Daily GK Updates - 13th Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Haryana govt launches mobile water testing labs: Haryana government has launched a mobile water testing laboratory van, fully equipped with a multi-parameter system containing analysers, sensor, probes and instruments meant for assessing water quality. Water quality in Haryana is mainly affected by constituents like total dissolved solids (TDS), fluoride, nitrate, iron and alkalinity. This initiative work under the Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide tap water to rural households by 2024, is being done on a war footing and it gives a lot of emphasis on water quality surveillance and monitoring. About mobile water testing laboratory van:

(1) This mobile water testing lab is GPS-enabled for location tracking. The analysed sample data can be transmitted to a centralised Public Health Engineering Department server via GPRS/3G connectivity with power backup.

(2) It also provides on-site recording and reporting of results through a smartphone or similar device with the ability to send results direct to a web-based secure central server.

(3) This mobile van also has a fully automated sensor-based analysis controlled by centrally commanded software.

(4) The LED display unit in the mobile lab gives an instant display of the results immediately after analysis.

(5) The lab is capable of measuring different water quality parameters like pH, alkalinity, TDS, hardness, residual chlorine, zinc, nitrate, fluoride, turbidity and micro-biological test of water samples.

It will help in quickly identifying the water quality problem on the spot at a site.

Note: Governor of Haryana: Satyadeo Narayan Arya; Chief Minister of Haryana: Manohar Lal Khattar.

 

2. Eight Indian beaches got International Blue flag Certification: Eight beaches in India have been awarded the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ certification by an eminent international jury, which comprises members of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). India became first country in Asia-Pacific region that achieved this feat in just 2 years time.

The beaches selected for the certification are: Kappad (Kerala), Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha) and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).

What is the ‘Blue Flag’ certification? The ‘Blue Flag’ is a certification that can be obtained by a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator, and serves as an eco-label. The certification is awarded by the Denmark-based non-profit Foundation for Environmental Education, which sets stringent environmental, educational, safety-related and access-related criteria that applicants must meet and maintain. It is awarded annually to beaches and marinas in FEE member countries.

Note: The Blue Flag programme was started in France in 1985 and in areas out of Europe in 2001. The programme promotes sustainable development in freshwater and marine areas through four main criteria: water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety. Forty-seven countries currently participate in the program, and 4,573 beaches, marinas, and boats have this certification.

 

3. Kerala becomes 1st state to have completely digital, hi-tech classrooms: Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan has declared the state public education sector completely digital as Kerala has become the first state in the country to have high-tech classrooms in all its public schools. The high-tech classroom project was implemented by Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) with financial assistance from Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). MP and MLA funds, local self-government institutions fund were also utilised for setting up the classrooms. About high-tech classroom project:

 The programme was started on July 5, 2019. Over 3.74 lakh digital equipment were distributed in 16,027 schools for the smart classroom project. In the first phase, 45,000 high-tech classrooms for classes 8 to 12 were readied in 4,752 government and aided high schools and higher secondary schools. The project was launched on January 21, 2018. High-tech labs were started in 11,275 primary and upper primary schools for classes 1 to 7.

Note: Chief Minister of Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan; Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.

 

4. PM Modi releases Rs 100 commemorative coin to honour Vijaya Raje Scindia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released a commemorative coin of Rs 100 to mark the birth centenary of Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia, one of the founder member of the ruling BJP, through a virtual ceremony. The special coin has been minted by the Ministry of Finance. Vijaya Raje Scindia, who dedicated her life to poor people, is also popularly known as the Rajmata of Gwalior.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Ranks 129 in Oxfam’s Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index 2020: India has been ranked 129 among 158 countries in the 2020 Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index. The third edition of the index focuses on Fighting Inequality in the time of COVID-19. The index is released by the international charitable organisation ‘Oxfam International’ in partnership with Development Finance International and with inputs from independent experts. It monitors what governments are doing through their policy commitments to reduce inequality and tackle the gap between rich and poor. The index is based upon three basic pillars: Public Services Pillar, Progressive Tax Pillar and Workers Rights Pillar. The 2020 CRI index has been topped by Norway. South Sudan is the lowest ranking country in the index at 158th position.

India in the Index: As per the index, India is among the world’s worst performing countries in tackling inequality going into the pandemic. India’s health budget is the world’s fourth lowest and only half of the population has access to even the most basic healthcare services.

 

2. International Day for Disaster Reduction: 13th October: The United Nations International Day for Disaster Reduction is observed globally on 13th October. The day is celebrated to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction and also celebrates how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face. It was first observed in 1989 and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction was adopted in 2015 for this day. Theme 2020: ‘Disaster risk governance’.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Chetan Anand named brand ambassador for Indian brand ‘Transform’: Commonwealth Games medallist in Badminton, Chetan Anand has been roped in as the brand ambassador for India’s first-ever homegrown professional badminton brand “Transform”.

About “Transform”: Transform Badminton is India’s 1st professional badminton brand at par with the best racquets available in the market that are currently imported from abroad for playing in India. Transform racquets have been made out of the military-grade graphite.

 

2. Nihal Sarin wins Chess.com's 2020 Junior Speed Online Championship: Young Indian player Nihal Sarin emerged winner in the Chess.com’s 2020 Junior Speed Online Chess Championship in Chennai, beating Russia’s world junior No. 6 Alexey Sarana by 18-7 in the final. The title win earned the 16-year-old Sarin USD 8,766 and enabled him to qualify for the 2020 Speed Chess Championship Final which will feature the world’s best players. Sarin had beaten American Andrew Tang, Australia’s Anton Smirnov and Armenian Haik Martirosyan en route the title. Nihal Sarin is a former world Under-10 champion and will join Indian men's team that is taking part in Asian Online Nations (Regions) Cup Team Championship.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces measures to boost consumer & capital demand by Rs 73000 cr by 31 March 2021: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 43rd GST Council meeting through video conferencing in New Delhi on 12 October 2020. Sitharaman announced several measures to boost capital expenditure and stimulate consumer demand in the economy, which are are estimated to cost Rs 73,000 crore by 31 March 2021. The major highlights of the announcements made during the meeting are listed below:

(1) Rs 12,000 crore interest-free 50-year loan to states for spending only on capital projects in a bid to boost economy. Out of this, Rs 1,600 crore will be for north-eastern states and Rs 900 crore will be for Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh, Rs 7,500 crore for the remaining states. Rs 2,000 crore will be given to states that fulfill pre-stated reforms.

(2) Additional capital expenditure of Rs 25,000 crore. This will be provided over and above the existing Rs 4.13 lakh crore allotted in the annual budget. The additional money will be for spending on roads, defence infrastructure, water supply and urban development, defence infrastructure and domestically produced capital equipment.

(3) LTC Cash Voucher Scheme and Special Festival Advance Scheme to primarily benefit central government employees. The schemes will generate additional consumer demand of Rs. 36,000 crore by March 31, 2021. This would include Rs 28,000 crore through LTC voucher scheme and Rs 8,000 crore through festival advance scheme.

(4) Special Festival Advance Scheme: The festival advance and other similar advances were abolished under the 7th Pay Commission. But the government has proposed to restore the festival advances to Government employees for festivals upto 1st January 2021. Under this, all Central Government employees will get an interest-free advance of Rs 10,000, in the form of a prepaid RuPay Card. This needs to be spent by March 31, 2021. The amount should be paid back in 10 instalments.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Myntra signs Bhuvan Bam as first digital brand ambassador: Fashion e-commerce platform Myntra has named digital influencer Bhuvan Bam as its first digital brand ambassador, to strengthen its digital presence and engage with tech-savvy customers ahead of the festive season. Both Myntra and Bhuvan will make content that will give the brand more acknowledgment in their effectively youthful market. The incorporation of topics like fashion and lifestyle in his creative and relatable content will facilitate Myntra’s endeavors of taking advantage of the fashion-centric crowds

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Prince William launches “Earthshot Prize” to boost climate innovation: Britain’s Prince William and Naturalist David Attenborough have launched an “Earthshot Prize”, with an aim to encourage change and support to repair the planet. The Earth shot Prize aims to “incentivize change and help to repair our planet over the next 10 years,” and “turn pessimism into optimism” by rewarding innovative solutions to environmental problems.

About Earthshot Prize: The first five Earthshots will be awarded for projects that focus on protecting and restoring nature and clean air, reviving oceans, fixing the climate and reducing waste. Five prizes of 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) will be awarded each year for the next 10 years, aiming to support at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest environmental problems by 2030.  The prize is supported by a group of individuals and organisations and philanthropic bodies of billionaires like Bloomberg Philanthropies, Jack Ma Foundation (Alibaba), Paul G.Allen Family Foundation(Microsoft).

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Nagaland’s Environment Minister C M Chang passes away:  Nagaland’s environment minister, C M Chang (77 years) passed away at Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima due to COVID-19. He was a retired IAS officer and former Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha (2009-13). He was elected to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from 51 Noksen constituencies under Tuensang district in 2013 and later retained the same seat in 2018 on Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) ticket. He was elected to 15th Lok Sabha in 2009 and 51 Vidhan Sabha in 2013 becoming Minister of Education. He also served as Justice & Law Minister of Nagaland.

 

2. Former Indian footballer Carlton Chapman passes away: Former Indian football captain Carlton Chapman (49 years) passed away due to a heart attack in Bengaluru. Carlton Chapman won 14 titles including the first edition of National Football League along with I M Vijayan and Bhaichung Bhutia. He was the captain of the Indian team when India won the South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup in 1997. He was a leading midfielder played for Indian from 1995 to 2001. He joined Quartz FC, Kozhikode as the technical director in 2017. 

Daily GK Updates - 12th Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. SVAMITVA Scheme: PM Modi launches physical distribution of Property Cards: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the programme of physical distribution of Property Cards under the SVAMITVA scheme through video conferencing. The Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) is a Central Sector Scheme, which was launched in April 2020 to provide the ‘record of rights to document the residential properties’ to village household owners in rural areas and issue Property Cards. Benefits:

(1) ‘SVAMITVA Scheme’ will help in strengthening the Panchayati Raj system for which efforts are underway for the past 6 years.

(2) The scheme will allow the villagers to use the property as a financial asset for taking loans and other economic and financial benefits.

(3) The scheme is being implemented in a phased manner over a period of four years (2020-2024) and would eventually cover around 6.62 lakh villages of the country.

(4) In Phase-I people from 763 villages of 6 states, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Karnataka will be the beneficiary of the ‘SVAMITVA’scheme.

(5) About one lakh property owners will be able to download property cards from the link received through SMS on their mobile phones. The respective state governments will distribute physical cards.

 

2. Andhra Pradesh CM launches “Jagananna Vidya Kanuka” scheme: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched a new scheme named the ‘Jagananna Vidya Kanuka’ scheme to distribute school kits among the poor children of the state. The state shall spend around Rs 650 crore towards the scheme. 42,34,322 kits will be distributed across the state under the scheme. Under this scheme, the government school students from classes 1 to 10 across the state will set the school kits or Vidya Kanuka, which will contain three pairs of uniform, one pair of shoes, two pairs of socks, a belt, one set of textbooks and notebooks and one school bag.

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

 

3. FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced LTC cash voucher scheme: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced leave travel concession (LTC) cash voucher scheme and special festival advance scheme for government employees with an aim to increase consumer spending. She announced proposals regarding consumer spending and capital expenditure. Under consumer spending, she announced proposals within two components: LTC cash voucher scheme and special festival advance scheme. About the leave travel concession (LTC) cash voucher scheme:

(1) Central government employees get leave travel concession in a block of four years–one each to a destination of choice and home town or two for home town.

(2) Under this, the air or rail fare is reimbursed as per pay scale/entitlement. Also, leave encashment of ten days (pay + dearness allowance) is paid.

(3) However, employees will not be able to avail the LTC in the 2018-21 year block due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This is where the LTC will benefit government employees.

(4) In lieu of one LTC during 2018-21, employees will receive a cash payment. There will be full payment on leave encashment and fare will be paid as per three slabs depending upon the class of entitlement. Further, there will be no tax on fare payment.

(5) An employee opting for this scheme will have to buy goods and services worth three times the fare and one time leave encashment, and do so before March 31, 2021.

(6) The money is to be spent on goods attracting GST of 12% or more and only digital payments will be allowed. Also, employees will have to provide a GST invoice.

(7) The finance minister said the scheme would cost Rs 5,675 crore if central government employees opt for it. However, for PSB and PSU employees, its cost would be Rs 1,900 crore.

(8) Sitharaman further projected that with even 50% states opting for this scheme, the government expects to infuse Rs 9,000 crore into the economy.

 

4. PM Modi launches Jan Andolan campaign on COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour; Urges people to wear mask, wash hands & follow social distancing: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a campaign on Jan Andolan for COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour in view of the upcoming festivals and winter season as well as the opening up of the economy. The highlights of the campaign include region-specific targeted communication in high case-load districts, simple and easily understandable messages to reach every citizen, dissemination throughout the country using all media platforms, banners and posters at public places involving frontline workers, and targeting beneficiaries of government schemes.

 

5. Delhi govt approves tree transplantation policy: Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal has passed a first-of-its-kind in India ‘Tree Transplantation Policy’ to preserve trees for clean and green Delhi. As per this policy, the trees which needs be felled due to any circumstances, like for constructions and other development projects, would not be cut but instead uprooted and transplanted somewhere else.

Features of the Policy: At least 80 per cent of the total number of trees to be felled for any construction/development project, must be transplanted to other location. Also, the transplantation agency will need to ensure that 80 per cent of transplanted trees survive, following which only they will receive the payments. Additionally, compensatory plantation of 10 saplings for each tree, as being followed currently, will continue. This policy, however, will not apply if 10 or fewer trees are to be felled.

Note: Chief Minister of Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal; Governor of Delhi: Anil Baijal.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Cabinet approves signing of Memorandum of cooperation in field of cyber-security between India & Japan: The Union Cabinet approved signing of an agreement with Japan that is aimed at enhancing cooperation in emerging technologies, protection of critical infrastructure, cyberspace and to mitigate threats to communication networks. It said India and Japan are committed to an “open, interoperable, free, fair, secure and reliable” cyberspace environment and will work towards promoting the Internet as an engine of innovation and economic growth. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Cooperation [MoC] in the field of cybersecurity between India and Japan. The approval to the pact by the cabinet comes in the midst of growing concerns over cyberattacks from China, particularly after India banned over 100 mobile apps with Chinese links.

 

2. COVID-19 to push as many as 150 million people into extreme poverty by 2021: World Bank: The World Bank said that the coronavirus pandemic could push as many as 150 million people into extreme poverty by the end of 2021, wiping out more than three years of progress in poverty reduction. Releasing its flagship biennial report on poverty and shared prosperity, the multilateral development lender said that an additional 88 million to 115 million people will fall into extreme poverty – defined as living on less than $1.90 a day -in 2020. The report said this could grow to 111 million to 150 million by the end of 2021.

That would mean that 9.1-9.4% of the world’s population would be living under extreme poverty this year, about the same as 2017’s 9.2% and representing the first rise in the extreme poverty percentage in about 20 years. The 2019 extreme poverty rate was estimated at about 8.4% and had been expected to drop to 7.5% by 2021 before the coronavirus pandemic.

 

3. World Arthritis Day: 12th October: World Arthritis Day is observed globally on 12th October every year. The day is celebrated to raise awareness about arthritis, an inflammatory condition which causes pain and stiffness in joints which can worsen with age. Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or multiple joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, with different causes and treatment methods. The most common types are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This day was started by Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI) in 1996 to spread awareness about arthritis and encourage policymakers to help reduce burden of arthritis. World Arthritis Day theme 2020: Time2Work.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Lewis Hamilton wins 2020 Eifel Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) has won the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix, held at the Nürburgring in Nürburg, Germany. This is Hamilton’s 7th win of the season and 91st career race victory, which was till now achieved only by Michael Schumacher. Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) came second followed by Daniel Ricciardo (Renault, Australia) at third position. The race was the eleventh race in 2020 Formula One World Championship and the first running in the history of the Eifel Grand Prix.

 

2. Rafael Nadal wins French Open 2020: Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic to win the men’s 2020 French Open Title. This is his 13th French Open men’s singles title and 20th Grand Slam title. In Women’s single, Iga Swiatek of Poland, claimed a historic win, by becoming the youngest women to win the title in the history of the championship. She defeated Sofia Kenin, of the United States and became the first Polish tennis player to win the singles’ Grand Slam.

Winners of French Open Tennis 2020:

 

Category	Name of the Sportsperson
Men’s Single	Rafael Nadal (Spain)
Women’s Single	Iga Swiatek (Poland)
Men’s Double	Kevin Krawietz & Andreas Mies (Germany)
Women’s Double	Tímea Babos (Hungary) & Kristina Mladenovic (France)

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC Bank partners with Apollo Hospitals for holistic healthcare solution: HDFC Bank and Apollo Hospitals have joined hands to launch The HealthyLife Programme, a holistic healthcare solution which makes healthy living accessible and affordable on Apollo’s digital platform, Apollo 24/7. The programme is created exclusively for HDFC Bank customers who will get round the clock access to emergency Apollo Doctor at No Cost on Apollo 24|7 along with a plethora of benefits such as choice of payment options and ease of finance for treatments at all Apollo Hospitals.

 

2. LIC Housing launches ‘Project RED’ to improve efficiencies: LIC Housing Finance Ltd(LICHFL) launched “Project RED” (Reimagining Excellence through Digital transformation) to improve efficiencies at every level of the organisation. Project RED aims to create value across the entire spectrum of stakeholders that includes employees, shareholders, business associates, existing and potential customers of LICHFL. The project will be implemented over next 21 months and the housing finance company has appointed Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as its consultant for the project. It will be setting up a high-level project implementation group which will approve and monitor capacity building plans.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India’s first B2B Crypto trading exchange DigitX launched: DigitX, India’s first business-to-business (B2B) cryptocurrency trading exchange, began its trading operations. DigiX aims to deliver transparent and secure model with its network of trusted links in a first of its kind industry initiative to instill trust and confidence in its investors and traders of cryptocurrency.

 

2. Tamil Nadu to set up advanced manufacturing hub in partnership with WEF: Guidance, nodal investment promotion and facilitation agency of the state of Tamil Nadu has partnered with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to establish India’s first advanced manufacturing hub (AMHUB) in Tamil Nadu. The Advanced Manufacturing HUB or AMHUB is one of the 19 platforms designed by the WEF. This platform focuses on engaging entire regional production ecosystems to identify and address regional opportunities and challenges brought by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) by amplifying regional success stories, sharing best practices & incubating new partnerships.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2020 announced: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s central bank) Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2020 to Paul R. Milgrom and Robert B. Wilson “for improvements to auction theory and inventions of new auction formats”.

Their theoretical discoveries have improved auctions in practice: This year’s Laureates, Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson, have studied how auctions work. They have also used their insights to design new auction formats for goods and services that are difficult to sell in a traditional way, such as radio frequencies. Their discoveries have benefitted sellers, buyers and taxpayers around the world.

Paul R. Milgrom: He was born in 1948 in Detroit, USA. PhD. 1979 from Stanford University, Stanford, USA. Shirley and Leonard Ely Jr. Professor of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University, USA. Robert B. Wilson: He was born in 1937 in Geneva, USA. D.B.A. 1963 from Harvard University, Cambridge, USA. Adams Distinguished Professor of Management, Emeritus, Stanford University, USA.

History of Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences: In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden’s central bank) established the Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. The Prize is based on a donation received by the Nobel Foundation in 1968 from Sveriges Riksbank on the occasion of the Bank’s 300th anniversary. The first Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen in 1969. 

Daily GK Updates - 11th Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Goa becomes India’s first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ State by providing tap water connection to every rural household: As per the data provided by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Goa has become the first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ State in the country by providing tap water connection to every rural household. The state provided tap water connection to 2 lakh 30 thousand rural households in all the 191 Gram Panchayats of the state. North Goa with 1,65,000 rural households and South Goa with 98,000 rural households are fully saturated with assured piped water supply through tap connections.

 

2. ‘Sunidhi’ project launched to digitise Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation services: The government announced the launch of an ambitious information technology project ‘Sunidhi’ to digitise all provident fund and pension related activities of the Coal Mines Provident Fund Organisation (CMPFO). The Sunidhi module was inaugurated by settling the provident fund and pension dues of three retired employees of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL). This software application is running from its data centre at Hyderabad in sync with the Disaster Recovery Centre at Bhubaneshwar. CMPFO, a statutory body under the coal ministry, administers different schemes of provident fund, pension and deposit linked insurance for coal mine workers.

 

3. Delhi-Mumbai e-way to have India’s 1st 5 ‘animal bridges’ for safe passage of wildlife: To offer a safe passage to wildlife on the under-construction Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, five “animal overpasses” on the lines of “ecoducts” in the Netherlands are being planned, a first such effort in the country. These have been planned to ensure there are no disturbances to the Ranthambore Wildlife Corridor connecting Ranthambhore and Mukundra (Darrah) wildlife sanctuaries in Rajasthan. These will be natural-looking structures over the corridor and will provide safe passage for wildlife across the expressway.

 

4. IIT Kharagpur launches telemedicine software ‘iMediX’: IIT Kharagpur researchers have launched a telemedicine system ‘iMediX’ to help patients receive assistance from doctors without having to go to hospitals or clinics. ‘iMediX’ allows patients to request for consultation by choosing a department of a hospital, entering their complaints and uploading necessary medical records. The hospital then processes the request and assigns a doctor. The system iMediX which is accessible by any standard internet browser and also from a mobile device, has been developed by researchers at IIT Kharagpurs Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

 

5. Indian Foreign Service Day: 9th October: In India, the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Day is celebrated on 9 October every year since 2011. The day is marked to commemorate the day when the IFS was created by the Indian Cabinet on 9 October 1946. On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted all the Indian Foreign Service officers for their work towards serving the nation and for their efforts during Vande Bharat Mission and other COVID related assistance towards Indian and foreign nationals.

 

6. ADB to invest $15 Million in Avaada Energy to expand Renewable Energy Capacity in India: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will invest $15 million in Avaada Energy Private Limited (AEPL) to help the company to scale up photovoltaic solar energy generation capacity in India.The investment is ADB’s second in AEPL after a first round of $50 million made in April 2019. ADB is investing the $15 million via its Ordinary Capital Resources and from Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP). The project will contribute to the Government of India’s strategy to increase the share of renewable energy generation capacity from about 20% in 2018 to 40% by 2030.  It reflects ADB’s commitment to provide cumulative climate finance of $80 billion from 2019 to 2030.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Sadyr Zhaparov elected as Kyrgyzstan’s acting PM: Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Kubatbek Boronov has stepped down after the Central Electoral Commission annulled the results of parliamentary elections in response to accusations of vote-rigging. At an emergency session, the Kyrgyzstan parliament appointed Sadyr Zhaparov, a founder of the opposition Mekenchil party, which had lost the election, as acting prime minister.

Note: Kyrgyzstan Capital: Bishkek; Currency: Som

 

2. Finnish Prime Minister gives country’s top job to a 16-year-old for a day: In a truly remarkable development, a 16-year-old Finnish girl was made the country’s Prime Minister.Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin handed her power to a 16-year-old girl as apart of a campaign to promote girls’ rights in the country. Aava Murto of Vaasky in southern Finland turned incredibly lucky for a day. Aava, who is an active campaigner on issues relating to climate changes and human rights. The ‘PM for a day’ is part of a global ‘Girls Takeover’ campaign by children’s rights charity Plan International, which aims to raise awareness of girls’ digital skills in technological industries and highlight the problem of online harassment of women

 

3. World Sight Day 2020: 8th October: The World Sight Day is observed annually on the second Thursday of October. In 2020, the World Sight Day falls on 08 October 2020. World Sight Day 2020 Theme: “Hope In Sight”. The main aim of the day is to draw public awareness towards blindness & vision impairment and educate target audiences about blindness prevention. It was originally initiated by the SightFirstCampaign of Lions Club International Foundation in 2000.

 

4. World Day against the Death Penalty: 10th October: The World Day Against the Death Penalty is observed every year on 10 October. It is a day to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty and to raise awareness of the conditions and the circumstances which affect prisoners with death sentences. The day was first organised by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty in 2003. The theme for 2020 is “Access to counsel – A matter of life or death.”

 

5. International Day of the Girl Child: 11th October: International Day of the Girl Child (also known as Day of Girls and the International Day of Girls) is observed annually on October 11 since 2012. This international observance day was declared by the United Nations to raise awareness of issues facing girls internationally surrounding education, nutrition, child marriage, legal and medical rights. The theme for 2020 International Day of the Girl Child is “My voice, our equal future”.

 

6. World Investor Week: October 5th-11th, 2020: World Investor Week (WIW) is promoted by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and will be held between October 05 and October 11, 2020. This is the 4th World Investor Week and it aims to raise awareness about the importance of investor education and protection.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India’s Yashaswini Singh Deswal wins 10m air pistol event in International Online Shooting Championship: Indian Olympic quota winner Yashaswini Singh Deswal won the 10m air pistol event in the fifth edition of the International Online Shooting Championship (IOSC). The second place was grabbed by Ahmed Nabil of Egypt while his compatriot Yehya Shams took the third place. Sylvia Steiner, an Olympic quota winner for Austria, settled for the fourth place.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. BOB Financial, Mastercard join hands to launch 4 new variants of BOB Credit Card: BOB Financial Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Baroda, and Mastercard have launched 4 new credit cards catering to its customers across segments, including affluent as well as the first-time credit card owners. Two of these cards were in association with eminent professional institutions of the country. The new card variants are Eterna, which will cater to the distinctive needs of the NBFC’s affluent customers and will be offered to customers as part of the Radiance program of Bank of Baroda. Swavlamban, a ‘by Invitation only’ card, targets the low-income employees of select corporates and SMEs which have a banking relationship with Bank of Barod. 2 co-branded cards in partnership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI), which will be offered exclusively to chartered accountants and cost and management accountants respectively.

 

2. Interest subvention on MSME loans extended till end of March 2021: RBI: The Reserve Bank of India has said that the two per cent interest subvention scheme for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on loans offered by co-operative banks has been extended till 31st of March next year. RBI has further informed that the scheme, initially announced for just two years, has been extended for the financial year 2020-21. RBI said that the coverage of the scheme is limited to all term loans and working capital to the extent of 100 lakh rupees, adding that the requirement of Udyog Aadhaar Number may be dispensed with for units eligible for GST.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India to Overtake China as World’s Largest LPG Residential Market by 2030: India is expected to overtake China as the world’s largest cooking gas LPG residential sector market by 2030, Wood Mackenzie said. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) demand in the residential sector will continue to see sustainable growth at a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3 per cent, reaching 34 million tonnes (MT) in 2030 as households’ dependence on solid biomass diminishes in the long run supported by rising average household incomes and urban population. Although nationwide LPG coverage has reached 98 per cent, up 42 per cent from 2014, usage is still low. Average annual cylinder refills have not kept up with the pace of new connections, with average consumption remaining below the benchmark of 12 cylinders.

 

2. Google launches ‘Make Small Strong’ initiative in India to help small, local businesses: Technology giant Google has launched a ‘Make Small Strong’ initiative in India to help small and local businesses across the country. The new initiative launched by Google will be aiming to support those small businesses, Kirana stores, vegetable vendors who have suffered massive loss during the lockdown period which was imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The tech giant has noted that it has joined hands with Zoho and Instamojo for this campaign.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Belarus, Iran, US, Nicaragua Activists Win ‘alternate’ Nobel Prize Of 2020: A Belarusian pro-democracy campaigner, an imprisoned Iranian human rights lawyer, a US civil rights attorney, and a Nicaraguan activist won a top Swedish honour sometimes called “the alternative Nobel Prize. Ales Bialiatski of Belarus and his NGO Viasna, Nasrin Sotoudeh of Iran, Bryan Stevenson of the United States and indigenous rights and environmental activist Lottie Cunningham Wren of Nicaragua share the Right Livelihood Award. Although the Right Livelihood Award is promoted as an “Alternative Nobel Prize”, it is not a Nobel prize.The top Swedish award has been honouring courageous changemakers since 1980, aimed at boosting urgent and long-term social change.

 

2. Mumbai Municipal Commissioner I.S. Chahal honoured with Global ‘Covid Crusader Award-2020’: Iqbal Singh Chahal, I.A.S., Municipal Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, wss honoured with Global ‘Covid Crusader Award-2020’ by the Indo American Chamber of Commerce(IACC) in the Indian Bureaucrats Category. Chahal has become the first Indian bureaucrat to be recognised and receive global acknowledgment for his contribution in controlling the novel coronavirus infection in India’s financial capital and for working to ‘flatten the curve’ in congested areas of the city, including Asia’s biggest slum Dharavi. 

Daily GK Updates - 10th Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Piyush Goyal gets additional charge of Ministry of Consumer Affairs: The Union Minister Piyush Goyal has been assigned the additional charge of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in addition to his existing portfolios, following the death of union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. Goyal is currently serving as the Union Minister of Railways and Minister of Commerce and Industry.

 

2. Uttarakhand Govt launches “Mukhya Mantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana”: Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Trivendra Singh Rawat has launched the “Mukhya Mantri Saur Swarojgar Yojana” at the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Auditorium in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The scheme is aimed at promoting self-employment of the youth and promoting the production of Green Energy. The targeted beneficiaries include youths and migrant workers, who returned home after leaving jobs in various parts of the country due to pandemic.

Under the scheme: 10, 000 Youths and Migrants will get self-employment in the Green Energy Sector. The targeted beneficiaries will be allocated Solar Plants of 25 Kilowatts (KW) each. 1.5-2 nalis (Land Measurement Unit) of Land and INR 10 Lakh at the rate of INR 40,000 per unit are required to set up each plant. The plants will generate 38,000 Units of Electricity per annum which will be bought by Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited for 25 years.

Note: Governor of Uttarakhand: Baby Rani Maurya.

 

3. Goa Govt Releases ‘Aatmanirbhar’ Plan to Support Farmers: The Goa government released an action plan to support agriculture and animal husbandry under its “Aatmanirbhar” programme. The government has announced a series of initiatives under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Swayampoorna Goa programme’ (ABSGP) including promoting dairy and poultry farming. It talks about checking ‘menace’ of wild animals and cattle at agriculture fields. To help farmers, crop insurance and fencing will be availed. Horticulture cultivation, procurement of agricultural equipment, and sustainable harvesting of medical plants will also be assisted with it.

 

4. Gujarat to get country’s first two Organic Spices Seed parks: The Gujarat Chief Minister released the sanction letters to two farmer producer organisations (FPOs) for a NABARD-supported Organic Spices Seed Park for saunf (fennel seed) in the Banaskantha district and jeera (cumin seed) in Patan for promotion of organic seed value chain of the spices. The two spices seeds parks will create a complete value chain and provide capacity building training for the farmers. A total of ₹23 lakh in grant assistance has been accorded to both the parks, which will have 50 farmers each. Once ready, the specialised institutions will the collect seeds, which will be sent for testing on quality control.

 

5. National Postal Week: 9-15 October: The Department of Posts is celebrating National Postal Week from 9-15 October 2020, to mark the occasion of the World Postal Day. Every year, the National Postal week is organised to generate awareness of the role and activities of the postal services among the public and media on a national scale. The online campaign will be organised to create awareness about new offerings and availability of citizen-centric services in Post Offices.

Note: Universal Postal Union Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland; Universal Postal Union Head: Bishar Abdirahman Hussein; Universal Postal Union Founder: Heinrich von Stephan; Universal Postal Union Founded: 9 October 1874.

 

6. National Postal Day: 10th October: In India, the National Postal Day is celebrated annually on 10 October, as an extension of World Post Day, which is celebrated on 9 October. The Day aims to commemorate the role played by the Indian postal department for the past 150 years, which was founded in 1854 by Lord Dalhousie.

Indian postal service: Indian postal service is an integral part of India. The postal services in India have given the best performance despite the diversity in culture, tradition and difficult geographical terrains.

India’s PIN Code system: PIN in Pincode stands for Postal Index Number. The 6-digit PIN system was introduced by Shriram Bhikaji Velankar, an additional secretary in the Union Ministry of Communications on 15 August 1972. The first digit of the PIN code marks the region. The second digit denotes the sub-region. The third digit marks the district. The last three digits show the post office under which a particular address falls.

Note: Indian Post Secretary: Pradipta Kumar Bisoi; Indian Post Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Mukesh Ambani tops the Forbes India Rich List 2020: The Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani, has topped the Forbes India Rich list for 2020. He has retained his position as the wealthiest Indian for the 13th consecutive year on Forbes India list. The tycoon added $37.3 billion to his net worth, to bring his total fortune to $88.7 billion, a rise of 73% over the previous year. The second spot has been retained by Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, with a net worth of $25.2 billion. Tech tycoon Shiv Nadar acquired the third spot with a net worth of $20.4 billion.

 

2. World Mental Health Day: 10th October: World Mental Health Day is observed globally on 10th October every year. The day is celebrated with an objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing the efforts in support of mental health. World Mental Health Day is organized by the World Federation for Mental Health. This year’s theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is ‘mental health for all’.

The day was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization. The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

Note: President of World Federation for Mental Health: Ingrid Daniels; World Federation for Mental Health Founded: 1948.

 

3. World Migratory Bird Day: 10th October: World Migratory Bird Day is observed globally on 9 May or 10th October. The Day will celebrate the biannual migration. The aim of the day is to raise awareness of migratory birds and the importance of international cooperation to conserve them. This time the theme of World Migratory Bird Day 2020 is “Birds Connect Our World”. The theme highlights the importance of conserving and restoring the ecological connectivity and integrity of ecosystems that support the natural cycles that are essential for the survival and well-being of migratory birds.

This day is organized by a collaborative partnership among two UN treaties the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and the Colorado-based non-profit organization, Environment for the Americas (EFTA). This day is a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness of migratory birds and the need for international cooperation to conserve them.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. NABARD inks 3 MoUs with SBI to extend credit support: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has inked three Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with State Bank of India (SBI) to extend credit support for various NABARD projects. The MoUs were inked by D. K. Mishra, Chief General Manager of NABARD in Gujarat and Dukhbandhu Rath, Chief General Manager, SBI Ahmedabad Circle in the presence of NABARD Chairman G. R. Chintala.

About Memorandum of Understanding: The MoUs were signed for financing joint liability groups, Self-Help Groups-support credit inflows to Farmer Producers’ Organizations and economic support for watershed development projects. These will help in providing credit support to the different sections of the society including the priority sector.

Note: NABARD Chairman: G. R. Chintala.

State Bank of India Chairman: Dinesh Kumar Khara; State Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 

2. J Venkatramu appointed MD and CEO of India Post Payments Bank: J Venkatramu has been appointed the managing director and chief executive officer of India Post Payments Bank (IPPB). He will succeed Suresh Sethi, who served the post till March 2020. Venkatramuis presently working as the chief digital officer in Equitas Small Finance Bank. He has been appointed to the post of MD and CEO of IPPB for a period of three years.

Note: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched IPPB in 2018.

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) was incorporated as Payments Banking Company under Section 22 (1) of Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

DEFENSE

 

1. DRDO successfully test-fires anti-radiation missile “Rudram”: The DRDO has successfully flight-tested a new generation Anti-Radiation Missile (RUDRAM-1) at the Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha. The missile was launched from SU-30 Mk1 fighter aircraft. The missile, having a speed of Mach two or twice the speed of sound, is capable of bringing down a wide-range of enemy radar systems, communication networks and air defence systems within a range of up to 250 kilometres. About RUDRAM:

(1) The RUDRAM is a first indigenous anti-radiation missile of the country for Indian Air Force (IAF), being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

(2) With this, the country has established indigenous capability to develop long-range air-launched anti-radiation missiles for neutralising enemy Radars, communication sites and other RF emitting targets.

(3) It has INS-GPS navigation with Passive Homing Head for the final attack. The RUDRAM hit the radiation target with pin-point accuracy.

(4) The Passive Homing Head can detect, classify and engage targets over a wide band of frequencies as programmed.

(5) The missile is a potent weapon for IAF for Suppression of Enemy Air Defence effectively from large stand-off ranges.

 

2. Coastal security exercise “Sagar Kavach” concludes: A two-day Coastal Security Exercise namely ‘Sagar Kavach’ conducted by the Indian Navy along with Indian Coast Guard and all stakeholders involved in Coastal Security from the coast of Kerala. The exercise was monitored from Joint Operations Centre, Kochi. Sagar Kavach is a half-yearly exercise with an objective to check the Coastal Security mechanism and validate Standard Operating Procedures. The exercise conducted along the coastal areas of Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep assumes significance in the backdrop of the prevailing security situation in the country.

 Apart from Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard, Coastal Police, Coastal District Administration, Cochin Port, Fisheries Department, Customs, Marine Enforcement Wing (MEW), Central Industrial Security force (CISF), Intelligence Bureau (IB), LightHouse Department and fishermen community participated in the exercise. Extensive air patrol and surveillance of the adjoining seas were also undertaken by the aircraft, helicopters and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard to detect ships and vessels of the opposing force.

Note: Chief of the Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. First woman chief justice of Kerala KK Usha passes away: Former Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, Justice KK Usha, passed away. She served as a judge from 1991 to 2000. And when she was appointed Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court from 2000 to 2001, Justice Usha became the first woman to join the High Court Judiciary from the Bar and became a Chief Justice.

About Justice KK Usha: Justice Usha, who had a distinguished career as a judge and later as chief justice, began her career when she enrolled as an advocate in 1961. She was India’s representative at the United Nations’ Joint Seminar on ‘Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination as regards women’, organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers and the International Federation of Women of Legal Careers. She was a member and the President of the University Women’s Association.

 

2. Mexican Nobel Laureate Mario Molina passes away: Renowned Mexican scientist and Nobel Prize winner Mario Molina (77 years) passed away. He won Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1995 and was the first Mexican to win the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. He along with other fellows Frank Sherwood Rowland and Paul Crutzen were awarded Nobel Prize for their work showing how chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in spray cans were destroying the ozone layer in 1995. He was appointed a scientific adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama in 2008.