DAILY GK 15 AUG 2020

 DAILY GK 15 AUG 2020

1. INDIA SIGNS MOU WITH NIGERIA ON SPACE COOPERATION

·        Government of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on space cooperation with the Federal government of Republic of Nigeria at the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

·        On the occasion, both sides also agreed to sign a subsidiary MOU between New Space India Limited (NSIL), under ISRO, and Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), under the Federal Ministry of Environment of Nigeria, on cooperation in use of Geospatial Technologies.

2. INDIA AIMS TO ACHIEVE ZERO ROAD FATALITIES BY 2030

·        Nitin Jairam Gadkari while addressing the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Womennovator on Trade Investment and collaborations in Road infrastructure, has underlined India’s initiatives to achieve Zero Road Fatalities by 2030.

·        The World Bank and Asian Development Bank have committed Rs. 7,000 crores each on initiatives to reduce road accidents.

3. ODISHA RETAINS TOP POSITION IN IMPLEMENTATION OF AMRUT SCHEME

·        Odisha has retained top position in the implementation of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme. According to rankings released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Odisha regained its top position by securing a score of 85.67 percent, followed by Union Territory of Chandigarh (75.08) and Telangana (74.04).

·        The AMRUT scheme was launched in June 2015 with a focus to establish infrastructure that could ensure adequate robust sewage networks and water supply for urban transformation by implementing urban revival projects.

·        The ii.AMRUT Mission covers around 500 cities under AMRUT scheme. 

4. HDFC BANK VIRTUALLY LAUNCHED ‘SHAURYA KGC CARD’

·        Aditya Puri, Managing Director of HDFC Bank, launched digitally the 1st of its kind card, ‘Shaurya KGC(Kisan Gold Credit) Card’, a tri color themed card for Indian armed forces personnel, i.e, Army, Navy, Air force and Para military forces and their families.

·        It will benefit over 45 lakh users. The product is aimed largely towards armed forces personnel from semi-urban and rural communities.

·        The product is based on the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) guidelines by the government.

·        This launch is part of the HDFC Bank’s ‘Har Gaon Hamara’ initiative to provide banking facilities to customers in the rural and under-served areas of the country. 

5. IIA DISCOVERS HE-ENHANCED STAR AMONG OMEGA CENTAURI 

·        Indian Scientist from Indian Institute of Aerophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, Karnataka, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) discovered a helium (He)-enhanced cool bright star among metal rich samples of the globular cluster, Omega Centauri.

·        This study, a result of the spectroscopic survey conducted of the cluster, which determines the helium (He) abundance of these stars.

 

6. ASSAM GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH ‘ORUNODOI’ SCHEME

·        Finance Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sharma announced that the Government of Assam will roll out the ‘Orunodoi’ Scheme, which will provide Financial Assistance of Rs. 830 per month through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme to around 17 Lakh Families in the state.

·        It is expected to be the largest direct benefit Transfer scheme in Assam. 

·        The ‘Orunodoi’ scheme will be implemented from October 2, 2020 and will act as an umbrella scheme for all other government schemes for the next 5 years..

·        The scheme is applicable to eligible families to buy essential food items. Rs.400 has been allotted for the purchase of medicine, Rs.150 for vegetables, 50% off on 4 kgs of ration and 4kgs of sugar.