Daily GK Update- 18th Aug, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. MoHUA launches brand and logo for urban SHG products ‘SonChiraiya’: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has launched ‘SonChiraiya’, a brand and logo for marketing of the urban Self-Help Group (SHG) products. To make urban SHG products popular, the ministry has signed MoUs with e-Commerce Portals like Amazon and Flipkart, with an underlying narrative of women empowerment. Due to this partnership, more than 2,000 products of nearly 5,000 SHG members have been onboarded on the e-commerce portals.

Significance of SonChiraiya: This initiative is a significant step of increasing visibility and global access for the products made by urban SHG women. Under the initiative, a variety of professionally packaged and hand-crafted ethnic products will reach the doorsteps of customers worldwide.

 

2. India’s first Drone Forensic Lab comes up in Kerala: India’s first Drone Forensic Lab and Research Center has come up in Kerala. The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan was inaugurating the State police department’s ‘Drone Forensic Laboratory’ at the Kerala State Police CyberDome. Cyberdome is a technological research and development centre of the Kerala Police Department. The centre will help in keeping a watch over unauthorized drones and also for the production of drones for the use of the police force. This lab-cum-research centre will look into both utility and threat aspects of a drone. The police have forayed strongly into the relatively new field of drone forensics. It had recently analysed a drone brought down by the Border Security Force (BSF) near the international border in Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir and helped the local enforcement zero in on its illegal operator.

Note: Kerala CM: Pinarayi Vijayan; Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.

 

3. 75 new Vande Bharat trains to connect all parts of India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on the occasion of 75th Independence Day and announced that 75 ‘Vande Bharat’ trains would connect different parts of the country in 75 weeks of the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The 75 Vande Bharat trains will connect every corner of the country, in 75 weeks of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, which is being celebrated from March 12, 2021, upto August 15, 2023. Presently two Vande Bharat Express trains are operating in the country by the Indian Railways. The first Vande Bharat Express operates between Varanasi and New Delhi and the other Vande Bharat Express operates between Katra and New Delhi.

 

4. India’s first Cattle Genomic Chip “IndiGau” released by Jitendra Singh: Dr Jitendra Singh has released India’s first cattle genomic chip ‘IndiGau’ for the conservation of pure varieties of indigenous cattle breeds like, Gir, Kankrej, Sahiwal, Ongole etc. The chip has been developed by scientists of National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NAIB), Hyderabad, an autonomous institution under the aegis of the Department of Biotechnology. The chip will help in achieving the goal of conservation of our own breeds with better characters and help towards doubling farmers’ income by 2022.

 

5. Ministry of Women and Child Development launches 2nd Phase of SAMVAD: Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched the 2nd phase of SAMVAD (Support, Advocacy & Mental health interventions for children in Vulnerable circumstances And Distress).

Purpose: SAMVAD is a National Initiative for child protection, mental health and psychosocial care of children. The second phase has been launched after the completion of one year of SAMVAD. The launch was done by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani. The new initiative will begin work with Panchayati Raj systems to integrate child protection and mental health in aspirational districts across the country to facilitate awareness generation and improve service delivery at the grassroot level.

 

6. Puducherry celebrates its De Jure Transfer day: Puducherry on 16th August celebrated its De Jure Transfer day. Speaker of the Puducherry Assembly, R. Selvam, paid floral tributes at the memorial in Kizhur, a remote hamlet in Puducherry, where the transfer of power took place on the same day in 1962. De Jure Transfer Day is the day it really got independence. The then Pondicherry was under French control well after 1947. The treaty of cession signed between the French and Indian governments was ratified by the French Parliament only on August 16, 1962. So on that day the “De-Jure”(The Legal Merger of the UT with the Indian Union) was effected. 178 representatives participated in the referendum in which 170 voted in favour of a merger with India and 8 against it.

Note:  Chief Minister of Puducherry: N Rangasamy.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Hakainde Hichilema wins Zambia Presidential Election: In Zambia, opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, of the United Party for National Development, has won the 2021 general Presidential election of the country. The 59-year-old Hichilema won with a landslide victory, winning 59.38% of the total vote. He will replace incumbent President Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front. Last year, Zambia, Africa’s second-biggest copper miner, produced a record output of the metal.

Note: Zambia Capital: Lusaka; Zambia Currency: Zambian kwacha.

 

2. Priyanka Chopra Jonas named MAMI film festival chairperson: Actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas was announced as the chairperson of Jio MAMI Film Festival, almost four months after Deepika Padukone stepped down from the position. The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) unveiled its plans for the coming year, edition and the change in leadership. Priyanka was unanimously nominated by MAMI’s Board of Trustees which comprises Nita M Ambani (Co-Chairperson), Anupama Chopra (Festival Director), Ajay Bijli, Anand G. Mahindra, Farhan Akhtar, Isha Ambani, Kabir Khan, Kaustubh Dhavse, Kiran Rao, Rana Daggubati, Riteish Deshmukh, Rohan Sippy, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Vikramaditya Motwane, Vishal Bhardwaj and Zoya Akhtar.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. World Archery Youth Championships: India wins 15 medals: India finished Archery Youth World Championships with a record haul of 15 medals including eight gold at Wroclaw in Poland.

(1) Reigning under-18 world champion Komalika Bari made a perfect transition to the under-21 age group, winning the junior title in the Archery Youth World Championships to become the second Indian after Deepika Kumari to achieve the feat.

(2) Komalika ended with two gold medals including one with Parth Salunkhe in junior mixed team as India returned with a record haul of eight gold, two silver and five bronze from the tournament.

(3) Indian archers won all their matches in the recurve under-18 section to grab two gold and three bronze medals and continue their record-breaking spree in the Youth World Championships here. The men’s team defeated their French rivals 5-3, while the mixed pair followed suit with a 6-2 win over Japan to continue their winning run on the country’s 75th Independence Day.

(4) India also bagged three bronze medals in the women’s team, individual and men’s individual events for a perfect show by the U-18 (cadet) archers. India are also in the hunt for three gold and a bronze in the under-21 (junior) section.

(5) Priya Gurjar, who had topped the qualification round and the team set for a world record, narrowly missed the individual gold, going down to Selene Rodriguez by three points (136-139) to settle for a silver.

(6) Parneet Kaur  bagged a bronze, defeating Hallie Boulton of Great Britain 140-135. Overall, Priya returned with two gold medals (team and mixed) and an individual silver to become the first Indian compound archer to win three medals at any Youth World Championships.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC unveils ‘Green & Sustainable’ fixed deposit: HDFC Bank has announced the introduction of ‘Green & Sustainable Deposits’ to safeguard the environment from climate change. These fixed deposits will be directed towards financing green and sustainable housing credit solutions and services.

Facilities provided in this FD: With a deposit period of 36-120 months, both residents and NRIs can invest in this instrument that will offer interest rates up to 6.55% p.a. Senior citizens will be eligible for an additional 0.25% p.a. on deposits up to ₹2 crores. Additional ROI of 0.10% p.a. will be applicable on these deposits up to ₹50 lakh per calendar month per customer if placed/renewed through our online platform.

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

 

2. Exim Bank to provide $100 million loan to Mauritius for procuring defence items: The Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement for USD 100 million line of credit to Mauritius for procurement of defence items from India, the RBI said in a release. Under the agreement, India will export eligible goods and services to Mauritius. Line of credit or soft loans are charged at nominal rate of interest. Out of the total credit by Exim Bank under the agreement, goods, works and services of the value of at least 75 per cent of the contract price shall be supplied by the seller from India, and the remaining 25 per cent of goods and services may be procured by the seller for the purpose of the eligible contract from outside India.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. HCL Foundation launches ‘My e-Haat’ portal to empower artisans: HCL Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of HCL Technologies has launched an online portal, ‘My e-Haat’, to empower artisans and strengthen the value chain of the handicraft sector in the country. The platform will enable artisans and primary producers to conduct their business, by listing and showcasing their products directly to customers, thereby minimising the informal intermediaries and the long supply chains. Currently, more than 30 partners from eight states with over 600 products are listed on the portal.

Significance of the portal: The My E-Haat initiative will be a one-of-a-kind model (A2C) where artisans will directly connect with the customer for years to come. This portal would help in bringing the talent of skilled craftsmen from across the country to the world. It will also increase their recognition, appreciation and remuneration.

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

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Mahatma Gandhi to be given the US Congressional Gold Medal: An influential US lawmaker from New York reintroduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives to posthumously award the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal to Mahatma Gandhi in recognition of his promotion of peace and nonviolence. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award in the United States. Gandhi would be the first Indian to receive a Congressional Gold Medal, an honour bestowed upon such great figures as George Washington, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Rosa Parks.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Maki Kaji, creator of Sudoku puzzle passes away: Maki Kaji, the creator of puzzle Sudoku passed away at the age of 69 years due to bile duct cancer. He was known as the father of Sodoku and was from Japan. He was the president of Nikoli Co., Ltd., a Japanese puzzle manufacturer. Kaji established Japan’s first puzzle magazine, Puzzle Tsushin Nikoli, with pals in 1980. His most legendary creation, Sudoku, followed in 1983. 

Daily GK Update- 17th Aug, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi sets India’s target to become ‘energy independent’ by 2047: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the target of becoming an ‘energy independent country by the year 2047, the year when India will celebrate the 100th year of Independence. For this, PM has announced a ‘Mission Circular Economy’ that will replace petroleum with other forms of energy to make India achieve self-reliance in energy production by 2047.

About the Mission Circular Economy: Mission Circular Economy would include a mix of electric mobility, gas-based economy, doping ethanol in petrol and making the country a hub for hydrogen production. Modi government has decided to set up the National Hydrogen Mission to make India a new global hub and the exporter of green hydrogen.

 

2. Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar flags off ‘Operation Blue Freedom’: The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar has flagged off a pioneering world record expedition named ‘Operation Blue Freedom’ from Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi on the occasion of 75th Independence Day. The Operation Blue Freedom expedition comprise of a team of people with disabilities from across the country to reach Siachen Glacier, to create a new World Record, for the largest team of people with disabilities reaching the world’s highest battlefield.

The team of people with disabilities were trained by ‘Team CLAW’, a team of Armed Forces veterans. The expedition was undertaken till Kumar Post (Siachen Glacier). The event was organised by Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, a premier autonomous research body mandated to research and provide policy feed to empower marginalised communities and to bring in Socio Economic transformation in the society.

 

3. Ministry of Social Justice launches an e-study platform “TAPAS”: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched an online portal named TAPAS (Training for Augmenting Productivity and Services) to provide filmed lectures/courses and e-study material in the field of social defence. TAPAS is the initiative of the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The course can be taken up by anyone and is free of cost.

About TAPAS: TAPAS seeks to provide access to lectures by subject experts, study material and more, but in a manner that it supplements the physical classroom without compromising on the quality of teaching. The main objective of introducing the course modules, is to impart training and enhance the knowledge and skills for the capacity building of the participants. It can be taken up by anyone who wishes to enhance his or her knowledge on the topics and there is no fee for joining.

 

4. Chandrayaan-2 orbiter detects water molecules on lunar surface: India’s Chandrayaan-2 moon mission may have made a hard landing on the lunar surface in 2019, but the orbiter accompanying it has been providing useful information to scientists back on Earth. A research paper revealed that the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter confirmed the presence of water molecules (H2o) and hydroxyl (OH) on the surface of the moon. The findings were published in the journal Current Science. “The initial data analysis from IIRS clearly demonstrates the presence of widespread lunar hydration and unambiguous detection of OH and H2O signatures between 29 degrees north and 62 degrees north latitude. The discovery was made by the orbiter’s imaging infrared spectrometer (IIRS).

About the Mission: The Chandrayaan-2 mission was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) in July 2019. But Vikram lander on-board the mission crash-landed on the lunar surface just 2.1 km from its destination in September that year. Chandrayaan-2 was launched with the aim of mapping the variations in lunar surface composition, as well as locating and studying the surface of the Moon for the presence of water.

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

 

5. Vice President releases book ‘Accelerating India: 7 Years of Modi Government’: The Vice President, M. Venkaiah Naidu has released a book ‘Accelerating India: 7 Years of Modi Government’ at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas. The book commemorates the achievement and evaluation of two elected terms of PM Modi as the Head of Parliamentary. Releasing the book, VP Naidu said that as India will celebrate 75 years of independence, it was time to study the progress of the constitutional promise of a ‘dignified life to the common man.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Afghanistan Prez Ashraf Ghani steps down, as Taliban forces takes power: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani will shortly tender his resignation, as the government has surrendered to the Taliban forces, which entered Kabul and sought the unconditional surrender of the central government. Following this, a new interim government has been announced, which is likely to be headed by Ali Ahamd Jalali, a US-based academic. President Ashraf Ghani fled the country as the Islamist terrorists entered the city, he wanted to avoid bloodshed, while hundreds of Afghans desperate to leave flooded Kabul airport.

In Washington, opponents of President Joe Biden’s decision to end America’s longest war, launched after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.  American diplomats were flown by helicopter to the airport from their embassy in the fortified Wazir Akbar Khan district as Afghan forces, trained for years and equipped by the United States and others at a cost of billions of dollars, melted away.

Note: Afghanistan Capital: Kabul; Afghanistan Currency: Afghan afghani; Afghanistan Official languages: Pashto, Dari.

 

2. WHO forms Advisory Group named “SAGO”: World Health Organization (WHO) has created a new advisory group named, The International Scientific Advisory Group for Origins of Novel Pathogens, or SAGO. The function of SAGO will be to systematically study the emergence of future emerging pathogens with pandemic potential, and advise the development in this regard to WHO. WHO has made an open call for nominations to SAGO from the member countries, thus providing a transparent foundation for the new scientific advisory group. The group will also work towards finding the origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Note: President of the World Health Organisation: Tedros Adhanom; Headquarters of WHO: Geneva, Switzerland; WHO founded: 7 April 1948.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Harshit Raja becomes India’s 69th Chess Grandmaster: The 20-year-old Chess player Harshit Raja from Pune, Maharashtra has become the 69th Grandmaster of India in Chess. He achieved the feat of becoming the GM at Biel Masters Open 2021 where he drew his game against Dennis Wagner to get his final GM norm with one round to spare. Grandmaster (GM) title is awarded to chess players by the world chess organization FIDE and is the highest title a chess player can attain.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI cancels license of Raigad based Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank: The Reserve Bank of India has cancelled the license of Raigad based Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank Limited in Maharashtra. As informed by the Reserve Bank of India, the license of Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank was cancelled due to insufficient capital and earning prospects and its continuance would have adversely affected depositors. RBI has added that the Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra has also been requested to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator for the bank. RBI has informed that 95 per cent of the depositors will receive full amounts of their deposits from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation. On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Five lakh rupees.

 

2. RBI imposes ₹1 crore penalty on Cooperatieve Rabobank U.A: RBI imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1 crore on Cooperatieve Rabobank UA. Its Mumbai Branch is a part of the Netherlands-based Rabobank Group. The penalty has been imposed for contravention of certain provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and directions related to ‘transfer to reserve funds’. The RBI said it conducted a statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE) of the bank with reference to the bank’s financial position as on 31 March last year. Examination of the risk assessment report pertaining to the same revealed contravention of the provisions of the Banking Regulation Act and the directions issued by the central bank.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Adi Godrej to step down from Godrej India board: Adi Godrej will step down as the chairman of Godrej Industries on October 01, 2021. He will be replaced by Nadir Godrej, his younger brother. Godrej Industries (GIL) is the holding company of the Godrej group. Presently Nadir Godrej is the Managing Director of Godrej Industries. However, Adi Godrej will continue to serve as the Chairman of Godrej Group.

Note: Godrej Industries Founded: 1963; Godrej Industries Headquarters: Maharashtra.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. President Ram Nath Kovind confers 144 Gallantry awards in 2021: President Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, has approved 144 Gallantry awards for armed forces, police and paramilitary personnel on the occasion of Independence Day 2021. Besides, President Kovide also approved 28 Mention-in-Despatches to the army personnel for their significant contributions in different military operations.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former India defender Chinmoy Chatterjee passes away: Eminent India-international footballer Chinmoy Chatterjee, who played for the three Maidan heavyweights in his prime in the 1970-80s, has passed away. He was a member of the Indian team at the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games where they finished fourth in the quarterfinal league. Chatterjee played for Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting, during his domestic career. He also represented Bengal in the Santosh Trophy four times, and became champions in three of them.

 

Daily GK Update- 16th Aug, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indore declared India’s first ‘Water Plus’ certified city: India’s cleanest city, Indore in Madhya Pradesh, has achieved another feat of being declared as the country’s first ‘water plus’ certified city, under the Swachh Survekshan 2021. Swachh Survekshan is an annual survey of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation in cities and towns across India launched as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The parameters on which Indore achieved the ‘water plus’ status:

(1) Indore carried out a survey and halted 7,000 outfalls of greywater that went in rivers, drains.

(2) Moreover, 30 per cent of the city’s sewage water was recycled and reused. This recycled water was used by people in their gardens and some construction sites.

(3) Seven sewerage treatment plants were constructed in the city and about 110 million litres per day (MLD) treated water from them is being used.

What is the ‘Water+’ city certificate: A Water Plus city certificate is provided to a city that maintains cleanliness in rivers and drains under its administration. According to protocol and the toolkit provided by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs, a city can be declared as Water Plus only after all wastewater released from households, commercial establishments, and the like is treated to a satisfactory level before releasing the treated wastewater to the environment.

Note: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Governor: Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel.

 

2. Meghalaya govt to provide free treatment to COVID-19 patients under ‘Out of Pocket Treatment’ scheme: Health Minister Prestone Tynsong after a meeting told reporters that all expenses for treatment of COVID 19 patients will be covered under the scheme and it will be known as ‘Out of Pocket Treatment’.  The decision was taken after MHIS put up a proposal to cover COVID patients under the scheme. Earlier 60 percent of the cost for COVID treatment was covered under MHIS but now all expenses under five categories will be covered.  He further said that the rates calculated are approved by the Government and will be implemented from 15th August 2021.

 

3. Himachal Pradesh State Handicrafts & Handloom Corporation signs MoU with Flipkart for online sale: The Himachal Pradesh State Handicrafts and Handloom Corporation has signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with online retailer Flipkart for online sale and promotion of the products made by local artisans and  craftsmen to customers across the globe. The pact signed between two is an important step towards the promotion of rural economy and boost the sale of handicraft and handloom products of the state. It may be recalled that  MoU would provide an e-Commerce platform for over 20,000 artisans associated with handloom and handicrafts in the State.

 

4. PM Modi Transfers About Rs 19,500 Crore to Over 9.75 Crore Farmers Under PM-KISAN Scheme: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually transferred about Rs 19,500 crore to over 9.75 crore beneficiaries farmers under the government’s PM-KISAN scheme. With this, the government has so far transferred nine installments amounting around Rs 1.57 lakh crore to farmer families under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. An annual financial benefit of Rs 6,000 is provided to eligible beneficiary farmer families, payable in three equal four-monthly installments of Rs 2,000 each, under the PM-KISAN scheme.

 

5. LG Manoj Sinha inaugurates “Bungus Awaam Mela” in J&K: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha has inaugurated the Bungus Awaam Mela with grand arrangements for village games, exhilarating local performances, and other activities to celebrate the 75th year of Independence at Bungus valley in Kupwara district. While inaugurating the fair, the Lt Governor paid tributes to the great revolutionary, freedom fighter Khudiram Bose, on his death anniversary. He also remembered countless others who made sacrifices and invaluable contributions towards achieving the Independence of the country. To make the Bungus valley environmentally sustainable, the LG directed the Forests and Tourism Department to chart out a viable “Eco-Tourism” plan for the region and all other prominent beautiful grasslands and meadows in the UT. He also suggested for undertaking a feasibility study for starting a cable car in this trekker’s paradise.

 

6. PM Modi declares August 14 as ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that, August 14 will be observed as ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ or ‘Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas’, in memory of people’s struggles and sacrifices during the partition of the country in 1947. The day aims to inspire us to eliminate the poison of discrimination, animosity and ill-will, as well as strengthen unity, social harmony and human sensibilities. Pakistan celebrates August 14 as its Independence Day.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Pakistan successfully test-fires nuclear-capable ballistic missile Ghaznavi: The Pakistan Army successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile Ghaznavi. The Ghaznavi missile can strike targets up to 290 kilometres and is capable of carrying both nuclear as well as conventional warheads. The training launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC) and re-validating technical parameters of the weapon system.

Note: President of Pakistan: Arif Alvi; Prime Minister of Pakistan: Imran Khan.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Indian Bank signs MoU with Paralympic Committee: Public sector Indian Bank has signed an MoU with the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) as one of the banking partners of the Paralympic Games scheduled to commence from August 24 in Tokyo, Japan. The bank, through its year-long association with PCI, will provide financial assistance to paralympic athletes. The President of the Paralympic Committee of India is Deepa Malik. In a year-long association, the bank will provide financial assistance to Paralympic athletes to prepare for the coveted sporting events in the domestic arena as well as global platforms. Timely financial aid provided to these sportspersons will encourage them to focus their efforts on the game and win laurels for the country.

Note: Indian Bank Headquarters: Chennai; Indian Bank CEO: Padmaja Chunduru; Indian Bank: 1907.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Indian Navy, IDFC FIRST bank bring ‘Honour FIRST’ banking solutions: The Indian Navy has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) First Bank to initiate ‘Honour FIRST’. ‘Honour FIRST’ is a premium banking solution for serving personnel and veterans of the Indian Navy. Designed especially keeping in mind the needs of the Armed Forces and its veterans, the Honour FIRST Defence Account is supported by a dedicated team of defence veterans. The MoU for Honour FIRST was signed at the Naval Headquarters in New Delhi between Commodore Neeraj Malhotra, Commodore – Pay and Allowances, Indian Navy and IDFC FIRST Bank’s senior officials.

The imperative features of ‘Honour FIRST’:

(1) Studded with a range of privileges and features, the Honour FIRST Defence account comes with a free enhanced Personal Accident Insurance Cover of Rs. 46 lakhs for both on-duty and off-duty incidents.

(2) Additionally, the insurance not only covers accidental death but also total and partial permanent disability. The Personal Accident Insurance Cover also includes a child education grant of Rs. 4 lakhs and a marriage cover of Rs 2 lakh.

(3) Honour FIRST Defence Account also comprises a free lost card liability and fraud protection of up to Rs. 6 lakhs, purchase protection against theft and damage up to 90 days.

(4) Other benefits include free unlimited ATM transactions across all domestic ATMs in the country, free online payment transactions, unlimited cheque books and anywhere banking across the Bank’s network of branches and ATMs.

Note: IDFC First Bank Establishment: 2018; IDFC First Bank MD & CEO: V. Vaidyanathan; IDFC First Bank Headquarters; Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ADB ties up with IIFL Home Finance to promote green housing in India: Asian Development Bank has embarked on a green housing initiative in India aiming to reduce carbon emissions and conserve water and energy. The multilateral development body has tied up with low cost housing financier IIFL Home Finance towards this end. ADB is also planning to engage other institutional stakeholders including the Indian government, which has initiated a massive drive towards housing for all. The program has a broad scope and reaches other key actors in the green affordable housing ecosystem in India to build capacity across a range of developers, other housing finance companies, and local /state/national government stakeholders.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Navy takes part in US Navy-led multinational SEACAT exercises: The Indian Navy participated in the U.S. Navy-led Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) military exercise in Singapore, to demonstrate its maritime manoeuvres. The main objective of SEACAT 2021 was to enhance the interoperability and shared maritime security concerns and preserve rules-based international order. The exercise comprised approximately 400 personnel and 10 ships. The 20th edition of the exercise was organised by the U.S. Navy, in Hybrid format, and included 20 other partner nations from the Indo-Pacific region, including India. Other countries participating in the exercise include Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

About the SEACAT: SEACAT was held for the first time in 2002. The exercise aims to foster enhanced cooperation between Southeast Asian countries by incorporating standardized training, tactics and procedures when faced with crises, contingencies or illegal activities in the maritime domain.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. German Football Legend Gerd Müller passes away: Former West Germany forward and the Bayern Munich football legend, Gerd Muller has passed away. At the international level, he represented West Germany, scoring 68 goals in 62 appearances, and at the club level, he played for Bayern Munich, with which he scored a record 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga games. He was nicknamed “Bomber der Nation” (“the nation’s Bomber”) or simply “Der Bomber”, for his scoring prowess. 

Daily GK Update- 15th Aug, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 75th Indian Independence Day 2021: India is celebrating the 75th Independence Day on 15th August 2021 to mark the country’s freedom from nearly two centuries of British colonial rule. India is marking its 75th Independence Day as “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the celebrations from Red Fort in New Delhi and is addressing the nation from Red Fort in New Delhi. This is his eighth address as the prime minister. For the first time, just as the flag is unfurled by the PM, flower petals showered at the venue by two Mi-17 1V helicopters of the Indian Air Force in Amrut formation. The Centre has invited 32 athletes — who have won medals at the Olympics and two officials of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) at the Red Fort.

History of India’s Independence: The Indian Independence movement began during World War I and was led by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. On August 15, 1947, India got its freedom, ending an almost 200-year British rule. India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian national flag above the Lahori Gate of Red Fort in Delhi on August 15, 1947. It is a tradition that has since been followed by the incumbent Prime Minister, followed by an address to the country.

Some rare facts about India’s Independence Day:

(1) The song ‘Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata’ composed in 1911 by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore was renamed as ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India as the national anthem on January 24, 1950.

(2) The Indian national flag with three horizontal stripes of red, yellow and green was hoisted on August 7, 1906, at Parsee Bagan Square in Kolkata. The first variant of India’s current national flag was designed by freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya in 1921. The current flag with saffron, white and green colours and the Ashok Chakra in the middle was officially adopted on July 22, 1947, and hoisted on August 15, 1947.

(3) Five other countries celebrate their independence on August 15 along with India. They are Bahrain, North Korea, South Korea and Liechtenstein.

 

2. Kerala govt launches ‘COVID-19 death information portal’: Kerala government launched the ‘COVID-19 death information portal’ in the state to maintain a proper record of the number of deaths due to the virus. This portal can be used by both the public and government agencies. The public has the option, via this portal, to search the details of the death of their relatives. All deaths that the government has officially reported as COVID deaths can be found in this portal. The information can be procured by entering the details such as name, district and date of death in the portal.

 

3. Tamil Nadu CM Stalin launches ‘doorstep healthcare’ scheme: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched the DMK government’s flagship scheme, ‘Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam’, which is aimed at taking healthcare to the doorsteps of the people. The scheme will screen those above 45 years of age and others with infirmities through door-to-door check-ups. ‘Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam’ will also detect non-communicable diseases that may lead to sudden mortalities and impact people’s quality of life. Stalin said that women public health workers, women health volunteers (WHV), physiotherapists and nurses will provide healthcare at the doorstep of the people. The scheme is also part of the seven-point vision of the state government which envisions enhanced quality of life for all.

 

4. ISRO chief K Sivan inaugurates Health Quest study: ISRO chief, Dr K Sivan has formally inaugurated the Health QUEST study (Health Quality Upgradation Enabled by Space Technology of ISRO) which will be undertaken by 20 private hospitals across India. The event was co-organised by the Association of Health Care Providers India (AHPI) and the Society for Emergency Medicine in India (SEMI).

Objective: The objective of the study is to strive towards reducing human errors and achieve zero defect and quality service in the emergency and intensive care units of the hospital. The study aims to upgrade healthcare standards in line with ISRO quality standards and best practices. The quality assurance mechanism in vogue in ISRO will be shared with the study team to establish the parameters for healthcare quality standards.

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

 

5. Kamlesh Kumar Pant appointed new NPPA chairman: Kamlesh Kumar Pant, a 1993-batch IAS officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the new chairman of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) by the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet. The pharmaceutical pricing agency was currently headed by IAS officer Shubhra Singh, who was appointed to the post in 2018. Singh has been repatriated to her cadre state Rajasthan, according to an order of the personnel ministry.

Pant, formerly the Principal Secretary (Revenue) in the government of Himachal Pradesh and also the Financial Commissioner (Appeals) at Himachal Pradesh and the head of the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, has taken charge of NPPA with immediate effect.

Note: National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority Founded: 29 August 1997; National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority Headquarters: New Delhi.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. 28th ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting: The Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh led India’s delegation to the 28th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Foreign Ministers Meeting. The Meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Brunei Darussalam. The ARF member countries exchanged views on international and regional issues, as well as the future direction of the ARF. Dr Singh presented India’s perspectives on the Indo-Pacific, the threat of terrorism, the importance of UNCLOS in the maritime domain and cybersecurity. The ARF Ministers adopted a Joint Statement on Promoting the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda. India engages actively in ARF activities and initiatives on Maritime Security; Counter-Terrorism; Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs); Disaster Relief etc.

Note: HQ of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Jakarta, Indonesia

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. World Cup winning U19 India captain Unmukt Chand announces retirement: World Cup-winning U19 India captain, Unmukt Chand has announced his retirement from cricket in India. He had made an unbeaten 111, leading a tense victory over Australia in the 2012 U-19 World Cup final in Townsville, Australia. The 28-year-old, who also led India A as well as Delhi and Uttarakhand in domestic cricket, had represented Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Since his debut in 2010, Chand played in 67 First-Class matches, scoring 3379 runs with an average of 31.57. In 120 List A matches, Chand amassed 4505 runs at an average of 41.33. In 77 T20s, he made 1565 runs at an average of 22.35.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. IDFC FIRST Bank signs up with Indian Navy to offer Honour first banking solutions: The Indian Navy has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) FIRST Bank to initiate ‘Honour FIRST’, a premium banking solution for serving personnel and veterans of the Indian Navy. The Honour FIRST Defence Account is specially designed keeping in mind the needs of the Armed Forces and its veterans. Account holders of Honour FIRST are supported by a dedicated team of defence veterans. The Honour FIRST Defence account comes with a range of privileges and features such as a zero balance salary account that earns up to 5 per cent interest per annum and a netbanking and mobile App that offers superior user interface and experience.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Number Of Billionaires In India Dropped From 141 to 136: In the pandemic-hit financial year of 2020-21, the number of billionaires in India dropped from 141 in FY20 to 136 in FY21, as per a statement issued by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Rajya Sabha. The count is based on the gross total income declared in the income tax returns. In FY 2018-19, the number of individuals with a gross total annual income of more than Rs 100 cr is 77. As per the information available with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), there is no legislative or administrative definition of the term billionaire under direct taxes. Wealth tax has been abolished with effect from 01.04.2016 and, therefore, CBDT does not any more capture information about the complete wealth of an individual taxpayer.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. 4 Indian airports finds place in Skytrax’s top 100 airport list: The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi has found place among world’s top 50 best airports in the 2021 Skytrax World Airport Awards. Delhi airport has improved its overall ranking by five places. In 2020, it was placed at 50th spot. With this, it has also become the first Indian airport to be placed among top 50 list. The Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, has been named the “Best Airport in the World”.

Other Indian Airports in the list are:

Hyderabad: 64 (placed at 71 in 2020)

Mumbai: 65 (placed 52 in 2020)

Bengaluru: 71 (placed 68 in 2020)

Top Five Airports in the World:

1.      Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar

2.      Haneda Airport in Tokyo

3.      Changi Airport in Singapore

4.      Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea

5.      Narita International Airport (NRT) in Tokyo

 

2. Indian Team Wins US Innovation Award: SoftWorthy has been conferred the prestigious National Science Foundation Innovation-Corps (NSF I-Corps) Teams Award in the United States. SoftWorthy’s award-winning project focuses on developing state-of-the-art computational methods for ‘stochastic modelling, design simulation and sensitivity analysis of electronic devices like printed-circuit-boards (PCBs), which are critical for the growth of novel technological applications like driverless vehicles and energy-efficient smart buildings.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Quad Navies to undertake Ex-Malabar 2021: The Quad country navies including, India, the US, Japan and Australia, will be conducting the annual Malabar naval exercises, from August 21, off the coast of Guam, in the Indo-Pacific. The harbour phase of the Malabar naval exercises will take place from August 21 to 24, 2021. The sea phase of the exercise will be held on August 25 to 29, 2021.

About the exercise: Indian Navy will be represented by two surface combatants led by Guided Missile Destroyer INS Ranvijay and Frigate INS Shivalik along with maritime reconnaissance aircraft P-8I, ASW helicopters and Special Forces (Marine Commandos-MARCOS). The objective of the Malabar series of Exercises is to increase the interoperability of naval powers of the four QUAD countries.

 

2. DRDO Successfully Test-Fires Nirbhay Missile: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully test-fired medium-range subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, off Odisha coast. Nirbhay is India’s first Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM).

About the Missile:

(1) ITCM Nirbhay was successfully test-launched with a Made-in-India Manik turbofan engine.

(2) This was the first successful test-firing of the missile with the indigenous booster engine. It can use both conventional and nuclear weapons of 200 to 300 kilograms.

(3) The missile can be launched from multiple platforms. ITCM Nirbhay can travel at a speed of 0.7 to 0.9 Mach, or 4 to 7 times faster than the speed of sound.

Note: Chairman DRDO: Dr G Satheesh Reddy; DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi; DRDO Established: 1958.