DAILY GK 14 JULY 2020


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.