Daily GK Updates - 12th June, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Indian Railways sets World Record to run first Double-stack Container Train in High Rise OHE electrified section of Western Railways: The Indian Railways has created a world record by commissioning the first high rise Over Head Equipment (OHE) and successfully running double-stack containers train, in the electrified sections of the Western Railway zone. The feat was achieved when the double-stack train commenced from Palanpur to Botad stations in Gujarat on 10 June 2020. In December 2019, Indian Railways conducted the trial run of the double-decker freight trains at the newly-built Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district. This achievement has made Indian Railways as the first Railways in the world to run double-stack container train with high reach pantograph in high rise OHE territory. The high rise OHE has a contact wire height of 7.57 metre.

Note: Union Minister of Railways: Piyush Goyal.

2. Andhra Pradesh government launches ‘Jagananna Chedodu’ scheme: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched a welfare scheme titled ‘Jagananna Chedodu’ to provide one time financial help to tailors, Rajakas (dhobis) and Nayee Brahmins (barbers), who had lost their livelihood due to COVID-19 pandemic. Under the scheme, the state government will provide a one-time financial assistance of Rs. 10,000 each to the 2.47 lakh beneficiaries under 60 years of age. The scheme costs the exchequer Rs. 247.04 crore.

Note: Governor: Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.

3. PM addresses 95th Indian Chamber of Commerce Plenary Session: PM Narendra Modi addressed 95th annual plenary session of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) via video conferencing. Self-Reliant India, Amendment to APMC Act, Organic farming, MSMEs, Research in the field of commerce were the focus area of the session. PM also urged companies to manufacture products that are ‘Made in India’ but are ‘Made for the World’. Indian Chamber of Commerce was founded in1925

Note: President ICC: Mayank Jalan; Headquarters: Kolkata.

4. Himachal Pradesh launches Panchvati Yojana for senior citizens: The Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Jai Ram Thakur has launched a scheme named ‘Panchvati Yojna’ for senior citizens of rural areas of the State. Under the scheme, parks and gardens would be developed in every Development block with necessary facilities under MNREGA Scheme of Rural Development Department. The main objective of the scheme is to enhance the life expectancy of the senior citizens, by providing them an opportunity to spend their leisure time in entertainment and strolling in these parks and gardens, keeping in view the health requirements. The project will be jointly coordinated by MGNREGA, Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), and 14th Finance Commission. During the current financial year 2020-21, as many as 100 such parks is proposed to be developed in different parts of the State.

Note: Governor: Bandaru Dattatraya.

5. Used mask disposal device “BIN-19” & “UV SPOT” launched in Kerala: Used mask disposal device “BIN-19” and “UV SPOT” has been launched in Kerala by VST Mobility Solutions as part of efforts to combat the COVID-19. These automated products would also help in preventing the environmental damages and will also solve the problem of disposal of used masks. “BIN-19” is a smart bin developed for the collection and disinfection of Used Face-Mask and is based on Internet of Things (IoT). The disinfecting device will be very handy in offices, homes, and other public places. UV SPOT is a UV light-based multipurpose disinfector having ultraviolet disinfection lamps and is capable of disinfecting a broad range of microorganisms.

Note: CEO of VST Mobility Solutions: Alvin George.

6. ‘India Rankings 2020’ for Higher Educational Institutions released: The Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, virtually released ‘India NIRF Rankings 2020’ of Institutions of Higher Education in New Delhi. It is the fifth consecutive edition of India Rankings of the institutions of higher education in India. The 2020 ranking has been released in 10 categories subject domains. The ranking framework evaluates institutions based on five broad groups of parameters: which are: Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RP), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) and Perception (PR). List of top Institutes in each category

Overall – Indian Institute of Technology Madras

University – Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru

Engineering – Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Management – Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

Colleges – Miranda House, Delhi

Pharmacy – Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi

Medical – All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Architecture – Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Law – National Law School of India University, Bengaluru

Dental – Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi

7. EPFO allows digital life certificates submission for pensioners: Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has allowed pensioners of Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) to submit life certificates closer to home at any of the 3.65 lakh common service centres (CVC) amid COVID-19. EPFO with CVC will provide the facility to submit Digital Jeevan Pramaan at any time of the year as per the convenience. They can also submit certificates through 135 regional offices and 117 district offices of the EPFO as well as banks.

8. DST constitutes joint Science Communication Forum: The Department of Science & Technology (DST) has constituted a joint Science Communication Forum to promote common policy & best practices. The aim of the forum is to facilitate interaction, cooperation, and coordination amongst various public sector science communication institutions and agencies. . It would be served by a Secretariat at the National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science & Technology. It will help the adoption of a common policy and best practices at a wider scale, ultimately aiming towards a National Science Communication framework.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Bangladesh launches online plasma exchange network ‘Shohojodha’ for COVID-19 treatment: The Government of Bangladesh has launched an initiative named ‘Shohojodha’, which is an online network to facilitate plasma exchange between recovered patients of COVID 19 and those undergoing treatment for Corona infection in the country. The initiative has been launched by the ICT division of the government of Bangladesh in collaboration with Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), a2i innovation lab and eGeneration to facilitate collection and distribution of plasma from patients who have recovered from Coronavirus.

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

2. World Day against Child Labour: 12th June: The World Day against Child Labour is held every year on June 12 to raise awareness and activism to prevent child labour. The theme for 2020 is “COVID-19 – Protect children from child labour now, more than ever”. It is an International Labour Organization (ILO)-sanctioned holiday first launched in 2002, and is intended to foster the worldwide movement against child labour in any of its forms. This year, the World Day will be conducted as a virtual campaign and is being organized jointly with the Global March Against Child Labour and the International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture (IPCCLA).

Note: Headquarters of International Labour Organization: Geneva, Switzerland; President of International Labour Organization: Guy Ryder; International Labour Organization Founded: 1919.

3. US State Dept releases International Religious Freedom Report: US State Department has launched annual International Religious Freedom (IRF) Report 2019. It describes the status of religious freedom in every country. The report describes change in the J&K status, CAA and NRC in India. It also makes detail description of mob lynching’s, cow vigilantism and laws depicting lawmaker’s failure to combat the situation. The report outlines the U.S. engagement and restrictions on India to be imposed by Trump administration.

4. Nature Index 2020 placed India at 12th rank in science research output: Nature Index table 2020 has been released placing India at 12th rank globally in science research output. USA secured the first position followed by China, Germany, United Kingdom and Japan. In the tops institutions list, CSIR bagged 160th rank, followed by IISc (184th). Nature Index is a database of research articles published in an independently selected group of 82 high-quality science journals. It is compiled by Springer Nature with headquarter at London.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Former Ukraine’s World Champion boxer Oleksandr Gvozdyk announces retirement: Former WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk has announced his retirement from boxing. During his professional career, Gvozdyk had 17 fights: 16 wins in a row before losing the WBC title to Artur Beterbiev in October last year. Gvozdyk won the WBC world champion title in December 2018. He represented Ukraine in the light heavyweight category at the 2012 Olympics and made his country proud by winning a bronze medal.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Empays partners Mastercard to enable contactless ATM withdrawals in India: Empays Payment Systems India, a cloud-based payment solutions provider, has joined hands with Mastercard to launch contactless ATM solution in India, in order to mitigate the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Under the partnership, Mastercard will help Empays to launch ‘Cardless ATM powered by Mastercard®’. Empays will be upgrade the basic technology behind the IMT Payment System to incorporate the requirements of Mastercard Cardless ATM enabling a true EMV-capable cash withdrawal transaction. The initiative will help users to digitally locate the nearest enabled ATM and initiate a withdrawal by following these 4 simple steps: (1) Open banking app; (2) Scan QR on ATM; (3) Authenticate withdrawal amount on banking app; (4) Pick-up cash from ATM.

Through this initiative users can withdraw money without the need to insert the physical debit/credit card into the ATM, and thereby minimising any unnecessary contact, making it safe, quick and easy for people to access cash. After USA, India is the only other country to make such contactless ATM facility available to users.

Note: Mastercard Headquarters: New York, U.S; Mastercard President and CEO: Ajaypal Singh Banga.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. OECD Projects India’s GDP at -7.3% for FY21 if coronavirus strikes again: The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in its OECD Economic Outlook, has projected India’s economy to contract 7.3 percent in the current fiscal year 2020-21 if there is a second wave of the coronavirus (Covid-19) later this year. However, OECD expects the economy to contract 3.7 percent during the year 2020 if there is no second wave. Further, for the fiscal year 2021-22, GDP is estimated at 8.1 percent in case of a second wave and at 7.9 percent in other case, i.e no second wave.

                                    

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Shobha Sekhar conferred with “Medal of the Order of Australia”: Indian Musician & founder of Kalakruthi music organisation in Australia, Shobha Sekhar will be conferred the “Medal of the Order of Australia” for her service to the community and the country. The medal of the order of Australia is awarded to the individuals contributing to their community or to Australia globally or domestically. She is the founder of Kalakruthi, music organisation in Australia.

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

DEFENCE

1. Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle Complex inaugurated at Vishakhapatnam: Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) Complex was inaugurated at Eastern Naval Command (ENC) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It has been designed to accommodate the newly inducted submarine rescue system and store the DSRV assets in the rescue-ready state. The Indian Navy has inducted two such systems which will provide rescue cover to submarines on the east and west coast of India. It also has Remote Operations Vehicle, Side Scan Sonar, Diver Decompression Chambers, and associated equipment. The system can be mobilized by air or road to facilitate submarine rescue operations even at distant locations.

Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.

OBITUARIES

1. European Cup winner Tony Dunne passes away:  Manchester United’s European Cup-winning defender Tony Dunne passed away. During his 13 year stint with the club, he made 535 appearances for the Manchester United club and played an instrumental role in club’s European Cup triumph in 1968. The Republic of Ireland capped Tony Dunne for 33 times. He ended his football career in 1979 while palying for the American club Detroit Express.

2. Former Planning Commission member Dr Vaidyanathan passes away: Dr A Vaidyanathan, a former member of the Planning Commission, has passed away. He served as a member of the perspective planning division of the Government of India’s Planning Commission from 1962 to 1972. Apart from this, Dr Vaidyanathan also served as professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies and Centre for Development Studies in Trivandrum. He also chaired the Government of India Task Force on Revival of Cooperative Credit Institutions in 2004 and was a member of the K.N. Raj Committee on Taxation of Agricultural Income (1969-70). 

Daily GK Updates - 11th June, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Centre allocates Rs 4,000 cr to states under ”Per Drop More Crop” for 2020-21: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has announced an annual allotment of Rs 4,000 crore to the state governments for the “Per Drop More Crop” component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for the financial year 2020-21. The Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmer’s Welfare is implementing the ”Per Drop More Crop” component of PMKSY-PDMC. The PMKSY- PDMC focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation technologies such as ‘Drip and Sprinkler’ irrigation systems which not only helps in saving water but also reduces fertilizer usage, labour expenses and other input costs.

Also, the government has created a Micro Irrigation Fund corpus of Rs 5,000 crore with NABARD for states. The objective of the fund is to facilitate the states in expanding coverage of micro irrigation by taking up special and innovative projects and incentivising micro irrigation beyond the provisions available under PMKSY-PDMC to encourage farmers to install micro irrigation systems

2. MHA Constitutes 9 Member Panel for welfare of freedom fighters: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reconstituted a committee to look into the welfare of freedom fighters. The nine member panel will be chaired by the minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy. The panel will have “eminent freedom fighters” from across the country as its other members.

It will look into the welfare and grievances of freedom fighters and their families.

3. GoI increases customs duty on bamboo from 10% to 25%: The Government of India has raised the Customs duty on bamboo imports from 10% to 25% with immediate effect. The decision to increase the Customs duty on bamboo imports was taken to encourage the use of domestic bamboo under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The newly decided customs duty will now be applicable uniformly to any import of bamboo, including by traders.

4. Population of Asiatic Lions in Gujarat’s Gir Forests increase by 28.87 percent: The population of Asiatic Lions in the Gir forest region of Gujarat has witnessed a massive jump of 28.87 percent in the last five years, from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020. The state forest department conducted an exclusive population estimation exercise called Poonam Avalokan (full-moon night estimation exercise), on the night of June 5 and 6 when there was full moon. The population of 674 comprises of 161 males, 260 females, 116 sub-adult lions and 137 cubs. It is the highest growth rate recorded so far. Besides this, the exercise also reveals that the area inhabited by lions (distribution area) has increased by 36 percent from 22,000 sq km in 2015 to 30,000 sq km in 2020.

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

5. Uttarakhand opens its biggest biodiversity park in Haldwani: The Uttarakhand forest department has opened state’s biggest biodiversity park in Haldwani, on the occasion of World Environment Day, to encourage conservation of flora, especially medicinal plants. The Uttarakhand Forest Research Wing Biodiversity Park is spread across 18 acres and has 40 thematic sections with around 500 species of plants. The plant species in the biodiversity park is divided into spiritual & religious, scientific, human health, and aesthetic value sections. The objective of the park is to showacse the importance of each plant in human lives.

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

6. TCS iON partners with NSDC to accelerate skill development: TCS iON has partnered with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). The partnership has been done to provide NSDC’s training partner’s access to the TCS iON Digital Glass Room in order to move classroom-based vocational skills training to online mode for students across the country. The partnership aims to strengthen NSDC’s online content aggregation platform – eSkill India – through which it enables e-learning amongst skill seekers and will contribute towards strengthening the Skill India mission.

Note: MD & CEO of National Skill Development Corporation: Manish Kumar.

7. NFL ties-up with ITI to train youth in various trades:  National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), Nangal, Punjab has tied up with Industrial Training Institutes (ITI), Nangal, Punjab to train youth in various trades so as to provide them employment in heavy and process industry. The partnership will give thrust to the “Skill India” initiative of the Government of India. As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), NFL will train youth in 12 trades to enhance the chances of their employbility in heavy as well as process industry.

Note: NFL HQ: Noida

Chief Minister of Punjab: Captain Amarinder Singh; Governor of Punjab: VP Singh Badnore.

8. Gargo International appointed Sonu Sood as Brand Ambassador: Gargo International (Delhi based lubricant company) has appointed Sonu Sood as its brand ambassador. The company praised Sonu Sood for his support works to migrant workers through the “Ghar Bhejo” and KhaanaChahiye initiative which raised Rs.57 lakhs. He also offered his Juhu hotel for quarantine facility. He is providing daily food for more than 45,000 needy through the “Shakti Annadanam” after his father Shakti Sagar Sood.

Note: Gargo International MD: Rajan Goel

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. QS World University Rankings 2021 released:  Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking 2021 has released. Only eight Indian institutes managed to feature in the top 500 of QS World University Ranking 2021. IIT Bombay has dropped 20 positions from last year’s world university ranking, IISc dropped by one position, and IIT- Delhi’s rank has slipped from the previous rank of 182. Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking 2021:

Ranks	Universities	Country
1st	Massachusetts Institute for Technology (MIT)	USA
2nd	Stanford University	USA
3rd	Harvard University	USA
4th	California Institute of Technology	USA
5th	University of Oxford	United Kingdom
172nd	Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay	India
185th	Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore	India
193rd	Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi	India
275th	Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras	India
314th	Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur	India
350th	Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur	India
383rd	Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee	India
470th	Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati	India

The QS World University Rankings evaluates the institutes on six metrics. These include academic reputation (40 percent weightage), employer reputation (10 percent), faculty/student ratio (20 percent), citations per faculty (20 percent), international faculty ratio/student ratio (5 percent each).

2. India is ranked 56th COVID-19 regional safety assessment report: Deep Knowledge Group releases COVID-19 regional safety assessment report of 200 countries dividing them into 4 tiers. The first tier is for safest countries and 4th is for riskiest nation for COVID-19. The report positioned India on 56th rank with a score of 532. Switzerland with a score of 752 was the safest place for COVID-19, followed by Germany, Israel, Singapore, Japan. China secured 7th rank, USA is ranked 58th and Pakistan has secured 148th.

3. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Richest Man in the World; Ambani at 12th Position: Bloomberg Billionaires Index: The Bloomberg Billionaires Index is a daily ranking of the world’s richest people. The latest ranking was released on 9 June 2020. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has emerged as the richest person in the world with a total net worth of $150 billion after he added almost $35 billion to his net worth so far this year. Bill Gates is the second richest person having total net worth of $115 billion Bernard Arnault ($94.7 billion), Mark Zuckerberg (87.9 billion) and Warren Buffett (79.4 billion), makes up the top five. India’s Mukesh Ambani is the 12th richest person in the world. The total net worth of Ambani is 57.2 billion.

4. Mumbai most expensive Indian city for expats, 19th most expensive in Asia: Mercer’s ‘2020 Cost of Living Survey: India’s financial capital Mumbai has emerged as the most expensive city in the country for expatriates in terms of cost of living, according to Mercer’s ‘2020 Cost of Living Survey’. Globally, Mumbai is the 60th most expensive city for expatriates, while it ranks 19th in Asia. Mumbai is followed by New Delhi (101 globally) and Chennai (143 globally) as the most expensive city. Meanwhile, Bengaluru (171) and Kolkata (185) are the least expensive Indian cities in the rankings.

Global Ranking: Overall, the list is topped by Hong Kong as the most expensive city in the world for expatriates in terms of cost of living. Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Tokyo (Japan) and Zurich (Switzerland) and Singapore are the top 5 cities in the ranking. On the other hand, Tunis in Tunisia, Windhoek (Namibia), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and Karachi (Pakistan) are the least expensive cities in the world.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. IWF cleared K Sanjita Chanu from anti-doping violation: International Weightlifting Federation has dropped doping charge against Indian weightlifter K Sanjita Chanu due to non-conformities of her sample on the recommendation of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The Manipur lifter had tested positive for testosterone, a banned anabolic steroid, in an out-of-competition test conducted by us Anti Doping Agency before participating within the 2017 world championships in Las Vegas. She won gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth (CW) games at Glasgow and 2018 CW games at Gold Coast in women's 48 kg and 53 kg category.

Note: WADA HQ: Montreal, Canada.

International Weightlifting Federation Headquarters: Budapest, Hungary; IWF President: Ursula Papandrea.

2. CAS Imposes 4-year doping ban on Russian High Jumper Alexander Shustov: Alexander Shustov, a Russian high jumper and 2010 European champion, has received a four-year ban for anti-doping violations. He has been suspended until 2024 for “use or attempted use of a banned substance or prohibited method” by the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). His ban was dated from June 5, and his results were disqualified for a period from 2013 to 2017. On 29 July at the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona, Spain, he achieved his personal best (2.33 metres) and won gold medal.

Note: Headquarters of CAS: Lausanne, Switzerland; President of the CAS Ordinary Division: Carole Malinvaud.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI bars People’s Co-operative Bank from granting loans, accepting deposits for 6 months: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has barred Kanpur-based People’s Co-operative Bank from granting fresh loans or accepting deposits for a period of six months, due to its weak financial position. The RBI also said that no amount of the total balance across all savings bank or current accounts or any other account of a depositor may be allowed to be withdrawn. These directions will remain in force for a period of six months from the close of business on June 10, 2020 and are subject to review. As per the restrictions, the bank shall not, without prior approval of RBI in writing grant or renew any loans and advances, make any investment, incur any liability including borrowal of funds and acceptance of fresh deposits, disburse or agree to disburse any payment whether in discharge of its liabilities and obligations or otherwise.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. S&P’s Retains India’s Sovereign Rating at BBB- with Stable Outlook: Global rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has retained India’s sovereign credit rating at BBB- with stable outlook for 13th year in a row. BBB- is the lowest investment grade. Some of the factors that led to S&P retaining the sovereign rating at BBB- with a stable outlook was India’s above average real GDP growth, sound external profile, strong democratic institutions that promote policy stability as well as economy’s limited external indebtedness, compared to peers at a similar level of income.

2. Anil Valluri appointed as Senior Director for Google Cloud in India: Anil Valluri has been appointed as the Senior Director for Google Cloud in India. Prior to his appointment, he was working as the President of India and SAARC operations for NetApp. He has also worked with Artiman Ventures and Sun Microsystems in India. He has 30 years of experience across sales and marketing in the hi-tech industry for customers across banking, telecommunications, public sector and manufacturing.

Note: MD Google Cloud India: Karan Bajwa.

3. Apple becomes first US Company to hit $1.5 trillion market cap: On 10 June 2020, US based tech-giant Apple Inc’s market capitalization surpassed $1.5 trillion, making it the first U.S. Company to reach that mark. Market capitalization is the share price multiplied by the number of outstanding shares of the company’s stock, yielding the company’s overall stock market value. At a current price of around $352 per share and with roughly 4.3 billion shares outstanding, Apple’s market capitalization is now at around $1.53 trillion.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Ramon Magsaysay Award cancelled amid COVID-19: Ramon Magsaysay Award 2020 has been cancelled due to COVID 19 pandemic. It is the highest Honor of Asia and is regarded Asia’s Nobel Prize. It is awarded every year to individuals or organizations from Asia for altruistic and philanthropic service. It was established in 1957 in the memory of Philippines’ 3rd President Ramon Magsaysay. Ravish Kumar was awarded with this award in 2019 for “harnessing journalism to give voice to the voiceless” category.

DEFENSE

1. GRSE delivers ‘ICGS Kanaklata Barua’, fifth and final ship in Fast Patrol Vessels’ series to Indian Coast Guard: Kolkata-based premier warship builder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) delivered ICGS Kanaklata Barua, the fifth and final ship in the series of Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) for the Indian Coast Guard. This is the 105th vessel conveyed by the Defense PSU shipyard dependent on the banks of stream Hooghly. Its speed can exceed 34 knots with an endurance>1,500 nautical miles. It is fuel-efficient patrolling, anti-smuggling, anti- poaching and rescue ship with 40/60 mm gun.

The first three FPVs in the series are ICGS Priyadarshini, ICGS Annie Besant and ICGS Amrit Kaur. The fourth ship named Yard 2116 in the series of FPVs is earmarked for export delivery to the Seychelles Coast Guard. GRSE will make another ship for the ICG as a replacement to the one diverted to the Seychelles Coast Guard.

Note: Headquarters of GRSE: Kolkata, India; Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GRSE: Vipin Kumar Saxena.

OBITUARIES

1. TV Actor Jagesh Mukati passes away: Television actor Jagesh Mukati (47 years) passed away in Mumbai due to severe bronchial asthma. He worked in shows like Amita Ka Amit and Shree Ganesh. Jagesh Mukati was also featured in Gujarati plays and shows. He was also seen in Parineeti Chopra-Sidharth Malhotra starrer Hasee Toh Phasee movie. He was a member of Cine and TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA) since December 2008. He has also performed in 1999 Amir Khan Starrer Movie 'Mann'.

Daily GK Updates - 10th June, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Centre mandates to display green sticker on all BS-VI compliant vehicles of any type: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification, making it mandatory for all BS-VI compliant motor vehicles of any fuel type to have a strip of green colour of 1 cm width, at the top of the existing third registration sticker plate. This means for petrol or CNG, which have a light blue colour sticker and a diesel vehicle which is of orange colour sticker, both will have a green strip of 1 CM on top as mandated. This green strip will carry details of registration of BS-VI vehicle and its fuel type. The order will come into force from October 1, 2020. The order has been issued by amending the Motor Vehicles (High Security Registration Plates) order, 2018.

2. World Bank lends Rs 1950 crore loans to West Bengal: The World Bank has sanctioned loan amount worth Rs. 1,950 crore to the West Bengal Government for tackling COVID situation and developmental work in the State. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee informed that out of the total loan amount, Rs. 1,100 crore will be spent for creating Industrial infrastructures and remaining Rs. 850 crore have been allocated for spending on various Social-Welfare schemes.

Note: Chief Minister of West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee; Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar.

President of World Bank: David Malpass.

3. DIAT develops ‘ANANYA’ disinfectant spray to combat COVID-19: Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune has developed nanotechnology based disinfectant spray “ANANYA”. It can be used on masks, PPEs, hospital linens, and other contaminated surfaces like medical instruments, elevator buttons, doorknobs, corridors, and rooms.  It is a water-based disinfectant spray with nanotechnology assisted formulation that can be used by anyone, from a common man to a healthcare worker, for the individual as well as on large scale and will be effective for more than 24 hours. It is non-toxic for human and has a shelf life of more than 6 months.

Note: Vice-Chancellor of DIAT: CP Ramnarayanan; Headquarters of DIAT: Pune, Maharashtra.

4. IIT-Guwahati students develop mobile app ‘Flyzy’ for contactless air travel: A team of students from IIT-Guwahati has developed a mobile application ‘Flyzy’ for seamless and contactless air travel, to help not only during the current pandemic but also during non-crisis situations. Flyzy has been developed as per International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines. It will enable safe and contactless boarding including easier baggage drop, manageable parking, better shopping experience and providing necessary updates during the whole journey. The application also has a Smart UI Assistant which helps the elderly to use the app easily. Other features of the application include real-time flight notifications, universal Web Check-in portal, check-in baggage status and map of the airport. Flyzy also supports multi-currency payments. The app has been developed by the group under a startup Flyzy, which has been recognised by the Startup India. The team aims to build Flyzy as India’s finest aviation IT Technology Company for providing a stress-free and safe journey to flyers.

Note: International Air Transport Association (IATA) Headquarters: Montreal, Canada; International Air Transport Association Founded: 19 April 1945.

5. NCERT & Rotary India signs MoU for e-learning telecast content: National Council Of Educational Research And Training has digitally signed an MoU with Rotary India Humanity Foundation under the guidance and support of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to make e-learning more constructive and will ensure that e-learning reaches children across the nation with NCERT approved content. The MoU has been signed for e-learning content telecast for class I to XII over all NCERT TV channels. It will also provide the e-content in Hindi language and special need children along with Teacher Training content. The details of the tie-up are as follows:

NCERT TV Tie-up: The telecast of curriculum modules for classes 1-12 would take place through twelve national Television channels of NCERT.

DIKSHA App tie-up: The e-Learning modules would also be made available on GOI’s national mobile app “DIKSHA”.

Note: Director of National Council Of Educational Research And Training: Hrushikesh Senapaty.

Union Minister for Human Resource Development: Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.

6. Lawyer Javed Iqbal Wani appointed as J&K High Court Judge: President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed senior Kashmiri lawyer Javed Iqbal Wani as a Judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. His appointment was recommended on January 22 by the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde. This is for the first time after 2013 that a Kashmiri has been elevated as a judge of the High Court from Bar quota.

Note: Lieutenant Governor of Jammu: Girish Chandra Murmu.

7. India is set to launch first coal trading platform: India is all set to launch its first coal trading platform on the lines of commodity or energy exchanges. It will provide a single platform for open market trading of coal produced in country with no barriers to free-market activity. This will end Fuel Supply Agreements (FSA) regime of Coal India where state-run miner signs contracts for coal supply with consumer. The government is aiming to bring 'avoidable coal imports' to 0 by 2023-24.

Note: Coal Minister: Pralhad Joshi.

8. Twitter launches new feature ‘Fleets’ in India: Twitter has launched new test feature called ‘Fleets’ in India on the lines of Instagram or Facebook stories feature. This will allow users to post messages for 24 hours. Fleets will not have likes, retweets, or public replies features. India is the third test market for fleet feature after Brazil and Italy. It will be available on the latest version of the Twitter app only and not on the desktop version of the app. Fleet’s can be seen on the top of the home page.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Myanmar military “Tatmadaw” returns to Facebook: Myanmar military “Tatmadaw” has decided to use Facebook again to provide ‘accurate’ news to people. Facebook had removed several accounts linked to the Myanmar military in 2018 due to the UN fact mission blaming human rights abuse in the Rakhine province of Myanmar. Facebook evacuated the records hours after a United Nations truth discovering crucial a report that blamed the Tatmadaw for slaughter and atrocities in northern Rakhine State in 2017. Facebook also removed 425 Facebook pages, 17 groups and 135 Facebook accounts and 15 Instagram accounts linked to the Myanmar military.

Note: Capital of Myanmar: Naypyitaw; The currency of Myanmar: Burmese kyat; President of Myanmar: Win Myint.

Tatmadaw spokesperson: Zaw Min Tun

2. India Secures 168th Rank in Environment Performance Index 2020, Denmark Tops: The 12th edition of the biennial Environment Performance Index (EPI Index 2020) was released by the Yale University to indicate which countries are best addressing the environmental challenges. India has secured 168th rank in the 2020 EPI Index, among 180 countries, with a score of 27.6 out of 100. India was ranked at 177 with a score of 30.57 in 2018. Denmark has topped the index of 2020, followed by Luxembourg, Switzerland at next two positions. Among South Asian countries, Bhutan (107 rank) topped the list followed by Sri Lanka. The EPI index is developed by Yale University and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The prestigious Environmental Performance Index uses 32 performance indicators, across 11 issue categories, to provide a scorecard that can help policymakers and the public assess how well their countries are doing.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Athlete Gomathi Marimuthu banned for doping charges: Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has banned Gomathi Marimuthu for 4-years after she tested positive for banned substances. Her ban will start from 17th May 2019 and end on 16th May 2023. All of Gomathi’s competition results between March 18 and May 17, 2019, stand invalid. She was tested positive for anabolic steroid nandrolone. She can approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She is fined with £1,000 towards legal and other expense to Athletics Integrity Unit

Note: Athletics Federation of India President: Adille J. Sumariwalla; Athletics Federation of India Headquarters: New Delhi.

Athletics Integrity Unit president: Brett Clothier; Athletics Integrity Unit Headquarters: Monaco.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. RBI Drafted Frameworks for Securitisation of Standard Assets: RBI has drafted documents for public comments titled ‘Draft Framework for Securitisation of Standard Assets’ and ‘Draft Comprehensive Framework for Sale of Loan Exposures’ till June 30, 2020. It is aimed at strong security structure market, resetting of credit enhancements in India. These frameworks will be applicable to all Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs); All India Financial Institutions (NABARD, NHB, EXIM Bank and SIDBI); and all NBFCs including HFCs.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. S&P Global Ratings forecasted 5% shrink in India economy FY21: American credit rating agency, S&P Global Ratings has released ‘Financial Conditions Reflect Optimism, Lockdown Fatigue Emerges’ report on emerging markets. In the report, Indian economy is forecasted to shrink by 5% in fiscal year 2020-21. The current fiscal stimulus worth 1.2% of GDP is not sufficient to provide significant growth support as per the report. It also projects India’s growth to rebound to 8.5% in the fiscal year 2021-22. It has also projected India’s growth to be 6.5% in the fiscal year 2022-23.

2. IL&FS sells 50% stake in GIFT city to Gujarat government: Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS) has completed the sale of its 50% stake in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) which were bought by the Gujarat Urban Development Company Ltd (GUDCL), on behalf of the Gujarat government, at an amount of Rs 32.71 crore. IL&FS has received Rs 32.71 crore as equity value for shares. Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Ltd (GIFTCL) is active in the business of real estate development.

3. Jio Platforms raises Rs 5683.50 crore from ADIA: Continuing its fund-raising spree, Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), has raised Rs 5,683.50 crore from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). This is the eighth in a series of fund raising by Jio Platforms since April 22. ADIA’s investment will translate into a 1.16 per cent equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis, RIL said in a regulatory filing. With the latest round, Jio Platforms has raised a total of Rs 97,885.65 crore from global technology and growth investors such as Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic, KKR and Mubadala. It raised two rounds of funding from Silver Lake in the past seven weeks.

                                    

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Indian origin Renjith Kumar honoured with “NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal”: Virginia-based Indian entrepreneur and engineer, Dr. Renjith Kumar has been bestowed with NASA Distinguished Service Medal by US space agency for his administrations to NASA agency through executive leadership, engineering contribution, technical excellence and consumer loyalty. ‘Renji’, as he is popularly called, is only the second Indian after R K Chetty Pandipati to win the coveted award. RK Chetty Pandipati won the honour in 2002. The 57-year-old Dr. Renjith, hailing from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram, has about 30-year long association with NASA, and had even helped redesign the International Space Station (ISS). He is presently the CEO Emeritus of the Virginia based Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA).

Note: The NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal is the highest honor given by NASA to anyone who was not a government employee when the service was performed.

Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States; The administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Jim Bridenstine.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Union Minister Arjun Charan Sethi Passes Away: Former Union minister Arjun Charan Sethi has passed away. He was 79. Arjun Charan Sethi served as Union Water Resources Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government from 2000 to 2004. He was Member of Parliament from from Bhadrak Lok Sabha constituency for 8 times as a congress, Janata Dal, and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate. The veteran politician was also elected to Odisha Assembly twice on Janata Dal ticket in 1991 and 1995 from Bhandaripokhari.

Daily GK Updates - 9th June, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. CBIC launches flagship programme “Turant Customs”: Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has launched flagship programme titled “Turant Customs” at Bengaluru and Chennai. It is a mega reform for ease of doing business by facilitating faster Customs clearance of imported goods. Under this, Importers will get clearance from Customs after faceless assessment by officers located outside the port of import. It will be initiated all over the country till 31st December 2020.

Note: Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs: M. Ajit Kumar.

2. Tech Mahindra signs UN Global Compact Initiative to curtail emissions: Tech Mahindra has signed a joint declaration with UN Global Compact and hence joined 155 global companies in calling for policies to build resilience against future shocks by supporting the activities targeted to hold global temperature rise to within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in order to reach net-zero emissions before 2050. Tech Mahindra seeks to reduce carbon footprint and emissions by moving towards a zero-carbon resilient economy. It will achieve its objective with the use of new-age technologies such as internet of things, artificial intelligence and blockchain.

Note: Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Tech Mahindra: CP Gurnani.

Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact: Lise Kingo.

3. Andhra Pradesh launches online waste management platform for safe disposal of industrial waste: The Andhra Pradesh government has launched an online Waste Exchange Platform to ensure 100 percent safe disposal of industrial toxic wastes. The platform was launched by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on the occasion of World Environment Day. The state government has termed the initiative as first-of-its kind in India. The Andhra Pradesh Environment Management Corporation (APEMC) will handle the platform, with the concept of ”6Rs” which are Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refurbish, Redesign and Remanufacture. APEMC online waste exchange platform will enable collection and disposal of liquid waste, air pollutants, and hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste in a comprehensive manner.

How will it work?? Any company having certain amount of industrial waste can put the details on the website. On the other hand, another company, which has the facility to dispose of industrial waste or which has an industrial waste management system, can furnish its charges to dispose of the waste. It is like a stock exchange website, but here only industrial waste will be exchanged.”

Note: Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy; Governor: Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.

4. Rajasthan Goverment launches “Raj Kaushal Portal”: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot has launched ‘Raj Kaushal Portal’ and ‘Online Shramik Employment Exchange’ The portal has been developed by the department of Information and Technology (IT) and Rajasthan Skill & Livelihoods Development Corporation (RSLDC) to improve availability of opportunities for migrant workers. ‘Online Shramik Employment Exchange’ includes data of over 12 lakh migrant workers including registered workers of planning offices, building and other construction boards.

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

5. Gairsain Officially Named as Uttarakhand’s Summer Capital: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat formally declared Gairsain in Chamoli district as the summer capital of the state on 8 June 2020. The announcement regarding same was made by Mr Rawat during the budget session of the state assembly on March 4, 2020. The winter capital of Uttarakhand will be Dehradun. The move will develop these hilly areas along with providing tribute to those who fought for statehood of this region. It is the only state after Jammu & Kashmir to have two different capitals for summer and winter.

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

6. World’s first ‘Internet-controlled’ robot ‘Coro-bot’ Developed by Maharashtra’s Engineer: A 23-year old engineer, Pratik Tirodkar, from Maharashtra’s Thane has developed a first-of-its kind ‘Internet-controlled’ robot specifically to address the needs of hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. Pratik Tirodkar is the founder of a start-up PNT Solutions, Dombivali. The robot, called ‘Coro-bot’ can independently dispenses food, water, beverages, medicines and even give some good advice to Corona patients without the needs for nurses, ward staff or other care-givers. Coro-bot can be operated from any location in the world using Internet of Things (IoT) technology. For this a special app has also been created by the company, through which the robot will be controlled. This unique Coro-bot is currently deployed successfully at the Holy Cross Hospital in Kalyan.

7. Manipur CM inaugurates ‘Plant Health Clinic’ in Imphal: Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh has inaugurated “Plant Health Clinic” at the Directorate of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Imphal. The aim to open the clinic is to boost the economic growth of Manipur through agriculture and horticulture. Along with the clinic, the Chief Minister also launched a mobile soil testing laboratory van.

Note: Governor of Manipur: Najma Heptulla.

8. Odisha cabinet gives state anthem status to “Bande Utkala Janani”: The state cabinet of Odisha chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has adopted “Bande Utklala Janani” or Glory to mother Utkala as the anthem of Odisha through video-conferencing. The anthem has been written by Kantakabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra in 1912. The anthem will be played or sung in schools, colleges, meetings, cultural events. Whenever the anthem is sung or played, everyone will have to stand in attention except senior citizens, patients, infants, disabled and pregnant women

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

9. Gujarat Tops FSSAI’s State Food Safety Index 2019-20: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released the second edition of the State Food Safety Index, for evaluating food safety across all States/UTs in 2019-20. The index ranks states on five parameters of food safety: human resources and institutional data, compliance, food testing facility, training and capacity building besides consumer empowerment. In the list of larger states, Gujarat has topped the index, followed by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Among the smaller states, Goa came first followed by Manipur and Meghalaya. Among Union Territories, Chandigarh, Delhi and Andaman Islands secured top three spots.

10. NIPER Guwahati and Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd signs MoU: National Institute of Pharmaceuticals Education and Research (NIPER), Guwahati signs MoU with Hindustan Antibiotic Limited, Pune for mass production of 3D printed antimicrobial faceshields. NIPER has developed 3D-printed antimicrobial face shield, multi-layered masks. These objects are highly protective, transparent, easy to wear and antimicrobial. They are very handy, user-friendly, non-fragile and easy to clean. NIPER has also filed patent at Indian Patent Office.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India signs MoU with Denmark for cooperation in power sector: India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on “Energy Cooperation” with Denmark to develop a strong, deep and long-term co-operation between two nations in the power sector. The MoU was signed between the Ministry of Power, Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry for Energy, Utilities and Climate, Government of the Kingdom of Denmark. The focus area under MoU are offshore wind, long term energy planning, forecasting, flexibility in the grid, incentivize flexibility, variability in renewable energy production etc. As per the MoU, India & Denmark will also establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) for implementation of the identified areas.

Note: Prime Minister of Denmark: Mette Frederiksen; Capital of Denmark: Copenhagen; Currency: Danish krone.

2. New Zealand declares itself free from “Coronavirus”: The Health Ministry of South-Pacific nation, New Zealand has declared that the nation has become free from “Coronavirus”. The announcement was made when the last person who was being monitored for coronavirus was released from isolation and regarded as recovered. Hence, New Zealand has announced to lift all the coronavirus measures that were implemented in the country and move to national alert level 1 from midnight on 9 June 2020. Border controls will remain in place in an effort to prevent infected people from bringing the virus into New Zealand.

Note: Prime Minister of New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern; Capital of New Zealand: Wellington.

3. World Accreditation Day (WAD): 9th June: The World Accreditation Day (WAD) is celebrated globally on 9th June every year to highlight and promote the role of accreditation in trade & economy. The theme for WAD 2020 is “Accreditation: Improving Food Safety”. WAD is a global initiative, jointly established by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), to raise awareness of the importance of accreditation.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Chelsea awarded Women’s Super League title, Aston Villa win Women’s Championship: Chelsea FC Women were named the Womens Super League champions overtaking Manchester City on a points-per-game record, following the termination of the 2019/20 season last month. The Blues were in second place but with one game in hand over Manchester City who were a point ahead when it was decided the league is to finish prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the basic points-per-game system, Aston Villa Women were announced as champions of the Women”s Championship.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Govt launches NIL GST return filing facility through SMS: Government has rolled out filing of NIL GST monthly return in FORM GSTR-3B through SMS. This will improve ease of GST compliance for over 22 lakh registered taxpayers who log into their account on the common portal for filing their returns every month. Taxpayers must file GST return every month even when no invoices are issued through GST Portal NIL return. GSTR status can be tracked on the GST Portal by logging into GSTIN account-Services-Returns-Track Return Status.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. World Bank Projects Indian Economy to Contract by 3.2% in FY21: The World Bank has projected India’s economy to contract 3.2% in the fiscal FY21, in its latest Global Economic Prospects report, released on 8 June 2020. However, the Washington-based multilateral lender expects the Indian economy to recover to grow at 3.1% in the financial year 2021-22. The World Bank has also projected that the global economy will shrink by 5.2 percent in 2020 due to the massive shock of the coronavirus pandemic and the shutdown measures to contain it, depicting deepest recession since World War II with largest declining per capita output since 1870 of 3.6%. Economic activity in advanced economies will shrink 7%. Emerging market and developing economies will also shrink by 2.5%.

2. Prabhakar Raghavan announced New Head of Google Search: Google has announced that it has appointed Prabhakar Raghavan as the head of Search and Assistant. Raghavan will be taking over the position from Ben Gomes who is shifting to a new role in the organisation and will report to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar becomes first Indian to receive Richard Dawkins Award 2020: India’s renowned Poet, lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar has been bestowed with the prestigious Richard Dawkins Award for 2020 for critical thinking, holding religious dogma upto scrutiny, advancing human progress and humanist values. Akhtar has become the first ever Indian to receive this honour.

Note: The Richard Dawkins award is given to a distinguished individual from the worlds of science, scholarship, education or entertainment, who publicly proclaims the values of secularism and rationalism, upholding scientific truth wherever it may lead. The award is named after world-renowned English evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and is presented by the Centre for Inquiry USA in which The Richard Dawkins Foundation is housed.

DEFENSE

1. IAF inducts indigenously developed pod ARPIT to evacuate critical patients from remote areas: The Indian Air Force has designed, developed and inducted a unique pod called ARPIT. ARPIT stands for Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation. It will be utilised for the evacuation of critical patients with infectious diseases including COVID-19 from high altitude areas, isolated and remote places. This indigenously designed system has been developed at a cost of Rs 60,000. The system has been developed as a lightweight isolation system made from aviation certified material, and that too, only indigenous materials. It has life support, monitoring and essential instruments. It will prevent crew from infection. The IAF is inducting a total of 7 ARPITs as of now.

Note: Air Chief Marshal: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria; Indian Air force founded: 8 October 1932; Indian Air force Headquarters: New Delhi.

OBITUARIES

1. Burundi’s Incumbent President Pierre Nkurunziza Passes Away: The President of the Republic of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza has passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest after the former rebel chief spent 15 often turbulent years in power. He was 55. Nkurunziza's death comes just weeks before he was due to officially step down following Evariste Ndayishimiye's electoral victory last month. A former army general, Ndayishimiye became the president-elect after winning the candidacy for Nkurunziza's ruling party, the Hutu nationalist CNDD-FDD.