DAILY GK 15 OCT 2020

 DAILY GK 15 OCT 2020

 

1. RS.100 COIN TO HONOUR RAJMATA VIJAYARAJESCINDIA

•    PM Narendra Modi released the new coin of Rs.100 denominations to honour the legacy of Rajmata VijayarajeScindia on the occasion of her birth centenary over a virtual event. She was born on 12th October 1919.

•    Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of Culture and the family members of Vijayaraje Scindia participated in the event.

•    She penned her autobiography “The last Maharani of Gwalior” with the support of author Manohar Malgonkar.

              

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Daily GK 14 Oct. 2020

 

1. NITI AAYOG ANNOUNCED GOVERNING STRUCTURE OF INDIA ENERGY MODELLING FORUM (IEMF)

·      NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) jointly launched the India Energy Modelling Forum (IEMF) under the US–India Strategic Energy Partnership (SEP).

·      Now, for its constitution, on October 8, 2020 NITI Aayog announced its governing structure consisting of an inter-ministerial and a steering committee.

 

2. RS 73,000 CR STIMULUS TO BOOST CONSUMER SPENDING AMID COVID-19 SLOWDOWN

·      Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman announced measures of Rs 73,000 crore to stimulate consumer spending before the end of this Financial Year (FY21) to fight the COVID-19 lockdown induced slowdown, during a press conference in New Delhi.

·      The allocation was made under the two heads- Consumer Spending and Capital Expenditure.

·      Consumer Spending

·      Leave Travel Concession (LTC) Cash Voucher Scheme

·      Special Festival Advance Scheme (SFAS)

·      Capital Expenditure

·      Special Assistance to the states; interest-free 50-year loan to States of Rs. 12,000 crore Capital Expenditure (CAPEX)

·      Enhanced Budget Provisions of Rs. 25,000 crore

 

3. PRESIDENT RAM NATH KOVIND GIVES ASSENT TO DISTURBED AREAS (AMENDMENT) BILL IN GUJARAT

·      President Ram Nath Kovind has given Assent to the Gujarat Disturbed Area  (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

·      The Act will prohibit transfer of Assets (Immovable Property) in disturbed areas and protects tenants from vacating the properties.

·      The main aim of the act is to stop polarisation and to check attempts to cause “Demographic Imbalance”.

·      Gujarat Disturbed Area (Amendment) Bill, 2019 has amended “The Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act”, 1991 commonly referred to as Disturbed Areas Act.

 

4. FIVE EYES ALLIANCE DEMAND ACCESS TO END-TO-END ENCRYPTED CHATS FROM TECH COMPANIES

·      Members of the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance (United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.)  Along with India, Japan has asked Big Tech Companies to find a solution for Law Enforcement Agencies to access end-to-end encrypted chats.

·      The Countries highlighted that encryption has become a tool for terrorists and child traffickers, and poses risk to thousands of innocent lives.

·      India, Japan are not members of the Intelligence Alliance.

 

5. HIGH-SPEED SATELLITE CONNECTIVITY TO 5,000 REMOTE GRAM PANCHAYATS

·      Hughes Communications India Private Limited (Hughes India), a subsidiary of Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) has been selected by Bharat Broadband Nigam Limited (BBNL) and Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd.(TCIL)

·      To provide high-speed satellite connectivity to 5,000 remote gram panchayats 15 states and UTs(including border and Naxal-affected areas) of India including Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram & Tripura among others by August 2021.

·      Hughes India will provide internet service to the gram panchayats using the capacity from ISRO’s communications satellites, GSAT-19 and GSAT-11.

 

6. INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION 2020 – OCTOBER 13

·      The first International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was observed in 1989.

·      The theme of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2020 is “it’s all about governance” which is associated with the Target E of Sendai Framework.

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Daily GK 13 Oct. 2020

 

1. PROPERTY CARDS UNDER THE SVAMITVA SCHEME

•    PM Narendra Modi launched a physical distribution of property cards, a legal document of owning their houses under the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas(SVAMITVA) scheme over a virtual platform.

•    This will support to make rural India self-sufficient.         

•    The property cards, the legal papers of the houses have been handed over to the more than 1 lakh beneficiaries from 763 villages across Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

 

2. NECHIPHU TUNNEL IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH

•    Rajnath Singh, Union Defence Minister virtually inaugurated 44 bridges, built by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) across 7 States/UTs(Union Territories) in border areas.

•    Most of these bridges are in strategically important areas and will help armed forces to ensure quick movement of troops and weapons.

•    He also laid the Foundation Stone for 450 meters long, ‘Nechiphu Tunnel’, a bi-lane tunnel, on the road to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

 

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Daily GK 11, 12 Oct. 2020

 

1. INDIA’S 1ST ‘HAR GHAR JAL’ STATE

•    Goa has become the first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ state in the country under Centre Governments Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) by providing 100% tap water connections in Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) covering 2.30 lakh households.

•    T he state has achieved the target before time i.e. by 2021.

•    There are 1 lakh 65 thousand rural households in North Goa and 98,000 rural households in South Goa in 191 Gram Panchayats.

 

2. WORLD’S 2ND SMOG TOWER AT CONNAUGHT PLACE

•    Delhi has become the first state in the country to have the ‘Tree Transplantation Policy’ for the preservation of trees which was approved by the state’s cabinet on October 9, 2020.

•    Under this, a minimum of 80% of trees affected by a development or construction project will be transplanted.

•    Apart from above, the state cabinet also gave its nod for the installation of the second smog tower in the world after China and 1st in Delhi worth Rs 20 crore at Connaught Place within ten months.

•    Both Approvals are a part of Delhi’s movement of “Yuddh, PradushanKeViruddh” against the air pollution levels.

 

3. HIGHLIGHTS OF BI- MONTHLY MPC 2020-21

•    The 6-member 25th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of RBI was headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das.

•    Notably for this meeting, the MPC got three new members replacing earlier ones (Ravindra Dholakia, PamiDua and Chetan Ghate) as their four-year tenure ended in September 2020.

•    The new members are:Dr. Ashima Goyal, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) member, ShashankaBhide, Senior Advisor, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), Professor Jayanth Varma, Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Ahmedabad (Gujarat).

 

4. WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD DAY 2020

•    World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is celebrated bi-annually on the second Saturday in May and in October.

•    WMBD 2020, in October falls on October 10.The UN(United Nations) led awareness-raising campaign highlights the need to conserve the migratory birds and their habitats, as they face threats.

•    The day also aims to spotlights their ecological importance and calls for their global conservation through international cooperation.

•    Theme of World Migratory Bird Day 2020- “Birds Connect Our World”.

 

 

 

 

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Daily GK 09 Oct. 2020

1. FIRST-EVER BRAND & LOGO FOR INDIAN COTTON

•  Union Minister for Textiles, Smriti Zubin Irani launched First-Ever Brand & Logo for Indian Cotton through virtual mode on occasion of World Cotton Day on October 7, 2020.

•  India’s Premium Cotton is set to be known as ‘Kasturi Cotton’ in World Cotton Trade. 

•  It will represent Whiteness, Brightness, Softness, Purity, Luster, Uniqueness and Indianness. 

 

2. ‘JAN ANDOLAN’ CAMPAIGN FOR COVID-19 APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR

•  PM Narendra Modi launched ‘Jan Andolan’ (People’s Participation) campaign for following COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour. 

•  The awareness campaign will promote COVID-19 behaviour ahead of the upcoming festive season and the reopening of the economy.

•  Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the citizens to “Wear Mask, Wash Hands, Follow Social Distance and Practice ‘Do Gaj Ki Doori’ (a distance of two yards)”. 

 

3. COVID-19 TO PUSH 150 MILLION PEOPLE INTO EXTREME POVERTY

•  According to the report ‘Poverty and Shared Prosperity 2020: Reversals of Fortune’ released by the World Bank Group around 150 Million People will be pushed into Extreme Poverty by the end of 2021 due to COVID-19.

•  This is the first rise in Extreme Poverty Percentage in 20 years.

•  The report analyzes three aspects which are driving the increase in global poverty – COVID-19, Armed Conflict and Climate Change.

•  The pandemic is expected to push 88 Million-115 Million people into extreme poverty in 2020.

•  The World Bank highlighted the lack of data in India as a hindrance for monitoring Global Poverty.

•  Government of India has not released 2017-18 All India Household Consumer Expenditure Survey Data due to which there is lack of data.

 

4. CONCESSION AGREEMENT WITH UP GOVERNMENT FOR JEWAR AIRPORT

•  The Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and the Zurich Airport International AG (ZAIA) signed a 40-year concession agreement which grants license to Zurich Airport for designing, building and operating the Noida International Airport(NIA) (also known as Jewar Airport) at Jewar, outskirts of Delhi.

•  The concession agreement was signed with the Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) a special purpose vehicle incorporated by Zurich Airport for this project.

 

5. M RAJESHWAR RAO AS THE NEW DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF RBI

•  Government of India appointed M Rajeshwar Rao as the new 4th deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) responsible for financial regulations.

•  He will succeed NS Vishwanathan, the former 4th Deputy Governor of RBI, who resigned in March 2020 before the completion of his term (June 2020).

•  M Rajeshwar  Rao is currently serving as the executive director of RBI.

 

6. ASHWANI KUMAR, PASSED AWAY AT 69

•  Ashwani Kumar, the former Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and former governor of Manipur and Nagaland committed suicide and was found dead in his residence in Shimla.

•  He was born on 15th November 1950 in Nahan, Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh.

•  He was currently serving as the vice chancellor of a Private university in Shimla.

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Daily GK 08TH Oct. 2020

 Daily GK 08TH Oct. 2020

1. 42ND GST COUNCIL MEETING

•  In the current fiscal (FY21), the states are facing Rs 2.35 lakh crore Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue shortfall, out of which, Rs 97,000 crore is on account of GST shortfall, while Rs 1.38 lakh crore is due to COVID-19 pandemic.

•  It was decided that this year’s compensation cess collected amounting to Rs 20,000 crore will be disbursed to the states.

•  The transition period of five years for levy of Compensation Cess will be extended i.e. beyond June, 2022.

 

2.  ‘INDIA PV EDGE 2020’

•  NITI Aayog, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Invest India jointly organized a Global Symposium ‘India PV Edge 2020’ virtually. It was organized to inform global Photovoltaics (PV) about opportunities in India.

•  Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge) for New and Renewable Energy, R.K. Singh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) NITI Aayog, Amitabh Kant, Managing Director (MD) & CEO of Invest India Deepak Bagla attended the session. 

•  India is the third largest solar capacity country in the world.

•  It has set an ambitious target of 450 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, which includes 300 GW of solar capacity.

•  India’s renewable capacity installation has increased by 2.5 times and solar capacity has increased by 13 times in the last six years.

 

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Daily GK 07 Oct. 2020

 Daily GK 07 Oct. 2020

1. MY GANGA MY DOLPHIN CAMPAIGN

•  On the occasion of Ganga River Dolphin Day i.e. on October 5, 2020, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Forest Department launched a Dolphin-based ecotourism programme namely “My Ganga My Dolphin campaign” at six sites across the states of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar and West Bengal (WB).

•  During the campaign, Dolphin census will be conducted in the 250 km stretch from Bijnor (UP) to Narora (UP), many community awareness campaigns will be carried out and young volunteers will be encouraged to enrol as Ganga Mitras.

 

2. 5TH SPECIAL SESSION OF THE WHO EXECUTIVE BOARD

•  Dr Harsh Vardhan, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) virtually chaired the 5th Special Session of Bureau of the Executive Board as Chairman of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO).

•  The objective behind this session was to ensure the full and effective implementation of the terms of resolution WHA (World Health Assembly) 73.1 on COVID-19 response.

•  It should be noted that Harsh Vardhan is the chair of the WHO Executive Board.

 

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Daily GK 6 Oct. 2020

 Daily GK 6 Oct. 2020

1. INTERNATIONAL WEBINAR ON TEXTILE TRADITIONS

•  PM Narendra Modi addressed the first of its kind International Webinar on Textile Traditions organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Uttar Pradesh Institute of Design (UPID). 

•  The theme of the International Webinar was “Weaving Relations: Textile Traditions”.

•  The webinar was held to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi.

 

 2. “DALLEKHURSANI” EARNS GI TAG

•  On the basis of an application filed by the North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC) on behalf of Sikkim, the red cherry pepper chilli of Sikkim, “DalleKhursani” earned the geographical indication (GI) tag from the Union Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

•  It is considered as one of the hottest chilli in the world with medicinal values.

 

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DAILY GK 4, 5 OCT 2020

 DAILY GK 4, 5 OCT 2020

1. FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION (REGULATION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2020

•  Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has redefined guidelines on how non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can accept, transfer and utilise foreign donations and contributions by amending the provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA) with Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020 which has come into force w.e.f. September 29, 2020.

•  The decision regarding its commencement was taken by the Centre in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2020 (33 of 2020) to maintain transparency in NGOs.

 

2.  ‘ATAL TUNNEL’- WORLD’S LONGEST HIGHWAY TUNNEL

•  PM  Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Atal Tunnel’ – World’s Longest Highway Tunnel in Manali, Himachal Pradesh.  The 9.02 Kilometre Long Tunnel has been constructed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at a cost of INR 3, 300 crores.

•  It connects Manali and Lahaul-Spiti Valley.

•  The Tunnel is built in the PirPanjal Range of Himalayas at an altitude of 3000 Meters (10, 000 Feet) from the Mean Sea Level (MSL).

•  The Tunnel is 9.02 Kilometres Long and connects Manali and Lahaul-Spiti Valley all over the year.

 

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DAILY GK 2 OCT 2020

 

DAILY GK 2 OCT 2020

1.  NITI AAYOG AND THE NETHERLANDS SIGNED SOI

•    India is committed to reduce carbon emissions’ intensity by 33%–35% by 2030 and for this nation is collaborating internationally to achieve the ambitious sustainable targets.

•    In this regard, a Statement of Intent (SoI) was inked between NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog and Embassy of the Netherlands in New Delhi, to combine the expertise of both nations (Indo-Dutch) in supporting the decarbonization and energy transition agenda for accommodating cleaner and more energy.

•    It was signed by NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant and Ambassador of the Netherlands to India Marten van den Berg.

 

2.  “AMBEDKAR SOCIAL INNOVATION & INCUBATION MISSION (ASIIM)”

•  Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Thaawarchand Gehlot virtually launched “Ambedkar Social Innovation & Incubation Mission (ASIIM)” under Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Castes (SC)(VCF-SC).

•  It has been launched to promote innovation, enterprise among SC students in Higher Education Institutions and to help them become Job Givers.

•  Minister of State (MoS) for Social Justice & Empowerment, Rattan Lal Kataria,

•  Deputy Managing Director (MD) of Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI), Sunil Kumar Bansal were present during the launch.

 

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DAILY GK 1 OCT 2020

 DAILY GK 1 OCT 2020

 

1. PRESIDENT GIVES ASSENT FOR TAXATION AND OTHER LAWS BILL, 2020

·   President of India, Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020 which will amend 5 Acts viz. the Income-tax Act, 1961, Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, Finance Act, 2019, the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Act, 2020 and the Finance Act, 2020.

·   Under this bill the provision of Incom Tax (IT) Act, 1961 has amended by making tax features of Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) at par with Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.

 

2. THIRD G20 SHERPA MEETING

·   G20 Sherpa Meeting took place virtually under Saudi Arabia’s Presidency.

·   The meeting discussed the actions taken by the forum for tackling the COVID-19 Pandemic. This is the 3rd edition of G20 Sherpa Meeting.

·   Suresh Prabhu, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha represented India at the meeting.

·   He is India’s Sherpa (Emissary) to G7 and G20.

·   2020 theme– Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All

·   Chairman– Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (2020)

 

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DAILY GK 30 SEPT 2020

 DAILY GK 30 SEPT 2020

Rajnath Singh Unveiled DAP 2020 Final Document; Approved Capital Acquisition for Arms & Equipment worth Rs 2,290cr

i.After the release of New Draft Defence Procurement Procedure 2020 in March 2020 (Read Here), the final form of DAP 2020, a renamed version of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), was unveiled by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh which has been prepared on the lines of Atmanirbhar Bharat to empower domestic industry with the ultimate aim of turning India into a global manufacturing hub. It will be applicable with effect from October 1, 2020 for a period of five years i.e. till 2025.
ii.During the meeting, DAC approved the procurement of Static HF Tans-receiver sets and Smart Anti Airfield Weapon (SAAW) under the Buy Indian [IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)] category. 
iii.Apart from above, DAC also accorded approval for procurement of SIG SAUER Assault Rifles at a cost of approx. Rs.780 crore to equip the Frontline Troops of the Army.
About Ministry of Defence:
Rajnath Singh constituency– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Minister of State (MoS)– Shripad Yesso Naik

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DAILY GK 29 SEPT. 2020

 DAILY GK 29 SEP 2020

1.  PRESIDENT GIVES ASSENT TO 3 FARM BILLS

·     President Ram Nath Kovind gave Assent to Three Bills:

·     The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, 

·     The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Service Bill, 2020 and 

·     The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020. 

·     With the President’s Assent all Three Bills have now become Laws, and have been notified in the official gazette by the Law Ministry.

2. ‘CABLE STAYED BRIDGE’ INAUGURATED IN TELANGANA

·     Telangana inaugurated the cable stayed bridge on DurgamCheruvu constructed across DurgamCheruvu Lake along with a four-lane elevated corridor connecting it with Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad during an event.

·     Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs GangapuramKishan Reddy was the chief guest of the event.

·     It is 426 metre long, and 25.8 metre wide, with a total of 52 stay cables. Except the cables, which were procured from Germany, everything else is sourced from India.

·     It is claimed as the “world’s longest pre-cast segmental span” of 233.85 metres in concrete for a cable stayed bridge.

 

3. MUI COLLABORATES WITH UN TO HELP INDIAN SAILORS

·     Maritime Union of India (MUI) has collaborated with the United Nations to assist seafarers who are stranded on ships due to COVID-19 Pandemic. 

·     Through the Seafarers Crisis Action Team (SCAT), MUI will provide round-the-clock advice, counselling and assistance to Indian seafarers and their family members. 

·     Maritime Union of India (MUI) represents Merchant Navy Officers who are its members.

·     We are affiliated to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), London, U.K. MUI is also affiliated to the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), New Delhi.

 

4. RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX 2020

·     Mercedes Driver Valtteri Viktor Bottas (Finland) won the Russian Grand Prix 2020 held at Sochi Autodrom, Russia. 

·     Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Netherlands) finished second, while Mercedes Lewis Hamilton (Britain) finished third in the Russian Grand Prix 2020. 

5. WORLD TOURISM DAY

·     World Tourism Day (WTD) is held annually on September 27 globally to raise awareness on the importance of tourism in the social, cultural, political and economic aspects of any region. 

·     United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has designated 2020 as the Year of Tourism and Rural Development.  Therefore, the 2020 edition of WTD was held with the theme “Tourism and Rural Development”.

·     Also GOI launched SAATHI (System for Assessment, Awareness & Training for Hospitality Industry) Application was to assist the hospitality industry in safe operations covering staff, employees and guests.

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