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.