Daily GK Updates – 24th Oct, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Uttar Pradesh emerges as top destination in 2019: Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top destination for attracting the highest number of domestic tourists visiting the state in 2019 as per the Indian Tourism Statistics (ITS) 2020, released by the Ministry of Tourism. About 53.6 crore domestic tourists visited Uttar Pradesh in 2019, which is 23.1% of the total travellers. Tamil Nadu (21.3%) came second followed by Andhra Pradesh (10.2%).

Tamil Top destination for attracting foreign travelers: In terms of foreign tourists, Tamil Nadu has topped the list with nearly 68 lakh foreigners visiting the state in 2019. Maharashtra (over 55 lakh) is at the second position in this list while Uttar Pradesh (over 47 lakh) has secured the third position in attracting foreign tourists visiting in 2019. Goa came last on this list with over 9 lakh foreign tourist visits in 2019.

 

2. IIT Kharagpur’s develops ‘COVIRAP’ Technology for COVID-19: The researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed ‘COVIRAP,’ the Covid-19 diagnostic test technology, which is fairly easy to conduct and affordable as well and can produce results within one hour. This COVIRAP technology has been successfully validated for its efficacy in COVID-19 detection by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and been granted certification, after rigorous testing with patient samples by an authorized ICMR laboratory. About “COVIRAP”:

(1) This testing technology is comparable to the celebrated RT-PCR tests, and will just cost the common people with a testing cost of around Rs 500.

(2) COVIRAP is a cuboid-shaped portable testing device that can deliver results in an hour, making it an effective tool to scale up coronavirus screening in peripheral and rural areas.

(3) This machine can be developed at a cost of less than Rs 10,000 with minimal infrastructural requirement making the technology affordable to common people. The testing process in this new machine is completed within one hour.

(4) This implies influenza, malaria, dengue, Japanese encephalitis, tuberculosis and many other infectious, as well as vector-borne diseases, can be tested using the same machine.

(5) This will virtually minimise the need for thermal cyclers or real-time PCR machines, without sacrificing the expected high standards of a molecular diagnostic test.

Note: Director, IIT Kharagpur: Prof. Virendra Kumar Tewari; IIT Kharagpur Headquarters: Kharagpur, West Bengal.

 

3. Culture & Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel launches Life in Miniature project: The Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Shri Prahlad Singh Patel launched ‘Life in Miniature’ project via video conferencing on 22 October 2020. The project is a collaboration between the National Museum, New Delhi, Ministry of Culture, and the Google Arts and Culture. Under the ‘Life in Miniature’ project, various miniature paintings from the National Museum can be viewed online on Google Arts and Culture by people around the world. It would include miniature art like the Ramayana, Royal Saga, Pahari style paintings in never before seen ways and in extraordinary detail. The project can be accessed at g.co/LifeInMiniature. It will make use of technologies like machine learning, augmented reality and digitization with high-definition robotic cameras, to showcase these special works of art in a magical new way.

 

4. National Police Commemoration Day: 21st October: In India, the National Police Commemoration Day is observed on 21st October every year. The day is marked to remember and honour the brave policemen who have laid down their lives in the line of duty. On 21 October 1959, twenty Indian soldiers were attacked by Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Hot Spring area, in which, ten Indian policemen lost their lives and seven were imprisoned. Since that day, 21 October has been observed as Police Commemoration Day in honour of the martyrs.

 

5. Parle agro ropes in Priyanka Chopra Jonas as brand ambassador: Parle Agro has roped in Priyanka Chopra Jonas as the national brand ambassador to maximise reach and awareness of its fruits plus fizz portfolio ‘B-Fizz’. The campaign will be aggressively promoted across IPL on Hotstar and YouTube. B-Fizz is a unique and refreshing apple juice-based malt flavoured carbonated drink that is set to revolutionize the taste experience of consumers across age groups.

Note: Parle Agro CEO: Schauna Chauhan; Parle Agro HQs: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India participates in 18th meeting of Prosecutors General of SCO: The 18th meeting of Prosecutors General of SCO was held on 20 October 2020, via video conference. India was represented by the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. During the meeting, all the prosecutors agreed to strengthen cooperation in preventing and combating corruption, mutual legal assistance and exchange of regulatory legal acts. India will host the SCO Prosecutors General Meeting in 2021. SCO is an important regional grouping which gives India an opportunity to engage its extended neighbourhood especially central Asian countries.

 

2. International Stuttering Awareness Day: 22nd October: International Stuttering Awareness Day is observed globally on 22nd October every year. The day is intended to raise public awareness of the millions of people who have a speech disorder of stuttering or stammering. This year’s theme is “Journey of Words – Resilience and Bouncing Back”. The International Stuttering Awareness Day, ISAD, (October 22) began in 1998, spear-headed by Michael Sugarman, Oakland, California.

 

3. United Nations Day: 24th October: 24th October has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. The United Nations was founded in 1945 to support collective action to realize peace, development and human rights for all. With the ratification of the UN Charter by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.

Note: United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA; Mr Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

 

4. World Polio Day: 24th October: The World Polio Day is celebrated annually on October 24, to raise awareness for polio vaccination and eradication of polio. World Polio Day provides an opportunity to highlight global efforts toward a polio-free world and honour the tireless contributions of those on the frontlines in the fight to eradicate polio from every corner of the globe. The Day was established by Rotary International to commemorate the birth of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a vaccine against poliomyelitis. 2020 theme for World Polio Day is “A win against polio is a win for global health.” As of August 2020, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two nations which remain with the continued transmission of wild poliovirus.

 

5. World Development Information Day: 24th October: The United Nations’ World Development Information Day is held on October 24 every year. The day aims to draw the attention of world public opinion to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them for overall growth and development. The General Assembly in 1972 established World Development Information Day to draw the attention of the world to development problems and the need to strengthen international cooperation to solve them. The Assembly decided that the date for the Day should coincide with United Nations Day, 24 October, which was also the date of the adoption, in 1970, of the International Development Strategy for the Second United Nations Development Decade.

 

6. International Day of Diplomats: 24th October: The International Day of Diplomats is celebrated on 24 October every year. The day aims to commemorate the contributions made by diplomats in shaping the world since ancient times and in making our planet a better place. It also aims to bridge the gap in perception and reality of diplomats’ lives among the general public. The first International Day of Diplomats was celebrated in Brasília on 24 October 2017. It was proposed by Indian poet-diplomat Abhay K and saw participation from the diplomats of Bangladesh, France, Ghana, Israel, Italy, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Zenpay, RBL Bank joins hands to digitalise Salary Accounts for SMEs, MSMEs: Zenpay Solutions announced its partnership with RBL bank and YAP to drive financial inclusion to issue salary cards to its customers across India. The corporate expense and salary payment solution will help blue collared employees working with SMEs and MSME to receive digital payments via a salary account. Zenpay will also offer customers a digital salary card and mobile application, which will help them manage their finance efficiently with the help of the interactive dashboard.

 

2. IRDAI sets up panel to examine need for Standard Cyber Insurance Product: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has set up a panel to explore possibility of a basic standard product structure to provide insurance cover for individuals and establishments to manage their cyber risks. The panel, headed by P Umesh, has been asked to study various statutory provisions on information and cybersecurity, and to evaluate critical issues involving legal aspects of transactions in cyber space. It will also examine various types of incidents involving cybersecurity in the recent past and possible insurance coverage strategies for those, and the cyber liability insurance covers available in Indian market and in other developed jurisdictions.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Global trade likely to fall by 7 to 9% in 2020: UNCTAD: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development has said that the value of global trade is set to fall by seven to nine per cent in 2020 from the previous year. The UNCTAD’s new global trade update said that global trade recorded a 5 per cent drop in the third quarter of 2020 compared with the same period last year. India’s export growth saw a decline of 6.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2020 as compared to third quarter of last year. However India recorded export growth of four per cent in September.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. MD of TRIFED Pravir Krishna bags CEO of the year and visionary leadership award: Managing Director of TRIFED Pravir Krishna (IAS) has been awarded CEO of the Year and Visionary Leadership Award in the virtual edition of National Awards for Excellence in PSU for Investment in Start-UPS. The team of TRIFED Warriors led by Krishna has actually won three awards. The third one is a collective award in the Investment in Start-Ups Category. The awards are recognition of Pravir Krishna’s contribution towards livelihood generation of the entire tribal community and making them self-reliant – a mission right from his days as a district collector in Bastar, Madhya Pradesh and of the commitment of the team of TRIFED Warriors.

 

DEFENSE

 

1. “INS Kavaratti” commissioned into Indian Navy: The Chief of Army Staff, General MM Naravane has commissioned the ‘INS Kavaratti’, the last of four indigenously-built anti-submarine warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes, into the Indian Navy in Visakhapatnam.

About INS Kavaratti: The ship has been designed by the Indian Navy’s in-house organisation, Directorate of Naval Design (DND), and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The anti-submarine warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes have been undertaken under ‘Project 28’, also called Kamorta-class corvettes of the Navy. INS Kavaratti has state-of-the-art weapons and sensor suite capable of “detecting and prosecuting” submarines and good endurance for long-range deployments.

Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran Assam Economist Dr Jayanta Madhab passes away: The renowned Assamese economist, Dr. Jayanta Madhab, has passed away due to heart ailments and diabetes. He was 91. Dr Madhab served as the economic advisor from 2003-2009, to the Government of Assam during the tenure of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. He was also the founder and first Chairman of North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi). He had served as a director at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). 

Daily GK Updates - 23rd Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ADB and India inks USD 177 million loan for Maharashtra: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a loan agreement worth USD 177 million, to upgrade 450 km of state highways and major district roads in Maharashtra. The project aims to improve connectivity between rural areas and urban centres in the state to enable rural communities to have better access to markets, employment opportunities and services, which in turn will expand development and livelihood opportunities outside of the state’s major urban centres to second-tier cities and towns thus reducing income disparities.

About the Project: Under the project, 2 major district roads and 11 state highways, with a combined length of 450 km, will be upgraded to 2-lane standard across seven districts of Maharashtra. The Government of Maharashtra will contribute $78.99 million equivalent toward the $255.99 million total costs of the project.

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

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

 

2. RPF launches ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative on AP Express: Railway Protection Force (RPF), Visakhapatnam has started implementing ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative in AP Express (Visakhapatnam to New Delhi), in order to provide proactive security to women passengers.

About ‘Meri Saheli’ initiative: The main motto of ‘Meri Saheli’ is to provide safety and security to women passengers travelling in trains throughout their journey. A team of women Sub Inspectors and women constables of RPF will enter all coaches including ladies coaches and identify women passengers, who are travelling alone before the departure of the train. These passengers will be briefed about all precautions to be taken during the journey and inform about help no. 182 apart from giving contact numbers of RPF to contact in case of any issue.

 

3. Covid-19: Vardhan launches portal for info on clinical trial of repurposed drugs: Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic in India and government's attempts to contain the spread, Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan launched an online portal ‘CuRED’ that provides information about CSIR ushered repurposed drugs and their current stage of trials. CuRED stands for ‘CSIR Ushered Repurposed Drugs’. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been exploring multiple combination clinical trials of antivirals with host-directed therapies for a potential treatment of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. The site can be accessed at https://www.iiim.res.in/cured or http://db.iiim.res.in/ct/index.php. Apart from information about CSIR repurposed drugs, the website -- CuRED -- also provides details about clinical trials of diagnostics and devices in which the scientific body is involved.

Along with that, the health minister had earlier launched COVID Vaccine and Clinical Registry portal for information and updates on the various Covid-19 vaccine being produced in the country. The two online portals hosted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) site, will be a repository for all information related to vaccine development in India. You can access the website from here.

 

4. Haryana tops Anemia Mukt Bharat Index in country: Haryana State has the best Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Index among 29 states in the country. The Anemia Mukt Bharat, an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and UNICEF, has been launched to reduce the prevalence of Anemia all over India. This information came to light during the 8th Governing Body Meeting of the State Health Society of the National Health Mission (NHM) in Chandigarh. Additional Chief Secretary of Health Department Rajeev Arora said, in a recently released scorecard of the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Index by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Haryana was ranked at the top slot with an AMB Index of 46.7. He said, there are 34 National Programmes being run under NHM. Further, he also apprised that it was for the first time in year 2019-20 that the state had achieved 93 per cent of immunization.

 

5. Govt Launches ARHC Portal under PM Awas Yojana: Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri launched the Affordable Rental Housing Complex (ARHC) Portal (arhc.mohua.gov.in) under PM Awas Yojana via a webinar. On the occasion, a National Report on ANGIKAAR – a campaign for change management for PMAY (U) beneficiaries through a 3 C strategy- Community Engagement, Convergence and Communication was also launched by Shri Hardeep S. Puri.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Singapore becomes 1st country to use facial recognition to pay taxes: Singapore became the World’s First Country to attach Facial verification in the National Identification Database. The function is called “SingPass Face Verification”. This technology is being rolled out to the city-state’s SingPass digital identity scheme, offering access to no less than 400 online services, including tax declarations and public housing applications. According to the Singapore authorities, the technology helps ensure that the right person is genuinely present in front of their screen, rather than a photograph, a video, a replayed recording or a deepfake.

Benefits of Facial recognition: Facial recognition is increasingly being used to access other online services, such as banking. The function is designed to work via home computers, tablets and cell phones, as well as at public kiosks. In the future, facial recognition could find other applications in Singapore, such as making sure students sit their own examinations or for verification purposes in secure areas of the city-state’s ports.

Note: Prime Minister of Singapore: Lee Hsien Loong; Singapore Capital: Singapore City; Singapore Currency: Singapore Dollar.

 

2. Nokia selected by NASA to build 4G LTE Mobile Network on the Moon: Nokia has been selected by NASA to build the first cellular network on the moon. NASA aims to return humans to the moon by 2024 and dig in for a long-term presence there under its Artemis programme. The first wireless broadband communications system in space would be built on the lunar surface in late 2022. About cellular network on the moon:

(1) The network will configure itself and establish a 4G/LTE communications system on the moon, Nokia said, though the aim would be to eventually switch to 5G. It will partner with a Texas-based private spacecraft design company, Intuitive Machines, to deliver the equipment to the moon on their lunar lander.

(2) The network will give astronauts voice and video communications capabilities, and allow telemetry and biometric data exchange, as well as the deployment and remote control of lunar rovers and other robotic devices.

(3) The network will be designed to withstand the extreme conditions of the launch and lunar landing and to operate in space. It will have to be sent to the moon in an extremely compact form to meet the stringent size, weight and power constraints of space payloads.

Note: The administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Jim Bridenstine; Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States.

Chairman of Nokia Corporation: Sari Baldauf; Nokia Headquarters: Espoo, Finland.

 

3. India ranked 2nd in OECD International Migration Outlook report: India has acquired the second rank in terms of the number of migrants going to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and acquiring the citizenship of those countries. China retained its top spot with 4.3 lakh migrants, which was 1 per cent lower than the 2019 report.

About OECD International Migration Outlook report: This is the 44th edition of the annual report. The data was released by the OECD in its 2020 edition of the annual International Migration Outlook report, which analyses the recent developments in migration movements and policies in its countries. From India, 3.3 lakh migrants moved, and this is 10 per cent more than the last edition. Romania emerged as the third-largest exporter of human capital to these countries. Paris-based OECD is an association of 37 developed countries which often attract immigrants for work opportunities, education and asylum.

 

4. China, Pakistan and Russia win seats on UN human rights council: China, Russia and Cuba won seats on the U.N.’s premiere human rights body despite opposition from activist groups over their abysmal human rights records, but another target, Saudi Arabia, lost. Russia and Cuba were running unopposed, but China and Saudi Arabia were in a five-way race in the only contested race for seats on the Human Rights Council. In secret-ballot voting in the 193-member U.N. General Assembly on that race, Pakistan received 169 votes, Uzbekistan 164, Nepal 150, China 139 and Saudi Arabia just 90 votes. In 2016, the Saudis won a seat with 152 votes.

Under the Human Rights Council’s rules, seats are allocated to regions to ensure geographical representation. Except for the Asia-Pacific contest, the election of 15 members to the 47-member Human Rights Council was all but decided in advance because all the other regional groups had uncontested slates. Four countries won four Africa seats: Ivory Coast, Malawi, Gabon and Senegal. Russia and Ukraine won the two East European seats. In the Latin American and Caribbean group, Mexico, Cuba and Bolivia won the three open seats. And Britain and France won the two seats for the Western European and others group.

 

5. World Snow Leopard Day: 23rd October: World Snow Leopard Day is observed globally on 23rd October. The main purpose of this day is to show the importance of snow leopard conservation and raise awareness about this incredible animal. The day also emphasizes the importance of taking measures to stop poaching, as well as consolidating efforts in terms of an environmental organization in the countries of the snow leopard range.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Russia’s Andrey Rublev wins St. Petersburg Open tennis tournament: Andrey Rublev joined Novak Djokovic as the only men to win four tour singles titles in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season as he beat Borna Coric 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the final of the St. Petersburg Open tennis tournament. The 22-year-old Rublev added the title in Russia to trophies in Doha, Adelaide and Hamburg.

 

2. Nine States, Union Territories selected for upgradation to KISCE: Nine States and Union Territories have been selected for upgradation to Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE). The States and UTs include Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir. The Sports Ministry said, the centres have been selected based on their past performances, quality of infrastructure, management and sports culture in the State. Earlier this year, the Ministry had identified a total of 14 centres to be upgraded to Khelo India State Centre of Excellence. The overall number now stands at 24 KISCEs from 23 States and UTs. The assistance to these centres will be provided in the form of bridging the gaps in sports equipment, high performance managers, coaches, sports scientists and technical support.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. World Bank approves $12 billion to finance virus vaccines: The World Bank has approved $12 billion in financing to help developing countries buy and distribute coronavirus vaccines, tests, and treatments, aiming to support the vaccination of up to one billion people. The $12 billion envelop is part of a wider World Bank Group package of up to $160 billion to help developing countries fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. BSE signs MoU with Telangana Govt and GlobalLinker to help MSMEs in raising equity funds: The Telangana government along with GlobalLinker, has signed an MoU with the Bombay Stock Exchange to help MSMEs raise equity funds. The latest partnership aims to address a vital challenge of access to finance and increasing credibility of the MSME. As per the MoU, the stock exchange will provide intellectual & manpower support to create awareness about the importance and benefits of listing.

 

2. SEBI Constitutes “Market Data Advisory Committee”: SEBI has constituted a Market Data Advisory Committee (MDAC), a Standing Committee – to recommend appropriate policy for access to securities market data, identify segment wise data perimeters, data needs and gaps, recommend data privacy and data access regulations applicable to market data. The committee is headed by Madhabi Puri Buch, Whole Time Member, SEBI and has CEOs of stock exchanges and depositories, representatives of various stakeholders and senior officials of SEBI as members.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Indian Air Force’s First Woman Commissioned Officer passes away: Wing Commander (Retd) Dr Vijayalakshmi Ramanan, the first woman commissioned officer of the Indian Air Force, has died at the age of 96. Ramanan, a recipient of Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM), was commissioned in the Army Medical Corps on August 22, 1955 and was seconded to the Air Force with effect from the same day. She was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander in August 1972, and honoured with the Vishist Seva Medal five years later. She had retired in February, 1979. 

Daily GK Updates - 22nd Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launches ‘Mo Bidyut’ portal: Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik has launched the electricity consumer service portal “Mo Bidyut” and a mobile app through video conference. The bilingual online electricity integrated consumer service portal www.mobidyut.com developed by the Energy Department and dedicated to the public under 5T (Teamwork, Transparency, Technology, Time leading to Transformation) initiative of the state government. Through this people will now be able to avail efficient, time-bound, and transparent online service delivery.

Features of “Mo Bidyut”: This portal will benefit around 89 lakh electricity consumers of the state. The Mo Bidyut supports the people to obtain new electricity connections, enables online bill payment and the grievances related to electricity services can be addressed through this portal. Under Mo Bidyut, permanent connection up to 5 Kilo Watt (KW), single Phase for a domestic, general-purpose and specified public purpose like irrigation, pumping and agriculture will be provided 48 hours after the submission of application with payment. The electricity services provided by the Mo Bidyut will be governed and monitored under the “Mo Sarkar” (My Government).

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

 

2. Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone of multi-modal logistic park in Assam: The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari virtually laid the foundation stone for the first-ever multi-modal logistic park of India, at Jogighopa, in Bongaigaon district of Assam.

About Logistic Park: The logistic park will provide direct connectivity to air, road, rail and waterways to the people of Assam and other parts of North East. The fund for the multi-modal logistics park would be spent in three components – road and railway connectivity as well as building and infrastructure work. It will also give employment to 20 lakh people. The overall cost of this project is around Rs 693.97 Crore and is being developed under the Bharatmala Pariyojana of the Central Government.

Note: Chief Minister of Assam: Sarbananda Sonowal; Governor: Prof. Jagdish Mukhi.

 

3. Narendra Singh Tomar launches AYUSHMAN SAHAKAR scheme: Union Agriculture Minister, Narendra Singh Tomar has launched “AYUSHMAN SAHAKAR”. The scheme is a unique way to assist cooperatives to play an important role in the creation of healthcare infrastructure in the country. AYUSHMAN SAHAKAR scheme has been formulated by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). The NCDC would extend term loans to prospective cooperatives to the tune of 10 thousand crores in the coming years. NCDC’s scheme will be a step towards strengthening farmers welfare activities by the Central Government. NCDC’s Ayushman Sahakar scheme aims at bringing transformation in the health services primarily in the rural areas. The scheme also provides working capital and margin money to meet the operational requirements of the health facilities. It provides interest subvention of one per cent to women majority cooperatives.

 

4. NK Singh launches his autobiography ‘Portraits Of Power’: Veteran Economist and bureaucrat N K (Nand Kishore) Singh has released his autobiography titled “Portraits of Power: Half a Century of Being at Ringside”. The book portrays the life of NK Singh who played an active role in the development of the Indian economy. He is currently serving as the Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission. The book is published by Rupa Publications India. The book portrays NK Singhs’s stents from 1964 when he joined the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), serving in higher positions of the Indian Government before entering politics as a member of Rajya Sabha. This book covers all the personal and national movements that happened in his life.

About NK Singh: He served in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), as the Secretary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998 ­2001). He served in the Indian Embassy in Japan as Minister of Economic and Commercial He served in the Indian Embassy in Japan as Minister of Economic and Commercial from 1981 to 1985.

 

5. NITI Aayog to establish Frontier Technologies Cloud Innovation Centre: NITI Aayog announced the establishment of first of its kind the Frontier Technologies Cloud Innovation Centre (CIC). This is being developed in order to address societal challenges through digital innovation. For developing the system, NITI Aayog is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This also aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and NOTI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission.

Cloud Innovation Centre (CIC): This CIC is a part of the AWS CIC Global Programme. It provides an opportunity to the government agencies, non-profits and educational institutions in order to come together on pressing challenges, to test new ideas, to apply design thinking, and to access the technology expertise of AWS. The Frontier technologies CIC will enable the budding innovators and start-ups to help in piloting the state-of-the-art, cloud-centric digital innovations by using the emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet Of Things, robotics and blockchain.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 9th Session of India-Oman Joint Commission Virtual Meeting held: 9th Session of India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting held to improve Trade & Investment. India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting conducted through online mode to boost bilateral Trade & Investment. It was attended by representatives of various government departments/ministries from both sides. The meeting was chaired by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Hardeep Singh Puri, and H.E. Mr. Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman. Highlights:

(1) Both sides agreed to cooperate in areas of Agriculture & Food Security, Standards & Metrology, Tourism, Information Technology, Health & Pharmaceuticals, MSMEs, Space, Civil Aviation, Energy including renewable energy, Culture, Mining, and Higher Education.

(2) Indian side appreciated Oman for signing and ratification of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement

For Oman, India was the 3rd largest source for its imports and 3rd largest market for its non-oil exports.

(3) Bilateral trade between India and Oman grew at 8.5% in 2019-20 over the previous year to reach USD 5.93 billion.

Note: Oman Capital: Muscat; Currency: Omani rial

 

2. First-ever SCO Startup Forum to be launched on 27th October: The first-ever SCO Startup Forum will be launched on 27th October 2020 ahead of the SCO trade ministers meeting on 28th October. The forum will lay the foundation for multilateral cooperation and engagement among the SCO Member States to develop and hone their startup ecosystems, collectively. Prasar Bharati Special Correspondent in Beijing reports that Innovation and Startups will be the key focus area of SCO Heads of Government meeting on 30th November 2020 to be hosted by India.

The Forum shall identify areas of cooperation by launching multiple entrepreneurial activities like startup showcases through a dedicated virtual platform, mobilizing capital for startups, sharing of best practices, procuring social innovations, multilateral incubator programs and knowledge exchange workshops etc. It will aid to understand the cultural and economic features of the startup ecosystem in the SCO Member States. In the run up to the launch of SCO Startup Forum, a virtual SCO preparatory Seminar and a workshop were also organized by India. Around 40 Indian Missions roped in to further augment Startup India efforts.

 

3. Japan Coast Guard tests unmanned SeaGuardian Aircraft: Amid tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, Japan began test flights of an unmanned aerial vehicle SeaGuardian in a bid to learn whether it can carry out key duties, including search, recuse and maritime surveillance. The tests will involve the use of the 12-meter-long, 24-meter-wide UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) developed by US defence firm General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, reported NHK World. The SeaGuardian is equipped with radars and high-definition cameras and is capable of flying for more than 24 hours nonstop. Hence, it will cover the outermost exclusive economic zone of Japan. It will test the real-time ending of data and images to the ground and the safety of the vehicle.

 

4. India, Netherlands collaborate for e-health initiative: India and the Netherlands unveiled plans for a joint thrust in the e-health sector, with the aim of providing digital health facilities and security to every Indian. The alliance was announced at a web-based workshop hosted by management consultancy firm Primus Partners. Part of India’s ambitious National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), this cooperative initiative will see the two countries work closely to create capacities and put in place the requisite technology backbone to enable this revolutionary initiative.

 

5. International Chef’s Day: 20th October: International Chefs Day is observed globally on 20 October every year. The day aims to celebrate and honour the noble profession and educate people around the world about eating healthy. It is also the day for experienced chefs to pass on their knowledge and culinary skills to the next generation with a sense of pride and commitment. The theme of International Chefs Day 2020 campaign is Healthy Food for the Future. International Chefs Day was created by Dr Bill Gallagher, a renowned chef and the former president of the World Association of Chefs Societies (World Chefs), in 2004.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance launches ‘Invest 4G plan’ with multiple saving options, protection cover: Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance has launched a new Unit Linked insurance plan (Ulip) titled ‘Invest 4G’.  It is an individual life insurance savings plan which can be customized as per the goals and changing requirements of the individual. New “Invest4G” offers three options to the individuals: Life Option, Care Option and Century Option. Life option ensures financial protection to a family in case of the customer’s unfortunate demise. Care Option provides life coverage along with Premium Funding Benefit and Century Option is a whole life option available for the policyholder till the age of 100 years.

 

2. Paytm to partner with various banks for Co-Branded Credit: Digital financial services platform Paytm said it would be partnering with various card issuers to introduce co-branded credit cards, with an aim to issue two million such cards in the next 12-18 months. These credit cards will be issued based on the traditional credit score as well as the user’s purchase patterns on Paytm. These cards are designed to help them lead a healthier financial life through managing and analysing the spends to make well-informed decisions.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. TCS surpasses Accenture to become most-valuable IT services firm globally: Tata group flagship firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) became the most-valuable information technology (IT) company globally, surpassing rival Accenture for the first time. At the last closing price of Rs 2,825, TCS was valued at $144.73 billion (Rs 10.6 trillion). Accenture is currently valued at $142.4 billion, while IBM’s market cap is $110.5 billion.

 

DEFENSE

 

1. India successfully test-fires “SANT” Missile off Odisha coast: India successfully flight-tested its indigenously developed Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) missile from Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha coast. The missile was test-fired from a roof-top launcher of the ground-based platform. It is an upgraded version of the anti-tank missile, Helicopter Launched Nag (HeliNa). This was the 11th missile test-fired by India within one and a half month.

About SANT: SANT is an air-to-surface missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Air Force. The SANT missile has both lock-on before launch and lock-on after launch capability and can destroy targets 15 km to 20 km away.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran TV Actress Zarina Roshan Khan passes away: Renowned TV actress, Zarina Roshan Khan (54 years) passed away due to sudden cardiac arrest. She is well known for her role in the television show ‘Kumkum Bhagya’ as Indu Dadi, since 2014. She began her career as a stunt woman, before taking up acting as a profession and has featured in several shows and films. The actor has also performed in serials like Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and played the role of a mother in several Hindi films. 

Daily GK Updates - 21st Oct, 2020

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Asan Conservation Reserve becomes Uttarakhand’s 1st Ramsar site: Asan Conservation Reserve has become Uttarakhand’s first Ramsar site, making it a ‘Wetland of International Importance’, announced the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The Reserve is located on the banks of Yamuna River near Dehradun district in Garhwal region of the Himalayan state. “Asan Conservation Reserve cleared five out of the nine criteria needed to be declared as a Ramsar site and get identified as a Wetland of International Importance. It cleared the category on species and ecological communities, one on water-birds and another on fish. Ramsar declares Asan Conservation Reserve as a site of international importance. With this, the number of Ramsar sites in India goes up to 38, the highest in South Asia and Uttarakhand gets its first Ramsar site.

About Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty: Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty was adopted on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. The name of the Convention is usually written “Convention on Wetlands’’. The Convention on Wetlands came into force for India on February 1, 1982. Those wetlands which are of international importance are declared as Ramsar sites.

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

 

2. India’s first-ever seaplanes likely to take flight in Gujarat from October 31: The Gujarat state government has announced that the seaplane service that will be providing air connectivity from Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad to Statue of Unity in Kevadia is scheduled to start from October 31, i.e., on the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. A meeting on the same was organised in Gandhinagar to review the progress of the water aerodrome operation in Gujarat. Reportedly, this will be India’s first ever seaplane service and its inaugural flight will very likely take to the skies on the said date.

As per the release, the seaplane service will be operated by Spicejet from Sabarmati. The release further added that the inaugural flight will likely happen on October 31 and that there will be four flights per day from thereon (four arrivals and four departures). The ticket price would be around INR 4800 per person, as per the release.

 

3. UP govt decides to set up women help desk in every police station of state: In a major decision related to women security in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister has ordered to establish women help desks in each and every police station of state. The women police personnel deputed on helpdesk will not only listen to the complaints of women but will always be ready to help them anytime. The Chief Minister has also directed the state police force to personally visit the site of crime against women and children and ensure timely investigation. This decision coincides with the launch of ‘Mission Shakti’ campaign to empower women and sensitise the public towards the security of women and girls.

 

4. Aim of the govt is to make India Trans Fat free by 2022: Health Minister: Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the aim of the government is to make India Trans Fat free by 2022, a year ahead of target set by World Health Organization. Dr Harsh Vardhan said, due to the unprecedented challenges faced by the world on account of the Covid pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on food, nutrition, health, immunity and sustainability. He said, focus this year is on elimination of Trans Fats from the food supply chain.

 

5. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari initiates Asia’s longest ZojiLa Tunnel works virtually: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari launched the first blasting for construction related work at the 14.15 km Zojila tunnel, one of the longest in Asia that will provide all-year connectivity between Srinagar valley and Leh. Initiating the blast through a virtual ceremony, Road Transport, Highways and MSME Minister Gadkari said it was a ‘moment of pride’ for India. The project was re-awarded this year to Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) which had emerged as the lowest bidder quoting ₹4,509.5 crore for the project.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India and Kazakhstan held webinar for defence cooperation: India and Kazakhstan hold a webinar for defence cooperation under the aegis of Dept of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence through FICCI. The Theme of webinar was “Make In India For The World, India – Kazakhstan Defence Cooperation: Webinar and Expo”. This webinar is the part of the series of webinars which are being organized with friendly foreign countries in order to boost defence exports and achieve defence export target of $5 billion in the next five years.

Ambassadors of both countries and senior MoD officials from both sides participated in the webinar and spoke about need to leverage opportunities not only for co-development and co-production but also to meet each other’s requirements. Various Indian companies such as L&T Defence, Ashok Leyland Limited, Bharat Forge, Zen Technologies, Elcom Innovations, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Alpha Design Technologies and Bharat Electronics Limited. made company and product presentations on major platforms/equipment like Artillery Systems, Radars, Protected Vehicles, Missiles and Air Defence Equipments, Training Solutions etc in the webinar. BEL announced its plans to open representative office in Kazakhstan. The webinar was attended by more than 350 participants and 39 virtual exhibition stalls, which includes 7 stalls from Kazakh companies have been set up in the Expo.

 

2. India designated Vice-Chair of OECD Working Group on GLP: India has been designated the Vice-Chair of Good Laboratory Practice, GLP Working Group of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), recognising the contribution of the Indian GLP programme. Good Laboratory Practice is a quality system, which has been evolved by OECD to ensure that safety data generated on various chemicals like industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic products and medical devices can be relied upon by regulatory authorities.

Note: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 37 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.

 

3. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju attended Y20 Global Summit Virtually: The first-ever virtual G20 (Group of Twenty) Youth 20 (Y20) Global Summit was virtually hosted from Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia for exchanging ideas and dialogues for the empowerment of youth Post COVID, where Indian side was represented by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju. Indian side emphasized on galvanizing the youth to take on the challenges set forth by the worldwide COVID 19 Pandemic. The theme of the Summit was “Government – Youth dialogue on post-COVID-19 opportunities”. The Summit concluded with the drafting of the Y20 Communique under the three overarching priority areas viz. Future Fit; Youth Empowerment; and Global Citizenship.

About Youth 20 (Y20) Summit: Notably, the year 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of Y20 as the official G20 youth engagement group. Y20 is a forum for developing cooperation with the future generation and provides a platform for young people to have their voices heard on issues relevant to the G20 agenda.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Elavenil Valarivan Wins Gold, Shahu Tushar Mane Silver in Sheikh Russel International Air Rifle Championship: World number one Indian Elavenil Valarivan won a gold medal and Shahu Tushar Mane bagged a silver in the Sheikh Russel International Air Rifle Championship, held virtually. The championship was organised by Bangladesh Shooting Sport Federation (BSSF). Shiori Hirata won the silver, while Indonesian Vidya Toyyiba took the bronze, however, won the gold in the men’s event as Naoya Okada shot a solid to leave India’s Shahu behind. Shahu settle for second place while Baki Abdullah Hel won bronze for the hosts. The championship is being held to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sheikh Russel, the youngest son of Bangladesh’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and brother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

 

2. Champions Mohun Bagan lift I-League 2019-20 trophy: The I-League 2019-20 trophy was handed over to the champions Mohun Bagan at a city hotel in Kolkata. Dhanachandra Singh along with a couple of other players, assistant coach Ranjan Chaudhuri and other members of the support staff and senior clubs officials received the trophy from AIFF Leagues CEO Sunando Dhar in the presence of state sports minister Aroop Biswas.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Jana Bank to be sponsor bank for Ashoknagar Co-operative Bank: Jana Small Finance Bank, a Bengaluru-based small finance bank (SFB), has partnered with Ashoknagar Co-operative Bank Limited under the bank sponsorship programme. With this, Jana Bank has become the first SFB to go live under the sponsorship programme. Ashoknagar Co-operative Bank Limited, in association with Jana Small Finance Bank, can extend ATM, POS and e-commerce services to its customers. This association marks the fulfilment of Jana Bank’s endeavour to promote a full suite of services to co-operative banks.

 

2. IRDAI rolls out standardised life insurance cover ‘Saral Jeevan Bima’: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) has unveiled is a standard individual term life insurance product ‘Saral Jeevan Bima’. It will help customers to make informed choice reducing mis-selling. All life insurers will have to offer this by Jan, 2021. It will be a non-linked, non-participating individual pure risk premium life insurance plan. The Saral Jeevan Bima will be a pure term life insurance product that can be purchased by people in the age group of 18 to 65 years and will have a policy term of 4 to 40 years. The sum assured for the term life insurance policy will range from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh (in multiples of Rs 50,000). It allows for a maximum maturity age of 70 years.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Chandigarh University bags first rank in India as stand-alone institution for filling highest number of patents in a year: Chandigarh University Gharuan has emerged as Top Stand-Alone University in India for filling highest number of patents in a year.

As per the Intellectual Property India annual report released by Government of India, Chandigarh University Gharuan has emerged as the leading stand-alone institution to file highest number of patents which is followed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) with 239 patent applications, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) with 202 applications and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) with 173 applications.

In the academic institutions category, Chandigarh University Gharuan has emerged as the leading stand-alone institution while the university has been placed at second position in overall patent rankings,”. In addition, with the filing of 148 patents Chandigarh University has also bagged third position in the Top 5 Indian Applicants for patents in the field of Information Technology and is just placed behind the top Indian IT Companies TCS and Wipro”.

 

DEFENSE

 

1. Australia to Join U.S., India, Japan for Malabar 2020 in High-End Naval Exercise of ‘The Quad’: Australia will join the India-led Malabar 2020 naval exercise next month, operating along with the U.S. and Japan in an exercise meant to send a message to China. The exercise will be a first for the so-called “Quad,” the Pacific cooperation between Japan, India, Australia and the U.S.

Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said in a statement that “high-end military exercises like Malabar are key to enhancing Australia’s maritime capabilities, building interoperability with our close partners, and demonstrating our collective resolve to support an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Exercise Malabar also showcases the deep trust between four major Indo-Pacific democracies and their shared will to work together on common security interests.” India has hosted the Malabar series with the U.S. Navy since 1992, and in 2015 Japan joined as an annual participant.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Acclaimed carnatic vocalist P S Narayanaswamy passes away: Padmabhushana Vid. Shri Puliyur Subramaniam Narayanaswamy, one among the finest gurus of carnatic music in India, passed away. He was 86. A winner of many awards and titles, including the Padma Bhushan, and Kalaimamani from the Tamil Nadu government, Narayanaswamy was a torch bearer of the Semmangudi Tradition, evolving a style of his own with ‘Manodharma Sangeetham’.