DAILY GK 1 AUG 2020

DAILY GK 1 AUG 2020

1. AIM LAUNCHED ‘AIM-ICREST’

·       NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), has launched AIM iCREST – an Incubator Capabilities enhancement program for a Robust Ecosystem focused on creating high performing Startups in collaboration with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wadhwani Foundation, which will provide global expertise.

·       This is a first of its kind initiative for advancing innovation at scale in India. 

2. “EASING DOING BUSINESS FOR ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT”

·       Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, inaugurated the National Digital Conference on “Easing Doing Business for Atmanirbhar Bharat” organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with the Department for Promotion of Investment and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to improve the business environment of India.

·       To promote finance for investments, the government improves the availability of long term finance for industries and the government has identified around 20 industrial sectors to focus.

3. BRICS ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS’ MEETING

·       Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) participated in the 6th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meeting under the presidency of Russia along with the Environment minister of Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa over a virtual platform from New Delhi. 

·        The BRICS nations called the initiative to improve the environment and promote the circular economy in national plans for economic recovery after COVID-19.

·        The National Clean Air Programme launched in 2019 with an aim to reduce the air pollution by 20-30% relative to 2017 level by 2024.

4. GREAT EASTERN SHIPPING COMPANY LTD APPOINTED URJIT PATEL AS INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

·        Great Eastern Shipping Company Ltd announced that its board has appointed former Reserve Bank of India(RBI) Governor Urjit Patel as an additional and independent director for a term of 5 years, effective from August 01, 2020.

·        He started his professional career at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as an economist in 1990.

·        He has authored a book titled ‘Overdraft: Saving the Indian Saver’. The book will be published by HarperCollins India.

5. MARS 2020 MISSION

·        United States’ 5th Mars Mission “Mars 2020” initiated by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) after launching  the biggest Mars rover named “Perseverance”, which was lifted off by United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 541 rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, US.

·        The rover will land on Jezero Crater of Mars on Feb. 18, 2021 with duration of at least one Mars year (about 687 Earth days).

·        The outlay of Mars mission 2020 is around $2.7 billion.

·        The project aimed to seek signs of ancient life and collect first Martian rock and soil samples for possible return to Earth for analyzing and will be retrieved during future missions in 2031.