DAILY GK : 9, 10 DEC 2020

DAILY GK : 9, 10 DEC 2020

1. AGRA METRO PROJECT

      Phase-1 of the Agra Metro project in Agra, Uttar Pradesh (UP) was inaugrated.

      The project was virtually inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi.The project comprises 2 corridors with a total length of 29.4 km has an approximate outlay of Rs 8,379.62 cr and will be completed in 5 years.

      The project will benefit the 26 lakh population of Agra with ‘Ease of Living’ as it will reduce pollution and traffic and also cater to more than 60 lakh annual tourists of the city.

 

2. CBI  TO IMPLEMENT VISVAS YOJANA

      National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC) & National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoAs) with Central Bank of India for implementation of ‘Vanchit Ikai Samooh aur Vargon ki Aarthik Sahayta (VISVAS) Yojana’ – an Interest Subvention Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.

      With the signing of the agreement, interest subvention for the beneficiaries of the VISVAS Yojana will be provided through the Central Bank of India.

 

3. 2 NEW ZOOS – ONE EACH IN BIHAR & UTTAR PRADESH

      The 37th General Body meeting of Central Zoo Authority (CZA) chaired by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Prakash Javadekar granted recognition to 2 New Zoos – Rajgir Zoo Safari in Nalanda, Bihar & Shaheed Ashfaque Ullah Khan Prani Udyaan in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.

 

4. CLIMATE CHANGE PERFORMANCE INDEX 2021

      Germanwatch has released the 16th edition of Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) i.e. CCPI 2021 for 57 countries and European Union (EU) in which India was ranked at 10th spot with a score of 63.98 out of 100.

      The CCPI is assessed under four categories consisting of 14 indicators.

      Notably, the index has placed no country on the first three positions.

      Therefore, Sweden got the best ranking among its competitors but overall it is ranked at 4th with a score of 74.42.

      It topped the ranking in the categories GHG Emissions, Renewable Energy and Climate Policy.

 

5. REVISED HEIGHT OF THE WORLD’S HIGHEST PEAK

      Nepal and China jointly announced that “8848.86 metres” is the revised height of World’s Highest Peak, Mount Everest.

      The revised height of Mt.Everest is 86 centimetres more than the previous measure done in 1954 by Survey of India (8, 848 metres).

      Sagarmatha” is the Nepali name for Mount Everest, whereas it is called “Chomolungma” or “Qomolangma”in Tibetian and “Qomolangma Feng” in Chinese.

 

6. GWALIOR  & ORCHHA NAMED IN UNESCO WHC LIST

      The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has inscribed the fort cities of Gwalior and Orchha in Madhya Pradesh (MP) in its world heritage cities under urban landscape city programme.

      This was informed by the state government of MP.

      In this regard, UNESCO team will visit the state in 2021 and will prepare a master plan for their development and conservation under the Historic Urban Landscape recommendation.

 

7. UNCTAD INVESTMENT PROMOTION AWARD

      “Invest India” won the 2020 UNCTAD Investment Promotion Award by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

      The award was presented at the award ceremony organised at the headquarters of UNCTAD, Geneva, Switzerland.

      Invest India won the award among 3 winners in 2020: Rwanda Development Board, Kigali, Rwanda and Estonian Investment Agency, a part of Enterprise Estonia in Estonia.

 

8. WHO FOUNDATION 1ST CEO

      WHO Foundation appointed Anil Soni, Indian-origin global health expert as its 1st Chief Executive Officer(CEO) or inaugural CEO.

      He will take charge on January 1, 2021.

      Anil Soni as a CEO will expedite the work of WHO Foundation to invest in innovative, evidence-based initiatives that support WHO to deliver on its mission to ensure healthy lives and improve well-being for everyone.

 

9. DEEP SEA PORT AT TAJPUR

      West Bengal Cabinet approved the Construction of the State’s 1st Deep Sea Port at Tajpur, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal.

      The Port is expected to attract investment of about INR 15, 000 Crores and generate employment for 25, 000 people.

      West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that the port will be built entirely by the West Bengal Government.

      The Tajpur Deep Sea Port under West Bengal Maritime Board & West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) will boost the seafood exports industry in East Midnapore and also benefits lakhs of fishermen.

 

10. TRAINING ON CYBERSAFETY

      WCF (WNS Cares Foundation)  has partnered with Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL), an initiative under Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog for providing training to India’s children and youth on cybersafety.

      WCF will provide digital education through its platform CyberSmart.

      ATL will use CyberSmart platform and digital programs of WCF in its network of around 6, 500 schools to educate students on cybersecurity and other relevant areas.

 

11. ‘SMASH 2000’ ANTI-DRONE SYSTEMS

      Indian Navy has finalised the contract for procurement of a batch of Israeli ‘SMASH 2000 Plus fire Control Systems’ Anti-Drone Systems which is capable of destroying high-speed enemy drones.

      It is manufactured by Israel Firm ‘Smart Shooter’. It will be used in border security, bases and strategic facilities protection.

      The Smash Fire Control Systems Are Electro-optical rifle sights which will be mounted on Assault rifles such as AK-47/103 rifles.

      They are expected to be delivered by 2021.

 

12. INSIGHTS REPORT BY TRUECALLER

      According to the 4th Edition of Global Insights Report for 2020 released by Truecaller, a Swedish Caller ID and Spam Blocking app, India ranked 9th in the list of countries affected by spam calls in 2020. In India, Gujarat received the most spam calls.

      The list was topped by Brazil, United States & Hungary.

      The report also stated that 8 out of 10 women in India receive sexual harassment, inappropriate calls and SMS regularly.

 

13. RBI CANCELLED LICENCE OF KARAD JANATA SAHAKARI BANK

      Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the licence of The Karad Janata Sahakari Bank Ltd., Karad, Maharashtra to carry on banking business, which includes acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits as defined in Section 5(b) read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 with effect from the close of business on December 7, 2020.

      On liquidation, every depositor is entitled to repayment of deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5,00,000 from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), as per the DICGC Act, 1961.

      More than 99% of the depositors of the bank will get full payment of their deposits from DICGC.

 

14. 100 MOST POWERFUL WOMEN BY FROBES

      Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made it to the 100 most powerful women list announced in the 17th annual Forbes power list.

      This is the second time she features in the list, in 2019 ranked at 34 and ranked 41st in 2020.

      India’s leading Business women, kiran mazumdar-shaw, Chairman of Biocon Limited also featured in the list at 68th position.

Rank      Personality            Profession

1      Angela Merkel              Chancellor, Germany

2      Christine Lagarde        President, European Central Bank

3      Kamala Harris             Vice President-elect, United States

 

15. CJ OF COMMON HIGH COURT FOR THE UT OF J&K AND LADAKH

      Ram Nath Kovind, President of India appointed Justice Rajesh Bindal as the Chief Justice of the Common High Court(HC) for the Union Territory(UT) of Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) and Union Territory of Ladakh.

      He will take charge on December 9, 2020.

      He succeeds Justice Gita Mittal, the 1st female Chief Justice of this court.