DAILY GK : 19 , 20 JAN 2021

 DAILY GK : 19 , 20 JAN 2021

1. STARSTREAK MISSILE SYSTEMS FOR INDIA

      India’s Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) under the Ministry of Defence and the United Kingdom’s Thales have signed a ‘Teaming Agreement’ to develop STARStreak Air Defence system in India under the ‘Make in India’ programme.

      This partnership will be supported by both Governments.

      It should be noted that in 2017 both entities inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the transfer of technology for STARStreak.

 

2. INDIA’S 1ST AIR TAXI SERVICE

      Haryana Chief Minister(CM) Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated India’s 1st air taxi service from Chandigarh to the newly constructed Hisar airport in Haryana under Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) of Govt of India.

      The airline Aviation Connectivity & Infrastructure Developers Pvt. Ltd (Air Taxi) will operate the air taxi services and has become the 1st startup airline of India to assist India with this service.

 

3.8 TRAINS TO STATUE OF UNITY

      PM Narendra Modi virtually flagged off 8 trains from various parts of India to the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya, Gujarat to boost connectivity and Tourism.

      The trains will connect Kevadiya.

      Also Kevadiya Railway Station is India’s First Railway Station to be certified as a Green Building.

 

4. NATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL 2021

      The 24th National Youth Festival (NYF) 2021 was held from 12th to 16th January, 2021.

      Its closing ceremony was addressed by Union Minister of Textiles and Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani in New Delhi in the presence of Union Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju.

      The theme of the NYF 2021 was ‘YUVAAH – Utsah Naye Bharat Ka’.

 

5. SPMCIL PAID RS 215.48 CRORE FINAL DIVIDEND TO GOI

      The Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India Limited(SPMCIL), paid the final dividend of Rs.215.48 crore to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Government of India for the financial year of 2019-20.

      The dividend, in compliance with DIPAM guidelines, amounts to 5% of the net worth of the company at 31st March 2020 & 41% of Profit after tax for FY20.

 

6. PROTECT OCEANS BY SUPPORTING BLUE ECONOMY

      The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) initiated a Clean and Sustainable Ocean Partnership to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the climate goals as advised in the Paris Agreement.

      In this regard, both entities will support the initiatives in Asia and the Pacific.

 

7. UN WOMEN 2020 ASIA-PACIFIC WEPS REGIONAL AWARDS

      1st United Nations(UN) Women 2020 Asia-Pacific Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Regional award winners were announced in a ceremonyin  Bangkok, Thailand.

      IKEA India Pvt Ltd won this award in Gender-inclusive Workplace category. It is the only winner from India.

      Tata Power- Delhi Distribution Ltd(DDL) became the 1st Runner Up in the Community & Industry Engagement category of the award.

 

8. YOWERI MUSEVENI RE-ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF UGANDA

      Yoweri Museveni has been re-elected as the president of Uganda for the 6th term.

      He has been president of the country since 29th January 1986, i.e., for about 35 years and becomes one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.

      He belongs to the National Resistance Movement(NRM) political party.

 

9. GOI TO SELL 10% OF ITS STAKE IN SAIL

      Government of India to sell 10% stake in Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) through an Offer for Sale (OFS) route to raise Rs 2,600 crore as part of its disinvestment drive.

      The Govt sells 206.5 million shares or 5% equity with a 5% greenshoe option.

      After selling of stake the government will hold 65% from 75%.

 

10. BIHAR 1ST BIRD FESTIVAL ‘KALRAV’

      Bihar’s 1st state level bird festival ‘Kalrav’ was held in Nagi-Nakti bird Sanctuary, Jamui district, Bihar.

      It was formally inaugurated by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

      Aim of the Festival– To create awareness about birds especially migratory birds

 

11. 1G ETHANOL PRODUCTION IN INDIA

      Department of Food & Public Distribution (DoFPD) has notified a modified scheme to extend financial assistance for producers of “1st Generation” (1G) Ethanol from feed stocks such as Cereals (rice, wheat, barley, corn & sorghum), Sugarcane & Sugar Beet.

      The Financial Assistance will also be extended to

      The Main Objective behind the scheme is to achieve 20% Blending of ethanol with Fossil Fuels by 2025 from 2030.

 

12. ‘SAKSHAM 2021’ CAMPAIGN

      The New Delhi-based Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) launched a month long pan-India campaign ‘SAKSHAM 2021 (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav)’  to create awareness about the adverse impact of fossil fuels on health and environment, and to convince the consumers of fossil fuels to switch towards cleaner fuels.

      The tagline of the campaign is ‘Green and Clean Energy’ (Hindi- हरित एवं स्वच्छ ऊर्जा).

 

13. MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ISSUED IRON- ORE POLICY 2021

      Ministry of Railways issued Iron-ore policy 2021 that will govern the allocation of rakes (train) and transportation of iron-ore.

      The aim of the policy is to provide complete logistics support to iron ore customers, thereby helping the iron and steel industry.

      The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) will update the features of this new policy in the Rake Allotment System module.

 

14. INDIA’S FIRST LABOUR MOVEMENT MUSEUM

      India’s First Labour Movement Museum which showcases the history of the World Labour Movement is set to be launched in Alappuzha, Kerala.

      The museum has been constructed with a budget of INR 9.95 crores & 97% of renovations works in the museum have been completed.

 

15. MOC ON MOVEMENT OF ‘SKILLED WORKERS’

      In order to enhance cooperation in skills development, India and Japan have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) for operation of the ‘specified skilled worker’ (SSW) system.

      This MoC paves the way for Indian workers with required skills and pass Japanese language tests to get employment in Japan on a contractual basis.

      It was signed by Foreign secretary Harsh Shringla and Japan’s ambassador Satoshi Suzuki.

 

16. SKOCH CHALLENGER AWARD 2021 FOR E-GOVERNANCE

      70th SKOCH Summit (SKOCH Public Policy Forum) was held in New Delhi during which SKOCH Awards 2021 were presented to different ministries.

      The SKOCH Challenger Award-Best Performance in e-Governance was presented to Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA).

      The ministry got the SKOCH Challenger Award for the 2nd consecutive year.

      It was received by Union Minister Arjun Munda, (MoTA).

      The “SKOCH Challenger Award- Transparency in Governance” was conferred to Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) for recognizing its IT-led initiatives

 

17. BOOK- ‘ABDUL KALAM-NINAIVUGALUKKU MARANAMILLAI’

      M Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India released a tamil book titled ‘Abdul Kalam-Ninaivugalukku Maranamillai’(immortal memories) at Raj Bhavan in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

      It is a biography of late former President, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

      The book is authored by  Dr APJM NazemaMaraikayar, managing trustee, Abdul Kalam International Foundation (AIKF) and well-known space scientist, Dr Y.S. Rajan.