DAILY GK 13- 14 SEPT. 2020

 

DAILY GK 13- 14 SEPT. 2020

1. MOHUA LAUNCHED CLIMATE SMART CITIES ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK 2.0

·     Hardeep Singh Puri for Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0, along with the “Streets for People Challenge” in a virtual event organised by the Smart Cities Mission from New Delhi.

·     The objective of CSCAF is to provide a roadmap for cities for combating Climate Change while planning and implementing their actions.

·     In order to make cities more pedestrian friendly, MoHUA has initiated Streets for People Challenge to develop a unified vision of streets, in consultation with stakeholders and citizens, through quick, innovative, and low-cost measures.

·     This challenge is open to all cities under the Smart Cities Mission, capital cities of States/UT’s and cities with a population of over 5 lakh.

 

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DAILY GK 12 SEPT. 2020

 

DAILY GK 12 SEPT. 2020

1. INDIA POST LAUNCHES FIVE STAR VILLAGES SCHEME

·          Postman and Postal Department are a vital part of the ordinary citizen’s life.

·          India post is doing exceptional work in the implementation of Government schemes .

·          Now, in order to ensure universal coverage of flagship postal schemes in rural areas, Union Minister of State for Communications, Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre has launched a scheme namely “Five Star Villages” along with Department of Post.

 

2. NEW FDI POLICY IN DEFENCE SECTOR

·          Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy in Defence Sector, thereby allowing FDI through automatic approval to be increased from 49% to 74%.

·          The new policy has a ‘National Security’ clause as a condition, wherein any Foreign Investment in Defence Sector shall be subject to scrutiny on grounds of National Security.

·          The FDI policy will also attract foreign manufacturers to set up manufacturing units in India.

 

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DAILY GK 11 SEPT. 2020

 DAILY GK 11 SEPT. 2020

1.         AATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ARISE-ANIC INITIATIVE 

·             Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog launched Aatmanirbhar Bharat ANIC-ARISE Challenges (Atal New India Challenges in Applied Research and Innovation for medium and Small Enterprises) to stimulate applied research and innovation in Indian Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and startups. 

·             The ARISE–ANIC programme will support applied research–based innovations by providing funding support of up to Rs 50 lakh for speedy development of the proposed technology solution or the product.

 

2.         MHA APPROVED TO RENAME HUBBALI RAILWAY STATION

·             The Ministry of Home Affairs approved the long pending demand to rename the Hubbali Railway Station as Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji Railway Station, Hubbali in Karnataka after Sri Siddharoodha Swami.

·             The government of Karnataka has to formally issue a Gazette notification for the proposed name change with the spelling of the new name in Devnagri (Hindi), Roman (English) and Regional language.

 

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DAILY GK 9 SEP 2020

 

DAILY GK 9 SEP 2020

1. KERALA TOPS LITERACY RATE CHART

·        In accordance with the report on “Household Social Consumption: Education in India as part of 75th round of National Sample Survey (NSS) – from July 2017 to June 2018″ conducted by National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Kerala again emerged as the most literate state in the country with 96.2% literacy followed by Delhi (88.7%), Uttarakhand ( 87.6%), Himachal Pradesh (86.6%) and Assam (85.9%).

·          On the other hand, Andhra Pradesh (AP) is the worst performer at 66.4% followed by Rajasthan at 69.7%, Bihar (70.9%), Telangana (72.8%), Uttar Pradesh (73%) and Madhya Pradesh (73.7%).

·          The survey provided state-wise detail of literacy rate among the persons aged seven years and above. 

·          The overall literacy rate in India is pegged at 77.7% where rural areas have 73.5% literacy rate and urban areas has 87.7%.

 

2. NITI AAYOG CONSTITUTES MPICC

·        As the nodal agency for Multidimensional Poverty Index Coordination Committee (MPICC), NITI Aayog constituted a Multidimensional Poverty Index Coordination Committee (MPICC) which will be chaired by Ms Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (Sustainable Development Goals).

·        These Ministries have been mapped to the ten parameters of the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).

·        Experts from Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are onboard for technical expertise. 

·        According to Global MPI, India is 62nd among 107 countries with an MPI score of 0.123 and 27.91% headcount ratio based on National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 4 (2015/16) data.

 

3. PATRIKA GATE IN JAIPUR 

·        PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Patrika Gate in Jaipur, Rajasthan over a virtual platform.

·        The Patrika Gate was built by the Patrika group of Newspapers on the Jawaharlal Nehru Marg in Jaipur.

·        He also launched 2 books Samvad Upanishad and Akshar Yatra, authored by Gulab Kothari, Editor in Chief of Rajasthan Patrika Group and Chairman of Patrika Group of Newspaper.

 

4. RBI ACCEPTED KAMATH PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS

·        RBI specified five financial ratios and sector-specific thresholds for resolution of COVID-19-related stressed assets in 26 sectors on the basis of the recommendations of an expert committee under the chairmanship Kundapur Vaman Kamath, which was formulated by RBI in August 2020 to set a parameters and benchmarks for stressed assets that need rescuing.

·          These five ratios are: Total outside liabilities/adjusted tangible net worth (TOL/ATNW), total debt/EBITDA, current ratio, debt service coverage ratio (DSCR), average debt service coverage ratio (ADSCR).

·          In respect of other sectors where certain ratios have not been specified, the lenders shall make their own assessment keeping in view the “Resolution Framework for COVID-19-related Stress”.

 

5. GOVIND SWARUP PASSED AWAY AT 91

·        Govind Swarup, Father of India’s Radio Astronomy passed away at the age of 91 due to age related complications in Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune Maharashtra. 

·        He was the founding director of National Centre for Radio Astrophysics of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

·        He is the recipient of Padma Shri (1973).

·        He was born on March 23rd, 1929 in Thakurdwara, United Provinces, British India (Now in Uttar Pradesh).

·          He is well known for his many important research contributions in several areas of astronomy and astrophysics.

 

6. INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY 2020 – SEPTEMBER 8

·        United Nations(UN)’s International Literacy Day is annually celebrated on 8th September to promote the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights among the general public and to work towards a more literate and sustainable society.

·        The theme of International Literacy Day 2020 is “Literacy teaching and learning in the COVID-19 crisis and beyond” which particularly focuses on the role of educators and the method of teaching.

 

7. 1ST EVER CANNABIS MEDICINE PROJECT

·        Jitendra Singh informed that 1st ever cannabis medicine project will be shortly set up with the collaboration of Canada at Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) in Jammu.

·        The progress of the construction of North India’s 1st biotech industrial park in Kathua, Jammu & Kashmir was also reviewed by Jitendra Singh

Note– Through the CSIR, Union Ministry of Science and Technology few other projects are also being set up in Jammu.

 

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DAILY GK 8 SEP 2020

 

DAILY GK 8 SEP 2020

1. ANDHRA PRADESH RETAINS TOP SPOT IN EODB 2019

·          Nirmala Sitharaman has virtually announced the 4th edition of State Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) Ranking for 2018-19 which was released by Department of Industrial Promotion and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of commerce and industry.

·          In accordance with that, Andhra Pradesh (AP) topped the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) ranking 2019, followed by Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Telangana at 2nd & 3rd place respectively.

·          Among Union Territories (UTs), Delhi bagged the top spot.

·          The state of UP improved to reach the 2nd spot from 12th spot in the 2018 ranking while Telangana slipped from 2nd to 3rd position.

·          It should be noted that EODB is a joint initiative by the DPIIT and the World Bank (WB) to improve the overall business environment in the States.

 

2. INDRA NAVY-20- MARITIME EXERCISE

·          The 11th Edition of bi-annual, bilateral Maritime Exercise INDRA NAVY – 20 between Indian Navy and Russian Navy was conducted successfully from September 4 to 5.

·          The Exercise was conducted in Bay of Bengal, close to the Strategic point of Strait of Malacca.

·          Due to the Pandemic, INDRA NAVY-20 was undertaken in a ‘non-contact, at sea only’ format.

 

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CURRENT AFFAIRS 6, 7 SEPT 2020

 CURRENT AFFAIRS 6, 7 SEPT 2020

1)    ‘THE STATE OF YOUNG CHILD IN INDIA’ REPORT

·      Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu released the inaugural issue of the report ‘The State of Young Child in India’.

·      The report provides an account of challenges related to early child development (0-6 years) in India. 

·      The report has been prepared by Mobile Creches, a policy advocacy organisation which works with underprivileged children across India.

·      BEST-PERFORMING STATE:

State	Index score (2015-16)
Kerala	0.858
Goa	0.817
Tripura	0.761

WORST-PERFORMING STATE:

State	Index score (2015-16)
Bihar	0.452
Uttar Pradesh	0.46
Jharkhand	0.5

 

2)   TWO-DAYS VIRTUAL NATIONAL TRIBAL RESEARCH CONCLAVE 

·      Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda virtually inaugurated the two-days National Tribal Research Conclave to be held from September 3-4, 2020 in New Delhi.

·      The conclave will be chaired by Union Minister Arjun Munda.Tribal Research helps not only to make a effort on the anthropological aspects of tribal life and culture but also help to achieve the goal “Mera Van Mera Dhan, Mera Udhyam” since forests are not only important for environment but play a major role in tribal livelihoods.

 

3)   FAO’S 35TH ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL CONFERENCE (APRC)

·      The Thirty-fifth Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC 35) hosted by Bhutan at Thimphu which was held from 1-4 September 2020 through Zoom video conferencing platform amid COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health concerns. 

·      It was held to plan responses and recovery work to address the twin pandemic viz. COVID-19 and hunger.

·      From Indian side the meeting was addressed by Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Parshottam Khodabhai Rupala.

 

4)   PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL REPRESENTED INDIA IN 5TH BRICS CULTURE MINISTERS’ MEETING HELD VIRTUALLY

·      Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism represented India and addressed in 5th BRICS(Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Culture Ministers’ Meeting  held through video conference under the Chairpersonship of Russian Federation.

 

5)   WHATSAPP PARTNERED WITH CYBERPEACE FOUNDATION

·      In order to create awareness on cyber safety among students, WhatsApp Inc.(WhatsApp) and Cyber Peace Foundation have entered into a partnership. 

·      The partnership targets to reach about 15,000 students in 5 Indian states namely, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra by the end of 2020 under the first phase of a pan-India programme.

·      This initiative is built on a previous partnership under the ‘e-Raksha’ programme, which has reached many students.

 

6)   LONG MARCH-2F CARRIER ROCKET

·      China launched a reusable experimental spacecraft on a Long March-2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwestern Chinese region Inner Mongolia.

·      The spacecraft is similar to the X-37B launched by the US.

·      This launch was the 14th mission of the Long March-2F carrier rocket.

 

7)   NATIONAL TEACHERS DAY 2020 – 5TH SEPTEMBER

·      India celebrates 5th September of every year as the National Teachers day to honour the roles of teachers in shaping the future of the nation.

·      The day is marked on the birth anniversary of India’s former President Bharat Ratna Awardee, renowned teacher and philosopher Dr. Sarvaepalli Radhakrishnan who was born on 5th September 1888. 

·      The first National Teacher’s Day was celebrated in 1962.

·      In the first ever virtual award ceremony, Ram Nath Kovind, President of India awarded the National Award to Teachers 2020, the highest teachers’ award in India, to the 47 teachers who were shortlisted by the Ministry of Education.

 

8)   INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CHARITY 2020:  SEPTEMBER 5 

·      The United Nations'(UN) International Day of Charity is observed annually on September 5, to raise awareness about the role of charity to ease poverty and hunger. 

·      September 5 was chosen to commemorate the death anniversary of  Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu), who was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

 

9)   J&K LT GOVERNOR LAUNCHES ‘SPARROW’ –PERFORMANCE

·      Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched the online portal, Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW) for Jammu & Kashmir Administrative Service Officers (JKAS).

·      The SPARROW system will benefit around 1289 officers and is aimed at bringing more transparency, avoiding loss of Appraisal Reports (APR) during transition, ensuring better monitoring and timely completion of performance appraisals of JKAS officers. 

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