GK Update 16Th Sept 2020
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th F DAILY GK UPDATE 16 Sept NATIONAL UPDATES: 1. Union Cabinet approves Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor Project: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor Project from Palwal to Sonipat via Sohna-Manesar-Kharkhauda. The project will be implemented by Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (HRIDC) and the estimated completion cost of the project is Rs. 5,617 crore. About Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor Project: The Rail Line will start from Palwal and end at existing Harsana Kalan station (On Delhi-Ambala section). This project will offer connectivity enroute to existing Patli Station (On Delhi-Rewari line), Sultanpur station (On Garhi Harsaru- Farukhnagar Line) and Asaudha Station (On Delhi Rohtak Line). The project will connect unserved areas of the state of Haryana, and hence, will boost the economic and social activities in Haryana State. Note: Chief Minister of Haryana: Manohar Lal Khattar; Governor: Satyadeo Narain Arya. 2. Maharashtra Govt launches ‘My Family, My Responsibility’ campaign: The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray has launched a state-wide campaign titled, ‘My Family, My Responsibility’, to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic. The campaign will be conducted in two phases. The first phase of the campaign will end on October 10 and the second phase will take place between October 12 to 24. Under the campaign: (1) The door-to-door survey will be conducted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), to check the citizens for fever, low oxygen levels and other Covid-19 symptoms. (2) The campaign will aim to achieve effective health care education for the control of Covid-19 outbreak. (3) Public representatives and NGO volunteers will be roped in for the campaign and volunteers will go door to door to check the citizens for fever, low oxygen levels and other Covid-19 symptoms. (4) Working hours of employees in private offices will be staggered and they are to be called to work on alternate days and must work from home as much as possible. Offices have been asked to adopt digital methods to avoid human contact. Video conferencing systems must be used for meetings and the health of all employees must be prioritised. Note: Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray; Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari. 3. Rajasthan Govt signs MoU with SIDBI to develop its MSME ecosystem: The Government of Rajasthan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to develop its micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) ecosystem. This MoU will support the state government to have a better understanding and provide better solutions for the problems of MSMEs. Under this MoU, the Department of Industries of Rajasthan and SIDBI will work together to provide financial, technical, marketing and export support to the MSMEs in the state. This partnership with SIDBI will promote the state’s innovative cluster-based thinking. DEFENCE UNICORN INSTITUTE NDA | CDS | AFCAT | ACC | CAPF | CPO | COAST GUARD | DEFENCE EXAMS | COMPETITIVE EXAMS GANDHINAGAR | AHMEDABAD – Helpline Number 6351299206 Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter th F DAILY GK UPDATE 16 Sept Note: CM Rajasthan Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot; Rajasthan Governor: Kalraj Mishra; Rajasthan Capital: Jaipur. 4. Centre Extends ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19’ for another 6 months: The Insurance Scheme announced under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health workers who are fighting to contain COVID-19 has been extended for another six months till March 2021. This is the second extension given to the scheme, which aims to provide an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakh to around over 22 lakh public healthcare providers. The ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Fighting COVID-19’ was announced on 30 March 2020 for a period of 90 days, i.e. till June 2020. This scheme was then extended for a further period of 3 months i.e. up to 25 September 2020. 5. Govt Opens Defence Sector to 74% FDI via Automatic Route: The Union Cabinet approved a policy for raising the cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) through automatic approval in the defence sector to 74% from 49% while affixing a ‘national security’ clause to it. Foreign investment in the defence sector shall be subject to scrutiny on ground of national security and the government reserves the right to review any foreign investment in the defence sector that may affect national security. Under the existing policy, the defence industry is allowed to bring FDI up to 49% under the automatic route. Beyond this, it can get FDI under government route, in cases resulting in access to modern technology or for other reasons to be recorded. INTERNATIONAL UPDATES: 1. ADB appoints Takeo Konishi as Country Director for India: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Takeo Konishi as its new Country Director for India. Konishi will replace Kenichi Yokoyama who has taken over as Director-General of ADB’s South Asia Department. India is the fourth-largest shareholder of ADB and has been its largest borrower since 2010. As head of the country office in New Delhi, Konishi will lead to ADB operations and policy dialogue with the government and other development partners in India. He will oversee the implementation of ADB’s India Country Partnership Strategy, 2018-2022 that focuses on building industrial competitiveness to create more jobs, providing inclusive infrastructure networks and services, and addressing environmental and climate change concerns. Konishi has 22 years of professional experience, including almost two decades with ADB in many senior roles including as Country Director of Uzbekistan Resident Mission and Advisor in the Central and West Asia Department. Note: President of Asian Development Bank: Masatsugu Asakawa; Asian Development Bank Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines; Asian Development Bank Founded: 19 December 1966. DEFENCE UNICORN INSTITUTE NDA | CDS | AFCAT | ACC | CAPF | CPO | COAST GUARD | DEFENCE EXAMS | COMPETITIVE EXAMS GANDHINAGAR | AHMEDABAD – Helpline Number 6351299206 Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter th F DAILY GK UPDATE 16 Sept 2. Rajesh Khullar appointed Executive Director at World Bank: A 1988 batch IAS officer, Rajesh Khullar has been appointed as Executive Director at World Bank in Washington DC. The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Rajesh Khulla for a tenure of three years from the date of assumption of charge or till the date of his superannuation (August 23, 2023). Khullar is currently posted as principal secretary to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. He will join the World Bank in the first week of November. As executive director, Khullar will represent India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka in the World Bank. The World Bank Group comprises 25 executive directors who each represent a country or constituency of countries, are either appointed or elected to the position. Note: President of World Bank: David Malpass; World Bank Headquarters: Washington D.C., United States; World Bank Founded: July 1944. 3. International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer: 16th September: The United Nations observes 16th September every year as International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. The ozone layer is a fragile shield of gas which protects the Earth from the harmful portion of the rays of the sun and thus help in preserving life on the planet. The theme of the day for 2020: “Ozone for life: 35 years of ozone layer protection”. It marks 35 years of the Vienna Convention. The day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly on December 19, 2000, to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1987. Note: United Nations Environment Programme Headquarters location: Nairobi, Kenya; United Nations Environment Programme Head: Inger Andersen; United Nations Environment Programme Founded: 5 June 1972. OTHER UPDATES: SPORTS 1. Paytm First Games ropes in Sachin Tendulkar as brand ambassador: Paytm First Games (PFG), a subsidiary of digital financial service platform Paytm, has roped in Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador. Tendulkar would promote the gaming platform PFG and all its fantasy sports such as cricket, kabaddi, football, and basketball. Paytm is the official umpire partner for IPL till 2022 and has been the title sponsor for Indian cricket. About Paytm First Games (PFG): It is a joint venture between One97 Communications Ltd and AG Tech Holdings. It offers over 50 games, where the most popular is fantasy sports. It currently engages with more than 80 million users, where the majority of them are from smaller cities and towns. Note: President of Paytm: Amit Nayyar; Paytm founder: Vijay Shekhar Sharma; Paytm Founded: August 2010; Paytm Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh. BANKING AND FINANCE DEFENCE UNICORN INSTITUTE NDA | CDS | AFCAT | ACC | CAPF | CPO | COAST GUARD | DEFENCE EXAMS | COMPETITIVE EXAMS GANDHINAGAR | AHMEDABAD – Helpline Number 6351299206 Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter th F DAILY GK UPDATE 16 Sept 1. SBI General Insurance inks corporate agency agreement with YES Bank: SBI General Insurance and YES Bank have signed a corporate agency agreement. Under the corporate agency agreement, the YES Bank will distribute the general insurer’s retail products to