GK Update 28 Sept, 2019 NATIONAL UPDATES: 1. First Indigenous Fuel Cell System launched on CSIR Foundation Day: The President of India Ramnath Kovind unveiled the first Indigenous High-Temperature Fuel Cell System. This system is developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in partnership with Indian industries under India’s flagship program named “New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI)” on the occasion of CSIR Foundation Day in New Delhi. The 5.0 kW fuel cell system generates power in a green manner using methanol / bio-methane, with heat and water as bi-products for further use; amounting to greater than 70% efficiency, which otherwise may not be possible by other energy sources. Note: Director-General of CSIR: Shekhar C. Mande. 2. DRDO and CUJ sign MoU to set up Kalam Centre for Science and Technology: Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Ministry of Defence and Central University of Jammu (CUJ) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of Kalam Centre for Science and Technology (KCST) at the university. The main objective of the MoU is to undertake and facilitate multidisciplinary directed basic and applied research and technology development in the identified research verticals namely Computational System Security and Sensors. The centre will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment leading to an increase in research scholars in these areas. Note: Union Minister of Defence: Raj Nath Singh. Chairman of DRDO: Dr G. Satheesh Reddy; Headquarters: New Delhi; Founded: 1958. 3. Jharkhand’s Karmatand block named after Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar: The Jharkhand government has named Jamtara districts Karmatand block as Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar block as a mark of respect on the birth anniversary of the great social reformer. Now the block will be known as Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar prakhand. Jamtaras Karmatand prakhand (block) was the ‘karma bhumi’ (workplace) of social reformer and a strong supporter of women’s education Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. Note: Bengali polymath and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance ‘Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’ was born on 26th September 1820. He was a philosopher, academic educator, writer, translator, printer, publisher, entrepreneur, reformer and philanthropist. 4. National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) to be ready by January 2020: The work on the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) set up to track any terror suspect and prevent terrorist attacks with real-time data, has been accelerated. This move comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the progress of NATGRID project (worth Rs.3400 crore). NATGRID will start functioning by January 2020. Note: National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) is a robust intelligence gathering mechanism related to banking, immigration, individual taxpayers, air and train travels. The data recovery centre of the NATGRID has been constructed in Bengaluru, Karnataka and Delhi (headquarter). GK Update 28 Sept, 2019 5. Goa govt. bans single-use plastic in its offices from Oct 2: The Goa Government has decided to ban the usage of single-use plastic water bottles, glasses, plates from 2nd October 2019 onwards. The state government wants to promote eco-friendly and re-usable items in the coastal state. Last month, the Goa Legislative Assembly passed a bill banning manufacture, sale and use of single-use plastic items and carry bags, with a penalty ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs. 3 lakh for violators. 6. Dr Harsh Vardhan launches ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega’ Campaign: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan has launched the new TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign. The Union Health Minister also flagged off a van for the National TB Prevalence Survey. All twenty-five vans will be part of the prevalence survey, which shall take 6 months and be carried out across the country. In April 2018, the government launched the ‘Nikshay Poshan Yojana’, a direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme to provide nutritional support to TB patients. Under the scheme, TB patients have been receiving Rs 500 per month for the entire duration of treatment. INTERNATIONAL UPDATES: 1. 2nd 'Singapore - India' Hackathon organised at IIT Madras: 2nd edition of ‘Singapore - India Hackathon’ has been organised at IIT Madras, Chennai to promote innovation. India-Singapore Hackathon is the first of its kind joint International hackathon between India and Singapore during which the selected bright students from India and Singapore. They will work in collaboration to develop an innovative and out-of-the-box solution for some of the daunting problems faced by our societies. This year, the hackathon is focused on quality education, Good Health and clean energy. 20 teams with 6 team members each is participating in the hackathon. 2. Mahatma Gandhi's 80-year-old letter wishing Jews "era of peace" unveiled in Israel: A short-hand- written letter by Mahatma Gandhi 80-years-ago has been unveiled for the first time by the National Library of Israel (NLI). Gandhi Ji was wishing the "afflicted (Jewish) people" an "era of peace" in the letter, written on the same day World War II broke out. Gandhi wrote the letter to Head of the Bombay Zionist Association, A E Shohet, who was trying to enlist the support of Indian leaders in favour of the movement to establish a national home for the Jewish people. Written on Rosh Hashana (Jewish new year) on September 1, 1939, the letter also marked the beginning of the war when Germany invaded Poland. It also set the stage for the despicable atrocities of the Holocaust. 3. For the first time, Saudi Arabia to offer tourist visas: Saudi Arabia will offer tourist visas for the first time as a measure to expand its economy away from oil. As a part, it will open applications for online tourist visas to citizens of 49 countries. Enhancing tourism is a one among the targets in Vision 2030 reform programme of Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman. It also launched e-tourist visa during the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) in Riyadh. GK Update 28 Sept, 2019 Note: Saudi Arabia Capital: Riyadh; Currency: Saudi riyal 4. World Rabies Day: 28 September: World Rabies Day is observed on 28th September (since- 2007) across the world to raise awareness about the rabies disease and its preventable measures. The day also marks the anniversary of French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur's death, who developed the first rabies vaccine. The World Rabies Day 2019 theme is Rabies: Vaccinate to Eliminate. This year’s theme focuses on vaccination, the foundation of all rabies control efforts. 5. International Day for Universal Access to Information: 28 September: The International Day for the Universal Access to Information (also known as Access to Information Day) is a UNESCO recognised day held on 28 September ever year. Theme 2019: “Access to Information: Leaving No One Behind!”. The day was first held on 28 September 2016. OTHER UPDATES: SPORTS 1. Rupa Gurunath appointed as first woman president of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association: Rupa Gurunath was appointed as the first woman president of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) at the 87th Annual General Meeting of TNCA held at Chepauk MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. With this appointment, she also became the first woman to head a state-level cricket body in the country. Also Justice K. Kannan, retired judge of Punjab and Haryana Courts, was appointed as the ombudsman and Justice M. Jeyapaul, retired judge Madras High Court, was appointed as the ethics officer during the meeting. Note: BCCI President: C.K. Khanna; Headquarter of BCCI: Mumbai. 2. Deepak Punia clinched top spot in UWW’s rankings- 86 kg category: Indian wrestler Deepak Punia, aged 20, clinched the top spot in the rankings released by United World Wrestling (UWW), an international federation for wrestling, in the 86 kg category with 82 points. He had recently won silver in the World Wrestling Championships 2019 held in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. Iran’s Hassan Aliazam Yazdanicharati was ranked second. In the 65-kg category, Bajrang Punia lost the first spot to Russia’s Gadzhimurad Rashidov. Latter has a 9-point lead over the former. In the 57-kg category, Ravi Kumar Dahiya was ranked 5th with 39 points. In the 61-kg category, Rahul Aware was ranked 2nd. In women’s rankings, Vinesh Phogat jumped to number two in 53kg category. Seema Bisla ranked 3rd in 50 kg category while Pooja Dhanda is ranked 5th in 59kg, two places behind compatriot Manju Kumari. BANKING AND FINANCE GK Update 28 Sept, 2019 1. PNB MetLife India Insurance Co. Ltd. ties-up with Religare Health Insurance: PNB MetLife India Insurance Co. Ltd. has tied-up with Religare Health Insurance to offer a product which covers health, death and illness. The tie-up will offer additional earning opportunity for the life insurer’s distribution channel partners. The product will be a seamless integration exercise to ensure that it comes as a single policy to a customer. AWARDS AND HONOURS 1. Cochin International Airport wins award for passenger satisfaction: Airport Council International has recognised Cochin International Airport Limited as the best airport in terms of services offered to passengers. As per the annual Airport Service Quality survey conducted by the ACI, CIAL was ranked amongst the best airports in the 5-15 million category in the Asia Pacific region for the year 2018. The award was presented to the authorities of Cochin International Airport at the second Annual ACI Customer Experience Global Summit held at Bali, Indonesia. ACI ASQ survey is world-renowned and established airport service quality benchmarking programme measuring passengers’ satisfaction. 2. Infosys Bags UN Global Climate Action Award for ‘Carbon Neutral Now’ Category: IT major Infosys has received the United Nations Global Climate Action Award in the ‘Climate Neutral Now’ category.