Daily Current Affairs 20 June 2020

DAILY GK C.A 20 JUNE

1. DR HARSH VARDHAN LAUNCHED INDIA’S 1ST I-LAB

·        In order to provide Covid testing access to rural inaccessible areas of India, the Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated and flagged off India’s first I-Lab (Infectious disease diagnostic lab) from New Delhi as a part of DBT-AMTZ COMManD [COVID Medtech Manufacturing Development] Consortia.

·        I-Lab is a mobile testing facility that has been created by the Andhra Pradesh Med-tech Zone (AMTZ) team with the support of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the National Biopharma Mission.

2. 69TH EDITION OF BP STATISTICAL REVIEW 2020

·        According to the 69th  edition of “Statistical Review of World Energy 2020”, which collects and analyses energy data for 2019 , released by UK (United Kingdom) based oil and gas company BP plc, India was the 2nd  major market after China to increase primary energy consumption in the year 2019. 

·        India’s position at total energy consumption: On the other hand, India’s energy consumption in 2019 was the third largest (34.06 EJ-an increase of 2.3%) only after China (141.70 EJ) and United States (94.65 EJ).

·        Despite, the rate of growth in energy consumption in the year 2019 has been slower than in 2018.

3. JSW CEMENT SIGNS SOURAV GANGULY & SUNIL CHHETRI AS BRAND AMBASSADORS

·        JSW Cement, a part of JSW Group, signed former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly the current president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Sunil Chhetri, captain of India’s National Football Team & Bengaluru FC as their brand ambassadors for their marketing campaign Leaders Choice in West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.

4. PIF BOUGHT 2.32% STAKE IN JIO PLATFORM

·        Reliance Industries Limited(RIL)’s Jio Platforms stepped into 11th deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund(PIF), who bought 2.32% stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 11,367 crores.

·        With this investment, Jio Platforms has raised Rs 115,693.95 crores(1.15 lakh crores) from leading global investors since April 22, which is the largest continuous fund raised by a company in the world.

·        This investment estimates the equity value of Jio Platforms at Rs 4.91 lakh crore & its enterprise value at Rs 5.16 lakh crore.  

·        With this investment, RIL holds 75.3% stake in Jio while 24.7% by the investors.

5. INDIA TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF UNSC FOR AUGUST 2021

·        India was elected unopposed for an 8th term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for two years (i.e.2021 & 2022) starting January 2021 by gaining 184 votes in the 193-member General Assembly. Along with India, Mexico, Ireland, Kenya and Norway were also elected. India was the only candidate for the lone seat from the Asia-Pacific category.

·        India will serve as the president of the powerful 15-nation UN body for the month of August, 2021 & once again it will serve as the president for 1 month in the year 2022.

·        Also India’s approach will be guided by “Five S’s”, as set out by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi viz: 

·        Samman (Respect) 

·        Samvad (Dialogue) 

·        Sahyog (Cooperation) 

·        Shanti (Peace), to create conditions for universal; 

·        Samriddhi (Prosperity).