Daily GK Updates - 22nd July, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. CSIR-CMERI unveils COVID Protection System for Workplace: The COVID Protection System for Workplace has been unveiled by the CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur. The COPS for Workplace comprises of three units namely contactless Solar Based Intelligent Mask Automated Dispensing Unit cum Thermal Scanner (IntelliMAST), Touchless Faucet (TouF) and 360° Car Flusher.

IntelliMAST: With the help of customised Software solutions, this intelligent surveillance kiosk will determine the body temperature and finds out whether an individual is wearing Face Mask or not.

Touchless Faucet (TouF): This system has been launched for households and Office Spaces. It dispenses Liquid Soap and Water from the same Faucet with a time-gap of 30 seconds, and help in containing the spread of infection among the family members, for any asymptomatic individual.

360° Car Flusher: This system will be applicable to sanitize cars as it comprises a Sodium Hypochlorite Water Screen which uses specialised Nozzle Design to ensure that the Sanitizer Diffused Water is evenly spread over and under the Car Body/Wheels with adequate Water Force and coverage.

 

2. PNB launches campaign to distribute face masks & sanitizers: Punjab National Bank has launched a nation-wide campaign to distribute face masks and sanitizers to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The PNB’s campaign was launched by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan. This campaign has been launched by PNB under the Corporate social responsibility (CSR). Under this campaign, Punjab National Bank will distribute such material in 662 districts throughout the country. The campaign also featured the participation of PNB’s 22 zonal offices across the nation via video conferencing.

Note: MD and CEO of Punjab National Bank: S.S. Mallikarjuna Rao.

 

3. Chhattisgarh launches ‘Godhan Nyay Yojna’, to boost rural economy: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched ‘Godhan Nyay Yojana’ on 21 July 2020, under which the state government will purchase cow dung from the cattle rearers at the rate of Rs 2 per kg. The women self-help groups will then prepare vermicompost from it, which will then be sold at Rs 8 per kg to farmers, while the dung will be utilized for other products. The scheme will help to promote cattle rearing, ensure safety of livestock, help cattle ranchers earn extra income, help in tackling the problem of open grazing by stray cattle and encourage use of organic fertilizers as well as boost rural economy among other things.

 

4. Tamil Nadu Labour dept launches web portal for unorganised sector: Tamil Nadu Labour Dept has launched dedicated web portal for unorganized sector workers ‘labour.tn.gov.in’. It will help thousands of workers in the present pandemic situation in which there is a travel restriction. Tamil Nadu Govt is running 17 different welfare boards for the unorganised sector workers offering educational scholarships, marriage assistance and skill training to the wards of the members, health facilities and insurance.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. SpaceX Launches South Korea’s Military Communications Satellite ANASIS-II: On 20 July 2020, Elon Musk-owned private operator SpaceX launched South Korea’s first dedicated military communications satellite, named ANASIS-II on-board its Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket from SLC-40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. ANASIS-II stands for Army/Navy/Air Force Satellite Information System 2. It is a secure communications satellite for the South Korean Agency for Defense Development and will supplement the Koreasat-5/ANASIS-I satellite, a combined civilian and military communications satellite launched in 2006. With this successful launch, South Korea has become the 10th country in the world to own a military-only communications satellite, which will provide “permanent and secured military communications”.

Note: South Korea President: Moon Jae-in; South Korea Capital: Seoul; South Korea Currency: South Korean Won.

SpaceX founder & CEO: Elon Musk; SpaceX president & COO: Gwynne Shotwell; SpaceX Founded: 2002; SpaceX Headquarters: California, United States of America.

 

2. India, Maldives sign agreement for establishment of ‘Emergency Medical Services’ unit in Male: India and Maldives have signed an MVR 8 Million agreement for establishment of ‘Emergency Medical Services’ Centre in Dharavandhoo, an island located north of the country’s capital, Male. The project includes the development of a fully-fledged emergency centre, training facilities and office space within Dharavandhoo Hospital, to: enhance timely access to quality emergency care; increase collaboration between healthcare facilities and disaster response agencies; overcome the challenges presently faced by Dharavandhoo Hospital, especially during this critical time of need.

Out of the total MVR (Maldivian rufiyaa) 8.45 million, The government of India is providing a grant of MVR 7.5 million and rest MVR 980,800 will be taken from the state budget of Maldives. The project is one of the several small and medium projects that are being financed by India under a grant assistance of around 20 million US dollars for the neighbouring country.

Note: President of the Maldives: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih; Capital of Maldives: Male; Currency of the Maldives: Maldivian Rufiyaa.

 

3. Indian direct selling industry ranks 15th globally, US tops: WFDSA Report: The Indian direct selling industry, is ranked 15th globally, in terms of overall sale in 2019, as per ‘The Global Direct Selling – 2019 Retail Sales’ report by Washington-based World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA). The Indian direct selling industry improved its ranking from 19th in 2018 to 15th in 2019. Indian industry recorded sales of USD 2.47 billion in 2019, a growth of 12.1 percent than last year. However, the global direct selling industry reported an overall decline of 4.3 percent in sales to USD 180.47 billion in 2019. As per the report, the United States Direct Sale Industry is leads the list, contributing 20 percent of the global direct selling industry with sales of USD 35.21 billion. It is followed by China (13 %), Korea (10%), Germany (10%) and Japan (9%) among the top five countries.

 

4. World Bank Retains India’s Classification as Lower-Middle Income Group Economy for 2020-21: India has retained its position as lower-middle income group economy in the new World Bank Country Classifications by Income Level 2020-2021. India became a lower-middle-income nation from low-income in the fiscal year 2009. Every year, the World Bank classifies the world’s economies in four income groups, which includes low, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income countries. These classifications are updated annually on July 1 based on the country’s GNI per capita in current USD (using the Atlas method exchange rates) of the previous year. A country’s GNI per capita, changes with economic growth, inflation, exchange rates, and population, revisions to national accounts methods and data. Classification for 2020-21:

For the fiscal year 2020-21, a total of 218 countries have been listed, which includes all World Bank member countries (189), and other economies with populations of more than 30,000. Out of these total 218 economies, 83 are in the high-income group, 56 in the upper-middle group, 50 in the lower-middle income group and 29 in the low-income group. The GNI per capita range to classify countries in the four different groups are given below:

Low income – GNI per capita < $1,036 (means GNI per capita, of this group is $1,035 or less in 2019)

Lower-middle income – GNI per capita between $1,036 – $4,045

Upper-middle income – GNI per capita between $4,046 – $12,535

High income – GNI per capita > $12,535

 

5. Science Exploration Day: 20 July: The Science Exploration Day (also called Moon Day) is marked every year on 20 July. It was on this day in 1969 that Neil Armstrong and Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin became the first humans to land on the Moon’s surface. Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon’s surface. The Armstrong- Aldrin duo spent 21.5 hours on the surface of the moon out of which they spent 2.5 hours outside of their capsules. To commemorate their achievement, the day was declared a holiday in 1984 by the then President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. CBDT and CBIC sign MoU for exchange of information on automatic and regular basis: The Central Board of Direct Taxes, (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, (CBIC) have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for exchange of information between the two organizations. The MoU was signed by CBDT Chairman Pramod Chandra Mody and CBIC Chairman M. Ajit Kumar, on 21 July 2020. This new MoU supersedes the MoU signed between CBDT and the erstwhile Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) in the year 2015. The MoU comes into force from the date it was signed and is an ongoing initiative of CBDT and CBIC. The latest MoU will facilitate the sharing of data and information between CBDT and CBIC on an automatic and regular basis. CBDT and CBIC will also exchange with each other, on request and spontaneous basis, any information available in their respective databases which may have utility for the other organization. A Data Exchange Steering Group has also been constituted for this purpose, which will meet periodically to review the data exchange status and take steps to further improve the effectiveness of the data sharing mechanism.

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

Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes: Pramod Chandra Mody.

 

2. Ramesh Babu Boddu appointed as MD & CEO of Karur Vysya Bank: Board of Directors of the Karur Vysya Bank has appointed Ramesh Babu Boddu as a Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the bank. He has also been co-opted as an Additional Director. The appointment of Ramesh Babu Boddu has been made for a period of three years from the date of taking charge. He will succeed PR Seshadri who resigned on 31st March 2020. Ramesh Babu Boddu has earlier served as Deputy Managing Director in State Bank of India and retired in April 2020.

Note: Karur Vysya Bank HQs: Karur, Tamil Nadu

 

3. NFRA constitutes technical advisory committee under the chairmanship of Prof. R Narayanaswamy: Professor R Narayanaswamy, faculty of the Finance & Accounting discipline at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore, has been appointed as the Chair of the Technical Advisory Committee of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), the independent accounting and auditing regulator set up by the central government. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) comprises seven members. Functions of TAC:

(1) Advise the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) on how it can fulfill its mandate to protect the public interest and the interests of investors, creditors and other users of corporate financial statements; (2) Advise the Executive Body of the NFRA on issues related to the drafts of accounting standards and auditing standards; (3) Advise on development of measures of audit quality; (4) Advise on suitable methods for promoting awareness (a) relating to compliance with accounting and auditing standards and (b) of the role of the NFRA in protecting investors through independent auditor regulation.

Other members of the TAC are: Vidya Rajaram, chartered accountant; Gargi Ray, CFO of Infosys Consulting Group; Anantha Narayanan, former head of equity research at Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley; Shriram Subramanian, MD, InGovern; S Subramanian, CFO, Titan Company; and Suhas Tuljapurkar, Managing Partner, Legasis

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Ola rolls out enterprise solution ‘Ola Corporate’ to global customers: India-based mobility platform, Ola is rolling out its enterprise mobility solution ‘Ola Corporate’ across global markets. It will be rolling out the enterprise offering to customers across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The solution had first been introduced in the Indian market and had garnered 10,000 corporate users in the country. Ola Corporate will also offer a range of safety features under its Ride Safe initiative and will follow in class hygiene and sanitisation protocols for safer mobility amid the pandemic.

Note: Ola CEO: Bhavish Aggarwal; Ola Headquarters: Bengaluru.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Renowned Indian Animator Arnab Chaudhuri Posthumously Conferred with Toonz Media Award 2020: The prestigious ‘Legend of Animation’ award of the Toonz Media Group (TMG) has been posthumously conferred to the legendary animation director Arnab Chaudhuri, for his invaluable contribution to the animation and entertainment industry of India. The award was given on 20 July at the Animation Masters Summit (AMS) 2020 – Digital Edition, an annual event celebrated by Toonz Media Group. It was held digitally this year. The ‘Legend of Animation’ award is given away every year to honour a genius from the field of animation in India. Arnab, who passed away on December 25, 2019, was one of the pioneers of the Indian Animation industry, and his animation movie ‘Arjun: The Warrior Prince’ is the only animation from India to date to be longlisted for Oscar awards.

 

DEFENSE

 

1. US Navy and Indian Navy conduct naval exercise PASSEX in A&N: The United States Navy and the Indian Navy undertook Passage Exercise (PASSEX), a joint maritime drill in the Indian Ocean region near Andamans and Nicobar Islands on 20 July 2020. The high-end Passex exercise was carried out to maximize training and interoperability, including air defence of the two navies. The passage exercise involved a total of eight Indian and US warships. World’s largest aircarft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) along with Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), participated from US Navy. Four frontline warships of the Indian Navy took part from in the exercise. The Indian Navy had also conducted similar PASSEX exercises with Japanese Navy (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) and French Navy in recent past.

Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.

 

2. Indian Army Gets DRDO’s indigenously-developed Bharat Drone for accurate surveillance along China border: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has provided its indigenously-developed drone ‘Bharat’ to the Indian Army to conduct accurate surveillance in high altitude areas and mountainous terrain along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh, amid the ongoing border dispute between India and China. The Bharat series of drones has been developed by a Chandigarh-based laboratory of the DRDO, to carry out accurate surveillance in high altitude areas and mountainous terrain along India’s lines of control with Pakistan and China. It is among the world’s most agile and lightest surveillance drone. Key Features of Bharat Drone:

The Made-in-India, small yet powerful drone works autonomously at any location with great accuracy. Its unibody biomimetic design with advance release technology is a lethal combination for surveillance missions. It is equipped with artificial intelligence that helps it to detect friends and enemies and take action accordingly. It can survive in extreme cold weather temperature and is continuously being developed further for even harsher weather. It provides real-time video transmission during the entire mission and with very advanced night vision capabilities, it can detect people hidden in deep forests. It has been built in a way that makes it impossible to be detected by Radar.

Note: Indian Army Headquarters: New Delhi; Chief of the Army Staff: Manoj Mukund Naravane.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Spanish novelist Juan Marse passes away: Renowned Spanish novelist Juan Marse (87 years) passes away. He was on of the most respected novelist of Spain over the past few decades. He was the winner of Spanish-speaking world's top literary award ‘2008 Cervantes Prize’. His most famous work was ‘Úlitmas tardes on Teresa’ (Last Afternoons with Teresa) which was published in 1965 and was based on misadventure of a working-class adolescent who tries to win over a girl.

 

2. Former Australian test cricketer Barry Jarman passes away: Former Australian test wicketkeeper and ex-International Cricket Council match referee Barry Jarman has passed away. He was 84. Jarman made his test debut in 1959, and had captained Australia in one test on the 1968 Ashes tour of England. He is one of the five wicketkeepers turned captain of Australia, Jack Blackham, Billy Murdoch, Adam Gilchrist and Tim Paine being the others. Overall Jarman played in 19 tests for Australian team and scored two half-centuries among his 400 runs at an average of 14.81. He also served as an ICC match referee in 25 tests and 28 one-day internationals (1995-2001). He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1997. 

Daily GK Updates - 19th July, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. International Centre of Automotive Technology (ICAT) develops automotive technology e-portal ‘ASPIRE’: The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) is developing technology platform for the Indian Automotive Industry, to build a strong and self-reliant automotive industry in line with the vision of Make in India and Atma-Nirbhar vision of Government of India. The e-portal named ASPIRE (Automotive Solutions Portal for Industry, Research and Education) will act as a one stop solution, for the various stakeholders from the Indian auto industry like automotive OEMs, Tier 1 Tier 2 & Tier 3 companies, R&D institutions and academia (colleges & universities), to come other on a common platform and share ideas on matters involving innovation and adoption of global technological advancements, for ushering the industry into future with combined efforts. The portal can be accessed through https://aspire.icat.in. It will be launched in Phases. The Phase I of the portal has been launched on 15 July 2020, and includes connecting the users and experts on the portal for functionality assessment. Phase II of the portal which is expected by August 15, 2020 will include the posting of domain specific challenges, team formation and finalizing the milestones for the execution of projects for the said challenges and industry problems. The final phase of the portal is expected by 15 September, 2020, with hosting of the Grand challenges and providing an elaborate resource database and project monitoring and execution. The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) headquarters: Manesar, Gurugram, Haryana.

 

2. Mobile App of “PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi” launched: The mobile application of PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) has been launched to offer user friendly digital interface to the Lending Institutions (LIs) as well as to their field functionaries in order to source and process loan applications to the street vendors under the scheme. The launch of the mobile app is a step towards boosting the use of digital technology and will ensure maximum coverage of the scheme. The mobile app will promote paper-less digital accessing of micro-credit facilities by the Street Vendors and will give impetus to the implementation strategy of the PM SVANidhi scheme. The application have various features such as vendor search in the survey data, e-KYC of applicants, processing of applications, as well as real time monitoring. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the PM SVANidhi scheme to provide affordable Working Capital loan to street vendors in order to enable them resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to COVID-19 lockdown.

Note: Minister of State (I/C) for Housing and Urban Affairs: Hardeep Singh Puri.

 

3. Ministry of Finance releases Rs 15,187 crore as grants-in-aid to 2.63 lakh Rural Local Bodies: Ministry of Finance has released an amount of over 15,187 crore rupees as grants-in-aid to 2.63 lakh Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) spread in 28 States of the country. The amount was released upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and Jal Shakti Ministry. This grants-in-aid forms part of the Tied Grant as recommended by the 15th Finance Commission for the Financial Year 2020-21. It will be used by RLBs to facilitate taking up of various developmental work concerning supply of drinking water, rain water harvesting, water recycling, sanitation and maintenance of Open Defecation Free status which are national priorities.

 

4. Poba Reserve Forest in Assam will be upgraded to Wildlife Sanctuary: Assam Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal has announced, Poba Reserve Forest in Dhemaji district would be upgraded to a wildlife sanctuary. The announcement was made during a meeting with senior officials of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Majuli districts at Jonai. Poba Reserve Forest declared in 1924 with an area of 10,522 hectares is home to a large number of flora and fauna.

Note: Capital of Assam: Dispur; Governor of Assam: Jagdish Mukhi.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 2nd U.S.-India Strategic Energy Partnership held: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attended the 2nd Ministerial of US-India Strategic Energy Partnership (USISPF), which was co-chaired with US Secretary of Energy Dept, Dan Brouillette. The meeting was held in presence of US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster, Ambassador of India to US TS Sandhu and delegation from US and Indian sides.

Both sides reviewed the progress of the U.S-India Strategic Energy Partnership and emphasized the centrality of industry in expanding energy access and security between our economies. Energy related trade between the countries touched $8 billion in 2019 and is expected to increase by 20 percent in 2020. The USISPF gathering discussed how metallurgical coal and bioethanol will become part of U.S.-India energy trade. As India plans a cleaner and greener economy, Minister Pradhan discussed his intention of additional cooperation with U.S. energy labs on areas such as carbon capture, clean coal technologies, battery storage and large-scale grid integration of renewable energy. MoU was signed on Strategic Petroleum Reserves, storing oil and for India’s first-ever Solar Decathlon in 2021 USAID tied-up with POSOCO to develop India’s National Open Access Registry (NOAR). Public-private Hydrogen Task Force has also been launched.

 

2. India Ranks Third In Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2020, China Tops: Cushman & Wakefield Report: India is the third top-most country among 48 nations, in the 2020 Global Manufacturing Risk Index (MRI), for having the most-suitable locations for global manufacturing in terms of cost competitiveness and operating conditions. The annual Global Manufacturing Risk Index (MRI) report was released by the US-based property consultant Cushman & Wakefield, to rank the most suitable locations for global manufacturing among 48 countries in Europe, Americas, and the Asia-Pacific. China and the United States retain the top two positions respectively in MRI 2020, while India has moved one place higher from previous edition of the report, to rank third in MRI 2020. Each of the country has been assessed in four key areas: Bouncebackability, Conditions, Costs and Risks. The MRI 2020 report also includes analysis of the impact of Covid-19 on the global manufacturing sector and the ability of the countries to restart their manufacturing sectors once confinement measures are relaxed and business starts to return to normal.

 

3. At 273 million, India recorded world’s largest reduction in poverty from 2005-16: Oxford-UN study: About 273 million Indians were lifted out of multidimensional poverty, over a period of 10 years, between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016, according to a study conducted by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme. The study titled ‘Charting pathways out of multidimensional poverty: Achieving the SDGs’ was based on a global multidimensional poverty index (MPI) which annually measures the complexities of poor people’s lives, individually and collectively. The report noted that, India has recorded the largest reduction in the number of people living in poverty, among the 75 countries studied in MPI. Four countries namely India, Armenia, Nicaragua and North Macedonia, have reduced their MPI by half or more in 5.5 to 10.5 years. 65 out of 75 countries significantly reduced their multidimensional poverty levels, and of these 65, 50 also reduced the number of people living in poverty.

 

4. India in partnership with Chile & UN’s FAO Co-Hosted Event, “On the road to the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021”: India and Chile joins the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) and co-hosted the official launch of 2021 International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, the side event of 2020 High-level Political forum – “On the road to the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021. Chile had championed to declare the year 2021 as an ‘International Year of Fruits and Vegetables’ by UN General Assembly in 2019

 

5. New Android malware titled ‘BlackRock’ discovered: New Android malware titled ‘BlackRock’ has been discovered that steals data from 337 apps including Gmail, Amazon, Netflix, Uber, etc. It has enhanced features related to stealing passwords and credit card details and is based on the leaked source code of another malware strain ‘Xerxes’. It collects data through ‘Overlays’ technique. When a user interacts with legitimate app, it places a fake window on top that asks for login before the user enters the actual app.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Lewis Hamilton wins 2020 Hungarian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton won the Formula-1 Hungarian Grand Prix 2020 at Hungaroring, Mogyoród, Hungary. Max Verstappen (Dutch-Red Bull) was second, followed by Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes- Finland) at the third spot. Hungarian Grand Prix 2020 (Formula 1 Aramco Magyar Nagydij) was the third race of 2020 Formula-One World Championship. The other two Formula 1 Championship were held in Austria.

Note: Capital of Hungary: Budapest; The currency of Hungary: Hungarian forint; President of Hungary: Janos Ader.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Share of Industrial Credit in Total Bank Credit Dips to 31.5% in March: RBI Data: According to Reserve Bank data, the share of industrial credit in total bank credit declined to 31.5 per cent in March 2020 as against 33.1 per cent a year ago. The share of individuals in total bank credit has increased to 40.1 per cent in March 2020 (37.4 per cent a year ago and 30.8 per cent five years ago), whereas that of the private corporate sector has declined. Bank credit growth (year-on-year) continued to decelerate across all population groups and stood at 6.3 per cent in March 2020. However, bank branches in rural areas maintained a double-digit growth.

 

2. Income Tax Department launches tool for Banks to ascertain TDS applicability rates on cash withdrawals: The Income Tax Department launched a new tool for the banks and post offices that will ensure tax deduction at source (TDS) on the cash withdrawals beyond the threshold. With the help of the tool, post offices and banks will be able to ascertain the TDS applicability rates on the cash withdrawals of above Rs. 20 lakh in case a person is a non- filer of the income tax return and that of above Rs. 1 crore in case of a filer of Income-tax return. On the cash withdrawal exceeding Rs. 20 lakhs, TDS will be deductible at the rate of 2% and it will be deductible at the rate of 5% if the amount exceeds 1 Crore, in case the person withdrawing is a non- filer of the income tax return

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Marianna Vardinoyannis of Greece & Guinean Morissana Kouyate wins prestigious 2020 Nelson Mandela Prize: Marianna Vardinoyannis of Greece, and Doctor Morissana Kouyaté of Guinea has been recognised by the United Nations for the 2020 Nelson Mandela Prize. The winners were announced by the President of the UN General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, on 17 July 2020. The laureates will be honored during a virtual ceremony on 20 July, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vardinoyannis is a Greek philanthropist known for fighting childhood cancer and for a world without borders in health for about 30 years. Kouyate is Human rights activist known for his contribution towards violence against women and girls in Africa. The Nelson Mandela Prize is awarded in every five years to recognize those who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity, by promoting the purposes and principles of the United Nations, while honouring Nelson Mandela’s life, and legacy of reconciliation, political transition, and social transformation was 1st awarded in 2015.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Civil rights leader Cordy Tindell Vivian passes away: A civil rights veteran, The Rev Cordy Tindell Vivian who worked alongside the Rev Martin Luther King Jr, passed away. Vivian led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and became its interim president in 2012. He also helped in organizing the Freedom Rides to integrate buses across the south and trained waves of activists in non-violent protest. Vivian was honored by the Barack Obama with the presidential medal of freedom in 2013. Vivian also played an instrumental role in passing of the the Voting Rights Act when he tried to register Black voters in Selma, Alabama, that sparked hundreds, then thousands, to march across the Edmund G Pettus bridge.

 

2. Eminent Mathematician Prof. C S Seshadri Passes away: One of the eminent Indian mathematician of the post-Independence era, Professor C S Seshadri, has passed away. He was 88. He was the founder and Director-Emeritus of the Chennai Mathematical Institute, an institute for the study of mathematics in India. Prof. Seshadri is known for his work in algebraic geometry. The Seshadri constant (in algebraic geometry) is named after him. He was a recipient of country’s third highest civilian honor, Padma Bhushan in 2009. He also received  Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award and Srinivasa Ramanujan Medal. 

Daily GK Updates - 18th July, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Uttarakhand govt to generate electricity from waste: The Uttarakhand government has decided to convert waste generated in the state to electricity under an initiative titled ‘Waste to Energy’. According to Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB), this waste can generate up to 5 megawatts of electricity and curb pollution. The scheme also aims to solve the problem of unavailability of landfills to dispose of the solid waste across the hill state with has 10 out if 13 districts as hill areas.

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

 

2. CBSE ties-up with IBM to integrate AI curriculum in schools: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has integrated a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) course for class XI and XII in the current academic year (2020-2021). The curriculum was developed in collaboration with IBM (International Business Machines Corporation). The IBM AI curriculum is a part of CBSE’s Social Empowerment through Work Education and Action (SEWA) program. The IBM AI curriculum is structured around a course framework for students consisting of base strands of knowledge (basics, history, applications), skills (design thinking, computational thinking, data fluency, critical thinking) and values (ethical decision making, bias) in AI. It will be introduced in 200 schools across 13 states.

Note: CBSE Chairman: Manoj Ahuja; CBSE Head Office: Delhi.

IBM Executive Chairman: Virginia M. Rometty; IBM Chief Executive Officer: Arvind Krishna; IBM Headquarters: New York, United States of America.

 

3. Cabinet approves 2% Interest Subvention on prompt repayment of Shishu Loans : Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a scheme for interest subvention of 2% for a period of 12 months, to all Shishu loan accounts under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) to eligible borrowers.  The scheme will be extended to loans which meet the following criteria – outstanding as on 31st March, 2020; and not in Non-Performing Asset (NPA) category, as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, on 31st March 2020 and during the period of operation of the Scheme. The interest subvention would be payable for the months in which the accounts are not in NPA category including for the months that the account becomes a performing asset again, after turning NPA. The estimated cost of the Scheme would be approximately Rs. 1,542 crore which would be provided by the Government of India.

 

4. Andhra Pradesh to reorganise its 13 districts into 25 for optimal use of resources: The Andhra Pradesh cabinet decided to reorganise its 13 districts into 25 districts by March 31 in such a way that each of the 25 parliamentary constituencies will represent a new district. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s cabinet approved the decision to form a committee to look into reorganisation of existing 13 districts into 25. The committee headed by the chief secretary comprises chief commissioner of land administration (CCLA), secretary (services) of general administration department, secretary of planning department and an official from the chief minister’s office as members. Principal Secretary (finance) will be its convener.

 

5. SportsAdda ropes in former Australian pacer and legend Brett Lee as brand ambassador: SportsAdda, the Indian news and information website for cricket, football, and kabaddi, has signed former Australian fast bowler and cricket legend Brett Lee, as its brand ambassador. Lee will be conducting a host of fun activities including contests, quizzes, Q&As, bowling masterclasses, and giveaways that will feature exclusively on the SportsAdda app, website, and social handles.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ossouka Raponda appointed as first woman Prime Minister of Gabon: Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda has been appointed as the first woman prime minister of Gabon on 16 July 2020. The 56-year-old is the 12th PM of the country and succeeds Julien Nkoghe Bekale. Prior to holding this position, Ossouka Raponda served as defence minister since February 2019. Her appointment is the fourth cabinet reshuffle by the President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba since January 2019. Gabon is a country along Atlantic coast of Central Africa

Note: Gabon Capital: Libreville; Currency of Gabon: Central African CFA franc.

 

2. India ranks tenth globally in intellectual property filings in 2018, China tops: WIPO Report: India has emerged as the top tenth nation in the ranking of the total (resident and abroad) Intellectual Property (IP) filing activity, as per World Intellectual Property Indicators-2019 Report. The overall ranking has been topped by China, which was the main source of growth in worldwide IP filings in 2018. China was followed by United States, Germany, Japan, and Republic of Korea as the top five nations in the list. The report released by Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization analyzes IP activity around the globe. The 2019 report presents data for 49 countries based on their 2018 filing, registration and renewals statistics, collected from national and regional IP offices and WIPO. The Intellectual Property (IP) considered for ranking countries covers patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs, microorganisms, plant variety protection and geographical indications.

 

3. PM Modi Virtually addresses UN ECOSOC on UN’s 75th anniversary: Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi delivers a keynote address virtually at the valedictory session of High-Level Segment of UN ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council) on July 17 in New York, on the eve of 75th anniversary of the United Nations. The year 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, in 1945. The theme of the High-level Segment was “Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary”. This was Prime Minister Modi’s first speech at the UN after India’s election to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member on 17th June 2020 for the term 2021-22. PM was joined by his Norwegian counterpart Erna Solberg as well as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The High-Level Segment is held annually by ECOSOC for discussing international economic and social issues and formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states and United Nations system.

 

4. Pakistan and China sign agreement to construct 700MW Azad Pattan Hydel Power Project: Pakistan and China have signed an agreement for construction of Azad Pattan Hydel Power Project in Sudhoti district of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The project is being developed under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), at an estimated cost of $1.5 billion. The 700.7 MW Azad Pattan Hydel Power Project is located at River Jhelum and is expected to be completed in 2026. Once completed, Pakistan would no longer need to import fuel, enabling the country to move towards cheaper and greener power while generating local job opportunities. The first agreement, for the 1,100 MW Kohala project, was signed on June 23. That project, worth $2.3 billion, too will come upon the Jhelum near Muzaffarabad.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; Currency of China: Renminbi; President of China: Xi Jinping.

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

 

5. Nelson Mandela International Day: 18th July: Nelson Mandela International Day (also Mandela Day) is held every year on July 18 globally to honour the legacy of the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. The day acknowledges Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world. The day 18 July marks the birth anniversary of the great South African leader, who was born in 1918. United Nations officially declared July 18 as UN Mandela Day in November 2009. The first UN Mandela Day was held on 18 July 2010.

Note: Headquarters of United Nations: New York, USA; Founded: 24 October 1945; Secretary-General of the United Nations: Mr Antonio Guterres

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Real Madrid clinch record 34th La Liga title defeating Villarreal: Real Madrid have been crowned La Liga Champions for the 34th time after defeating Villarreal 2–1, with one match remaining. Also, the La Liga 2019-20 season title for Spanish football club Real Madrid is first in three years. Last time the team won the title in 2017. Under the leadership of the coach Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid won all 10 games out 10 since the restart, and still a game remaining. Karim Benzema was the leading scorer for a 2-1 victory against Villarreal.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. NABARD Credit Support of Rs 1,607 Crore to Bengal in Coronavirus Crisis: National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has provided credit support of Rs 1,607 crore to West Bengal during the COVID-19 pandemic so far. Besides the bank’s normal refinance schemes, this is a special liquidity support measure as the pandemic and the lockdown have severely affected the rural economy. The help was provided through state cooperative banks, regional rural banks and micro-finance institutions.

 

2. HSBC to set up IFSC Banking Unit at GIFT city in Gandhinagar: HSBC- the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited is to set up the IFSC Banking Unit at Gujarat International Finance Tec City, GIFT city in Gandhinagar Gujarat. The world’s largest financial services organization HSBC has got in-principle approval from the GIFT SEZ Authority to set up an IFSC Banking Unit -IBU at GIFT City, subject to other Regulatory approvals. This development marks a major milestone for HSBC in India, which has been present in the country for more than 160 years.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Shiv Nadar Retires, Daughter Roshni Nadar takes over as new Chairman of HCL Technologies: Roshni Nadar Malhotra has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the IT services company HCL Technologies, after her father Shiv Nadar, expressed his desire to step down from the position of the Chairman. Roshni Nadar took over the role of the Chairperson of the Board of Directors and the Company w.e.f. July 17, 2020. Before this, the 38-year-old Malhotra was the chief executive officer and non-executive director of the company. Shiv Nadar would continue as managing director and hold the designation of Chief Strategy Officer.

Note: HQs: Noida, Uttar Pradesh; HCL Tech CEO: C Vijayakumar

 

2. Snapdeal’s Kunal Bahl to lead CII’s e-commerce committee: Confederation of Indian Industry said Snapdeal’s Co-founder & CEO Kunal Bahl has taken over as the Chairman of its e-commerce committee for the year 2020-21. The upcoming e-commerce policy, the consumer protection rules and a consistent interpretation of the intermediary status of e-commerce platforms figure high on the immediate agenda of the committee. The committee will focus on resolving policy issues that will help accelerate the growth of exports through e-commerce platforms.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Four Journalists Honored with CPJ’s 2020 International Press Freedom Awards: Four Journalists have been named as the recipients of the 2020 International Press Freedom Awards by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York-based non-profit organisation to promote press freedom and defend the rights of journalists. All these four journalists have faced arrests or criminal prosecution for their reporting. The 30th edition of the annual International Press Freedom Award will be presented to the winners on November 19, 2020. CPJ International Press Freedom Awards honor journalists or their publications around the world who show courage in defending press freedom despite facing attacks, threats, or imprisonment. 2020 International Press Freedom Awards Winners:

(1) Shahidul Alam from Bangladesh,

(2) Mohammad Mosaed from Iran,

(3) Dapo Olorunyomi from Nigeria

(4) Svetlana Prokopyeva from Russia.

Apart from this, Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has been honoured with the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. CPJ’s Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award is presented annually to an individual who has shown extraordinary and sustained achievement in the cause of press freedom.

Note: CPJ Headquarters: New York, US; CPJ Executive Director: Joel Simon.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Para-badminton player Ramesh Tikaram passes away: Para-badminton player Ramesh Tikaram (51 years) passes away in Bangalore due to coronavirus. He was honoured with Arjuna Award in 2002. His journey in sport started in school. He switched to sport for the differently abled in 1988. He competed in athletics in the Barcelona Paralympics Games. He was part of the Indian powerlifting team for the World Cup in France in 1994. He won many medals in shotput and Javelin throw including an international meet in Nottingham in 1995. He was awarded the Arjuna Award for his excellence in para-athletics and badminton in 2002. He became the founder secretary of the Badminton Sports Association of India for the Challenged, now known as the Para-Badminton Association of India in 2000.

 

2. Purushottam Priyadasji Swamishree Maharaj passes away: Head Priest of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, Purushottam Priyadasji Swamishree Maharaj (78 years) passes away in Ahmedabad due to Covid-19. He was the fifth spiritual leader in Supreme Lord Shree Swaminarayan’s divine lineage and was the successor of Gurudev Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa, and current Acharya of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi. He is succeeded by his spiritual successor Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swami. 

Daily GK Updates – 17th July, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. DCGI approves India’s 1st homemade Pneumonia vaccine:  Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved India’s first fully indigenously developed Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine (Pneumonia vaccine). The vaccine will be utilized for active immunization against invasive disease and pneumonia caused by “Streptococcus pneumonia” among infants.  The vaccine has been developed by Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd, Pune. It is India’s first indigenously developed vaccine in the field of pneumonia. With the DCGI’s approval, Serum Institute of India has been granted permission to manufacture the vaccine domestically.

2. Digital Indo-Italian Business Mission on Food Processing: Opening session of the Digital Indo-Italian Business Mission on Food Processing has commenced virtually. The two-day event will include digital conferences, trade fair and B2B meetings. Opening session of the mission was addressed by the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The Digital Indo-Italian Business Mission is a 2-day event that will witness the participation of 23 Italian companies and will conduct virtual exhibition of their products & services and also participate in the Business (B2B) Meetings with the end users and other industry players in India. Meetings and the webinars across the key areas such as Fruits & Vegetables, Cereals, Milk & Dairy processing, and Packaging & Bottling will also held during the virtual session.

3. First on-line NISHTHA programme launched in Andhra Pradesh:  First on-line NISHTHA programme has been launched by the Union HRD Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and Minister of State for HRD Shri Sanjay Dhotre in Andhra Pradesh. Online NISHTHA programme has been launched for 1200 Key Resources Persons of Andhra Pradesh, hence making it the first ever state in the country. NISHTHA has been customized for online mode because of COVID-19 pandemic situation which has affected the conduct of this programme in face-to-face mode. Online NISHTHA programme would be conducted through DIKSHA and NISHTHA portals by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) is a capacity building programme that was launched by the government of India on 21st August, 2019 to improve the quality of school education through Integrated Teacher Training.

3. NABARD launches development projects in Andaman & Nicobar Islands:  National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has launched development projects in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The projects worth Rs 44 lakhs aims to strengthen the concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat through rural entrepreneurship. As part of the project, there would be focus on the formation and skill development of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to promote rural entrepreneurship at micro level. As part of the initiative, NABARD will conduct 385 village-level programmes and also offer training to leaders of newly formed SHGs with a sum of more than Rs 10 lakh. Training for Mushroom Cultivation and Bamboo Handicrafts making will be provided to the women attached to SHGs in Little Andaman.

Note: Chairman of National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development: G R Chintala.

Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Admiral D K Joshi.

4. Telangana Police rolls out “CybHer” campaign:  The Women Safety Wing, Telangana State Police has launched the “CybHer” campaign in association with the Legal Aid Centre, Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad. The “CybHer” campaign has been rolled out to tackle cybercrime against children and women in the state. It is a month long virtual campaign which will make cyberspace safe for both women and children. “CybHer” campaign will create awareness and offer proactive measures to help them stay alert and not become a victim of cyberattacks. It will focus on incidents of paedophile activity, sexual harassment of minors, etc.

Note: Chief Minister of Telangana: K Chandrasekhar Rao; Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan.

5. UNICEF India partners with SAP India for employability of young people:  UNICEF India has partnered with SAP India to offer career counselling to young people in the country. The partnership between the two aims to improve the employability skills of young people in a COVID-19 as well as post COVID-19 era. Under this initiative, UNICEF has collaborated with YuWaah (Generation Unlimited) to offer digital education as well as occupational skillset to the underserved young people of India. The UNICEF – YuWaah – SAP India partnership has a prime objective to empower young people, to utilize their creativity, problem-solving and leadership assets, to improve their own lives as well of their communities.

Note: Executive Director of UNICEF: Henrietta H. Fore; UNICEF HQs: New York

6. IIT Madras start-up developed a portable hospital called “MediCAB”:  Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) start-up Modulus Housing, has developed a portable hospital unit called ‘MediCAB’. MediCAB can be installed anywhere within two hours by four people. It has been launched recently in Wayanad District of Kerala where the units are being deployed to treat COVID19 Patients. The Medicab is foldable and is composed of four zones: a doctor’s room, an isolation room, a medical room/ward and a twin-bed ICU, maintained at negative pressure. It aims to decentralize the approach to detect, screen, identify, isolate and treat COVID-19 patients in their local communities through these portable microstructures.

7. Chief Minister Pema Khandu releases book on endangered tribe: The book titled ‘The Tangams: An Ethnolinguistic Study Of The Critically Endangered Group of Arunachal Pradesh’ was released by Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu. Book is based on the Tangams, a critically endangered speech community of Arunachal Pradesh domiciled at Kugging village, Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The book has been published by Centre for Endangered Languages, Rajiv Gandhi University and Himalayan Publishers, New Delhi. Co-authors: Kaling Dabi, Kombong Darang, Rejhoney Borang, Chera Devi, Rumi Deuri.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Suriname elects Indian-origin ‘Chan’ Santokhi as President: Indian-origin, Chandrikapersad ‘Chan’ Santokhi has been elected the president of South American country “Suriname”. A former Justice Minister, Santokhi of the Progressive Reform Party (PRP) was elected unopposed. He will succeed Desi Bouterse, a former military strongman, whose National Party of Suriname (NPS) lost the election in May as he sent the country to an economic precipice. Suriname is a former Dutch colony where people of Indian descent make up the largest ethnic group comprising 27.4 per cent of the population of 587,000.

Note: Capital of Suriname: Paramaribo; The currency of Suriname: Suriname Dollar.

2. Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa appointed as new Vice-President of ADB: The Metro Manila, Philippines based multilateral funding agency Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed India’s Election Commissioner (EC) Ashok Lavasa as the Vice-President for private sector operations and public-private partnerships. Lavasa will succeed Diwakar Gupta, whose term will end on August 31, 2020. Ashok Lavasa is currently one of the two Election Commissioners of India, serving since January 2018. He will step down from the post, ahead of the completion of his term, to take up the role at ADB. The other EC of India is Sushil Chandra

Note: President of Asian Development Bank: Masatsugu Asakawa; Asian Development Bank Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines; Asian Development Bank Founded: 19 December 1966.

3. World Emoji Day: 17th July: The World Emoji Day is celebrated every year on 17 July since 2014 to promote the use of emojis and spread the enjoyment that they bring to all of those around us. The Day was created by London-based founder of Emojipedia, Jeremy Burge.

4. World Day for International Justice: 17th July: The World Day for International Justice, (also known as Day of International Criminal Justice or International Justice Day), is celebrated globally on July 17 to support and recognize the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The day marks the anniversary of Rome Statute adoption on July 17, 1998 through which International Criminal Court (ICC) was created. The day was first observed on the Review Conference of the Rome Statute held at the city of Kampala, Uganda on June 1, 2010

Note: International Criminal Court HQ: The Hague, Netherlands; International Criminal Court President: Chile Eboe-Osuji; International Criminal Court Established: 2002.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. IOC postpones 2022 Dakar Youth Olympics to 2026: The Youth Olympic Games in Dakar will be celebrated in 2026 after Senegal and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) “mutually agreed” to postpone the Games from 2022. The IOC and Senegal understand that this news will be disappointing for many young athletes. Both parties can only appeal to their understanding. This agreement results from the large scale of the operational challenges which the IOC, the NOCs and the IFs are facing following the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Earlier, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed to next year. Now the event will be held from July 23 to August 8, 2021.

Note: Senegal Capital: Dakar; Senegal Currency: West African CFA Franc.

International Olympic Committee Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; International Olympic Committee President: Thomas Bach.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. ICRA Predicts India’s GDP to Contract 9.5% in FY21: Credit Rating agency ICRA has sharply revised the GDP forecast for India and expects the Indian economy to contract by 9.5% (-9.5%) in 2020-21. Earlier it had projected the GDP at -5% for FY21. The increasing Covid-19 infections, leading to localised lockdowns in some states and cities, affecting the economic activities is the main reason for this sharp revision. Icra’s projection is the sharpest contraction in the gross domestic product (GDP) for FY21 among all estimations so far.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Marcus Rashford receives honorary degree from University of Manchester: The 22-year-old England football player, Marcus Rashford becomes the youngest ever recipient of an honorary degree from The University of Manchester. He will receive the degree in recognition of his achievements as a footballer and as a passionate campaigner against child poverty. Rashford’s collaboration with FareShare, a poverty and food waste charity, has led to £20million being raised in financial and food donations. Manchester United striker Rashford successfully campaigned for UK govt to extend the scheme for free school meals for underprivileged children.

DEFENCE

1. DRDO develops P7 Heavy Drop System for IL 76 aircraft:  Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed the P7 Heavy Drop System. It is capable of para dropping military stores up to 7-ton weight class from IL 76 aircraft. The design of this fully indigenous system has been developed by Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE), a Research & Development (R&D) lab of DRDO based in Agra, Uttar Pradesh (UP). P7 Heavy Drop System system has been made under the Make in India programme. It’s a platform system manufactured by L&T (Larsen & Toubro) while parachutes manufactured by Ordnance Factory.

Note: DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi; DRDO Chairman: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy.

OBITUARIES

1. Maharashtra’s first woman SEC Neela Satyanarayan passes away:  First woman State Election Commissioner (SEC) of Maharashtra Neela Satyanarayan passed away. She was a 1972 batch IAS officer. Neela Satyanarayan was appointed as the State Election Commissioner (SEC) of Maharashtra in 2009 after her brief tenure as an additional chief secretary of Revenue Department. She served as the SEC of Maharashtra till 05 July 2014. Neela Satyanarayan has also penned books such as Vanava and Ek Purna Ek Apurna along with several collections of poetry. She has also composed music for a film.

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

Daily GK Updates – 16th July, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal introduces ‘Pragyata- Guidelines for Online Education’: The Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank released the ‘PRAGYATA’: Guidelines on #DigitalEducation on 14 July 2020. ‘Pragyata’ is an eight step guidelines on digital education for school heads, teachers, parents and students, to assist them in e-learning, such as recommended screen time for children, tips on coping with mental/physical stress during #DigitalLearning, among other things. These eight steps include: Plan, Review, Arrange, Guide, Yak (talk), Assign, Track, and Appreciate. Some of the areas in which the guidelines have been introduced for administrators, school heads, teachers, parents, and students include: (1) Need assessment; (2) Concerns while planning online and digital education like duration, screen time, inclusiveness, balanced online and offline activities, etc level-wise; (3) Modalities of intervention including resource curation, level-wise delivery, etc.; (4) Physical, mental health, and wellbeing during digital education; (5) Cyber safety and ethical practices including precautions and measures for maintaining cyber safety; (6) Collaboration and convergence with various initiatives

2. Anji Khad Bridge: Indian Railways’ 1st cable-stayed rail bridge: The Railways Minister Piyush Goyal has announced, India’s first cable-stayed Railways bridge “Anji Khad Bridge” to connects Katra and Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). This bridge is being developed by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL). This bridge is as a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The total length of the Anji Khad Bridge is 473.25 metres. It has a single pylon, standing at a height of 331 metres above the river bed. The pylon had to be constructed in a vertical slope using micropiles of 40-metre depth all around the circumference of 20 metres well foundation. It has the support of 96 cables and has been designed to handle heavy storms of strong winds.

Note: Konkan Railway Corporation Limited Chairman & Managing Director: Sanjay Gupta; Konkan Railway Corporation Limited Headquarter: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

3. AAI & BEL signs MoU for co-operation in civil aviation sector: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Defence Pubic Sector Unit (PSU) Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU aims to tap the emerging global markets in the airport business, including the ones in the Asia-Pacific region. The partnership between the two companies will support each other in addressing the emerging global opportunities in the airport business. This will enable BEL in execution of MEA projects outside India as well as tapping domestic civil aviation market into South-East Asian, African and Latin American market

Note: Chairman of Airports Authority of India: Arvind Singh.

Chairman & Managing Director of Bharat Electronics Ltd: MV Gowtama.

4. HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ Launches World’s Most Affordable COVID-19 Diagnostic Kit ‘Corosure’ Developed by IIT Delhi: The Union Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD), Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal’Nishank’ virtually launched the World’s most affordable RT-PCR based COVID-19 diagnostic kit ‘Corosure’ on 15 July 2020 in New Delhi. The low-cost COVID-19 Diagnostic Kit has been developed indigenously by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, in line with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of becoming a self-reliant India. The kit has also received the approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as well as the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI). It is much cheaper than other kits. This will make the cost per test considerably cheaper compared to currently available kits in the market.

5. 5th edition of conference on A & D Manufacturing Technologies:  Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Yesso Naik has inaugurated the 5th edition of the conference on “Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Technologies”. The conference was held with the theme Empowering India with ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Mission’. Tamil Nadu Technology Development & Promotion Centre (TNTDPC) jointly organised the conference with Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The Aerospace and Defence industry in India has been projected to reach around 70 billion Dollars by 2030.

6. Hyderabad Airport Introduces India’s first Completely Contactless Car Parking facility Amid Pandemic: The GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) has introduced India’s first fully contact-less airport car parking facility due to the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis. In November 2019, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, had introduced India’s first-ever “NETC FASTag Car Park” in collaboration with NPCI. But that facility was available only for ICICI Bank holders. Now keeping in mind the current situation, GHAIL has scaled up its NETC (National Electronic Toll Collection) FASTag car parking in collaboration with NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) by integrating 10 NETC FASTag issuer banks. The NETC FASTag car parking solution is based on a simple to use, reloadable electronic Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) tag which will enable automatic deduction of applicable parking charges, while one drives through the car park without stopping for any cash transaction. However, the traditional mode of transaction with digital payment over-the-counter option will also be available.

Note: NPCI MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe; NPCI Head Office: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

7. IIT Kanpur Incubated Start-ups Develops Smart Water Quality Testing Device “PADMAVATI”: Two of the IIT Kanpur Incubated Start-ups namely Earthface Analytics Pvt. Ltd. & Kritsnam Technologies Pvt. Ltd. have developed a device, named as ‘PADMAVATI’, to analyse and monitor the quality of water. The device will monitor the water quality with the help of easy to use colorimetric test-strip, based on smart-phone technology that screens multiple important water quality parameters in less than 2 minutes. The initiative will enables analysis of multiple water quality parameters in a cost-effective, easy to operate, eco-friendly manner, as well as effectively deal with field-level to household-level water contamination problems.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Tunisia’s Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh resigns: The Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh has resigned from his post, over an alleged conflict of interest with Ennahdha party, the biggest party in parliament. The resignation letter was handed over to the Tunisian President Kais Saied Fakhfakh served as the Prime Minister of Tunisia from 28 February 2020 to 15 July 2020.

Note: President of Tunisia: Kais Saied; Capital of Tunisia: Tunis.

2. 15th edition of India-EU Summit held virtually, with focus on Trade and Investment: The 15th edition of the India-European Union (EU) Summit was held virtually on 15 July 2020. India was represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The EU was represented by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. The “annual” summit was held after a gap of more than two years. The Summit was put off due to disagreements over trade and investment. The 27-member EU is India’s largest trading partner, with cumulative investment of over $91 billion. Key Highlights of the Summit includes:

The main area of discussions in the 15th India-EU Summit was political & security relations, trade & investment and economic cooperation. The leaders adopted the “India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” to guide cooperation between India and the EU over the next five years. India-EURATOM Agreement was also signed on research and development cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. They also adopted a Joint Declaration on Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy. Renewed the India-EU Science and Technology Agreement for another five years.

3. Around 690 million people were found hungry in 2019, with highest population in Asia: UN Report: As per the annual ‘State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World’ report, by United Nations, almost 690 million people (8.9% of overall population) went hungry in 2019. This figure is up by 10 million from 2018, and by nearly 60 million in five years. This means that more people are going hungry while tens of millions have joined the ranks of the chronically undernourished over the past five years, and countries around the world continue to struggle with multiple forms of malnutrition. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report was released on 13 July 2020. It is co-developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The report is the most authoritative global study tracking progress towards ending hunger and malnutrition. The report also states that the hungry are most numerous in Asia but expanding fastest in Africa. Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic could tip over 130 million more people into chronic hunger by the end of 2020. High costs and low affordability are also the key reasons why billions cannot eat healthily or nutritiously.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

1. Google acquires 7.73% stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 33,737 crore: The global technology giant Google will invest Rs 33,737 crore (US$4.7 billion) to acquire 7.73 percent stake in Jio Platforms, the subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited which houses its telecom and digital operations. For this purpose, they have signed a binding partnership and an investment agreement. This investment will strengthen the existing efforts of Google and Jio Platforms to expand the benefits of digitization across India. According to exchange filing, Google is investing at an equity valuation of Rs 4.36 lakh crore.

With this investment, Google becomes the second biggest foreign investor in Jio Platforms after Facebook’s Rs 43,574 crore for a 9.99 percent stake. Google is the 13th investor to buy stake in RIL’s telecom and digital business in less than two months. With the latest investment, Jio Platforms has raised Rs 1,52,055.45 crore from 14 investments, for a combined stake of 32.97 percent.

Note: Google Headquarters: California, United States; CEO of Google: Sundar Pichai.

RIL of Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Chairman & Managing Director of RIL: Mukesh D. Ambani.

2. CCI approves acquisition by Aceso Company in HCG Ltd: Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves acquisition of 58.92% in HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG) by Aceso Company Pt Ltd under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002. The acquisition will include subscription to equity shares and public shareholders as per SEBI. Aceso is a CVC network entity and consist of 3 entities and offers investment, management advices. HCG provides services through cancer treatment clinics, multi-specialty hospitals, fertility treatment centres

Note: Chairperson of Competition Commission of India: Ashok Kumar Gupta.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. N Chandrasekaran & Jim Taiclet to receives Global Leadership Award 2020:  Tata group chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran and Chief Executive Officer and President of Lockheed Martin, Jim Taiclet to receive the US-India Business Council (USIBC) Global Leadership Award 2020. The Awards are conferred every year to executives in recognition of outstanding leadership and for promoting Indo-US trade and business. The earlier receivers of this award include Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Google CEO Adena Friedman, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and Sun Pharmaceuticals Founder and MD Dilip Shanghvi.

Note: Note: USIBC Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States; USIBC President: Nisha Biswal; USIBC Managing Director for India: Ambika Sharma.

2. Sachin Awasthi Honored with the Prestigious Global Humanitarian Award 2020: Sachin Awasthi, the President of National Media Club and founder of Shri Ram Seva Mission, has been awarded with the ‘Top Publicist’ honour under Global Humanitarian Award 2020 by the London-based World Humanitarian Drive (WHD). The Award was given through a webinar during the “Honoring the Honorable” initiative organised by WHD. Sachin has been honored for organizing a 5-days Clean Ganga Awareness Yatra under the name “Vande Gange Swachhata Jan Jagran Yatra”, which was carried on from Haridwar to Varanasi. It was one of the biggest public awareness initiative for keeping the holy Ganga river pollution-free.WHD presents the prestigious “Global Humanitarian Awards” annually to felicitate popular men and women, who’ve worked selflessly towards the greater good of the society and the world.

Note: World Humanitarian Drive (WHD) founder & chairman: Abdul Basit Syed; World Humanitarian Drive (WHD) Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.

DEFENCE

1. Defence Ministry entrusts capital procurement powers to Armed Forces:  Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has entrusted capital procurement powers to Armed Forces. The decision was taken during the Special Meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council held under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh. With this, the Armed Forces will now be able to progress urgent Capital Acquisition Cases upto Rs 300 crores to fulfil their emergent operational requirements.