Daily GK Update- 26th Jun, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Odisha CM launches ‘Ashirbad’ for education and health of Covid orphans: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a new scheme ‘Ashirbad’ for the education, health and maintenance of Covid orphans. The Chief Minister announced that Rs 2500 per month will be deposited in the bank accounts of family members who have taken the responsibility for the children after the death of their parents.Children who lost their parents or the main earning person of the family on April 1, 2020, or thereafter to Covid-19 will be eligible to be covered under the scheme. Such children under distress have been divided into three categories. Those who have lost both their parents, those who have lost either father or mother and those whose main earning member of the family, either father or mother have died.

Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik and Governor is Ganeshi Lal.

 

2. Maharashtra’s GI certified Jalgaon banana exported to Dubai: The Ministry of Commerce has announced that India has exported 22 tonnes of Geographical Indications (GI) certified fiber and mineral-rich Jalgaon banana to Dubai. This marks a major boost to exports of Geographical Indications (GI) certified agricultural produce from India. The Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, got GI certification for their Jalgaon banana in 2016. The GI tag helps farmers to get the premium price for their product as no other producer can misuse the name to market similar goods.

 

3. Bengaluru ranked as one of the Top 5 technology centers in Asia Pacific: Bengaluru has emerged as the top five technology centres in the APAC region while Hyderabad is ranked in the Top 10 list, a report by Colliers titled ‘Growth Engines of Innovation: How Asia Pacific Technology Hubs are Reshaping Regional Real Estate’. The report ranks the most attractive technology submarkets within major APAC cities, which should serve as a navigation tool for technology groups, as they plan their expansion.

Beijing, Shanghai, Bengaluru, Shenzhen and Singapore currently rank as the top five technology centres in APAC; they offer a compelling balance of infrastructure and talent for occupiers and are well-positioned to deliver future growth and investment opportunities for owners. Other cities are developing strengths in specific areas of technology, e.g., Seoul and Hong Kong in fintech, while new centres such as Hyderabad and Sydney are emerging.

 

4. Senior psychiatrist Pratima Murthy appointed as director of NIMHANS: Dr Pratima Murthy, head of Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru has been appointed as Director of the Institute for a period of five years. She will retire in March 2026. She was awarded the WHO Regional Director’s Special Recognition Award on ‘World No Tobacco Day 2021’. She has been appointed by NIMHANS on the approval of the central government as the full-term director of the institute of national importance after Prof and Head of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Dr Padma Srivastava could not assume the top office due to some technical reasons.

 

5. Arvind Gaur releases book ‘HabbaKhatoon’ written by Kajal Suri: Theatre personality Arvind Gaur has released the book ‘HabbaKhatoon’ written by Kajal Suri. The book ‘HabbaKhatoon’ was Published by SanjanaPrakashan. HabbaKhatoon, also known by the honorary title ‘The Nightingale of Kashmir’, was a Kashmiri poet and ascetic. She was the wife of Yousuf Shah Chak, the last Emperor of Kashmir.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. India and Fiji inks MoU for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors: A virtual meeting was held between the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, GoI, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar with Dr.Mahendra Reddy, Minister of Agriculture, Waterways & Environment, Government of Fiji. During the meeting, both the ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and allied sectors. This MoU will further strengthen the multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

Some of the fields in which MoU was signed: (1) Dairy Industry Development, (2) Rice Industry Development, (3) Root crop diversification, (4) Water Resources Management, (5) Coconut Industry Development, (6) Food Processing Industry Development, (7) Agriculture Mechanization, (8) Horticulture Industry Development, (9) Animal Husbandry, Pest and Disease, (10) Breeding and Agronomy

Note: Fiji Capital: Suva; Fiji Currency: Fijian dollar; Fiji President: JiojiKonousi.

 

2. Actor Will Smith announced his autobiography ‘Will’: Actor Will Smith, who revealed the title and cover of his upcoming autobiography “Will”. The book, to be published Nov. 9 by Penguin Press. Will Smith is co-writing the book with author Mark Manson, and the cover is designed by New Orleans artist Brandan “BMike” Odums. Smith will also narrate the audiobook of Will from Penguin Random House Audio.

The essence of the book: The book will delve into him being raised in West Philadelphia to entering superstardom as an actor and rapper. He’s a two-time Academy Award nominee and won a four-time Grammy winner. Smith starred in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Bad Boys, Men in Black and Pursuit of Happyness. He’s won Grammys for Summertime, Men In Black, Gettin’ JiggyWit It and Parents Just Don’t Understand.

 

3. International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: 26th June: International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed on 26th June every year. This day is observed by the United Nations to raise awareness among the people about human torture that it is not only unacceptable but it is also a crime.

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture History: On 12 December 1997, The UN General Assembly passed a resolution 52/149 and decided to watch 26 June because the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture to eradicate torture and therefore the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. it’s to be remembered that pain or suffering caused by the legal penalty isn’t considered as torture. On 26 June 1998, the primary International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was held.

 

4. International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking: 26th June: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed globally on 26th June every year. The day is observed by the United Nations as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse. The theme of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2021 is “Share Facts On Drugs, Save Lives”.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking History: On 7 December 1987, the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse by passing a resolution 42/112.

Note: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Headquarters: Vienna, Austria; United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Founded: 1997.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce becomes second fastest woman of all-time ahead: Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce became the second-fastest woman of all-time behind 100 metres world record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner when she clocked 10.63 seconds at a meet in Kingston. American Griffith-Joyner still holds the women’s 100m world record of 10.49 seconds, set in Indianapolis in 1988, as well as the three fastest times ever, with 10.61 and 10.62, also in 1988.

 

2. Rani Rampal, Manpreet Singh named captains of Indian hockey teams: Midfielder Manpreet Singh was named captain of the 16-member Olympic-bound Indian men’s hockey team, while experienced defenders, BirendraLakra and Harmanpreet Singh, were named vice-captains. This will be Manpreet’s third Olympics. Under Manpreet’s captaincy, the Indian team won the Asia Cup in 2017, the Asian Champions Trophy in 2018 and the FIH Series Final in 2019. The team led by Manpreet also made it to the quarterfinals of the FIH Men’s World Cup 2018 in Bhubaneswar.

In women’s category: Rani Rampal was named the captain of the 16-member Olympic-bound Indian Women’s Hockey Team, announced Hockey India. Rani is the obvious choice not just for her on-field exploits but also for her innate ability to guide the youngsters in the team. Under Rani’s Captaincy, the Indian team over the past four years have achieved significant results including winning the Asia Cup in 2017, Winning Silver at the Asian Games 2018, Silver at Asian Champions Trophy 2018 as well winning the FIH Series Final in 2019. The team led by Rani also made it to the quarterfinals of the FIH Women’s World Cup 2018 in London for the first time.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Kotak Mahindra Bank launches ‘Pay Your Contact’ service: Kotak Mahindra Bank has announced the launch of ‘Pay Your Contact’ the new feature that enables its customers to send money or make payments to any of their contacts across all payment apps simply by the beneficiary’s mobile number. The ‘Pay Your Contact’ service is available on the lender’s mobile banking app and uses the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform. The ‘Pay Your Contact’ feature on Kotak mobile banking app has made payments as easy and simple as can be. Kotak customers can now make their payments to a friend, household help, neighbourhood shop etc. just by knowing the beneficiary’s mobile number.

Note: Kotak Mahindra Bank Establishment: 2003; Kotak Mahindra Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Kotak Mahindra Bank MD & CEO: Uday Kotak; Kotak Mahindra Bank Tagline: Let’s Make Money Simple.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Finance Ministry allows HFCs above Rs 100 cr to use to SARFAESI law: Ministry of Finance has allowed housing finance companies (HFCs) with asset size of over Rs. 100 crore to recover the dues using SARFAESI law. This move is expected to be a shot in the arm for thousands of small HFCs, as it will facilitate quick recovery of dues and encourage these companies to lend more.Earlier HFCs with assets over Rs. 500 crore (and notified by Finance Ministry) were allowed to use SARFAESI law to recover dues. Currently, there are nearly 100 HFCs that are registered with NHB. The top-10 HFCs account for 70-80 per cent of the assets of the housing finance industry. SARFAESI Act 2002 allows banks and other financial institutions to auction residential or commercial properties (of Defaulter) to recover loans.

Note: Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs: Nirmala Sitharaman.

 

2. Airtel, TCS partner for 5G network solutions: Bharti Airtel and Tata Group have announced a strategic partnership for implementing 5G network solutions for India, which will be available for commercial development from January 2022. Tata Group has developed an O-RAN (open-radio access network)-based radio and non-standalone architecture/stand-alone architecture (NSA/SA) core and has integrated a totally indigenous telecom stack, leveraging the capabilities of the group and its partners. The NSA/SA are radio technology that controls the signalling of 5G radio. While NSA can control signalling of 5G to the 4G core, the SA can connect the 5G radio directly to the 5G core network and control signalling does not depend on the 4G network.

Airtel will pilot and deploy this indigenous solution as part of its 5G rollout plans in India and start the pilot in January 2022, as per the guidelines formulated by the government. According to sources, Tata Group will work with Indian tech companies and start-ups for hardware solutions, Tata ‘acting as a super integrator’. It can benefit from this partnership to export the technology to other countries such as Africa and Sri Lanka.

Note: Bharti Airtel CEO: Gopal Vittal; Bharti Airtel Founder: Sunil Bharti Mittal; Bharti Airtel Founded: 7 July 1995.

Tata Group Chairman: Natarajan Chandrasekaran; Tata Group Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. KK Shailaja awarded prestigious CEU Open Society Prize for 2021: The Central European University (CEU) Open Society Prize for 2021 has been awarded to KK Shailaja, the former Health Minister of Kerala. The award was presented to her in recognition of “her determined leadership and community-based public health work, saving lives during the pandemic”. She demonstrates to the world that determined leadership, community-based public health and effective communication can save lives.

The CEU’ Open Society Prize is awarded annually to an individual or organisation “whose achievements have contributed substantially to the creation of an open society”.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Mawya Sudan becomes IAF’s 1st woman fighter pilot from J&K: Flying Officer Mawya Sudan has become the first woman from Jammu and Kashmir to be inducted as a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF). She is the 12th female fighter pilot to be inducted in the IAF. The 24-year-old Mawya hails from Lamberi village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu division. Mawya was commissioned as a fighter pilot at the Airforce Academy in Hyderabad on June 19, 2021, during the Combined Graduation parade ceremony. She will now undergo rigorous fighter training for over a year to become ‘fully operational’ as a fighter pilot.

 

2. Indian Navy and European Naval Force hold first joint exercise: In a first, the Indian Navy is participating in a joint exercise with the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR). Stealth frigate INS Trikand, will participate in the two-day exercise in the Gulf of Aden as it is already deployed in the region on anti-piracy operations. The aim of the exercise is to enhance and hone their war-fighting skills and their ability as an integrated force to promote peace, security and stability in the maritime domain. Along with the Indian Navy, other naval forces are from Italy, Spain and France. The naval exercise included advanced air defence and anti-submarine exercises, tactical manoeuvres, Search & Rescue, and other maritime security operations. 

Daily GK Update- 25th Jun, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Minority Affairs Minister launched “JaanHaiToJahaanHai” awareness campaign: The Minority Affairs Minister, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi launched a nationwide “JaanHaiToJahaanHai” awareness campaign on Corona vaccination for rural and remote areas. The aim of this campaign is to aware people of the Corona vaccination and to crush rumours and apprehensions related to Corona vaccination. It has been launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in association with various socio-educational organizations, NGOs, and Women Self Help Groups. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi urged members of Central Waqf Council, Maulana Azad Education Foundation, and other social and educational institutions to take part in this awareness campaign. India is running the world’s largest Corona vaccination drive.

 

2. Bihar government launches ‘MukhyaMantriUdyaymi Yojana’: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has launched two ambitious schemes christened as the ‘MukhyaMantriYuvaUdyaymiYojna’ and the ‘MukhyaMantriMahilaUdyami Yojana. Both the schemes launched to promote entrepreneurship among youth and women of all sections under the state’s ‘MukhayaMantriUdyami Yojana scheme. The schemes were promised by the chief minister during the 2020 Bihar elections. Youth and Women-irrespective of caste and creed, wishing to start entrepreneurship, will get a loan of Rs 10 lakh, in which Rs 5 lakh would be a grant from the state government and the rest Rs 5 lakh will come as a loan, refundable in 84 instalments. He also launched a portal on which youth and women from all sections can register themselves for availing of the loan from the government.

Note: Chief Minister of Bihar: Nitish Kumar; Governor: Phagu Chauhan.

 

3. UpasanaKamineni named ‘Ambassador of Forest Frontline Heroes’ at WWF India: WWF India has inducted UpasanaKamineni, Director, Apollo Hospitals, as “Ambassador of Forest Frontline Heroes” with the aim to appreciate the efforts of frontline workers in hospitals and in the wildlife protection space. The focus of this will be on several States across the country covering most eco-regions. Frontline forest staff are often local community members themselves and play an important role in building an interface between communities and conservation.

Note: WWF India Headquarters location: New Delhi; WWF India Founded: 1969.

 

4. TahiraKashyapKhurrana announces new book ‘The 7 Sins of Being A Mother’: Filmmaker-writer TahiraKashyapKhurrana has announced her upcoming book about motherhood, titled “The 7 Sins of Being A Mother”. This is her fifth book and the second she wrote amid the pandemic. Last year, the filmmaker had released 12 Commandments of Being A Woman, which she finished writing during the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The writer has also penned books like Cracking The Code: My Journey in Bollywood and Souled Out.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Montek Ahluwalia named member of World Bank-IMF High Advisory Group: Former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia was named a member of a high-level Advisory Group formed by the World Bank and IMF. The group will be jointly led by Mari Pangestu, CeylaPazarbasioglu and Lord Nicholas Stern. The group was formed by the World Bank and IMF in the face of the dual crisis posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change. Mari Pangestu is Managing Director for Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank. CeylaPazarbasioglu is Director, Strategy, Policy and Review Department, International Monetary Fund. The group will also include Gita Gopinath. Gita Gopinath as an Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research Department at the IMF.

 

2. British lawyer Karim Khan sworn in as ICC’s chief prosecutor: British lawyer Karim Khan was sworn as the new chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court. He pledging to reach out to nations that are not members of the court and to try to hold trials in countries where crimes are committed. He has defended clients at international courts including former Liberian President Charles Taylor & Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto. Khan, a 51-year-old English lawyer, has years of experience in international courts as a prosecutor, investigator and defence attorney. He takes over from FatouBensouda of the Gambia, whose nine-year term ended.

Note: International Criminal Court Founded: 1 July 2002; International Criminal Court Headquarters: The Hague, the Netherlands; International Criminal Court Member states: 123; International Criminal Court Working languages: English; French.

 

3. Day of the Seafarer: 25th June: The International Maritime Organization (IMO) celebrates the annual Day of the Seafarer (DoS) on June 25 each year to pay respect to Seafarers and sailors who help the entire world function by conducting sea transport. 2021 marks the 11th anniversary of DoS. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, seafarers found themselves both on the front line of the global response and subject to difficult working conditions surrounding uncertainties and difficulties around port access, re-supply, crew changeovers, repatriation, etc. The theme of the 2021 campaign is “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future”. The day was proposed by International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2010 to celebrate the contribution of the seafarer to the world economy and civil society. This special day has been celebrated since 2011.

 

4. World Vitiligo Day: 25th June: World Vitiligo Day is observed on June 25 to build global awareness about vitiligo. Vitiligo is a skin disorder leading to loss of colour in the skin creating a variety of patterns on the skin from loss of pigment. Vitiligo is often called a disease instead of a disorder and that can have a significant negative social or psychological impact on patients. The first World Vitiligo Day was observed on June 25, 2011.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. New Zealand crowned first ICC World Test Championship: New Zealand defeated India to win the first ICC World Test Championship. New Zealand chased down the target of 139 to win the first-ever World Test Championship final with eight wickets in hand. The last day of the match was played on June 23, 2021. The match saw 6 days play in place of the regular 5 days due to the rain factor. Kyle Jamieson (NZ) has been adjudged as the “Player of the match”, while Kane Williamson (NZ) is the “Player of the series”.

Important facts: The first test championship began in 2019 with the finals being played in 2021. The top three teams, as a result, are: First: New Zealand; Second- India; Third- Australia. The final match was played at Ageas Bowl Stadium (Rose Bowl Stadium) in Southampton, England. The next Test Championship will be held between 2021-2023.

 

2. TadangMinu becomes 1st Arunachali Woman to be appointed in AIBA: Arunachal Pradesh woman, DrTadangMinu, becomes the first in the state and the second Indian woman in the country to be appointed as a member of the Coaches Committee of the International Boxing Association (AIBA). She has been appointed by AIBA for her enormous knowledge and experience in the field of boxing. DrTadang is currently the HOD of Physical Education at Rajiv Gandhi University(RGU) and is the chairman of the Boxing Federation of India’s Women’s Commission for two years.

Note: AIBA Founded: 1946; AIBA Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; AIBA President: Dr Mohamed Moustahsane.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI General Insurance and IDFC First Bank tie-up for bancassurance: SBI General Insurance, one of the leading general insurance companies in India, has signed a corporate agency agreement with IDFC FIRST Bank for the distribution of non-life insurance Solution. Through this agreement, SBI general insurance will access the IDFC first bank’s larger customer base resulting in wider penetration of its insurance products through the latter’s digital-first approach. Under this strategic agreement, SBI General Insurance will offer insurance products such as health, personal accident, home, motor and travel along with the commercial line of insurance products such as property, marine and engineering insurance to the bank’s customers.

What is Bancassurance:Bancassurance is a collaboration between the insurance company and bank under which the former sells the insurance products to the bank’s customer base. This will benefit the bank too as it gets a commission amount from the insurance company.

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

SBI general insurance MD & CEO: Prakash Chandra Kandpal; SBI general insurance Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; SBI general insurance Tagline: Suraksha AurBharosaDono.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India was fifth largest recipient of FDI in 2020: UN Report: As per the World Investment Report 2021 by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), India was the fifth-largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows in the world in 2020. The country received USD 64 billion FDI in 2020, which is an increase of 27 per cent, over USD 51 billion inflows in 2019. The United States remained the largest recipient of FDI, although, the FDI inflow to the country decreased by 40 per cent, to $156 billion, in 2020. China was the second-largest recipient with USD 149 billion FDI. The global FDI flows decreased by 35 per cent in 2020 to USD 1 trillion from USD 1.5 trillion in 2019.

 

2. No tax on cash deposits made by housewives during demo 2016: The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Agra bench consisting of Judicial Member Lalit Kumar and the Accountant Member DrMitha Lal Meena has ruled that cash deposit made by the housewives during the demonetization scheme 2016, cannot be subject to addition if such deposits are below Rs 2.5 lakh and such amount shall not be treated as income of the assessee. The Tribunal was considering an appeal filed by a housewife, the assessee who deposited the cash of Rs 2,11,500 in the bank account during the demonetization period. It was the case of the assessee that she had collected/saved the above-said sum from her previous saving, given by her husband, son, relatives for the purposes of her and her family’s future.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India, Japan conduct bilateral naval exercise in Indian Ocean: Ships of the Indian Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) participated in a joint naval exercise at the Indian Ocean to realize “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). “JS KASHIMA (TV3508) and JS SETOYUKI (TV3518) conducted a bilateral exercise with INS KULISH (P63) at the Indian Ocean. Naval cooperation between India and Japan has increased in scope and complexity over the years. Naval cooperation between India and Japan has increased in scope and complexity over the years. Last year, in the month of September, the Indian Navy and JMSDF conducted a three-day naval exercise JIMEX-2020. It was the 4th edition of the India-Japan maritime bilateral exercise JIMEX.

Note: Japan Capital: Tokyo; Japan Currency: Japanese yen; Japan Prime minister: YoshihideSuga.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. C. R. Viswanathan, Former Vice-President of All India Football Federation (AIFF), Passes Away: The former vice-president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), C.R. Visswanathan, has passed away. He was 85. C.R. Visswanathan was also a well-known football administrator in Tamil Nadu who served as the president of Tamil Nadu Football Association (TFA) (1989-1993), Chennai District Football Association (1984-2009) and the Coimbatore District Football Association (‘72-74). He was affectionately called as CRV. CRV held various posts in AIFF, such as vice-president (2004-2008), member of the Executive Committee (2008-2012) and Chairman of the Technical Committee (2008-2012). He also played instrumental role in the construction of the Nehru Stadium in Chennai and helped the State in hosting the Nehru Gold Cup International tournament at the Stadium in 1993 and the SAF Games in 1995. 

Daily GK Update- 24th Jun, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi launches crash course to train one lakh ‘Covid warriors’: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a crash course to train more than one lakh “Covid warriors” as he called on the country to be prepared for challenges the coronavirus pandemic may pose in the future. The programme will be to be carried out from 111 training centres spread across 26 states. Amid all these efforts, skilled manpower is critical. For this and to support the current force of coronavirus warriors, one lakh youths are being trained. This training should be over in 2-3 months. The training will be imparted to Covid warriors in six customised job roles — Home Care Support, Basic Care Support, Advanced Care Support, Emergency Care Support, Sample Collection Support, and Medical Equipment Support. This will include fresh skilling as well as upskilling of those who have some training in this type of work.

 

2. Ease of Living Index: Bengaluru ‘most liveable’ city: Bengaluru has been named as the most liveable city of India, in the Ease of Living Index 2020, released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The Ease of Living Index 2020 is part of the report titled State of India’s Environment 2021. Bengaluru is followed by Chennai, Shimla, Bhubaneshwar, and Mumbai, as the top five best cities respectively.

 

3. Naveen Patnaik releases BishnupadaSethi’s ‘Beyond Here and Other Poems’: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released a book of poems ‘Beyond Here and Other Poems’ written by senior bureaucrat BishnupadaSethi. It is a collection of 61 poems that are a reflection of a spectrum of experiences of life, perception of death and philosophical contemplation. Noted writer Haraprasad Das has written the preface. The cover design of the 161-page book has been made by eminent artist GajendraSahu. Sethi, Principal Secretary in the Information and Public Relations department has written several poetry and other books including ‘My World of Words’ and ‘Beyond Feelings’.

 

4. India’s Rank 120th in Sustainable Development Report 2021: According to the 6th Edition of ‘Sustainable Development Report 2021 (SDR 2021)’ released by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), India with a score of 60.1 has been placed at 120th rank out of 165 countries. Finland topped the Index followed by Sweden & Denmark.

SDR Report: SDR is an annual report which ranks the 193 UN member countries based on their performance against the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). It has been released since 2015 and is based on official data sources (UN, World Bank, etc.) and non-official data sources (research institutions and non-governmental organizations).

Note: Sustainable Development Solutions Network President: Jeffrey Sachs; Sustainable Development Solutions Network Headquarters: Paris, France & New York, USA.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. EbrahimRaisi wins Iran’s 2021 Presidential Election: EbrahimRaisi has won the 2021 Iranian presidential election, winning 62 per cent of the vote with about 90 per cent of ballots counted. The 60-year-old Raisi will succeed Hassan Rouhani in August 2021, to begin his four-year term. He is also the Chief Justice of Iran since March 2019.

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

 

2. European Space Agency (ESA) will launch world’s first wooden satellite: The European Space Agency (ESA) has planned to launch the world’s first wooden satellite. It is going to be launched from New Zealand. It will be launched from a Rocket Lab Electron rocket by the end of 2021. The satellite is the brainchild of JariMakinen.

About the Satellite: The satellite, WISA Woodsat, is a nanosatellite. It is 10cm on each side, length, height, and width. The sensors of the satellite have been developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and designers have placed the wood in a thermal vacuum chamber to keep it dry. A very thin aluminium oxide layer has been used to minimize the vapour coming from the wood and to protect it from the erosive effects of atomic oxygen. The non-wooden external parts are made up of aluminium rails.

Note: European Space Agency Headquarters: Paris, France; European Space Agency Founded: 30 May 1975, Europe; European Space Agency CEO: Johann-Dietrich Worner.

 

3. India maintains 43rd rank on IMD’s World Competitiveness Index 2021: India maintained 43rd rank on an annual World Competitiveness Index compiled by the Institute for Management Development (IMD) that examined the impact of COVID-19 on economies around the world this year. The IMD World Competitiveness Ranking ranks 64 economies and assesses the extent to which a country promotes the prosperity of its people by measuring economic well-being through hard data and survey responses from executives.

Index:

Rank 1: Switzerland

Rank 2: Sweden

Rank 3: Denmark

 

4. World’s Third-Largest Diamond Unearthed in Botswana: A 1,098-carat diamond has been discovered in Botswana, by Debswana Diamond Company, a joint venture between the government of Botswana and the South African diamond company De Beers. The newly discovered diamond is believed to be the third-largest gem-quality stone ever to be mined in the world. The stone has been presented by Debswana Diamond Company to the President of Botswana, MokgweetsiMasisi. The largest diamond to be recovered to date is 3,106 carat Cullinan stone in South Africa in 1905, followed by the 1,109 carats Lesedi La Rona unearthed by Lucara Diamonds in Botswana in 2015.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will be first trans athlete to compete at Olympics: The New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard is poised to make history and headlines, as well as significant controversy, after being confirmed as the first transgender athlete to compete at an Olympic Games. The 43-year-old, who will be the fourth oldest weightlifter at an Olympics, is regarded as a genuine medal contender in the women’s super-heavyweight 87kg-plus category in Tokyo. But while her inclusion has been welcomed by trans groups, it has also been questioned by those who believe she has unfair advantages in strength and power, having gone through male puberty before transitioning in 2012.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SEBI reconstitutes Four-member Takeover Panel: Markets regulator Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has reconstituted its four-member Takeover Panel. The Takeover Panel looks into the applications that seek exemption from the mandatory open offer that an acquirer needs to make to minority shareholders. SEBI has appointed N Venkatram MD and CEO, Deloitte India as the new member of this Takeover Panel. SEBI had first constituted this Takeover Panel in November 2007, under the chairmanship of former Bank of Baroda chairman K Kannan.

The Members of the Panel are:

(1) Chairman: Justice N. K. Sodhi (Former Chief Justice of High Courts of Karnataka & Kerala and Former Presiding Officer of the Securities Appellate Tribunal);

(2) Member: Darius Khambata (Former Advocate General, Maharashtra);

(3) Member: Thomas Mathew T (Former chairman of Life Insurance Corporation of India);

(4) Member: N Venkatram (MD and CEO, Deloitte India).

Note: Securities and Exchange Board of India Founded: 12 April 1992; Securities and Exchange Board of India Headquarters: Mumbai; Securities and Exchange Board of India Agency executive: Ajay Tyagi.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. PAN to be declared ‘INOPERATIVE’ if not linked before June 30, 2021: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had recently extended the deadline to link Permanent Account Number (PAN) with Aadhaar number to June 30, 2021, due to the difficulties posed by the ongoing Covid pandemic. As per the new Section 234H of the Income-tax Act 1961, which has been recently introduced during Budget 2021, the PAN cards which are not linked to Aadhaar after June 30, 2021, would be declared “inoperative”, as well as a penalty of Rs 1,000 may also be imposed. On the other hand, the person will be considered as an individual without a PAN card.

Difficulties to be faced by not linking PAN and Aadhaar

(1) The KYC status will become invalid since PAN is a must for one’s KYC.

(2) An inoperative PAN card will have an effect on one’s bank account because that account will become an account without a PAN card.

(3) And in that case, if the bank account holder gets interested on savings above Rs. 10,000 then the TDS (Tax Deduction at Source) rate levied will be double i.e. 20 per cent. The TDS levied on bank account with PAN card is 10 per cent.

 

2. India ranked 51st in terms of Money Deposited in Swiss Banks: According to ‘Annual Bank Statistics of 2020’ released by Swiss National Bank (SNB), the Central Bank of Switzerland. India with Swiss Francs (CHF) 2.55 billion (INR 20,706 Crore) has been placed at 51st place in the list of foreign clients’ money in Swiss Banks during 2020. The United Kingdom (UK) topped the list with CHF 377 billion, followed by the US (152 billion). India was ahead of countries like New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Mauritius, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in terms of foreign clients’ money in Swiss banks.

Funds held by Indian individuals and firms in Swiss banks rose over 2.55 billion Swiss francs (over Rs 20,700 crore) in 2020 marking the highest level in 13 years. The figures stood at a record high of nearly CHF 6.5 billion in 2006, after which it has been mostly on a downward path, except for a few years including in 2011, 2013, and 2017, as per the Swiss National Bank (SNB) data.

Note: Swiss National Bank Chairman of the Governing Board: Thomas J. Jordan; Swiss National Bank Head Offices: Berne, Zurich.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. SumitaMitrahonoured with prestigious European Inventor Award: Indian-American chemist SumitaMitra has been honoured with the European Inventor Award 2021 in the ‘Non-European Patent Office countries’ category. She was the first to have successfully integrated nanotechnology into dental materials to produce stronger and more aesthetically pleasing fillings. The award, one of Europe’s most prestigious innovation prizes, is presented annually by the European Patent Office (EPO) to recognise outstanding inventors from Europe and beyond.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. DPIIT Secretary GuruprasadMohapatra Passes Away: GuruprasadMohapatra, the Secretary in the Department of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), has passed away due to COVID-19 related complications. Before being appointed as DPIIT secretary in August 2019, Mohapatra served as Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). He was a Gujarat cadre 1986 batch IAS officer, who had earlier served as joint secretary in the Department of Commerce.

 

2. Mufti Faiz-ul-Waheed, who first translated Quran into Gojri language, passes away: Renowned Jammu-based Islamic scholar Mufti Faiz-ul-Waheed, who first translated Quran into Gojri language, has passed away in a Jammu. The scholar had also authored several booklets including ‘Siraj-um-Muneera’, ‘Ahkam-e-Mayyat’ and ‘NamazKaeMasayil Quran-o-Hadees Ki Roshni Mei’.

About the Gojri language:Gurjari – also known as Gujari, Gujri, Gojari, or Gojri – is a variety of Indo-Aryan spoken by the Gurjars and other tribes of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The language is mainly spoken in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Delhi and other parts of India. 

Daily GK Update- 23rd Jun, 2021

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Narendra Modi launches mYoga App: On the occasion of the seventh International Yoga Day on June 21, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled the mYoga mobile app. The app has been developed in collaboration between the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ministry of AYUSH), Government of India.

About the mYoga app: The mYoga app is preloaded with many yoga training videos and audio practice sessions, in different languages, that can be done in the comfort of our own homes. Currently, the mYoga app is available in English, Hindi and French, but will be made available in other UN languages in the upcoming months. Through this initiative, PM Modi government aims to achieve the ‘One World, One Health’ motto.”

 

2. Delhi CM Launches ‘Jahan Vote, Wahan Vaccination’ Campaign: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the ‘Jahan Vote, Wahan Vaccination’ campaign, with the aim to vaccinate all people above 45 years against COVID-19 in Delhi within the next four weeks. There are around 57 lakhs people above 45 years in Delhi. Among them, 27 lakhs have been administered the first dose. The rest 30 lakh people still remain to be vaccinated with the first dose. The booth level officers (BLO) are being trained for this purpose. The BLOs will reach every home and enquire about people above 45 years. These officials will inform about the slots for vaccination at the nearest booth. If a person refuses to go to the vaccination centres, the BLOs will request him and try to convince him in this regard.

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

 

3. ReNew Power CMD Sumant Sinha recognised as SDG Pioneers by UNGC: United Nations Global Compact has recognisedSumant Sinha, Chairman & MD of ReNew Power, as one of the ten SDG Pioneers 2021, for his work to advance access to clean and affordable energy. SDG Pioneers are business leaders selected by the UN Global Compact for doing an exceptional job to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This honour comes in recognition of Sumant ‘s work to advance access to clean and affordable energy (SDG 7). As the leader of India’s leading renewable energy company, ReNew Power, Sumant has set an example by building the core business of ReNew Power around the targets of SDG 7.

 

4. Amitav Ghosh’s new book ‘The Nutmeg’s Curse’: Jnanpith Awardee and renowned author Amitav Ghosh’s authored a book titled, ‘The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis’. It is published by John Murray. The book talks about the history of the influence of colonialism on the world today, through the story of the nutmeg. In ‘The Nutmeg’s Curse’, Ghosh discusses that the nutmeg’s journey from its native Banda islands sheds light on a widespread colonial mindset of exploitation of human life and the environment, which is present even today. Some of Ghosh’s other notable works include the Ibis trilogy and ‘The Great Derangement’ among others.

             

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

 

1. Govt appoints AashishChandorkar as director at India’s WTO mission: The government of India has appointed a private person AashishChandorkar as Counsellor in India’s Permanent Mission in the World Trade Organisation for three years. For the first time, a private person has been appointed at the Mission. Chandorkar is director of Bengaluru-based policy think tank Smahi Foundation of Policy and Research. The WTO is a 164-member multi-lateral body, which deals with global trade. India is a member since 1995.

Note: World Trade Organization Director-General: NgoziOkonjo-Iweala; World Trade Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; World Trade Organization Founded: 1 January 1995.

 

2. Global Peace Index 2021 announced: The 15th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) announced by Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) Sydney, the GPI is the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness. The index ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness. This report presents the most comprehensive data-driven analysis to date on trends in peace, its economic value, and how to develop peaceful societies.

Global:

(1) Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008.

(2) It is joined at the top of the index by New Zealand, Denmark, Portugal, and Slovenia.

(3) Afghanistan is the least peaceful country in the world for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, and Iraq.

South Asia:

(1) India has moved up two notches from its previous year’s ranking to become the 135th most peaceful country in the world and the 5th in the region.

(2) Bhutan and Nepal are named as the first and second most peaceful in this region.

(3) Bangladesh has been ranked 91th out of 163 countries in Global Peace Index for 2021. According to the list, Bangladesh is the 3rd most peaceful in South Asia.

(4) Sri Lanka has slipped down 19 rungs from 2020, to become 95th globally in this year’s rankings, and the 4th in South Asia.

(5) The largest improvement in peacefulness in South Asia occurred in Pakistan, which ranked 150th globally and 6th in the region, by moving up two notches from the previous year’s ranking.

 

3. UK Scientists Develop Gadget That Sniffs Out Covid-19: Electronic devices may soon be used to identify the presence of infection in a crowded space using body odour profiles after scientists in the UK have tested a so-called “COVID alarm”. Early studies by scientists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Durham University show that COVID-19 infection has a distinct smell, resulting from changes in the volatile organic compounds (VOC) which make up the body odour – generating an odour “fingerprint” that the sensors can detect. Led by researchers from the LSHTM and biotech company RoboScientific Ltd with Durham University, the study tested devices with organic semi-conducting (OSC) sensors, which could potentially be used as a COVID-19 screening tool.

 

4. United Nations Public Service Day: 23rd June: United Nations Public Service Day is observed globally on 23rd June every year. This day is to highlight the contribution of public service in the development process and to value public service to the community. This day is widely known by various public service organisations and departments around the world by organising several events to recognise the role of public servants in making developments and improvements in the community.

United Nations Public Service Day History: On 20 December 2002, the United Nations General Assembly designated 23 June per annum to watch as United Nations Public Service Day by passing a resolution 57/277. The day marks the anniversary of the date when the International Labour Organization adopted the Convention on Labour Relations (Public Service), 1978 (No. 151) for determining the working conditions of all civil servants across the world.

 

5. International Olympic Day: 23rd June: The International Olympic Day is held on June 23 each year. The day is celebrated to encourage more people to participate in the Olympic Games and spread awareness about the event and promote the Olympic Movement. Based on the three pillars – “move”, “learn” and “discover” – the National Olympic Committees are deploying sports, cultural and educational activities to encourage participation regardless of age, gender, social background, or sporting ability. The Olympic Day 2021 theme is “Stay healthy, stay strong, stay active with the #OlympicDay workout on 23 June.”

History of the day: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved to observe Olympic Day in January 1948 to commemorate the creation of the International Olympic Committee on 23 June 1894. The creation of the modern-day Olympic Games is inspired by the ancient Olympic Games held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. The first Olympic Day was celebrated in the year 1948.

Note: International Olympic Committee Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; International Olympic Committee President: Thomas Bach; International Olympic Committee Founded: 23 June 1894 (Paris, France).

 

6. International Widows Day: 23rd June: International Widows Day is observed globally on 23rd June every year. The day is widely known to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanize the unique support that they have. Several women around the world after losing her life partner faces challenges and do long-term struggle for basic needs, their human right and dignity.

International Widow’s Day History: Loomba Foundation initiated the International Widow’s Day in 2005. According to Loomba, women in various countries experience great hardship after their husband dies. They are not looked at by NGO’s, governments and also societies curse them. Finally, on 23 June 2010, it was officially recognised in the United Nations General Assembly.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Max Verstappen wins 2021 French Grand Prix: Max Verstappen (Netherlands-Red Bull) has won the 2021 French Grand Prix. This race is the seventh round of the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship. With this win, Max Verstappen has 131 points and now leads Lewis Hamilton (119 points) in the Formula One drivers’ title race, after seven matches. Lewis Hamilton (Britain-Mercedes) stood second and Sergio Perez (Mexico- Red Bull) stood third.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. IndusInd Bank launches a digital lending platform “IndusEasy Credit”: IndusInd Bank announced the launch of ‘IndusEasy Credit’, a comprehensive digital lending platform that enables customers to meet their financial requirements from the comfort of their homes. With this, both existing, as well as non-IndusInd Bank customer, can instantly avail of personal loans or credit cards on a single platform in a completely paperless and digital manner. A first of its kind proposition, ‘IndusEasyCredit’ offers a fully digital end to end process that leverages the power of India’s public digital infrastructure – ‘Indiastack’ to offer personal loans and credit cards in a paperless, presence less and cashless manner.

Note: IndusInd Bank CEO: SumantKathpalia; IndusInd Bank Headquarters: Pune; IndusInd Bank Founder: S. P. Hinduja; IndusInd Bank Founded: April 1994, Mumbai.

 

2. Centrum gets RBI’s in-principle nod to take over PMC Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given “in-principle” approval to Centrum Financial Services Ltd (CFSL) to set up a small finance bank (SFB), which will take over the beleaguered Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC Bank). It will get 120 days to commence operations. The amalgamation with PMC Bank is a separate process that would involve notification of the scheme by the government. The first year the partners would put in Rs 900 crore, which will be used for starting the business and acquiring PMC Bank. The second round of equity funding of Rs 900 crore will happen in the following year.

Note: The Administrator of PMC Bank: AK Dixit; PMC Bank Founded: 1984; PMC Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. CII projects India’s FY22 GDP growth at 9.5%: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has estimated the gross domestic product (GDP) of India to grow at 9.5 per cent in the current financial year, i.e. FY 2021-22. This will take the GDP to a level that is slightly higher than in FY20. Rising medical expenditure has squeezed incomes and demand. But recovery is on the cards. Global growth and macroeconomic stability will support trade and investment flows.

 

2. India ranked 2nd in share of central bank surplus transfers: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was second in terms of reserves transferred to the government as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) for the fiscal year 2020-21. Turkey has been ranked first. RBI has transferred Rs 99,122-crore surplus to the government for FY21 which is 73% higher than the Rs 57,128 crore paid out in 2019-20. The surplus transferred by RBI constitutes 0.44% of GDP, while that of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey constitutes 0.5% of GDP.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. LTI Awarded Snowflake Global Innovation Partner of the Year: Larsen & Toubro Infotech, a global technology consulting and digital solutions company has been recognized as the Global Innovation Partner of the Year by Snowflake, the Data Cloud Company. LTI received this prestigious recognition during Snowflake Virtual Partner Summit. The award represents a key milestone for the strategic partnership between LTI and Snowflake and will strengthen collaboration between the companies to empower enterprises with innovative solutions and services.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Legendary India sprinter Milkha Singh passes away: Legendary Indian sprinter, Milkha Singh has passed away due to coronavirus disease (Covid-19), at the age of 91. A former army man, Milkha Singh won several laurels for the country in track and field events across the globe. Singh won four gold medals for India in the Asian Games, winning the 200 metre and 400-metre races in the 1958 Tokyo Asiad. He followed it up with gold medals in the 400 metre and 4×400 metre relay races in the 1962 Jakarta Asiad. He was unlucky to have missed out on an Olympic medal as he finished a close fourth in the 400 metres final at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

 

2. Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda passes away: Zambian politician Kenneth Kaunda, who served as the first President of Zambia, has passed away. Mr Kaunda served as the first President of independent Zambia for 27 years from 1964 to 1991. Zambia gained independence from Britain in October 1964.

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