Daily GK Updates - 7th Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Coal India plans to invest over Rs 1.22 Lakh Crores on 500 Projects to achieve production target of 1 billion tonnes by 2023-2024: The state-owned national miner Coal India Ltd (CIL) has announced that the company will invest over Rs. 1.22 lakh crore on the development of nearly 500 projects, with the objective to achieve 1 billion tonnes (BT) coal production by the year 2023-24 and in the process make the nation Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) in terms of Coal. These projects will be related to coal evacuation, infrastructure, project development, exploration and clean coal technologies in the country.

 

2. Andhra Pradesh tops Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) ranking of states 2019: Andhra Pradesh has topped the 4th edition of the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) ranking of states for 2018-19. It is also known as The Ease of Doing Business rankings. The ranking was announced by Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs. Uttar Pradesh is ranked second and Telangana is ranked third in the ranking. Till date, State Rankings have been released for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017-18. The latest one is the fourth edition for 2018-19. The ranking is done by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The BRAP represents the Ease of Doing Business in any state.

 

3. Assam re-launches self-employment scheme SVAYEM worth Rs 1,000 crore: The state government of Assam re-launched an old scheme titled ‘Swami Vivekananda Assam Youth Empowerment (SVAYEM)’ on 4 September 2020, which aims to provide self-employment to around 2 lakh youths of the state. The SVAYEM scheme was launched by the government in 2017-18. This is the biggest self-employment programme launched by any government in Assam since Independence. Key Features of the SVAYEM scheme:

(1) The scheme has been re-launched with a budget of Rs 1000 crore.

(2) Under the scheme, the state government would provide Rs 50,000 each as seed money to selected youths to start business ventures.

(3) The government will provide this money in the next three months from its own revenue, without any banking linkage.

(4) To avail the benefit of the scheme, the 2 lakh beneficiaries would have to be part of self-help groups, joint liability groups, etc. before September 1

 

4. First-ever cannabis medicine project to come up in Jammu: Union minister Jitendra Singh announced that the first-ever cannabis medicine project will soon be set up in Jammu. The cannabis medicine project will be set up with the collaboration of Canada at the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) in Jammu. It is the first major foreign investment in Jammu and Kashmir after it became a Union Territory (UT).

Note: Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir: Manoj Sinha

 

5. K Padmakar appointed as CMD of BPCL: K Padmakar, the Director (HR) at the state-run oil marketing company Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has been given the additional charge of the post of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the company. He succeeds  D Rajkumar, who superannuated on 31 August 2020.

 

6. Kenichi Ayukawa becomes new president of SIAM: Maruti Suzuki MD and CEO, Kenichi Ayukawa has been elected as the new President of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) for a term of two years. He will replace Rajan Wadhera.  Ashok Leyland MD and CEO, Vipin Sondhi has been elected as the new vice president of SIAM. SIAM is the apex body of the Indian automotive industry.

Note: Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Founded: July 2012; Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

7. Ramachandra Guha pens book on Cricket titled ‘The Commonwealth of Cricket: A Lifelong Love Affair with the Most Subtle and Sophisticated Game Known to Humankind’: Indian writer and historian Ramachandra Guha has come out with a book on cricket titled ‘The Commonwealth of Cricket: A Lifelong Love Affair with the Most Subtle and Sophisticated Game Known to Humankind’. The book is set to be released in November 2020 and will be co-published by HarperCollins India and William Collins UK. The book traces the entire arc of the game in India, across all levels at which it is played: school, college, club, state and country and also present vivid portraits of local heroes, provincial icons, and international stars.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. THE World University Rankings 2021 released: Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2021 has been released and under the overall category, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, has topped the list. From India, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been placed in the 301-350 category in overall global rankings. The IISc Bengaluru has slightly improved its overall score, from 45.6 to 47.9. A total of 63 universities from India qualified for the ranking. The seven older IITs did not participate in the THE-World University Rankings 2020. The THE World University Rankings 2021 includes more than 1,500 universities across 93 countries and regions in 2020.  The participating universities are ranked based on their performance in knowledge transfer, teaching, research, and international outlook. THE World University Rankings analyzed more than 80 million citations across over 13 million research publications and included survey responses from 22,000 scholars globally.

 

2. Trump announces Wilmington as 1st WWII Heritage City: President of the USA, Donald Trump has announced Wilmington, North Carolina as the first World War II Heritage City. The announcement was made at a ceremony held to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II on September 2, 2020. During the war, Wilmington was the site of the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, which built 243 ships in five years as part of the federal government’s emergency shipbuilding program.

Note: Capital of USA: Washington, D.C; The currency of USA: United States dollar.

 

3. International Day of Clean Air for blue skies: 7th September: The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is observed globally on September 7th, 2020. The day aims to raise public awareness at all levels individual, community, corporate and government that clean air is important for health, productivity, the economy and the environment. The very first International Day of Clean Air for blue skies will be held on September 7th, 2020. The United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution to hold an International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on December 19, 2019, during its 74th session and invited the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to facilitate the observance of the International Day, in collaboration with other relevant organizations. The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) worked with UNEP and the Republic of Korea to advocate for the day in the lead up to the decision.

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

 

4. 12th Mekong Ganga Cooperation Senior Officials' Meeting held virtually: The 12th Mekong Ganga Cooperation Senior Officials' Meeting (12th MGC SOM) was held via Video Conference. The meeting was attended by Senior Officials from all 6 MGC Member States India, Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam and was co-chaired by H.E. Smt. Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs and H.E. Mr. Sok Soken, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Cambodia. The meeting discussed the progress made on the MGC Plan of Action (2019-22), which was made during the 10th MGC Ministerial Meeting. The meeting discussed preparations for the 11th MGC Ministerial Meeting, to be held at the end of 2020.

Note: Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC): The MGC was launched in the year 2000 at Vientiane, Lao PDR. It is an initiative by six countries – India and Five ASEAN (Association of SouthEast Asian Nations) countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam). The main areas of cooperation between MGC are tourism, culture, education, transport and communications.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

 

1. Olympic Ski Racing Champion Viktoria Rebensburg announces retirement at 30: Olympic ski champion Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany has announced her retirement due to injury caused during a race in February 2020, which was keeping her from performing at her best. The 30-year-old German ski racer won the gold medal in the giant slalom at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SIDBI extends state-wise MSME support programme to 11 states: SIDBI in association with the Maharashtra state government will be setting up a Project Management Unit (PMU), in order to boost the MSME ecosystem in Maharashtra. The role of PMU will be to design schemes and programs in the areas of equity support, interest subvention, resolution of stressed MSMEs, and supporting them. It will also facilitate other need-based interventions based on an evaluation of the existing status of MSMEs. Apart from Maharashtra, the bank has already appointed an agency that would look at setting up PMUs in 10 other states- Assam, New Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

 

2. Rajiv Lall steps down from IDFC First Bank’s board members: Rajiv B. Lall has resigned from the post of Non-Executive Chairman of IDFC First Bank due to prolonged personal health issues. He was the founder MD and CEO of the IDFC Bank, which was merged with Capital first in December 2018. Amitabh Bachchan is the first ever brand ambassador of IDFC first Bank

Note: MD and CEO of IDFC First Bank: V. Vaidyanathan; Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

3. Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank ceased to be a banking company: RBI: The Reserve Bank of India has issued a notification to all banks on September 03, 2020 stating that “Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank Limited” has ceased to be a banking company within the meaning of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 with effect from July 28, 2020. Apart from this, “Westpac Banking Corporation” also ceases to be a banking company as announced by RBI.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. SBI Ecowrap report predicts India’s real GDP for FY21 at -10.9%: State Bank of India’s research report – Ecowrap has projected India’s real GDP to contract by 10.9%. Earlier the report had predicted a contraction of 6.8% in the real GDP of India in FY21. The report predicts that all four quarters of FY21 will exhibit negative real GDP growth.

 

2. WhatsApp Partners with CyberPeace Foundation to create awareness on cyber safety among students: The Facebook-owned WhatsApp has entered into a partnership with the cyber security think tank CyberPeace Foundation to create awareness on cyber safety among students. The awareness campaign has been launched under the “e-Raksha” programme and will be implemented in phases. In the first phase 15,000 students will be covered in five regions by the end of 2020. They include Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. The need for this awareness campaign was felt as students spend more time online and so they become more vulnerable to cyber threats such as cyberbullying, stumbling across child abuse material, cybercriminals disrupting online classes, the spread of misinformation, privacy issues etc.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Tom Seaver, Hall of Fame pitcher, passes away: Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and 12-time all-star, has died. He was 75. Seaver known as “Tom Terrific,” won 311 games, had a 2.86 earned-run average and struck out 3,640 batters over a 20-year major league career that spanned from 1967-1986, earning 12 All-Star selections. He led the National League in wins three times, ERA three times and strikeouts five times. Seaver was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992 when he was named on 98.8 percent of ballots cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, the highest voting percentage ever received at the time. 

Daily GK Updates - 6th Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s First Regional Voters’ Awareness Centre to come Up in Jaipur: Election Commission of India (ECI) will set up the country’s first regional voters’ awareness centre in Jaipur, Rajasthan. It will cater to four states — Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. The centre will carry out various awareness activities under the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme. Sunil Arora is the present Chief Election Commissioner.

 

2. Punjab government rolls out ‘I Rakhwali’ App: Punjab government has rolled out “I Rakhwali” App to ensure greenery and to protect the environment in Punjab. The development of app is state governments’ effort to supplement its drive to preserve and maintain the environment in Punjab and to make people stakeholders in the process. The ‘I Rakhwali’ App will also inspire people to plant more trees and become ‘Greenery Saviours’. The mobile application can also be used for reporting illegal felling of trees as well as any damage to forests, by bringing the matter to the notice of the concerned Forest Divisional Officer. Hence, the state will be able to safeguard its forest area by making people a stakeholder in this process.

Note: Chief Minister of Punjab: Capt. Amarinder Singh; Governor: V.P. Singh Badnore.

 

3. IIT Delhi launches ‘‘Chakr DeCoV’’ to decontaminate N95 masks: The IIT Delhi incubated startup Chakr Innovation has launched a special decontamination device called ‘Chakr DeCoV’, to decontaminate N95 masks. The Chakr DeCoV device is designed in the shape of a cabinet. Chakr DeCoV is built with an innovative decontamination mechanism, which utilises the high penetrability of Ozone gas for cleaning the pores of the N95 mask, ensuring complete decontamination of its intricate layers.

Note: IIT Delhi Director: V Ramgopal Rao.

 

4. J&K LG launches SPARROW system for J&K Administrative Service officers: Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha launched the online portal, Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW) for Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Service Officers (JKAS). About “SPARROW”:

(1) The SPARROW system will benefit around 1289 officers and is aimed at bringing more transparency, avoiding loss of Appraisal Reports (APR) during the transition, ensuring better monitoring and timely completion of performance appraisals of JKAS officers.

(2) The project will be implemented by J&K e-Governance Agency, Information Technology Department in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre and General Administration Department.

(3) Using the Sparrow System, an applicant can file APR from anywhere and anytime. It is expected to make the process seamless, quick and convenient due to in-built alert mechanisms and providing online status checks.

 

5. FADA appoints Vinkesh Gulati as its new President: The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) has announced the appointment of Vinkesh Gulati as its 35th President for the year 2020-22. He succeeds Ashish Harsharaj Kale as the new FADA President. Gulati is the Director of United Automobiles, based out of Allahabad and Faridabad. United Automobiles is involved in the Auto Dealership business since the year 1985 and are dealers for brands like Mahindra & Mahindra and Bajaj Auto. United Automobiles is part of the United Group that started as Transport Business in 1951.

Note: Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations founded: 1964; Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

6. LC Goyal gets 1-year extension in his tenure as CMD of ITPO: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved one-year extension in tenure of L C Goyal as the Chairman and Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO). The 1979 batch Kerala cadre IAS (retired) Goyal will continue in the post from September 1, 2020 till September 1, 2021. This is his fourth’s extension on the post. He was appointed as the ITPO chief on August 31, 2015 and was given one-year extension each on August 14, 2017, July 31, 2018 and August 22, 2019.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 35th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific 2020: The 35th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC 35) was held virtual format due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The Conference was held under the Chair of the Host Country, Bhutan. The Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala represented India in the conference. The conference focused on regional priorities and issues such as COVID 19, the state of agriculture, natural resources management, food security and nutrition. Bangladesh will host the 36th Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific of the in 2022. It will be the first time that the country will host the event, ever since it joined the organisation in 1973. The Regional Conference is held once every two years. The first regional conference was held in Bangalore, India, in 1953.

Note: Food and Agriculture Organization Headquarters: Rome, Italy; Food and Agriculture Organization Head: Qu Dongyu; Food and Agriculture Organization Founded: 16 October 1945.

 

2. UN Environment Programme launches “The Little Book of Green Nudges”: A new publication “The Little Book of Green Nudges” has been launched by the United Nations Environment Programme. The newly launched publication seeks to encourage around 200 million students around the world to adopt environmentally friendly habits and greener lifestyles. “The Little Book of Green Nudges” is UNEP’s first on behavioural science and nudge theory. It concentrates on human actions and how to change them. The book comprises of 40 ready-made nudges- simple measures that make adoption of green choices much easier. These measures can be deployed by the universities to encourage students and staff to embrace more sustainable behaviours.

Note: Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme: Inger Andersen.

 

3. India ranked 3rd in largest solar market in 2019: Mercom global listing: India has been ranked third in terms of the largest solar market in 2019 as per Mercer Global listing for 2019. India had 9% of the world’s installed capacity.  China has topped the ranking with about 30 Gw (26% of world capacity). The US is on the second rank. Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) ranked as world’s largest solar power generation asset owner in terms of operating, under-construction and awarded projects. It has emerged as the top Solar Developer in 2019 with 12.3 Gw capacity.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

 

1. Pierre Gasly wins F1 Italian Grand Prix 2020: Pierre Gasly (Scuderia AlphaTauri, France) has won the Formula One Italian Grand Prix 2020 held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Italy. This is his first Grand Prix win. Carlos Sainz Jr. (McLaren, Spain) came second followed by Lance Stroll (Racing Point, Canada) in third place. Lewis Hamilton ended at 7th place after he earned a 10-second stop and go penalty.

 

2. England cricketer Ian Bell announces retirement: England cricketer, Ian Bell has announced that he will retire from all forms of cricket at the end of the 2020 domestic season. He made his debut in 2004. He played 118 Tests, 161 ODIs, and 8 T20Is for England. He retired from ODIs in 2015 to focus on Test cricket. He won five Ashes series out of seven. He was the Player of the Series in the 2013 series, where he scored 562 runs at an average of 62.44.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBL Bank launches cardless cash withdrawal facility through ATMs via MoBank app: RBL Bank has partnered with Empays Payment Systems to launch a cardless cash withdrawal facility from ATMs by leveraging the Instant Money Transfer (IMT) system. Customers can use RBL Bank’s MoBank app for this IMT function and initiate cash withdrawal by either using his or her mobile number linked to the account or by following a few easy steps on the app.

Note: MD & CEO of RBL Bank: Vishwavir Ahuja; RBL Bank was formerly known as Ratnakar Bank and was founded in 1943; Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

2. LazyPay launches LazyUPI digital credit card which combines the concept of Buy-Now-Pay-Later with UPI: India’s leading online Instant Credit app LazyPay has launched a digital credit card facility called LazyUPI to offer easy access to credit across online and offline platforms. LazyUPI is a first of its kind digital credit card that combines the power of UPI and the Buy-Now-Pay-Later concept to enable users access to real-time credit using Unified Payments Interface (UPI) across omnichannel networks.

Key features of LazyUPI: Users would not have to link their bank account(s) with UPI to access credit via LazyUPI. Based on the user’s credit history and payment behavior, LazyPay will offer a credit limit upto Rs 1 lakh to users for UPI transactions at stores, both online & offline.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Vodafone Idea rebrands itself as ‘Vi’: Vodafone Idea has announced its new unified brand identity by renaming all its products under a new name and logo “Vi”. The Beleaguered telecom operator announced the rebranding of the company through a virtual platform. The integration into one brand is believed to be the company’s efforts to reduce the cost of maintaining two brands. The rebranding also comes at a time when Vodafone Idea has seen its user base falling from 408 million at the time of the merger to 280 million at the end of June 2020. With Vodafone focusing on premium urban brand, Idea has been a mass rural-focused brand. Following the merger, the urban-rural appeal of the two brands took a hit.

About “Vi”: VI is built to be strong, ever-dependable, agile, intuitive and a brand in tune with the needs of the customers in these ever-changing times. It is designed to help customers move ahead in life, for a better today and a brighter tomorrow.

Note: Vodafone Idea CEO: Ravinder Takkar; Founder: Kumar Mangalam Birla; Founded: 31 August 2018; Headquarters: Gandhinagar

 

2. Infosys acquires product design firm Kaleidoscope Innovation: Infosys has announced that it would acquire product design and development firm, Kaleidoscope Innovation for up to $42 million. Kaleidoscope is a US-based firm and would bring to Infosys a diverse talent pool with extensive knowledge of design and engineering. The Kaleidoscope Innovation provides design and development across medical, consumer and industrial markets for making smart products. Kaleidoscope designs microsurgical instruments, used in invasive surgery, drug delivery devices for ophthalmic therapies and user-centric wearables.

Note: Infosys CEO: Salil Parekh; Infosys Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Vice Admiral S R Sarma assumes charge as Chief of Materiel of the Indian Navy: Vice Admiral S R Sarma today assumed charge as the Chief of Materiel of the Indian Navy. Admiral Sarma during his illustrious career spanning over three and a half decades has served onboard Indian Naval ships Vindhyagiri, Rana, Krishna and Mysore in various capacities.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran Seer Kesavananda Bharati, whose petition in SC ensured basic structure of Constitution cannot be altered, passes away at 79: Pujya Kesavananda Bharati Ji, the pontiff of Edneer Mutt in Kasaragod district of Kerala, whose property rights case in the Supreme Court in 1973 helped define basic rights under the Constitution, has passed away. He was 79. Bharati had filed a case challenging the Constitution (29th Amendment) Act, 1972, questioning the Kerala government’s move to take over the mutt property. Though he lost the case, but it also led to the adoption of the landmark law syllabus ‘Basic Structure Doctrine’ of the Constitution. The apex court ruled that Parliament cannot alter the fundamental structure of the Constitution. 

Daily GK Updates - 5th Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Minister of Education launches mobile app “EnglishPro”: Union Minister of Education has launched a free mobile app named as “EnglishPro“. The mobile application has been developed by the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad under University Social Responsibility (USR). This app will be “a useful digital tool” and will act as an educational resource for the teachers, students and for people from varied backgrounds. The first-of-its kind initiative by any university in the country, the mobile application “EnglishPro” will help learners in developing Indian English Pronunciation in the unique “Indian” way. In the near future, EFLU will also come up with more advanced versions of the mobile application to address the larger learner-needs.

 

2. Uttar Pradesh Govt to set up exclusive anti-electricity theft police stations in every district: The state government of Uttar Pradesh has announced to set up exclusive anti-electricity theft police stations in each of the 75 district of state to address the problem of frequent cases of power theft. Out of the total 75 districts, these police stations have already started functioning in 63 districts. The numbers of enforcement teams have also been raised from 33 to 88. People can file a case in these stations if there are any irregularities and crimes related to electricity.

 

3. National Teachers’ Day: 5th September: In India, the Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year on the 5th of September since 1962. The day marks the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, an Indian philosopher, academic, and statesman, who defined the role of the teacher as someone who acts not only as an educator but also as a moral mentor and inculcates values among students. He was the second President of India (1962 to 1967) and the first Vice President of India (1952–1962).

National Teachers Awards: The Ministry of Education presents the National Teachers Awards on the occasion every year to acknowledge and encourage extraordinary and meritorious efforts of teachers from across the length and breadth of the country. In 2020, the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, conferred National Awards on 47 teachers from across the country. The award ceremony was held virtually for the first time.

 

4. Ayushmann Khurrana appointed as Brand Ambassador of Bajaj Allianz Life: Private life insurer, Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited has appointed bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana as its brand ambassador. As the brand ambassador of the life insurer, actor will be promoting the products as well as the digital services of the Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited. The bollywood actor is also set to feature in the upcoming campaign “Smart Living” of the private life insurer which encompasses its Term Plan “Smart protect Goal” and the newly digital service “Smart Assist” which collectively seeks to secure and enable its customer’s life goal amid these uncertain times.

Note: MD & CEO of Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company Limited: Tarun Chugh.

 

5. Sikkim Celebrated Pang Lhabsol Festival: The festival of cultural heritage and historical importance Pang Lhabsol is celebrated in Sikkim. It is one of the most historically significant festivals celebrated in Sikkim. It is a unique festival of Sikkim and commemorates the consecration of Mount Khangchendzonga as the guardian deity of Sikkim. To this day the mountain god is invoked and prayed upon at Pang Lhabsol to continue protecting Sikkim. The festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month of the Tibetan calendar corresponding to late August/early September. The ‘chaams’ which are part of this festival are unique and the spectacular Pangtoed or warrior dance was choreographed by the third Chogyal Chador Namgyal, which is said to have appeared to him in a vision.

 

6. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Programme, 2020: Under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Goa is paired with Jharkhand. Lot of exchange activities are happening on this front. The intensity of programmes is less due to lockdown and so the focus is laid on virtual events. Lokotsav programmes held earlier in Goa in Panaji evoked good response. Stalls of Jharkhand displayed delicacies from that state and Goans enjoyed savouring the same. Folk dances presented by Jharkhand artistes also were appreciated by Goan artistes. Later Goan artistes also visited Jharkhand and presented Goan folk dances. Bangle making workshops were held in Goa wherein experts from handicraft arena of Jharkhand guided Goan artistes.

 

7. APIIC signs MoU with CSIR-IICT to establish a bulk drug park: The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (APIIC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) to establish a bulk drug park in the state. CSIR-IICT is the knowledge partner and will offer needed technical backing to make the proposal which will be submitted by the Andhra Pradesh government to the Department of Pharmaceuticals to seek financial assistance from the Centre. The Mou was signed in the virtual presence of Mekapati Goutham Reddy, Minister for Industries, Andhra Pradesh.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Prahlad Singh Patel virtually attends BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meet: The 5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting was held under the chairpersonship of Russian Federation. India was represented by Union Minister of State (I/C) for Culture and Tourism Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in the 5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meet. The participants of the meeting deliberated on the impact of the epidemiological situation on the cultural sphere in the BRICS countries. It also reviewed the possible implementation of joint cultural online-projects within BRICS. The 5th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting featured the participation of delegates from Culture Ministries of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and the Republic of South Africa.

2. India attends Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Meeting of BIMSTEC: India participated in the Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of the regional grouping BIMSTEC on 2 September 2020 to discuss ways to further expand cooperation among its member nations to effectively deal with key challenges including impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The key meeting of BIMSTEC was held under the chairmanship of Sri Lanka. The Indian delegation at the meeting was headed by Secretary (East) in Ministry of External Affairs Vijay Thakur Singh. Some key areas of discussion included ways to deepen cooperation among the member nations including cooperation in dealing with economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and holding of the next summit of the grouping.

 

3. Dwayne Bravo becomes cricket ambassador for “SBOTOP” sportsbook brand: West Indies cricket icon Dwayne Bravo has become the first cricket ambassador for “SBOTOP” sportsbook brand. Isle of Man betting group Celton Manx has appointed the West Indies cricketer as the cricket ambassador for its flagship sportsbook. Dwayne Bravo has represented West Indies in all formats of the cricket. He has represented the country in 256 test matches and 120 one-day-internationals and is also considered as one of the best ever ‘all-rounders’ of the sport.

 

4. International Day of Charity: 5th September: United Nations celebrates the International Day of Charity globally on 05th September every year. The day is being celebrated to sensitize and mobilize people, NGOs, and stakeholders all around the world to help others via volunteer and philanthropic activities. The day also recognizes the role played by charity in reducing humanitarian crises and human suffering within and among nations.

United Nations designated 05th September as the International Day of Charity to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for “work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace.”

Note: Secretary-General of United Nations: António Guterres.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Sumit Nagal becomes 1st Indian to win grand slam singles main draw match in 7 years: India’s Sumit Nagal registered his maiden Grand Slam victory when he defeated American Bradley Klahn in the first round of the US Open 2020. Nagal advanced to the next round winning 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in a contest that lasted two hours and 12 minutes.  The win ensures the 122nd-ranked will take at least USD 1,00,000 (Rs 73 lakh approximately) for making it to the second round at Flushing Meadows. The result means Nagal is the first Indian male tennis star in seven years to win a main draw match at the US Open. The last Indian to do so was Somdev Devvarman in 2013. The 23-year-old will next take on Austrian Dominic Thiem who went past  Spanish rival Jaume Munar 7-6(6) 6-3 who retired due to injury.

After professional tennis across the world was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year, Nagal decided to stay in Germany where he trains and took part in exhibition events before taking part in a Challenger event in Prague as part of his preparations for the US Open – the second Major event of 2020.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI releases revised Priority Sector Lending Guidelines: The Priority Sector Lending (PSL) Guidelines have been reviewed by the Reserve Bank of India. The review was executed to align the PSL Guidelines with evolving national priorities. The new guidelines will make better credit penetration into credit deficient areas and increase the lending to small as well as marginal farmers and weaker sections. It will also enhance credit to renewable energy, and health infrastructure. In the revised PSL Guidelines, the Reserve Bank of India has included some fresh categories eligible for finance under priority sector. These include loans to farmers for installation of solar power plants; loans for establishment of Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plants; and bank finance to start-ups of up to Rs 50 crore. Some key features of revised PSL guidelines are as follows:

(1) To address the issue of regional disparities in the flow of priority sector credit, RBI has assigned higher weightage to incremental priority sector credit in ‘identified districts’ where priority sector credit flow is relatively low.

(2) The targets stipulated for “small and marginal farmers” as well as “weaker sections” are being increased in a phased manner.

(3) Credit limit has been raised for the Farmers Producers Organisations (FPOs)/Farmers Producers Companies (FPCs) undertaking farming with assured marketing of their produce at a pre-determined price.

(4) The loan limits for renewable energy have been doubled.

(5) The credit limit for health infrastructure (including those under ‘Ayushman Bharat’) has been doubled to improve the health infrastructure.

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

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. European Investment Bank announces 650 Million Euro for Kanpur Metro Project: The Luxembourg based European Investment Bank (EIB) will invest EUR650 million for the construction of the first city metro line of Kanpur. Kanpur is the fifth metro rail project to receive EIB funds in India and also the second-biggest investment made by the EIB outside the European Union.. This project is the second metro rail project supported by the EIB in Uttar Pradesh. Prior to this, EIB made EUR450 million investment for Lucknow metro rail system. The EU bank has also invested in metro rail systems in Bhopal, Pune, and Bangalore in India.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Rajnath Singh attends SCO Defence Minister meet in Moscow; inks deal with Russia to manufacture AK-47 203 rifles: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the joint meeting of the Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Moscow. Russia on 4 September 2020. Mr. Singh was on three-day visit to Russia from 3-5 September 2020 to attend the combined meeting of Defence Ministers of SCO, CIS and CSTO members. Rajnath Singh will also be participating in the 75th anniversary event to commemorate Victory Day.

Deal with Russia to manufacture AK-47 203 rifles: During his visit, Rajnath Singh, on behalf of India finalised a major deal with Russia on 3rd September 2020 for the manufacturing of AK-47 203 rifles. The deal says that the Indian Army has a requirement of 7,70,000 AK-47 203 rifles. Of this total number, 1,00,000 will be imported and the rest will be manufactured in India. The AK-47 203 is the latest and most advanced version of the AK-47 rifle. It will replace the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56×45 mm assault rifle.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran Producer-Director Johnny Bakshi passes away: Veteran producer-director Johnny Bakshi has passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 82. Johnny Bakshi mostly worked as a producer, in his career spanning over four decades. He was best known for producing films such as Raavan (1984), Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee (1993), and Manzilein Aur Bhi Hain, (1974). As a director, his films includes Daku Aur Police (1992) and 1994 movie Khudai. He also acted in Haar Jeet (1990) and Papa Kehte Hai (1996). 

Daily GK Updates - 4th Sept, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Cabinet approves “Mission Karmayogi” NPCSCB: The Union Cabinet has approved the launch of a “Mission Karmayogi” National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB). A sum of Rs. 510.86 crore will be spent over a period of 5 years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 in order to cover around 46 lakh Central employees. Mission Karmayogi has been launched to prepare the Indian Civil Servant for the future by making him more creative, constructive, imaginative, innovative, proactive, professional, progressive, energetic, enabling, transparent and technology-enabled. Through this, the civil servant will be empowered with specific role-competencies, and will also be able to ensure efficient service delivery of the highest quality standards. The mission will focus on setting-up Prime Minister’s Public Human Resources (HR) Council, Capacity Building Commission, Special Purpose Vehicle for digital assets and Coordination Unit. It will lay the foundations for capacity building for Civil Servants. An Integrated Government Online Training “iGOTKarmayogiPlatform” would be set up to deliver the programme. The platform will brings the scale as well as state-of-the-art infrastructure to enhance the capacities of over two crore officials in India.

 

2. IIPA organizes “National Tribal Research Conclave”: The Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) organised 2-days long “National Tribal Research Conclave”. The inaugural session of conclave was addressed by the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda. The National Tribal Research Conclave was organised to review the progress on the results of projects launched by Ministry of Tribal Affairs. 10 research partners shared their projects in the 2-days long conclave. The conclave also featured the participation of more than 100 participants from all over the country including Tribal Affairs Ministers from various states. The road map of National Tribal Research Institute (NTRI), to be launched in collaboration with IIPA, was also shared during the conclave.

 

3. ACC approves appointment of V K Yadav as CEO of Railway Board: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of the current chairman of the Railway Board VK Yadav as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The chairman and CEO will be the cadre controlling officer responsible for human resources (HR) with assistance from a DG (HR). ACC approves restructuring of Railway Board:

(1) The Cabinet had earlier approved the restructuring of the Railway Board, whose strength has been cut from eight to five, as part of large scale reforms initiated by the national transporter.

(2) The process to merge eight railway-related wings into a single central service called the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) is underway.

(3) These reforms, the Railways will end “departmentalism”, promote the smooth working of railways, expedite decision making, create a coherent vision for the organisation and promote rational decision making.

(4) The Indian Railway Medical Service (IRMS) will be renamed the Indian Railway Health Service (IRHS).

Note: Union Minister of Railways: Piyush Goyal.

 

4. India Targets 100 MT Coal Gasification By 2030: The Government of India has set the target to achieve 100 million tonnes (MT) coal gasification by the year 2030. This will be achieved with an estimated investment of over Rs. 4 lakh crores. The announcement was made by Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Coal and Mine, while addressing a webinar on Coal Gasification and Liquefaction on 31 August 2020.

 

5. Jal Shakti Ministry launched ‘Water Heroes’ Contest: The Jal Shakti ministry has launched a ”Water Heroes – Share Your Stories” contest with an aim to reach out to people with the important message of water conservation and management. The primary objectives of the Ministry of Jal Shakti are to make water conservation a people”s movement and strengthen the water consciousness in the country. About ”Water Heroes – Share Your Stories” contest:

The contest encourages people and collects best practices in water conservation from across the country.

(1) A maximum of 10 entries can be considered for the awards every month.

(2) All selected entries will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and a certificate.

(3) The participants will have to post their success stories on water conservation through a specially made video of 1-5 minutes, along with a write-up of up to 300 words and some photographs, depicting the efforts and significant contributions to conserve and manage water resources.

Note: Minister of State in the Ministry of Jal Shakti: Rattan Lal Kataria.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Google partners with Bangladesh for Flood Forecasting: Google has partnered with the Bangladesh Water Development Board to bring the flood warning services to the country. Google is currently covering more than 40 mn people in Bangladesh and it is working to expand its coverage to the entire country. More than 65% of people who receive advance flood warnings take action to protect themselves. Google is also partnering with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to build to deliver alerts.

 

2. Raj Srivastava appointed as India’s Ambassador to Republic of Croatia: Raj Kumar Srivastava has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Croatia. He is an IFS officer of 1997 batch and is presently serving as the Deputy Chief of Mission in the Embassy of India, Tokyo.

Note: Capital of Croatia: Zagreb; Currency: Croatian kuna; President of Croatia: Zoran Milanovic.

 

3. Saudi Arabia chairs G20 Foreign Ministers’ Extraordinary Meeting: Saudi Arabia chaired the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Extraordinary Meeting which was held in the virtual mode. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar represented India in the virtual meeting that was convened in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. During the meeting, India proposed the setting up of voluntary ‘G20 Principles on Coordinated Cross-Border Movement of People’. This new set up will be based on following three pillars:

a) Standardisation of testing procedures and universal acceptability of test results

b) Standardisation of ‘Quarantine procedures’

c) Standardisation of ‘movement and transit’ protocols

The participants deliberated on strengthening international cooperation across borders amid COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The Ministers also discussed the national experiences and lessons acquired from the cross-border management initiatives taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

4. Global tourism lost USD 320 billion in 5 months from coronavirus: UN: The tourism global industry has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, with USD 320 billion lost in exports in the first five months of the year and more than 120 million jobs at risk, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. The tourism is the third-largest export sector of the global economy, behind fuels and chemicals, and in 2019 it accounted for 7 per cent of global trade. It employs one in every 10 people on Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more.

The export revenues from tourism could fall by USD 910 billion to USD 1.2 trillion in 2020” and that “could reduce global GDP by 1.5 per cent to 2.8 per cent.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

 

1. India’s P Iniyan wins World Open Online Chess Tournament: Indian Grandmaster P Iniyan has won the prestigious 48th Annual World Open online chess tournament. He scored 7.5 points out of a possible 9 with six victories and three draws to finish on top. A total number of 120 players from 16 countries participated in the event which included more than 30 Grandmasters. On the way to his title, Iniyan defeated Grandmasters Baadur Jobava of Georgia, Sam Sevian, Sergey Erenburg of the USA and Nyzhyk Illia of Ukraine.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Bank launches ‘Home Utsav’, a virtual property exhibition: ICICI Bank has launched a virtual property exhibition under the name ‘Home Utsav’. The exhibition will digitally showcase real estate projects by renowned developers, across India. The exhibition can be accessed on www.homeutsavicici.com. About ‘Home Utsav’ exhibition:

(1) The exhibition can be accessed by both customers and non-customers of ICICI Bank.

(2) It offers them enhanced convenience, as they can simply browse through these projects online, from the comfort of their home and office.

(3) The first ‘Home Utsav’ exhibition has been launched for the Mumbai and Pune region, where over 100 projects by more than 60 developers are being showcased.

 Benefits of ‘Home Utsav’ include: Wide range of projects by leading developers; Attractive home loan interest rates; Special processing fees; Digital sanction of the loan through Express Home Loan; Exclusive direct discounts by developers.

Note: ICICI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; ICICI Bank MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi; ICICI Bank Tagline: Hum Hai Na, Khayal Apka.

 

2. Murali Ramakrishnan becomes new MD & CEO of South Indian Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the appointment of Murali Ramakrishnan as Managing Director and CEO of the South Indian Bank for a period of three years with effect from October 1, 2020. Ramakrishnan had retired from ICICI Bank as Senior General Manager at Strategic Project Group on May 30, 2020, and joined the South Indian Bank as an advisor on July 1, 2020. He represented the bank in the board of CIBIL and the risk advisory board of VISA for the Asia Pacific.

Note: South Indian Bank Headquarters: Thrissur, Kerala; South Indian Bank Tagline: Experience Next Generation Banking.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. NTPC wins AIMA Chanakya National Management Games 2020: Team of NTPC Limited, the Central PSU under Ministry of Power, has won the All India Management Association (AIMA) Chanakya (Business Simulation Game) National Management Games (NMG) 2020. The team from NTPC Vallur, Tamil Nadu won the championship which featured the participation of teams from 112 organisations from different parts of the country.

AIMA Chanakya National Management Games is an online Business Simulation Game which is conducted every year. The championship aims to ensure that executives participating in the event get the onboard experience about the complexities of running an organisation and gain expertise and skills from this event. It also enables the Corporate Managers to face the thrill of Managing Business in a competitive mode.

 

2. Para swimmer Satyendra Singh first Divyang sportsperson of country to get prestigious Adventure Award: Para-swimmer Satyendra Singh Lohia of Madhya Pradesh is the first Divyanga Indian sportsperson of the country, who has been awarded with the Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award. He is also the first Asian Divyang swimmer to cross the 42-kilometer Catalina Channel in the US in just 11 hours 34 minutes. Para-swimmer Satyendra Singh was also conferred with the Best Sportsperson National Award by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on World Divyanga Day. He has also been awarded the highest sports award of Madhya Pradesh as well as many other national and international honours.

           

DEFENCE

 

1. 11th edition of exercise INDRA NAVY begins in Bay of Bengal: Indian Navy and Russian Navy has commenced the 11th edition of a biennial bilateral maritime exercise “INDRA NAVY”. The biennial bilateral maritime exercise will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 04 to 05 September 2020. The maritime exercise “INDRA NAVY” embodies the long-term strategic relationship between the two Navies. The INDRA NAVY-20 exercise seeks to consolidate the inter-operability built up by the navies of two countries over the years. It will also improve the understanding as well as the procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations. This year, the bilateral maritime exercise would be undertaken in a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ format amid the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note: President of Russia: Vladimir Putin; Capital of Russia: Moscow; Currency: Russian Ruble.

Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former England Cricketer David Capel passes away: Former England all-rounder and legendary cricketer, David Capel passed away. He had played around 15 tests and 23 One Day Internationals (ODIs) representing England from 1987 to 1990. He made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1987. Capel served as assistant coach of the England Women’s team in 2013 and as a coach for Bangladesh Women’s team from 2016 to 2018. He was inducted in the hall of Fame of Northamptonshire county cricket club in 2018.