Daily GK Updates - 20th March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Prime Minister’s address to the nation on combating COVID-19: As the whole world is fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi addressed his countrymen and made an appeal to all Indians to stay indoors as much as possible to stop the outspread of COVID-19 in India. He stated a mantra ‘Hum Swasth, toh Jag Swasth’ that is the world will be healthy, if we stay healthy. He appealed to the people of India to adopt ‘Social Distancing’ which can play a critical role in these times of the global corona pandemic. He also stated a term during his address to the nation i.e. “People’s curfew” which means a curfew imposed for the people, by the people, on the people themselves.

2. PM Modi appeals for ‘Janta Curfew’ on 22nd March: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed for “Janta Curfew” on 22nd March within the wake of COVID 19 outbreak. It’ll be self-imposed and self-regulated and will be effective from 7 AM in the morning till 9 PM in the evening. PM Modi urged countrymen to thank people like doctors, medical personnel and cleaning staff for his or her service on Sunday at 5 PM.

3. Four convicts of Nirbhaya gang-rape hanged at Delhi’s Tihar Jail: Four convicts in Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case namely Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Kumar and Mukesh Kumar were hanged to death at Tihar jail in Delhi. Delhi High Court and Supreme Court dismissed a last-minute plea by the convicts, paving the way for the execution. Director-General of Tihar jail Sandeep Goel has confirmed that the four convicts were hanged together at 5.30 a.m. A doctor has examined and declared all four dead.

4. Government Approves Setting Up of National Technical Textile Mission: The government has approved the proposal for creation of National Technical Textiles Mission for a period of 4 years from 2020-21 to 2023-24. The total outlay of the mission has been estimated at Rs.1480 crores. The mission focuses on the development in usage of technical textiles in various flagship missions as well as programmes of the country. The Mission will also work towards the promotion of innovation amongst young engineering /technology/ science standards and graduates along with creation of innovation and incubation centres and promotion of start-up and Ventures.

Note: Union Minister of Textiles: Smriti Zubin Irani.

5. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath Submits Resignation: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has submitted his resignation to state governor Lalji Tandon on 20 March 2020. His decision came after the Supreme Court ordered the Congress government led by Kamal Nath to prove majority in Madhya Pradesh Assembly. The SC order followed the resignations of 22 MLAs on 19 March 2020, after which Congress fell short of majority in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly. These MLAs resigned in support of former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit the Congress to join the BJP earlier this month.

6. Centre launches ‘MyGov Corona Helpdesk’ on WhatsApp: In a bid to reduce panic among the citizens pertaining to COVID-19, the Central Government launched an official chatbot on popular instant messaging application WhatsApp. This WhatsApp Chatbot is named MyGov Corona Helpdesk and is available to all WhatsApp users. The person in need is only required to save the number – 9013151515 in their contact list and send a message to the MyGov Corona Helpdesk.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. World Bank Group Increases COVID-19 Response Fund to $14 Billion from $12 Billion: The World Bank Group has announced an additional funding of $2 billion to help with the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing its commitment to $14 billion. Earlier, on 3rd March 2020, the World Bank had announced a financing package worth up to $12 billion, aimed at supporting countries in their response to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The $2 billion in additional funds will come from International Finance Corporation (IFC), from its earlier contribution of $6 billion. The $14 billion funding announced will be made available from three branches of the World Bank Group:

$2.7 billion – International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

$3.3 billion – International Development Association (IDA)

$8 billion- The International Finance Corporation (IFC)

2. India ranks second in probes on foreign bribery, enforcement drags globally: India has been ranked at the second place in terms of the number of investigations concerning alleged bribery of domestic officials by foreign firms as per the 10th Annual Global Enforcement Report of TRACE International. Brazil has topped the report. China is on third.

3. WhatsApp Launches Coronavirus Info Hub; Announces USD 1 Million Grant to IFCN For Checking Fake News On COVID-19 Pandemic: The Facebook-owned popular messaging app WhatsApp has launched two initiatives in order to contribute to the cause of containing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Firstly, WhatsApp has launched a ‘Coronavirus Information Hub’ in partnership with International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The information hub can be accessed at whatsapp.com/coronavirus which would provide guidelines on how to stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secondly, WhatsApp has announced to donate $1 million to International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) to support fact-checking about COVID-19 on WhatsApp to avoid the spread of misinformation about the disease among the users.

Note: Headquarters of WHO: Geneva, Switzerland; Director general of WHO: Tedros Adhanom.

Administrator of United Nations Development Programme: Achim Steiner.

Executive Director of UNICEF: Henrietta H. Fore.

4. International Day of Happiness: 20 March: Every year the International Day of Happiness is celebrated on March 20 to promote happiness as a fundamental human right for all human beings across the world. The 2020 International Day of Happiness campaign theme is ‘Happiness For All, Together’”. The day was founded by United Nations adviser ‘Jayme Illien’ on June 28, 2012. The first International Day of Happiness was officially held on 20 March 2013.

5. World Sparrow Day: 20 March: World Sparrow Day is celebrated every year on March 20, 2020 to raise awareness about the House Sparrow and other common birds to urban environments, and of threats to their populations. The day initiated by the Nature Forever Society (NFS) of India in collaboration with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world. The first World Sparrow Day was celebrated in 2010.

6. UN French Language Day: 20 March: The UN French Language Day is observed annually on 20 March. The day was established by UN’s Department of Public Information in 2010, to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization. March 20 was chosen as the date for the French language since it coincides with the 40th anniversary of the International Organization of La Francophonie, representing countries and regions where French is a customary language.

7. Newly discovered treehopper species named after Lady Gaga as Kaikaia gaga: A newly discovered treehopper species, discovered in Nicaragua, has been named after American pop star Lady Gaga. The new treehopper species has been named as “Kaikaia gaga”. Brendan Morris, a PhD candidate in entomology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has named the species keeping in mind Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes that can be compared to the unique features of new species.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Two Indians named in International Panel of ICC Development Umpires: Two Indian women umpires, Janani Narayanan (Tamil Nadu) and Vrinda Rathi (Mumbai) have been named in the International Panel of ICC Development Umpires. With this, the total number of women match officials across different International Cricket Council (ICC) panels has gone up to 12. Narayanan (34) and Rathi (31), has been umpiring in Indian domestic tournaments since 2018. The induction of more women officials in the panel will help improve women’s cricket and take it in the forward direction.

Other women match officials across different ICC Panels include: GS Lakshmi, Shandre Fritz (International Panel Match Referees); Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Shivani Mishra, Claire Polosak, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Mary Waldron, Jacquline Williams (all International Panel of ICC Development Umpires).

Note: Chairman of ICC: Shashank Manohar; Chief Executive: Manu Sahney; Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Moody predicts India’s GDP growth at 5.3% for 2020, 5.8% in 2021: Moody’s Investors Service has predicted India’s GDP growth rate for Calendar Year 2020 at 5.3% and for Calendar Year 2021 at 5.8%. Moody has downgraded the GDP estimates for 2020 on account of the Coronavirus outbreak.

2. Noel Quinn Appointed as the permanent chief executive of HSBC: HSBC Holdings Plc has appointed Noel Quinn as the permanent CEO of the bank. Quinn had been serving as interim CEO since August 2019, after the unexpected resignation of John Flint from the post. Mr Quinn had been working with the bank for over 30 years, after joining the lender in 1987.

3. DBS Bank India Partners with Bharti AXA to roll out COVID-19 insurance cover: The DBS Bank India has tied-up with Bharti AXA to roll out a complimentary insurance plan covering all medical conditions, including Covid-19, to support its customers amidst COVID-19 pandemic. The plan would cover all medical conditions, including Covid-19 and up to 10 days of hospitalisation, with a cover of Rs 5,000 per day for a 30-day period. Additionally, to ensure further safety of its customers, the bank will add an anti-microbial coating across all its ATMs and biometric devices.

Note: MD & CEO of Bharti Axa: Sanjeev Srinivasan.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. SIDBI to start train Swavalamban Express for budding entrepreneurs on June 05: The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) will start Swavalamban Express this year for budding entrepreneurs on June 05, 2020. The Swavalamban Express will start from June 5 and will travel to 11 covering 7,000 km in a span of 15 days. It will cover cities starting from Lucknow and thereafter to Jammu, Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata and finally to Varanasi. The Swavalamban Express train is a part of our umbrella mission Swavalamban which aims to induce entrepreneurship culture amongst the youth.

DEFENCE

1. Defence Ministry signs contract with Israeli firm for LMG: The Ministry of Defence has signed the capital acquisition contract of worth Rs 880 crore with Israel Weapons Industries for the procurement of Light Machine Gun (LMGs). The Light Machine Guns were the long-standing requirement of Indian Armed Forces. Negev 7.62 X 51 mm LMG which is a combat weapon, is being used globally and expected to enhance the lethality as well as the range of a soldier vis-a-vis the presently used weapon.

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

OBITUARIES

1. Former world champion boxer Roger Mayweather passes away: ormer world boxing champion Roger Mayweather passed away. He won titles in the category of 130 and 140 pounds in his 18-year career that began in 1981. He won his first 17 career fights and captured the world title in World Boxing Association junior lightweight and earned the World Boxing Council junior welterweight title in 1987.

Daily GK Updates - 19th March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian Navy installs Quarantine Facility at Visakhapatnam: Indian Navy has established a Quarantine Camp at INS Vishwakarma in Eastern Naval Command (ENC) for Indian nationals being evacuated from COVID-19 affected countries. The Quarantine Camp has the capacity to accommodate nearly 200 personnel with all appropriate facilities. Indian nationals being evacuated from COVID-19 affected countries will be closely monitored by a team of naval personnel and medical professionals of ENC.

Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.

2. SC clears permanent commission for women in Indian Navy: The Supreme court of India cleared permanent commission for women officers in the Indian Navy. A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud said, there cannot be any excuses for not granting gender equality in the armed forces. The court was contrary to the Centre’s policy of 1991 and 1998 which lifted the statutory bar on the induction of women officers in the Navy. It also granted pension benefits to women officers who have retired and were not granted permanent commission.

Note: Navy Day in India is celebrated on 4th December.

Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.

3. L&T Services and IIT-Kanpur collaborate for research in industrial cyber security: The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and L&T Technology Services have collaborated to carry out joint research in industrial and infrastructure cybersecurity. They will jointly set up a Center of Excellence (CoE) at the IIT Kanpur campus and conduct research in the areas of Honeypot, intrusion detection systems, malware analysis, blockchain, vulnerability assessment and penetration testing and provide cybersecurity awareness and training programs.

Note: Headquarters of L&T Technology Services (LTTS): Vadodara, Gujarat; CEO of L&T Technology Services (LTTS): Dr Keshab Panda.

4. Konark Sun Temple & Statue of Unity to be included in ‘Iconic Sites’ list: According to Union Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, the famous Black Pagoda, the Sun temple in Konark in Puri district of Odisha is to be included in the ‘Iconic Sites’ list of 19 monuments. The Sun temple will be developed as an iconic site by the Centre. The Statue of Unity in Gujarat and the Sun temple in Odisha will be included in the said list as the total number of monuments in the list is to be raised from 17 to 19.

5. Banihal to Katra railway link to be completed by 2022: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced that Banihal to Katra railway link (111-km long) in Jammu and Kashmir will be completed by 2022. The railway line will include the Chenab Bridge, which will be the highest railway structure of its kind in the world with a height of 359 m above the river. The railway is expected to cross over 750 bridges and pass through over 100 km of tunnels, the longest of which is 11,215 m.

6. Centre issues gazette notification for adaptation of 37 central laws in J&K: The Center has issued a gazette notification for the adaptation of 37 Central laws in the Concurrent List for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It contains 37 Central laws including the representation of people act, the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, the Protection of Human Rights Act, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code among others. The notification, issued by the Home Ministry's Department of J&K and Ladakh Affairs.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. $100 Billion coronavirus relief package signed by Donald Trump: To ensure sick leave to Americans workers who fall ill from the new coronavirus, President of the United States, Donald Trump has signed a $100-billion emergency aid package. The $100 Billion coronavirus relief package aims to strengthen the protective measures against the pandemic caused by COVID-19. The relief package will facilitate free coronavirus testing for those who need it, sick pay and paid family leave.

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

2. Iraqi President appoints Adnan al-Zurfi as new PM-designate: Iraqi President Barham Salih has appointed Adnan al-Zurfi (54-years) as the country's new prime minister-designate in the latest bid to resolve a months-long political crisis. He will succeed Mohammed Allawi, the 1st politician named by the president as PM-designate who withdrew his candidacy for the post. Al-Zurfi has 30 days to form his cabinet which he must then put to a vote of confidence in Iraq's fractious Parliament.

Note: Capital of Iraq: Baghdad; Currency of Iraq: Iraqi dinar.

3. A. Ajay Kumar becomes India’s next High Commissioner to Republic of Uganda: A. Ajay Kumar has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Uganda. A. Ajay Kumar is currently posted as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. Ajay Kumar is a 2001 batch IFS officer.

Note: Union Minister of External Affairs: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

President of Uganda: Yoweri Museveni; Capital of Uganda: Kampala; Currency of Uganda: Ugandan shilling.

4. World Cities Summit 2020 to be held in Singapore: The 7th World Cities Summit (WCS) 2020 will be held from 5 to 9 July 2020 in Singapore. It is organized by Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The theme for WCS 2020 is ”Livable and Sustainable Cities: Adapting to a Disrupted World”.  The World Cities Summit is an exclusive platform for government leaders and industry experts to address liveable, sustainable city challenges, and forge new partnerships.

Note: Currency of Singapore: Singapore dollar; Capital of Singapore: Singapore.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Euro 2020 & Copa America postponed until 2021: The UEFA Euro 2020 football tournament has been postponed by over a year due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus. It is the first time in the competition's history that the final stages have been postponed. This year's Copa America has been postponed until 2021.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Arundhati Bhattacharya resigns from Crisil board: Ex-SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya has submitted her resignation from Crisil board. She was serving as the independent director of the Crisil. Her resignation will be effective on April 15, 2020. She has submitted her resignation as she will be joining as a Chairperson and CEO for the India operations of Salesforce, USA.

Note: Chairman of Crisil Board: John Berisford; Managing Director and CEO of CRISIL: Ashu Suyash.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Karan Bajwa becomes new MD of Google Cloud India: Google Cloud India has appointed Karan Bajwa as its new Managing Director(MD). Karan Bajwa will manage various operations for Google Cloud’s extensive solution portfolio such as Google Cloud Platform and G Suite. He will also guide Google Cloud’s continued work with local developer ecosystem as well as India-based Global System Integrators (GSIs). Earlier, Karan Bajwa served as the Managing Director of IBM for India and South Asia.

DEFENCE

1. DAC approves procurement of Tejas fighter aircraft for IAF: Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) gave approval for procurement of 83 indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft for Indian Air Force. The Light Combat Aircraft Tejas indigenously-designed by Aircraft Development Agency (ADA) under the DRDO and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is going to be the backbone of Indian Air Force in future. The DAC also accorded approval for the acquisition of indigenous Defence equipment for about 1,300 crore rupees.

Note: Chief of the Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.

Daily GK Updates - 18th March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Innovate for Accessible India campaign launched to empower PwD: Microsoft India and NASSCOM Foundation have jointly launched Innovate for Accessible India campaign to empower people with disabilities with the help of technology and tools to provide better integration into society and access to equal opportunities. The campaign has been launched in partnership with Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, National Research and Education Network, and Department of Science and Technology.

Note: Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft: Satya Nadella; Microsoft Founded: April 4, 1975; Headquarters: Washington, United States.

Chairman of NASSCOM: Keshav Murugesh; President: Debjani Ghosh.

2. Ravinder singh Dhillon becomes new CMD of PFC: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cleared the appointment of Ravinder Singh Dhillon as Chairman and Managing Director of Power Finance Corporation (PFC). Currently, He is serving as a Director (Projects, Public Grievance) in Power Finance Corporation (PFC) Limited. Power Finance Corporation Ltd is an Indian financial institution, Established in 1986.

Note: Headquarters of Power Finance Corporation: New Delhi.

3.’Break the Chain’ campaign launched by Kerala govt to combat coronavirus: The Kerala government has launched a mass hand washing campaign named ‘break the chain’ to combat coronavirus. The campaign aims to educate people about the importance of public and personal hygiene.

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

4. INST develops starch-based ‘hemostat’ material: A starch-based ‘hemostat’ material has been developed by the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST). The material concentrates the natural clotting factors in blood that are critical for stopping the blood flow. This is done by physically absorbing the excess fluid. The early-stage development of the starch-based ‘hemostat’ material has been published in the journal Materialia.

Note: Director of Institute of Nano Science and Technology: Amitava Patra.

 

5. Ordnance Factories’ Day: 18th March: The Ordnance Factories’ Day is being observed on the 18th of March every year. OFB is the 37th largest defence equipment manufacturer in the world, 2nd largest in Asia, and the largest in India. OFB is referred to as the “Fourth Arm of Defence” and the “Force Behind the Armed Forces” of India. The production of India’s oldest Ordnance Factory, which is at Cossipore of Kolkata, was started in 18th of March, 1802. The day is celebrated by displaying the rifles, guns, artillery, ammunition..etc in exhibitions all over India. The celebrations start with a parade and the exhibition will also display the photographs of various mountaineering expeditions.

Note: Director-General & & Chairman of Ordnance Factories: Hari Mohan; Headquarters of Ordnance Factory Board: Kolkata, West Bengal.

6. World’s first commercial flying car PAL-V to be built in Gujarat: World’s first commercial flying car named ‘PAL-V Liberty’ will be developed in Gujarat, India. PAL-V stands for Personal Air-Land Vehicle. The PAL-V Liberty is a combination of a car and an autogiro, or gyroplane. The PAL-V flying car can run at a speed of 160 kilometres on road and can fly at a speed of 180 km.

Note: Chief Minister of Gujarat: Vijay Rupani; Governor of Gujarat: Acharya Dev Vrat.

7. Rs 20,466.94 crores of loans sanctioned under Stand Up India Scheme: Rs 20,466.94 crores of loans have been sanctioned under Stand Up India Scheme to over 91,000 accounts up to 10.03.2020 since the inception of the Scheme.  The Scheme facilitates bank loans between Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 crore to at least one Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe borrower and at least one woman borrower, per bank branch of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs)., for setting up greenfield enterprises in the manufacturing, services or the trading sectors.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Phase-I clinical Human trial of coronavirus vaccine begins in US: The United State has commenced the phase one of the clinical Human trial of an investigational vaccine designed to protect against the coronavirus disease which has claimed the lives of over 7,000 people globally. The trial has been started at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) in Seattle.

Note: COVID-19 cases were first identified in December 2019 in China’s Wuhan in Hubei province. As of March 15, the WHO has reported 153,517 cases of COVID-19 and 5,735 deaths worldwide.

2. Global Recycling Day: 18th March: Global Recycling Day is observed globally on 18th March every year. This day was first observed on March 18, 2018, by the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) and celebrated globally every year to raise awareness of the importance of recycling. The Global Recycling Foundation announces “Recycling Heroes” as the theme for third Global Recycling Day. The main aim of the day is to turn ‘waste’ into a valuable resource.

3. Priyanka Chopra collaborates with WHO to spread awareness over COVID-19: Actress Priyanka Chopra (37-year) urged followers to rely on authentic sources of information about coronavirus and arranged an Instagram live with top personnel of the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness about the pandemic. Priyanka documented her videos on Instagram stories where she expressed the importance of only relying on authentic information about the highly contagious disease. Priyanka and her husband Nick Jonas are on day 8 of self-isolation.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. French Open delayed due to coronavirus pandemic: The French Open tennis tournament has been postponed by the French Tennis Federation due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 2020 edition of Roland Garros (French Open tennis tournament) will now held in the month of September-October 2020.

2. ATK FC wins record 3rd Indian Super League title: ATK FC (Football Club) defeated Chennaiyin FC by a score of 3-1 in the final match to win the ISL (Indian Super League) trophy. Javier Hernandez and Edu Garcia were the goal scorers for ATK FC in the final match. ATK (Atlético de Kolkata) is an Indian professional football club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. The final was held without spectators owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note: The Indian Super League is a football league in India, under licence from the All India Football Federation (AIFF). It is one of the two co-existing premier football leagues in India along with I-League.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. India’s growth forecast lowered to 5.2% by S&P for FY 2020: S&P Global Ratings has reduced India’s economic growth forecast from 5.7% to 5.2% for financial year 2020. Along with S&P, Moody’s has also lowered growth projections for India for financial year 2020 to 5.3%, while Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has lowered growth projections to 5.1% for FY 2020.

2. Paytm Payments Bank to now issue Visa debit cards: Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) has partnered with Visa to issue Visa debit cards. With this, Paytm will issue over 10 million new digital debit cards in FY 2020-2021 to its customers. PPBL will issue Visa virtual debit cards to its customers and facilitate them to transact at all merchants accepting payments through cards. It will also enable its customers to make international transactions using their Visa debit cards.

 Note: MD & CEO of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd: Satish Kumar Gupta.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Bajaj Auto reappoints Rajiv Bajaj as its MD & CEO: Rajiv Bajaj has been reappointed as MD & CEO of Bajaj Auto for a period of five years with effect from April 1, 2020. The 5-years tenure of Rajiv Bajaj as the MD & CEO of Bajaj Auto was going to expire on March 31, 2020. Gita Piramal has been appointed as the independent director of Bajaj Auto. Bajaj Auto Limited is an Indian global two-wheeler company and three-wheeler manufacturing company based in Pune, Maharashtra.

Note: Chairman of Bajaj Auto: Rahul Bajaj.

OBITUARIES

1. Marathi actor Jairam Kulkarni passes away: Noted Marathi Actor Jairam Kulkarani (88-years) passed away due to old-age related ailments. He had acted in more than 150 films, including ‘Chal Re Laxya Mumbaila’, ‘Ashi Hi Banwabanwi’, ‘Thartharat’, ‘Rangat Sangat’. Kulkarni had worked in Akashwani in Pune where he came into contact with personalities from the fields of literature, theatre and film.

2. Veteran journalist Patil Puttappa passes away: Veteran journalist and former Rajya Sabha member Patil Puttappa (99-years) passed away due to age-related ailments in Karnataka. He was also the first president of the Kannada Watchdog Committee and was also the founder-president of the Border Advisory Committee. Fondly referred to as "PaPu", Puttappa was the founder-editor of weekly "Prapancha" and also edited "Navayuga".

Daily GK Updates - 17th March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Prez Kovind nominates former CJI Ranjan Gogoi to Rajya Sabha: President Ram Nath Kovind has nominated Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to the Rajya Sabha. Mr Gogoi served as the 46th Chief Justice of India from 3rd October 2018 till 17th November last year. Article 80(1)(a) read with Article 80(3) of the Constitution of India provides that the President can nominate to Rajya Sabha, 12 persons having special knowledge, or practical experience in respect of literature, science, art and social service.

2. Ministry of External Affairs opens 24x7 helplines for COVID-19: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has opened 24x7 helplines for COVID-19. The toll-free number of the Control Room is 1800118797. Other numbers are 91- 11- 23012113, 91- 11- 23014104 and 91- 11- 23017905. The fax number is 91- 011- 23018158. People can also mail on the email ID covid19@mea.gov.in.

3. Hirdesh Kumar becomes new Chief Electoral Officer of J&K: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has been appointed Hirdesh Kumar as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. He will replace Shailendra Kumar with effect from the date he assumes charge. Hridesh Kumar is a 1999 batch IAS officer & presently serving as Commissioner Secretary in the School Education Department of J&K.

Note: Lieutenant (Lt) Governors of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K): Girish Chandra Murmu.

4. NMCG concludes 'Ganga Amantran Abhiyan' in New Delhi: The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organised a grand event in the national capital to mark the conclusion of its flagship programme Ganga Amantran Abhiyan. Amit Shah was invited as the chief guest at the event to confer the awards to various achievers who contributed towards the successful completion of the programme. Ganga Amantran Abhiyan was a pioneering exploratory open-water rafting and kayaking expedition on the Ganga river from Devprayag to Ganga Sagar.

5. CRPF & Aditya Mehta foundation sign MoU to enable the ‘Divyang Warriors’: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) inked a deal with a disability support NGO Aditya Mehta Foundation, to train its troops, who lost their limbs in operations, in various skills including cyber operations, artificial intelligence and para-sports.

Note: Headquarters of CRPF: New Delhi; CRPF founded: 27 July 1939.

6. Oil India signs COSA agreement with Numaligarh Refinery: India’s second-largest national oil explorer, Oil India Limited (OIL) has inked the Crude Oil Sales Agreement (COSA) with Numaligarh Refinery. The agreement has been signed by the two entities for sale and purchase of crude oil. The COSA agreement is expected to streamline sale and purchase transactions of crude oil which will be produced from fields in the North East India. The COSA agreement will be effective for a term of five years, i.e. from 1 April, 2020 to 31 March 2025.

7. An Extraordinary Life: A biography of Manohar Parrikar’: A book on former Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar, title “An Extraordinary Life: A biography of Manohar Parrikar” is set to hit stands in April 2020. The book is co-authored by veteran journalists Sadguru Patil and Mayabhushan Nagvenkar. The book titled “An Extraordinary Life: A biography of Manohar Parrikar” will be published by publishing house Penguin Random House India.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Philippines becomes 1st country to suspend all financial markets: The Phillipines has become the first country of the world to suspend all financial markets. The financial shutdown was confirmed from the statements from the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Bankers Association of the Philippines. The Philippine Stock Exchange was closed on 17th of March indefinitely, while currency and bond trading were suspended.

Note: Capital of Philippines: Manila; Currency: Philippine Peso.

2. Top tech giants to jointly fight against COVID-19 misinformation: The top tech giants of the world will jointly fight against the fake news and misinformation related to COVID-19 on their platforms. The top giants which have announced a fight against the fake news includes Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Reddit, Twitter and YouTube. These companies are working closely to have a check on the fake news and misinformation related to COVID-19.

3. Bangladesh celebrates birth Centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to the birthplace of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (founder President) in Tungipara to pay tribute to Bangabandhu. PM Modi participated in 100th birth anniversary celebrations of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman via a video message. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born on 17th March 1920 in the town of Tungipara in Gopalganj district of the then undivided India.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Olympic flame handover for Tokyo Games to take place without spectators: The Olympic flame handover ceremony for the Tokyo Games will take place without spectators in an effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak. The accreditation cards that had been issued for a ceremony at the stadium in Athens where the first modern Olympics were held in 1896 would not be valid. The committee cancelled the remainder of the Olympic torch relay last week after crowds gathered in southern Greece to watch part of the torch relay in Sparta.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. India's forex reserves rise 5.69 bn to 487.23 bn: India's foreign exchange swelled by 5.69 billion US dollars to reach an all-time high of 487.23 billion dollars in the week ended 6th March 2020. Gold reserves also increased by 320 million dollars to 31 billion dollars. India's special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund went up by 15 million dollars to 1.447 billion dollars. The country's reserve position also increased by 50 million dollars to 3.656 billion dollars.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Flipkart ties up with Aegon to sell life insurance policies: Indian E-commerce company Flipkart has tied up with Aegon Life Insurance to sell comprehensive insurance solutions for customers. The tie up targets those customers who are seeking instant digital policies with a sum assured of up to Rs 10 lakh. These life insurance policies do not need medical tests or paperwork as it is an instant life insurance cover, with digital policy as its core value proposition.

OBITUARIES

1. Bollywood actor Imtiaz Khan passes away: Amjad Khan’s brother and Bollywood actor Imtiaz Khan (77-years) passed away in Mumbai. Imtiaz Khan starred in movies like Yaadon Ki Baraat, Dharmatama, Dayavan and Noor Jahan among more. He was an actor and director, and associated with popular films such as Hulchul, Pyaara Dost, Procession of Memories and Noor Jahan.

2. Veteran poet Puthussery Ramachandran passes away: Veteran poet and Malayalam scholar Puthussery Ramachandran (91-years) passed away. 'Onnanthyakkuttam’ was his first poem which was published in 1944. His poetry works were majorly concentrated on an in-depth study of the early and medieval Malayalam language along with the early history of Kerala. He played various roles in his life such as teacher, poet, writer as well as a political activist at one point of time.

Daily GK Updates - 16th March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. GoI pledged $10 million for Covid-19 emergency fund: Government of India has pledged $10 million towards a Covid-19 emergency fund. India has also planned a rapid response team of doctors and specialists for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) nations. India suggested Integrated Disease Surveillance Portal (IDSP) that is currently being used to detect infected patients and contact tracing.

Note: SAARC founded: 8 December 1985; Headquarters of SAARC: Kathmandu, Nepal.

Members’ country of SAARC: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

2. UGC is setting up 10 chairs to perform researches encouraging women: The University Grants Commission (UGC) with the assistance Ministry of Women and Child Development is setting up 10 Chairs in different fields to carry out research activities to encourage women. The initiative is called ‘Establishment of Chairs in the University in the Name of Eminent Women Administrators/ Artists/ Scientists/ Social reformers'. This initiative will inspire women to pursue higher education and to achieve excellence in their various areas of work.

3. National Vaccination Day: 16 March: In India, the National Vaccination Day (also known as National Immunisation Day (IMD)) is observed on 16 March ever year. The day is being celebrated to convey the importance of vaccination to the people of the country. The prime purpose behind the celebration of National Vaccination Day is to make all people aware of arming against polio and eradicating it completely from the world. The theme of World Immunization Week 2020: ‘VaccinesWork for All’.

Note: The day was first observed on 16 March, 1995 when the first dose of an oral vaccine against polio was given in India

World Immunization Week 2020 celebrated in the last week of April (24 to 30 April).

4. ROPAX service from Mumbai to Mandwa Commenced: ROPAX service, a Water Transport Service Project has been commenced. This will help people to travel from Bhaucha Dhakka (Maharashtra) to Mandwa in about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State for Shipping visited ROPAX services and terminal. Mumbai Port Trust has developed ROPAX jetty and terminal facilities at Bhaucha Dhakka. Whereas Maharashtra Maritime Board has developed Breakwater, ROPAX jetty and terminal facilities at Mandwa.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. South Africa declares National Disaster over corona-virus: South Africa has announced a National State of Disaster over the corona-virus crisis as the number of infected people in the country has risen to 61. This makes it the country with the second-highest number of cases in Africa after Egypt, which has reported 110 so far. National command council is to be established and social distancing measures has been announced in order to spread awareness among the citizens.

2. India ranks 12th in women member presence on companies’ board globally: The global recruitment tendering platform MyHiringClub.com and Sarkari-Naukri.info has conducted a study titled ‘Women On Board 2020’, which reveals the presence of women member on board of a company. According to the study, India ranked 12th worldwide in women member presence on board. Norway has topped the list with 40.72 percent women on board followed by Sweden with 30.84 percent and Finland 29.91 percent respectively. The study was done online amongst 7,824 listed companies across 36 countries. Overall, the women’s director on board percentage is 14.87 percent, more than double compared to the last two years. From India, 628 listed employers participated in this study, of which 55 percent have women directors, which is 14 percent higher than previous year. Around 54 percent of employees in Asia and 39 percent in India are women.

3. US Federal Reserve slashed the key interest rate to virtually Zero Percent: Due to the growing economic impact of the coronavirus, US Federal Reserves cut down the interest rate to almost zero percent to guarantee the global financial system of enough cash to continue its operation. This was the 2nd emergency rate cut with a range of 0-0.25 % as this rate was previously seen in the financial crises of 2008. The action was coordinated with the European Central Bank, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Bank of Canada and the Swiss National Bank.

4. Google’s free coronavirus checkup website is made live for California: Google has come up with a free coronavirus checkup website. Those staying in California, US can visit the website to take an online COVID-19 (coronavirus) screener survey through Project Baseline. After checking few eligibility criteria, People will be directed to the mobile testing sites based on capacity where they will go through a nasal swab test and will be informed in next few days if they are infected with COVID-19 or not.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Badminton Star Tai Tzu Ying and Viktor Axelsen Wins All England Championship: In badminton, Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying beat Chinese world number one Chen Yufei 21-19, 21-15 to win the women’s single title at the All England badminton Championship on March 15, 2020 in Birmingham. This is the third All England badminton Championship title for Tai Tzu-ying. The 25-year-old previously won the All England titles in 2017 and 2018. In the men’s event, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen won his maiden All England Championship title, beating Taiwanese top seed Chou Tien-chen 21-13, 21-14.

The All England badminton Championship was the season’s first Super 1000 World Tour tournament and has also become the last event as the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has suspensed all World Tour and sanctioned tournaments owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. YES Bank to resume full banking service from March 18: The government of India has notified the reconstruction scheme for Yes Bank which has been placed under moratorium by Reserve Bank of India. The moratorium will be lifted on March 18. Under the reconstruction scheme, SBI, will hold up to 49 per cent in Yes Bank. SBI has approved an investment of Rs 7,250 crore (725 crore shares at Rs 10 each). Apart from this, 4 private banks will also chip in money in Yes Bank. These are- HDFC- Rs 1,000 Crore; ICICI Bank- Rs 1,000 Crore; Axis Bank- Rs 600 Crore; Kotak Mahindra Bank- Rs 500 Crore. The bank customers can visit any of its over 1,132 branches from Thursday during banking hours. The customers will also be able to access all its digital services and platforms.

2. GST Rate on Mobile Phones to be hiked from 12% to 18% w.e.f 01 April: The 39th GST (Goods and Services Tax) Council meeting under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was held in New Delhi on 14 March 2020. These new GST rates will be applicable with effect from 1st April 2020. The Council has announced certain changes in the GST rates of the following items:

(1) Increase in GST rates on the Mobile phones from the present 12 percent to 18 percent. (2) Slash the GST rate on Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services of aircraft from 18 percent to 5 percent. (3) Rationalise the GST rates on handmade and machine-made matchsticks to 12 percent. Earlier this rate was 5 percent for Hand-made matches and 18 percent for machine-made ones.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Infosys, Qualcomm partner for smart cities solutions: Infosys has joined the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program to offer end-to-end solutions for smart stadiums, smart venues and smart event management. This program is designed to connect cities, municipalities, govt. agencies and enterprises with Qualcomm Technologies ecosystem to help deliver greater efficiencies. These Smart Space solutions build upon Infosys' proprietary SCALE (Sustainable-Connected-Affordable-Livable-Experiential) framework for smart spaces.

Daily GK Updates - 15th March, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Central Government declares coronavirus as ‘notified disaster’: The Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to treat Covid-19 as a “notified disaster”. This will enable the states to spend a larger chunk of funds from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to fight the pandemic virus. The step has been taken for the purpose of providing assistance under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakhs to families of those who die of Coronavirus. Earlier this week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared coronavirus a pandemic and Europe as its epicentre.

2. Cabinet hiked dearness allowance of central government employees by 4%: The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved to release an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to pensioners w.e.f. 01 January 2020.  The Modi Government has approved 4 percent increase in DA/DR over the existing rate of 17 percent of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise. The new rate will become 21 percent of Basic Pay/Pension. The increase is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

3. Phool Dei Festival Celebrated in Uttarakhand: Uttarakhand celebrates the traditional harvest festival “Phool Dei”. Phool Dei is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra or in mid-March (according to Gregorian calendar). It is known as the harvest festival of Uttarakhand which welcomes the spring season (Chaitra) in the state. On this traditional festival young girls pluck the first flowers of the season to decorate their houses with flowers and the term ‘Dei’ refers to ceremonial pudding which is the key food in the festival that is made from jaggery, Whiteflour & curd, are offered to everyone.

Note: Governor of Uttarakhand: Baby Rani Maurya.

4. Manipur Government announces two new schemes for sportspersons & artistes: The Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has announced two new schemes for the welfare of the sportspersons and artistes of the state. The two schemes are:

‘Chief Minister’s Akhannaba Sanaroisingi Tengbang’ (CMAST) – for the welfare of  sportspersons and coaches of the state

‘Chief Ministergi Artiste Singgi Tengbang’ (CMAT) – for welfare of the artistes of the state

These schemes are the biggest schemes, the state government had ever launched and will be effective from April 2020. An estimated amount of Rs 736 lakhs has been projected for CMAST while Rs 570 lakhs for CMAT.

Note: Governor of Manipur: Najma Heptulla.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Island of Niue declared world’s first ‘Dark Sky nation’: The island of Niue has become the world’s first whole country recognised as a ‘Dark Sky Place. The International Dark-Sky Association’s (IDA) has approved the island’s application for the protection of its sky, land and sea. The title of ‘Dark Sky nation’ recognises an area with exceptional quality of starry nights and a commitment to protecting the environment. Niue is a small island nation in the South Pacific Ocean. Niue is home to around 1,600 inhabitants and is one of the world’s smallest independent nations.

2. HAL planning to set up bases in four countries to push exports: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is looking at setting up logistics bases in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. These bases will be set up as part of initiatives to woo the countries to buy India's light combat aircraft Tejas and military helicopters. HAL is focusing on boosting exports in sync with the government's priority and identified South East Asia, West Asia and North Africa to sell key platforms like Tejas, helicopter Rudra and light helicopter Dhruv.

3. World Consumer Rights Day: 15 March: The World Consumer Rights Day is observed every year on 15 March 2020 to raise global awareness about consumer rights and needs and protect consumers across the globe against market abuses. Celebrating World Consumer Rights Day is a chance to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, and to protest against market abuses and social injustices which undermine those rights. The theme for 2020 World Consumer Rights Day: “The Sustainable Consumer”. The first World Consumer Rights Day was observed in 1983 and become an important occasion for mobilizing citizen action. In India, we also observe National Consumer Day on the 24th of December every year.

4. Microsoft launches website to track COVID-19: Microsoft has launched a web portal to track the spread of COVID-19 worldwide. The web portal has been launched by Microsoft’s Bing team. The portal aims to track the spread of novel coronavirus in the world. The website is accessible at “bing.com/covid” and provides up-to-date infection statistics for each country. The web portal displays the information by aggregating data from sources like the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Note: Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft: Satya Nadella; Microsoft Founded: April 4, 1975; Headquarters of Microsoft: Washington, United States.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Achanta Sharath Kamal clinches men's singles title of Oman Open: Indian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal wins the ITTF Challenger Plus Oman Open. The 37-year-old Indian veteran beat top-seeded Marcos Freitas of Portugal 4-2 in the final played in Muscat. The last time when Sharath bagged a title at ITTF event was in 2010 when he won Egypt Open.

Note: Oman Capital: Muscat; Currency: Omani rial.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Prashant Kumar appointed as the new MD & CEO of Yes Bank: RBI appointed Prashant Kumar, former chief financial officer and deputy MD of SBI as the MD and CEO of the Yes Bank.

Sunil Mehta, former non-executive chairman of PNB, has been appointed as non-executive chairman. Other Board members include Mahesh Krishnamurthy and Atul Bheda, both as Non-Executive Directors. All members of the board, except additional directors, will be appointed for a period of one year or until an alternate board is reconstituted.

Note: Headquarters of Yes Bank: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Yes Bank established: 2004.

2. RBI reduces Limits on exposure to group of borrowers for UCB to 25%: The Reserve Bank of India has reduced the prudential exposure limits for Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) for group of connected borrowers/parties from 40% to 25%. Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) were permitted to have exposures up to 15 per cent and 40 per cent of their capital funds to a single borrower and a group of borrowers, respectively. On a review, RBI has mandated that, henceforth, the prudential exposure limits for UCBs for a single borrower/party and a group of connected borrowers/parties shall be 15 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively, of their tier-I capital.

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

3. Shri Debasish Panda, nominated on RBI Central Board: The Central Government has nominated Shri Debasish Panda as a Director on the Central Board of Reserve Bank of India. He is a Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, New Delhi. The nomination of Shri Debasish Panda is effective from March 11, 2020 and until further orders. There are two government nominated Directors on the board of RBI. The other one is Shri Atanu Chakraborty.

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

4. Lava launches World’s first ‘no internet’ payment service in India: The Noida-based Smartphone manufacturer Lava, has launched a payment app named Lava Pay which doesn’t requires an active internet connection for fund transfer. Lava claims it to be the world’s first ‘no internet’ payment service. The app will help boost Digital India initiative of the Government as well as bringing financial inclusivity for a large population of the county.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. A.K. Sherwani and Rohini Mohan awarded with Chameli Devi Jain Award 2020: Rohini Mohan (Bengaluru-based freelancer) and Arfa Khanum Sherwani (of The Wire) have been jointly awarded Chameli Devi Jain Award 2020 for outstanding woman journalist. The annual award, Chameli Devi Jain Award recognizes social concern, dedication, courage and compassion. It received over 40 entries from all over India representing the print, broadcast and online media. Sherwani was chosen for her reporting from conflict situations in Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh while Rohini was chosen for her report on the NRC exercise in Assam.