DAILY GK 23 JULY 2020

DAILY GK 23 JULY 2020

1. ITUC GLOBAL RIGHTS INDEX 2020

·     In accordance with the 7th edition of “International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index 2020-The World’s Worst Countries for Workers”, India became the new entrant in the 10 worst countries for working people in the world, with a rating of 5 that states “No guarantee of rights”.

·     The index ranked 144 countries on the basis of respect for workers’ rights.

·     The other countries among the worst ten are- Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia,  Kazakhstan, Philippines, Turkey and Zimbabwe along with Egypt & Honduras being the other two new entrants apart from India.

·     India’s ranking was based on three factors viz. Mass dismissals, Brutal repression of strikes, and Regressive laws.

2. AZAD PATTAN HYDEL POWER PROJECT IN POK

·     Pakistan and Gezhouba Group Company Limited of China signed an Engineer Procurement and Contract (EPC) agreement for the 700 MW Azad Pattan Hydel Power Project on Jhelum River in the Sudhnoti District of Pakistan occupied Kashmir(PoK). 

·     Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan witnessed the signing in a ceremony in Islamabad.

·     This 1.5 billion USD project is a 2nd power project under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC).

3. LIC-UBI ANNOUNCED CORPORATE AGENCY PACT

·     Union Bank of India (UBI), after its amalgamation with Corporation Bank and Andhra Bank, has announced a corporate agency agreement with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to distribute latter’s policies.

·     As per the pact, UBI can act as a financial supermarket by offering LIC products of term insurance, pension, plan, children plan, ULIPs, and endowment schemes to its account holders, whereby they can select products according to their choice.

4. FAMPAY LAUNCHED INDIA’S 1ST NUMBERLESS CARD, FAMCARD 

·     FamPay, India’s first Neobank for teenagers, in partnership with IDFC First Bank launched  India’s 1st numberless card, FamCard.

·     FamPay with National Payments Corporation of India(NPCI) developed this card. 

·     This card is accepted across the RuPay payment network of merchants.

·     It is similar to a debit card which enables teenagers to transact in a cashless manner. 

·     Teenagers can use the card independently without the intervention of the parents.

·     For every transaction a ‘Flash PIN’  is generated. Teens can just flash this PIN to the cashier for offline payments  without the need of entering the PIN by themselves on the POS machines.

5. GULBENKIAN PRIZE FOR HUMANITY

·     A 17 years old climate activist from Sweden namely Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg became the first recipient of the inaugural (1st edition) Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, awarded by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

·     The award in the amount 1 million euro ($1.15 million) recognized her ability to mobilize younger generations for the cause of climate change. 

·     The entire amount of 1 million euro from the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity would be donated by Greta Thunberg to the project and organisations who are working to help people on the front lines affected by the climate crisis and ecological crisis.

6. 1ST WOMAN TO CHAIR LISTED INDIAN IT FIRM

·     Roshni Nadar Malhotra, India’s richest woman becomes the 1st woman to head a listed Indian IT company as she took over as the Chairperson of HCL Technologies from her father and billionaire Shiv Nadar(Founder & chairman). 

·     Shiv Nadar will continue to be the Managing Director of the company with designation as Chief Strategy Officer.

·     In addition to the post of Chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra will also continue to be the CEO of HCL Corporation.

7. RAHUL BAJAJ TO STEP DOWN AS BAJAJ FINANCE CHAIRMAN

·     Rahul Bajaj, the present non-executive chairman of Bajaj Finance has decided to step down on July 31, 2020 and he will be replaced by his son Sanjiv Bajaj (the present Vice Chairman of the company) from August1. 

·     Rahul Bajaj will continue to serve as a non-executive non independent director of the company. 

8. ANTI TANK GUIDED NAG MISSILE NAMED “DHRUVASTRA”

·     The Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) conducted the flight trials of the HELINA (Helicopter-launched Nag Missile) anti-tank guided missile named “Dhruvastra” without Helicopter at the Interim Test Range in Balasore, Odisha.

·     The flight trials were conducted in direct and top attack mode.

·     HELINA is a 3rd generation ‘fire and forget’ class anti-tank guided missile (ATGM)system mounted on the Advanced Light Helicopter(ALH).

9. INDIAN ARMY GETS DRDO’S BHARAT – WORLD’S MOST AGILE AND LIGHTEST DRONE

·     Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) provides the drone named “Bharat” – indigenously developed by the Chandigarh based laboratory of DRDO, to the Indian Army to monitor the high altitude areas and mountain terrains along the line of actual control in the Easter Ladakh (China Border).

·     The Bharat series drones are listed among World’s most agile and lightest surveillance drones.

10. MUKHYA MANTRI GHAR GHAR RATION YOJANA

·     The Delhi Cabinet has approved ‘Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana’ to deliver ration directly to the homes of beneficiaries.

·     This scheme and Centre’s ‘One Nation One Ration Card‘ scheme will be implemented on the same day in Delhi.

·     After the completion of the  tendering process and other formalities, the doorstep delivery of ration scheme will be implemented.

·     This will take around 6 to 7 months.

·     Under the scheme, wheat, flour( instead of wheat grains), rice and sugar will be packed hygienically in bags and delivered to the doorstep of people ventilators for COVID-19 treatment.