Daily GK Updates - 15th Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Odisha launches ‘Sujal’ Mission to provide tap water fit for drinking: Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated “Sujal”, ‘Drink from Tap Mission’ scheme, to provide round the clock supply of quality tap drinking water in all urban areas of the state.

About “Sujal” scheme: The state has set the target to provide piped water connections to all urban areas in the state by March 2022. Odisha government has set Rs 1300 crore for this scheme which will benefit over 15 lakh people in 15 towns in a phased manner. Once fully implemented, Odisha will become the first state in the country to provide quality drinking water, fit for direct consumption, in urban areas.

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

 

2. Kerala govt sets up welfare board for farmers: In a first in the country, the Kerala government has decided to form a Welfare Fund Board for the uplift of farmers in the state. The state cabinet decided to set up the board to be known as ‘Kerala Karshaka Kshemanidhi Board’. For the farmers to become a member of the Board, they need to pay Rs 100 as registration fee and a monthly fee of Rs 100.The government will provide an equivalent share of upto Rs 250 to the members of the Welfare Fund. The Board members are entitled to personal pension, family pension, sickness benefit, disability benefit, medical assistance, marriage and maternity allowance, education assistance and posthumous benefits.

Note: Kerala Capital: Thiruvananthapuram; Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan; Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan

 

3. Assam CM launches Kisan Rath Mobile App to facilitate sale of agriculture products: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the Kisan Rath (fruits and vegetables) mobile application to facilitate timely selling of agriculture products by promoting buyer-seller network in a programme held at the Assam Administrative Staff College. The app interconnects online more than 10,000 farmers, 50 farmer producer organizations and 1,000 verified agricultural traders. The application was initially released by the Government of India and has been customized by NIC Assam to suit the requirements of the state.

Note: Assam Capital: Dispur; Governor: Jagdish Mukhi

 

4. Rajasthan Launches Toll-free Helpline For Mental Health Services: A toll-free government helpline for mental health ”Mann Samvad” was launched by Health Minister Raghu Sharma in Rajasthan. The helpline 1800-180-0018 launched by the state government to continuously strengthening mental health services during the coronavirus period. The facility of free tele-counselling is being provided to patients with mental health issues that through the helpline.

Note: Rajasthan Capital: Jaipur; Governor: Kalraj Mishra; Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot

 

5. IIT Kharagpur designs robotic system to identify diseases plaguing plants: IIT Kharagpur has designed a robotic system capable of identifying the diseases plaguing plants through camera-captured image analysis. Again use of such a device instead of manual operation of spraying pesticide will protect the farmers from related probable health hazards. This is a battery-driven robotic system. Once fully charged, it will be able to perform its duty in the field for about two hours.

 

6. TRIFED, Chhattisgarh MFP Federation, IIT-Kanpur to launch Tech for Tribals Initiative: Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED) under Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with Chhattisgarh MFP Federation and IIT-Kanpur is to launch ‘Tech for Tribals' initiative on 13th October 2020. Tech for Tribals:

(1) The initiative aims to provide advance level training to the Vandhan tribal beneficiaries. Earlier, TRIFED has collaborated with MSME through its Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESDP) scheme for providing skill upgrading and entrepreneurial capacity building support to the Van Dhan tribal beneficiaries to establish their sustainable enterprise.

(2) Tech for Tribals initiative aims at the holistic development of tribals with a focus on entrepreneurship development, soft skills, IT, and business development through Self Help Groups (SHGs) operating through Van Dhan Kendras (VDVKs).

(3) Under the program, the beneficiaries will undergo a 30 days program over six weeks comprising 120 sessions. The training will be initially held from 12th October - 7th November 2020, in which Vandhan beneficiaries across all districts of Chhattisgarh.

(4) The training module has been developed by IIT-Kanpur. The module will be disseminated among beneficiaries in a phased manner through various modes such as online lectures and training, online activities and gradually move to face to face interactions in classrooms, practical, onsite visits and exposure visits.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Argentina becomes 1st nation to approve genetically modified wheat: Argentina has approved HB4 drought-resistant GMO wheat, making it the first country in the world to approve a strain of GMO wheat. The drought-resistant HB4 wheat variety was developed by Argentine biotechnology company Bioceres, working with the National University and Conicet. Bioceres’ HB4 wheat is resistant to drought and tolerates the herbicide glufosinate sodium, a combination the company says can help boost yields on dry years.

Note: Argentina Capital: Buenos Aires; Currency; Peso; President: Alberto Fernández

 

2. Fifth Meeting of India-Mexico Bilateral High Level Group on Trade, Investment and Cooperation Held: The fifth meeting of India and Mexico Bilateral High-Level Group on Trade, Investment and Cooperation was held through video conferencing. The official discussed several topics including the Bilateral investment treaty, Cooperation Framework on phytosanitary and sanitary products, Audiovisual co-production, Technical barriers to trade, Market access for Agricultural Products, Cooperation in intellectual property rights and Promotion of tourism and the improvisation of people to people contact. They also reaffirmed to diversify their bilateral relationship in the trade of Pharmaceuticals, Medical equipment, Healthcare, Agro products, Fisheries, Food processing industries and Aerospace.

 

3. International Day of Rural Women: 15th October: The International Day of Rural Women is observed globally on 15 October each year. The day recognizes the crucial role of women and girls in ensuring the sustainability of rural households and communities, improving rural livelihoods and overall well-being. In India, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare observes the day as the Rashtriya Mahila Kisan Diwas since 2016, to increase the active participation of women in agriculture. The theme for this International Day of Rural Women is “Building rural women’s resilience in the wake of COVID-19,” to create awareness of these women’s struggles, their needs, and their critical and key role in our society.

 

4. World Students’ Day: 15th October: World Students’ Day is observed every year on 15 October to mark the birth anniversary of former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. This year marks the 89th birth anniversary of the former president and ‘Missile Man’ Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. In 2010 the United Nations declared 15 October “World Students’ Day”, due to Kalam’s love for students and who himself was a dedicated teacher and identified himself foremost in that role before anything else.

About A.P.J Abdul Kalam: A.P.J Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 at Dhanushkodi, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu. His full name was Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam. In 2002, he was elected as the President of India and before becoming president he was working with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as an aerospace engineer. As a scientist, he began his career at the Aeronautical Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Also, he had served as the project director of India’s first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) at ISRO.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Ajinkya Rahane signed as brand ambassador of Hudle: Sports tech and events startup Hudle has announced the appointment of cricketer Ajinkya Rahane as brand ambassador and advisor of the company. Apart from being the face of the brand, Rahane will also be able to guide the team with strategic inputs through his wealth of experience in professional sport. Rahane is currently in the United Arab Emirates with the Delhi Capitals for the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) edition.

Hudle is a sports tech, events and management company that uses technology to make sports activities accessible to the masses, irrespective of their age or skill level. It enables players to book sports venues, events and fitness sessions on their B2C platform while helping sports facility owners streamline their operations with their B2B partner software.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI to rationalise risk weightage on housing loans to push demand: In order to promote the housing sector, the Reserve Bank of India decided to rationalise risk weightage on housing loans, making the product attractive for both borrower and lenders. With revision in the risk weightage, the requirement of capital provision for banks will come down. This will encourage banks to push housing loan products with attractive features. RBI has decided to link home loans to Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios for new housing loans sanctioned up to March 31, 2022. Such loans shall attract a risk weight of 35% where LTV is less than or equal to 80%, and a risk weight of 50% where LTV is more than 80% but less than or equal to 90%, he said.

 

2. RBI to conduct on-tap targeted LTRO to boost credit flow: RBI announced an ‘On Tap TLTRO’ scheme worth Rs 1 trillion, to provide liquidity support to various economic sectors and banks. The TLTRO will be for up to three years and for a total amount of up to Rs 1 trillion at a floating rate linked to the policy repo rate for banks. The sectors which could benefit from this move include construction, real estate, and microfinance. RBI will provide these funds under on-tap targeted long-term repo operations (TLTRO) at a floating rate linked to the policy rate for up to three years. At present, the repo rate is 4 percent.

What is TLTRO or LTRO?

LTRO lets banks borrow one to three-year funds from the central bank at the repo rate, by providing government securities with similar or higher tenure as collateral. Targeted Long-Term Repo Operations (TLTRO), banks can invest in specific sectors through debt instruments (corporate bonds, commercial papers, and non-convertible debentures (NCDs)) to push the credit flow in the economy. It is called 'Targeted' LTRO as in this case, the central bank wants banks opting for funds under this option to be specifically invested in investment-grade corporate debt. This helps banks get funds for a longer duration as compared to the short-term (up to 28 days) liquidity provided by the RBI through other tools such as liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) and marginal standing facility (MSF).

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Sarah Hall becomes first writer to win BBC National Short Story Award twice: Sarah Hall has become the first writer to win the BBC national short story award twice, with judges describing her as a virtuoso of the form. Hall, who previously took the £15,000 prize in 2013, won the annual competition again for The Grotesques, a “timeless and unsettling” story that explores privilege, inequality and mother-daughter relationships in a university town. The prize, which is supported by Cambridge University, is initially judged blind.

 

2. Indian Navy Ships Sahyadri and Kora adjudged as Best Ships in FAF 2020: Fleet Award Function (FAF), 2020 was organised to mark the successful culmination of the Operational Cycle of the Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam. During the event, the Fleet Operations Officer presented the Annual Report of activities and achievements of the Fleet for 01 Apr 19 to 31 Mar 20. Sixteen trophies were awarded in recognition of excellence in various operational verticals. The most coveted trophies of Best Ship were awarded to INS Sahyadri amongst Capital ships and INS Kora amongst Corvettes and similar classes of ships. Indian Naval Ships Airavat and Kiltan jointly bagged the ‘Best Spirited Ship’ displaying indomitable spirit and grit whilst undertaking a plethora of challenging missions.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Nightingale of Gujarat, Kaumudi Munshi passes away: Renowned Gujarati Singer Kaumudi Munshi (91 years) passes away due to COVID-19 at Somaiya Hospital in Sion. She is known as the Nightingale of Gujarat. Some of her popular songs in Gujarati are 'Sachi re maari satre bhavani maa’, and ‘koi aghe aghe thi venu vai che'. She sang as a classical singer and was also known for her work in thumri, dadra, chaiti, kajari, ghazals and Bhojpuri folk songs. She also compiled Gujarati album for children called Chhaani Maani Raat Padi. 

Daily GK Updates - 14th Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Goa Govt ties up with India Post to get farmers enrolled in PM-KISAN scheme: The Goa Government has tied up with India Post to get 11,000 farmers enrolled in the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sanman Nidhi scheme. This is the first such exercise in India to enrol farmers in the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, whereby the postman will be utilised to benefit farmers. All 255 post offices in Goa and 300 staff are involved in this initiative. This PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme where the farmers directly received direct benefit transfer of Rs 2,000 in three instalments every year, is for the economically weaker farmers.

About Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi: The scheme provides Rs 6000 per annum for one landholding farmers’ families in the country. The amount is given in 3 equal instalments of Rs. 2000 each. This financial support helps farmers to procure various inputs related to agriculture and allied activities and domestic needs.

Note: Goa Capital: Panaji; Governor of Goa: Bhagat Singh Koshyari; Chief Minister of Goa: Pramod Sawant.

 

2. ADB approves 300 million US dollar loan for Rajasthan’s water supply: India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a 300 million US dollar loan to finance inclusive and sustainable water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services in 14 secondary towns of the state of Rajasthan. The project aims at providing better quality and more sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) services in the project towns. it will improve quality of life in these towns, including for the poor and vulnerable after signing the loan agreement.

About the Project: The investments in WSS with 10-year operation and maintenance contracts will ensure improved and sustainable service delivery in line with the State Government’s urban sector development plan. The project will empower urban local bodies, and strengthen their institutional capacity, deepen sector reforms, and build the resilience of communities to manage health pandemics. Through the project, water supply systems in at least eight project towns are expected to improve by 2027, benefiting more than 5 lakh 70 thousand people. Citywide sanitation systems will benefit about 7 lakh 20 thousand people in at least 14 secondary towns.

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

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

 

3. Amazon Pay collaborate with Uber to push digital payments in India: An online payment processing service, Amazon Pay and a technology company that offers vehicles for hire, Uber, announced a partnership to push digital payments in India. This Partnership will integrate Amazon Pay as a payment option on the Uber app.

About the partnership: This partnership aims at enabling millions of customers to make contactless, safe, and secure payments for their Uber rides. To facilitate their Uber trip, customers will need to link their Amazon Pay account to Uber by clicking on the ‘Payments’ icon and choosing Amazon Pay. In order to make the payment process as seamless as possible, the ride fare for any subsequent Uber trips will be automatically paid from their Amazon Pay balance after the completion of a trip.

Note: Uber Technologies Inc CEO: Dara Khosrowshahi; Uber Technologies Inc Headquarters: California, United States.

  

4. PM Modi releases autobiography of Balasaheb Vikhe Patil: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released the autobiography of former Union Minister Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil through video conferencing. The autobiography of Dr Patil has been titled ‘Deh Vechwa Karani,’ means ‘dedicating one’s life for a noble cause.’ Dr Patil served as Member of Lok Sabha for multiple terms. He died in 2016 at the age of 84. The prime minister also renamed the Pravara Rural Education Society to ‘Loknete Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Pravara Rural Education Society.’ The society was established in Ahmednagar’s Loni district to provide a world-class education to rural masses and empower the girl child.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. FATF keeps Pakistan on enhanced follow-up list: Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Asia Pacific Group has kept Pakistan in its ‘Enhanced Follow Up’ list. The organisation had downgraded Pakistan status from “regular follow-up” to “enhanced follow up”. Enhanced follow up status means the country need to provide monthly reports of its compliance to the Financial Action Task Force.

The Asia-pacific group of FATF submitted its report called “Follow up report on the “mutual evaluation of Pakistan”. In the report, it was highlighted that the progress of Pakistan to combat the Financing of terror system and anti-money laundering made by the Financial Action Task Force has remained unchanged in 2020 as compared to that of 2019. As per the report, Pakistan complied with only two of the 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force.

Note: The headquarters of FATF is in Paris, France; FATF was founded in July 1989.

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

 

2. World Economic Forum shifts annual meeting 2021 from Davos: The World Economic Forum (WEF) will hold its Annual Meeting 2021 in Lucerne-Burgenstock, Switzerland, from May 18 to 21, as against the traditional venue of the ski resort town, Davos in January-end. The change in schedule and venue was necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Annual Meeting 2021 in Lucerne-Burgenstock will be held around the theme of ‘The Great Reset’. The meeting will focus on the solutions required to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

Note: World Economic Forum Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland; World Economic Forum Founder and Executive Chairman: Klaus Schwab; World Economic Forum Founded: January 1971.

 

3. World Standards Day: 14th October: World Standards Day or International Standards Day is observed globally on 14 October every year. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of standardisation to the global economy among the consumers, regulators and industry. World Standards Day 2020 theme is “Protecting the planet with standards”. It is marked to celebrate the contributions of experts and scientists across the world in developing voluntary standards within standards development organisation such as the International Organisation for Standards (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Los Angeles Lakers wins 17th NBA Championship: The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Miami Heat to win the National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship 2020. This is the 17th NBA title win for LA Lakers and also there first since 2010, after late Kobe Bryant’s fifth and final title a decade ago. LeBron James of the Lakers’ was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the fourth time in his career. With this, he became the first player in league history to be named Finals MVP with three different franchises.

Note: National Basketball Association (NBA) Championship Founded: 6 June 1946, New York, United States.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI raises banks’ aggregate exposure limit for small businesses: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised the banks’ maximum aggregate retail exposure limit to entities with turnover up to Rs 50 crore to Rs 7.5 crore. Earlier this limit was Rs 5 crore. The decision has been taken to increase credit flow to small businesses. The risk weight of 75 per cent will apply to all fresh exposures and also to existing exposures where incremental exposure may be taken by the banks up to the revised limit of Rs 7.5 crore.

RBI has also decided to extend the existing enhanced Held to Maturity (HTM) limit of 22 per cent for SLR securities acquired between September 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, up to March 31, 2022. This means that Banks may continue to hold such excess SLR securities in HTM category up to March 31, 2022. The enhanced HTM limit would be restored to 19.5 per cent in a phased manner, beginning from the quarter ending June 30, 2022.

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

 

2. Axis Bank launches ACE Credit Card in partnership with Google Pay: Axis Bank has launched a new entry-level credit card named Axis ACE Credit Card, with a focus on increasing participation of users in the digital economy. It also aims to bring a seamless, digital experience to users from application to issuance. The card has been launched in collaboration with Google Pay and will run on Visa (Signature) platform. The tokenization feature has been enabled in partnership with Visa. This will allow the users of Google Pay to use their ACE Credit Card to make payments through a secure digital token attached to their phone without the need to share their card details physically.

Eligibility Criteria: Currently, Axis Bank ACE Credit Card is available to only select customers of Google Pay. However one can apply online for this credit card on Axis Bank website too. Click on the button below to apply for Axis Bank ACE Credit Card.

Axis Bank ACE Credit Card comes with the following fees: Joining fee: Rs. 499 + GST; Renewal fee: Rs. 499 + GST. Joining fee is reversed upon spending Rs. 10,000 within 45 days of card setup which seems quite reasonable. The renewal fee is also waived off on achieving an annual spend of Rs. 2 Lakhs.

Note: Axis Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Axis Bank MD and CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. IMF projects India’s GDP to contract 10.3% in 2020: According to ‘World Economic Outlook’ report, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected the Indian economy to contract by 10.3 per cent in 2020-21, from its earlier prediction of 4.5 per cent due to rise in Covid cases. However, IMF estimates the GDP of India to grow at 8.8 per cent in 2021-22, as compared to 6 per cent predicted earlier, regaining the position of the fastest-growing emerging economy. On the other hand, the Fund expects the world economy to contract by 4.4 per cent in 2020. This projection was -5.2 per cent earlier.

Note: IMF Headquarters: Washington, D.C. U.S; IMF Managing Director and Chairman: Kristalina Georgieva; IMF Chief Economist: Gita Gopinath.

 

2. BharatPe launches 11 Cricket Stars as Brand Ambassadors: BharatPe has announced the launch of its high impact TV campaign starring ‘Team BharatPe’ with 11 Cricket stars as brand ambassadors. The TVC series has been directed by ace Bollywood director, Puneet Malhotra, and communicates the message ‘Hum Hai Team BharatPe – Jo Desh Ke Har Dukandaar Ke Saath Hai Khade’. Team BharatPe includes Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Shubhman Gill.

The company is set to redefine the financial services landscape with its 4 TV advertisements designed to drive awareness around BharatPe’s range of financial products for small shop owners across India, including QR based payment acceptance, no collateral loans, card payment machine with 0% transaction fee, and the exciting loyalty program.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Army and Maha govt organised a anti-terror exercise “Suraksha Kavach”: Indian Army and Maharashtra Police organised an anti-terror exercise “Suraksha Kavach” at Lullanagar, Pune, Maharashtra. The aim of the exercise was to harmonize the drills and procedures of both Army and Police for activating anti-terrorist Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) to counter any terrorist actions in Pune. The exercise involved the participation of Quick Reaction Teams, Dog Squads and Bomb Disposal Teams of Army as well as Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Quick Reaction Team of Maharashtra Police. The exercise was carried out taking all safety norms of COVID-19 into consideration and strength of participating troops was scaled down accordingly. The exercise provided an opportunity for both Army and Police to cooperate, coordinate, coopt and streamline their drills and procedures. Overall, it was a great learning experience for both.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Bihar Minister Vinod Kumar Singh passes away of COVID-19: Vinod Kumar Singh, the Minister for Backward and Extremely Backward Classes in Bihar has passed away after being infected with COVID-19. He was 50. Singh was a BJP MLA from Pranpur Assembly constituency of Katihar district in northeast Bihar and has been elected MLA thrice from the constituency.

 

2. 1952 Olympic 400 hurdles champion, Charlie Moore, passes away: Charlie Moore, the champion of 400-meter hurdles at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics,has passed away. He was 91. Moore won a gold medal in the 400 metre hurdles in the 1952 Summer Olympics with a time of 50.8 seconds to set the world record. He had also set a world record of 51.6 in the 440 hurdles at the British Empire Games in London. 

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.