Dailly GK Updates - 4th March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 108 Indian Science Congress to be held in Pune in January 2021: The Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) announced that the 108th edition of the Indian Science Congress is scheduled to be held in Pune in January 2021. This will be the fourth time that the city will host the prestigious meet in the last 100 years. The event will be held at Symbiosis International University’s Lavale campus between January 3 and 7. Theme of the 108th Indian Science Congress will be ‘Science and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment’. It focuses on economic growth, environmental protection and social inclusion of all communities using science and technology. It will also see deliberations on providing equal opportunities to women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) while achieving sustainable development. Dr Vijay Laxmi Saxena has been elected general president of the Indian Science Congress, 2021.

Note: Indian Science Congress Association President: K.S.Rangappa; Indian Science Congress Association Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal.

2. Ajay Bhushan Pandey appointed as the new Finance Secretary: Revenue secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey has been appointed as the new Finance Secretary of India replacing Rajiv Kumar by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Ajay Kumar, IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre (1984 batch), had earlier worked as chief executive officer of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the organization behind the Aadhaar.

Note: Union Minister of Finance: Nirmala Sitharaman.

3. Sudhanshu Pandey takes charge as new CMD of MMTC Ltd: Sudhanshu Pandey has assumed additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director of MMTC Ltd, India’s largest public sector trading body. Presently he is serving as Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry MMTC (former Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation) is India’s single largest international trading company for product lines like minerals, metals and precious metals.

MMTC Headquarters: New Delhi; MMTC Established: 26 September 1963.

4. Bureau of Energy Efficiency launched Star Rating programme in New Delhi: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), an agency of the Government of India, under the Ministry of Power, has launched Star Rating Programme for Light Commercial Air Conditioners (LCAC) and Deep Freezers, in its 19th foundation day in New Delhi. BEE also launched Urja Dakshata Information Tool (UDIT) (www.udit.beeindia.gov.in) developed in association with US (United States) based World Resources Institute (WRI), to facilitate a database on energy efficiency.

Note: Bureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE) Director-General: Shri Abhay Bakre; Bureau of Energy Efficiency Headquarters: New Delhi; Bureau of Energy Efficiency Parent organization: Ministry of Power.

5. ICAR inks MoU with Patanjali Bio Research Institute: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Patanjali Bio Research Institute, Haridwar. As per the MoU, the specific work plans will be developed to work on the collaborative research programmes in the areas of national interest related to sustainable agriculture development suitable to different agro-ecologies of the country.

Note: Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and President ICAR: Narendra Singh Tomar; Headquarters of ICAR: New Delhi; ICAR founded: 16 July 1929.

6. National safety day: 4 March: National Safety Day is celebrated on 4 March to commemorate the foundation day of National Safety Council of India. This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the safety measures to prevent mishaps and accidents due to lack of awareness. The Campaign is aimed at renewing the commitment of employees and the general public to work safely throughout the year. The ultimate objective of the Campaign is to ensure integration of OSH in work culture and lifestyle.

7. National Security Day: March 4: In India, March 4 is celebrated as National Security Day (Rashtriya Suraksha Diwas) every year. The day aims to show gratitude to all the security forces, including policemen, para-military forces, commandos, guards, army officers, and other persons involved in security, who sacrifice their life in maintaining the peace and security of the people of the country. 4 March also marks the day when National Security Council (NSC) of India was established.

8. Grand Rangotsav in Mathura Vrindavan begins: Grand Rangotsav showcasing the unique colours of holi has began with the famous Laddoo Holi in Mathura Vrindavan followed by Latthmar Holi, Chadi Holi and foolon ki holi. On this occasion, various Ghats along with 35 temples will be be illuminated through "coloured concept lighting" in Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon, including Krishna Janmabhoomi, Dwarkadhish Temple and intersections in the towns.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian-American Seema Verma included in US Coronavirus Task Force: Indian-American health policy consultant Seema Verma has been appointed as one of the key members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force constituted by US President Donald Trump. This task force is constituted to combat the deadly disease that has claimed six lives in the country and infected over 90 others. The task force led by Secretary, Health and Human Services Alex Azar. US Vice President Mike Pence announced the appointment of Seema Verma, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Note: Capital of USA: Washington, D.C.; Currency of USA: US Dollar.

2. World Bank announces 12 billion USD aid to fight coronavirus: The World Bank announced 12 billion USD to assist countries that are grappling with economic impacts of coronavirus. The virus has reached 60 countries so far. World Bank President David Malpass announced that the fund can be used for medical equipment or health services and will include expertise and policy advice helping in fast and effective recovery.

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

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. All India Police Athletic Championship began in Haryana: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated 68th edition of All India Police Athletic Championship began at Bhanu in Panchkula District of Haryana. The 68th edition of All India Police Athletic Championship aims to enhance India’s performance in the Olympics scheduled to be held in 2028. To achieve this feat, the Government of India has identified more than 15,000 children and has also commenced their training in 284 Sports Authority of India training centres across the country.

2. Shafali Verma gained the top spot in the ICC women's T20I rankings: Teen sensation Shafali Verma rises to top in ICC women’s T20 rankings, riding on her stellar run at the ongoing World Cup scoring a total of 161 runs in four innings. She has become only the second India player after Mithali Raj to top the women's T20 International rankings. The 16-year-old Shafali has replaced New Zealand's Suzie Bates, who had been at the top of batting charts since October 2018.

3. BharatPe has signed up 11 Indian cricket players as brand endorsers: Fintech platform ‘BharatPe’ has signed up 11 Indian national level cricket players as its brand ambassadors. The players comprise Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Sanju Samson, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Shubhman Gill. The Delhi-based platform had brought actor Salman Khan as brand ambassador last year.

4. Jaydev Unadkat broke 21-year-old record in Ranji Trophy: Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat broke a 21-year-old record in history of Ranji Trophy to emerge as the highest-wicket taking pacer in a single season. With his 10 wickets in the semis, three in the first innings and seven in the second, Unadkat took his tally of wickets to 65 in the 2019/20 season as he surpassed Karnataka's Dodda Ganesh who had 62 wickets in 1998/99.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBL Bank inks partnership with Zomato to launch co-branded credit cards: India private sector bank, RBL Bank (formerly known as Ratnakar Bank ltd) inks partnership with Online food ordering and delivery app Zomato to launch co-branded credit cards, powered by Mastercard. This partnership will help the online food delivery platform further cement its position in India’s dining market by offering benefits such as Zomato credits on purchases, and increase the reach of its flagship membership program Zomato Gold. The card that starts with an annual membership of ₹500 (plus taxes) for the basic edition will also offer a complimentary Zomato Gold membership. The card comes under two variants, the basic Edition Classic card and a more premium Edition Card.

Note: MD & CEO of RBL Bank: Mr Vishwavir Ahuja; Headquarters of RBL Bank: Mumbai, Maharashtra

Headquarters of Zomato: Gurugram, Haryana; CEO of Zomato: Deepinder Goyal.

2. Paytm subsidiary gets IRDAI’s brokerage licence to offer insurance products: Indian digital payments platform Paytm’s subsidiary, Paytm Insurance Broking, has received the brokerage licence from the Insurance Regulatory and Authority of India (IRDAI). Paytm will now offer insurance in various categories namely automotive, health and life. In addition to this, Paytm customers can also get policy management and claim settlement at select merchant points.

Note: The parent organization of Paytm: One97 Communications; Headquarters of Paytm: Noida, Uttar Pradesh; President of Paytm: Amit Nayyar.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. IIT Mandi signs deal with NABARD for setting up FPOs: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi & Enabling Women of Kamand (EWOK) Society has inked a tripartite deal with the National Bank For Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for setting up three Farmer Producer Organization in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. NABARD has sanctioned an amount of Rs 35 lakhs to EWOK Society and IIT Mandi for 3 FPOs to be established in the next 3 years.

Note: NABARD Formation: July 12, 1982; NABARD Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; NABARD Chairman: Harsh Kumar Bhanwala.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. President Kovind confers 61st Lalit Kala Akademi awards: On March 4, 2020, President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, conferred the 61st annual Lalit Kala Akademi Awards on 15 meritorious artists at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship is the highest honour for the fine arts in India, conferred by the Government of India to eminent artists for their lifetime achievements in the field of visual arts. It is awarded by the Lalit Kala Akademi, India’s National Academy of Art.

Below is the complete list of winners of 61st annual National Lalit Kala Akademi Awards:

S. No.	Award Winner	State
1	Anoop Kumar Manzukhi Gopi	Thrissoor, Kerala
2	David Malakar	Kolkata, West Bengal
3	Devendra Kumar Khare	Vadodara, Gujarat
4	Dinesh Pandya	Mumbai, Maharashtra
5	Faruque Ahmed Halder	Kolkata, West Bengal
6	Hari Ram Kumbhawat	Jaipur, Rajasthan
7	Keshari Nandan Prasad	Jaipur, Rajasthan
8	Mohan Kumar T	Bengaluru, Karnataka
9	Ratan Krishna Saha	Mumbai, Maharashtra
10	Sagar Vasant Kamble	Mumbai, Maharashtra
11	Satwinder Kaur	New Delhi
12	Sunil Thiruvayur	Ernakulam, Kerala
13	Tejaswi Narayan Sonawane	Solapur, Maharashtra
14	Yashpal Singh	Delhi
15	Yashwant Singh	Delhi

OBITUARIES

1. Buddhist religious leader in Bangladesh Suddhananda Mahathero passes away: The head of the Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha Sanghanayaka Suddhananda Mahathero passed away in Dhaka. He was a revered figure among the Buddhists of Bangladesh. He is known for running many social service activities particularly the orphanage at Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery which takes care of more than 350 children. Government of Bangladesh awarded the Ekushey Award to him in 2012.

Daily GK Updates - 3rd March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Week-long Ekam Fest for Divyang artisans and entrepreneurs begins in New Delhi: National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation (NHFDC) under the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry has organised “EKAM exhibition-cum-Fair” in New Delhi from from March 2 to March 9, 2020. The fest is organised to promote craftsmanship and products of Divyang artisans and entrepreneurs. EKAM stands for Entrepreneurship, Knowledge, Awareness, Marketing. The fair was inaugurated by Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawarchand Gehlot. EKAM Fest is a platform for promoting entrepreneurship and knowledge among Divyangjan community, generating awareness among society about potentialities of PwDs and providing a major marketing opportunity to PwDs entrepreneurs. Around 82 Divyang entrepreneurs, artisans and organizations from 17 States and Union Territories are displaying products and various crafts.

2. Government Launches “Fuel Humsafar” Mobile App For Doorstep Diesel Delivery: Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar has launched a mobile application named ‘Fuel Humsafar’ for delivery of diesel at doorsteps of Housing societies, hotels and hospitals in the national capital region. The app will be used for the fuel delivery services to housing societies, hotels, hospitals, malls, construction sites, industries, banquets and other bulk buyers of diesel in various NCR cities, including Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad, Hapur, Kundli, Manesar, and Bahadurgarh. Humsafar has 12 bowser tankers in varying capacity from 4 kilolitres to 6 kilolitres and an experienced team of 35 people.

Note: Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas: Dharmendra Pradhan

3. Government Declares National Chambal sanctuary as eco-sensitive zone: The Central Government has declared the National Chambal Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh as an eco-sensitive zone. This means that now the construction of the commercial establishments such as hotels or resorts will be prohibited within an area of zero to two kilometres from the sanctuary, to help maintain distance between the human settlement and the sanctuary. The sanctuary is located along river Chambal which is the cleanest river and harbours fresh water dolphin, nine species of turtle, 75% endangered species of Gharial and 180 species of migratory birds. The National Chambal Sanctuary is spread over an area of 435 sq km spanning three districts of Madhya Pradesh namely Sheopur, Morena and Bhind district. It lies at the tripoint of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

4. Two names submitted for inclusion in the World Heritage List for the year 2: Government of India has submitted two nomination dossiers namely 'Dholavira: A Harappan City' and 'Monuments and Forts of Deccan Sultanate' for inclusion in the World Heritage List for the year 2020. Dholavira is an archaeological site at Khadirbet in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District, in Gujarat. The Deccan sultanates were five dynasties that ruled late medieval kingdoms, namely, Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar.

5. Arunachal Assembly implements e-Vidhan project: The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly went paperless with the implementation of e-Vidhan, a project under the Digital India programme. Now, MLAs can access every information regarding the Assembly, see the list of business, read questions and other documents pertaining to House proceedings through their laptops & tablet. Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is the ''nodal ministry'' for the implementation of e-Vidhan in all the 31 states and UT of the country.

6. Antar Rashtriya Yog Mahotsav begins in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: Antar Rashtriya Yog Mahotsav has been inaugurated in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Yoga teachers and practitioners from eleven countries are taking part in this week-long event. The ‘Yog Mahotsav’ is held in Rishikesh every year from March 1 to March 7.

Note: International Yoga Day celebrates across the globe on 21st of June.

Chief Minister of Uttarakhand: Trivendra Singh Rawat; Governor: Baby Rani Maurya.

7. Historic city square in Jammu renamed as ‘Bharat Mata Chowk’: The historic City Chowk, the commercial hub in old Jammu renamed as ‘Bharat Mata Chowk’. A resolution in this regard was passed by the General house of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), after which it was done. The renaming of the chowk drew, people urged the JMC to focus more on development and cleanliness rather than changing names. Every year people are hoisting the tricolour on Republic and Independence days in this chowk. The starting point of the circular road (Panjtirthi in the city) was named by the JMC as ‘Atal Chowk’.

8. 3-day Krishi Vigyan Mela organised in New Delhi: 3-day Krishi Vigyan Mela has been organised in New Delhi from March 1-3, 2020 by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the event and called for retention of talent in agriculture. The Mela will demonstrate Rabi crops, protected cultivation of flowers and vegetables, display and sale of farm equipments developed by ICAR-IARI and other agricultural Institutes. Participating farmers as well as the visitors of the mela will be facilitated with the free health check-up during the occasion.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. China Takes Presidency of UN Security Council for March 2020: China has taken over as president of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the month of March 2020 from Belgium. China will make effort to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with all parties to ensure that the council fulfills its responsibility and plays a constructive role in maintaining international peace and security. The presidency of the Council rotates among each of its 15 members every month, following the English alphabetical order of the Member States names.

Note: China is the permanent member of UN.

The Security Council was established by the UN Charter in 1945 with the responsibility to maintain international peace and security. The council has 15 members (5 permanent 10 non-permanent members).

2. India sign 40 million USD defence deal with Armenia: India bagged a deal to supply 4 indigenously built radars (capable of locating weapons) to Armenia in Europe. The deal was worth 40 million USD. The move by GoI is to boost the defence sector of the country. The deal is a major achievement for the ‘Make in India’ programme in the defence sector. Under the deal, India will supply 4 SWATHI weapon locating radars. The weapon is to be developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Armenians had conducted trials of systems offered by Russia and Poland but they approved the Indian system, which was developed by DRDO. India began the supply of the equipment to Armenia.

Note: Capital of Armenia: Yerevan; Currency of Armenia: Armenian dram.

3. World Wildlife Day: March 3: World Wildlife Day is observed globally on 3rd of March every year to celebrate the beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora present on earth. The World Wildlife Day also raise awareness about the benefits that the conservation of wild fauna and flora provides to people living on earth. The theme of World Wildlife Day 2020 is “Sustaining all life on Earth” and the year 2020 is known as “biodiversity super year.” The theme of World Wildlife Day 2020 aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 1, 12, 14 and 15 of the United Nations.

4. World Hearing Day: 3 March: World Hearing Day is observed globally on 3rd of March every year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. The theme of 2020 World Hearing Day is “Hearing for life. Don’t let hearing loss limit you”. It highlights that timely and effective intervention will ensure that people with hearing loss can achieve their full potential.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. 1st Khelo India University Games concludes in Bhubaneswar: The first-ever Khelo India University Games concluded in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on 1 March 2020. The tournament started on 21 February 2020 at Kalinga Institure of Industrial Technology (KIIT) premises in Odisha. Panjab University, Chandigarh emerged as the champions by winning 46 medals including 17 gold, 19 silver, and 10 bronze. Savitribai Phule Pune University claimed the second position with 37 medals including 17 gold, 11 silver, and 9 bronze medals. Punjabi University, Patiala stood third with 33 medals including 13 gold, 6 silver, and 14 bronze medals. A total of 113 universities took part in the games.

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

2. Tasnim Mir and Mansi Singh wins bronze medal at Yonex Dutch Junior International 2020: Indian shuttlers Tasnim Mir and Mansi Singh have won a bronze medal each in the girls’ singles event at the Yonex Dutch Junior International 2020. The event is being held in Haarlem, Netherlands. Meanwhile, India’s rising stars Aakarshi Kashyap and Anupama Upadhyaya won gold and silver medals respectively in the girls singles at the Kenya International held in Thika, Kenya.

3. Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament 2020 postponed due to Coronavirus: The 29th edition of the prestigious Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament has been postponed from April 2020 to September 2020 due to novel coronavirus outbreak across the world. The tournament was scheduled to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia from April 11 to 18. Now it will be held from September 24 to October 3. The Azlan Shah Cup is an annual men’s international invitational field hockey tournament held in Malaysia. The participating teams in this edition's tournament were Australia, Canada, Japan, hosts Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea. The Azlan Shah Cup is the latest sporting event to be affected by the deadly coronavirus, which has claimed more than 3,000 lives and infected 86,000 people. India is a regular at the event, was not supposed to participate this year.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Fitch cuts India’s FY20 GDP forecast to 4.9% and for FY21 to 5.4%: Fitch Solutions has cut its forecast for India’s GDP growth rate for FY20 to 4.9% from previous 5.1%. For FY21, Fitch Solution has predicted India’s GDP growth at 5.4%.

Daily GK Updates - 2nd March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Productivity Congress 2020 to be held in Bengaluru in May: The 19th edition of the World Productivity Congress (WPC) is scheduled to be held in Bengaluru from May 6 to May 8, 2020. World Productivity Congress is the world’s largest convention for productivity development that shape future productivity growth. The theme of 19th World Productivity Congress is “Industry 4.0 – Innovation and Productivity”. The theme represents the Fourth Industrial Revolution that amalgamates the capabilities of humans and machines. The mega future-shaping convention is organised by Montreal headquartered World Confederation of Productivity Science (WCPS) since 1969. India is hosting the conference after a gap of 45 years. Before this, the country hosted the WPC in the year 1974.

2. Amit Shah inaugurates the campus of NSG Regional Hub at Kolkata: Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the National Security Guard (NSG) Regional Hub campus at Kolkata, West Bengal. It aims to provide adequate facilities to the brave NSG jawans. NSG also referred to as "The Black cats", combats terrorist activities with a view to protecting states against internal disturbances. It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

3. Tourism Minister launches Incredible India website in New Delhi: The Minister of State (IC) for Tourism & Culture, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel has launched the multilingual Incredible India website in New Delhi. Incredible India website is a promotional website with an aim to project India as a ‘must-visit’ destination across the globe. Now, the website comprises of a plethora of information around 165 destinations, 2700+ pages, 28 States + 9 UTs along with multiple attractions.

4. AAI & Tripura Govt sign MoU for construction of equipment hiring centers: Airport Authority of India & Tripura State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of 6 equipment hiring centres in Manu Block under the Dhalai District, Tripura. The project has been taken by the Airport Authority as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility scheme. The equipment hiring centres, equipment related to agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries will be kept. The types of equipment will be rented out to the needy farmers, Self Help Groups and to any other needy at a minimal cost. The project will be benefited to 6000 families.

Note: The Chairman of Airport Authority of India: Arvind Singh; Headquarters of Airport Authority of India: New Delhi.

5. ISHRAE organizes ACREX India 2020 in Greater Noida: Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers has organized “ACREX India 2020” at India Expo Mart Limited, Greater Noida. “ACREX India 2020” is largest exhibition of South Asia on Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Industry. This was the 21st edition of the exhibition which was witnessed by visitors from over 25 countries. The 21st edition of the exhibition focuses on indoor air quality, sustainable buildings and HVAC technology. The exhibition also acted as a valuable stage for all players which are connected to the HVAC industry. A live exhibit titled “Shudh Vaayu Deergh Aayu” (Trans: Clean air, Long life) was also exhibited with regard to indoor air quality and clean air.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Afghanistan's Taliban, US sign agreement aimed at ending war: US officials and Taliban representatives have signed an agreement after months of negotiations in Doha that is aimed at ending the United States's longest war, fought in Afghanistan since 2001. The US and NATO troops would withdraw from Afghanistan within 14 months. About 14,000 US troops and approximately 17,000 troops from 39 NATO allies and partner countries are stationed in Afghanistan in a non-combatant role.

2. Training of Nepal’s Judicial Officers begins in India: The Judicial Officers from Supreme Court of Nepal has started their training programme at the National Law University, Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The first batch of 30 Judicial Officers will be trained on “Case Management and Court Management”. The course on “Case Management and Court Management” tailored for the Nepalese judicial officers is fully backed by the Government of India under Ministry of External Affairs’ Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme.

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

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. 2020 Asia Cup Cricket Tournament Shifted from Pakistan to Dubai: The 15th edition of the biennial event of 2020 Asia Cup cricket tournament has been shifted from Pakistan. The tournament will now be held in Dubai, to be played in the T20 format in September 2020. The change of the venue has been confirmed by President of BCCI Sourav Ganguly. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were granted the rights to host the tournament by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in December 2018. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested that the PCB change the event’s venue due to ongoing political tension between the two countries. BCCI made it clear that the Indian cricket team will not be participating in the tournament if Pakistan hosts it.

2. India pulls out of shooting world cup in Cyprus citing Novel Corona virus threat: AIRIndia has pulled out of next month's shooting World Cup in Cyprus, citing the Novel Corona virus threat there. The shotgun world cup, recognized by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), is scheduled to be held in Nicosia from 4th to 13th of March.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. GST collection crosses Rs one lakh crore mark in February: Government has collected over one lakh five thousand crore rupees as Goods and Services Tax in February this year which is eight per cent more than the GST collected in the same month of last year. Out of the total revenue, Central Goods and Service Tax (CGST) is over 20 thousand crore rupees, State Goods and Service Tax (SGST) is over 27 thousand crore and Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST) is over 48 thousand crore rupees.

2. SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi Gets 6-month Extension: The Centre has extended the term of appointment of Ajay Tyagi, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) by another six months. The term of Tyagi, an Indian Administrative Service officer of Himachal Pradesh Cadre, was supposed to end on 29th February 2020. He will continue to head the regulator until the government finds a successor. Initially Tyagi was appointed for a period of three years and was eligible for an extension of two years. He will now head the regulator for a period of six months beyond 29.02.20 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

3. Sumant Kathpalia named new MD-CEO of IndusInd Bank: Sumant Kathpalia has been named the new managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of IndusInd Bank. He will replace Romesh Sobti from March 24, 2020. The bank had proposed the name of Kathpalia to RBI for the role, and after approval from RBI, Kathpalia has now been named the MD-CEO.

OBITUARIES

1. Dronacharya Awardee Athletics Coach Joginder Singh Saini Passes Away: Veteran athletics coach and Dronacharya awardee Joginder Singh Saini, has passed away due to age-related problems. He was 90. Saini, who groomed some of India’s finest track and field stars, was the chief national athletics coach for many years between 1970s to 1990s. Saini received the Dronacharya Award in 1997 for his contribution to Indian athletics.

2. JD(U)’s Valmiki Nagar MP Baidyanath Mahto passes away: Senior JD(U) leader & Lok Sabha MP from Valmiki Nagar, Baidyanath Mahto (70-years) passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. Mr. Mahto won the Valmiki Nagar seat in 2019 general election and also represented the seat in 2009. He had represented Nautan assembly seat thrice.

Daiky GK Updates - 1st March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Haryana Leads while West Bengal Worst State in Direct Benefit Transfer Payouts: Haryana has emerged as the best states in India regarding Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payouts in 2019-20, as per the ratings prepared for the first time by Centre for the 36 states and UTs. The ratings have ranked states according to DBT payouts compared to their population. Haryana reported Rs 4,782 crore DBT payout in over 4 crore transactions. West Bengal was the worst at 36th spot, reporting DBT payouts of Rs 8,793 crore in 5 crore transactions. The UTs of J&K and Ladakh together was placed at eight spot reporting DBT payouts worth Rs 1,190 crore through over 80 lakh transactions. It stands first among UTs category. The central DBT scheme covers around 439 schemes of 56 ministries and departments and over Rs 2.25 lakh crore has been paid out in the country in 2019-20.

2. Indian Railways launches its First “Restaurant on Wheels” at Asansol Station: Indian Railways has launched its first ‘Restaurant on Wheels’ at the circulating area of Asansol Railway station (West Bengal) for the use of Railway passengers as well as general public of Asansol. The inauguration was done by minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Babul Supriyo. The Restaurant on Wheels at Asansol station circulating area was developed by refurbishing two over aged MEMU coaches. This unique effort will not only improve the facilities at Asansol station but also generate non-fare revenue earnings of approximately Rs 50 lakh in the next five years.

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

3. Om Birla launches ‘Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan’ in Kota: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has launched “Suposhit Maa Abhiyan” in his constituency Kota, Rajasthan. This Abhiyan has been launched to provide nutritional support to pregnant women and adolescent girls. Under this Abhiyan, 1,000 pregnant women would be given food items for one month. Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani was also present in the program. Mr Birla appealed to every section of the society to cooperate in the malnutrition-free India campaign. Keeping newborn and pregnant women healthy is the main objective of the 'Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan '.

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

4. Two-day Unique Nimad Chilli Festival 2020 Organised at Khargone district of MP: In a first-of-its-kind unique initiative “Nimad Chilli Festival 2020” has being organised in Kasravad, Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh from 29 February to 1 March 2020. The two-day festival is aimed at promoting Chilli production and Chilli based industries in the state. It must be noted that Khargone is the largest chilli producing district in Madhya Pradesh as well as largest chilli mandi of Asia. Inspired by the famous Corn Festival of Chhindwara district, the Chilli Festival aims to establish Khargone district as the Chilli Capital of North and Central India. The Chilli Festival is a big business opportunity for traders, investors and exporters. It will also help in fulfilling the Central Government's goal of doubling the income of farmers.

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

5. ‘Pension Adalat’ inaugurated in Jammu: The Union Minister of State PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Jitendra Singh inaugurated the ‘Pension Adalat’ and National Pension System (NPS) Awareness and Grievance Redressal Programme. The programme was inaugurated in Jammu. The Pension Adalats will help in on-the-spot redressal of pensioners’ grievances which has given the right of ‘Ease of Living’ to the pensioners.

Note: Lt. Governors & Administrators Jammu and Kashmir: Girish Chandra Murmu.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. ADB to provide $4 million to member countries to contain coronavirus: Asian Development Bank will provide a total of USD 4 million (about ₹29 crores) to help developing countries in Asia and the Pacific to fight the outbreak COVID-19. The ADB had earlier in Feb announced USD 2 mn for fighting the disease. The ADB has approved a further USD 2 million to help developing countries in Asia and the Pacific contain the outbreak coronavirus. The funds will be available for all ADB developing member countries in updating and implementing their pandemic response plans. The work will be conducted in close collaboration with the World Health Organization.

Note: President of ADB: Masatsugu Asakawa; Formation of ADB: 19 December 1966; Headquarters of ADB: Manila, Philippines; Membership of ADB: 68 countries.

2. Muhyiddin Yassin sworn in as Malaysia's new Prime Minister: Muhyiddin Yassin (72-years) took the oath of office as the country's new Prime Minister of Malaysia. The decision came five days after the resignation of 94-year-old Mahathir, the world’s oldest head of government, who had been in office since the general elections of 2018. Muhyiddin had served as deputy Prime Minister under former premier Najib Razak from 2009 to 2015.

Note: Capital of Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur; Currency of Malaysia: Malaysian Ringgit.

3. Ghaziabad tops as most polluted city in the world: World Air Quality Report 2019: As per the World Air Quality Report 2019 compiled by IQAir Air Visual, Ghaziabad is the most polluted city in the world. Some other important points of this report are as under: (1) 21 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities are in India; (2) Delhi topped the list of most polluted capital cities in the world in 2019; (3) India ranked fifth in the world’s most polluted countries. Top is Bangladesh; (4) However, the report also mentions that Indian cities have shown improvement from last year.

4. International Conference on Standardisation of AYUSH Terminologies, ICoSDiTAUS-2020, Held in Delhi: The two-day International Conference on Standardisation of Diagnosis and Terminologies in Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha Systems of Medicine, ICoSDiTAUS-2020, was held in New Delhi. The conference concluded with the adoption of the “New Delhi Declaration on Collection and Classification of Traditional Medicine (TM) Diagnostic Data”. 16 countries came together for the cause of Traditional Medicine at this conference including Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Serbia, Curacao, Cuba, Myanmar, Equatorial Guinea, Qatar, Ghana, Bhutan, Uzbekistan, India, Switzerland, Iran, Jamaica and Japan. ICoSDiTAUS-2020 is the biggest ever international event dedicated to standardisation of Diagnosis and Terminologies of Traditional Medicine in terms of the broad level of participation covering virtually all the continents. The inaugural address was made by Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO – SEARO.

5. Zero Discrimination Day: 1 March: Zero Discrimination Day is observed annually on 1 March by the United Nations Programme on HIV & AIDS (UNAIDS). Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion and peace. Zero Discrimination Day is helping to create a global movement of solidarity to end all forms of discrimination. Theme of Zero Discrimination Day 2020: Zero Discrimination Against Women And Girls. The Day was launched by UNAIDS in 2014

Note: United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; UNAIDS Executive Director: Winnie Byanyima; UNAIDS Founded: 26 July 1994.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Rafael Nadal Clinches 2020 Mexican Open: The 2020 Mexican Open professional tennis tournament was held between 24 and 29 February 2020. The World Number 2 Rafael Nadal won the ATP Mexico Open 2020, defeating unseeded Taylor Fritz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, in the final. This is his first title of the year and 85th ATP Tour title. In the women’s final, seventh-seeded Heather Watson captured her first WTA title in three years by 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 win over Canadian teen Leylah Fernandez. Winners List:

Men’s Single – Rafael Nadal (Spain) defeated Taylor Fritz (USA)

Women’s Single – Heather Watson (UK) defeated Leylah Annie Fernandez (Canada)

Men’s Double – Łukasz Kubot / Marcelo Melo defeated Juan Sebastián Cabal / Robert Farah

Women’s Double – Desirae Krawczyk / Giuliana Olmos defeated Kateryna Bondarenko / Sharon Fichman.

2. Australia’s Steve Smith Dethrones Virat Kohli to Regain Top Spot in the latest ICC Test rankings for batsmen: India’s Cricket team Captain Virat Kohli slipped to No.2 position in the ICC (International Cricket Council) test rankings for Test batsman with 906 points while Australia’s Steve Smith (911 points) leads Kohli by 5 points & topped the Batting Ranking. Other than Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane (760), Cheteshwar Pujara (757) and Mayank Agarwal (727) occupy the next 8th, 9th and 10th positions respectively.

In the Test Bowling Rankings, India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah climbed 4 spots to 7th after regaining form towards the end of the Test series. The Test Bowling Rankings is being led by Australia's Pat Cummins followed by New Zealand's Neil Wagner. Fast bowler Tim Southee climbed 2 spots into the top 5 after emerging the highest wicket-taker (14) in the 2-Test series against India.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. IRDAI forms committee to study the feasibility of allowing life insurers to offer indemnity-based health insurance policies: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has formed a 9 member committee to study the feasibility of allowing life insurers to offer indemnity-based health insurance policies. The committee is headed by Shri. M.R. Kumar who is the Chairman of LIC.

Note: Indemnity-based health policies are basically those insurance policies where the insured is reimbursed the actual expense incurred during hospitalisation up to the total sum insured agreed under the policy.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Nokia announces Pekka Lundmark as its new President & CEO: Telecom maker Nokia has announced that Pekka Lundmark has been named as the new President and CEO of Nokia and will replace the present incumbent Rajeev Suri. He will take charge from September 1, 2020 and will be based in Espoo, Finland. Pekka Lundmark is currently President and CEO of Fortum, an energy company based in Espoo, Finland. Rajeev Suri will leave his current position on August 31, 2020, and continue to serve as an advisor to the Nokia board until January 1, 2021.

DEFENCE

1. Explosive detection device RaIDer-X Co-developed by DRDO & IISc: A new explosive detection device named RaIDer-X has recently been unveiled with the capability to detect an explosive from a specific stand-off distance. The launch was done during the National Workshop on Explosive Detection (NWED-2020) organised by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune on March 01, 2020. RaIDer-X has been co-developed by HEMRL Pune, a premier laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore. The new device will help the Indian security agencies to work efficiently and safely to save people from anti-social elements.

Features of RaIDer-X: Detect explosive from a specific stand-off distance, and inform the operator; Detect bulk explosives located in a hidden place; Detect various explosives at a time in a pure form as well as with contaminated objects; It is portable device that can be taken to any place along with the military contingent.

Note: Chairman of Defence Research & Development Organisation: G Satheesh Reddy; Headquarters: New Delhi; Established: 1958.

OBITUARIES

1. Former India hockey player Balbir Singh Kullar passes away: Former Indian hockey player and Olympian Balbir Singh Kullar passed away. Kullar was part of the Indian side which bagged a bronze medal in the 1968 Mexico Olympics. He was born in the Sansarpur village of the Jalandhar district in 1942. He made his India debut in 1963 in Lyon, France. Kullar was a member of the Indian team that won the Asian Games gold in 1966 (Bangkok) and also won the Olympic Bronze in 1968 (Mexico).

Daily GK Updates - 29th February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. NITI Aayog partners with NASSCOM to roll out AI Modules in Indian schools: NITI Aayog and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) have collaborated with the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) for the launch of an AI-based Module rolled out for students in Indian schools. The launch was done on February 27, 2020. The AI-Base Module has been introduced with an objective for students to leverage the full potential of AIM’s Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL). The module contains activities, videos and experiments that enable students to work through and learn the various concepts of AI. The AI-Base Module will be implemented across 5,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL), empowering 2.5 million students.

Note: NITI Aayog CEO: Amitabh Kant, Vice Chairman: Rajiv Kumar.

Chairman of NASSCOM: Keshav Murugesh.

2. 11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference 2020 Organised in New Delhi: The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the 11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference 2020 in New Delhi on 28 February 2020. The theme of the three day national conference is ‘Empowering Youth for Technology Led Farming’. The conference has been organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) from 28th Feb to 1st March 2020. The KVK national conference will mainly highlight technology-led farming and youth entrepreneurship through agriculture which will be attended by all the KVKs across India.

3. PM Lays Foundation Stone for Bundelkhand Expressway in Chitrakoot: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a day long visit to Chitrakoot and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on 29 February 2020. In Chitrakoot, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of 296 kilometers long Bundelkhand Expressway, which is estimated to cost Rs 14,716 crore. The expressway will link the Bundelkhand region to the national capital Delhi through the Agra-Lucknow Expressway and the Yamuna Expressway. It will pass through Chitrakoot, Banda, Hamirpur and Jalaun districts of Uttar Pradesh.

PM Modi also launched 10,000 Farmers Producer Organisations(FPOs) all over the country from Chitrakoot and distributed Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to the beneficiaries of the PM-Kisan scheme through a massive distribution drive, organised at the event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a Samajik Adhikarita Shivir organised by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at Prayagraj. He distributed 56,000 Aids & Assistive Devices to Divyangjan and Senior Citizens at the event which was the biggest ever distribution camp being conducted in the country in terms of the number of beneficiaries covered and number of appliances distributed.

4. Maharashtra to conserve the native species of cattle through genetic study: Maharashtra government has decided to undertake the genetic study for the conservation of the native species of domesticated animals. The genetic study aims to conserve the native species of domesticated animals in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. Under this project, the study of genetic traits of Osmanabadi goat, Red Kandhari cow, Deoni bull, Caravan or Pashmi dogs will be done as the number of pure breeds of these animals is on the decline. The project will also include the analysis of their abilities and adaptation capabilities. The project will be funded by the Maharashtra government.

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

5. MoFPI approves Rs 162 cr under Operation Greens scheme: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries(MoFPI) has approved Rs 162 crore under Operation Green scheme which has an outlay of Rs 500 crore to stabilize the supply of tomato, onion and potato (TOP) crops and to ensure their availability round the year without price volatility. The aim of the scheme is to enhance TOP Crops value chain & promote Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management.

Note: Union Minister of Food Processing Industries: Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

6. Kerala High Court bans all forms of strikes in schools, colleges: The Kerala High Court recently passed an order and banned all types of political movements in the college and school premises. Banning various forms agitations like gherao and sit-in in the campuses, the High Court also said no one can be persuaded to participate in such protests. It observed that those who are not participating in the strike have every right to attend their classes and no one should force them to participate in agitations that affect the smooth conduct of classes. The court said that “the right to education is a fundamental right and no one has the right to violate that right.”

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

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. High Court Bans two books for hurting religious sentiments in Bangladesh: The High Court of Bangladesh banned two books for hurting religious sentiment and infringing individual freedom. The books Dia Arefin and Nanir Bani are written by the blogger Diarsi Arag were published by Srishtighar Prokashana in Bangladesh. The court ordered the authorities to ban the publication, sale, distribution and marketing of two books with immediate effect.

2. Abhishek Singh becomes India’s next Ambassador to Venezuela: Abhishek Singh has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. He is currently serving as Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India in Kabul, Afghanistan. He will succeed Rajiv Kumar Napal, who passed away recently. He is a 2003-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.

Note: Capital of Venezuela: Caracas; Currency of Venezuela: Petro Bolivar Soberano; President of Venezuela: Juan Gerardo Guaido Marquez.

3. World Rare Disease Day: 29 February: Every Year on the last day of February is observed as World Rare Disease Day. The theme of the day this year is ‘Reframe Rare for Rare Disease Day’. It was first launched by Eurordis in 2008. Its objective is to create awareness about the impacts of the disease. The rare diseases include Thalassemia, Haemophilia, Sickle Cell Anaemia and primary immune deficiency according to WHO.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. HDFC Bank launches co-branded credit card with IndiGo: HDFC Bank joined hands with the country's largest airline IndiGo to launch a co-branded credit card. Powered by the Mastercard, the card will effectively work like a loyalty programme for the carrier. Labelled Ka-ching, the card will offer complimentary air tickets, lounge access, 5 per cent cashback on Indigo bookings. With over 14 million active cards, HDFC Bank is by far the largest credit card issuer in the country.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Jadav Payeng honoured with Swami Vivekananda Karmayogi Award 2020: Forest Man of India Jadav Payeng will be awarded Swami Vivekananda Karmayogi Award 2020 in New Delhi. He was awarded the 6th Karmayogi Award for his consistent efforts in creating a real man-made forest through massive reforestation. The award is composed of a trophy, a recitation and a reward of Rs 1 lakh.

Note: Swami Vivekananda Smriti Karmayogi Award is organized by My Home India in New Delhi. The award was conferred for the first time in 2013. Karmayogi Award is presented to great personalities from North-Eastern India who dedicate their lives to Nation and promote Nationalism through art & culture, sports, education, etc. for their contribution to respective fields.

DEFENCE

1. Fifth Offshore Patrol Vessel ICGS Varad Commissioned into Indian Coast Guard: Offshore Patrol Vessel ICGS Varad was commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on 28 February 2020 at L&T Kattupalli shipyard, near Chennai. Built by LARSEN & TOUBRO (L&T) Shipbuilding, ICGS Varad is fifth in the series of seven Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) contracted by Ministry of Defence on L&T in March 2015. The vessel has set a record in Indian shipbuilding industry by becoming the first major defence ship to clear all Sea Acceptance Trials (SATs) in a single sea sortie, underlining the high quality of design and construction of these ships.

Note: Shri. Mansukh Mandaviya is the Union Minister of State for Shipping (Independent Charge) and Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertiliser.

OBITUARIES

1. World’s Oldest Man, Chitetsu Watanabe Passes Away: The world’s oldest man, Chitetsu Watanabe of Japan, has passed away at 112. He was born on March 5th, 1907. He received his Guinness World Record certification on February 12, 2020. With the death of Chitetsu Watanabe, Britain’s oldest man, Bob Weighton, who is 111, has now become the oldest person in the world.

  

Daily GK Updates - 28th February, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bhubaneswar to host 24th Meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council: The 24th Meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The Meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council will be chaired by the Union Minister for Home Affairs, Shri Amit Shah. Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha will be the Vice-Chairman and host of the meeting.

Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik; Governor of Odisha: Ganeshi Lal.

2. Capacity Building Programme for Scheduled Tribe Pri Representatives: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Arjun Munda launched “Programme for Capacity Building of Scheduled Tribe Representatives in Local Self Governments” at Bhubhaneswar (Odisha). He also launched “1000 Spring Initiatives” and an online portal on GIS-based Spring Atlas with hydrological and chemical properties of the Springs. FRA Atlas of Odisha and short documentary film on FRA (Forest Rights Act) in Odisha were also released on the occasion.

Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik; Governor of Odisha: Ganeshi Lal.

3. Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurates BSNL FTTH in Dehradun: Union Communications-Electronics IT Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated BSNL Fiber to the home (FTTH) and WiFi services at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. Free WiFi facility will now be available to passengers at Jolly Grant Airport. Travellers coming from India and abroad will get better facilities through these services.

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

4. National Science Day: 28 February: In India, the National Science Day is celebrated on 28 February each year to spread the message about the importance of science in the daily life of the people. The day is also marked to commemorate the discovery of the Raman effect. Indian physicist Sir C. V. Raman discovered the Raman effect on 28 February 1928, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. The theme for 2020 National Science Day is “Women in Science.” In 1986 itself, the government designated 28 February as National Science Day.

5. February 27, 2020 observed as India’s first ‘Protein Day’: Right to Protein, a national-level public health initiative has launched India’s first ‘Protein Day’ on February 27, 2020. The aim of the day is to draw public attention, raise awareness, and educate India on the health benefits of protein. The theme of India Protein Day 2020 is set to act as a reminder for all Indians to daily ask themselves and others “ProteinMeinKyaHai”. Globally many countries recognize February 27 as Protein Day and from this year India will also join this movement.

6. Xiaomi to bring ISRO’s NavIC technology to smartphones in 2020: Xiaomi, Chinese tech major will bring ISRO’s Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, NavIC technology to its smartphones after R&D efforts with ISRO and Qualcomm’s efforts. The capability has been currently enabled by Qualcomm Technologies Inc on several of their Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile Platforms and will be made available across multiple Xiaomi smartphones in India. NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is the regional geo-positioning system designed by ISRO to provide accurate positioning in India and the mainland.

Note: ISRO Director: K. Sivan, Headquarters: Bengaluru; Established: 1969.

7. NTPC signs MoU with CPCB to set up air quality monitoring stations: The NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) Ltd has signed an agreement with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). According to an agreement, NTPC Ltd will provide financial support of Rs 80 Crore for installation and commissioning of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS). 25 Air Quality Monitoring Stations will be installed across 6 states (Jharkhand, UP, Maharashtra, MP, Bihar and TN) and 3 UT (Daman & Diu, Dadar & Nagar Haveli and Andaman & Nicobar Islands).

8. S N Shrivastava appointed Delhi Police Commissioner: Senior IPS Officer (1985 batch) of Arunachal-Goa-Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre, S N Shrivastava will hold the additional charge as Delhi Police Commissioner succeeding Amulya Patnaik. He was serving as a Special Director General in Central Reserve Police Force.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Sri Lanka Formally Withdraws from UNHRC Resolution: The Government of Sri Lanka has formally withdrawn its co-sponsorship from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution on Sri Lanka on 26 February, 2020. Sri Lanka is withdrawing its co-sponsorship of the Resolution 40/1 and previous Resolutions 30/1 and 34/1. The country will now address issues on accountability through a domestic process. The UNHRC resolution 40/1 was co-sponsored by Sri Lanka and 11 other countries with the aim to investigate war time violence against Tamil Tiger rebels who were demanding separate homeland claiming that they were ethnic tamil minority and eligible for separate homeland.

Note: President of Sri Lanka: Gotabaya Rajapaksa; Prime Minister of Sri Lanka: Mahinda Rajapaksa; Currency of Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan rupee.

2. UN chief issues 7-point ‘call to action’ on human rights: U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced a 7 point “call to action” on human rights to countries, businesses and all people to help renew and revive human rights across the world. He laid down seven-point plan amid concerns about climate change, conflict and repression. His seven-point plan involves linking human rights to issues like sustainable development, crisis prevention, gender equality, the development of the digital age, and freedom of expression and civil society, among other things.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Aadhar enabled Payment System launched by Airtel Payment Bank: Airtel Payments rolled out Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS) for easy transactions at over 2,50,000 of its banking points across India. AePS will enable customers to make transactions at the designated points of the Airtel Payments Bank using Aadhaar number or virtual ID without revealing bank account or debit card details

2. External benchmark-based lending for Medium Enterprises: The Reserve Bank of India has directed all Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Small Finance Banks and Local Area Banks to link the new floating rate loans given to medium enterprises with external benchmarks. Micro and small enterprises floating rate loans are already linked with external benchmarks. The move will be effective from April 1, 2020. It will strengthen the monetary policy transmission.

3. Finance Secretary launches Baroda Startup banking in 15 cities: Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar inaugurated “Baroda Startup Banking”. It is an initiative aimed at making the Bank of Baroda (BoB) a preferred banking partner for the start-up community and establishing connect with at least 2,000 start-ups over the next two years. The initiative was launched simultaneously across 15 cities in the country.

Note: Headquarters of Bank of Baroda: Vadodara, Gujarat; MD and CEO of Bank of Baroda: Sanjiv Chadha; Chairman of Bank of Baroda: Hasmukh Adhia.

4. Bharti AXA General uses WhatsApp to deliver policy and renewal documents: Bharti AXA General Insurance has started delivering policies and renewal premium to its customers through messaging platform WhatsApp. As part of its strategy, Bharti AXA has introduced WhatsApp chatbot as an instant and user-friendly chat structure where the customers can raise requests simply through numeric inputs. WhatsApp chatbot is an additional customer service option for the policyholders, apart from the company’s multiple channels such as its vast network of branches, robust customer care and contact center, and dynamic portal. This makes the company first among non-life insurers in India to introduce the entire bouquet of service initiatives such as policy documents, renewal notices and claim intimation for its customers by using WhatsApp chatbot.

Note: Headquarters of Bharti AXA General Insurance: Mumbai, India; MD & CEO of Bharti AXA General Insurance: Sanjeev Srinivasan.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Film Editor Sreekar Prasad Enters the Limca Book of Records: Veteran film editor Sreekar Prasad has entered the Limca Book of Records for ‘films edited in most number of languages’. He has edited films in 17 languages which includes Tamil, English, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, Punjabi, Nepali, Marathi, Sinhalese, Karbi, Mishing, Bodo, and Pangchenpa. Sreekar Prasad, who is one of the most acclaimed editors of the country, also holds eight National Awards.

2. Raja Ravi Varma Award 2020 conferred: The Raja Ravi Varma State Award was conferred on veteran painter from Kalaburagi, Prof. J.S. Khanderao (for the year 2019) and senior artist from Mumbai, Vasudev Kamath (2020). The award carries a cash prize of Rs.10,000 and a citation. Raja Ravi Varma State Award was instituted by Karnataka’s Shri Ravivarma Art Institute.

Note: Governor of Karnataka: Vajubhai Vala; Chief Minister of Karnataka: BS Yediyurappa; Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru.

DEFENCE

1. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurates New Helicopter Production Hangar at HAL: The Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the new Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Production Hangar at Helicopter Division in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Complex at Bengaluru, Karnataka on 27 February 2020. The LCH is a 5.5-tonne class combat helicopter, which has been designed and developed by HAL – a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU). LCH is powered by 2 Shakti engines and has many technical features of the Advanced Light Helicopter. LCH is the first attach helicopter to land in Forward Bases at Siachen, 4,700 mts above sea level with 500kg load.

OBITUARIES

1. Centenarian vedic scholar Sudhakar Chaturvedi passes away: Centenarian freedom fighter and Vedic scholar Sudhakar Krishna Rao, widely known as Sudhakar Chaturvedi passed away due to old age related ailments. He was said to be 123 year old. Rao was an eye-witness to the Jalianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919. During the freedom struggle, he was associated with Mahatma Gandhi and been imprisoned in different jails across the country. He had penned about 50 books in Kannada, English and Sanskrit, which include 20 volumes of Veda translation in Kannada.