DAILY GK: 17, 18 FEB 2021

 DAILY GK: 17, 18 FEB 2021

1. IEEFA REPORT

      According to the report ‘Capital Flows Underpinning India’s Energy Transformation’ released by Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), India needs an Investment of USD 500 Billion to reach its target of 450 Gigawatts (GW) of Renewable Energy (RE) by 2030.

      At 900 GW India has the largest untapped Renewable potential in the World.

 

2. MANDU FESTIVAL CELEBRATED

      A three-day Mandu Festival was held at Mandu in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh on the theme “Khojne mein Kho Jao (feel lost in discovering)”.

      It was inaugurated by state culture and tourism minister Usha Thakur.

      She also inaugurated Dino Adventure Park & Fossils Museum in Mandu and construction of Astro Park building at a cost of Rs 59 lakh.Notably, Dinosaur Park is India’s first modern fossil park which has 24 eggs and other fossils of dinosaurs.

      The park provides information related to the life of dinosaurs.

 

3. MOHUA LAUNCHES ‘PEY JAL SURVEKSHAN’ ON PILOT BASIS

      Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched ‘Pey Jal Survekshan’ under Jal Jeevan Mission-Urban (JJM-U) on a pilot basis in 10 cities.

      The 10 cities are Agra (UP), Badlapur (Maharashtra), Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Churu (Rajasthan), Kochi (Kerala), Madurai (TN), Patiala (Punjab), Rohtak (Haryana), Surat (Gujarat) & Tumkur (Karnataka).

      Based on responses received in the 10 cities, the survekshan will be extended to all AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) cities

 

4. RBI FORMULATES EC FOR STRENGTHENING & CONSOLIDATING UCBS

      On the lines of the “Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies” released with the Monetary Policy Statement on February 05, 2021, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) formulated an 8-member Expert Committee (EC) on Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs).

      The former Deputy Governor of RBI, N. S. Vishwanathan, is the chairman of the committee.

      The Committee is required to submit its report within three months.

      The committee will examine the issues faced by the UCBs and will also be responsible for preparing a road map for its strengthening.

 

5. ADB SIGNS RS 100 CRORE DEBT FINANCING AGREEMENT WITH MEDANTA

      The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed Rs 100 crore(USD 13.7 million) debt financing agreement with Medanta to provide essential health care services and medical equipment to India.

      Purpose: To Support COVID-19 Response in India

      This financing is part of the $20 billion assistance package announced by ADB in April 2020 to help its developing members manage the pandemic.

 

6. BANK CREDIT GROWTH AT 90% OF FY20 LEVEL

      In accordance with the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) data on Scheduled Banks’ Statement of Position in India, bank credit growth in FY21 up to January 29, 2021 has reached about 90% of the same period of F20.

      This states that credit demand is coming back to normalcy after severe economic impact amid COVID-19.

      It should be noted that RBI has projected real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth at 5% in FY22.

 

7. NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA APPOINTED AS 7TH DG OF WTO

      Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria was appointed as the 7th Director General of the World Trade Organisation(WTO), multilateral trade body.

      She will hold the position from 1st March 2021 to 31st August 2025.

      With this appointment, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala became the first woman and the first African to head the WTO.

      She also served as the Managing Director of the World Bank.

 

8. DR AJAY MATHUR ELECTED AS DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF ISA

      Dr Ajay Mathur has been named as the new Director-General of  International Solar Alliance (ISA) following his election at the 1st special Assembly of ISA members that was held virtually on February 15, 2021.

      Prior, being named as the director general of ISA, Dr Ajay Mathur was serving as the director general of The Energy & Resources Institute(TERI)

 

9. NEW EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF UNCDF

      The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) appointed Preeti Sinha, an Investment and development Banker of Indian Origin as the New Executive Secretary of UNCDF. 

      Sinha succeeds Judith Karl, who retired in February 2021.

      Preethi Sinha started her tenure on 15th February 2021.

 

10. INDIA’S 3RD KALVARI-CLASS SUBMARINE

      Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) delivered the Third of Six Kalvari-class submarines based on ‘Scorpene Class’ to the Indian Navy at Mumbai, Maharashtra.

      The submarine will be commissioned into the Indian Navy in March, 2021 as ‘INS Karanj’.

      ‘INS Karanj’ successfully completed its sea trials which began in January, 2018.

      The submarine has been designed by French company ‘The Naval Group’ (formerly known as DCNS) & constructed in MDL, Mumbai under Project 75 (P-75).

      The 2 previous Scorpene-Class Submarines which have been commissioned & are presently operated by the Indian Navy are INS Kalvari (Commissioned in October, 2017) & INS Khanderi (Commissioned in September, 2019).

 

11. WEST BENGAL CM LAUNCHES ‘MAA’ SCHEME

      West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee virtually launched ‘Maa’ Scheme under which the Government will provide subsidised cooked meals for the poor & destitute at a cost of INR 5. 

      The state government has allotted a budget of INR 100 Crore for the scheme.

 

12. ‘IRAN-RUSSIA MARITIME SECURITY BELT 2021’

      The Indian Navy has joined Iran and Russia and Participated in two-day long navy exercise “Iran-Russia Maritime Security Belt 2021” which was held in the northern part of the Indian Ocean.

      India’s participation represented a message of “peace and friendship for neighboring and regional countries”.

      The exercise saw the participation of forces and vessels from the navy divisions of both the Iranian army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) along with a Russian destroyer, logistics ship and a helicopter were to participate in the drill.

 

13. AMAZON INDIA TO BEGIN ITS 1ST MANUFACTURING LINE

      Amazon India announced that it will begin its 1st Device Manufacturing Line in India for production of electronic devices at Chennai by the end of 2021.

      It has collaborated with Contract Manufacturer Cloud Network Technology, a subsidiary of Foxconn for the manufacturing process.

 

14. PM LAID FOUNDATION STONE FOR MAHARAJA SUHELDEV MEMORIAL

      PM Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone for Construction of Statue & Memorial for Maharaja Suheldev at Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh (UP). 

      He also laid the foundation stone for development works around the Chittaura Lake in Bahraich, UP.

      Maharaja Suheldev is an Indian King from Shravasti (A City of Ancient India).

      He is remembered for defeating Ghaznavid General Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud, nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni at Bahraich during the 11th Century (1034 CE)

 

15. MOE TO RENAME SCHOOLS UNDER SAMAGRA SHIKSHA ABHIYAN

      Ministry of Education (MoE) is set to rename residential schools and hostels funded under Samagra Shiksha scheme of MoE as ‘Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose residential schools and hostels’  to inspire them to achieve high standards of quality education & create awareness about the facility of such residential schools & hostels.

      Under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, MoE provides financial assistance to States & UTs to set up residential schools & hostels in hilly terrain, small & sparsely populated areas for children who are in need of shelter and care.

 

16. INDIA’S GROWTH TO REBOUND IN FY22 AT 10%: S&P

      S&P (Standard & Poors) Global Ratings released a report titled, ‘Cross-Sector Outlook: India’s Escape From Covid’, where it estimated that India will have an economic recovery at 10% in FY22, on a lower base.

      Earlier, it had revised India’s Real GDP Forecast for FY21 to -7.7%(contract by 7%) from -9%.

 

17. SKOCH CHALLENGER AWARD – CM OF THE YEAR AWARD

      YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the CM of Andhra Pradesh(AP) received the SKOCH Chief Minister of the Year Award.

      The efforts of the government of AP to make efficient and transparent governance was evident in the study of 123 projects from various sectors in Andhra Pradesh.

 

18. KIRAN BEDI REMOVED AS PUDUCHERRY LG

      Kiran Bedi was removed from the post of Puducherry Lieutenant Governor(LG).

      While, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana, was given additional charge as LG of Puducherry.

      Her appointment is effective from the date she assumes charge of her office.

      She was the first female IPS officer and was the 1st Indian & 1st woman to be  appointed as head of the United Nations Police and Police Advisor in the United Nations Department of Peace Operations

 

 19. “BROOKESIA NANA”: EARTH’S SMALLEST REPTILE SPECIES

      Scientists from Germany and Madagascar have discovered a new species of Chameleon “Brookesia nana” in the montane rainforest in northern Madagascar.

      This is the Earth’s smallest known reptile. 

      Brookesia nana belongs to the genus Brookesia. 

      The male species measures 21.6 mm and the female measures 28.9 mm.

 

20. INTERNATIONAL CHILDHOOD CANCER DAY

      Each Year, the International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) is observed on February 15.

      The day aims to raise awareness about childhood cancer, express support for children & adolescents with cancer, the survivors and their families.

      In order to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of ICCD, the CCI & International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) unveiled a joint three-year campaign called ‘Tree of Life’.