Daily GK Update- 21st Aug, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Amit Shah inaugurated National Security Strategies Conference in New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah has inaugurated a two-day National Security Strategies (NSS) Conference in New Delhi. Objective of this conference is to ensure a safe and secure nation by strengthening all aspects of the national security mechanism. The Conference is being attended by 600 officers from across the country, physically and virtually. During the conference, he also inaugurated the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) which was developed by NCRB. NAFIS will help in quick and easy disposal of cases with the help of centralized fingerprint database.

 

2. BRO to build First Steel Slag Road in Arunachal Pradesh: The Border Road Organization (BRO) will build Steel Slag Road in Arunachal Pradesh based on the Pilot project. The Steel Slag Road is the first of its kind Project which aims to make durable roadways that can withstand heavy rain and adverse climatic conditions. Arunachal Pradesh has some treacherous areas and locations which suffer from heavy rain and adverse climatic conditions, the Steel Slag Road project will help to resolve the connection between the help centres and the affected areas.

India is the second largest producer of steel, and using steel Slag will be a cost-effective option.

The Steel industry in India produces a huge amount of steel and after the recovery of metal, a major portion of steel Slag is discarded. The use of Steel Slag on roads will help in reducing the waste and recycling the waste of the Steel industries in India. The carbon footprint in the Steel Slag Roads is lower than usual roads built with other materials. The cost of constructing roads using Steel Slag is relatively less than constructing roads with concrete or cement.

 

3. Odisha Cabinet approved Rs 2808.39 crore for Millets Mission: Odisha State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved Rs 2808.39 crore for the promotion of millets in the tribal areas of the state. The Odisha Millets Mission was launched by Government of Odisha in 2017 to revive millets in farms and on plates. It emerged from consultation between Government, Academia (NCDS) and Civil Society Organizations (RRA Network, ASHA Network and local NGOs). It is the first of its kind of agriculture programme with a priority on increasing consumption in Odisha. The programme aims comprehensive revival of millets in farms and plates to promote climate resilient farming and contribute to addressing micronutrient deficiency.

 

4. Country first electric double-decker bus launched in Mumbai: Union Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari has launched India’s first electric double-decker bus at YB Centre in south Mumbai. The name of the bus is “Switch EiV 22”, the double-decker bus will be run by the Mumbai civic transport body from September. Nitin Gadkari said 35 per cent of the pollution is because of diesel and petrol, and the introduction of these buses will reduce pollution. Two new electric buses, including the first air-conditioned double-decker bus in the country, will join the fleet of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST).

Key features of AC double-decker buses:

a)      App-based seat booking, live tracking and payment on the BEST Chalo App;

b)      A dedicated USB charging port for every passenger;

c)       Adjustable footrest;

d)      Express service with fewer stops during peak hours;

e)      Monthly passes for regular passengers.

Note: Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai; Maharashtra Chief Minister: Eknath Sindhe; Maharashtra Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

 

5. Kerala launched lucky bill app to curb GST evasion: The Kerala government has launched an app named ‘Lucky Bill App’ to curb Goods and Service Tax (GST) evasion. The app was launched by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Aim of this app is to encourage the citizen to ask for a bill every time they make a purchase. The users need to upload original bills of their purchases to win prizes, including a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh. The app will also offer rewards such as gift packs from Kudumbashree and Vanashree as well as KTDC tour packages.

Note: Kerala Capital: Thiruvananthapuram; Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan; Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan

 

6. Government extended tenure of DCGI chief VG Somani by three months: The Union government has extended the tenure of Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) Chief VG Somani by 3 months. In 2019, the government appointed Dr. Somani as DCGI for a period of three years to head India’s apex drug regulatory agency Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). Somani played a key role in the approval of Covid-19 vaccines.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 4th India-Philippines Strategic Dialogue held in Manila: The 4th India-Philippines Strategic Dialogue was held in Manila. In this both the countries discussed Defence and Security Cooperation & also exchanged views on Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-related matters. In February 2022, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the Philippines with the aim to strengthen bilateral ties.

Note: Philippines Capital: Manila; Philippines Currency: Peso; Philippines President: Bongbong Marcos

 

2. World Senior Citizen Day: 21st August: World Senior Citizens’ Day is celebrated on August 21 every year. It is also known as National Senior Citizens’ Day in the United States (US). The day is observed with the intent to highlight the contributions of elderly people in human society and honour them. The day is also celebrated to bring attention to various issues that affect the elderly, such as health issues and abuse by younger people, whether family or outsiders.

World Senior Citizen’s Day History: World Senior Citizens’ Day has its roots back in the August 19, 1988 proclamation by the then President of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan. Named proclamation 5847, Reagan highlighted the achievements of older people in American families, communities and the nation. The United States Congress passed a House Joint Resolution numbered 138, which allowed Reagan to declare the third Sunday of August annually, as “National Senior Citizen’s Day.”

 

3. International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism: 21st August: International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is observed on August 21 each year in memory of the victims of terrorism. The day is observed to show the victims of terrorism that they are not forgotten and they are respected and recognised across the world. The theme for 2022’s International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism is “memories,” as mentioned in a United Nations (UN). The theme was selected after consulting with victims of terrorism and victims’ associations.

International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism History: August 21 was officially designated as International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 19, 2017 in its resolution 72/165. Prior to this, resolution, 17/8 was passed by the Human rights Council on June 16, 2011. It called for August 19 to be proclaimed as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. “Dahi-Handi” Recognised as an Official Sport of Maharashtra: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announces that ‘Dahi-Handi’ will be recognized as an official sport in Maharashtra. The state is set to organize a ‘Pro- Dahi Handi’ completion. The Maharashtra Government also announces that the Govindas will get a job under the sports category and if any Govinda loses his life, insurance of Rs 10 lakh will be given, also if they end up being partially handicapped insurance of Rs 5 lakh will be given by the Government of Maharashtra.

The decision was taken as many cities of Maharashtra celebrate and enjoy ‘Dahi-Handi’ as an adventurous sport. ‘Dahi-Handi’ is a ritual in which devotees of Lord Krishna recreate the ‘Maakhan Chori’ or butter stealing act. It is one of the mischievous stories of Krishna’s childhood. It is also known as ‘Gopalakala’ and it is observed on the next day of Janmashtami.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC Bank opened the first all-women branch in north Kerala: HDFC Bank inaugurated an all-women branch in Kozhikode, north Kerala. Mayor of the city Corporation Beena Philip opened the branch of HDFC Bank. As of March 31, 2022, women made up 21.7% (21,486) of the workforce, according to the bank. By 2025, the private lender wants to raise it to 25%. Deals beyond a certain threshold require regulator approval, which keeps an eye on unethical business practises in the marketplace.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI), a fair trade watchdog, granted approval for the merger of HDFC Bank and its parent company HDFC ltd last week. In the proposed merger, HDFC Investments and HDFC Holdings will first combine with HDFC Ltd, and then HDFC Ltd would merge with HDFC Bank. HDFC Bank fixed deposit:

a)      HDFC Bank increased interest rates on fixed deposits under Rs. 2 crore.

b)      HDFC Bank raised the interest rate on fixed deposits with a maturity date of one year by 15 basis points, from 5.35% to 5.50%, and it also raised the interest rate on fixed deposits with a maturity date of one year, one day, to two years by 15 basis points, to 5.50%.

c)       HDFC Bank is offering the highest interest rate of 6.10% for the general public and 6.60% for the senior citizens on fixed deposit that are maturity in 3 years 1 day- 5 years

d)      For maturities between 5 years and 10 years, HDFC Bank‘s fixed deposit interest rate will stay at 5.75%.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Paytm tie-up with Samsung stores to deploy smart PoS devices: Paytm partnered with Samsung stores across India to facilitate smart payments as well as its loan service Paytm Postpaid through the deployment of point-of-sale devices. The partnership will enable consumers purchasing Samsung devices like laptops, smartphones, television, smart watches etc, from any authorised store in the country to pay through Paytm payment instruments, including UPI, wallet, buy now pay later scheme, debit cards and credit cards.

About the Partnership:

a)      The partnership with Samsung stores will enable us to further extend the convenience of smart payments to a larger customer base.

b)      Paytm through its postpaid or buy-now-pay-later service will provide a credit limit of up to Rs 60,000 per month. It will also give customers an option to avail of personal loans of up to Rs 2 lakh through financial institution partners of Paytm, according to the company statement.

c)       Paytm claims to be the leader in offline payments, having deployed 4.1 million devices across the country as of July 2022.

Note: MD and CEO of Paytm: Vijay Shekhar Sharma; Paytm Founded: August 2010; Paytm Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

 

2. MasterCard tie-up with badminton players to promote digital payments in India: Mastercard announced that Badminton players Lakshya Sen, Kidambi Srikanth, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will come on board as brand ambassadors of the company in India. As winners of the prestigious Thomas Cup 2022 and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the new ambassadors will partner with Mastercard to spread awareness about the safety, security, and convenience of digital payments in India.

This partnership is in line with the efforts of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Digital India. Earlier this year, Mastercard signed on Shiv Kapur to enhance its leading panel of golfers, which also includes Anirban Lahiri as a brand ambassador. Globally, Mastercard is deeply invested in sports from tennis to cricket to soccer to e-sports, with badminton now added to the list.

Note: Mastercard Founded: 16 December 1966, United States; Mastercard Headquarters: New York, United States; Mastercard CEO: Michael Miebach; Mastercard Executive Chairman: Ajay Banga.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. HAL to establish its first marketing office abroad in Malaysia: The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish its first international marketing and sales office in Kuala Lumpur in anticipation of a potential agreement for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas in Malaysia. The change has taken place because Tejas is being considered by Malaysia as a Fighter Lead-in Trainer (FLIT) aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force. HAL marketing office: About the MOU:

a)      As Tejas is being considered by Malaysia as a Fighter Lead-in Trainer (FLIT) aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force, the move has occurred.

b)      Following a global tender released by the Malaysian Ministry of Defence in October 2021, HAL has made a proposal for the supply of 18 FLIT LCAs.

c)       The serviceability of the RMAF’s Su-30 fleet has been challenging due to the current Russia-Ukraine war. According to the statement, HAL can simply expand its maintenance capabilities to Malaysia because it is one of the biggest makers of Su-30s.

d)      HAL is also considering offering the RMAF Su-30 spare parts.

e)      The Kuala Lumpur headquarters will serve as a hub for HAL to grow its services throughout all of South-East Asia, not only in Malaysia.

f)        The office in Malaysia will be the first one to be entirely focused on marketing and commercial development.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Author of Kocharethi, Narayan passes away: Kerala’s first tribal novelist and short story writer Narayan has passed away at the age of 82 in Kochi. He was born in the Malayaraya community in Kadayathur hills in Thodupuzha taluk in 1940. His debut novel, ‘Kocharethi’ published in 1998, was selected for the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award in 1999. The novel has been translated to English, Hindi and south Indian languages. Kocharethi portrays the struggles of the Malayaraya community through the life of protagonist Kunjipennu. The novel has been translated to English, Hindi and south Indian languages.

Daily GK Update- 20th Aug, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s Oil Demand Will Rise By 7.73% In 2022, Fastest In The World: India’s demand for petroleum products like petrol and diesel will grow by 7.73 per cent in 2022, the fastest pace in the world. India’s oil demand remained healthy at 0.7 millions barrels per day (million b/d), about 16 per cent y-o-y growth in June, after an annual growth of 0.8 million b/d in May. Oil demand in India is supported by the rising momentum in economic activities, as the economic reopening continued amid an easing of COVID-19 restrictions in India. Indian oil demand in June was supported by the reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel by the Central Government, coupled with the delayed arrival of the monsoon season and has led to robust demand for fuels.

World’s Prospects: This will surpass neighbouring China’s 1.23 per cent rise in demand for these products, according to the grouping’s monthly Oil Market Report (OMR). Also the United States, which is second biggest consumer of the petrolium products have a much lesser prospects for growth.

India’s Sources: Russia (24 per cent), Iraq (21 per cent), and Saudi Arabia (15 per cent) were the top three sources of oil import for India.

 

2. ‘Yamuna Par Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ organised by NMCG: The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organised the event “Yamuna Par Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” at the water sports club in New Delhi. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, presided over the gathering of Yamuna Par Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Shekhawat was given a guard of honour by BSF members on the occasion. Key Points:

a)      NMCG Director-General G Asok Kumar provided information about the Yamuna Par Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav project, estimating that over 25 thousand crores have been approved. He added that 96 of these projects have been finished and that the others are in various stages of completion. Nearly 5000 million litres of untreated sewage are being discharged into the Ganga and its tributaries every day.

b)      On this Yamuna Par Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav occasion, the new River Champ course was introduced on the Continuous Learning and Activity Portal, and the winners of the Ganga Quest 2022 were congratulated. Also, Awe-inspiring musical performances by schoolchildren marked the culmination of the “Yamuna Par Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” event.

 

3. Goa, first state in India to receive “Har Ghar Jal” certification: The people of all the villages in Goa and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (D&NH and D&D) declared their village to be a “Har Ghar Jal” through a resolution passed by the Gram Sabha, certifying that all households in the villages have access to safe drinking water through taps and ensuring that “No One is Left Out.” All 85,156 of the 85,635,000 rural households in Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, and Goa have access to potable water via a tap connection with Har Ghar Jal.

Key Points:

a)      The Government of India’s flagship programme, Jal Jeevan Mission, was unveiled on August 15, 2019, from the Red Fort’s ramparts by its forward-thinking Prime Minister.

b)      By 2024, the goal hopes to provide every rural family in the nation with a reliable in Jal Jeevan Mission, long-term supply of potable tap water in an appropriate amount and of the required quality.

c)       The initiative is carried out by the Indian government in collaboration with the States and UTs.

d)      Despite numerous setbacks and difficulties encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic, this success is the result of the persistent efforts of Goa‘s Panchayat members, Pani Samitis,

e)      District and State/UT officials, and D&NH and D&D. The tap connection currently provides access to potable water for all schools, anganwadi centres, public institutions, including Gram Panchayat buildings, healthcare facilities, community centres, ashramshalas, and other government structures.

 

4. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched ‘Make India No. 1’ mission: Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal has formally unveiled his Aam Aadmi Party’s national ambition with the launch of the ‘Make India No 1’ campaign. At an event organised at Talkatora stadium here, he proposed a five-point vision for good governance. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor termed the campaign a “national mission” and appealed to the masses to join.

The five-point vision of this initiative:

a)      The first thing that we have to do is provide free and quality education to every child of this country.

b)      The second measure that we will have to take is to provide free and best medical treatment along with free medicines and test facilities to every citizen of the country.

c)       Third, we will have to provide employment to every youth which is possible with the right intention and management.

d)      Fourth, every woman should get respect, equal rights and security.

e)      Fifth, we will have to ensure farmers get fair prices for their produce and get respect so that children can say with pride that they also want to become farmers.

 

5. Sadbhavna Diwas: 20th August: India celebrates Sadbhavna Diwas in memory of Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary. Sadbhavna Diwas 2022 commemorates the 78th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi on 20th August 2022. Sadbhavna Diwas was instituted after the death of Rajiv Gandhi in 1992, by Congress. Sadbhavna Diwas promotes peace, harmony, empathy, and unity among all citizens of India. Sadbhavna Diwas is also known for spreading awareness about greenery, protection of the environment, and the beauty of nature.

 

6. Akshay Urja Diwas: 20th August: Every year on the 20th of August India observers Akshay Urja Diwas or Renewable Energy Day. Akshay Urja Diwas aims to spread awareness about the development and adoption of renewable energy in India. Akshay Urja Diwas 2022, marks its importance by promoting and lining up the alarming rate of depletion of Natural resources. This day makes people aware of the use of natural resources like wind energy, solar energy, and hydropower.

Akshay Urja Diwas was first established in 2004 to support renewable energy development programs in India and promote the usage of natural resources. In 2004, the first event was facilitated by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, where he released a stamp with 12000 children forming a human chain to promote the use of green energy sources.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. United Kingdom (U.K) Inflation Rises To 10.1%, A 20 Year High: Britain’s annual inflation rate has touched doubled digits, climbing to 10.1% in July from a year ago — the sharpest increase since 1982. Consumer prices are rising even faster in the U.K. than in the U.S. and Europe, propelled by higher food and energy costs. The increase was largely due to rising prices for food and staples, including toilet paper and toothbrushes. Core inflation, which strips out volatile, food and energy prices hitting 6.2% in July.

Expected Inflation: Most economists believe worse is to come. The Bank of England says soaring natural gas prices are likely to drive consumer price inflation to 13.3% in October. It says that will push Britain into a recession that is expected to last through 2023. Accounting for inflation, wages in the UK dropped at annual rate of 3% in the second quarter. Those pressures persuaded the bank to boost its key interest rate by half a percentage point this month, the biggest of six consecutive increases since December. The rate now stands at 1.75%, the highest since the depths of the global financial crisis in late 2008.

 

2. Scotland becomes first nation to make period products available to everyone: Local governments of Scotland are now required by law of Scotland to offer free sanitary products (Period Products) like tampons and pads to anyone who needs them. As the Period Products Act takes effect in Scotland, goods will be supplied through councils and educational institutions. The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill was unanimously approved by MSPs in November 2020. Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who has been working to eradicate period poverty since 2016, introduced the bill.

Period poverty occurs when people with low means are unable to get or buy appropriate period products in Scotland.Average periods last roughly five days, and tampons and pads can cost up to £8 per month in Scotland, which some women find difficult to pay.  According to Georgie Nicholson of the social initiative Hey Girls, period supplies ought to be available in public restrooms on a par with toilet paper.

 

3. World Mosquito Day: 20th August: World Mosquito Day is observed every year on 20th August: This day reminds us of the Millions of people worldwide are in danger of dying from it, despite the fact that it is treatable and preventable. The illness has wreaked havoc on people every year. According to the World Health Organization, there was a 69,000% increase in malaria-related deaths between the years of 2019 and 2020.

World Mosquito Day is recognised in honour of Sir Ronald Ross, who in 1897 identified the connection between mosquitoes and the spread of malaria. His research revealed that female mosquitoes spread malaria among people. The goal of this World Mosquito Day is to increase public knowledge of the reasons why people get malaria and how to prevent it.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Bengaluru to host FIBA U-18 women’s Asian Basketball Championship: Bengaluru will host the FIBA U-18 women’s Asian Basketball Championship beginning on September 5. According to Dr. Narayanagowda, the minister of sports and youth empowerment for Karnataka, Bengaluru will host the FIBA U-18 women’s Asian Basketball Championship from September 5 to 11. Dr. Narayanagowda, the minister, presented sports equipment to the Indian men’s team travelling to Iran to compete in the FIBA U-18 Men’s Basketball Championship during the press conference.  Key Points:

a)      Both the Koramangala and Sree Kanteerava indoor stadiums are preparing for the big international event of FIBA U-18 women’s Asian Basketball Championship.

b)      To qualify for the FIBA U-18 women’s Asian Basketball Championship, which will be held in Spain in July of next year, teams from Divisions A and B will compete in the championship.

c)       Division A will consist of teams from India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Australia, and New Zealand. Division B will consist of teams from Hong Kong, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Philippines, and Thailand in the FIBA U-18 women’s Asian Basketball Championship.

d)      The event in Bengaluru would feature 192 basketball players from 16 different countries, 96 officials, and 100 volunteers.

Note: 13th and Current FIBA President: Hamane Niang; FIBA Asia President: Saud Ali. Al-Thani

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. TCS partnership with five star bank to offer hyper-personalised customer experience: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has partnered with a subsidiary of Financial Institutions, Inc. ‘Five Star Bank’ on its digital transformation journey. This partnership enables it to determine lending risk and deliver hyper-personalized customer experiences using the TCS Customer Intelligence & Insights (CI&I) analytics platform. TCS will leverage the AI-powered CI&I platform’s real-time contextual engagement capabilities to help the bank gain insights to avoid attrition blind spots and drive omnichannel customer personalization. About the partnership:

a)      Accordingly, across Central and Western New York, Five Star Bank is a premier provider of consumer and commercial lending services.

b)      The bank was seeking for a solution that provides contextual customer insights to help them better meet customer expectations.

c)       The bank will receive critical out-of-the-box AI/ML driven insights and self-serve customer and marketing analytics use cases enabling its relationship managers to gain deep insights on individual customers through 360 analytic profiles like churn score, sentiment score, product white space, customer persona, segments, transaction profiles, and calls to action.

Note: Tata Consultancy Services CEO: Rajesh Gopinathan; Tata Consultancy Services Headquarters: Mumbai; Tata Consultancy Services Founded: 1 April 1968.

 

2. Yes Bank Announces Partnership with SellerApp to Promote ONDC: Yes Bank has announced its partnership with SellerApp which is a seller-centric intelligence platform. This partnership between Yes Bank and SellerApp will encourage the seller segment of its client base to adopt Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC) and also help them to expand their digital commerce footprint. Open Network Digital Commerce or ONDC is a strategic initiative by the Government of India, which aims to democratize the digital commerce space. The ONDC is also an alternative to Flipkart and Amazon in the Indian eCommerce market. Key Points:

a)      The partnership aims to democratize the digital commerce space.

b)      This will enable a positive impact on the business momentum of SMEs, MSMEs, and other enterprise customers all over India.

c)       It will enhance market access for their corporate clients in small and medium enterprises.

d)      ONDC led by Koshy, is an onboarding partner on both buyers’ and sellers’ sides as it announced plans to be in 75 cities and expand its categories.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Vistara emerges second largest domestic airline by market share: Full-service Vistara emerged as the second biggest airline by domestic market share last month with a 10.4% pie of the sky, distantly second to the market leader IndiGo at 58.8%. The airline is Tata Sons’ joint venture with Singapore Airlines. The number three, four and five positions saw airlines separated by just decimal points — Air India (8.4%), GoFirst (8.2%) and SpiceJet (8%). India’s airlines carried 9.7 million passengers on domestic routes in July, almost double from a year earlier but lower than the 10.5 million passengers ferried in June 2022.

According to data from the aviation regulator:

a)      Vistara, which had a 7.5% market in January and around 9% in the subsequent months, climbed to 10.4% in July. Go First carried 8.2% of the domestic passengers last month, while SpiceJet flew 8%. SpiceJet and Go First have been forced to cut capacity, which helped Vistara overtake them in market share.

b)      After several technical snags in SpiceJet’s flights, the regulator ordered it to cut 50% of its approved capacity for the summer. GoAir grounded more than a fifth of its fleet, or over a dozen planes, due to engine supply problems.

c)       The combined market share for the three Tata Group airlines: Air India, Vistara and AirAsia India for July was 23.4%. IndiGo’s share was 2.5 times higher at 58.8%.

 

2. Goodfellows, senior-focused startup launched by Ratan Tata: Ratan Tata, a pioneer in the field, unveiled Goodfellows, a firm that offers senior folks companionship services. Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons, provided seed money for the platform in an unknown amount. Goodfellows completed a successful beta test over the past six months, and the service is now available in Mumbai. Pune, Chennai, and Bangalore are the next target cities.

Goodfellows: Key Points:

a)      The Goodfellows company’s mission is to create lasting friendships between seniors and recent grads. Goodfellows offers every service a grandchild might offer.

b)      According to the statement, 15 million old people in India are living alone, either because they have lost a partner or because their families had to move away owing to unavoidable employment obligations. The problem of loneliness or a lack of companionship, which has been the main factor contributing to the decline in the mental and physical health of senior adults, will be addressed by Goodfellows.

c)       The relationships that Goodfellows has forged between the two generations are deeply significant and are assisting India in addressing a significant social issue. Ratan Tata expressed his optimism that the investment will assist the young Goodfellows team develop.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. IRCTC & BSF signs MoU to ensure safety and security of booking data, other facilities: The Border Security Force (BSF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to ensure the safety and security of booking data under its air e-ticket service for the troops of India’s border guarding force. The pact will ensure the facility of extra baggage, lounge, cargo and less cancellation or reschedule charges for authorised BSF personnel. The facility of the new service:

a)      This service will provide a dedicated online portal with a credit facility of 60 days.

b)      This in-house Air booking system will ensure the safety and security of booking data with extra baggage, lounge, and cargo facility and less cancellation or reschedule charges for authorised BSF personnel.

c)       The MoU is significant in terms of providing better facilities to the personnel of the BSF, which guards 3,323km of India-Pakistan and 4,096km India-Bangladesh borders.

Note: Border Security Force Director General: Pankaj Kumar Singh; Border Security Force Founded: 1 December 1965; Border Security Force Headquarters: New Delhi, India.

Daily GK Update- 19th Aug, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ‘Medicine from the sky’: First Pilot Project Launched in Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal Pradesh has adopted drone-based medical facilities 'Medicine from the sky. The service was launched by the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu. ‘Medicine from the sky’ is also a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The first successful flight was conducted from Seppa to Chaoyang Tajo in the East Kameng district.

Initiative helpful for Arunachal Pradesh:

a)      Arunachal Pradesh is a Northeastern date of India and it has recognized the power of drones and used it uniquely. The introduction of the first piolet project ‘Medicine from the sky’ will help thousands of people.

b)      The state has also decided to conduct a pilot project in other sectors like agriculture, and disaster management along with health care. The drone service will help the people stuck in hilly terrains due to natural calamities, landslides, and rain.

c)       The drone service or the first pilot project aims to provide medicines, vaccines, and healthcare essentials to the people and diagnostic samples as well. This will maintain time management and decrease surface transport.

 

2. Centre Launches Paalan 1000 National campaign and Parenting App: Paalan 1000 National campaign and Parenting App were launched by the Union Minister of State for Health, Bharti Pravin Pawar in Mumbai. The launch of the Paalan 1000 National campaign and Parenting App aims to reduce the child mortality rate and take care of the first 1000 days a child after birth.

The Union Minister of State for Health launched the campaign virtually. At the launch event, Bharti Pravin Pawar addressed the event and said that India has rapidly taken steps to reduce the child mortality rate in the country since 2014 when the mortality rate was 45 per 1000 live births to 35 per 1000 live births in 2019. About the campaign:

a)      The Paalan 1000 National campaign aims to provide a better future and extra care to the children during the first 1000 days after birth.

b)      The Paalan 1000-Journey of the first 1000 days focuses on the physical and mental growth of children and their cognitive development of children. The Parenting App is a companion to provide information and practical advice to the parents or guardians.

c)       The birth of a child is a very sensitive topic to understand. The development of a baby starts with pregnancy and the woman carrying the baby has to take care of her health to give birth to a healthy baby.

d)      The baby is affected by the nutrition, health, and environment around the mother. After birth, mental and physical growth is a very important factor in one’s life. The future of the child depends on the quality of life he/she gets from the outside world.

 

3. Now, Use UPI for NPS, Atal Pension Yojana (APY) Contribution: Subscribers of National Pension System (NPS) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) can now contribute to their accounts through Unified Payments Interface (UPI), the country’s instant real-time payment system. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has launched a UPI handle for depositing contributions through D-Remit for the benefit of subscribers.

Currently, the contributions were carried out through net banking account by using IMPS/NEFT/RTGS. The PFRDA-administered two schemes NPS and APY are targeted towards organised and unorganised sector employees, respectively. Introduced in December 2003, it is mandatory for central government employees (except armed forces) who joined service from January 1, 2004, to subscribe to NPS. In May 2009, it was extended to private and unorganised sector on voluntary basis.

 

4. Bharat Biotech completed trials for India’s first intranasal vaccine: Bharat Biotech has completed clinical development for phase III trials and booster doses for BBV154 intranasal Covid vaccine. The adenoviral intranasal vaccine BBV154 is the first of its kind Covid-19 vaccine to undergo human trials in India. “BBV154 has proven to be safe, well-tolerated and immunogenic in subjects in controlled clinical trials. BBV154 is stable at 2-8°C for easy storage and distribution. The company has established large manufacturing capabilities at multiple sites across India, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana, with operations pan India.

 

5. Rajkiran Rai named as new MD of NaBFID: The Centre and the board of the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) has appointed Rajkiran Rai G as its managing director (MD) for the next five years. The board of NaBFID approved Rai’s appointment on July 30 based on clearance by the RBI, centre and the Development finance institutions (DFI) nomination and remuneration committee. He took charge as the DFI’s MD on August 8, and will hold the top post till May 18, 2027, according to details of the appointment.

Last year in October 2021, the Centre had appointed K V Kamath as chairperson of NaBFID. Subsequently, government nominees Pankaj Jain and Sumita Dawra were appointed directors to the board of DFI.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Photography Day: 19th August: World Photography Day is celebrated on August 19 each year. The aim of World Photography Day is to create awareness, share ideas and encourage people to take up photography. The annual celebration pays tribute to the art of photography and also encourages those who are passionate about it to come together and share their work. It also serves as a motivating day for enthusiasts to pursue photography as a career.

World Photography Day History: The inception of this day dates back to 1837 when Frenchmen Joseph Nicephore Niepce and Louis Daguerre invented the ‘daguerreotype’ which was the world’s first-ever photographic process. Two years later on January 9, 1939, the daguerreotype was officially endorsed by the French Academy of Sciences. Seven months later on August 19, 1839, the French government is believed to have purchased the patent for the device. They declared the invention of the daguerreotype as a gift to the world making it freely available to all and the day began to be marked as World Photography Day later on.

 

2. World Humanitarian Day: 19th August: World Humanitarian Day is celebrated on August 19 every year to recognise all aid and health workers who volunteer to help victims of disasters and crises against all odds. The day aims to spread awareness about the need for humanitarian assistance worldwide. The UN hopes that the day will serve as a reminder to people of the risk taken by some to save lives and support humanitarian causes.

World Humanitarian Day History: On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello. Five years later, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day (WHD).

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Meghalaya Sports Department set to host 2nd edition of North East Olympics: Meghalaya is all set to host the upcoming 2nd edition of the North East Olympics from 30th October. Meghalaya Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, and the North East Olympic Association was held last evening to finalize the list of sports disciplines. The first edition of the Games was held in Manipur in 2018, with 12 disciplines.

In this edition, about 4,000 participants from eight North Eastern States will be competing in 18 disciplines at 13 venues spread across Shillong. Participants will be competing in disciplines, such as archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, football, judo, karate, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, wushu, cycling (Mountain Bike), golf, weightlifting and wrestling.

Note: Meghalaya Capital: Shillong; Meghalaya Governor: Satya Pal Malik; Meghalaya Chief Minister: Conrad Sangma.

 

2. Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien announces retirement from International Cricket: Ireland all-rounder Kevin O’Brien has announced his retirement from international cricket after falling out of contention for this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. O’Brien played three Tests, 153 one-day internationals and 110 T20 internationals during a 16-year international career and had spells with a number of English county clubs and T20 franchise sides around the world.

The 38-year-old famously blasted the Irish to victory over England in a 2011 World Cup group match in India with a 50-ball century—still the tournament’s quickest. The Dubliner scored 9,048 runs in total for Ireland, including the country’s first Test hundred, a second-innings knock of 118 against Pakistan in 2018, and took 276 wickets.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Axis Bank signed an MoU with FCI to provide “Ultima Salary Package”: Axis Bank has signed an MoU with Food Corporation of India (FCI) to provide “Ultima Salary Package” with exclusive benefits & features to all its employees. With this MoU, the Bank has reinstated its commitment to offering holistic banking services to the employees of the Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) sector. This MoU is a reflection of Axis Bank’s constant endeavour to address the banking requirements of different customer segments, helping them meet their financial aspirations & milestones.

Through this exclusive Ultima Salary package, the Bank will offer numerous benefits such as:

a)      Personal Accidental cover of up to Rs.20 lakhs

b)      Additional Education Grantupto Rs. 8 lakhs

c)       Total Permanent Disability Cover benefit up to Rs. 20 lakhs

d)      Permanent Partial disability cover of up to Rs.20 lakhs

e)      Air Accident cover of Rs. 1 Crore

f)        Free additional debit card for a family member

g)      12 EMI waiver on Home loan

h)      3 zero balance accounts for family member

Note: Axis Bank Founded: 1993; Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Chairman: Rakesh Makhija; MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhary

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Centre Approves Limit of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme(ECLGS) to 5 Lakh Crore: The Union Cabinet approved the enhancement in the limit of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) by Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 5 lakh crore, with the additional amount being earmarked exclusively for enterprises in hospitality and related sectors. ECLGS is a continuing scheme and the additional amount of Rs. 50,000 crore would be made applicable to enterprises in hospitality and related sectors till validity of the scheme in March 31 next year.

The enhancement is expected to provide much-needed relief to enterprises in these sectors by incentivizing lending institutions to provide additional credit of up to Rs 50,000 crore at low cost, enabling these business enterprises to meet their operational liabilities and continue their businesses. Loans of about Rs. 3.67 Lakh crore have been sanctioned under ECLGS till August 5.

 

2. Shiprocket becomes India’s 106th unicorn, raised $33.5 million: Shiprocket, a logistics technology platform supported by Zomato, raised $33.5 million (about Rs 270 crore) in a fundraising round co-led by Temasek and Lightrock India, Shiprocket becoming the 106th unicorn in India. With the new capital, Shiprocket was valued at about $1.2 billion. Since its founding in 2017, Shiprocket has tripled in size and serves more than 66 million clients annually.

About Shiprocket:

a)      Shiprocket was established in 2017 and now serves more than 66 million customers annually while tripling in size year over year.

b)      Omuni, a technology company owned by Arvind Internet Limited, was purchased by Shiprocket last month for Rs 200 crore in stock and cash.

c)       Existing investors Huddle, March Capital, Moore Strategic Ventures, PayPal Ventures, and Bertelsmann India Investments participated in the Series E2 fundraising round as well.

d)      For over $200 million in June, Shiprocket purchased the majority of shares in Pickrr, an e-commerce software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform for D2C brands and SME e-tailers (nearly Rs 1,560 crore).

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Vostok-2022: Indo-China military drills to be held in Russia: The People’s Liberation Army of China will take part in the Vostok-2022 strategic command and staff exercise in Russia, which also includes the armies of India, Belarus, Tajikistan, and Mongolia, according to the country’s defence ministry. China‘s People’s Liberation Army will send some troops to Russia to participate in the Vostok-2022 (East) strategic exercise, in accordance with the two countries’ yearly military cooperation plan and agreement. Vostok-2022: Key Points:

a)      India, Belarus, Tajikistan, and Mongolia will also contribute troops for the Vostok-2022 drill, according to the China‘s Ministry of Defense, but the Indian Army has not issued an official statement on the matter.

b)      China‘s military’s participation in the exercise has nothing to do with the current international and regional situation, but is instead intended to strengthen practical and cordial ties with the militaries of other participating nations, raise the bar for strategic coordination, and increase capacity to respond to a range of security threats.

c)       The Vostok-2022 strategic command and staff exercise will be conducted at 13 training facilities in the Eastern Military District under the direction of Valery Gerasimov, the head of the Russia‘s General Staff, according to the Russia‘s news agency TASS. Between August 30 and September 5, the drills are anticipated to take place.

d)      The participating soldiers would rehearse maintaining military security in the eastern region, the Russia‘s Defense Ministry had earlier indicated.