Daily GK Updates - 17th Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cabinet approves Rs. 5718 crore World Bank-supported STARS project: Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has approved the implementation of the Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) project. ‘STARS’ is a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education for improving the quality of education, in the Indian School Education System. The total project cost is Rs 5718 crore with the financial support of World Bank amounting to the USD 500 million (approximately Rs. 3700 crores). The project will cover 6 states namely Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha.

Under the STARS Project: The project envisages improving the overall monitoring and measurement activities in the Indian School Education System by supporting the selected states in developing, implementing, evaluating and improving interventions with direct linkages to improved education outcomes and school to work transition strategies for improved labour market outcomes. The overall focus and components of the STARS project are aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 of Quality-Based Learning Outcomes.

 

2. DG of Shipping notified as National Authority for Ships Recycling: The Central government has notified the Directorate General of Shipping as the National Authority for Recycling of Ships. The DG Shipping has been designated as the apex authority for the ship recycling industry of India under Section 3 of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019. The office of the National Authority of Ship Recycling will be set up in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

About National Authority for Recycling of Ship: National Authority for Recycling of Ships will administer, supervise and monitor all activities relating to ship recycling. It would be the final authority for the various approvals required by the ship-recycling yard owners and the State governments.

Note: Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Shipping: Mansukh L. Mandaviya.

 

3. Union Cabinet approves Rs 520 crore package under NRLM for J&K and Ladakh: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a special package of Rs 520 crore for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh under the National Rural Livelihood Mission. This special package has been approved for a period of five years till the financial year 2023-24. The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) will ensure sufficient funds to both the Union Territories with the aim to eliminate rural poverty and improved access to financial services. The decision is in line with Centre’s aim to universalise all centrally sponsored beneficiary-oriented schemes in J&K and Ladakh in a time-bound manner.

 

4. Rajnath Singh lays foundation stone for Nechiphu tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh: Amid face-off between the Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the strategically important Nechiphu tunnel at West Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh via video conferencing. The 450m-long tunnel, which will bypass the existing road, will be D-shaped and comprise two lanes of 3.5m width each. Another 1.8 km-long tunnel is also being constructed on the BCT road and both will reduce the distance to the area bordering China by 10km. Besides this, the Defence Minister also inaugurated 43 BRO-made bridges across 7 Border States of the country, including 7 in Arunachal and 4 in Sikkim.

 

5. Akbar Ebrahim Gets A Second Term As FMSCI President: Former racer Akbar Ebrahim was unanimously elected for a second term as the president of India’s motorsports governing body, FMSCI. Farooq Ahmed was unanimously elected as the vice-president. Ebrahim had his first stint as FMSCI chief from 2016-2018 following which he was replaced by J Prithviraj.

 

6. IIT Delhi-incubated Startup Launches Antimicrobial Water Storage Containers ‘AqCure’: IIT Delhi-incubated startup Nanosafe Solutions has developed a range of antimicrobial mixing traditional science with nanotechnology i.e. antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal water storage containers and launched it as “AqCure”, which is based on the inherent antimicrobial properties of copper. AqCure water containers have >99.99% antibacterial, >99.99% antifungal, and >99% antiviral activity tested as per ISO and ASTM standards. These containers are made from BPA/BPS-free high quality food grade polymers and is ideal for home and office use.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbai Jeenbekov resigns: Kyrgyzstan President, Sooronbai Jeenbekov has resigned from his post, following 10 days of unrest caused by protesters who have demanded his removal from office. On 4th October 2020, he was re-elected as the President in Parliamentary election, causing political turmoil throughout the country. The 61-year-old has served as the President of Kyrgyzstan from 2017 to 2020. He was also the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan from April 2016 to August 2017.

Note: Kyrgyzstan Capital: Bishkek; Kyrgyzstan Currency: Kyrgyzstani som

 

2. Russia approves 2nd coronavirus vaccine “EpiVacCorona”: Russia has given regulatory approval to a second Covid-19 vaccine, named ‘EpiVacCorona’, after early-stage studies. The new coronavirus vaccine comes two months after a similar move for Russia’s first vaccine Sputnik V prompted widespread criticism from scientists both at home and abroad. Russia became the first country to give regulatory approval to a Covid-19 vaccine in August when Sputnik V was officially registered ahead of the large-scale clinical trial. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the country has registered the second Covid-19 vaccine.

About EpiVacCorona: The second Russian vaccine to receive regulatory approval was developed by the Vector State Research Centre of Virology and Biotechnology. The two-shot vaccine, ‘EpiVacCorona’, was tested among 100 volunteers in early-stage, placebo-controlled human trials, which lasted more than two months and were completed two weeks ago. The volunteers were between 18 and 60 years old. Vector’s vaccine EpiVacCorona relies on chemically synthesized peptide antigens of SARS-CoV-2 proteins, conjugated to a carrier protein and adsorbed on an aluminium-containing adjuvant, according to details posted at ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world.

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

 

3. India contributes 1 million dollars to UNRWA for Palestine Refugees: India has contributed one million dollars to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in Near East. This aid will support the Agency’s programmes and services, including education, health care, relief and social services. The Representative Office of India in Ramallah stated, India’s support for the Palestinian cause is an integral part of the nation’s foreign policy. It shall continue supporting the UNRWA’s activities in providing vital services and necessary humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees.

Note: UNRWA is a United Nations (UN) agency which was established by the UN General Assembly in 1949. The agency is mandated to provide protection and assistance to some 5.6 million Palestine refugees who are registered with UNRWA across its 5 fields of operation. TThe mission of UNRWA is to help the Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, West Bank, including Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

UNRWA Headquarters: Amman, Jordan; UNRWA Commissioner-General: Philippe Lazzarini.

 

4. International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: 17th October: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed globally on 17 October every year. The day aims to raise awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution around the world, particularly in developing countries. 2020 Theme: “Acting together to achieve social and environmental justice for all”. The theme for the Day this year addresses the challenge of achieving social and environmental justice for all. This year marks the 27th anniversary of the declaration by the General Assembly, in its resolution 47/196 of 22 December 1992, of 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This year also marks the 32nd anniversary of the Call to Action by Father Joseph Wresinski — which inspired the observance of October 17 as the World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty — and the recognition by the United Nations of the day as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. AIFF announces ‘Indian Football – Forward Together’ as its new motto: All India Football Federation, the apex body for the sport of football in the country, announced the launch of their new motto “Indian Football. Forward Together”, defining the new brand direction. The motto is based on the core belief of the Federation to promote, grow and develop the game of football throughout India with the support of the football community, and creates synergy with the core values of the organization – passion, respect, leadership, teamwork, integrity, professionalism and inclusivity.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. IKEA partners Mastercard, Citi to launch Family Credit Card: Citibank India (Citi) and Mastercard jointly announced the launch of “IKEA Family Credit Card by Citi” to make shopping at the Swedish furnishing company more affordable, convenient and rewarding. The card provides instant in-store card bookings, direct payments via Bharat QR, accelerated reward points and attractive EMIs and would also offer reward points on all purchases with instant reward redemption at IKEA. The card is available to IKEA family members at ”zero joining fee and zero annual fee’‘ and can be used for purchases made on IKEAs online and offline stores, or anywhere in the world that accepts credit cards.

 

2. EarlySalary launches ”Salary Card” powered by RuPay to meet the Rising Demand for Digital Credit: EarlySalary, India’s largest consumer lending platform, announced the launch of ‘Salary Card’ a zero-touch digital card that provides instant access for salaried professionals, enabling them to make instant purchases across thousands of merchants across India. Powered by RuPay, the Salary Card comes with a unique feature that allows consumers the flexibility of setting up a dynamic credit limit to suit that shopping, medical, travel, entertainment and other needs. The ‘Salary Card’ backed by advanced Machine Learning (ML) technologies and risk-oriented decision making mechanisms, is designed to serve as a secure payment mode to help consumers spend responsibly.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. BharatPe elevates Dhruv Dhanraj Bahl to chief operating officer: Merchant payment network BharatPe has elevated Dhruv Bahl as its chief operating officer (COO) with immediate effect.  In his new role, Bahl will be leading operations across customer support, deployments – QR, Swipe & Cards, KYC, loan disbursals and lead generation.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former New Zealand all-rounder John R Reid passes away: New Zealand’s oldest surviving Test cricketer and former captain John Reid has died at the age of 92. Reid, regarded as one of the world’s best all-rounders during his heyday in the fifties and early sixties, captained New Zealand in 34 Tests including, most notably, the country’s first three victories. Reid played 246 first-class games and scored 16128 runs at 41.35, including 39 centuries, while taking 466 wickets at 22.60. He retired in 1965 and later became a New Zealand selector, manager, and an ICC match referee.

 

2. India’s first Oscar winner Bhanu Athaiya passes away: India's first Oscar winner Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya (91 years) passed away in Mumbai. She won Oscar for her work in epic film Richard Attenborough's Gandhi in 1983 jointly with John Mollo. She began her career as a costume designer in movie 'C.I.D.'.  She is known for Bollywood's looks, including Vyjayantihmala in Aamrapaali, Waheeda Rehman in Guide and Zeenat Aman in Satyam Shivam Sundaram. She also won 2 national awards for Lekin (1990) and Lagaan (2001). In 2012, Athaiya returned her Oscar to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for safekeeping.

 

3. Cricket journalist and commentator Kishore Bhimani passes away: Veteran sports journalist and Cricket commentator, Kishore Bhimani passed away. He was a leading cricket commentator in the Eighties and Nineties and is best remembered for being on the air during the tied Test of 1986 between India and Australia in Chepauk, Chennai. He had received a lifetime achievement award for his decades-long contribution in the fields of media and commentary in 2013. 

Daily GK Updates - 16th Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Gujarat govt announces to set up the world’s biggest Zinc Smelter project: Gujarat government has signed a pact with Vedanta Group firm Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) to set up a greenfield zinc smelter in the state. This facility will entail an investment of Rs 5000- 10,000 crore in phases, creating more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs and will be operational by 2022. The proposed 300 (kilo tonnes per annum) production capacity project would provide big employment opportunities to the local youths in this tribal area.

About the Project: The first phase of the proposed plant will be operational in 36 months. The project will satisfy the domestic as well as global needs through exports. The new facility – the first for Hindustan Zinc in Gujarat, will be set up with zero discharge technology and will be among the lowest-cost smelters in the world. This is one of the largest MoUs signed by the state under the State’s new industrial policy, which gives extra benefits to the companies investing in backward tribal districts. Hindustan Zinc is one of the world’s largest and India’s only integrated producer of Zinc-Lead and Silver.

Note: Gujarat Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani; Gujarat Governor: Acharya Devvrat.

 

2. Government sets up a panel of secretaries headed by Rajiv Gauba to streamline telecom spectrum allocation: The Government of India has constituted a panel of secretaries to streamline the spectrum allocation process and also make the auction of spectrum an annual calendar event. The panel will be headed by the Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba. Other members of the panel would include the secretaries of home, defence, railways, telecom, I&B and department of space. The panel will also look into the possibility of identifying spectrum which is likely to be released for commercial purposes in future and convey that to the telcos. This step has been taken to help the telecom companies to get a clear road map of the quantum as well as the frequency of spectrum on offer for commercial use, following which they can then plan their strategies more efficiently

 

3. Arunachal Pradesh to feature on country’s aviation map with Greenfield airport at Hollongi: Arunachal Pradesh is poised to feature on country’s aviation map with a greenfield airport at Hollongi. With estimated cost of 650 crore rupees, the project includes the development work, construction of airport pavements, air side work, terminal Building and city side works. The new domestic airport, with an area of 4,100 square metres, the Hollongi Airport will be able to handle 200 passengers during peak hours. The terminal will be an energy efficient building provisioned with Rain Water Harvesting system and sustainable landscape. The tentative date for completion of the project is November, 2022.

 

4. UP Govt to dedicate Navratra Festival to ‘Women’s Safety’ by launching ‘Mission Shakti’: The Uttar Pradesh government will dedicate the coming Navratra festival to women’s safety, dignity and empowerment by launching “Mission Shakti”. Various programmes will be organised from gram panchayats to industrial units, school campuses to government offices, from Durga Puja pandals to Ramlilas to reaffirm the faith and resolve towards women power.

 

5. Microsoft & AICTE collaborate to empower students and educators: Microsoft and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) have partnered to empower students and educators in new-age technologies. This technology includes artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), data science and cloud computing.

Under the partnership: Over 1,500-course modules from Microsoft will be made available to students and educators free of cost through AICTE’s e-learning portal Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS). For this, Microsoft has integrated its learning resource centre Microsoft Learn with the ELIS platform to provide access to personalised learning paths and resources for students and educators.

Note: Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft: Satya Nadella; Microsoft Founded: April 4, 1975; Headquarters of Microsoft: Washington, United States.

 

6. PM Modi to release commemorative coin to mark 75th Anniversary of FAO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative coin of Rs 75 denomination on the occasion of 75th Anniversary of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on 16 October 2020. PM Modi also dedicates to the Nation 17 recently developed biofortified varieties of 8 crops. The event marks the highest priority accorded by the government to agriculture and nutrition and is a testament of the resolve to completely eliminate hunger, undernourishment and malnutrition. Anganwadi centres, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, organic and horticulture missions across the country will be part of the event. India’s proposals for declaring 2016 as the International Year of Pulses and 2023 as the International Year of Millets have also been endorsed by the FAO.

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

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Exim Bank extends USD 400 million soft loan to Maldives: The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) on behalf of the Government of India has extended a Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 400 million (about Rs 2,932 crore) to the Maldives. The soft loan will be used for financing the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) in the Maldives, which is the single-largest connectivity and infrastructure project in the island nation. LoCs or soft loans are concessional loans that are offered at cheap rates. The soft loans to the Maldives have funded connectivity, water, sewerage projects, Addu Development Project, an international cricket stadium, Gulhifalhu port, Hanimaadhoo airport and road construction work.

Note: Export-Import Bank of India CEO: David Rasquinha; Export-Import Bank of India Founded: 1 January 1982; Export-Import Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 

2. US FDA approved first treatment for Ebola: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first drug for the treatment of Ebola on October 14, 2020. The United States approved a lab-made antibody treatment against the Ebola virus developed by the biotech firm Regeneron after it was shown to significantly reduce the mortality rate in a clinical trial.

The US regulator approved the drug developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for treating adults and children. It was tested during an outbreak in Congo that killed nearly 2,300 people before it ended in June. The drug, named Inmazeb (IN’-meh-zehb), dramatically increased survival, when compared to three other treatments. The study was ended ahead of schedule last year so patients could get Inmazeb or a second drug that was nearly as effective. Earlier, FDA approved its first vaccine for Ebola in last December.

 

3. International E-Waste Day: 14th October: The International E-Waste Day (IEWD) is celebrated on 14 October every year since 2018, to promote the correct disposal of e-waste throughout the world with the aim to increase re-use, recovery and recycling rates. 2020 is the third edition of the International E-Waste Day. The day was developed in 2018 by the WEEE Forum, an international association of e-waste collection schemes, with the support of its members. The theme for 2020 IEWD is ‘Education’.

 

4. Global Handwashing Day: 15th October: The Global Handwashing Day (GHD) is observed on 15 October every year. It is an international handwashing promotion campaign to motivate and mobilize people around the world to improve their handwashing habits. The day was established by the Global Handwashing Partnership (GHP) (formerly called “Public Private Partnership for Handwashing” (PPPHW)) in 2008. Theme of GHD 2020 is ‘Hand Hygiene for All’.

 

5. World Food Day: 16th October: World Food Day (WFD) is observed globally on 16 October every year. The day is celebrated to eradicate worldwide hunger from our lifetime. This day generates awareness globally for those who suffer from hunger and to ensure the need for food security and nutritious diets for all. Theme 2020: “Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together”. The main focus of this day is that food is a basic and fundamental human right. WFD commemorates the day in 1945 when the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) was founded.

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

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Constantina Dita named ambassador for Half Marathon C’ships Gdynia 2020: Romania’s 2008 Olympic champion, Constantina Dita has been named an ambassador for the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Gdynia 2020. The 2020 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships, originally scheduled for 29 March 2020 in Gdynia, Poland, was postponed until 17 October 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dita competed at eight editions of the World Half Marathon Championships and earned seven medals in the process, making her one of the most successful athletes in the history of the event. Her double victory in Edmonton in 2005, taking individual and team gold medals, remains one of the highlights of her career. She won the marathon gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC Bank to launch ‘The HealthyLife Programme’ for its customers: India’s leading private sector bank, HDFC Bank and Apollo Hospitals have collaborated to launch the “HealthyLife Programme”, a holistic healthcare solution. This programme will be launched for HDFC Bank customers, to make healthy living accessible and affordable while making the process convenient and easy for the customers.

Benefits of the programme: Customers will get round the clock access to emergency Apollo Doctor at No Cost on Apollo’s digital platform, Apollo 24/7. It will also come with various other benefits such as choice of payment options and ease of finance for treatments at all Apollo Hospitals. Customers can avail unsecured loans of up to Rs. 40 lakh to pay for medical expenses incurred at the healthcare chain.

Note: HDFC Bank CEO: Aditya Puri; The tagline of HDFC Bank: We Understand Your World; HDFC Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India will be 3rd-largest economy by 2050: Lancet: India is likely to overtake Japan as the third largest economy in the world by 2050 and continue in that position till 2100, according to a study published in the medical journal Lancet. The study constructed scenarios for GDP using the working age population of countries. The study based 2017 as the reference when India was the seventh largest economy in the world, and forecast that India will emerge as the fourth largest economy by 2030 behind USA, China, Japan and by 2050 it will go onto the third spot. By 2100, India was forecasted to still have the largest working-age population in the world, followed by Nigeria, China, and the USA. Other countries bolstered by immigration that rose up in the global rankings by GDP were Australia and Israel. Despite huge declines in population forecasted this century, Japan remained the fourth-largest economy in 2100, according to the study on fertility, mortality, migration and population scenarios for 195 countries from 2017 to 2100.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. “Bank of Ghana” wins Central bank of the year award 2020: “Bank of Ghana” has won the Central bank of the year award 2020. Apart from this, Mark Carney (Governor of the Bank of England) has won the Governor of the year at the Central bank of the year award 2020. Central Banking Awards is held annually to recognize excellence in the central banking community. This was the 7th edition of the award and the ceremony was held virtually on.

Note: Governor of Bank of Ghana: Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison; Bank of Ghana Headquarters: Accra, Ghana; Bank of Ghana Founded: 1957.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Renowned Indian-origin South African Human Rights Lawyer Priscilla Jana Passes Away: Renowned Indian-origin South African human rights lawyer Priscilla Jana who represented many anti-apartheid political leaders, including Nelson Mandela, has passed away. He was 76. Jana, who had played a significant role against apartheid, was the Deputy Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). Jana was also a member of the South African Law Commission and served as a member of the Advisory Committee to the President. After a period as a Member of Parliament in the democratic government following the election of Mandela in 1994, Jana served as South African Ambassador in the Netherlands and in Ireland.

 

2. Renowned Kuchipudi dancer Shoba Naidu passes away: Renowned Kuchipudi dancer, Shobha Naidu passed away. Her major achievements include choreography and presentation of Ballets Vipranarayana, Kalyana Srinivasam and many others, in which she was the main protagonist and portrayed various roles like Satyabhama, Devadevaki, Padmavathi, Mohini, Sai Baba, and Goddess Parvati which won her great appreciation. Some of the famous awards won by her include, Padma Shri in 2001, Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1991. 

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.