DAILY GK 14 JULY 2020
1. NATGRID TO
LINKS AROUND 14,000 POLICE STATIONS
·
The
National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to access the centralised
online Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) database for
getting details of First Information Reports (FIRs) and stolen vehicles. The
project aims to go live by December 31, 2020.
·
CCTNS
database is a platform that links around 14,000 police stations.
·
All
State police are mandated to file First Information Reports (FIR) in the CCTNS.
·
With
access to CCTNS database, NATGRID will act as a link between intelligence and investigation
agencies to access a database related to immigration entry and exit, banking
and telephone details of a suspect on a secured platform.
2. INDIA’S ANNUAL
MEDIAN GDP GROWTH IN FY21 TO CONTRACT 4.5%; POSSIBILITY OF V SHAPED RECOVERY:
FICCI SURVEY
·
In
accordance with the latest round of Economic Outlook Survey of FICCI
(Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), India’s annual
median Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for FY2020-21 has
been declined to (-) 4.5% with a minimum and maximum growth estimate of (-)
6.4% and 1.5% respectively, as compared to January 2020 estimate of 5.5%.
·
The
current round of the survey was conducted in the month of June 2020.
·
The
key reason behind this sharp decline is the lockdown to contain the rapid
spread of COVID-19 which has severely impacted economies and healthcare
globally.
·
Now in
Post lockdown, continuation of social distancing and quarantine measures is
also affecting the growth prospects.
·
The
official growth numbers for the first quarter (Q1FY21) are
expected to be released by the end of August 2020.
·
As per
the survey, there is a possibility of V-shaped recovery with
government expenditure as in the current situation; it is the only helping hand
for financial position of the economy.
Key Points from survey- Growth prediction for
Agriculture sector; Industry, service sector suffer
·
-The
quarterly median forecasts indicate GDP growth to contract by (-) 14.2% in the
first quarter of 2020-21, with a minimum estimate of (-) 25% and a maximum
estimate of (-) 7.4%.
·
-Economic
activity-wise annual forecast indicated a median growth of 2.7% for agriculture
and allied activities for 2020-21.
·
-Industry
and services sector, on the other hand, are expected to contract by 11.4% and
2.8%, respectively in 2020-21.
·
-The
median growth forecast for IIP (India Industrial Production) has
been put at (-) 11.5% for the year 2020-21 with a minimum and maximum range of
(-) 15.3% and 1% respectively.
·
–Wholesale
Price Index (WPI) based inflation rate is projected at -0.3% in
2020-21, with a minimum and maximum range of (-) 1.5% and 2.5% respectively.
·
-On
the other hand, Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation has
a median forecast of 4.4% for 2020-21, with a minimum and maximum range of 3.3%
3. US REMAIN
INDIA’S TOP TRADING PARTNER IN 2019-20
·
In
accordance with the data of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the United
States (US) remained India’s top trading partner for the second consecutive
fiscal in 2019-20 as bilateral trade between the US and India stood at USD
88.75 billion (Rs 8,875 crore) .
·
The
trade gap between the countries has also increased to USD 17.42 billion (Rs
1,742 crore) in 2019-20.
·
On the
other hand, the bilateral trade between India and China has dropped to USD
81.87 billion (Rs 8,187 crore) in 2019-20 from USD 87.08 billion
(8,708 crore) in 2018-19.
4. GOOGLE LAUNCHES
$10 BILLION DIGITIZATION FUND IN INDIA
·
After
a virtual meeting with PM Narendra Modi, Alphabet Inc. Chief Executive Officer
Sundar Pichai announced an investment of $10 billion (Rs 75,000 crore) in India
which will be utilised in another five to seven years to digitize the Indian
Economy.
Investments are focused on 4 key areas of
digitisation:
·
Enabling
affordable access and Information to every Indian in their own language.
·
Providing
various services relevant to the unique needs of India.
·
Empowering
business to embark in digital transformation
·
Leveraging
technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for social good areas like
Healthcare, education and agriculture.
·
Also Google
is Set to Partner with Central Board of Secondary Education to Promote Online
Education in India
5. 2020 VON KARMAN
AWARD
·
The
International Academy of Astronautics(IAA) has announced Dr.
Kailasavadivoo Sivan, Chief of Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) as
the recipient of the 2020 Von Karman Award, the highest distinction of the IAA.
·
The award
will be presented to Dr. K. Sivan in March 2021 at Paris.
·
He was the
chief architect of SITARA – 6D trajectory simulation software.
·
The premier
award of IAA was instituted in 1982 in the memory of Dr.
·
Theodore Von
Karman, renowned aerospace scientist and the founder and the first President of
IAA.
6. GLOBAL
HUMANITARIAN AWARD 2020 – LONDON
·
Sachin
Awasthi, the president of National Media Club and Founder of Shri Ram Seva
Mission was honoured with the “Top Publicist” award in the
Global Humanitarian Awards 2020 held as a webinar over a virtual platform in
London.
·
The Global
Humanitarian Award 2020 is instituted as a part of the Honoring the Honorable
initiative of the World Humanitarian Drive(WHD).
7. QUALCOMM
VENTURES BUYS 0.15% STAKE IN JIO PLATFORMS
·
US-based Qualcomm
Ventures, the investment arm of chipmaker Qualcomm Incorporated to invest
upto Rs 730
crore in Reliance Industries Limited(RIL)’s
Jio Platforms for 0.15% stake.
·
Qualcomm
Ventures has become the 12th investor.
·
This
is the 13th deal of Jio Platforms. With this investment Jio
Platforms has raised a total of Rs 1,18,318.45 crore.
·
With
this investment, RIL holds 74.76% stake in Jio and 25.24% by
the investors.
8. STYRIAN GRAND
PRIX IN SPIELBERG
·
Lewis
Hamilton, Mercedes Driver won the Styrian Grand Prix(GP) in Spielberg, Austria
with this win Hamilton has won at least one race of his 14-year career on the
circuit.
·
This
is the 85th career win of Hamilton and he moves within six of Formula one (F1)
record of Michael Schumacher.
9. ‘ROKO -TOKO’,
CAMPAIGN
·
Madhya
Pradesh has announced to launch a campaign ‘Roko
-Toko’, which means stop and campaign for those who do
not wear masks. It is to ensure that all wear masks as the usage of masks
is made mandatory in all public places in the state.
