nd F DAILY GK UPDATE 2 Aug NATIONAL UPDATES: 1. Nitin Gadkari inaugurates refurbished upstream carriageway of Mahatma Gandhi bridge over river Ganga in Bihar: The Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Shri Nitin Gadkari virtually inaugurated the two completed lanes of the 4-lane Mahatma Gandhi bridge in Bihar on 31 July 2020, which is being renovated. Mahatma Gandhi bridge is a 5,750 metres long four lane bridge, lying at NH-19 between Patna and Hajipur. It is the third-longest river bridge in India. This is the first ever bridge in India which is being renovated using modern technology for improving the existing structure. The existing concrete superstructure of old bridge is being replaced by new steel deck superstructure. Work on this 4-lane bridge began in June 2017. The bridge is being renovated in two parts: Phase I- Upstream lane, Phase II- Downstream lane. Upstream lane has been completed in July 2020. Now downstream lane shall be taken up and is expected to be completed by 2021. Overall cost of renovating the bridge is Rs 1742 crore. 2. Andhra Pradesh Governor gives nod to two Bills to have three capitals for AP: Andhra Pradesh is going to become the first state in India, to have three capitals. Two Bills: On 31st July 2020, Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan approved the ‘The AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of all Regions Bill-2020’ and ‘APCRDA (Repeal) Bill - 2020’, to make them law. The AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020 seeks to create the three capital cities for the state. The AP Capital Region Development Authority (Repeal) Bill, 2020, seeks to abolish the APCRDA formed in December 2014 to develop Amaravati as the state capital. Three Capitals: Now as per the new law, Andhra Pradesh will have the Legislative Capital in Amaravati, Executive Capital in Visakhapatnam and, Judicial capital in Kurnool. The offices of the Chief Minister and Governor will be Visakhapatnam; The state assembly proceedings will take place in Amaravati; The high court will be located in Kurnool. 3. Madhya Pradesh launches ‘Ek Mask-Anek Zindagi’ public awareness campaign: The Madhya Pradesh Government has organised a public awareness campaign called ‘Ek Mask-Anek Zindagi’ (One Mask-Many Lives) to be conducted from August 1 till August 15. Under the campaign, people will be informed about measures to prevent COVID-19 infection. The Municipal Corporation will also run a public awareness chariot in the city on the same theme. The Mask Bank will also be established under the Ek Mask-Anek Zindgi Campaign, in which masks will be collected from donors and distributed free of cost to the poor people. Citizens can also donate masks through NGOs in every district/urban body. The Donations can be in the form of masks or funds which will be used to stitch masks through self-help groups. The awareness will be spread through announcements, posters and pamphlets. Note: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Governor: Anandiben Patel. DEFENCE UNICORN INSTITUTE NDA | CDS | AFCAT | ACC | CAPF | CPO | COAST GUARD | DEFENCE EXAMS | COMPETITIVE EXAMS GANDHINAGAR | AHMEDABAD – Helpline Number 6351299206 Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter nd F DAILY GK UPDATE 2 Aug 4. Piyush Goyal Inaugurates National Digital Conference on “Easing Doing Business for Atmanirbhar Bharat”: The National Digital Conference on ‘Easing Doing Business for Atmanirbhar Bharat’ was organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with the Department for Promotion of Investment and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on 30 July 2020. The event was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, who was the Chief Guest at the event and delivered the inaugural address. The Conference deliberated on a range of issues like: Major regulatory reforms undertaken by the government across various indicators of doing business; Assess their on-ground implementation; Disseminate best practices from various states; Crucial policy issues requiring redressal and, Identify a sustainable action plan for improving the business environment across sectors and states. 5. Health ministry releases new set of health warnings for tobacco packs: The Union ministry of health and family welfare on Wednesday notified new sets of specified health warnings for all tobacco product packs that will be applicable from September 1, 2019. The ministry in April, 2018, had made amendments to the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) Rules, 2008, that was called “Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labeling) Second Amendment Rules, 2018”. The two images were to be printed on the pack in a said format of all tobacco products manufactured or imported, and the image would be rotated by a new set of images after the completion of twelve months from the date of commencement of first image. Telephone Quit-line number-- 1800-11-2356-- is also the part of the health warning. The toll free Tobacco Quit-line Service provides counseling and strategies for quitting tobacco use. 6. NGT seeks explanation on drilling for oil in Assam national park: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Environment Ministry, Oil India Limited (OIL) and two other entities to explain how the proposed drilling of seven oil wells in an eastern Assam national park was permitted. The other two respondents are the Assam State Pollution Control Board and the Assam State Biodiversity Board. The NGT directive was based on a petition by Assam- based conservationists Bimal Gogoi and Mridu Paban Phukan against the environment clearance to OIL on May 11 for drilling in the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in violation of a Supreme Court order of September 2017. The NGT’s Eastern Zone Bench comprising Justice S.P. Wangdi and expert member Nagin Nada also took note of the petitioners’ contention that OIL did not carry out a biodiversity assessment study for the seven-well exploratory drilling project besides not conducting a public hearing as mandated by the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of 2006. 7. Northern Railway runs first-ever Vyapar Mala Express train: Northern Railway today ran first-ever Vyapar Mala Express train. The train destined for Jirania in Tripura has 46 wagons. Wheat was loaded in 34 wagons at Guniana station of Firozpur Division by Food Corporation of India and in the remaining Rice and Pulses have been loaded. This is an express service where piece-meal stock will reach its destination in a shorter time. The train departed from Delhi DEFENCE UNICORN INSTITUTE NDA | CDS | AFCAT | ACC | CAPF | CPO | COAST GUARD | DEFENCE EXAMS | COMPETITIVE EXAMS GANDHINAGAR | AHMEDABAD – Helpline Number 6351299206 Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter nd F DAILY GK UPDATE 2 Aug Kishanganj for Jirania and it will cover a distance of two thousand 673 Kilometres from Punjab to Tripura. The movement of the train will be constantly monitored with no delays enroute to ensure its timely arrival at Jirania. Railways have earned more than 94 lakh rupees from this Vyapar Mala Express train. It will help small traders in moving their cargo through Railways, in a short time, cost effective, convenient and environment-friendly mode of transportation. 8. Ashish Bhatia appointed as new Gujarat DGP: Ahmedabad police commissioner Ashish Bhatia has been appointed new Director General of Gujarat Police. He succeeds Shivanand Jha who retired 31st July, 2020. Bhatia who is 1985 batch IPS officer took over charge from 1st Aug, 2020. Mr Bhatia has served at different crucial posts in Gujarat police. He had been the DGP of CID Crime and Railways. Bhatia who has been called as an anti terror expert is credited with solving the 2008 serial bomb blast case in Ahmedabad. INTERNATIONAL UPDATES: 1. UAE becomes first Arab country to produce nuclear energy: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has made a remarkable achievement by becoming the first country in the Arab World to produce nuclear energy, when the Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Plant in Abu Dhabi, got operational on 31 July 2020. The plant is powered by South Korean technology and is situated in the Al Dhafrah region of Abu Dhabi. It will produce 5.6 gigawatts of electricity and meet up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs. The new plant is part of the UAE’s effort to become less reliant on oil and gas, which is the current source of the vast majority of its energy, and move towards sustainable energy sources Note: President of UAE: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Capital of UAE: Abu Dhabi; Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham. 2. SABIC chemical plant to become world’s first-of-its-kind to operate on 100 per cent renewable power: SABIC’s polycarbonate facility in Spain is set to become the world’s first large scale chemical production plant which will run entirely on renewable power after a major agreement was signed with Iberdrola, an electricity utility company. The plant is expected to be completely operational by 2024 and is expected to help SABIC reach it’s 2025 clean energy target. 3. Iran launches underground ballistic missiles during exercise: Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched underground ballistic missiles as part of an exercise “Great Prophet 14” involving a fake aircraft carrier in the Strait of Hormuz, the latest barrage in a drill that saw two American bases temporarily go on alert over the launches. OTHER UPDATES: DEFENCE UNICORN INSTITUTE NDA | CDS | AFCAT | ACC | CAPF | CPO | COAST GUARD | DEFENCE EXAMS | COMPETITIVE EXAMS GANDHINAGAR | AHMEDABAD – Helpline Number 6351299206 Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter nd F DAILY GK UPDATE 2 Aug BANKING AND FINANCE 1. Kotak Mahindra Bank launches ‘Kona Kona Umeed’ Campaign: The private sector lender, Kotak Mahindra Bank, has announced the launch of a two-month long campaign called ‘Kona Kona Umeed’ with huge offers and discounts to lift up hope and optimism among its customers in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic.