DAILY GK 30 JULY 2020

DAILY GK 30 JULY 2020

1. BIJAPUR TOPS NITI AAYOG’S DELTA RANKING OF ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS

·        In accordance with the delta rankings for aspirational districts by government think-tank Niti (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh has topped the list of aspirational districts in Overall Delta Ranking for the February-June 2020 period.

·        Bijapur has been followed by Ri-Bhoi (Meghalaya) and Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh) at 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.

·        In the Health and Nutrition area, the list has been topped by Ri-Bhoi (Meghalaya) and followed by Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) and Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh) at 2nd and 3rd positions respectively, stating an improvement towards quality healthcare facilities for citizens.

·        In Education category, the list has been topped by Damoh (Madhya Pradesh) followed by Dhalai (Tripura) and Asifabad or Adilabad (Telangana), stating an improvement towards quality Education for citizens.

·        In Basic Infrastructure category, the list has been topped by Khagaria (Bihar) followed by Araria (Bihar) & Purnia (Bihar).

·        In Agriculture & Water Resource Category, the list has been topped by Nawada (Bihar) followed by Pakur (Jharkhand) & Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh).

·        In Financial Inclusion & Skill Development Category, the list has been topped by Sonbhadra (Uttar Pradesh) followed by Simdega (Jharkhand) & Sahibganj (Jharkhand).

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DAILY GK 29 JULY 2020

DAILY GK 29 JULY 2020

1. GOI FUNDED 10 BROAD GAUGE LOCOMOTIVES HANDED OVER TO BANGLADESH

·        Indian Railways handed over the specifically modified 10 railway broad gauge locomotives to Bangladesh, which will help in handling the increasing volume of passenger and freight train operations in Bangladesh.

·        All locomotives can attain speed of up to 120 km per hour and have a residual life of 28 years or more.

·        The locomotives were flagged off virtually to Bangladesh by External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Railway Minister Piyush Vedprakash Goyal.

·        New rail link, between Agartala in India and Akhaura in Bangladesh is being constructed & financed under Grant Assistance of India to further strengthen rail connectivity.

2. RAVINES OF CHAMBAL REGION INTO ARABLE LAND 

·        Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare announced that the Central Government in collaboration with the World Bank has decided to convert the area of ravines in the region of Gwalior-Chambal belt of Madhya Pradesh into cultivable land.

·        Around 3 lakh hectares land of this region are non-cultivable, this conversion will improve and support the integrated development of the Bihad area in the region of Gwalior-Chambal.

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DAILY GK 28 JULY 2020

                                   DAILY GK 28 JULY                                                       

1. TRIFED SIGNED TRIPARTITE MOU UNDER UNNAT BHARAT ABHIYAN

·        The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs(MoTA) signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) –  Delhi and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA), a Swadeshi Science Movement under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan(UBA), a flagship programme under the Ministry of Human Resource Development(MHRD).

·        To increase the opportunities for better livelihood and income generation for the tribal communities.

·        Unnat Bharat Abhiyan(UBA) is envisioning transformational changes in the rural development processes.

·        The UBA connects the villages with the educational institutions to enhance the social and economic conditions of the rural communities and to build an inclusive India.

2. SCO HEALTH MINISTER’S DIGITAL MEET

·        Harsh Vardhan participated digitally in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Health Minister’s Digital Meet at Nirman Bhawan, Delhi.

·        The meet was chaired by Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation. 

·        The key topic discussed in the meet was about the ongoing COVID crisis.

·        Aarogya Setu app and ITIHAS, a cellular-based tracking technology, is used for the purpose of surveillance and identification of potential clusters of disease.

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DAILY GK 26-27 JULY 2020

DAILY GK 26-27 JULY 2020

1. INDIA EXTENDED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WORTH ABOUT USD 1 MILLION TO NORTH KOREA

·        Government of India (GoI) has extended medical assistance in the form of anti-tuberculosis medicines worth about US$ 1 million to Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

·        It is to be noted that New Delhi’s medical assistance is under the aegis of an ongoing WHO’s anti-tuberculosis programme in North Korea and hence exempted from the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

2. GOVT IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

·        Government of India (GoI) has amended the Rule 144 of General Financial Rules (GFRs) 2017 entitled “Fundamental principles of public buying” by inserting sub rule (ix) which has imposed restrictions on bidders of countries sharing land borders with India in public procurement tenders.

·        The order in this regard has been issued by the Department of Expenditure (DoE), Ministry of Finance.

·        It should be noted that India shares its land border with China, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

·        By invoking the provision of Article 257(1) of the Constitution of India,  the central government has also directed state governments to implement this order for all public procurement.

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DAILY GK 25 JULY 2020

DAILY GK 25 JULY 2020

1. “VRIKSHAROPAN ABHIYAN” OF THE COAL MINISTRY

·        Amit Shah launched ‘Vriksharopan Abhiyan’ the tree plantation campaign of the Coal Ministry in the presence of Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs.

·        6 lakh seedlings have been planted across 600 acres.The Plantation campaign coincides the anniversaries of Lokmanya Balgangadhar Tilak and Chandrashekhar Azad, who devoted their life for service of the nation.

·        The Government has set a target of one billion tonnes production of coal per annum by 2023-24.

2. INDIA’S MATERNAL MORTALITY RATIO DECLINED TO 113 IN 2016-18

·        In accordance with the “Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India 2016-18”, released by the Office of the Registrar General’s Sample Registration System (SRS), the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India has declined to 113 in 2016-18 from 122 in 2015-17 and 130 in 2014-2016 and almost 100 deaths lesser than in the period of 2007-2009.

·        The southern States registered a lower MMR — Andhra Pradesh (65), Telangana (63), Karnataka (92), Kerala (43) and Tamil Nadu (60) as compared to states of Assam & EAG viz. Assam (215), Bihar (149), Madhya Pradesh (173), Chhattisgarh (159), Odisha (150), Rajasthan (164), Uttar Pradesh (197), Uttarakhand (99) and Jharkhand (71). 

·        The target of United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of 3.1 is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 1,00,000 live births.

·        Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is defined as the proportion of maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births, reported under the SRS.

3. APSEZ BECOMES THE 1ST INDIAN PORT TO SIGN UP FOR THE SBTi

·        Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) becomes the 1st Indian port and 7th Port globally to sign up for the Science-Based Targets initiative(SBTi).

·        By signing the commitment letter to SBTi, APSEZ is committed to set science-based emissions reduction targets(across their entire value chain) that keep global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

·        The science based targets are greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets that are in line with the level of decarbonisation required to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement ie., to control global warming below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.

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DAILY GK 24 JULY 2020

DAILY GK 24 JULY 2020

1. INDIA’S FIRST 700 MWE UNIT TO ACHIEVE CRITICALITY NFR

·        The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited(NPCIL) announced that, Unit-3 of Kakrapar Atomic Power Project(KAPP-3), India’s First 700 MWe (megawatt electric) and indigenously developed Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor(PHWR) in Surat, Gujarat achieved its first criticality – initiation of controlled and sustained nuclear fission reaction.

·        KAPP-3 is India’s 23rd nuclear power reactor that is completely designed and built by India.

·        The reactor uses natural Uranium as the fuel and Heavy water as moderator.

2. INDIA TO HAVE 60% RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2030

·        Raj Kumar Singh, Minister of State(MoS)(IC) Power and New & Renewable Energy stated that India will have around 60% of the installed capacity of the electricity generation from renewable resources by 2030, in the webinar on Energy Transition at the second pre-event hosted by The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2021 in collaboration with Energy Transitions Commission (ETC) India.

·        Prime Minister Modi announced that India will increase the renewable energy target to 450 GW by 2030 from 175 GW by 2022, in the United Nations(UN) Climate Action Summit held in September 2019.

·        R K Singh highlighted the progress of India on clean energy and stated that including the projects under development and hydroelectric power the clean energy capacity of India is around 190 GW which is higher than the targeted 175 GW by 2022.

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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).

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DAILY GK 22 JULY 2020

DAILY GK 22 JULY 2020

1. INDIA’S 1ST PUBLIC EV CHARGING PLAZA

·        MoS for Power, and New & Renewable Energy, Raj Kumar Singh inaugurated two initiatives by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) focusing on energy efficiency (EE), improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and promoting e-mobility.

·        Notably, both initiatives are on the lines of the pledge undertaken by EESL and other key stakeholders during the “#iCommit” campaign held on World Environment Day i.e. on June 5, 2020.

·        India’s first public EV (Electric Vehicle) charging plaza inaugurated at Chelmsford Club in New Delhi in order to make e-mobility hassle free and convenient for the consumers.

·        The minister also launched a national programme namely “Retrofit of Air-conditioning to improve Indoor Air Quality for Safety and Efficiency (RAISE)” in order to alleviate the issue of bad air quality in workspaces and to develop healthy and energy efficient buildings.

2. INDIAN NAVY HOLD PASSEX WITH WORLD’S LARGEST AIRCRAFT CARRIER

·        Indian Navy undertook a short joint naval Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the United States (US) Navy near the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) islands in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to conduct maritime drills, against the backdrop of the India-China border standoff in Ladakh.

·        US was represented by US Navy carrier strike group which was led by USS (United States Ship) Nimitz (CVN 68),  a nuclear-powered World’s largest aircraft carrier USS Nimitz .

·        The larger exercise i.e. “Malabar” is delayed amid COVID-19 and set to be held by the end of 2020.

·        It is usually held between India, the US and Japan.

·        This year Australia is likely to join the trio. 

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DAILY GK 21 JULY 2020

DAILY GK 21 JULY 2020

1. INDIAN RAILWAYS TO LAUNCH 1ST SET OF PRIVATE TRAINS BY 2023

·        In accordance with the initial timeline drawn by the railways, it has planned to roll out 151 private train services by 2027 on 109 pairs of routes across the country.

·        In this regard, Indian Railways is ready to introduce 12 trains in 2022-23, 45 in 2023-2024, 50 in 2025-26 and 44 more in the next fiscal, taking the total number of trains to 151 by the end of FY 2026-2027.

·        There would be Rs 30,000 crore private sector investment in this project.

·        The private player will pay the railways fixed haulage charges, energy charges as per actual consumption and a share in gross revenue.

·         The railways is expected to receive total haulage charges of around Rs. 3,000 crore per annum from operation of these 151 trains.

2. DRONES TO INSPECT POWER LINES AND TRANSMISSION TOWERS

·        Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited(MSETCL) has started to use drones for aerial surveillance and inspection of extra high voltage(EHV) power transmission lines and towers.

·        Maharashtra becomes the 1st state to do so.

·        The Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Director General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) gave approval for this purpose. 

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