DAILY GK: 20 , 21 JUNE 2021

 DAILY GK: 20 , 21 JUNE 2021

1. ECI RELEASED ‘GENERAL ELECTIONS 2019 INDIA – AN ATLAS’

          Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra along with Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey released the “General Elections 2019 India – An Atlas”, which consists of data and statistical figures of 17th General Elections held in 2019.

          The Atlas was published by the Election Commission of India(ECI).

 

2. INDIA, JAPAN CONDUCT BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE IN INDIAN OCEAN

          An Indian Navy (IN) and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted a joint naval exercise at the Indian Ocean under the motive ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific‘ (FOIP).

Other Exercises between India-Japan:

          i.Dharma Guardian: It is a Military Exercise.

          ii.Malabar: It is a trilateral Naval Exercise between India, Japan and the United States (US)

          iii.Japan–India Maritime bilateral exercise (JIMEX): It is also a Naval Exercise. In September 2020, IN and JMSDF conducted 4th edition of biennial JIMEX-2020 in the North Arabian Sea.

 

3. UNHCR REPORT

          According to the ‘Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2020 Report’ released by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – The number of people fleeing wars, violence, persecution, and human rights violations increased to nearly 82.4 million people in 2020, an increase of 3 million people compared to 79.5 million recorded at the end of 2019.

          The report states that more than 1% of the world’s population or 1 in 95 people are now forcibly displaced.

          This compares with 1 in 159 in 2010.

 

4. RBI GRANTED APPROVAL TO CFSL FOR TAKING OVER PMC BANK

          Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted  in-principle approval to Centrum Financial Services Limited (CFSL) to set up a small finance bank (SFB).

          Through this SFB, Centrum will take over crisis-hit Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC) as a separate process.

          For the setting up of SFB, there will be capital infusion of Rs 1,800 crore by the Centrum Capital, holding entity for CFSL, and its partner BharatPe.

 

5. COVID-19 RELIEF PROGRAM – ‘GHARGHARRATION’

          IDFC First Bank has launched an Employee-funded relief program named ‘GharGhar Ration’, for its low-income customers whose livelihoods are affected due to COVID-19.

          Under the program, a Customer COVID Care Fund was set from the contribution of the bank employees’ personal income (Employees contributed one day to one month’s salary).

          Ration kits will be supplied under the program to 50,000 COVID-19 affected low-income customers of IDFC FIRST Bank.

 

6. EUROPEAN INVENTOR AWARD 2021

          Indian-American chemist, Sumita Mitra won the European Patent Office’s (EPO) European Inventor Award 2021 under the Non-EPO countries category for her innovative dental filling invention using Nanotechnology.

          The 2021 European Inventor Award ceremony was held digitally.

          She was the 1st one to have successfully integrated nanotechnology into dental materials, and has invented stronger, durable & aesthetically pleasing dental fillings.

 

7. ANTONIO GUTERRES RE-ELECTED AS UN SECRETARY GENERAL

          Antonio Guterres, was re-elected as the Secretary General of United Nations (UN) for a 2nd 5-year term from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2026.

          His appointment was made by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the recommendation of the 15-nation UN Security Council (UNSC) and announced by the President of the 75th session of the UNGA, VolkanBozkir.

 

8. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER OUT OF COMA AFTER 6 YEARS

          Formula One(F1) Champion Michael Schumacher, a retired German racing driver who has recorded the most wins – 91, pole positions – 68 and Podium finishes – 155 has got out of coma after 6 years.

          He was placed under a medically induced coma after a head injury.

 

9. INDIAN SPRINTER PADMA SHRIMILKHA SINGH PASSED AWAY

          Legendary Indian sprinter Padma Shri Milkha Singh, who is popularly known as ‘Flying Sikh’ in the athletic field, passed away in Chandigarh.

          He was born on 20th November 1929 in Govindpura, Pakistan.

 

10. 26TH NATIONAL READING DAY – 19TH JUNE 2021

          The National Reading Day is annually observed across India on 19th June to encourage reading among the students across India.

          The day also marks the death anniversary of Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker (P.N.Panicker), who was known as “Kerala’s Father of Library Movement”.

          19th June 2021, marks the celebration of the 26th National Reading Day..

 

11. JAPAN TO LAUNCH VACCINE PASSPORT FOR TRAVEL ABROAD

          Japan stated it will make a vaccine passportavailable from next month for Japanese travellers, as governments around the world experiment with ways to relaunch tourism and business trips.

          The certificate will be paper-based rather than digital and will be issued by local governments from sometime next month.

          The European Union is working on a digital vaccine passport for this summer so it can welcome back badly needed tourists, and some EU countries plan to introduce certificates at the national level.