DAILY GK:27 MAR 2021

 DAILY GK:27 MAR 2021

1.116TH MEETING OF PERMANENT INDUS COMMISSION

      India & Pakistan held the 116th Meeting of Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) at New Delhi from March 23-24, 2021.

      The Indian side was led by Pradeep Kumar Saxena, India’s commissioner for IWT & advisors from Central Water Commission, the Central Electricity Authority and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.

      The meeting coincided with the Pakistan Day (Pakistan Resolution Day or Republic Day) being celebrated on March 23, 2021.

Pakistan’s Objections

      During the meeting, Pakistan raised objections over the designs of 2 Hydroelectric projects in J&K – Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project & Lower Kalnai Project.

      Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project (1, 000 MW) is proposed on the Marusudar river, a tributary of the Chenab river, in Kishtwar district in J&K.

      Lower Kalnai project (48 MW) is proposed in Kishtwar & Doda districts over Chenab River.

 

2.SUPREME COURT RULES OUT EXTENSION OF 6-MONTH MORATORIUM

      Supreme Court (SC) Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy & MR Shah rejected the further extension of six-months Loan Moratorium Period (March 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020) offered by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to traders, Corporate bodies & Big Borrowers.

      SC also added that no Interest on Interest (Compound Interest) will be charged on borrowers during the Moratorium period irrespective of the Loan Amount.

      Any amount collected will be refunded. According to estimates, the refunds are likely to be in the range of INR 7000-8000 Crore.

      Indian Government has already refunded the Interest on Interest to all borrowers of loans below INR 2 Crore.

 

3.‘FIYAVATHI HOME FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN’

      Maldives Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services inaugurated the renovated ‘Fiyavathi Home for Vulnerable Children’ in Hulhumale.

      A Cash grant of ~ 1.9 Million Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) was allocated for the completion of this project.

 

4.JICA SIGNS 10 BILLION YEN LOAN AGREEMENT WITH TCCL

      Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a Loan agreement for a maximum amount of 10 Billion Japanese Yen (~ INR 66.6 Crore) with Tata Cleantech Capital Ltd (TCCL), a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) for offering loans to Indian firms focussing on Clean Energy Projects.

 

5.ASIAMONEY BEST BANK AWARDS 2021

      HDFC Bank, was adjudged the ‘India’s Best Bank for Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs)’ at the Asiamoney Best Bank Awards 2021 of Asiamoney for the transformation of its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) business.

      HDFC’s advances to MSMEs as of December 31, 2020, is about Rs2.02 trillion ($28 billion) which is 38% higher than in 2019.

      It has a compound annual growth rate of 23% for the past six years, making it India’s second-largest bank for MSME lending.

 

6.VYAS SAMMAN 2020

      Established Hindi writer Professor Sharad Pagare from Madhya Pradesh has been chosen as the recipient of the prestigious Vyas Samman 2020 for his historic novel titled “Patliputru ki Samragi”.

      The 2020 Vyas Samman is the 30th Vyas Samman presented by KK Birla Foundation.

The novel – “Patliputru ki Samragi” was printed in the year 2010.

 

7.MAHARASHTRA BHUSHAN AWARD

      A committee chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced singer Asha Bhosle has been selected for the Maharashtra Bhushan award for the year 2020, Maharashtra State highest civilian award for outstanding individual achievements in their field, The award, instituted in 1996 carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.

 

8.‘CENTRAL SCRUTINY CENTRE’ & IEPFA MOBILE APP

      Nirmala Sitharaman virtually launched 2 Tech-enabled initiatives of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) – Central Scrutiny Centre (CSC) & Mobile app of  IEPFA (Investor Education & Protection Fund Authority).

      i.Central Scrutiny Centre (CSC)  – For Scrutinizing Straight Through Process (STP) Forms filed by the corporates on the MCA 21 registry.

      ii.IEPFA app –  It has been launched to achieve the goal of financial literacy, spreading investors’ awareness, education and protection among investors in both rural & urban areas.

 

9.2021 PARA SHOOTING WORLD CUP

      India bagged 7 medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver & 4 Bronze) and finished at 3rd Position in the 2021 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup held at Al Ain, UAE from March 15-25, 2021.

      Ukraine topped the table with 11 Medals (5 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze), while UAE finished Second with 5 medals (3 Gold, 2 Silver).

      They are organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

      India’s Singhraj won the Gold Medal in the P1 Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1.

      India’s Manish Narwal clinched Gold Medal in the P4 mixed 50m Pistol SH1. He set a new World Record (WR) by finishing with 229.1 points, breaking the previous WR of Serbia’s Rastko Jokic (228.6).

 

10.INDIA’S 1ST GOVT. RUN VETERINARY AMBULANCE NETWORK

      Andhra Pradesh govt. is planning to set-up India’s 1st Government run Mobile Ambulance Veterinary Clinic network in the state.

      Each Assembly Constituency in the state will be provided with 1 Ambulance along with 1 veterinary doctor, 1 Para-veterinary worker.

      The Ambulance is equipped with a ‘Hydraulic Lift’ facility to shift the injured animal to the hospital.