Daily GK Updates – 23rd Feb, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. CSIR inks MoU with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to promote health research: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the development, conduct and promotion of health research in India. Gates Foundation and CSIR will work together to identify opportunities to initiate scientific and technological collaborations. These will focus on developing and testing new preventions, therapies and interventions that can help to solve major health concerns that affect India and other developing countries.

Areas of research collaboration: (1) Genetic diseases that impact infant and neonatal mortality;

(2) New diagnostics and devices for infectious disease and environmental surveillance; (3) Development of cost-effective processes for drug, vaccines, biologics, and diagnostics manufacturing; (4) Novel microbiome-directed foods; (5) Socio-economic impact of science and technological tools; (6) Other areas of health and development.

Note: CSIR Head: Shekhar C. Mande; CSIR Founded: 26 September 1942; CSIR HQ: New Delhi.

 

2. Prakash Javadekar inaugurates Atal ParyavaranBhavan in Lakshadweep: The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, inaugurated the Atal ParyavaranBhavan at Lakshadweep. Prakash Javadekar is on a four-day official visit to Lakshadweep from February 19 to 22, 2021. During the visit, the minister attended high-level meetings with the Secretaries of various departments in the Lakshadweep administration, participated in various official programmes at Suheli, Kadmat and Bangaram islands. The minister will also evaluate the major innovative initiatives of the Union Territory’s Forest and Environment Department, so that Lakshadweep undergoes comprehensive development, without compromising it’s commitment to nature.

Note: Lakshadweep Capital: Kavaratti; Lakshadweep Administrator: Praful Patel.

 

3. Kerala Government sanctions Rs. 9 crore to build 48 ‘Smart’ Anganwadis: The state government of Kerala has sanctioned Rs. 9 crores to build ‘smart anganwadis’, by converting the conventional anganwadis into “smart” structures with better amenities. The state Department of Women and Child Development has given permission for 48 anganwadis in the state to construct new buildings under the Smart Anganwadi scheme.

About the smart anganwadis: These smart anganwadis are being designed and constructed as part of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). These ‘smart anganwadis’ will provide early childhood care by making the facility more child-friendly to nurture the mental and physical development of children. It is expected to have various amenities, ranging from study hall, kitchen, dining area, storeroom, creative zone, garden to swimming pool and outdoor play area as per the availability of land.

Note: Kerala CM: PinarayiVijayan; Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.

 

4. Family pensions upper ceiling raised from Rs 45,000 to Rs 1,25,000 per month: In a bid to bring ‘ease of living’ to the family members of deceased government employees, the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has decided to raise the upper ceiling of family pensions from ₹45,000 to ₹1.25 lakh per month. The amount of both the family pensions will now be restricted to ₹1,25,000 per month, which is over two and half times higher than the earlier limit. In accordance with sub-rule (11) of rule 54 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules 1972, in case both wife and husband are government servants and are governed by the provisions of that rule, on their death, the surviving child is eligible for two family pensions in respect of the deceased parents.

 

5. Assam CM lays foundation of first skill university of eastern India: The Chief Minister of Assam, SarbanandaSonowal has laid the foundation of the first Skill University of Eastern India in Darrang district in Assam. The state-of-the-art skill university would be built with a financial outlay of Rs 1,000 crore. It will impart training to over 10,000 students in 12 disciplines. The university is expected to be completed by 2026. It will have “understandings” with countries like Germany, Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, Japan, and England.

Note: Assam CM: SarbanandaSonowal; Assam Governor: JagdishMukhi.

 

6. UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath launches Abhyudaya scheme: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Abhyudaya scheme via video conferencing. Under the Abhyudaya scheme, free of cost coaching centres for the preparation of competitive government exams will be provided by the UP government. The coaching institutions are especially aimed at providing assistance to those candidates who are not able to take coaching for the exams due to their financial problems.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. United States officially re-joins Paris Climate Agreement: The United States has officially rejoined the Paris Agreement, under the Presidency of US President Joe Biden. Earlier, in November 2020, the US had officially exited the agreement on the order of then-President Donald Trump. The landmark Paris climate agreement was signed in 2015, as per which countries are expected to enhance their commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions every five years. The goals of the global pact are to limit global warming to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.

 

2. India signs trade deal, $100 million defence agreement with Mauritius: The Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar was on an official visit to two key Indian Ocean region countries- Maldives and Mauritius. The External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar visited the Island nation Mauritius to review the comprehensive and important bilateral relationship between the two nations. India signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Partnership Agreement-(CECPA)) with Mauritius. About the agreement:

(1) The FTA or CECPA is the first such pact with any African country, and will help Mauritius to emerge as a “hub of Africa”.

(2) India has also offered a USD 100 million Line of Credit (LoC) to Mauritius to facilitate the procurement of defence assets.

(3) Apart from this, an agreement has also been signed between the two countries to provide a Dornier aircraft and an Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv on lease to Mauritius on a gratis basis for 2 years, so that the country can carry out patrolling activities and monitor its vast maritime domain more effectively.

(4) India delivered 100,000 doses of Made in India COVID-19 vaccines to the country. It had supplied 100,000 doses earlier. Both the countries also signed MoU on Consumer Protection and a Contract for an 8 MW solar plant.

Note: Prime Minister of Mauritius: PravindJugnauth; President: PrithvirajsingRoopun; Mauritius Currency: Mauritian rupee; Mauritius Capital: Port Louis.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Ravichandran Ashwin becomes first bowler to dismiss left-handers 200 times in Tests: In Cricket, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has become the first player in the 143-year history of Test cricket to take 200 wickets against left-handed batsmen. He achieved the feat during the second day of India’s second Test against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, his home ground. Fast bowler Stuart Broad was the 200th left-hander to be dismissed by Ashwin. Ashwin has picked 391 wickets in his career so far and 51.2 per cent of his scalps have come against left-handers.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Kotak Mahindra Bank launches Kotak Remit on mobile to send money abroad directly from phone: Kotak Mahindra Bank launched its outward forex remittance service, Kotak Remit, hence allowing its users to directly send money abroad from their phones. The feature is already live on the Kotak Mobile Banking App. For the first time, Kotak customers can conveniently transfer money internationally to their beneficiaries straight from their mobile. It is an industry-first move, and customers will not have to furnish any physical documents for transactions up to $25,000 or equivalent seamlessly to permissible geographies across the world.

 

2. Mastercard Launches Priceless India to Showcase Rich Heritage to Domestic, Global Travellers: Mastercard announced the launch of its flagship Priceless program in India. The program – known as Priceless India – will enable domestic and global travellers who are Mastercard cardholders to attain unique insights and exclusive access to several unparalleled experiences in the country. The program will roll out in two phases. In the first phase, Mastercard will launch 16 short films that will introduce several unique aspects of India’s most iconic cities and destinations for tourists. In the second phase Mastercard cardholders will get a chance to partake in these experiences in real-time through curated packages that can be purchased online. The multi-phase campaign aims to rekindle Indian consumers’ desire for the most unique travel and entertainment experiences

 

3. ESIC join hands with the National Health Authority: In a big leap taken by Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) to ensure better accessibility of medical facilities for its beneficiaries, the corporation has joined hands with the National Health Authority (NHA) to leverage the medical infrastructure available under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB PM-JAY) in the state of Maharashtra. The tie-up with PM-JAY was initially implemented on a pilot basis in Maharashtra in the district of Ahmednagar and now has been extended to the entire state sans the south Mumbai region, Pune and Kolhapur districts. With hassle-free procedures, this convergence is expected to provide doorstep access of medical facilities to the beneficiaries.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Amazon to start device manufacturing line in India: Amazon is setting up its first device manufacturing line in India to make Fire TV sticks locally and has partnered with Cloud Network Technology, a subsidiary of Foxconn, to begin producing the device at its Chennai plant later this year. The e-commerce giant claimed that the production line will have an annual capacity of “hundreds of thousands” of units, and will also continuously evaluate manufacturing capacity based on domestic demand for its devices. It reiterated its commitment to invest $1 billion into the country to digitise 10 million small and medium businesses by 2025 and create 1 million additional jobs by then.

 

AWARDS

 

1. Bhim Army’s Chandra Shekhar Azad named in TIME’s list:Bhim Army Chief Chandra ShekharAazad and five Indian-origin personalities have been featured in the 2021 TIME100 Next. TIME100 Next 2021 is the second edition of the annual list of Time magazine’s 100 ‘emerging leaders who are shaping the future.’

About Bhim Army: Bhim Army is a Dalit rights organisation based in Uttar Pradesh to help Dalits escape poverty through education. It was founded by Satish Kumar, Vijay Ratan Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad in 2015.

The five Indian-origin persons in Time100 Next list are:

(1) Twitter lawyer: VijayaGadde

(2) UK’s Finance Minister: Rishi Sunak

(3) Instacart founder and CEO: Apoorva Mehta

(4) Get Us PPE executive director and doctor: Shikha Gupta

(5) Founder of nonprofit Upsolve’s: Rohan Pavuluri

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India successfully test fires Helina, Dhruvastra anti-tank guided missiles:Defence Research and Development Organisation has successfully carried out joint user trials of indigenously developed Helina and Dhruvastra Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) from the Advanced Light Helicopter at the Pokhran deserts in Rajasthan. Helena is the Army version and Dhruvastra is the Air Force version of the ALH. The missile systems have been designed and developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Key Features: The Helina and Dhruvastra are the third generation, “Lock-on-Before-Launch (LOBL)” fire and forget ATGMs that can engage targets both indirect hit mode as well as top attack mode. The missile systems have all-weather day-and-night capability. They can defeat battle tanks with conventional armour as well as with explosive reactive armour.

It is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world.

Note: Defence Research and Development & Chairman DRDO: Dr G Satheesh Reddy; DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi; DRDO Established: 1958.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Carlos Menem, former President of Argentina, passed away: Argentina’s former President Carlos Menem has died at age 90 in Buenos Aires. Menem, who served two terms as president from 1989 to 1999 during which he pursued an aggressive privatisation policy. He served as governor of La Rioja from 1973 to 1976 before being arrested following a 1976 military coup and imprisoned for five years. 

Daily GK Updates – 22nd Feb, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi inaugurates and lays foundation stone of key power and urban sector projects in Kerala: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of key projects in the state of Kerala via video conference. Projects inaugurated includes:

(1) 320 KV Pugalur- Thrissur power transmission project, built at a cost of Rs 5,070 crore. The project is a Voltage Source Convertor (VSC) based High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Project and has India”s first HVDC link featuring state-of-the-art VSC technology.

(2) 50 MW Kasaragod Solar Power Project, developed under the National Solar Energy Mission

(3) 75 MLD (million litres per day) Water Treatment Plant at Aruvikkara under the AMRUT Mission.

(4) Apart from this, PM laid the foundation stone of Integrated Command and Control Centre and Smart Roads Project in Thiruvananthapuram.

 

2. Prime Minister launches ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ initiative in Assam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually launched ‘Mahabahu-Brahmaputra’ initiative in Assam. He laid the foundation stone for the DhubriPhulbariBridge. PM also perform the bhumi puja for the construction of Majuli Bridge in Assam. PM has announced the details stated that the landmark day in the development journey for Assam as Mahabahu-Brahmaputra initiative is going to be launched.

About Mahabahu-Brahmaputra initiative: Mahabahu-Brahmaputra initiative is going to be marked with the inauguration of the Ro-Pax vessel operations. The Ro-Pax vessel operations will be launched in between the Neamatighat&Majuli, Dhubri-Hatsingimari and North-South Guwahati. This initiative also includes the inauguration of the Inland Water Transport Terminal at Jogighopa. The initiative will also be marked with the inauguration of various tourist jetties at four locations in order to promote the river tourism and employment across the state.

Note: Assam CM: SarbanandaSonowal; Assam Governor: JagdishMukhi.

 

3. ‘Snakepedia’ mobile app launched in Kerala: A team of scientists, doctors and photographers in Kerala have launched a mobile application named “Snakepedia” that will present all relevant information on snakes, to help the public as well as doctors in treating snake bites.

About the app: The main aim of the app is to help the public identify snakes, avail proper treatment on time for snakebites, bust myths about snakes, and protect snakes as well as snakebite victims. The android mobile application documents information on snakes with the help of pictures, infographics and podcasts and analyses its first aid, treatment, myths and superstitions.

Note: Kerala CM: PinarayiVijayan; Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.

 

4. Odisha Govt announced Development Package for MaaSamaleswari Shrine: The state government of Odisha, under Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has launched the development work for the SAMALEI Project (Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economy Initiatives), to offer the divine experience to tourists & devotees. The project involves the development of 108 acres of land in & around the 16th-century shrine of MaaSamaleswari, the presiding deity of western Odisha.Odisha Government has announced a package of Rs 200-crore for 2021-22 fiscal for the implementation of the project. The project will be implemented under MoSarkar5T and will focus on the beautification of the temple & economic development of local people. It will include the development of amenities for devotees inside the 12-acre temple premises and development of four tall heritage welcome gates.

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

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. India-Australia circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE): The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the valedictory function of the India Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE) via videoconferencing. A circular economy implies reusing waste back into the production cycle to make new products instead of wasting such materials with embedded resources. The I-ACE was jointly organized by Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Government of India and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia. More than 200 participants in 39 teams from India and 33 teams from Australia took part.

Four key themes for the hackathon: (1) Innovation in packaging reducing packaging waste; (2) Innovation in food supply chains avoiding waste; (3) Creating opportunities for plastic waste reduction; (4) Recycling critical energy metals and e-waste.

Objective: To enable the students and startups/MSMEs of both nations in fostering innovative solutions for the development of a circular economy across the food system value chain with the aim of increasing the long-term health and resilience of our planet, through innovative technology solutions. I-ACE aims to accelerate the development of young and promising students and startups/MSMEs working towards the creation of a sustainable future.

Note: Prime Minister of Australia: Scott Morrison; The currency of Australia: Australian dollar; Capital of Australia: Canberra.

 

2. Perseverance rover has successfully landed on Mars: The NASA Perseverance rover safely landed on Mars after its 292.5 million-mile journey from Earth. The rover has been on a nearly 300 million-mile journey since it left Earth more than 6 months ago. Perseverance and her teams lived up to the namesake, overcoming the challenges of preparing for the journey’s final stages during a pandemic. The attitude control system is responsible for pointing the rover in the direction it needs to be and also helps figure out where the spacecraft is oriented in space.

Indian-American named Dr Swati Mohan, who first confirmed that the rover had survived a particularly tricky plunge into the Martian atmosphere. Mohan, who successfully spearheaded the development of attitude control and the landing system for the rover, was among the team of scientists behind the historic mission.

Note: Acting Administrator of NASA: Steve Jurczyk; Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States; NASA Founded: 1 October 1958.

 

3. World Thinking Day: 22th February: World Thinking Day, originally known as Thinking Day, is celebrated annually on 22 February by all Girl Scouts, Girl Guides and other girl groups worldwide. The day is observed to think about fellow brothers and sisters around the world, address their concerns and understand the true meaning of guiding. The theme for World Thinking Day 2021 is peacebuilding. Peacebuilding is at the heart of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting and is as vital and relevant today as for the last 100 years. By completing the steps in the Stand Together For Peace activity pack, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts will; Stand Strong, Stand up and Stand Together for peacebuilding.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. ManikaBatra Wins Singles Title at 82nd National Table Tennis Championship: India’s top-ranked table tennis player ManikaBatra beat Reeth Rishya, 4-2, in the women’s singles final, to win the 82nd Senior National Table Tennis Championship, at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula, Haryana. It was Manika’s second Nationals title. She won her maiden national title in 2015 in Hyderabad.

 

2. Sri Lanka pacer Dhammika Prasad quits international cricket: Sri Lanka fast bowler Dhammika Prasad has announced his retirement from international cricket. He represented Sri Lanka in 25 Tests and 24 ODIs, bagging 75 and 32 wickets respectively. He also played alone T20 International against Australia in 2011. Prasad last played a Test match in October 2015 against the West Indies.

 

3. South Africa’s Faf du Plessis retires from Test cricket: Former captain of South Africa, Faf du Plessis has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The 36-year-old made his Test debut in November 2012 and played a total of 69 games in the longest format. He scored 4163 runs in his Test career, at an average of 40.02, with 10 centuries and 21 fifties.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Hyundai Develops Ultimate Mobility Vehicle ‘TIGER X-1’: Hyundai Motor Company has launched a Transformer-like robocar dubbed as TIGER X-1, that can travel over the most challenging terrains on the Earth as well as on other planets. TIGER stands for Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot, and the X-1 denotes its experimental status. Key Features:

(1) The Ultimate Mobility Vehicle (UMV) TIGER is being developed by Hyundai in partnership with Autodesk and Sundberg-Ferar.

(2) Tiger is designed as a battery-electric vehicle, comprising of a small pod with four wheels on extendable legs. it will be able to operate as either a four-wheel-drive vehicle or four-legged walking robot.

(3) The vehicle is unscrewed, meaning that its, main use will be to carry payloads over remote and inaccessible locations, and not the people

(4) It will help in search and rescue, scientific research, military, or exploratory missions (even on new planets).

Note: Hyundai Motor Company Founder: Chung Ju-Yung; Hyundai Motor Company Founded: 29 December 1967, Seoul, South Korea.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Hyderabad Recognised as ‘2020 Tree City of the World’: Telangana’s capital, Hyderabad has been recognized as a 2020 Tree City of World, by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation, for its commitment to growing and maintaining urban forests. Hyderabad is the only city from India to have been recognized as a Tree City, to date. With this recognition, it has joined a network of like-minded global cities that recognise the importance of trees in building healthy, resilient and happy cities. 2020 Tree Cities of the world recognition is the second year of the programme, which features 120 cities from 63 countries. Most of the cities were from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.

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

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Navy Ship Pralaya Participates in NAVDEX 21 and IDEX 21: Indian Naval Ship Pralaya reached Abu Dhabi in UAE to participate in the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX 21) and International Defence Exhibition (IDEX 21) from February 20 to 25, 2021. NAVDEX 21 and IDEX 21 is one of the leading international naval and defence exhibitions of the region. Participation of INS Pralaya will showcase the strengths of India’s indigenous shipbuilding, in line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’.

Key Features of INS Pralaya:  It is the second ship of the indigenously built Prabal Class Missile Vessels, built indigenously at Goa Shipyard Limited. The ship was commissioned in the Indian Navy on 18 December 2002 to perform a wide variety of surface warfare missions. The 56 m longship, displacing about 560 T is capable of speeds in excess of 35 knots. It is fitted with an impressive array of weapons and sensors, like 76.2 mm medium range gun, 30 mm close-range guns, chaff launchers and long-range surface to surface missiles.

Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh; Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950.

Daily GK Updates – 21st Feb, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Cabinet approves PLI scheme for telecom sector worth Rs 12,195 crore: The Union Cabinet approved aRs 12,195-crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for domestic manufacturing of telecom and networking products such as switches, routers, radio access network, wireless equipment and other IoT access devices. Through this decision, the government aims to offset the imports of telecom equipment worth more than Rs 50,000 crore and reinforce it with “Made in India” products both for domestic markets and exports.

About the PLI scheme: The support under the PLI scheme will be provided to companies manufacturers of specified telecom and networking products in India like Gigabit Passive Optical Networks (GPON), base routers, Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM), Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS/ IPMPLS) and 5G/4G radios. The government will soon come up with a PLI scheme to encourage the production of laptops and tablet PCs.

 

2. PM Modi dedicates to the nation and lays foundation stone of key projects of oil and gas sector in Tamil Nadu: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation of key projects of the oil and gas sector in Tamil Nadu via video conferencing. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of Cauvery Basin Refinery at Nagapattinam. It will have a capacity of 9 million metric tonnes per annum, and will be set up through a Joint Venture of IOCL and CPCL at an estimated project cost of Rs. 31,500 crore. PM Modi dedicates to the nation and lays foundation stone of key projects of oil and gas sector in Tamil Nadu.

Among the projects dedicated were:

(1) 143 km Ramanathapuram – Thoothukudi natural gas pipeline of ONGC laid at the cost of about Rs. 700 crores. It is the part of the Ennore- Thiruvallur- Bengaluru- Puducherry- Nagapattinam- Madurai- Tuticorin Natural Gas Pipeline.

(2) Gasoline Desulphurisation Unit at Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL), Manali – constructed at the cost of about Rs. 500 crore.

 

3. PM Modi lays foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial and Chittaura Lake Development Work at Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial at Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, via video conference. PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of the development work of Chittaura Lake in Bahraich. A medical College building named after Maharaja Suheldev was also inaugurated by Modiji. The 2021 event marked the 112th birth anniversary celebration of Maharaja Suheldev. Maharaja Suheldev was the ruler of Shravasti in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, who ruled in the 11th century.

 

4. SpaceKidz India-built Satish Dhawan Nanosatellite to be launched on Feb 28 along with Bhagavad Gita, PM Modi’s photo & names of 25,000 individuals: The Chennai-based SpaceKidz India, has developed the nanosatellite called Satish Dhawan Satellite, or SD SAT. The SD SAT, a 30x10x10cm cuboid, is an experimental communication satellite, to test the capabilities of LoRa(Long range) technology in Space. The indigenously designed and developed miniature spacecraft, will be launched on February 28 by the polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV), C51 rocket of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization). Besides its scientific payloads, the nanosatellite will also carry a copy of Bhagavad Gita, a photograph of Prime Mister Narendra Modi, and names of 25,000 common individuals to space. SpaceKidz India is an organisation dedicated to promoting space science among students.

 

5. India accounts for 11% of global death in road accidents: World Bank Report: The World Bank has released a comprehensive report  titled ‘Traffic Crash Injuries and Disabilities: The Burden on Indian Society’  in association with the SaveLife Foundation,  an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to improving road safety and emergency medical care across India. The report was released by Union transport minister, Nitin Gadkari. The report is based on the data for the year 2019. The World Bank-SaveLife Foundation report highlights the disproportionate impact of a road crash on poor households that pushes them into poverty and debt. It sheds light on the links between road crashes, poverty, inequality, and vulnerable road users in India. Key takeaways from the report:

(1) India has only 1 percent of the world’s total vehicles. However, the country accounts for 11 percent of the global death due to road accidents. This is the highest death rate in the world because of road accident.

(2) 70 percent of the fatalities are the age group of 18 to 45 years, impacting the country as a whole.

(3) Road crash deaths among poor households accounted for 44 percent in rural areas compared to 11.6 percent in urban areas

(4) In India, Low-income household (LIH) spends about 7 months of its income, while a high household income (HIH) spends less than a month’s salary in post-road crash care.

(5) More than 75 percent of poor households in India reported a decline in their income as a result of a road traffic crash.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia resigns: The Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia has announced his resignation. The 45-year-old Gakharia served as the Prime Minister from 8 September 2019 to 18 February 2021. He was stepping down because of disagreements within his own team over the decision to arrest Nika Melia, chairman of the United National Movement opposition party.

Note: Georgia Capital: Tbilisi; Currency: Georgian lari.

 

2. Ajai Malhotra becomes first Indian chairperson at UNHRC advisory:Ajai Malhotra became the first Indian to be elected as the Chairperson of the United Nations Advisory Committee of the Human Rights Council. He has been on the Indian team negotiating issues such as biological diversity, climate change, desertification, education, energy, forestry, health, human rights, human settlements, intellectual property, international law, labour, ozone depletion, sustainable development and trade.

About the Ajai Malhotra: Malhotra first joined the Indian Foreign Services in 1977. Malhotra has previously served as ambassador to Russia, Kuwait, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York and Romania.

Note: Human Rights Council Founded: 15 March 2006; Human Rights Council President: NazhatShameem; Human Rights Council Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

 

3. International Mother Language Day: 21th February: The International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is observed annually on 21 February to raise awareness regarding linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism. The theme of the Day this year, “Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society”. International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. The UN General Assembly welcomed the proclamation of the day in its resolution of 2002.

Note: UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay; UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Chris Morris becomes IPL’s most expensive player: Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar and South African all-rounder Chris Morris shattered all records at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 auction in Chennai. Rajasthan Royals went all-out for the South African all-rounder Morris, buying him for a whopping INR 16.25 crore. Morris, who was declared surplus to requirement by the ViratKohli-led side after the conclusion of the IPL 2020 last year, turned out to be the most expensive player bought in the history of the cash-rich tournament.

 

2. Vivo is back as title sponsor for Indian Premier League 2021 Season: The Chinese mobile and technology company brand Vivo has returned as the title sponsors of IPL for the 2021 edition. This was informed by the Indian Premier League Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel at the IPL 2021 Auction in Chennai. In 2018, Vivo acquired the IPL title sponsorship for Rs 2,199 crore in a five-year deal. However, military clashes at the India-China border in June 2020, led VIVO to pull out as sponsor of the Indian Premier League (IPL). VIVO was then replaced by Indian online gaming platform Dream11 in 2020 season.

 

3. Kings XI Punjab renamed as Punjab Kings ahead of IPL auction: The IPL Franchise, Kings XI Punjab has formally been renamed as Punjab Kings ahead of the Indian Premier League auction. The new brand name and logo of the team was officially released by the management. The Punjab-based IPL franchise ‘Punjab Kings’ is co-owned by Bollywood actress PreityZinta, along with businessman Ness Wadia, Mohit Burman and Karn Paul. The side is currently led by batsman KL Rahul, with former Indian captain Anil Kumble as its head coach.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI permits residents to make remittances to IFSCs under LRS: The Reserve Bank of India has permitted resident individuals to make remittances under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) to International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) in the country. The decision of the RBI is aimed at deepening the financial markets in the IFSCs and providing an opportunity for resident individuals to diversify their portfolios. The RBI has reviewed the extant guidelines on LRS and decided to permit resident individuals to make remittances under LRS to IFSCs set up in India under the Special Economic Zone Act, 2005.

The remittance shall be made only for making investments in IFSCs in securities, other than those issued by entities/companies resident (outside IFSC) in India. Any funds lying idle in the account for a period up to 15 days from the date of its receipt into the account shall be immediately repatriated to domestic INR account of the investor in India.

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

India’s first IFSC: Gujarat International Finance Tec-City.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Oxford Economics Revises India’s GDP to 10.2% for 2021: The global forecasting firm Oxford Economics has revised India’s economic growth projection for the Calendar year 2021 to 10.2 per cent, compared to a previous estimate of 8.8 per cent. The reason for the upward revision is the receding COVID-19 risks and the shift in the monetary policy outlook. Oxford Economics is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom and has 6 office locations across 5 countries. It provides global forecasts and analysis to predict and manage economic risk.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Union Minister Captain Satish Sharma passes away: Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Captain Satish Sharma passed away. He served as the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas from 1993 to 1996 in the Narasimha Rao government. Captain Satish Sharma was a close aide of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He was a three-time Lok Sabha MP, representing Rae Bareli and Amethi constituencies and Rajya Sabha member for three terms representing the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Daily GK Updates – 20th Feb, 2021

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ThaawarchandGehlot Releases 3rd Edition of Indian Sign Language Dictionary: The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment ThaawarchandGehlot released the “3rd edition of the Indian Sign Language (ISL) Dictionary, in a virtual event. The 3rd edition of the ISL dictionary contains a total of 10,000 terms. These include the 6000 terms of the first and second edition of the dictionary.

About the Dictionary: The terms are of everyday use from academic terms, legal & administrative terms, medical terms, technical terms and agricultural terms. The Dictionary has been developed by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), an autonomous Institute under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. The 1st edition of the ISL Dictionary was launched on 23 March 2018 with 3000 terms. The 2nd edition was launched on 27th February 2019, with 6000 terms (including earlier 3000 terms).

 

2. Centre Launches new Instant Messaging platform ‘Sandes’: The National Informatics Centre (NIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has launched an instant messaging platform called “Sandes”. Similar to WhatsApp, the new government instant messaging systems (GIMS) platform can be used for all kinds of communications by anyone using a mobile number or email id.

About the app: The need to build a home-grown messaging platform was felt by the government to ensure secure communication between people as they worked from home, following the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of Covid-19. The Sandes app is also a part of the government strategy to encourage the use of India-made software so as to build an ecosystem of indigenously developed products.

Note: National Informatics Centre Founded: 1976; National Informatics Centre Director-General: Neeta Verma; National Informatics Centre Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

3. Mamata Banerjee launches ‘Maa’ scheme to provide meals at Rs 5: West Bengal government launched “Maa” canteens for providing subsidised cooked meals for the poor and the destitute at a nominal cost of ₹5. The govt will give a subsidy of ₹15 and people have to pay ₹5. The kitchen will run by Self-Help Groups (SHG). The government allocated ₹ 100 crores for this project.

About the canteens: The canteens will be open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. every day. People will get a plate of rice, dal, a vegetable and egg curry. This new initiative is for common people. Though we give free rations there is still a huge demand for cooked food. Therefore, we are starting these community kitchens.

Note: Chief Minister of West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee; Governor: JagdeepDhankhar.

 

4. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launches Pilot Pey Jal Survekshan: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the Pilot Pey Jal Survekshan under Jal Jeevan Mission- Urban. The Pilot Pey Jal Survekshan has been launched in 10 cities, which are Agra, Badlapur, Bhubaneswar, Churu, Kochi, Madurai, Patiala, Rohtak, Surat and Tumkur. The motive of the Jal Jeevan Mission Urban is to provide universal coverage of water supply to all households through functional taps in all 4,378 statutory towns in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal – 6.

Objective: To ascertain the equitable distribution of water, reuse of wastewater and mapping of water bodies with respect to quantity and quality of water through a challenging process.

Outlay: The Government has proposed a total outlay of Rs 2.87 lakh crore for JJM (U) in fiscal 2021-22, which includes Rs. 10,000 crore for continuing financial support to AMRUT Mission.

Note: Minister of State (IC) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs: Hardeep Singh Puri.

 

5. IIT Madras-incubated Pi Beam launches PiMo e-bike: An IIT Madras-Incubated start-up Pi Beam Electric has recently launched a sustainable electric two-wheeler, dubbed as PiMo. The utility e-bike has been developed for personal and commercial use. It does not require a licence or registration.

Key Features: The cost of the electric two-wheeler has been fixed at Rs. 30, 000. It eliminates fuel costs as it runs on battery. The electric vehicle offers ‘Battery Swapping’, meaning that the drained battery can be exchanged for a fully charged one at designated locations. The battery can charge faster than a smartphone and comes with a range of 50 km. Pi Beam aims to sell 10,000 vehicles by the end of the financial year 2021-22.

 

6. Award winning Author Irwin Allan Sealy’s new novel ‘ASOCA’: Prizewinning writer Irwin Allan Sealy’s new novel ‘ASOCA: A Sutra’, an imagined memoir of AshokaThe Great. The novel will be presented as an imagined memoir of AshokaThe Great, the emperor who ruled most of the Indian Subcontinent and played a pivotal role in the spread of Buddhism from India to other parts of Asia in the 3rd century BC. It will be published by Penguin Random House India. Earlier, Penguin had published the thirtieth-anniversary edition of Sealy’s critically acclaimed debut novel The Trotter-Nama and this is the second book by the author to be published by PRH. This book will be released under Penguin’s Viking imprint in July 2021.

 

7. Kiran Bedi Removed As Puducherry Lt Governor: Kiran Bedi, the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry, has been removed from the top position. TamilisaiSoundararajan, the Governor of Telangana, has been given additional charge as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry till a permanent replacement will be announced. The development comes in the backdrop of a major shake-up in the Puducherry Assembly after several Congress legislators resigned ahead of the Assembly elections due this year.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Preeti Sinha appointed to head United Nations Capital Development Fund: The UN Capital Development Fund has appointed Indian-origin investment and development banker PreetiSinha as its Executive Secretary, the highest leadership rank in the institution. She succeeds Judith Karl. He will work with a focus on providing micro-finance assistance to women, youth, small and medium-sized enterprises in under-served communities.

About United Nations Capital Development Fund: The New York-based United Nations Capital Development Fund is an autonomous UN organization affiliated with UNDP. It was established in 1966. The original mandate of UNCDF: to assist developing countries in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants and loans.

The organisation provides micro-finance access to the 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) of the world, to help them unlock the full potential of public and private finance.

 

2. World Day of Social Justice: 20th February: World Day of Social Justice is celebrated annually all over the world on 20 February. The International Labour Organization unanimously adopted the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization on 10 June 2008. This year theme of World Day of Social Justice is“A Call for Social Justice in the Digital Economy”.

Aim of the day: Recognize the need to promote and tackle issues of social justice such as poverty, exclusion, gender equality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections. Focus on the goal of achieving full employment and support for social integration. Encourage people to look at how social justice affects poverty eradication.

Note: Headquarters of International Labour Organization: Geneva, Switzerland; Director-General of International Labour Organization: Guy Ryder; International Labour Organization Founded: 1919.

 

3. World Pangolin Day: 20th February: World Pangolin Day is celebrated on the “Third Saturday of February” every year. In 2021, the annual World Pangolin Day is being celebrated on 20 February 2020. It marks the 10th edition of the event. The day aims to raise awareness about these unique mammals and speed up conservation efforts. Pangolin numbers are rapidly declining in Asia and Africa.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Lombard partners with Flipkart to offer ‘Hospicash’ insurance: The e-commerce company Flipkart has partnered with ICICI Lombard to offer its customers the ‘Group SafeGuard’ insurance, a group health insurance policy. The ‘Group SafeGuard’ comes with daily cash benefits starting from Rs 500, and ‘Hospicash’ benefit for Flipkart consumers.

About the Hospicash: The product will allow consumers to avail a payout for each day of hospitalisation. The fixed daily amount will enable consumers to pay for incidental medical or emergency expenses. The insurance is affordably priced, paperless, and flexible; covering both accidental hospitalisations or planned surgeries/treatment.

Note: Flipkart headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka; Flipkart CEO: Kalyan Krishnamurthy.

ICICI Lombard CEO: BhargavDasgupta; ICICI Lombard Headquarters: Mumbai; ICICI Lombard Founded: 2001.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. HCL Tech inks pact with IIT Kanpur to build up competence in cybersecurity: HCL Technologies has inked an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) to collaborate in the area of cybersecurity. As part of the pact, the IT company will work with C3iHub, a specialised cybersecurity research centre at IITK. This collaboration will bring together the country’s brightest minds, advanced research capabilities and global resources to develop advanced solutions in the area of cybersecurity.

About the collaboration: HCL and IITK will bring in real-world industry exposure to carry out joint initiatives and research. The teams will develop a security framework and solutions for cybersecurity challenges in current and future operational technologies as one of the first areas of interest. They will also work together to discover and manage cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and risks for critical infrastructure.

Note: HCL Technologies CEO: C Vijayakumar; HCL Technologies Founded: 11 August 1976; HCL Technologies Headquarters: Noida.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy conferred SKOCH Chief Minister of the Year Award: The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has been conferred the Skoch Chief Minister of the Year Award. The Award has been presented to the CM by Chairman, Skoch Group, Sameer Kochhar personally at Tadepalli in Andhra Pradesh. The award selection was based on a study of project-level outcomes in various States.

Similarly, initiatives have been taken across the government to respond to COVID-19 and have shown desirable outcomes. All the above and more is evident in a year-long study of 123 projects from across sectors in Andhra Pradesh. The State has taken several revolutionary measures in the past two years to make governance more efficient and transparent. Innovative measures have been taken across sectors, the credit for which goes to the Chief Minister.

Note: Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy; Governor: BiswaBhusanHarichandan.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India joins Iran-Russia’s two-day navy exercise: India joined Iran and Russia in the naval exercise dubbed as “Iran-Russia Maritime Security Belt 2021”, which kicked-off in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. The Chinese navy will also join the exercise. The purpose of the drill is to enhance the security of international maritime trade, confront maritime piracy and terrorism, and exchange information.

About the drill: The drill will cover an area of 17,000 square kilometres (6,500 square miles). It will include shooting at sea and air targets and liberating hijacked ships, as well as search and rescue and anti-piracy operations. The exercise ‘Iran-Russia Maritime Security Belt’ is so flexible that any country could join if they wish to do so.