sportsperson of the Year (Male): Saurabh Chaudhary (Shooting)

Comeback of the Year: Koneru Humpy (Chess)

Emerging Sportsperson of the Year: Deepak Punia (Wrestler)

Coach of the Year: Pullela Gopichand (Badminton)

Team of the Year: Manu Bhaker-Saurabh Chaudhary (Shooting)

Differently-abled Athlete of the Year: Manasi Joshi (Badminton)

Moment of the Year: PV Sindhu’s World Championships final win

The Courage award: Dutee Chand (Athletics)

3. Divya Kakran wins a gold medal at Asian Wrestling Championships: Divya Kakran became only the second Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships defeating Naruha Matsuyuki in New Delhi. Divya won all four bouts in five-wrestler 68 kilogram category, as the competition was fought in the round-robin format. Navjot Kaur had become the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Asian Championships in 2018 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in 65 kilograms.

4. Pragyan Ojha announces retirement from all forms of cricket: Slow left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha has announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket with immediate effect on 21 February 2020. The 33-year-old has played 24 Tests, 18 ODIs and 6 T20Is for India between 2008 and 2013. He last played for India in 2013 during Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell Test against the West Indies in Mumbai.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Centre releases Rs 19,950 cr as GST compensation to states, UTs: The Central Government has released 19,950 crore rupees as GST compensation to states. With this release of GST compensation, the Central Government has released a total of over 1.20 lakh crore rupees towards GST compensation to the states during current fiscal. In the financial year 2018-19, over 69 thousand crore rupees was released to the States and Union Territories as GST compensation.

2. HDFC Bank ties up with Mastercard & SAP concur for spending management services: HDFC Bank has teamed up with Mastercard and SAP Concur for spending management services for the corporate sector. Various services like corporate credit card for business travellers, providing a one-stop solution for payment and expense management during business trips will be offered by HDFC Bank.

Note: Managing Director of Housing Development Finance Corporation HDFC: Aditya Puri.

President of Mastercard South Asia: Porush Singh.

DEFENCE

1. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Lays Foundation Stone of Thal Sena Bhawan at Delhi Cantt: The Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone of Thal Sena Bhavan at Delhi Cantonment, opposite the Manekshaw Centre, on 21 February 2020. The Thal Sena Bhavan is the new headquarter of the Indian Army and will bring all Army HQ offices under one roof, including newly created Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) office. Currently, Indian Army works from eight different locations in the Capital, such as South Block, Sena Bhawan, Hutments Area, RK Puram, Shankar Vihar and other places. Spread over an area of 39 acres, the project is likely to be constructed in five years.

OBITUARIES

1. Leading Industrialist & Former FICCI President V L Dutt Passes Away: The former chief of FICCI, leading industrialist and Executive Chairman of KCP Ltd, Dr VL Dutt, has passed away. Dr Dutt was the President of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) during 1991-92. KCP Ltd is a Chennai-based conglomerate with major interests in heavy engineering, cement, sugar and power generation.

Daily GK Updates - 20th February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union Cabinet Approves Constitution of 22nd Law Commission of India: The Union Cabinet under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the 22nd Law Commission of India for a period of three years, from its date of official constitution. The Commission will consist of maximum 10 members including one full-time chairperson, four full-time members including Member-Secretary, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex-officio Member, Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member, and not more than five part-time Members. Role and Responsibility of the Law Commission is to undertake research in law and review of existing laws in India for making reforms therein and enacting new legislations.

Note: The Commission was originally constituted in 1955 and is re-constituted every three years.

Union Minister of Law and Justice: Ravi Shankar Prasad.

2. Centre Plans to set up Central Consumer Protection Authority in April 2020: The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan has informed that the government will set up Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) by the first week of April 2020. The authority would be set up under the Consumer Protection Act 2019. An investigative wing will be formed under the aegis of the authority. Role and Responsibilities of the CCPA – Carry out inquiries and address issues in matters related to consumer rights, unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements and impose penalties for selling spurious and adulterated products. The rules related to Consumer Protection Act will be finalized within one and half months

Note: Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: Ramvilas Paswan.

3. Cabinet Approves Phase II of Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural): The Centre has approved the second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), which will be implemented on a mission mode between 2020-21 and 2024-25. An estimated budget of Rs 52,497 crore has been allocated for the project, to be shared between the centre and the state. The Phase II will focus on Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF Plus), which includes ODF sustainability and solid and liquid waste management (SLWM). Fund sharing pattern between the Centre and States will be respectively as: (1) 90:10 for North-Eastern States and Himalayan States and UT of J&K; (2) 60:40 for other States; (3) 100:0 for other Union Territories

4. Prakash Javadekar Releases Reference Annuals Books ‘India 2020’ and ‘Bharat 2020’: The Union Minister of Information and  Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar released the Reference Annual Books ‘India 2020’ and ‘Bharat 2020’ in New Delhi on 19 February 2020 along with the e-version of the year books. A Reference Annual is a comprehensive information about the country’s activities, progress and achievements of various Central Government Ministries, Departments and Organisations during the year in different fields. The book deal with all aspects of development, ranging from rural to urban, industry to infrastructure, science and technology, art and culture, economy, health, defence, education and mass communication. The Publications Division of the Information and Broadcasting ministry compiles the Reference Annual every year.

5. Services of Kashi Mahakal Express begins from Varanasi: The services of Kashi Mahakal Express i.e. the 3rd private train of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) begins from Varanasi. The train service will link the three Jyotirlinga: Omkareshwar near Indore, Mahakaleshwar, in Ujjain and Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi. This is also the first overnight journey train run by IRCTC. The train will cover 1,131 km between Varanasi and Indore via Lucknow and a distance of 1,102 km between Varanasi and Indore via Prayagraj in approximately 19 hours.

Note: Chief Regional Manager of IRCTC: Ashwini Shrivastava; Headquarters: New Delhi.

Union Minister of Railway: Piyush Goyal.

6. Arunachal Pradesh celebrates 34th Statehood Day: Arunachal Pradesh is celebrating its 34th Statehood Day on 20th February. Arunachal Pradesh became a full-fledged state on February 20, 1987. Till 1972, it was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA). It gained the Union Territory status on January 20, 1972, and was renamed as Arunachal Pradesh. On 20th February 1987, Arunachal Pradesh became a full-fledged State.

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

7. New Delhi hosts Symposium on Emerging Opportunities for Indian Textiles and Crafts: New Delhi hosts the Symposium on Emerging Opportunities for Indian Textiles and Crafts which was chaired by Union Minister of Textiles and Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani. Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles, Government of India organized the Symposium on Emerging Opportunities for Indian Textiles and Crafts. The Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani stressed on the need of diversification of the present opportunities along with increasing domestic capabilities. She also stressed on making India a leader in textiles sector.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. USD 10bn Jeff Bezos Earth Fund Launched to fight climate change: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has announced the launch of a $10 billion fund named ‘Bezos Earth Fund’ to combat the effects of climate change. Bezos Earth Fund will be used to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet. This global initiative will provide fund to scientists, activists, NGOs or any such effort that offers a real possibility to help preserve and protect the natural world.

2. 70th National Democracy Day celebrated by Nepal: The government of Nepal has observed the 70th National Democracy Day on 19th February. Nepal celebrates the National Democracy Day every year on Falgun 7 to commemorate the attainment of democracy after the abolition of the 104-year long autocratic Rana Regime. In 2007 Bikram Sambat, on this day, democracy was established in the Himalayan nation ending over a century old autocratic Rana regime. Prime Minister Oli paid tribute to the martyrs who had sacrificed their lives in the struggle for democracy. A contingent of Nepal Army presented a guard of honour to President Bidya Devi Bhandari and cultural processions of various communities were also displayed.

Note: Nepal Prime minister: KP Sharma Oli; President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari; Capital: Kathmandu; Currency: Nepalese rupee.

3. Hindi becomes 3rd most spoken language in the World: Hindi is the third most spoken language of the world in 2019 with 615 million speakers, according to the 22nd edition of the world language database Ethnologue, published by U.S.-based, Christian non-profit organization Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). English is the topmost spoken language in the world with 1,132 million speakers. Chinese Mandarin is at the second position with 1,117 million speakers. Bangla is the 7th most spoken language of the world having 228 million native speakers. The 2020 database report covers 7,111 living languages of the world.

4. World Day of Social Justice: 20 February: The United Nations’ (UN) World Day of Social Justice is observed on February 20 every year. Its aim is to recognize the need to promote and tackle issues of social justice such as poverty, exclusion, gender equality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections and focus on the goal of achieving full employment and support for social integration. 2020 Theme: “Closing the Inequalities Gap to Achieve Social Justice”.

Note: The United Nations General Assembly has decided to observe 20 February annually, approved on 26 November 2007 and starting in 2009, as the World Day of Social Justice.

5. Dhaka hosts the Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment: The High Commission of India in Bangladesh organized the Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment in Dhaka which was attended by 12 Indian firms. Aim of the seminar was to pursue further cooperation between India and Bangladesh in the field of defence technologies.

Note: Prime Minister of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina; Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka.

High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh: Riva Ganguly Das.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. India will host AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2022: India has been selected to host the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. This was announced by the Women’s Committee of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 19 February 2020. India is the first South Asian country to host the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup. Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan were the other competing candidates.

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

2. Indian Wrestlers Bags Five medals in Greco-Roman events of 2020 Asian Wrestling Championships: Indian wrestlers have won five medals that includes one gold and four bronze from the Greco Roman category of the Asian Wrestling Championships 2020 which was held at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium, Indira Gandhi Arena, New Delhi on 18 and 19 February 2020. The lone gold came from Indian Wrestling Champion Sushil Kumar in 87 kg category by defeating Azat Salidinov from Kyrgyzstan. The bronze medal came from: Arjun Halakurki -55kg; Ashu -67kg; Aditya Kundu -72kg; Hardeep Singh -97kg

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SBI signs MoU with Govt of Gujarat to facilitate MSME loans:  The government of Gujarat has signed an MoU with State Bank of India (SBI) which aims to facilitate approval of loans to entrepreneurs in the MSME sector with ease and within a short time-frame. As per the MoU, the bank will provide theoretical approval to the project within 15 days of making an application.

Note: Gujarat CM: Vijay Rupani; Governor of Gujarat: Acharya Dev Vrat; Capital: Gandhinagar.

OBITUARIES

1. Computer scientist Larry Tesler passes away: An icon of early computing ‘Larry Tesler’ (invented 'cut, copy and paste') passed away. Mr Tesler was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1945, and studied at Stanford University in California. Mr Tesler (74-years) started working in Silicon Valley in the early 1960s, at a time when computers were inaccessible to the vast majority of people.

Daily GK Updates - 19th February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. IGI Airport, Delhi becomes India’s first single-use plastic-free airport: GMR-led Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has announced that the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi has become free of single-use plastic usage, becoming the first airport in India to achieve the milestone. The initiative is in line with the Indian PM’s vision to abolish all single-use plastic from India by 2022. The Confederation of Indian Industry-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development (CII-ITC CESD), known for supporting business communities toward achieving sustainability, certified DIAL for its voluntary and successful implementation of single-use plastic-free airport measures within IGI Airport’s operations.

2. Ministry of Textile Organises KALA KUMBH –Handicrafts Exhibitions: The Ministry of Textiles is organising Kala Kumbh – Handicrafts Thematic Exhibition in various parts of the country from 14 to 23 February 2020 to promote Geographical Indication (GI) crafts and heritage of India. The exhibition is being sponsored by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). It will be held in Bengaluru and Mumbai from 14 Feb to 23 Feb while, it will also be organized in Kolkata and Chennai in March 2020.

Note: Union Minister of Textiles: Smriti Zubin Irani.

3. Delhi Police integrates “Himmat Plus app” with Uber for passenger’s safety: The Delhi Police has integrated its “Himmat Plus App” with the app of ride hailing company “Uber” to ensure safety and security of people travelling in cabs. The Himmat Plus App was launched at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport. This app will give the real-time location of a driver or a rider during emergency. In response to it, Police Control Room (PCR) van will be assigned to provide assistance to the rider.

The integration of the App will enhance the location services and travel information to save the lives of people travelling in cabs. The initiative will also improve the efficiency of the Delhi Police to overcome the emergency situations. When a rider scans the QR card, rider can access a driver’s details and vehicle information on the Himmat App. With the help of the app, rider can directly report their journey to the police.

4. Soil Health Card Day: 19 February 2020: Every year India observes the Soil Health Card Day on 19 February to commemorate the launch of the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme, and create awareness about the benefits of the scheme. 2020 marks the fifth year of the launch of the SHC Scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme on 19th February, 2015 at Suratgarh in Rajasthan. The scheme aims at issuing soil health cards to farmers every two years so as to provide a basis to address nutritional deficiencies in soil. The scheme ensures additional income to farmers by an increase in yields and it also promotes sustainable farming.

Note: Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: Narendra Singh Tomar.

5. Two new bird species found during Great Backyard Bird count in Ladakh: In Union Territory of Ladakh, two new bird species (Red-throated Thrush and Plumbeous Water Redstart) have been found during the Great Backyard Bird count. Common Rose Finch and Grey Haron species have arrived in Ladakh region early than usual. Three-Group birders and wildlife experts have counted and recorded a total of 87 various species of birds in Ladakh. The details will be recorded in the eBird India website for further studies.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Ashraf Ghani Wins Afghanistan Presidential Elections: The independent Election Commission of Afghanistan has announced Ashraf Ghani as the winner of the Presidential elections of Afghanistan. He has won the Presidential elections of Afghanistan for the 2nd time. Mr. Ghani won 9,23,592 votes (50.64%), compared to his main challenger and the country’s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah who received 7,20,841 votes (39.52%).

Note: Capital of Afghanistan: Kabul; Currency: Afghan Afghani.

2. Bangladesh to sign Free Trade Agreement with Nepal: Bangladesh and Nepal have agreed to sign a Free Trade Agreement to enhance trade between the two countries. Bangladesh has also agreed to allow Nepal to use it Saidpur airport located in its northernmost district of Nilphamari close to Nepal. Bangladesh exports commodities worth $38 million to Nepal and imports goods worth around 18 million dollars. Nepal will be able to provide 500 MW of hydroelectric power to Bangladesh once the Indian Company GMR completes its project in Nepal.

Note: Prime Minister of Bangladesh: Sheikh Hasina; Capital: Dhaka; Currency: Taka.

Prime minister of Nepal: KP Sharma Oli; President of Nepal: Bidhya Devi Bhandari; Capital of Nepal: Kathmandu; Currency of Nepal: Nepalese rupee.

3. UK announces new points-based visa system: UK Home Secretary, Priti Patel has announced the launch of Britain's new points-based visa system. It aims at attracting the "brightest and the best" from the world, including from India. Ms Patel, the senior-most Indian-origin Cabinet minister said, the new system will cut down numbers of cheap, low-skilled migrating workers coming to the country. The new system will come into force from January 1, 2021, at the end of the transition period after UK's exit from the European Union (EU) last month.

The new post-Brexit system, which will apply equally to the EU and non-EU countries like India, is based on assigning points for specific skills, qualifications, salaries and professions, with visas only awarded to those who gain enough points.

4. EAM to inaugurate Indian Pavilion at 70th Berlin International Film Festival: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will inaugurate Indian Pavilion at 70th Berlin International Film Festival in Germany on 20th February. It aims to establish multiple international collaborations in the space of distribution, production, filming in India and development technology through its participation at Berlinale-2020. India Pavilion will provide a platform to popularize Indian cinema in the overseas market and facilitate new business opportunities.

This year for the festival, three Indian feature films, as well as one short documentary film, have been selected. These are Pushpendra Singh’s Laipla Aur Satt Geet, Prateek Vats’ Eeb Allay Ooo!, Akshay Indikar’s – Sthalpuran and Ekta Mittal’s short documentary – Gumnaam Din. Information and Broadcasting Ministry in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry, CII is participating in the event.

Note: Capital of Germany: Berlin; Currency of Germany: Euro; Chancellor of Germany: Angela Merkel.

5. Australia appoints Barry O’Farrell as new high commissioner to India: Australia has appointed Barry O’Farrell as the next high commissioner to India. He will succeed Harinder Sidhu who has been in the office since 2016. O’Farrell served in the New South Wales Parliament from 1995-2015. He has served as NSW’s special envoy for India and made a significant contribution as the deputy chair of the Australia India Council Board. India is a significant trading partner of Australia, with 2-way investment valued of 30.7 billion dollars & around 700,000 people of Indian Origin were living in Australia.

Note: Australia Capital: Canberra; Currency: Australian Dollar; Prime Minister of Australia: Scott Morrison.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. India to host FIFA U-17 Women’s Football World Cup 2020: Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched an event to unveil the five host cities for the FIFA Under-17 Women's Football World Cup. The matches of the world cup will be held in five cities including Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Kolkata and Navi Mumbai. These cities will play host to 16 teams which will compete across 32 matches to lift the coveted title. The official slogan - Kick off the Dream - was also unveiled during the event.

Note: FIFA Women’s Chief Football Officer: Sarai Bareman; President of All India Football Federation: Praful Patel;

Headquarters of All India Football Federation: Dwarka, Delhi.

2. AIFF receives ‘Grassroots Charter Bronze Level’ membership: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has received the Asian Football Confederation’s “Grassroots Charter Bronze Level” membership. This declaration accords AIFF the right to promote its basic-level events and activities with the support and recognition of the AFC in accordance with the applicable terms of the AFC Grassroots Charter.

Note: Asian Football Confederation headquarter-Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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

3. India to host the Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup 2021: The Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup 2021 will be held in India as per the announcement made by International Hockey Federation (FIH) at Lausanne in Switzerland. This is the second time that India will be hosting the prestigious tournament which was held in 2016.

Note: Chief executive Officer of International Hockey Federation (FIH): Thierry Weil; President of Hockey India: MohdMushtaque Ahmad.

4. Australia’s James Duckworth Clinches 2020 Bengaluru Open Tennis Tournament: The 2020 Bengaluru Open was the third edition of the professional tennis tournament and part of the 2020 ATP Challenger Tour held in Bangalore, India.

Winners are as follows:

Singles: James Duckworth (Australia) defeated Benjamin Bonzi (France)

Doubles: Purav Raja / Ramkumar Ramanathan defeated Matthew Ebden (Australia) / Leander Paes

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. JSW Steel gets NCLAT's approval to acquire Bhushan Power: The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal has approved the Rs 19,700 crore resolution plan of JSW Steel to take over the bankrupt Bhushan Power and Steel. The approval comes with the immunity sought by the new owner against investigations being carried out against the erstwhile promoters of Bhushan Power and Steel. This comes after the government recently amended Section 32A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.

Note: Chairman of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal: Justice Sudhansu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya; Headquarters of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal: New Delhi.

JSW steel Founded: 1982; JSW steel Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; JSW steel Founder: Sajjan Jindal.

2. India becomes 5th largest economy: World Population Review report: As per a report by a US-based think tank World Population Review, India’s economy is the fifth-largest in the world with a GDP of $2.94 trillion, overtaking the UK and France in 2019 to take the fifth spot. The size of the UK economy is $2.83 trillion and that of France is $2.71 trillion. The report further said that in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, India’s GDP (PPP) is $10.51 trillion, exceeding that of Japan and Germany. Due to India’s high population, India’s GDP per capita is $2,170 (for comparison, the US is $62,794).

OBITUARIES

1. Manchester United and Northern Ireland great Harry Gregg Passes Away: Northern Ireland professional footballer former goalkeeper of Manchester United Harry Gregg died at the age of 87. He is a widely famous as the hero of the Munich air crash, on 6 February 1958, in which 23 people died, including eight of Manchester United’s teammate. He rescued a mother and her baby daughter, team-mates Bobby Charlton and Jackie Blanchflower and manager Matt Busby from the wreckage of the plane.

2. Women’s Golf Legend Mickey Wright Passes Away: American professional golfer Mickey Wright often described as the greatest woman golfer of all time, has passed away at Florida in the United States. She was 85. Her haul of 13 major victories included four US Women's Open titles and four US Women's PGA Championships. Wright had accumulated 82 titles of Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour titles during a professional career which stretched from 1954 to 1969.