Daily GK Updates – 2nd Mar, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi inaugurates first-ever India Toy Fair 2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the first-ever Indian Toy Fair 2021 via video conference during which he urged the country to become ‘Atmanirbhar’ in the toy manufacturing sector. The Ministry of Textiles, in collaboration with other ministries, including the Ministry of Education, has organised the virtual event with an aim to provide joyful learning to children by including them in teaching and learning as well as promoting the indigenous toy industry. The toy fair is divided into five stages — pre-school to Class II, primary, upper primary, secondary and senior secondary.

About the Toy fair: The idea of a toy fair emerged from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat address on August 30, 2020, where he highlighted the huge potential of the toys market and the opportunities that can be tapped to promote indigenous toys. Aimed at providing a platform to states to develop toys reflecting the history, culture and social milieu specific to the states and also to revive traditional and indigenous toys in the lives of children, the national toy fair claims to also boost the economy by supporting local toy industry under ‘Atamnirbhar Bharat’.

 

2. 39th Agartala International Book Fair begins at Tripura: In Tripura, the 39th Agartala International Book Fair with the theme “Ek Tripura, Shrestha Tripura” has begun at Agartala. State Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has inaugurated the fair in presence of Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner Md. Jobayed Hossain and other state cabinet ministers and MLAs. This book fair helps in building a positive mindset among people and that ensures a positive approach for overall progress in society. Cultural troops coming from Bangladesh, Northeastern States including Sikkim will be performing various cultural events on each day as part of the fair.

Note: Chief Minister of Tripura: Biplab Kumar Deb; Governor: Ramesh Bais.

 

3. ISRO’s PSLV-C51 launches Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite: India’s Polar rocket has successfully launched Amazonia-1 of Brazil and 18 other satellites from the spaceport here, in the first mission of the year for space agency ISRO. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C51 lifted from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) and first injected into orbit primary payload Amazonia-1. The 637-kg Amazonia-1 which became the first Brazilian satellite to be launched from India is an optical earth observation satellite of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE).After a gap of over one-and-half hours, the co-passenger satellites, including one from Chennai- based Space Kidz India (SKI), which is engraved with a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were launched subsequently one after another in the space of ten minutes in a textbook launch. SKI’s Satish Dhawan Satellite (SD-SAT) also carried Bhagavad Gita in a Secured Digital card format.

Note: ISRO Chairman: K.Sivan; ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka; ISRO established: 15 August 1969.

 

4. A book titled “Advantage India: The Story of Indian Tennis” by Anindya Dutta:Anindya Dutta, a banker turned author, penned a new book titled “Advantage India: The Story of Indian Tennis”, a chronicle of Indian Tennis. Advantage India is a well-researched account of the journey of Indian tennis, with a special section on the Doubles game and on women’s tennis in India. The book is published by Westland publications.

The essence of the book: The book provides an extensive history of Indian tennis on both men’s and women’s side. The book is the result of the detailed research of Anindya Dutta on the data from the archives of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and British newspapers from the past 200 years. The book features pre-independence players like Mohammed Sleem, the Fyzee brothers, S.M. Jacob and Ghaus Mohammed and tennis icons like Dilip Bose, SumantMisra, Naresh Kumar and Ramanathan Krishnan. This also features Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza who transformed Women’s Tennis in India.

 

5. SarasAajeevikaMela opens at Noida Haat: The SarasAajeevikaMela 2021 is underway at Noida Haat. The fair was inaugurated by Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. Narendra Singh Tomar while inaugurating the event highlighted that the Ministry of Rural Development is working to include more women under the Self-Help Groups (SHGs). SHGs played a vital role in increasing family income and improving quality of life. More than 300 rural self-help groups and craftsman from 27 states are participating in the Mela which is being run by the Ministry of Rural Development.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Nirmala Sitharaman attended G20 Central Bank Governors’ meeting: The Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman has attended the G20 Central Bank Governors’ meeting. This was the first-ever G20 Central Bank Governors’ meeting that was held under the Italian Presidency. The main aim of the meeting was to discuss policy actions for transformative and equitable recovery along with other issues on the agenda including the global economic outlook, financial sector issues, financial inclusion and sustainable finance. This meeting is a follow-up for the upcoming 2021 G20 Summit, the sixteenth meeting of Group of Twenty, scheduled to take place in Rome, Italy, on 30–31 October 2021.

About the Meeting: During the meeting, the finance minister highlighted India’s policy response with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic and the world’s largest inoculation drive with their G-20 counterparts. The G20 Finance Ministers and the Central Bank Governors also held a discussion regarding the implications of climate change on global growth and financial stability.

 

2. Russian supermodel Vodianova is new UN goodwill ambassador: Russian supermodel and philanthropist Natalia Vodianova has become a United Nations goodwill ambassador, to promote the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls and tackle stigmas surrounding their bodies. She will be a campaigner for the UN Population Fund, which now calls itself the UN”s sexual and reproductive health agency, known as UNFPA.

Note: UNFPA Headquarters: New York, New York, United States; UNFPA Head: Natalia Kanem; UNFPA Founded: 1969.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian Women’s League 2020-21 to be hosted in Odisha: All India Football Federation confirms Odisha as the venue for the forthcoming Hero Indian Women’s League 2020-21 edition. This is the fifth edition of IWL, the top division women’s league in India. The Odisha government is a strategic partner of the AIFF (All India Football Federation) as it provides the necessary infrastructure to various men and women age-group teams.AIFF appreciates Odisha Government’s longstanding partnership with Indian Football wherein the latter have been providing its stadia and State of the Art training facilities to National Teams across various age groups and genders – all in an effort to take Indian Football forward together.

Note: President of AIFF: Praful Patel; AIFF founded: 23 June 1937; FIFA affiliation of AIFF: 1948; Headquarters of AIFF: Dwarka, Delhi.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Fino Payments Bank upgraded to scheduled commercial bank status: Reserve Bank of India has notified that it has included Fino Payments Bank in the Second Schedule of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. All banks which are included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 are Scheduled Banks. These banks comprise Scheduled Commercial Banks and Scheduled Co-operative Banks. Benefits of being a scheduled bank under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934:

(1) Becomes eligible for debts/loans at the bank rate from the RBI

(2) Automatically acquires the membership of clearinghouse

(3) Rediscount of first-class exchange bills from the RBI

Scheduled Commercial Banks in India are categorised into five different groups according to their ownership and/or nature of the operation. These bank groups are:

(1) State Bank of India and its Associates

(2) Nationalised Banks

(3) Regional Rural Banks

(4) Foreign Banks

(5) Other Indian Scheduled Commercial Banks (in the private sector)

Note: Chairman of Fino Payments Bank: Prof Mahendra Kumar Chouhan; Fino Payments Bank established: 13 July 2006; MD & CEO of Fino Payments Bank: Rishi Gupta; Headquarters of Fino Payments Bank: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 

2. Fullerton India Credit Company appointed Shantanu Mitra as CEO and MD: Fullerton India Credit Company has appointed Shantanu Mitra as the new CEO and Managing Director. He has over 40 years of experience in financial services, with over 20 years at Standard Chartered and Citibank, where he had stints in India, Singapore and Thailand. His last role in Standard Chartered was Senior Regional Risk Officer, India, Middle East and Africa. His previous experience with Fullerton included a stint from 2010 to 2017.

Note: Fullerton India Credit Company Founded: 1994; Fullerton India Credit Company Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. NPCI enables UPI AutoPay live on music streaming platform ‘Gaana’: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced that UPI AutoPay has now gone live on Gaana. Its integration with UPI AutoPay has made Gaana the 1st player in the Media & Entertainment industry to roll out the innovative e-mandate feature on UPI. The introduction of UPI AutoPay will empower Gaana’s users to experience a smooth and seamless mechanism of renewing their subscriptions. Customers can enjoy premium, uninterrupted streaming of their choicest music, podcasts and radio without having to remember about the subscription renewal date. The strategic role played by Paytm and Juspay as payment aggregators will create a superior transaction experience for the customers. Based on the mandate, the subscription amount will be deducted automatically on the authorized date without entering UPI PIN.

Note: National Payments Corporation of India MD & CEO: DilipAsbe; National Payments Corporation of India Headquarters: Mumbai; National Payments Corporation of India Founded: 2008.

 

2. NSO expects Indian economy to contract by 8% in 2020-21: The GDP growth of India during 2020-21 is estimated to contract 8 per cent, as per the second advanced estimates projected by the National Statistical Office (NSO). This was 4.9 per cent in 2019-20. NSO had projected a GDP contraction of 7.7 percent in its first advance estimate.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. PM Modi to receive global energy and environment leadership award: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the CERAWeek global energy and environment leadership award during an annual CERAWeek Conference-2021. The award is given to him for his commitment to sustainability in energy and the environment. The CERAWeek Conference-2021 will be held virtually from March 1 to 5, 2021. It is an annual international conference that brings together the energy industry leaders, experts. Policymakers Government officials, leaders from the technology, energy technology innovators and financial & industrial communities.

Daily GK Updates – 1st Mar, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India, AIIB sign agreement to improve Assam power transmission: The Government of India and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has signed a $304 million loan agreement on February 23, 2021, for the Assam Intra-State Transmission System Enhancement Project. The project aims to improve the reliability, capacity and security of the power transmission network in the northeastern state of Assam.

About the project: It includes constructing 10 transmission substations and laying transmission lines with the associated infrastructure, upgrade 15 existing substations, and transmission lines and existing ground wire to optical power ground wire and provide technical assistance to support project implementation. The total estimated cost of the project is $365 million. AIIB will finance $304 million while the remaining funding of $61 million will be done by the state government.

Note: President of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: JinLiqun; Headquarters of AIIB: Beijing, China; AIIB established: 16 January 2016.

 

2. Vijay Sampla takes charge as Chairman of National Commission for SC: Former Union Minister Vijay Sampla has assumed the charge of Chairman National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC). He has been the former Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment from 2014 to 2019. NCSC is an Indian constitutional body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment that works for the socio-economic development of the scheduled castes and to prevent atrocities against them.

Note: NCSC Founded: 19 February 2004; NCSC Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

3. Punjab Cabinet approves mission ‘Lal Lakir’ in all villages: The Punjab Cabinet has approved the implementation of the mission ‘Lal Lakir’ aimed at facilitating villagers to monetise property rights and availing benefits provided by government departments, institutions and banks in all villages across the state. As no record of rights is available for such properties within the ‘Lal Lakir’, the same cannot currently be monetised as per the real value of the property and no mortgages can be created on such properties. Under the mission:

(1) The right of record of properties within ‘Lal Lakir’ in the villages of the state will be prepared with the cooperation of the government of India under the SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme.

(2) This will enable mapping the land, households, habitation and all other areas falling within ‘Lal Lakir’. It will go a long way in improving the living standard of villagers and boosting their self-esteem.

(3) There are households within the ‘Lal Lakir’, which do not own property other than the areas within the ‘Lal Lakir’, and are thus at a disadvantage when it comes to monetising or realising the real value of the property, according to a government statement.

(4) ‘Lal Lakir’ refers to land that is part of the village ‘abaadi’ (habitation) and is used for non-agriculture purposes only.

Note: Punjab CM: Captain Amarinder Singh; Punjab Governor: V.P.SinghBadnore.

 

4. Chandigarh became the first Union Territory in India to launch Carbon Watch: Chandigarh became the first state or Union Territory in India to launch Carbon Watch, a mobile application to assess the carbon footprint of an individual. Although the app can be accessed by everyone, it has specific options for the residents of Chandigarh to compile a detailed study. The application can be downloaded through a QR code in Android supported smart cell phones.

What is the Carbon Footprint: Carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases-especially carbon dioxide-released into the atmosphere by particular human activity.

About the Carbon Watch Mobile app: As a person downloads the application, they will need to fill details in four parts Water, Energy, Waste Generation and Transport (Vehicular movement). In the category of Water, the person will be required to inform about the consumption of water.

In the Energy category, the details regarding the electricity units consumed every month at the house, monthly bill etc and usage of solar energy will have to be furnished. In the Waste category, the individual will need to inform about the waste generated on their part and their family. In the transport section, the individual will have to inform them about the mode of transport used by the- four-wheeler, two-wheeler or bicycle.

Note: Chandigarh Administrator: V.P. Singh Badnore.

 

5. Piyush Goyal addresses 6th International Conference on Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices: The 6th edition of the International Conference on Pharmaceutical & Medical Device sector was inaugurated by Union Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry, and Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution Piyush Goyal. The conference which includes INDIA PHARMA 2021 & INDIA MEDICAL DEVICE 2021 is scheduled to take place from February 25-26, 2021 & March 1-2, 2021.

Objectives of the Conference: To encourage and bring forward the best technology solutions and manufacturing, for the overall growth of the Pharma & Medical Device sector. The theme of India Pharma 2021: ‘Indian Pharma Industry: “Future is Now”. The theme of India Medical Device 2021 is “India MedTech Future: Innovate & Make in India through Global Alliance”.

About the conference: The conference is organised every year by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India, along with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).

 

6. Civil Accounts Day: 01st March: The Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) observes the “Civil Accounts Day” every year on March 01, 2021, since its inception in 1976. The year 2021 marks the 45th Civil Accounts Day celebrations. ICAS is one of the Civil Services of India, under the Department of Expenditure, Union Ministry of Finance.

About the Indian Civil Accounts Service: Initially, the ICAS was carved out from the Indian Audit & Accounts Service (IA & AS), through the promulgation of an Ordinance amending the C & AG’s (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Amendment Act, 1976. Later, the Departmentalisation of Union Accounts (Transfer of Personnel) Act, 1976 was enacted and came into force on 01 March 1976, following which the ICAS celebrates March 1 every year as the “Civil Accounts Day”.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. IrakliGaribashvili as New Prime Minister of Georgia: The Parliament of Georgia confirmed IrakliGaribashvili as Prime Minister along with a vote of confidence in the cabinet Garibashvili put forward. Garibashvili pledged to create a long-term development strategy for Georgia in his first one hundred days in office. First, on the agenda, Garibashvili will continue the essential work of the government to ably manage the pandemic and accelerate the focus on rebuilding the economy while continuing to strengthen Georgia’s security and democratic institutions.

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

 

2. India, Australia and France hold trilateral dialogue with focus on Indo-Pacific: A trilateral dialogue was held among India, France, and Australia, at the senior officials’ level, with a focus on further enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The aim of this trilateral dialogue is to build strong bilateral relation among the three countries and synergies their respective strength to ensure a peaceful, secure, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. It must be remembered that the first India-France-Australia Trilateral Dialogue was held virtually on September 9, 2020, at Foreign Secretary-level, for better coordination in the region.At the senior official level, the Indian side was led by Joint Secretary (Europe West) in MEA, Sandeep Chakravorty, while the French side was led by Bertrand Lortholary, Director (Asia and Oceania), and the Australian side was led by Mr Gary Cowan, First Assistant Secretary (North and South Asia Division) and Mr John Geering, First Assistant Secretary (Europe and Latin America Division).

 

3. Zero Discrimination Day: 01st March: Zero Discrimination Day is an annual day celebrated on 1 March each year by the United Nations and other international organisations. Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated to promote and celebrate everyone’s right, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity, skin colour, etc. Zero Discrimination Day aims to raise the voice for the right to live life with dignity, despite one’s choices, beliefs, profession, education, disability or even illness. The theme of Zero Discrimination Day 2021: “End Inequalities”.A butterfly is the symbol of Zero Discrimination Day and it is widely used by people to share their stories and photos as a way to end discrimination and work towards positive transformation. Zero Discrimination Day was first celebrated on March 1, 2014, and was launched by UNAIDS Executive Director at Beijing after UNAIDS launched its Zero Discrimination Campaign on World AIDS Day in December 2013.

Note: United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; UNAIDS Executive Director: Winnie Byanyima; UNAIDS Founded: 26 July 1994.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. R. Vinay Kumar announces retirement from all forms of cricket: Former India international and Karnataka captain, R Vinay Kumar has announced retirement from all forms of cricket. The “Davangere Express” after running for 25 years and passing so many stations of cricketing life, has finally arrived at the station called retirement. Vinay, a medium-pacer, represented India in one Test, 31 ODIs and 9 T20Is between 2010 and 2013. Vinay retires as a domestic giant of Indian cricket having taken 504 first-class wickets in 139 matches that included 26 five-wicket hauls and five 10-wicket hauls in a match.With the bat, he scored 3311 runs including two centuries and 17 half-centuries. In 141 List A matches, the 37-year-old took 225 wickets at 24.39 and scored 1198 runs including four half-centuries.

 

2. Yusuf Pathan announces retirement from all forms of cricket: Former India all-rounder, Yusuf Pathan has announced his retirement from all formats of cricket. He played 57 ODIs and 22 T20Is for India since making his international debut in 2007. He was part of the Indian team that won the ICC T20 World Cup 2007 and ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. He scored 810 ODI runs and 236 T20I runs for India. He also picked up 46 wickets in limited-overs international cricket. Yusuf played 100 first-class matches, scoring 4825 runs and picking up 201 wickets. In List A cricket, the right-handed batsman accumulated 4797 runs and got 124 wickets from 199 matches. He last played for India in an ODI against South Africa at Johannesburg in March 2012.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. AU Small Finance Bank has named Sharad Goklani as President & CTO: AU Small Finance Bank has named Sharad Goklani as its new President & CTO. He was earlier associated with Equitas Small Finance Bank as its EVP & Chief Technology Officer.  As a part of his new appointment, Goklani will be based in Jaipur Rajasthan. Prior to Equitas, he was associated with Bharti Airtel and Bharti Telesoft. He holds a Master degree in computer application from Jaipur University.

About the Bank: AU was started 25 years ago by Sanjay Agarwal, a merit holder Chartered Accountant and a first-generation entrepreneur. As per the official website, it was founded in Jaipur in 1996 as Au Financiers, a non-deposit taking Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), it effectively worked on funding economic growth, especially for the under-served and un-served low & middle-class individuals. Au Financiers converted into AU Small Finance Bank in April 2017 after receiving the license from RBI.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Moody’s projects India’s GDP to contract 7% in FY21: The US-based rating agency Moody’s has revised its growth projection for India, and now expects the economy to contract 7 per cent in fiscal 2020-21 (FY21). This is lower than its previous estimate of 10.6 per cent contraction. For the next financial year, FY22, beginning April 1, Moody’s has projected the economy to grow to 13.7 per cent, as compared to 10.8 per cent estimated earlier.

Note: Headquarters of Moody’s: NewYork, United States; President & CEO of Moody’s: Raymond W. McDaniel, Jr.

 

2. GautamThakar made global CEO of OLX Autos:OLXGroup appoints GautamThakar as global CEO of OLX Autos. He will lead a worldwide organisation with a workforce of more than 4,000 employees across Asia, Africa, Latam, and the United States. OLXGroup announced the appointment of GautamThakar as global CEO of OLX Autos effective March 15, 2021.

Note: OLXGroup Founded: 2006; OLXGroup Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Padma Shri Malayalam Poet VishnunarayananNamboothiri passes away: Renowned Malayalam poet, the priest and academician Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri, has passed away. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2014, for his contribution to the world of Malayalam literature for decades. He also won the Kerala SahityaAkademi Award, Kendra SahityaAkademi Fellowship, Vallathol Award, Odakkuzhal Award and the Mathrubhumi Literary Award, among others. He was also a noted scholar of language and the Vedas, as well as an orator.

Daily GK Updates – 28th Feb, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. National Urban Digital Mission Launched by Centre: Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri and Minister of Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad launched the National Urban Digital Mission’ (NUDM) at a virtual event, to create a digital infrastructure for cities in India. The NUDM has been launched jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs along with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. About the Mission:

(1) The mission aims to put in place a “citizen-centric” and “ecosystem-driven” approach to ‘urban governance and service delivery in cities by 2022, and across all cities and towns by 2024. The mission has three pillars – people, process, and platform.

(2) The NUDM will create a shared digital infrastructure for Urban India that can consolidate and cross-leverage the various digital initiatives of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, to enable cities and towns across India to benefit from holistic and diverse forms of support, in keeping with their needs and local challenges.

(3) Apart from this, several other digital initiatives of MoHUA was also launched which includes: India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX), SmartCode platform, Smart Cities 2.0 website, and Geospatial Management Information System (GMIS).

 

2. PM Modi inaugurates and lays foundation stone of various development projects in Coimbatore: Prime Minister visited Tamil Nadu on 25 February 2021 to dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure projects in Coimbatore. Projects dedicated to the nation:

(1) 1000 MW Neyveli New Thermal Power Project – Rs 8000 crore

(2) 709 MW Solar Power Project of NLCIL – Rs 3000 crore

(3) 8-laning of Korampallam Bridge

(4) Rail Over Bridge (ROB) at V.O.Chidambaranar Port

(4) The tenements constructed under the Pradhan MantriAwasYojana (Urban) scheme.

Projects whose foundation stone were laid:

(1) Design, supply, installation and commissioning of a 5MW grid connected ground based solar power plant at V.O.Chidambaranar Port – Rs 20 crore

(2) Extension, renovation and modernisation of Lower Bhavani Project System

(3) Development of Integrated Command and Control Centers (ICCC) in nine Smart Cities including Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Thanjavur, Vellore, Tiruchirappalli, Tiruppur, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.

 

3. Karnataka to set up a Flower Processing Centre: The Karnataka State Horticulture Department is setting up a “Flower Processing Centre”, in collaboration with the International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB), to convert unsold flowers into various useful products. The facility will provide support to the flower farmers who suffer huge losses whenever there is a glut or market disruption. Growers can learn the art of flower processing from the centre. The incubation centre will process flowers and convert them to value-added products such as natural dyes, floral papers, incense sticks, flower petal powder for cosmetic usage, floral embedded works, floral arts, and silica-stored flowers.

Note: Chief Minister of Karnataka: B.S. Yediyurappa; Governor: VajubhaiVala.

 

4. Kerala Governor Inaugurates India’s First Digital University: Governor of Kerala, Arif Mohammed Khan has inaugurated India’s first Digital University named Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology. A Digital University has been set up in Kerala’s Technocity, Mangalapuram. Kerala University is established by upgrading the two-decade-old state government’s Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala.

About Digital University In Kerala: India’s first Digital University will focus on postgraduate programmes and research along with building strong industry-academic and academic-academic linkages with leading institutions in India and abroad. Developed on a 10-acre campus in Technocity, the university will provide education to 12,000 residential scholars on the campus and many technology-linked learners outside. The university seeks to lead the Digital Transformation Initiatives announced by the Kerala Government in the Budget 2021.

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

 

5. KabirBedi’s autobiography to release in April: Veteran actor KabirBedi will tell his life story in his memoir, which will be released in April. Entitled “Stories I Must Tell: An Actor’s Emotional Journey,” the actor will provide an honest glimpse into his life. The book will take readers through the ups and downs of KabirBedi’s life, both professional and personal. He will also talk about his relationships, including marriage and divorce, why his beliefs have changed, and his days in movies, television and theatres in India, Europe and Hollywood.

 

6. Protein Day: 27th February: In India, February 27th is celebrated as the National Protein Day, to create awareness about protein deficiency and encourage people to include this macronutrient in their diet. The day was launched by the ‘Right to Protein’, a national-level public health initiative on February 27, 2020. This year theme of National Protein Day is “Powering with Plant Protein”. 2021 marks the second year for this nutritional awareness milestone in India by ‘Right to Protein’.

 

7. National Science Day: 28th February: National Science Day is celebrated all over India on 28th February. On this day, Sir CV Raman had announced the discovery of the Raman Effect for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930. The government of India designated 28 February as National Science Day (NSD) in 1986. The theme for this year’s National Science Day is ‘Future of STI: Impact on Education Skills and Work’. The National Science Day 2021 aims to motivate the students to gain hands-on experience in the field of science.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. China Surpasses US to become India’s top trade partner in 2020: China has regained its position as the top trading partner of India in 2020, which was held by the United States, since 2018-19. The two-way trade between India and China stood at $77.7 billion in 2020 despite the conflict along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the rising anti-China sentiment. The India-US bilateral trade stood at $75.9 billion, according to provisional data from the commerce ministry. Meanwhile, the UAE continues to remain India’s third-biggest trading partner.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; China Currency: Renminbi; China President: Xi Jinping.

 

2. World NGO Day: 27th February: World NGO Day is celebrated every year on 27th February globally. World NGO Day aims to inspire people to become more actively involved within NGOs (Charities, NPOs, CSOs) and encourage a greater symbiosis between NGOs and both the public and private sector. The universal concept of World NGO Day is Celebrate, Commemorate and Collaborate the various NGOs around the world, and the people behind them. World NGO Day is a day for NGOs around the globe to share knowledge and experiences with one another. The Day was officially recognised and declared by the 12 member countries (Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Norway and Sweden). It was marked for the first time by the UN, EU leaders and international organisations in 2014.

 

3. Rare Disease Day: 28th February: Rare Disease Day is observed every year on the last day of February. This year in 2021 it falls on February 28, 2021. The day is observed to raise awareness for rare diseases and improve access to treatment and medical representation for individuals with rare diseases and their families. Rare Disease Day was first launched by EuropeanOrganisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) and its Council of National Alliances in 2008.

Note: EURORDIS Founded: 1997; EURORDIS Headquarters location: Paris, France.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. DushyantChautala re-elected as President of TTFI: DushyantChautala has been re-elected as the President of Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) for a period of four years. He was elected unanimously during the 84th annual meeting of the TTFI, on February 24, 2021. He is also the current Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana. The 32-year-old was first elected as President of the TTFI in January 2017, becoming the youngest President in the history of TTFI.

Note: Headquarters Table Tennis Federation of India: New Delhi; Table Tennis Federation of India Founded: 1926.

 

2. PM Modi virtually addresses 2nd Khelo India National Winter Games: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered the inaugural address at the 2nd Khelo India National Winter Games through a video conference. The second edition of the Khelo India-Winter Games has been organised at the world-famous ski-resort Gulmarg in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. The event has been organised by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council and the Winter Games Association of J&K. The sports activities at the games will include alpine skiing, nordic ski, snowboarding, ski mountaineering, ice hockey, ice skating, ice stock etc.

Note: Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports: KirenRijiju.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI joins JPMorgan’s blockchain payments network: State Bank of India has tied up with JPMorgan to use the US bank’s blockchain technology to speed up overseas transactions. The tie-up is expected to reduce SBI customers’ transaction costs and time taken for payments. SBI has joined Liink, a new blockchain-based interbank data network developed by JPMorgan. By integrating the technology, the bank expects to reduce transaction costs and improve cross-border payments for its customers.

About the Liink: Liink is a peer-to-peer network and ecosystem operating under the umbrella of JPMorgan’s blockchain- and digital-currency-focused business, dubbed Onyx. Piloted in 2017, the product was originally referred to as Interbank Information Network and rebranded as Liink in October 2020. The Liink solution has enlisted more than 400 financial institutions and corporations in 78 countries, including 27 of the world’s top 50 banks. The network has around 100 live banks on the network, including both state-owned and private institutions.

Note: JPMorgan CEO: Jamie Dimon; JPMorgan Headquarters: New York, United States; JPMorgan Founder: J. P. Morgan.

SBI Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara; SBI Headquarters: Mumbai; SBI Founded: 1 July 1955.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ICRA expects Indian economy to contract 7% in FY21: India’s rating agency, ICRA has projected the Indian economy to contract 7 percent in the current fiscal (FY21). For the next fiscal, i.e. FY22 (2021-22), ICRA expects a considerable rebound in India’s economic growth to 10.5 per cent due to higher central government spending, and a pick-up in consumption.

Note: ICRA Headquarters: Gurgaon, Haryana; ICRA Non-Executive Chairman and Director: Arun Duggal.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Biden admn names Anjali Bharadwaj for anti-corruption award: Anjali Bharadwaj, an Indian social activist working on issues of transparency and accountability, is one of the 12 “courageous” individuals named by the Biden administration for the newly-instituted International Anti-Corruption Champions Award. The 48-year-old Bhardwaj has served as an active member of the Right to Information Movement in India for over two decades. She is the founder of the SatarkNagrikSangathan (SNS), a citizens’ group which promotes transparency and accountability in government and encourage the active participation of citizens.

About the International Anti-Corruption Champions: The Biden administration has announced this International Anti-Corruption Champions Award, to recognise individuals who have worked tirelessly, often in the face of adversity, to defend transparency, combat corruption, and ensure accountability in their own countries, so as to combat such issues.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Papua New Guinea’s first Prime Minister, Michael Somare, passes away: Michael Somare, the first prime minister of Papua New Guinea has passed away. He was 84. Michael Somare was known as the “father of the nation” because he led the Pacific archipelago to independence from Australia in 1975. Somare had served as the prime minister of the country four times, between 1975 to 2011, and has been the longest-serving prime minister (17 years).

Daily GK Updates – 27th Feb, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Union Cabinet approves President’s Rule in Puducherry: The Union Cabinet has approved to dissolve the Puducherry Assembly and impose President’s rule in the Union Territory, following the resignation of the Chief Minister, V Narayanasamy, whose government lost majority power in the assembly. The decision was taken as no party claimed to form a government, following which, Lieutenant Governor TamilisaiSoundararajan had recommended President’s Rule.The approval will now be sent to the President, RamnathKovind. The legislative assembly of the UT will be dissolved once the President accords his permission. Prior to this, the President’s rule was imposed in Puducherry between March and July in 1991 when the JD-DMK coalition government fell.

 

2. India, World Bank ink project for enhancing school education in Nagaland: The Government of India, the Government of Nagaland and the World Bank signed a $68 million agreement for “Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources Project”, to enhance the governance of schools across Nagaland. The $68 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a final maturity of 14.5 years including a grace period of 5 (five) years.

About the project:The “Nagaland: Enhancing Classroom Teaching and Resources Project” will improve classroom instruction; create opportunities for the professional development of teachers, and build technology systems to provide students and teachers with more access to blended and online learning as well as allow better monitoring of policies and programmes.

As many as 1,50,000 students and 20,000 teachers in the government education system in Nagaland will benefit from the statewide reforms in schools.

Note: Chief Minister of Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio; Governor of Nagaland: R. N. Ravi.

World Bank Headquarters: Washington DC, United States; World Bank President: David Malpass; World Bank Founded: July 1944.

 

3. PM Narendra Modi to Inaugurate 2nd Edition of ‘Maritime India Summit’: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the virtual Maritime India Summit (MIS) 2021, from March 2 to 4, 2021. The ‘Maritime India Summit 2021’ is the flagship initiative of the Union Ministry of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India. FICCI is the industry partner for the summit.The theme of the event is “Exploring the potential business opportunities in the Indian Maritime sector and making Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.The objective of the Summit is to promote both domestic and international investment in the Indian Ports and Maritime sector. The summit will provide a powerful platform for international collaboration with partner countries for mutual exchange of knowledge and opportunities. Around one lakh delegates and 40 partner countries are expected to participate in the event.

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

 

4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates and lays foundation stone of various development projects in Puducherry: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was on an official visit to Puducherry on 25 February 2021, to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives in in the Union Territory.Projects whose foundation stone were laid included:

(1) 4 laning of NH45-A – 56 kmsSattanathapuram – Nagapattinam package of Villupuram to Nagapattinam project covering Karaikal District – Rs. 2426 crore.

(2) Medical College Building at Karaikal New Campus– Phase I, Karaikal District (JIPMER) –  Rs. 491 crore.

(3) Minor Port at Puducherry under Sagarmala Scheme – Rs 44 crore

(4) Synthetic Athletic Track, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, Puducherry – Rs. 7 crore.

Projects inaugurated were:

(1) Blood Centre at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry –  Rs. 28 crore.

(2) 100 bed girls’ hostel at Lawspet, Puducherry – Rs 12 crore

(3) Reconstructed Heritage Marie Building – Rs. 15 crore.

 

5. Kushinagar Airport Gets International Airport Licence from DGCA:The under-construction Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh has received the necessary clearances from aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to operate international flights. Once operational, Kushinagar airport will become the third functional international facility in the state. Currently, the two international airports functional in Uttar Pradesh are Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport at Lucknow and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Varanasi.

About Kushinagar airport:Kushinagar airport will serve as the closest international airport to several Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Lumbini, Shravasti, and Kapilvastu.The new airport will boost tourism in the region & facilitate travel on the Buddhist circuit by providing direct aviation connectivity to the city.

Note: HQ of DGCA: New Delhi; Established in Jan 1978.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. 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.

 

2. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurates ICOLD Symposium: Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has inaugurated the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) Symposium in New Delhi. The theme of the symposium is “Sustainable Development of Dams & River Basins”. More than 300 delegates from across the country and abroad will participate in the Symposium.The symposium has been organised by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), at New Delhi in Hybrid format from 24 to 27 February 2021, in collaboration with Central Water Commission (CWC), Dam Rehabilitation Improvement Project (DRIP) and National Hydrology Project (NHP).

The objective of this symposium:Provide an excellent opportunity to Indian Dam Engineering Professionals and Agencies to share their experiences, ideas and latest developments in new materials and construction technologies, advancement in investigation techniques, best engineering practices, dam safety issues etc.Offer the opportunity to network with the world-renowned dam experts from different countries and global organizations involved in Dam Construction, management and operation and maintenance for mutual benefits.

Note: International Commission on Large Dams President: Michael Rogers; International Commission on Large Dams Founded: 1928; International Commission on Large Dams Headquarters location: Paris, France.

 

3. Spacecraft Named in Honor of Black Woman ‘hidden Figures’ Mathematician: A space supply ship, Cygnus NG-15 cargo dubbed as ‘S.S. Katherine Johnson has been named in honour of Katherine Johnson, a Black NASA mathematician, who played a critical role in the success of the first U.S. crewed spaceflight, Mercury-Atlas 6 Mission. The S.S. Katherine Johnson arrived on February 22, 2021, and will be at the International Space Station until May 2021.

Cygnus NG-15 cargo:A Northrop Grumman-built Cygnus cargo ship, a space supply ship, was launched by NASA on February 20, 2021, from Virginia to carry vital supplies for astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS).The launch coincided with the 59th anniversary of America’s first orbit around the Earth. On 20 February 1962, astronaut John Glenn, became the first American to orbit Earth.The space supply ship carried more than 8,200 lbs. (3,719 kilograms) of cargo including scientific equipment, fresh food and supplies, new hardware and spacewalk equipment for the seven astronauts onboard the International Space Station.

About Katherine Johnson:Mrs Johnson was a pioneering mathematician known for her hand-written calculations. She helped astronaut John Glenn, to become the first American to orbit Earth, after personally verifying his Mercury missions’ orbital trajectory calculations. Her contributions were also featured in the Oscar-nominated film Hidden Figures.

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

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ICICI Bank launches ‘Namma Chennai Smart Card’: ICICI Bank has announced the launch of a Common Payment Card System (CPCS) in partnership with the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and Chennai Smart City Limited (CSCL) to provide citizens with a one-stop solution for making various kind of payments. The prepaid card also facilitates retail payments within Chennai as well as in retail stores and e-commerce websites across the country. This will offer a common payment card platform to residents for making payments for various services within the city.

About the Namma Chennai Smart Card:The Namma Chennai Smart Card has various features, which residents can manage seamlessly online on a dedicated customer portal*. These include features like card block/unblock, activation, pin-reset, etc.Additionally, in the coming days, residents will also be able to reload the card digitally through UPI on the customer portal or the iSmart City app. Customers will also get exciting discount offers on the card around the year, which will be promoted in the coming days on the Bank’s website.

Users also have the option to manage the card online through a dedicated customer portal or the iSmart City app.

Note: ICICI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; ICICI Bank MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi; ICICI Bank Tagline: Hum Hai Na, KhayalApka.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. DadasahebPhalke International Film Festival Awards 2021 announced: The prestigious DadasahebPhalke International Film Festival awards 2021 were announced, to honour the best in Indian cinema, television, music, and OTT. Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput was posthumously awarded ‘Critics Best Actor’ for his performance in DilBechara.The winner of the Award for 2021 are as follows:

Best Actor (Female): DeepikaPadukone, Chhapaak

Best Actor (Male): Akshay Kumar, Laxmii

Critic’s Best Actress: Kiara Advani, Guilty

Critic’s Best Actor: Late Sushant Singh Rajput, DilBechara

Best Film: Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior

Best International Feature Film: Parasite Most Versatile Actor – Kay Kay Menon

Best Director: Anurag Basu, Ludo

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Vikrant Massey, Chhapaak

Best Actress in Supporting Role: Radhika Madan, Angrezi Medium

Best Actor in Comic Role: KunalKemmu, Lootcase

Best Actor (Web Series): Bobby Deol, Aashram

Best Actress (Web Series): Sushmita Sen, Aarya

Best Web Series: Scam (1992)

Album of the Year: Titliyaan

Best Television Series: KundaliBhagya

Photographer of the Year: DabooRatnani

Style Diva of the Year: Divya Khosla Kumar

Best Actress in Television Series: SurbhiChandna

Best Actor in Television Series: DheerajDhoopar

Performer of the Year: Nora Fatehi

Outstanding Contribution to Film Industry: Dharmendra

Outstanding Contribution to Literature in Indian Cinema: Chetan Bhagat