DAILY GK: 17 , 18 AUG 2021

 DAILY GK: 17 , 18 AUG 2021

1.PMJDY COMPLETES 7TH ANNIVERSARY

•      Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (National Mission of Financial Inclusion) completed its 7th Anniversary on 15th August, 2021.

•      It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 28, 2014.

•      As per government data, PMJDY now has 42.89 crore beneficiaries (basic bank account holders) with INR 1,43,834 crore total balance.

 

2.INDIA’S 75TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS

•      Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in New Delhi on occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day Celebrations.

•      PM Modi laid the vision for the country for the next 25 years, he stated “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas”.

•      He launched several initiatives on the occasion.

•      Pradhan Mantri ‘Gati Shakti’ National Master Plan for Infrastructure: Gati Shakti will act as the ‘National Infrastructure Master Plan’ and will help in setting a holistic and integrated approach in infrastructure construction. 

•      100 Lakh Crore will be allotted for the Gati Shakti programme.

•      75 Vande Bharat Trains:75 Vande Bharat trains to be rolled out in 75 weeks of Amrit Mahotsav of Independence to connect every corner of India.

•      Fortified Rice by 2024:To fight malnutrition, the government has set a target to provide fortified rice to the poor through the Public Distribution System, Mid-Day meals Scheme and Others by 2024.

•      Sainik Schools for Girls:PM Modi announced, For the 1st time Ever, Girls will be allowed to enroll in the Sainik Schools across the country.

•      National Hydrogen Mission: PM Modi announced the launch of the National Hydrogen Mission to make India the global production hub for clean hydrogen fuel production and exports.

 

3.INDIA, EAC SIGN ACTION PLAN TO BOOST TRADE

•      A Joint Action Plan was signed between India and East African Community (EAC) to boost trade activities and faster clearance of goods of both the parties.

•      It was signed during a virtual ceremony.

•      India has been selected as a partner due to the principle of Mutual Recognition & Steady trade between EAC and India.

•      Over the past five years (2014 – 2018), before the Covid-19 disruptions, trade between the two entities amounted to over USD 30 billion.

 

4.‘SONCHIRAIYA’ – A LOGO AND BRAND LAUNCHED BY MOHUA

•      Secretary of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Durga Shankar Mishra has launched a logo and brand named “SonChiraiya” to promote market products of Urban Self Help Groups(SHG).

DEENDAYAL ANTYODAYA YOJANA-NATIONAL URBAN LIVELIHOODS MISSION (DAY-NULM)

i. The mission was launched in 2013 and is implemented by MoHUA.

ii. Aim – To uplift the livelihood of urban poor by enhancing sustainable livelihood opportunities through skill development.

iii. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and therefore the funding will be shared between the Centre and the States in the ratio of 75:25.

For North Eastern and Special Category – the ratio will be 90:10.

iv.There are 2 components of DAY-NULM, one for urban India and other for rural India.

•      Urban component named as Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana is being implemented by MoHUA.

•      Rural component named Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana is being implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development.

 

5.INDIA CHAIRS BRICS WORKING GROUP ON AGRICULTURE 2021

•      India virtually chaired the meeting of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Working Group on Agriculture 2021 on the theme ‘BRICS Partnership for Strengthening Agro Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition Security’.

•      India was represented by India’s Sanjay Agarwal, Secretary, India’s Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW).

 

6.NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE SCRAPPAGE POLICY 

•      PM Narendra Modi virtually addressed the Investor Summit 2021 in Gujarat and launched the National Automobile Scrappage Policy to discard/Scrap the old inefficient and polluting vehicles in an environment-friendly manner.

•      The policy will generate investment of more than Rs 10000 crores to set up 450-500 Automated Testing Units (ATU) and 60-70 Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSF) /scrapping centres across India.

•      Under the policy, a certificate will be provided on scrapping the old vehicle and those who are having that certificate will not need to pay money for registration on the purchase of a new vehicle.

•      Background: In the Union Budget 2021, the Vehicle Scrapping policy was announced to phase out old and unfit vehicles with effect from April 1, 2022.

•      Tata Motors signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat state government through the ports and transport department to support the setting up of a vehicle scrapping facility in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

 

7.RBI CANCELLED THE LICENSE OF KARNALA NAGARI SAHAKARI BANK

•      Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the license of Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank Ltd., Panvel, Maharashtra, due to the bank not having adequate capital and earning prospects to pay its present depositors in full.

•      Along with the license cancellation, the bank is also prohibited from conducting the ‘banking’ business (including acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits) as defined in Section 56 of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949.

•      About Banking Regulation (BR) Act 1949:

i. It has a total of 56 sections.

ii. Section 22: Every Banking Company in India needs to obtain a license from RBI under this section to start a banking business.

iii.    RBI will cancel the license granted to a banking company under Section 22(4) of the BR Act.

iv. Section 47 A: Provisions under this section empowers RBI to impose a penalty.

 

8.GIC RE TO SHUT DOWN DUBAI OFFICE

•      General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), the sole reinsurer in the domestic reinsurance market, is set to shut down its Dubai Office since the Dubai Authority failed to renew its licence.

•      The GIC Re has decided to shift its operation to Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), the only International Financial Services Centre in India.

 

9.WORLD’S LARGEST CATTLE GENOMIC CHIP ‘INDIGAU’

•      Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (MoS-Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences released ‘IndiGau’, India’s first and world’s largest Cattle Genomic Chip for the conservation of pure varieties of indigenous cattle breeds like, Gir, Kankrej, Sahiwal, Ongole etc.

•      The chip was developed by the scientists of National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NAIB), Hyderabad (Telangana).

•      It is an autonomous institution under the aegis of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST).

 

10.WORLD ATHLETICS MEN’S JAVELIN THROW RANKING 2021

•      Indian Javelin Thrower Neeraj Chopra  was ranked 2nd (up from 16) in the recently released World Athletics Men’s Javelin Throw Ranking 2021.

•      Neeraj was also ranked 129th in the Men’s Overall Athletics Ranking.

•      Germany’s Johannes Vetter (World No. 1) continued to be Number 1 in the Men’s Javelin Throw Ranking.

 

11.SPILIMBERGO OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT 2021

•      Indian Chess Grandmaster (GM) Raunak Sadhwani won the 19th Spilimbergo 2021 Open Master by drawing the final round against GM Adam Gozak (Hungary).

•      The tournament was held in Spilimbergo, Italy from 11th August to 15th August 2021

 

12.BOOK “THE GREAT HINDU CIVILISATION”

•      Former Member of Parliament (MP– Rajya Sabha) Pavan Kumar Varma (Pavan K Varma) has authored a new book titled “The Great Hindu Civilisation: Achievement, Neglect, Bias and the Way Forward”.

 

13.WORLD’S 2ND LARGEST REFURBISHED GENE BANK

•      Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) inaugurated the world’s second-largest refurbished state-of-the-art National Gene Bank (NGB) at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Pusa, New Delhi.

•      This will cater the need of biofortified crop varieties. Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved.

 

14.‘THE TAXATION LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021′

•      President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to the ‘The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021‘  which amends the Income Tax Act, 1961 (IT Act) and the Finance Act, 2012.

•      Objective of Bill – To nullify retrospective tax provision & end retrospective taxes imposed on Indirect Transfer of Indian Assets made before May 28, 2012.

•      The Bill was introduced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha as a Money Bill.

KEY POINTS

i.      The Finance Act, 2012 amended the IT Act, 1961 to impose tax liability on income earned from sale of shares of a foreign company on a retrospective basis.

ii.     The new bill aims to nullify the retrospective basis for taxation.

iii.    Retrospective tax means to pay tax for goods and services purchased in the past or income earned in the past.

 

15.‘EXERCISE KONKAN 2021’ IN PORTSMOUTH, UK‘

•      Exercise Konkan- 2021’, a bilateral Naval Exercise held between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Britain in Portsmouth, United Kingdom (UK).

•      It aims to enhance interoperability, synergy and cooperation between both the Navies.

 

16.‘EXERCISE INDRA-2021’

•      The 12th Edition of Exercise INDRA-2021, a bilateral Military Exercise held between Indian Army and the military forces of Russian Federation in Volgograd, Russia (from 1st to 13th August,2021).

 

17.‘FIT INDIA FREEDOM RUN 2.0’

•      Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur launched the nationwide programme named ‘Fit India Freedom Run 2.0’ as part of celebrating 75 years of India’s Independence – Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

 

18.INDIA’S 1ST NATIONAL PARK WITH SATELLITE PHONES FACILITY

•      Kaziranga National Park of Assam became India’s first National park to be equipped with satellite phones, an initiative to boost anti-poaching measures in the park.

•      Jishnu Barua, Chief Secretary of Assam presented 10 satellite phones to forest personnel at the National Park.

•      The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited(BSNL) will be the service provider.

 

19.HOUSEFRESH REPORT

•      British company HouseFresh has released a report on the 50 ‘most polluted cities’ in the world in 2020 titled – ‘The World’s Best and Worst Towns and Cities for Clean Air’, in which, Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad city ranked as the 2nd most polluted city in the world in 2020.

•      China’s Hotan city in Xinjiang province topped the list and was adjudged as the most polluted city.

•      As per the report, India became the 3rd most polluted country.

•      Bangladesh ranked as the most polluted country across the world in 2020 followed by Pakistan, India and Mongolia.

 

20.SCO MEET OF AGRICULTURE MINISTERS

•      Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar addressed the 6th meeting of the Agriculture Ministers of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

•      The meeting was held virtually  from Dushanbe, Capital of Tajikistan.

•      It was held under the Chairmanship of Tajikistan (2021 SCO Presidency).

 

21.‘SEACAT 2021’ IN SINGAPORE

•      The Indian Navy participated in the United States (US) Navy led Exercise South East Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) 2021, an annual Multilateral Naval Exercise held in Singapore virtually.

•      This is the 20th Edition of the Exercise.

•      Navies of 21 countries participated in the exercise.

•      They include Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, East Timor, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.

 

22.SEBI SET UP PANEL TO ANALYSE THE SHIFT OF TRADE SETTLEMENT CYCLE

•      The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has set up a panel of experts to analyse the process of shifting India’s trade settlement cycle from the current T+2 (Trade plus 2 days) to T+1 (Trade plus 1 day).

•      The panel consists of experts from exchanges, clearing corporations and depositories.

•      The shift to T+1 will reduce the settlement time and risk involved and increase the liquidity and trade turnover.

 

23.RBI INTRODUCED FINANCIAL INCLUSION INDEX

•      Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced the ‘Financial Inclusion Index’ (FI-Index) to measure the extent of financial inclusion across India.

•      The FI-Index will be published annually in July month (for the financial year (FY) ending previous March).

•      The FI-Index contain 3 different parameters with variant weightage viz, Access (35 percent), Usage (45 percent), and Quality (20 percent).

•      The FI-Index has no ‘base year’.

 

24.HAL’S 1ST EVER CIVIL AIRCRAFT, HINDUSTAN-228

•      Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) 1st Civilian Aircraft Hindustan-228(VT-KNR) has carried out Ground Run and Low Speed Taxi Trials (LSTT) successfully at its facility in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

•      This is the 1st fixed wing Made in India civil Aircraft.

•      This indigenous Commercial Aircraft will help in the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme- Regional airport development and Regional Connectivity Scheme of Government of India.

 

25.1ST INDIAN STATE TO PROVIDE SMART HEALTH CARDS

•      On the lines of Digital India, Odisha is all set to launch India’s first ‘Smart Health Cards scheme’ covering its 3.5 crore people of 96 lakh families under the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.

•      The information for the same was provided by Odisha Chief Minister (CM) Naveen Patnaik while addressing the 75th Independence Day celebrations in Bhubaneswar.