Daily GK Update- 14th Aug, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Chhattisgarh becomes 1st state to recognise Forest Resource Rights in Urban Region: Chhattisgarh became the first state to recognise Community Forest Resource Rights in an urban area, with the state government recognising the rights of residents of Dhamtari district over 4,127 hectares of forests. Community resource rights over 5,544 hectares of forest within the core area of the tiger reserve area were also recognised. Under Forest Rights Act, 2006, Community Forest Resource Right gives gram sabhas the right to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any forest resources used by the entire community, or village.

Baghel also unveiled an “atlas” of tribal communities living in Chhattisgarh, and a special five-part teaching module on the all-around development of tribal areas to be used to train public representatives and members of the Panchayati Raj system. Tribals account for more than 31 per cent of Chhattisgarh’s population.

Note: CM of Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel; Governor of Chhattisgarh: Anusuiya Uikey.

 

2. PM Modi launches Ujjwala 2.0 to provide free LPG connections: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Ujjwala 2.0, the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), via videoconferencing. After the formal launch, PM Modi distributed free LPG gas connections to 10 women virtually, at the event organised at Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath handed over the documents to the women on behalf of the PM Modi. Under Ujjwala 2.0, an additional one crore LPG connection will be provided to low-income families who could not be covered under the first phase of PMUY.

 

3. PM Modi addresses Investor Summit in Gujarat virtually and launches ‘Vehicle Scrappage Policy’: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi attended and addressed the Investor Summit in Gujarat via video conference on August 13, 2021, organised for setting up vehicle scrapping infrastructure in Ahmedabad. As a part of the Summit, PM Modi launched the National Automobile Scrappage Policy. The new policy invites investment for setting up vehicle scrapping infrastructure under the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program. The basic objective of the vehicle scrapping infrastructure will be to phase out unfit and polluting vehicles in an environment-friendly manner. This will reduce pollution, create job opportunities and boost demand for new vehicles. The Gujarat government has joined hands with auto major Tata Motors for setting up of a vehicle scrapping facility in Ahmedabad.

 

4. Kakori Train Conspiracy now renamed to Kakori Train Action: The Uttar Pradesh government has renamed a landmark freedom movement event as Kakori Train Action while paying tributes to the revolutionaries who were hanged for robbing a train at Kakori to buy weapons in 1925. The new name was used in official communications to refer to the event, usually described as the ‘Kakori train robbery’ or the ‘Kakori train conspiracy’.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel attended a programme held on the anniversary of the event at Kakori-based Kakori Shaheed Smarak on the outskirts of Lucknow. Family members of the freedom fighters were honoured on this occasion, and an art exhibition was also held. A government official stated it was derogatory to describe the robbery that was a part of the freedom movement as “conspiracy”.

 

5. Cashify appoints Rajkummar Rao as first brand ambassador: Cashify, a re-commerce marketplace announced that it has appointed Rajkummar Rao as its first brand ambassador. The actor has signed a multi-year contract with the company and he will promote the products across digital media platforms through campaigns and promotional activities exclusively for the smartphone buyback category.

About the partnership: The partnership is expected to give a strong face to the brand’s philosophy as Rao personifies the brand ethos, which is reliability, responsiveness, approachability, and dynamic personality. The association with the actor comes at a time when the company is on a business expansion spree from online to offline, after having recently raised $15 million from Olympus Capital and has acquired UniShop to diversify its Omni category services to users.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. India organises the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) Tourism Ministers’ Meet Virtually: On August 12, 2021, India organized the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) Tourism Ministers’ meeting through virtual platform. The Union Minister of Tourism of India, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, chaired the meeting. The Minister of Tourism of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Gilson Machado Neto and the Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Republic of South Africa, Fish Amos Mahlalela, attended videoconferencing under India’s IBSA Chairship. The meeting provided a platform to promote tourism cooperation among the member states and recognized the importance of strengthening cooperation in tourism to overcome the impact of Covid 19 pandemic on the tourism sector. The meeting ended with the adoption of the IBSA Tourism Ministers Joint Statement- a document on cooperation and promotion for speedy recovery of travel and tourism.

 

2. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar addresses 6th SCO Meet of Agriculture Ministers: The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar addressed the 6th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of the member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on August 12, 2021, through videoconferencing. The meeting was organized under the chairmanship of Tajikistan in Dushanbe. During the meeting, Narendra Singh Tomar highlighted the taking several steps being taken by the Government of India to develop innovative technologies and their dissemination from Lab to Land to empower rural youth, farmers and farm women. Apart from Tomar, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shobha Karandlaje also attended the meet.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India sends largest ever 54-member contingent for Tokyo Paralympic Games: The upcoming Tokyo Paralympics, will witness the largest ever Indian contingent being send, with 54 para-sportspersons participating across 9 sports disciplines. The 54-member Indian contingents were given a formal and virtual send-off on August 12, 2021, by Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag. The 2020 Summer Paralympics Games are scheduled to be held in Tokyo, Japan from August 24 to September 05, 2021.

 

2. Shakib Al Hasan, Stafanie Taylor voted ICC players of the month for July: Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor were named the ICC Player of the Month for July in men’s and women’s categories respectively. Shakib, who was nominated alongside West Indies’ Hayden Walsh Jr and Australia’s Mitchell Marsh.

Shakib Al Hasan: Shakib’s contributions in all three formats of the game helped Bangladesh win their series against Zimbabwe last month. He had scored an unbeaten 96 in Bangladesh’s three-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the second ODI at the Harare Sports Club. In the T20Is, Hasan took three wickets at an economy rate of seven, leading his country to a series win against Zimbabwe. He is also the top all-rounder in the latest ICC men’s T20 Rankings.

Stafanie Taylor: Taylor was the standout performer for West Indies in the limited-overs series against Pakistan. She was nominated for the award alongside teammate Hayley Matthews and Pakistan’s Fatima Sana, but her all-around performance in the series helped her claim the most votes.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBL Bank selects AWS as preferred cloud provider: RBL Bank has chosen Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company, as its preferred cloud provider. AWS helps RBL bank to strengthen its AI-powered banking solutions and drive digital transformation at the Bank, adding significant value to the Bank’s innovative offerings, saving costs, and tightening risk controls. About this facility:

(1) The Bank is building on its analytics practice and investing in AI capabilities to implement various use cases across multiple segments, including Risk, Customer Service, Human Resources, and Operations.

(2) The Banks AI Center of Excellence worked with AWS to create a templatized framework to roll out use cases using Amazon SageMaker to quickly and easily build, train, and deploy machine learning (ML) models as part of the Banks larger AI roadmap.

(3) RBL Bank will leverage Amazon Textract, a machine learning service that automatically extracts text, handwriting, and data from scanned documents, across the Banks Risk and Operations divisions to analyze documents such as financial statements, stock statements, and stock audit reports to predict default risk.

Note: RBL Bank Founded: August 1943; RBL Bank Headquarters: Mumbai; RBL Bank MD & CEO: Vishwavir Ahuja.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. HCL pips Cognizant to become the fourth-largest IT company by market cap: HCL Technologies Ltd overtook Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp to become the fourth-most valuable India-centric information technology (IT) services company as the Noida-based company’s market capitalization surpassed Cognizant, underlining the challenges faced by the Nasdaq-listed company under chief executive Brian Humphries. Cognizant shares closed at $73.56 on Nasdaq, giving the company, which has more than two-thirds of its nearly 300,000 employees based out of India, a market cap of $38.84 billion. HCL Technologies shares were trading at ₹1,061 on the Bombay Stock Exchange, translating into a market cap of $39 billion.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Nagaland wins 7 National Awards under Van Dhan Yojana Scheme: Nagaland has been conferred with seven national awards on the first Van Dhan Annual Awards 2020-21, during the celebration of the 34th foundation day of the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED). The awards were presented by Union tribal minister, Arjun Munda through a Zoom webinar. Category Nagaland received awards:

(1) Meanwhile, the state has received seven national awards, such, as 1st positions in – ‘Best Survey State’, ‘Best Training’, and ‘Most number of VDVKC’s established’.

(2) It has attained 3rd position for ‘Best Sales Generated’, and ‘Best Innovation & Creativity.

(3) The state has also received Awards for Innovative & Creative Product Ideas for commodities like – Gooseberry Wine (Supplier: Toka Multipurpose Society Ltd.); Mushroom Cultivation (Supplier: NBHM).

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

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India & Saudi Arabia set to conduct “AL-MOHED AL-HINDI 2021” exercise: India and Saudi Arabia are all set to conduct their first-ever naval exercise Al-Mohed Al-Hindi 2021. To participate in the exercise, India’s guided-missile destroyer INS Kochi reached Saudi Arabia. The joint naval exercise will showcase the reflection of growing defence and military cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia.

About the exercise: The exercise is taking place amid rising tension in the Gulf region after a drone attack on a merchant tanker off Oman killed a British national and a Romanian citizen. The UK and the US pointed fingers at Iran for the attack on MV Mercer Street, operated by an Israeli-owned firm. In December 2020, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in a first-ever visit ahead of the Indian Army to the two important Gulf countries.

 

2. IAF builds one of the world’s highest mobile ATC towers in Ladakh: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has built one of the world’s highest mobile air traffic control (ATC) towers at the Advanced Landing Ground in Ladakh. The ATC controls operations of the fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters operating in the eastern Ladakh region. Meanwhile, India has been considering multiple options of developing airfields in eastern Ladakh including Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO), Fukche and Nyoma which are at a distance of few minutes from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. The Air Force also has deployed the Igla man-portable air defence missiles to tackle any aerial incursion by any adversary aircraft. The Indian Air Force has been regularly deploying fighter aircraft including the Rafale and MiG-29s to carry out operations in eastern Ladakh where there has been disengagement of troops at two locations including Pangong Tso and Gogra heights but both sides have not de-escalated.

Note: Air Chief Marshal: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria; Indian Airforce founded: 8 October 1932; Indian Airforce Headquarters: New Delhi. 

Daily GK Update- 13th Aug, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi announces palm oil initiative: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced aRs 11,000 crore National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) to make India self-sufficient in cooking oils, including palm oil. The government will ensure that farmers get all the facilities, from quality seeds to technology under the mission. While India has become self-sufficient in rice, wheat and sugar, it was not enough as the country is hugely dependent on imported edible oils. The Centre has already been running a National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm to boost oilseeds and palm oil production in India for the last few years with an aim to lower imports.

 

2. Maharashtra government announces Rajiv Gandhi award for IT sector: Maharashtra government has announced a new award named after the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for outstanding performance in the Information and Technology (IT) sector. The Rajiv Gandhi Award in Maharashtra will be given to institutes doing remarkable work in the field of information technology. The decision to start an award in the state after former PM Rajiv Gandhi was taken in a meeting chaired by Maharashtra Minister of State for Information Technology and Home SatejPatil. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award will be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

Note: Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari; Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai; Maharashtra CM: Uddhav Thackeray.

 

3. UNICEF India, Facebook collaborate to make a safer online world for children: UNICEF India and Facebook have launched a one-year joint initiative on ending violence against children with a special focus on online safety. The partnership seeks to create a safe environment for children online and offline. It aims to improve children’s resilience and capacity to access the digital world safely, increase awareness on violence against children and its impact on children, families, and communities, and increase the skills of communities and frontline workers to better prevent and respond to violence.

In this partnership: The partnership includes a nationwide social media campaign and capacity building for 100,000 school children on online safety, digital literacy, and psychosocial support. Well-known actor and UNICEF India’s celebrity advocate on ending violence against children, AyushmannKhurrana, gave his keynote message during the virtual event.

Note: UNICEF Headquarters: New York, United States of America; UNICEF Executive Director: Henrietta H. Fore; UNICEF Founded: 11 December 1946.

Facebook Founded: February 2004; Facebook CEO: Mark Zuckerberg; Facebook Headquarters: California, United States.

 

4. IT Ministry to host the first Internet Governance Forum in the country: India will host the first Internet Governance Forum in the country, starting from October 20, this year. The theme of this year’s meeting is Inclusive Internet for Digital India. With this announcement, the Indian chapter of the United Nations-based forum namely the Internet Governance Forum has begun. It’s an Internet Governance policy discussion platform to bring representatives together from various groups, considering all at par to discuss public policy issues related to the Internet. National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology(MeitY) and the Chairman of the Coordination Committee, India Internet Governance Forum 2021 (IGF), announced the launch of India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF) -2021.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. South Africa grants patent to an artificial intelligence system: South Africa grants a patent relating to a “food container based on fractal geometry” to an artificial intelligence (AI) system called DABUS. DABUS (which stands for “device for the autonomous bootstrapping of unified sentience”) is an AI system created by Stephen Thaler, a pioneer in the field of AI and programming. The system simulates human brainstorming and creates new inventions.

About DABUS:

(1) DABUS is a particular type of AI, often referred to as “creativity machines” because they are capable of independent and complex functioning. This differs from everyday AI like Siri, the “voice” of Apple’s iPhones.

(2) The patent application listing DABUS as the inventor was filed in patent offices around the world, including the U.S., Europe, Australia, and South Africa.

(3) But only South Africa granted the patent (Australia followed suit a few days later after a court judgment gave the go-ahead).

Note: South Africa Capitals: Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein; South Africa Currency: South African rand; South Africa President: Cyril Ramaphosa.

 

2. India ranks 122nd on “New Global Youth Development Index”: India is ranked 122nd on a new Global Youth Development Index 2020 measuring the condition of young people across 181 countries, released by the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. Singapore ranked topmost followed by Slovenia, Norway, Malta and Denmark. Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Niger came last respectively. The triennial rankings of youth development found India among the top five risers on the index between 2010 and 2018, alongside Afghanistan and Russia, advancing their score on average by 15.74 per cent across areas such as education and employment.About the index:

(1) The index ranks countries between 0.00 (lowest) and 1.00 (highest) according to the developments in youth education, employment, health, equality and inclusion, peace and security, and political and civic participation.

(2) It looks at 27 indicators including literacy and voting to showcase the state of the world’s 1.8 billion people between the age of 15 and 29.

(3) The 2020 Global Youth Development Index reveals that the conditions of young people have improved around the world by 3.1 per cent between 2010 and 2018.

(4) Overall, the index shows advances in youth’s participation in peace processes and their education, employment, inclusion and health care since 2010.

 

3. World Organ Donation Day: 13th August: World Organ Donation Day is celebrated every year on August 13. The day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and motivate people to donate organs after death. The day provides an opportunity to all to come ahead and pledge to donate their precious organs because one organ donor can save up to eight lives.

 

4. International Lefthanders Day: 13th August: The International Left-Handers Day is observed on August 13 every year to celebrate the uniqueness and differences of the left-handers and raise awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed in a predominantly right-handed world. Left-handers are likely to have better verbal skills than their right-handed counterparts, according to a 2019 study by Oxford University.

History of the day: The day was first observed in 1976 by Dean R Campbell, the founder of Lefthanders International Inc. Further, in 1990, the Lefthanders International Club was founded with an aim to promote left-handedness, and make their views known to manufacturers towards the development of items for left-handed individuals. In 1992, the Club launched the International Lefthanders Day to create awareness regarding the “advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed.”

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Durand Cup makes re-entry with 130th edition to be held at Kolkata: Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest and world’s third oldest football tournament, is all set to make a comeback, after a year’s gap. The 130th edition of the Durand Cup is scheduled to be held in and around Kolkata between September 05 to October 03, 2021. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the competition was cancelled last season. History of Durand Cup:

(1) The prestigious tournament was first held in 1888, at Dagshai (Himachal Pradesh) and is named after Mortimer Durand, who was then the Foreign Secretary in charge of India.

(2) The tournament was a conscious way to initially maintain health and fitness amongst the British troops but was later opened to civilians and currently is one of the leading sports events in the world.

(3) Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are the most successful teams in the history of the Durand Cup winning it sixteen times each.

(4) The winning team is presented with three trophies ie the President’s Cup (first presented by DrRajendra Prasad), the Durand Cup (the original challenge prize – a rolling trophy) and the Shimla Trophy (first presented by citizens of Shimla in 1903 and since 1965, a rolling trophy).

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SIDBI unveils “Digital Prayaas” lending platform: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has unveiled ‘Digital Prayaas’ an app-based digital-lending platform to facilitate loans to entrepreneurs from low-income groups. The objective is to sanction a loan by the end of the day. The platform has engaged in the promotion, financing and development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). To cater to those from the urban area, SIDBI has tied up with BigBasket to provide loans to its delivery partners for the purchase of e-bikes and e-vans. the SIDBI-BigBasket initiative would create digital footprints that would further facilitate loans to the borrower’s family members for their own micro-enterprises. SIDBI should enter into similar arrangements with more partner institutions to increase its outreach.

Note: CMD of SIDBI: S Ramann; SIDBI founded: 2nd April 1990; SIDBI Headquarters: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

 

2. RBI appoints Neeraj Chopra for banking fraud awareness campaign: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has started a public awareness campaign to warn people against digital banking frauds. For the new campaign, RBI has roped in Olympic Gold medalist Neeraj Chopra. The central bank has asked people to be a little cautious as doing so can protect them from a lot of troubles. A little caution takes care of a lot of trouble. The campaign sees Chopra urging users to not divulge details like OTP, CVV number and ATM PIN in front of anyone. The users should keep changing their online banking passwords and PIN numbers frequently and immediately block ATM card, credit card, debit card and/or prepaid card if one loses it. Block your card if stolen, lost or compromised.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Retail inflation eases to 5.59% in July: Retail inflation eased to 5.59% in July mainly due to softening of food prices. The Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation was 6.26% in June and 6.73% in July 2020. Inflation in the food basket slowed down to 3.96% in July from 5.15% in the previous month. Earlier this month, the RBI pegged the CPI inflation at 5.7% during 2021-22 — 5.9% in the second quarter, 5.3% in third, and 5.8% in the fourth quarter of the fiscal, with risks broadly balanced.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. ITBP inducts its first women officers in combat: For the first time, India-China LAC guarding the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force has commissioned its first two women officers in combat. The two women officers, Prakriti and Diksha will be posted as company commanders in ITBP battalions. Heretofore, women officers in the ITBP were serving in the medical branch or were on deputation from the Indian Police Service at top echelons.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Deswal put the ranks of Assistant Commandant, the entry-level officer rank in the paramilitary, on the shoulders of Prakriti and Diksha after the passing out parade and attestation ceremony where they took an oath to serve the country. The ITBP started recruiting women combat officers in its cadre in 2016 through an all-India examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Note: ITBP Founded: 24 October 1962; ITBP Headquarters: New Delhi, India; ITBP DG: S SDeswal.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Malayalam actor SaranyaSasi passes away: Popular Malayalam film and television actor, SaranyaSasi passed away due to Covid-19 complications. She had also battled cancer for nearly a decade, earning praise for showing remarkable grit and determination in battling the disease. She had been diagnosed with a form of brain tumour in 2012. The actress’ body of work includes films like Chhota Mumbai, Thalappavu, Bombay March 12 and TV soaps like Kootukari, Avakashikal, Harichandanam, Malakhamar and Rahasyam.

 

Daily GK Update- 12th Aug, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Gujarat CM launches eNagar mobile application and portal: Gujarat Chief Minister, Vijay Rupani has launched eNagar mobile application and portal. The eNagar covers 10 modules with 52 services including property tax, professional tax, water & drainage, Complaints and grievance redressal, building permission, fire and emergency services. Gujarat Urban Development Mission has been appointed as a nodal agency for eNagar project. Total 170 locations including 162 municipalities and 8 Municipal Corporations are covered under the eNagar project.

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

 

2. GoI Approves 3-year extension for Rekha Sharma as Chairperson of NCW: The Government of India has given a three-year extension to Rekha Sharma as Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW). She will serve for another three years term with effect from August 07, 2021, or till the age of 65 years or until further orders whichever is the earliest. The 57-year-old Sharma first assumed the charge as Chairperson of NCW on August 7, 2018. Rekha Sharma has been associated with the Commission as a member since August 2015 and held the additional charge as the chairperson from September 29, 2017, before becoming its regular chief. She has been a vocal advocate of gender sensitisation of police personnel since they are the first point of contact for victims.

Note: National Commission for Women Formed: 1992; National Commission for Women Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

3. India to launch advanced geo imaging satellite “Gisat-1”: India will finally launch its most advanced geo-imaging satellite (GiSAT-1), which will allow better monitoring of the subcontinent, including its borders with Pakistan and China, by imaging the country 4-5 times a day. The satellite will be launched on August 12 from Sriharikota. Isro’s GSLV-F10 rocket will finally put the 2,268-kg Gisat-1, codenamed EOS-3, into the geo-orbit. This will be India’s first launch of a primary satellite this year.

Once placed 36,000 km above the earth in the geostationary orbit after space manoeuvres, the advanced ‘eye in the sky’ can constantly monitor areas of interest (the satellite will move in sync with the rotation of the Earth and hence would look stationary) and will give real-time information about a large area unlike other remote sensing satellites placed in lower orbits that come to a spot only at regular intervals. EOS-3 will also enable quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic and short-term events.

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

 

4. A book title “The Earthspinner” authored by Anuradha Roy: A book titled “The Earthspinner” authored by award-winning novelist Anuradha Roy. In the book, Roy delves into the “life and mind of Elango the potter, who must navigate complicated and impossible love, the dedication of a beloved pet, his own passion for creativity and a world turned upside down by the petty violence that characterises the present day”. This novel is about two people struggling to free themselves of such shackles to create a happier world. Roy’s earlier works include “An Atlas of Impossible Longing” and “The Folded Earth”.

 

5. A book title “How the Earth Got Its Beauty” authored by SudhaMurty: A book titled “How the Earth Got Its Beauty” authored by SudhaMurty. The book was published by Penguin Random House imprint Puffin, has illustrations by Priyanka Pachpande. SudhaMurty is a prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written novels, technical books, travelogues, collections of short stories and non-fictional pieces, and four books for children. Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages. SudhaMurty was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006, and the Attimabbe Award from the government of Karnataka for excellence in Kannada literature in 2011.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Mohammad Mokhber named as first Vice President of Iran: Iran’s new President EbrahimRaisi named the chairman of a powerful state-owned foundation sanctioned by the United States as his first vice-president. Mohammad Mokhber has for years headed the foundation known as Setad or the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s order. Mokhber was appointed to the position by the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2007. The Setad was originally founded in the late 1980s to manage confiscated properties following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Note: Iran Capital: Tehran; Iran Currency: Iranian toman.

 

2. International Youth Day: 12th August: The International Youth Day is observed on August 12 annually to draw the attention of governments and others towards youth issues worldwide. This day is celebrated to recognize the efforts put in by the youth for the betterment of society. The Day aims to promote the ways to engage the youth and make them more actively involved in their communities through positive contributions. The theme of International Youth Day 2021, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”. The theme highlights the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes, as well as draw lessons on how their representation and engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly enhanced.

History of International Youth Day: In 1999, the General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day. This day is the first time observed on August 12, 2000, the day marks an awareness day and draws attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth.

 

3. World Elephant Day: 12th August: World Elephant Day is observed every year on August 12 worldwide for the preservation and protection of the global elephants. The main objective of World Elephant Day is to create awareness on elephant conservation and to share knowledge and positive solutions for the better protection and management of wild and captive elephants.

History of the day: The World Elephant Day was initiated on August 12, 2012, when Thailand-based Elephant Reintroduction Foundation teamed up with Canadian filmmaker Patricia Sims. This is not just a day but a movement in itself. Since 2012, Ms Sims has been leading World Elephant Day.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. ICC to push for cricket’s inclusion in Olympics 2028: The International Cricket Council has confirmed it will campaign for the inclusion of the sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The ICC’s bid to end what will by then have been an absence from Olympic schedules will include multiple demonstrations of cricket’s suitability for multisport events. Cricket, till now, has made just one appearance in the Olympics, way back in 1900 in Paris when only two teams competed at the event Great Britain and hosts France meaning the sport’s inclusion in 2028 would mark the end of a 128-year absence. The sport will feature in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games next year, which shapes as a perfect showcase for what the sport can bring to the Olympics, as well as being a momentous occasion on its own.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI to penalise banks if ATMs run out of cash from October 1: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the launch of the ‘Scheme of Penalty for non-replenishment of ATMs’, as per which it will impose monetary penalties on ATMs/WLAs that run out of cash. Concerned over the inconvenience caused to the public due to the non-availability of cash in ATMs, the Reserve Bank has decided to penalise banks for failure to timely replenish currency notes in such machines. The Scheme of Penalty for non-replenishment of ATMs has been formulated to ensure that sufficient cash is available to the public through ATMs.

Effective Date: The Scheme shall be effective from October 01, 2021. Therefore, banks/ WLAOs should put in place a robust system for monitoring the availability of cash in ATMs and ensure timely replenishment to avoid cash-outs.

Quantum of Penalty: Cash-out at any ATM of more than ten hours in a month will attract a flat penalty of ₹ 10,000/- per ATM. In the case of White Label ATMs (WLAs), the penalty would be charged to the bank which is meeting the cash requirement of that particular WLA. The bank, may, at its discretion, recover the penalty from the WLA operator.

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

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Finance Ministry: over 5.82 crore Jan Dhan accounts inoperative: The Finance Ministry has informed Rajya Sabha that over 5.82 crore Jan Dhan (PMJDY) accounts are inoperative. This is 14 per cent of the total number of accounts. It means at least one out of 10 Jan Dhan accounts is inoperative. According to guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India, “savings, as well as current account, should be treated as inoperative/dormant if there are no transactions in the account for over a period of two years. According to the website of PMJDY, the total number of Jan Dhan accounts is 42.83 crore with a balance of nearly ₹1.43 lakh crore.

For the purpose of classifying an account as ‘inoperative’ both types of transactions i.e. debit as well as credit, induced at the instance of customers as well as a third party, should be considered. This is key as these accounts are also used for payment under welfare schemes, food grain procurement mechanisms or even rural employment guarantee programmes.

Note: Finance Minister of India: Nirmala Sitharaman.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Army contingent to participate in International Army Games 2021 in Russia: The 7th edition of the International Army Games, 2021, will be held from 22 August to 04 September 2021 in Russia. The competition will be hosted in eleven countries in the 2021 Games. Over 280 teams from 42 countries will compete in the game to show their combat skills, professionalism and determination to win. The International Army Games also referred to as ‘War Olympics’, is an international military sports event, which aims to strengthen military-to-military cooperation between countries and trust between the participating nations.

From India, 101 members of the Indian Army will participate in the International Army Games, which is organised each year by the Russian Ministry of Defence, since 2015. The Indian contingent will participate in Army Scout Masters Competition (ASMC), Elbrus Ring, Polar Star, Sniper Frontier and Safe Route games. In 2019, India had also co-hosted the games for the first time in Jaisalmer and had stood first in Army Scouts Master Competition.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Renowned AyurvedacharyaBalajiTambe passes away: A well-known spiritual leader who was also an Ayurveda doctor and proponent of Yoga, DrBalajiTambe, passed away. The founder of ‘Atmasantulana Village’, a holistic healing centre near Lonavala, DrTambe had written several books on spirituality, Yoga and Ayurveda. He dedicated his entire life to promote and popularize Ayurveda and Yoga.

Note: ITBP Founded: 24 October 1962; ITBP Headquarters: New Delhi, India; ITBP DG: S SDeswal. 

Daily GK Update- 11th Aug, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ministry for Social Justice launches ‘PM-DAKSH’ Portal and Mobile App: The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment DrVirendra Kumar has unveiled a portal and mobile application named ‘PM-DAKSH’, which aims to make the skill development schemes accessible to the target groups. The ‘PM-DAKSH’ stands for Pradhan MantriDakshtaAurKushaltaSampannHitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana. The portal can be accessed at: http://pmdaksh.dosje.gov.in. The platform has been developed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in collaboration with National E-Governance Division (NeGD), under the Department Of Electronics And Information Technology. The training programs will be implemented through Government Training Institutes, Sector Skill Councils constituted by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and other credible institutions.

Features of PM DAKSH: Through PM DAKSH, youths of the target groups can get information about skill development training happening near them and can easily register to avail the benefits of skill development training programmes more easily.

 

2. Indian Railways Launches Rail Madad: A Unified Customer Care Solution: Indian Railways has launched an integrated one-stop solution “Rail Madad” in which the national transporter has merged a number of existing helplines that were used for various purposes into one. The Railway ministry toll-free number 139 can be used for all kinds of enquiries and making complaints and the helpline facility is available round-the-clock in 12 languages.

About the Rail Madad: Rail Madad, the integrated and innovative one-stop solution for customer grievance, enquiry, suggestion and assistance, providing passengers with the choice to access RailMadad through multiple channels, namely, Web, App, SMS, Social Media and Helpline number (139) during the journey for expeditious resolution of their complaints.

 

3. Haryana govt signs MoU with Walmart Vriddhi to help MSMEs: The Haryana government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ‘Walmart Vriddhi’ and ‘Haqdarshak’ to create a pathway for Indian MSMEs’ products to move to the international markets. The MoU was signed in the presence of Haryana Deputy Chief Minister DushyantChautala, Vikas Gupta, MSME Department Director-General, the Indian government, Nitin Dutt from Walmart Vriddhi, and AniketDoegar (CEO of Haqdarshak). To promote MSMEs apart from large industries, many important concessions have been given to investors in ‘Haryana Enterprises and Employment Policy-2020’. This move will bring a big opportunity for the MSME sector, as their products will be displayed in 24 countries and will be available in 10,500 stores under 48 banners.

Note: Haryana Capital: Chandigarh; Haryana Governor: BandaruDattatraya; Haryana Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar.

 

4. Karnataka becomes first state to issue order implementing NEP-2020: Karnataka has become the first state in the country to issue the order with regard to the implementation of the National Education Policy-2020. The state government has issued an order on the implementation of NEP-2020 with effect from the current academic year 2021-2022.

About the policy: This policy seeks to entirely overhaul the system through various reforms: A single regulator to oversee higher education; no more MPhil courses before PhD; fixed fees for public and private institutions; students can choose between three and four-year undergraduate courses; multiple entries and exit points in degree courses.

Note: Chief Minister of Karnataka: Basavaraj S Bommai; Karnataka Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot; Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru.

 

5. GoI approves 1-year extension to Rajiv Gauba’s term as Cabinet Secretary: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has extended the term of service of Rajiv Gauba, as the Cabinet Secretary of India, for a further period of one year. Gauba, a 1982-batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, was appointed to the top bureaucratic post of the country in August 2019 for two years. His term of service was to end on August 30, 2021. Prior to this, MrGauba was Union Home Secretary from August 2017 to August 2019.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi becomes first Indian PM to Chair a UNSC Debate: Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has chaired the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate, via video conferencing. With this, PM Modi has become the first Prime Minister of India to chair a UNSC open debate. It must be remembered that India has assumed the Presidency of the UNSC for August 2021, taking over from France. The theme of the high-level open debate was ‘Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation’. India will organize two more meetings during its presidency, on peacekeeping and counterterrorism.

During the debate, PM Modi also underlined five principles that need to be followed in terms of maritime trade and security, which included:

(1) free maritime trade sans barriers,

(2) peaceful settlement of maritime disputes,

(3) combating maritime threats,

(4) encouraging responsible maritime connectivity and

(5) preserving maritime environment and resources

 

2. KirenRijiju attends 8th SCO Meeting of Ministers of Justice: The Union Law Minister KirenRijiju has virtually attended the eighth meeting of Ministers of Justice of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The Minister of State for Law & Justice, Prof SP Singh Baghel also attended the meeting. During the virtual event, Rijiju highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government of India for providing affordable and easy access to justice for all.

About the meeting: The three days’ meeting was hosted by Tajikistan, and chaired by Tajikistan’s Justice Minister, MK Ashuriyon. The Ministers of (Law and) Justice and senior officials and experts from the Ministries of Law & Justice of ‘India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan’ participated in the meeting.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. 7th August to be named “Javelin Throw Day” to honourNeeraj Chopra: The Athletics Federation of India has decided that javelin throw day will be on 7th August every year in honour of Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra. The 23-year-old Neeraj is India’s second individual Olympic gold medallist after AbhinavBindra. Neeraj bagged the gold medal in men’s javelin throw at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on 7th August 2021. Neeraj has scripted the history at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo when he threw the javelin to a distance of 87.58m to end India’s medal drought in athletics at the Olympics. This is India’s first-ever gold medal in athletics in the history of the Olympics.  AFI’s bid to name August 7 as Javelin Throw Day is an attempt to attract more youth towards the sport.

Note: Athletics Federation of India President: Adille J Sumariwalla; Athletics Federation of India Founded: 1946; Athletics Federation of India Headquarters location: New Delhi.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI hikes collateral-free loans to Self Help Groups: The Reserve Bank of India has raised the limit for collateral-free loans to Self-Help Groups (SHG) under the DAY-NRLM (DeendayalAntyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission) from Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 20 Lakhs. The DAY-NRLM is the flagship program of Govt. of India for promoting poverty reduction through building strong institutions for the poor, particularly women, and enabling these institutions to access a range of financial services and livelihoods.

Commercial banks provide loans to SHG. The new directions from RBI to commercial banks for this type of loan is as under:

(1) For loans to SHGs up to Rs 10 lakh, no collateral and no margin will be charged. No lien should be marked against the savings bank account of SHGs and no deposits should be insisted upon while sanctioning loans.

(2) For loans to SHGs above Rs 10 lakh and up to Rs 20 lakh, no collateral should be charged and no lien should be marked against the savings bank account of SHGs. However, the entire loan (irrespective of the loan outstanding, even if it subsequently goes below Rs 10 lakh) would be eligible for coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU).”

About the DAY-NRLM: The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India launched the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) by restructuring Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY). NRLM was renamed as DAY-NRLM (DeendayalAntyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission) w.e.f. March 29, 2016.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ADB approves USD 300 million additional loan for Maharashtra: The Manila-based Asian Development Bank has approved a USD 300 million loans as additional financing for the ongoing Maharashtra Rural Connectivity Improvement Project for upgrading rural roads and connecting remote areas with markets. The additional financing will be used for improving an additional 1,100 rural roads and 230 bridges for a total length of 2,900 km in 34 districts of the state. The project was approved in August 2019, for improving and maintaining the condition and safety of 2,100 kilometres (km) of rural roads across Maharashtra.

Note: Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari; Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai; Maharashtra CM: Uddhav Thackeray.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India-UAE Navy undertakes bilateral exercise ‘ZayedTalwar 2021’: The Indian Navy and UAE Navy conducted the bilateral naval exercise ‘ZayedTalwar 2021’ on August 07, 2021, off the coast of Abu Dhabi. The main objective of the ‘ZayedTalwar 2021’ naval exercise was to enhance interoperability and synergy between the two navies. Indian Navy participated with INS Kochi, with two integral Sea King MK 42B helicopters, deployed in the Persian Gulf. From UAE, UAES AL – Dhafra, a Baynunah class guided missile corvette and one AS – 565B Panther helicopter took part in the exercise.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. War hero Commodore KasargodPatnashetti Gopal Rao passes away: Commodore KasargodPatnashetti Gopal Rao, a 1971 war hero and recipient of the Mahavir Chakra, passed away. Rao was a recipient of the Veer Seva Medal also. He played a key role in the war with Pakistan to liberate East Pakistan that is now Bangladesh. Rao led a small task group of the Western Fleet and launched an offensive off the coast of Karachi as part of Operation Cactus Lily. Notwithstanding the threat of air, surface and submarine attack, he led the group into enemy waters on the night of December 4, 1971.