Daily GK Update- 16th, May 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM KisanSamman Nidhi: Eighth Instalment released: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently released the eighth instalment of Prime Minister KisanSamman Nidhi. The Government of India transfers Rs 6,000 to the account of small and marginal farmers. These funds are transferred in three instalments. The first instalment of Rs 2,000 is made between April and June. The second Instalment is made between August and November. The third instalment is made between December and March.

About PMKSN: The scheme was begun in 2018. The scheme provides financial support to farmers who hold land ownership up to two hectares. Since its inception, the GoI has provided Rs 75,000 crores. It aims to cover 125 million farmers irrespective of their land size.

 

2. Manisha Kapoor joins executive committee of ICAS: Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) announced that its general secretary Manisha Kapoor has been appointed to the executive committee of the International Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (ICAS). Until April, ASCI served on the executive committee as a member for a two-year term. Now, Kapoor will play a leadership role on the committee till 2023. She will be one of the four global vice-presidents on the executive committee.

In her role as part of the ICAS leadership team, she will promote advertising self-regulation as an optimal mechanism for consumer protection, strengthen ICAS as a global alliance and facilitate knowledge sharing among SROs to establish best practices and monitor global trends in advertising ecosystem that impact self-regulation. She will also work closely with established and emerging digital platforms to make the online space more transparent and fair for consumers.

Note: President of ICAS: Guy Parker; ICAS Headquarters: Brussels Capital, Belgium;

Advertising Standards Council of India Founded: 1985; Advertising Standards Council of India Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

3. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Declares Malerkotla as 23rd District: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has declared Malerkotla as the 23rd district of the state on May 14, 2021, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Malerkotla is a Muslim-dominated area and has been carved out of the Sangrur district of the state. The government had promised that Malerkotla will be declared a district soon in 2017.

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

 

4. Chhattisgarh develops CGTeeka web portal for systematic vaccination of people: Making Covid vaccination registration quick, convenient and hassle-free, the Chhattisgarh government has developed a web portal ‘CGTeeka’ for systematic vaccination of people in the age group 18-44 years. This web portal, developed by CHiPS, was launched by Chief Minister BhupeshBaghel. CGTeeka web portal has been developed on the basis of social and geographical conditions in the state. This initiative of the government would save the people from waiting in long queues.

 

5. National Dengue Day: 16th May: In India, the National Dengue Day is observed every year on 16 May. The day is an initiative by the Ministry of Healthy and Family Welfare, to raise awareness about dengue and its preventive measures, and preparedness for control of the vector-borne disease before the transmission season begins.

About the Dengue: Dengue is spread through the bite of the female mosquito (Aedesaegypti). Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease that is caused by the dengue virus of four distinct serotypes — DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4. Dengue, which is spread by the Aedesalbopictus species of mosquitos, can lead to flu-like illness such as severe muscle pain and nausea and can lead to death if not cured properly.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. KP Sharma Oli Re-appointed as Prime Minister of Nepal: In Nepal, KP Sharma Oli was re-appointed as the Prime Minister of the country by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari. Oli was administered the oath of office by the President on May 14, 2021. Now, he must prove that he has majority support in the House within 30 days. This will be his third stint as Prime Minister. He was first appointed as PM from 12 October 2015 to 4 August 2016, and then again from 15 February 2018 to 13 May 2021. Key highlights:

(1) The decision to re-appoint Oli was taken after none of the opposition party could secure majority seats in the House to form a new government or apply for it in the provided time frame (by 9 pm on 13 May 2021).

(2) As a result, Oli, who is the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-UML), the largest party in the House of Representatives, was appointed for Prime Minister, as per the provision of 76(3) of the Constitution of Nepal.

(3) It must be noted that, on 10 May 2021, Oli failed to obtain a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, gaining only 93 of the total 232 votes cast, which was 43 votes short of reaching the 136-vote majority required to win the confidence vote. As a result, Oli was automatically relieved from his post.

 

2. China’s First Mars Rover ‘ZhuRong’ Successfully Lands on Mars: China successfully achieved the feat of landing its first Mars Rover ‘Zhu Rong’ on the red planet, on May 15, 2021, becoming the only second nation to do so. Till date, only the United States has successfully landed its rover on Mars. All other countries that have tried have either crashed or lost contact soon after reaching the surface.

The vehicle used a combination of a protective capsule, a parachute & a rocket platform to make the descent. Zhurong, which means God of Fire, was carried to Mars on the Tianwen-1 orbiter. China’s Mars rover, called Zhurong after an ancient fire god in Chinese mythology, will part ways with the lander by driving down a foldable ramp. Once it has deployed, the rover is expected to spend at least 90 Mars days.

Note: China National Space Administration Founded: 22 April 1993; China National Space Administration Administrator: Zhang Kejian; China National Space Administration Headquarters: Haidian District, Beijing, China.

 

3. 4th India-Swiss Financial Dialogue held virtually: The fourth India-Swiss Financial Dialogue was held here virtually through video conferencing. Ajay Seth, Secretary Economic Affairs led the Indian delegation. The delegation from the Swiss side was led by Daniela Stoffel, State Secretary, and State Secretariat for International Finance, Switzerland.About the Dialogue:

(1) The dialogue, inter-alia, covered sharing of experiences by both countries for collaboration on various aspects including investments, International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA), National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), FinTech, sustainable finance and cross border financial services.

(2) Further, matters relating to G20, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the economy were discussed along with infrastructure financing, read the release.

Note: Switzerland Currency: Swiss franc; Switzerland Capital: Bern; President of Switzerland: Guy Parmelin

 

4. International Day of Light: 16th May: The International Day of Light (IDL) is celebrated on 16 May each year to mark the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman. The day celebrates the role that light plays in science, culture and art, education, and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications, and energy to help achieve the goals of UNESCO – ‘education, equality, and peace. The message of 2021 International Day of Light is “Trust Science”. The celebration of the International Day of Light will enable various sectors of society worldwide to get indulge in activities that display how science, technology, art and culture can help in achieving the goals of UNESCO i.e. building the foundation for peaceful societies.

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

 

5. International Day of Living Together in Peace: 16th May: The International Day of Living Together in Peace is held on 16th May every year since 2018. The UN General Assembly, declared 16 May the International Day of Living Together in Peace, as a means of regularly mobilizing the efforts of the international community to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding and solidarity. The Day aims to uphold the desire to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony.

History of the day: The United Nations General Assembly decided to celebrate 16th May as the International Day of Living Together in Peace on 8th December 2017.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Ramesh Powar appointed Head Coach of Indian Women’s Cricket team: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the appointment of Ramesh Powar as the Head Coach of Team India (Senior Women). The three-member Cricket Advisory Committee comprising SulakshanaNaik, Madan Lal and RudraPratap Singh interviewed the applicants and unanimously agreed on Powar’s candidature. A former international, Powar played 2 Tests and 31 ODIs for India.

Note: Secretary of BCCI: Jay Shah; President of BCCI: SouravGanguly; Headquarters of BCCI: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Founded: December 1928.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Geojit sign an ink pact with PNB to offer three-in-one account: Geojit Financial Services has entered into an agreement with Punjab National Bank to provide a three-in-one account to the latter’s customers. The new service gives customers who have a savings account with PNB, a PNB Demat account and a Geojit trading account. Saving and Demat accounts can be opened online in PNB with a hassle-free approach.About the 3-in-1 account:

(1) The 3-in-1 account makes it easier for PNB customers to transfer funds in real-time via the payment gateway facility from their savings accounts to meet their investment needs.

(2) The trading account, which can be opened online in 15 minutes, provides a seamless interface to invest online in the avenues offered by Geojit.

(3) PNB clients can now open a Geojit Trading account online and start investing online in equity as well as Geojit’sSmartfolios product. This will help clients diversify their investments and manage them all through one account.

Note: Punjab National Bank Headquarters: New Delhi; Punjab National Bank MD and CEO: S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao; Punjab National Bank Founded: 19 May 1894, Lahore, Pakistan.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Google Pay users in US can now transfer money to India, Singapore: Alphabet Inc’s Google has launched international money transfer partnerships with remittances firms Wise and Western Union Co for users of its U.S. payments app. Google Pay users in the United States can now transfer money to app customers in India and Singapore, with plans to expand to the 80 countries available via Wise, and 200 via Western Union by the end of the year.

About the partnership:

(1) The company has partnered with Western Union and Wise, both of which have integrated their services into Google Play.

(2) When Google Pay users in the U.S. attempt to send money to someone in India or Singapore, they will be informed about the exact amount that the recipient will receive.

(3) From within the Google Pay app, users also get to choose which payments provider Wise or Western Union, they wish to use and how long it would take for the recipient to receive the money.

Note: Google CEO: SundarPichai; Google Founded: 4 September 1998, California, United States; Google Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin.

 

2. Retail inflation eases to 4.29% in April: The country’s retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), eased to 4.29 per cent in the month of April. Separately, India’s factory output, measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), witnessed a growth of 22.4 per cent in March, two separate data released by the Ministry of Statistics &Programme Implementation (MoSPI). The retail inflation during the month of March was at 5.52 per cent. This is the fifth consecutive month that the CPI data has come within the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) upper margin of 6 per cent. The government has asked the central bank to maintain retail inflation at 4 per cent with a margin of 2 per cent on either side for a five-year period ending March 2026.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former CBI officer K Ragothaman passes away: Former CBI officer K Ragothaman has passed away. He was the chief investigation officer of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. He was awarded the Police Medal in 1988 and President Medal in 1994. Ragothaman has authored many books including Conspiracy to Kill Rajiv Gandhi, Third Degree Crime Investigation Management and Crime and the Criminal. He joined the CBI in 1968 as a sub-inspector of police. 

Daily GK Update- 15th, May 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Delhi Police launched vehicle helpline ‘COVI Van’ for senior citizens: Delhi Police has launched a helpline number for senior citizens who are struggling with their essential needs amid Covid-19. South District Police of the national capital has launched a COVI Van Helpline (012- 26241077) for senior citizens in the neighbourhood amid the coronavirus situation here.

About the COVI Van:

(1) The information of commencement of COVI Van has been disseminated in the Greater Kailash -1 area through beat officers and Residents Welfare Association (RWA).

(2) All the precautions including – sanitisation, gloves, masks and social distancing – will be taken while and after every visit.

(3) After receiving any call from COVI Van, deployed police official on COVI Van with a beat officer will go to the house of senior citizens and help them in getting their needs, including any essential item, vaccination and medicines.

Note: Chief Minister of Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal; Lieutenant Governor of Delhi: Anil Baijal.

 

2. PESB appoints Arun Kumar Singh as next CMD of BPCL: The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), the government’s head-hunter, has picked Arun Kumar Singh as the chairman and managing director of state-run oil refining and marketing firm Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL). Arun Kumar Singh is currently director, marketing at BPCL and holding additional charge of Director, Refineries. His selection will have to be ratified by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Note: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd Headquarters: Mumbai; Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd Founded: 1952.

 

3. Rs 22,215 crore and Rs 12,384 crore transferred directly into farmers’ accounts in Punjab and Haryana respectively against sale of their Wheat crop: The Centre has said that nearly Rs 22,215 crore in Punjab and Rs 12,384 crore in Haryana have been transferred directly into farmers’ accounts so far against sale of their Wheat crop. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in a statement said, in the ongoing Rabi Marketing Season 2021-22, the Government of India is continuing to procure Rabi crops at MSP from farmers as per existing Price Support Scheme. It said, wheat procurement is going on smoothly in the procuring States and Union Territories of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and other States. So far over 341.77 Lakh Metric Tonnes of wheat have been procured against 252.50 Lakh Metric Tonnes during the corresponding period of last year.

 

4. Union Cabinet approves Production-Linked Incentive Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage: The Union Cabinet has approved the Production-Linked Incentive Scheme for the Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage with an outlay of 18 thousand 100 crore rupees. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, the move aims to achieve a manufacturing capacity of 50 GigaWatt Hour of ACC and five Giga Watt Hour of Niche ACC with an outlay of 18 thousand 100 crore rupees. It will also give a big push to electric mobility, benefiting three-wheelers, four-wheelers and heavy vehicles.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. India Chairs 1st BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting Virtually: The first BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting was held in 2021 in virtual format. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of India, which has assumed the BRICS Presidency in 2021. The meeting was chaired by Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Labour and Employment.

Key highlights of the meeting:

(1) The main issues discussed during the meeting were: Promoting Social Security Agreements amongst BRICS Nations, Formalization of labour markets, Participation of women in the labour force and Gig and platform workers – Role in the labour market.

(2) Apart from the BRICS nation, the representatives of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Social Security Agency (ISSA) also attended the meeting.

Note: Representatives of BRICS member nations include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

 

2. Martin Griffiths appointed new UN Humanitarian Chief: Veteran British diplomat Martin Griffiths has been appointed as the new Chief at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), for a period of five years. Griffiths will replace Mark Lowcock as the new Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC) of OCHA. He is currently serving as the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen.

About the OCHA: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) aims to strengthen the international response to complex emergencies and natural disasters. The headquarters of OCHA is based in two locations which are New York and Geneva.

Note: OCHA Founded: 19 December 1991; OCHA Headquarters: New York, United States and İstanbul, Turkey.

 

3. International Day of Families: 15th May: The International Day of Families is observed every year on 15 May to reflect the importance that the international community attaches to families. This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. The theme of 2021 is “Families and New Technologies”.

History of the day: In 1993, the UN General Assembly decided in a resolution that 15 May of every year should be observed as The International Day of Families.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Manchester City crowned 2020-21 Premier League champions: Manchester City has crowned Premier League champions for the third time in four seasons after Manchester United crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Leicester. United started the century dominating English football, now City is the force with five titles in 10 seasons and the biggest spenders on transfers and salaries. City has now won three Premier League titles and eight major trophies under Guardiola, who last year signed a new two-year contract to remain at the club until 2023.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI grants PPI authorisation to Eroute Technologies: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted authorisation to Eroute Technologies to operate as a prepaid payment instruments (PPI) company. The RBI issued authorisation to Eroute Technologies Pvt Ltd with perpetual validity to commence issuance and operations of semi-closed pre-paid instruments in the country. The company aims to serve the underserved segments that comprise almost 680 million people, by creating user-friendly payment solutions addressing the specific needs of various consumer segments of our society.

About the PPIs: PPIs are instruments that facilitate the purchase of goods and services, including financial services, remittances, and funds transfers, against the value stored in such instruments.

Note: Eroute Technologies MD & CEO: Sanjeev Pandey; Eroute Technologies Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

 

2. Asian Development Bank launches tax hub to enhance international tax cooperation: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a hub to create an open and inclusive platform to promote strategic policy dialogue, improve knowledge sharing and strengthen coordination on tax policy and administration among ADB members and development partners. The Asia Pacific Tax Hub will maximise regional and international resources to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation and international tax cooperation in ADB’s developing member countries (DMCs).

 

3. IIT Madras, MPFI collaborate to boost digital money transactions in India: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras researchers said that they will collaborate with members of the Mobile Payment Forum of India (MPFI) to develop voice-based solutions in multiple vernacular languages to enable larger adoption of digital money transactions in the country. At present, there are more than 100 million active Unified Payments Interface (UPI) users every month in India, as per the Indian government’s statistics. These initiatives are being taken up by MPFI towards bringing 500 million active users by 2025.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. United Nations: India Projected to Grow At 10.1% In 2022: The United Nations has projected that the Indian economy would grow at 10.1 per cent in the calendar year 2022, nearly double the 5.9 per cent growth forecast for the country in the January report. But cautioned that the growth outlook of 2021 was “highly fragile” as the country was the “new hotbed of the pandemic.” The mid-year update said that India will register a 7.5-per cent growth rate in the calendar year 2021, after an estimated contraction of 6.8 per cent in 2020.

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

 

2. HDFC Bank projects India’s GDP growth for FY22 at 10%: HDFC Bank has cut India’s growth projection to 10 per cent from 11.5 per cent for the current financial year, citing the adverse effect of the second Covid-19 wave. In a worst-case scenario of COVID-19, the bank has predicted the GDP rate to be at 8%.

Note: Headquarters of HDFC Bank: Mumbai, Maharashtra; MD and CEO of HDFC Bank: SashidharJagdishan; The tagline of HDFC Bank: We understand your world.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Shakuntala Hark Singh of Indian origin receives World Food Award 2021: Indian-origin global nutritionist, DrShakuntala Hark Singh Thilstad has received the “World Food Award” of the year 2021. She developed a holistic and nutritionally sensitive approach to seafood and food systems and has received an award for his research. The award is also known as the Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture. Every year, the committee selects a person who will be awarded the $ 250,000 title and prize money. The World Food Award stated on its website that research conducted by DrShakuntala on the small fish species of Bangladesh will prove helpful in developing a nutritionally sensitive approach to the seafood system at all levels. With this help, millions of poor people living in Asia and Africa will get a very nutritious diet.

Note: World Food Programme Headquarters: Rome, Italy; World Food Programme Founded: 1961.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Asian Games gold medallist footballer Fortunato Franco passes away: Former India international footballer Fortunato Franco breathed his last at the age of 84 in Goa. The midfielder was an integral part of the Indian football team which won the Gold medal at the 1962 Asian Games. He made 26 appearances for India, including the 1962 Asian Cup, where India finished runners-up, and silver and bronze-winning medal-winning sides of 1964 and 1965 Merdeka Cup.

 

2. SahityaAkademi Award Winning Journalist HomenBorgohain passes away: Noted Assamese litterateur and journalist, HomenBorgohain has passed away. He was associated with several newspapers and was most recently working as the editor in chief of Assamese daily NiyomiyaBarta until his death. He was also the President of Assam Sahitya Sabha. He was awarded SahityaAkademi Award in 1978 for the Assamese language for his novel ‘Pita Putra’. He has written several novels, short stories and poetry.

 

3. Arjuna-winning veteran paddler Chandrasekar passes away: Three-time National table tennis champion and former International paddler V. Chandrasekar passed away due to COVID-related complications. He was the current president of Tamizhaga Table Tennis Association (TTTA). The 63-year-old Chandrasekar, a 1982 Arjuna Award winner. Chandra’s autobiography with Seetha Srikanth, My fightback from Death’s Door published in 2006. 

Daily GK Update- 14th, May 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Puducherry becomes ‘HarGhar Jal’ UT: Puducherry has achieved the target of 100% piped water connection in rural areas under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Earlier, Goa, Telangana and Andaman & Nicobar Islands have provided tap water supply to every rural home under Jal Jeevan Mission. So, Puducherry is the fourth State/UT to provide assured tap water supply to every rural home under Jal Jeevan Mission. Jal Jeevan Mission is being implemented in partnership with States/ UTs to provide safe tap water to every rural home by 2024. The State of Punjab and the UTs of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu have covered over 75% of rural homes with assured tap water supply.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): It is a flagship programme of the Union Government. It was announced in August 2019. It aims to provide a tap water connection to every rural household of the country by 2024.

Note:  Chief Minister of Puducherry: N Rangasamy.

 

2. Padmakumar Nair Appointed As CEO of National Asset Reconstruction Company:Padmakumar M Nair has been appointed as the CEO of the proposed National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd. Presently Padmakumar is the Chief General Manager of Stressed Assets Resolution Group at SBI.

About the National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd:

(1) National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd. is a proposed bad bank for taking over stressed assets of lenders and was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the budget for 2021-22 to consolidate and take over existing stressed assets of lenders and undertake their resolution.

(2) Bad bank refers to a financial institution that takes over the bad assets of lenders and undertakes resolution.

(3) National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) will pay up to 15 per cent of the agreed value for the loans in cash and the remaining 85 per cent would be government-guaranteed security receipts.

 

3. AstraZeneca Pledges $250,000 as Humanitarian Aid to Covid-Ravaged India: Drug major AstraZeneca said it has pledged $250,000 (over Rs 1.8 crore) in humanitarian aid to India to support relief activities amid the second wave of COVID-19 sweeping across the country. The aid to India is part of the USD 1 million which the British-Swedish multinational has earmarked for relief initiatives across communities which have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

 

4. Twitter Donates USD 15 Mn for Covid-19 Relief in India: Microblogging giant Twitter has donated USD 15 million to help address the Covid-19 crisis in India which is battling the unprecedented second wave of the deadly pandemic. The amount has been donated to three non-governmental organisations Care, Aid India and Sewa International USA. While CARE has been given USD 10 million, Aid India and Sewa International USA have received USD 2.5 million each. This grant will support the procurement of lifesaving equipment such as oxygen concentrators, ventilators, BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) and CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines as part of Sewa International’s Help India Defeat COVID-19′ campaign.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Hostilities between Israel and Hamas escalated after the air strikes: The Israeli military has bombarded rockets in different areas in Gaza. It is the most intense airstrikes in Gaza since 2014. Hamas had red hundreds of rockets towards Israel on Monday. After that, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Gaza. The Gaza-based Palestinian group, Hamas, had red rockets towards Israel in protest of the clash between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Al-Aqsa Mosque is located in Jerusalem. It is the third holiest place for Muslims.

About the Hamas: It was founded in 1987. It is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist organization. It is active in the West Bank and Gaza Strip region of the Palestine. It opposes the secular approach of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Note: Israel Capital: Jerusalem; Currency: Israeli shekel; Prime Minister of Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu

 

2. India participates in the 3rd Arctic Science Ministerial: India participated in the 3rd Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM3) – the global platform for discussing research and cooperation in the Arctic region. The theme for this year is ‘Knowledge for a Sustainable Arctic’. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Science and Technology, Health and Family Welfare, and Earth Sciences, shared India’s vision and long-term plans for research, work, and cooperation in the Arctic region with the stakeholders.

The first two meetings—ASM1 and ASM2—were held in the USA in 2016 and Germany in 2018, respectively. ASM3, jointly organised by Iceland and Japan, is the first Ministerial meeting being held in Asia. The meeting is designed to provide opportunities to various stakeholders, including academia, indigenous communities, governments and policymakers, to enhance collective understanding of the Arctic region, emphasize and engage in constant monitoring, and strengthen observations.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling to retire after World Test Championship: New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling has announced he would be retiring from international cricket after the three Tests, including the World Test Championship final against India, on their upcoming England tour. Watling has played 73 Tests, 28 ODIs and 5 T20Is for the BlackCaps. Watling became just the 9th wicketkeeper to hit a double hundred and the first to hit a double against England when he did so in Bay Oval in 2019. Watling has been involved in two 350-plus stands, one with Brendon McCullum in 2014 against India and the other with Kane Williamson the following year.

Note: Prime minister of New Zealand: JacindaArdern; Capital of New Zealand: Wellington; Currency of New Zealand: New Zealand dollar.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Jana Small Finance Bank launches ‘I choose my number’ feature: Jana Small Finance Bank has announced the launch of the “I choose my number” feature for all its customers across India. This new feature gives the bank’s existing and new customers the option to select their favourite numbers as their savings or current account number.

About this new feature: The bank will allow its customers to choose their favourite numbers as the last 10 digits of their bank account, savings or current. The allocation of the account number chosen by the customer will be subject to the availability of the requested number. This added feature will help customers relate and connect to the bank more closely as they choose auspicious or lucky numbers.

Note: The tagline of Jana Small Finance Bank: ‘Paise Ki Kadar’; MD and CEO of Jana Small Finance Bank: Ajay Kanwal; Jana Small Finance Bank Founded: 24 July 2006; Jana Small Finance Bank Headquarters Location: Bengaluru.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Moody’s Projects India’s GDP Forecast for FY22 to 9.3%: The rating agency Moody’s has cut the gross domestic product (GDP) forecast of India for FY22 (01 April 2021-31 March 2022) to 9.3 per cent. Earlier this rate was projected at 13.7 per cent.  The downward revision in GDP estimates is due to the second wave of Covid infections across the country, which have triggered localised lockdowns and mobility curbs.

 

2. Nomura Revises GDP Growth Estimate of India in FY22 to 10.8%: Nomura has cut the GDP growth estimate of India for the current 2021-22 fiscal (FY22) to 10.8 per cent from the earlier projection of 12.6 per cent. The cut in the GDP rate is due to the impact of the second wave-induced lockdowns.

Note: Nomura is a Japanese brokerage having its headquarter in Tokyo.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. IREDA conferred with Green Urja Award: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd (IREDA) has been conferred with the “Green Urja Award” for being the Leading Public Institution in the Financing Institution for Renewable Energy this year by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC). IREDA gets the award for the pivotal and developmental role it plays in Green Energy Financing. Despite the pandemic time, IREDA has ended the year 2020-21 ended on a strong note and disbursed the second-highest (from the date of inception) amount of loan amounting to Rs. 8827 crore, which indicates that IREDA has the ability to translate this problem into an opportunity.

About the award: The award recognises our immense contribution to the development of the Renewable Energy Sector in line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of AtmaNirbhar Bharat.

Note: IREDA Headquarters location: New Delhi; IREDA Founded: 11 March 1987.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian and Indonesian navies conduct exercise in Arabian Sea: The Indian and Indonesian Navies conducted Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in the southern Arabian Sea with a focus on further improving their interoperability. The exercise was aimed at improving interoperability and understanding between both the friendly navies. From the Indian Navy, INS Sharda, an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) with a Chetak helicopter participated in the exercise. From the Indonesian Navy, KRI Sultan Hasanudin, a 90m Corvette took part in the exercise.

About the PASSEX:PASSEXes are regularly conducted by IN with units of Friendly Foreign Countries. The last PASSEX between IN and the Indonesian Navy was conducted on 13 Mar 21 between INS Kalpeni, IN Dornier and KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda.

Note: Indonesia President: Joko Widodo; Indonesia Capital: Jakarta; Indonesia Currency: Indonesian Rupiah;

Chief of Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral Karambir Singh; Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Navy): New Delhi.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Freedom fighter Anup Bhattacharya passes away: Freedom fighter and Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra musician, Anup Bhattacharya passed away. During the liberation war of Bangladesh, he worked as the composer and music director at Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. He is also a founder member of the RabindraSangeetShilpiSangstha. His ever-present liberation songs including “Teer Hara EiDheu-erSagor,” “RoktoDiyeNaamLikhhechhi,” “PurboDigonteSurjoUtheche,” and “NongorToloTolo” inspired the liberation war fighters during 1971. Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was the medium for radio broadcasting in 1971. 

Daily GK Update- 13th, May 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ISRO develops 3 cost-effective ventilators, oxygen concentrator: The Indian Space Research Organisation’sVikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), has developed three different types of ventilators and an oxygen concentrator at a time when a shortage of this critical medical equipment resulted in the deaths of many Covid-19 patients across the country. Based on designs, features and specifications, we have named them, Prana, VaU and Svasta. All three are user-friendly, fully automated and with touch-screen specifications, meeting all safety standards.Technology transfer will be done for the commercial production of these three ventilators and the one oxygen concentrator by this month itself. Likely to be priced around ₹1 lakh, the ventilators developed by the ISRO were cost-effective and easy to handle compared to the mini conventional ventilators that are currently priced around ₹5 lakh.

About the Prana, VaU, Svasta and Shwaas:

(1) Prana is meant to deliver respiratory gas to the patient by automated compression of an Ambu bag, Svasta is designed to work without electric power, and the VaU is a low-cost ventilator equivalent to commercially available high-end ventilators.

(2) The VSSC has also developed a portable medical oxygen concentrator called Shwaas.  It is capable of supplying 10 litres of enriched oxygen per minute, adequate for two patients at a time.

(3) It enhances the oxygen gas content by selectively separating the nitrogen gas from ambient air through Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) which is commonly used for the production of oxygen from the air.

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

 

2. Haryana Police comes up with “COVID-19 Hospital Transport Service” for free transportation of needy infected patients: The Haryana Police has come up with “COVID-19 Hospital Transport Service” (COV-HOTS) for free transportation of needy infected patients from their homes to hospitals or nursing homes and back. The service is free and exclusively meant for COVID patients. A total of 440 vehicles are being provided for this service and every police district would get 20 SUVs for this purpose. These vehicles are being provided after the instances of either shortage of ambulances or overcharging by private ambulance service providers came to the notice of the police.

 

3. Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan flags off 1st supply of UCO based Biodiesel blended Diesel: Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remotely flagged off the first supply of UCO, Used Cooking Oil based Biodiesel blended Diesel from Indian Oil’s Tikrikalan Terminal, Delhi. Centre had initiated Expressions of Interest for “Procurement of Bio-diesel produced from Used Cooking Oil” on the occasion of World Biofuel Day on 10th August 2019.Such “Expressions of Interest” are being periodically released by Oil Marketing Companies. This initiative will garner substantial economic benefits for the nation by shoring up indigenous Biodiesel supply, reducing import dependence, and generating rural employment.

 

4. India, EIB sign finance contract for second tranche of 150 mn Euro for Pune Metro Rail: The Government of India and European Investment Bank (EIB) signed the finance contract for second tranche of 150 million Euro for Pune Metro Rail project through a virtual signing ceremony. The project aims to provide efficient, safe, economic and pollution-free Mass Rapid Transit System in densely populated area in the city of Pune served with heterogeneous traffic options.The financing from EIB will help to fund construction and operation of Corridor 1: PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation to Swargate and Corridor 2: Vanaz to Ramvadi, totaling about 31.25 kilometer and purchase of a related fleet of metro cars. Further, the project will serve large population which consisting working class in providing urban mobility for their livelihood. The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd is the implementing agency for this project.

 

5. MP govt launches new COVID-19 treatment scheme to help people: The Madhya Pradesh government announced the launch of the ‘Mukhyamantri COVID Upchar Yojana’ amid a rise in cases in the state. The scheme has been divided into three sections. ‘Under the first section, hospitals run by state medical colleges, district and civil hospitals and community health centres will give free treatment to COVID-19 patients. In the second section, 20 per cent ICU/HDU and isolation beds will be reserved in hospitals run by private medical colleges to give free treatment,’. In the third section of the scheme, 20 per cent beds will be reserved for free treatment in hospitals accredited under Ayushman scheme for economically weaker sections of the society holding Ayushman cards.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. K P Sharma Oli loses vote of confidence in House of Representatives: Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has lost the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives. K P Sharma Oli got 93 votes in his favour while 124 voted against him. In the 275-member House of Representatives, he required at least 136 Votes to win the trust vote in the lower of the House of Representatives. After the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) withdrew its support from the government, PM Oli faced a vote of confidence. In January, K P Sharma Oli was expelled from the primary membership of the Nepal Communist Party for his decision to dissolve the Parliament.

Note: Nepal capital: Kathmandu; Currency: Nepalese Rupees; President of Nepal: Bidya Devi Bhandari.

 

2. Mayflower 400: World’s First Unmanned Vessel to Navigate across Atlantic: World’s First Unmanned Vessel named “Mayflower 400” is set to Navigate Across the Atlantic. It has been built by the marine research organization ProMare in collaboration with IBM. It will begin its transatlantic voyage on May 15, 2021, to track aquatic mammals, analyze plastic in the water, and study marine pollution.

About the Mayflower 400:

(1) Mayflower 400 is a completely autonomous ship. It is a 15-m-long trimaran that weighs 9 tons. It is powered by Artificial Intelligence and the Sun’s energy via solar panels.

(2) ProMare invested $1 million along with global contributions in the form of technology from India, the United States, and Switzerland to build the ship.

(3) The ship, equipped with a smart captain, six high-tech cameras and radars, has been trained with audio data to avoid collisions, correct its course, detect marine animals, and gather information of the population of the aquatic animals.

(4) The ship can also listen to whales with a self-activating hydrophone.

(5) Currently, the ship is trained to handle 50 meters high waves.

(6) Mayflower 400 autonomous ship provides an edge to the scientists in exploring the rough seas as the ship will be unmanned.

Note: IBM Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Arvind Krishna; IBM Headquarters: Armonk, USA.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India 2nd in ICC T20 rankings, drop to 3rd in ODI chart after annual update: India retained the second place in the ICC Twenty20 team rankings but dropped a rung to third in the ODI chart following the annual update carried out. India are trailing top-ranked England (277) by five rating points in the T20 team rankings. New Zealand have also gained in the annual T20I update, moving up from fifth to third after series wins over the West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Bangladesh. Australia have moved the other way, down from third to fifth. In the annual update of the ODI Team rankings, India dropped a place to third behind Australia and new table toppers New Zealand. The Kiwis have replaced reigning world champions England as the number one ranked side in the ODI rankings.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bajaj Finserv launches ‘SavdhanRahein, Safe Rahein’, a public awareness campaign on financial fraud risks: Bajaj Finserv launches ‘SavdhanRahein, Safe Rahein’, across digital and social media platforms, to educate customers and public at large on financial fraud risks and how to stay protected. Through this awareness initiative, Bajaj Finserv aims to convey a very important message to its customers and prospects to strictly avoid making any refundable advance payments in the name of loan processing fee, bank charges, GST, verifications etc., and verifying all loan offers at the Bajaj Finance’s official website, only.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. With Rs 55,500 crore m-cap, SAIL enters 100 most-valued Indian firms’ club: Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) regained market capitalisation (m-cap) of Rs 50,000 crore, after its stock climbed over 80 per cent in the past one and half month, on expectations of strong earnings in March quarter (Q4FY21) and a healthy outlook going forward. The state-owned steel major also entered into the league of top 100 most valued companies in terms of market capitalisation. SAIL stood at 78th position in the overall m-cap ranking with a market cap of Rs 55,529 crore, BSE data shows.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. KVG Bank bags PFRDA awards: Karnataka VikasGrameen Bank (KVGB), a regional rural bank headquartered in Dharwad, has bagged five awards (Lead to Leap, APY Makers of Excellence, Game Changers, Leadership Capital and Amazing Achievers) under various campaigns held for enrolment of Atal Pension Yojana (APY) from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). The bank is playing a pivotal role in implementation of social security schemes such as Atal Pension Yojana (APY), Prime Minister Jeevan Jyothi Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), and Prime Minister Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Kerala’s Oldest Serving MLA KR GouriAmma Passes Away at 102: The senior-most communist leader of Kerala, KR GouriAmma, who was the first Revenue Minister in the first communist ministry of the state in 1957, has passed away due to age-related ailments. She was 102. She was the second longest-serving MLA in Kerala Legislative Assembly and also the last surviving member of the first Kerala government. After the split of the Communist Party in 1964, K. R. Gouri joined the newly formed Communist Party of India (Marxist). She formed and headed the political party JanathipathiyaSamrakshanaSamithy (JSS) in 1994 after her ouster from CPI (M). She was the driving force behind the historic Land Reforms Bill in Kerala. She had won 13 assembly elections, out of the total 17 contested.