Friday, 22 January 2021
GK Update of seventeenth and 18th January 2021 masking the next information headlines: Startup India Seed Fund, SAKSHAM, Major Strategic Partners, Houbara bustard, One School One IAS.
National News
1. PM Modi launches Rs 1,000-crore ‘Startup India Seed Fund’
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Rs 1,000-crore ‘Startup India Seed Fund’ on 16 January 2021, whereas addressing the ‘Prarambh: Startup India International Summit’ 2021. This initiative will assist in organising new startups and promote their progress.
- The Startup India Seed Fund would help startups in want of preliminary capital to begin and develop their enterprise and assist budding entrepreneurs pursue modern concepts.
- The authorities has been implementing the Fund of Fund Scheme to assist startups elevate fairness capital. Going ahead, the federal government may even assist startups in elevating debt capital.
2. PM Modi flags off 8 trains connecting Statue of Unity
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off eight trains connecting the Statue of Unity in Kevadiya, Gujarat with completely different areas of the nation via video conferencing.
- PM Modi knowledgeable that it was the primary time in historical past that so many trains from completely different places have been flagged off for a typical vacation spot.
- The eight trains flagged off will join Kevadiya with Varanasi, Dadar, Ahmedabad, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Rewa, Chennai, and Pratapnagar.
- PM additionally inaugurated different railway tasks in Kevadiya, together with Dabhoi-Chandid gauge transformed broad gauge rail line, Chandod-Kevadiya new broad gauge rail line, Pratapnagar-Kevadiya newly electrified part, and new station buildings of Dabhoi Junction, Chandod and Kevadiya.
3. Petroleum Ministry launches ‘SAKSHAM’ marketing campaign
- The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has launched a month-long mass consciousness marketing campaign titled ‘SAKSHAM’ to unfold consciousness about inexperienced and clear vitality.
- The marketing campaign has been organised by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), to inspire shoppers to modify to cleaner fuels and herald behavioural change to make use of fossil gasoline intelligently.
- The marketing campaign will unfold consciousness about seven key drivers that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not too long ago talked about.
- SAKSHAM stands for Sanrakshan Kshamata Mahotsav.
- The pan-India marketing campaign would come with numerous actions comparable to cyclotron, farmer workshops, seminars, portray competitors, CNG automobile driving contest, and so on to unfold consciousness amongst plenty about the benefits of utilizing clear fuels.
- They embrace transferring in the direction of a gas-based financial system, cleaner use of fossil fuels, better reliance on home sources to drive biofuels and elevated use of electrical autos.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas: Dharmendra Pradhan.
International News
4. US designates UAE, Bahrain as ‘Major Strategic Partners’
- The United States has not too long ago designated the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because the “major strategic partners” of the nation.
- This has been introduced earlier than the formal transition of the president’s workplace from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. This announcement of “major strategic partners” was achieved by Kayleigh McEnany, the White House Press Secretary.
- Designation as strategic companions will strengthen the prevailing partnership between the United States, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.
- Both the international locations have been designated for his or her dedication to countering violent extremism throughout the area, distinctive safety partnership, and exemplified by their internet hosting 1000’s of United States airmen, troopers, marines, and sailors.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- President of UAE: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
- Capital of UAE: Abu Dhabi; Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham.
- King of Bahrain: Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
- Capital of Bahrain: Manama; Currency of Bahrain: Bahraini Dinar.
5. Pakistan Permits Dubai Royals to Hunt ‘Houbara bustard’
- Pakistan has issued particular permission to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Dubai Ruler; the crown prince, and 5 members of the royal household for searching houbara bustard throughout the 2020-21 searching season.
- After the permission, 11 members of the United Arab Emirates’ royal household reached the Panjgur district in Balochistan, Pakistan for searching the extremely weak and internationally protected houbara bustard underneath Pakistan’s overseas ministry license.
- The houbara bustard is a terrestrial chicken present in elements of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The Asian houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii) and North African houbara (Chlamydotis undulata) are separate species.
- After breeding in central Asia throughout spring, the Houbara bustards migrate south to spend the winter in Pakistan.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- President of Pakistan: Arif Alvi.
- Prime Minister of Pakistan: Imran Khan.
State News
6. Kerala Governor launches ‘One School One IAS’ scheme
- Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has inaugurated the ‘OneSchool One IAS’ scheme which has been rolled out underneath the Vedhik Erudite Foundations Scholarship Programme.
- According to a notification launched an establishment thought of by high teachers and retired IAS and IPS officers within the state is conducting the programme which seeks to refute the overall notion that the civil service is for the elite class solely.
- The programme shall be offering free coaching to the scholars who’re economically backward however are academically sensible aspirants of civil service and different aggressive exams.
- The scheme is supported by sponsors, which expects an enrollment of 10,000 girls and boys throughout the state.
- The beneficiaries of the programme shall be chosen by a panel which shall be headed by the heads of the respective instructional establishments.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Kerala CM: Pinarayi Vijayan.
- Kerala Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan.
Economy News
7. CARE lowers Centre’s fiscal deficit projection to 7.8% of GDP
- CARE Ratings has revised downwards its projection of the Centre’s fiscal deficit to 7.8 % of GDP throughout FY21 towards its earlier estimate of 9-9.5 %.
- The mixed impact of decrease revenues & increased expenditure is prone to push the fiscal deficit to 7.8% of GDP.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Care Ratings HQ: Mumbai; CEO:Ajay Mahajan.
Appointments News
8. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw chosen as one in every of USIBC vice-chair
- The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has chosen three high company leaders because the Vice-Chairs of 2021 Global Board of Directors of USIBC with quick impact.
- The three new appointees will now work with USIBC President Nisha Biswal and the Council’s coverage administrators, for strengthening US-India business relationship for the longer term.
The three newly appointed VCs are
- Biocon Executive Chairperson: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
- Amway CEO: Milind Pant.
- Vice-chair at Nasdaq: Edward Knight.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- US-India Business Council Founded: 1975.
- US-India Business Council Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States.
Awards News
9. Biswajit Chatterjee conferred ‘Indian Personality of the Year’ award at IFFI
- Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar introduced veteran actor, director and singer Biswajit Chatterjee because the recipient of the ‘Indian Personality of the Year’ award.
- The 84-year-old actor is understood for that includes in movies like “Bees Saal Baad”, “Night In London” and “April Fool”.
- Chatterjee began his profession within the late Fifties and went on to work in movies like “Biwi Aur Makan”, “Sagaai”, “Kohra” amongst others. In 1975, he directed and produced “Kahte Hain Mujhko Raja”, that includes himself together with Dharmendra, Hema Malini and Rekha.
Science and Technology News
10. NASA targets last take a look at of ‘world’s strongest rocket’
- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is seeking to perform the eighth and last take a look at in its “Green Run” take a look at sequence.
- This eighth stage termed “hot fire,” will carry to an finish a sequence of assessments which, NASA says, will progressively carry collectively the core stage of the Space Launch System (SLS) to life for the very first time.
- The core stage of the SLS will kind the spine of what NASA says would be the “most powerful rocket in the world” and can energy its next-generation human Moon Missions.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- The administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration: Jim Bridenstine.
- Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States.
Books and Authors News
11. Ramchandra Guha’s newest guide ‘The Commonwealth of Cricket’
- Ramchandra Guha’s newest guide ‘The Commonwealth of Cricket’ can be launching nearly within the Tata Literature Live (The Mumbai Lit fest) this month.
- His newest guide juxtaposes his life along with his abiding love for the sport & this dialog couldn’t come at a greater time with India and Australia within the midst of an enthralling take a look at sequence.
- In his upcoming guide, ‘The commonwealth of cricket: The most subtle and sophisticated game known to mankind’, Guha has penned down his private account of being intimately concerned with the sport ranging from the time he was a baby rising up in Dehradun to his days in faculty, from his encounters with the perfect Indian and overseas cricket gamers to changing into a part of the BCCI.
Important Days News
12. NDRF Celebrates its sixteenth Raising Day
- The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) celebrated its sixteenth Raising Day on 18th January.
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a specialised multi-skilled, humanitarian pressure of the nation, got here into existence on January nineteenth, 2006 has been enjoying an important position in Disaster Management and Community consciousness for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) within the nation.
Obituaries News
13. Legendary classical musician Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan passes away
- Legendary Indian classical musician and Padma Vibhushan awardee Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan handed away.
- He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, the Padma Bhusan in 2006, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2018. In 2003, he was additionally awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, which is the very best recognition given to practising Indian artists by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Miscellaneous News
14. India’s first COVID-19 Vaccine recipient is Manish Kumar
- Manish Kumar, a sanitation employee in Delhi, grew to become the primary individual to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine in India after PM Modi flagged off the nationwide vaccination drive on 16 January 2021.
- Manish Kumar was given the injection at AIIMS in Delhi whereas Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan was additionally current.
- PM Modi launched the nationwide vaccine drive by way of videoconferencing and congratulated the individuals of India on getting two Made in India vaccines.
- India’s vaccination programme is predicated on a vital precept that those that are in want of the vaccine will get vaccinated first. Our docs, nurses, medical & paramedical employees, sanitation employees in hospitals – be it non-public or hospital are entitled to get vaccinated. This shall be achieved on precedence.