GK Update 1St Feb 2020

Home , Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, National Games of India

st F DAILY GK UPDATE 1 Feb

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Union budget 2020-21 presented by Finance Minister: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2020 for the 2nd time in a row. The annual financial statement of a government, the Union budget gives details about the revenue and expenditure of the Centre in the past and estimated spending and projections for the coming year. Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas was the tagline of government mentioned by Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman in her speech. The themes of this Budget: Aspiration, development, compassion. Some of the highlights of Union Budget 2020-21: (1) The tax of only 10% will be charged to Rs 5 lakh-7.5 lakh income as against prevailing 20% rate; From Rs 7.5 lakh-10 lakh income, a tax rate of 15% against 20% prevailing rate; For income Rs, 10-12.5 lakh, a rate of 20% will be charged as against 30% earlier; For income between Rs 12.5 lakh-15 lakh will be taxed at 25 per cent as against 30%; For those at Rs 15 lakh plus income, the tax will be 30%. (2) The government has removed 70 exemptions; deductions with a view to further simplify the tax regime. (3) Reducing the corporate tax rates for new companies in the manufacturing sector to 15%. Similarly, for existing companies, rates lowered at 22% (4) Tax on Co-op societies to be reduced to 22% plus surcharge, as against current 30%. (5) The government has proposed a 100% tax concession to sovereign wealth funds on investment in infrastructure projects. (6) Concessional tax rate of 15% extended to power generation companies. Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) shifted to individuals instead of companies. (7) Housing made more affordable, tax holiday to affordable housing developers. Additional Rs 1.5 lakh tax benefit on affordable housing loans. (8) Customs duty raised on footwear and furniture. FM Sitharaman halves customs duty on import of newsprint, lightweight coated paper to 5%. (9) The budget has provided an outlay of ₹8,000 crores for quantum computing over five years to break into this technology. (10) Comprehensive measures for 100 water-stressed districts, PM Kusum schemes removed farmer’s dependence, Solar Power generation units will be set up for farmers to make a living out of the barren land. (11) For sector comprising of agriculture, allied sector, 2.83 lakh crores have been made for 2020-21; 1.6 lakh crores for agriculture; for rural and Panchayati Raj- 1.23 lakh crores. (12) The new education policy will be announced soon, IND-SAT exam proposed in Asian and African country for foreign university 3.60 lakh crores for Jal Jeevan mission. New Education policy soon. (13) About 150 higher education institutes will start Apprenticeship embedded degree diploma courses by March 2021. Steps would be taken to enable sourcing to provide higher quality education. Urban Local Bodies to provide internship opportunities for young engineers. For deprived students, degree level full-fledged online education programme to be started. DEFENCE UNICORN INSTITUTE NDA | CDS | AFCAT | ACC | CAPF | CPO | COAST GUARD | DEFENCE EXAMS | COMPETITIVE EXAMS GANDHINAGAR | AHMEDABAD – Helpline Number 6351299206 Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter st F DAILY GK UPDATE 1 Feb

(14) National Police University and National Foreign University will be set up. Medical colleges to be set up at district level to produce more doctors. (15) PM Govt allows tech companies to set up Data Centre parks to provide internet to citizens. It allocates Rs 6,000 crore for BhartatNet. (16) 5600 crores Allocated to nutrition-related programmes for FY 2020-21. Nutrition of Children, pregnant women, Poshan Abhiyan was launched. (17) For SC and OBC Classes, 85,000 crores allocated for FY 2020-21 For ST Classes, 53,700 crores allocated for FY 2020-21 For Senior Citizens & Divyangs, 9,500 crores for 2020-21. (18) Indian Institute of Heritage and Culture to be set up. 5 archaeological sites would be developed as iconic sites with the onsite museum: Rakhi Garhi Haryana, Hastinapur UP, Shivsagar Assam, Dolavira Assam, Adichalanur in TN. (19) FM announces 2 National Science Schemes Genetic Database for drug innovation & Quantum Computing for advancing our computational and analytical capabilities to join an exclusive global league – Rs 8000 Cr over 5 years. (20) Proposed to sell the balance holding of the government of India’s IDBI to private retail and institutional investors through the stock exchange. (21) The government raised the insurance cover to Rs 5 lakh per depositor, which is currently Rs 1 lakh. This comes after the PMC bank crisis. (22) India will host G20 Presidency in the year 2022 and the Finance Ministry is set to allocate Rs 100 crore for the preparations. (23) The Ministry of Finance is set to allocate Rs 28,600 crore for programs meant especially for women. “Beti Bachao Beti padhao” is a highly successful scheme; girls registration in school has surpassed that of boys. (24) The government has plans to raise money through LIC IPO. The government will thus sell part of its holding in the LIC.

2. Mumbai’s Iconic ‘Kala Ghoda Arts Festival’ Begins from 1st Feb: The 21st edition of the 9- day Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (KGAF) 2020, one of the biggest open street arts and cultural festival of India, has begun in Mumbai from 1st February 2020. The Kala Ghoda Festival is one of the most-awaited art and cultural festivals which takes place in the Kala Ghoda area of South Mumbai since 1999 in early February and attracts a wide range of crowd from all across the world. The Festival is organised by the Kala Ghoda Association, a non-profit organisation that states its objectives as “physically upgrading the Kala Ghoda sub-precinct and making it the Art District of Mumbai”. The theme for 2020 KGAF is “PAST FORWARD.” The 2020 edition of the event has been organised across 14 categories including dance, food, children activities, theatre, music, movies and films, literature, street events, visual arts, heritage walks, stalls, workshops, urban design and architecture, and standup comedy. This year’s festival is different from the rest of the editions as it has invited general public to raise funds for it through a crowd funding platform, “Ketto”.

3. ISRO working on low-cost satellite launch vehicles: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that it is preparing low-cost satellite launch vehicles costing around 30-

35 crores rupees each, which can put into orbit satellites weighing 500 kgs. The first such launch is expected to take place in the next four months from the country. ISRO has earmarked 1,600 million Dollars for launch vehicles of which 870 million Dollars will be for PSLV and the remaining for GSLV. Note: ISRO Director: K.Sivan; Headquarters: Bengaluru; Established: 1969.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Global health Emergency declared over Coronavirus by WHO: World Health Organization has declared an international emergency over the novel coronavirus from China. The organization has declared an emergency as the disease has spread to 18 other countries apart from China where it originated. Note: WHO Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; Director general: Tedros Adhanom.

2. Indian Think Tank ORF ranks 27th on ‘2019 Global Go To Think Tank Index’: Indian think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) has been placed at 27th position among 176 global think tanks in the ‘2019 Global Go To Think Tank Index’ Report. The report is released by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. ORF moved up from the 118th position in the 2018 to be ranked among top 30 think tanks globally in 2019. The list has been topped by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace of US, followed by Belgium’s Bruegel at second and French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) at third position. The index ranks these organizations based on their ability to generate policy-oriented research, analysis, and advice on domestic and international issues, thereby enabling policymakers and the public to make informed decisions about public policy. Other Indian think tanks in list include: Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) – 41 Indian Council for Research on International Economic Research (ICRIER) – 110 Centre for Civil Society (CCS) – 83 The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) – 111 Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) – 149

3. UK Launches 4 mn Pound Innovation Challenge Fund in India: The United Kingdom government has launched 4 million pound (about Rs 37 crore) Innovation Challenge Fund in India to support collaborative research into emerging technologies. Innovation Challenge Fund will encourage industry and academia to collaborate and develop tech solutions for social, economic and environmental challenges in India. The initiative is focused on two major tech clusters: Artificial Intelligence/ Data in Karnataka and Future Mobility in Maharashtra.

OTHER UPDATES:

1. Goa 2020 National Games unveils ‘Rubigula’ as official mascot: The 36th edition of the National Games of India will be held from 20 October to 4 November 2020 in Goa. The official mascot for the Goa 2020 National Games was unveiled on 01 February 2020 by the Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant in the presence of Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju. The Flame-Throated Bulbul under the name ‘Rubigula’ has been unveiled as the mascot for the event. The Flame-Throated Bulbul is the state bird of Goa. The event will see participation by 36 states and union territories, 12,000 athletes, officials and will host 37 sports disciplines across 24 venues in Goa. Note: Chief Minister of Goa: Pramod Sawant; Governor of Goa: Satya Pal Malik.

2. Sofia Kenin wins Australian Open Grand Slam Singles title 2020: American Sofia Kenin (21- years) has won the Australian Open Grand Slam Singles title 2020 (108th edition) at Melbourne, Australia. She defeated Garbiñe Muguruza in the final 4–6, 6–2, 6–2. Kenin was the youngest Australian Open finalist since Ana Ivanovic, and the youngest champion since Maria Sharapova, both in 2008.

3. India set to host Barca Academy Cup, Asia Pacific for second Year in row: The second edition of the Barca Academy Cup – Asia Pacific (APAC) Region has been organised at Barça Academy Delhi NCR at the Heritage School in Gurgaon, Haryana from January 30 to February 2, 2020. This is the second time India is hosting the FC Barcelona’s football tournament. The tournament is organized by FC Barcelona for all its soccer schools in the Asia Pacific zone. The tournament is held in four different categories (U9, U11, U13 and U15) for participants aged 7 to 14 years. The 2020 edition will feature more than 700 boys and girls representing India, Australia, Turkey, China, Singapore, Japan and Spain.

4. ICC appoints India’s Anurag Dahiya as Chief Commercial Officer: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed seasoned media professional Anurag Dahiya as its Chief Commercial Officer (COO). He is slated to take charge in early March this year. Anurag is credited to launch India’s first international cricket-only channel Star Cricket. He also oversaw the launch of ESPN STAR Sports’ first 24×7 sports news channel ESPNEWS and OTT platform ESPN Play.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

1. Mo O'Brien, 1st deaf person to row across Atlantic Ocean: Pharmacy worker Mo O'Brien (60-years) has become the first deaf person on record to row an ocean by finishing a 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic.Mo O'Brien and her fellow crew members, including her daughter, landed on the Caribbean island of Antigua 49 days after setting out from the Canary Island of La Gomera in December. Ms O’Brien rowed almost 3,000 miles (4,800km) of Atlantic Ocean with her daughter and their friend Claire Allinson.

DEFENCE

1. 1st indigenous bio-jet fuel aircraft of IAF landed successfully in Leh: The AN-32 aircraft of Indian Air Force powered with 10% blend of bio-jet fuel took off and landed successfully in Leh airport. This is the first time, both the engines of an aircraft are powered with bio-jet fuel. The bio-jet fuel is manufactured from “Tree-Borne oils”. The raw materials for the oil are grown and procured from Chhattisgarh tribal areas. This will help in reducing India’s dependence on crude oil imports and also will assist in reducing carbon emissions. Note: Air Chief Marshal of India: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.

2. Indian Coast Guard Day: 1st February: Indian Coast Guard (ICG) celebrated its raising day on 1st February. Indian Coast Guard is an armed force of India which protects maritime interests and enforces maritime law, with the jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India. It works in close cooperation with the Department of Fisheries, Indian Navy, the Department of Revenue and the Central and State police forces. It operates under the Ministry of Defence. Note: The interim Indian Coast guard was established on 1 February 1977 to prevent sea-borne smuggling of goods which were hampering India's domestic economy. On 18 August, 1978 Parliament of India passed the coast Guard Act which came into immediate effect. Obituaries

OBITUARIES

1. Veteran feminist writer Vidya Bal passes away: Veteran social activist, feminist writer and journalist Vidya Bal (84-years) passed away at a private nursing in Pune. She was known for her heroic crusade against oppressive practices involving women. Bal was in the forefront in the fight for women’s rights and equality with men. Bal always motivated women to break the shackles of oppression and fight for their rights.

DEFENCE UNICORN INSTITUTE – GANDHINAGAR | AHMEDABAD

Helpline Number # 6351299206 | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter