Saturday, 10 April 2021
GK Update of 02nd April 2021 overlaying the next information headlines: Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam, Rafale fighter jets, World Autism Awareness Day, International Children’s Book Day, SHANTIR OGROSHENA 2021.
National News
1. Centre withdraws order slicing rates of interest on small financial savings schemes
- The authorities has withdrawn its order slashing rates of interest on small financial savings schemes, together with National Savings Certificates (NSC) and Public Provident Fund (PPF), for the primary quarter of 2021-22.
- Earlier on March 31, 2021, the Finance Ministry had introduced a pointy lower in rates of interest for small financial savings schemes by 50-110 foundation factors. Interest charges for small financial savings schemes are notified on a quarterly foundation.
- However, the orders issued had been withdrawn by the federal government on April 01, 2021. This marks the fourth consecutive quarter that the federal government has maintained the charges on such schemes which might be efficient from April 1 and stay in impact until June 30, 2021.
State News
2. Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam in Uttar Pradesh lists itself at BSE
- Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam listed itself at BSE and efficiently raised Rs. 150 Crores by issuing Municipal Bond on Private Placement Basis utilizing BSE BOND. This is the first-ever inexperienced bond issuance by any Municipal Corporation within the nation.
- The cash shall be used for the development of a tertiary sewage remedy plant at Indirapuram in Ghaziabad. The cash shall be used to fund the undertaking partly which is value Rs 240 crore. This remedy plant will allow the sewage water for use for industries after remedy.
- Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam is the second Municipal Corporation to lift funds within the state of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, Lucknow Municipal Corporation had listed itself at BSE.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Uttar Pradesh Capital: Lucknow.
- Uttar Pradesh Governor: Anandiben Patel.
- Uttar Pradesh Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath.
Appointments News
3. Subhash Kumar takes extra cost as CMD of ONGC
- Subhash Kumar has assumed the extra cost as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on April 01, 2021. He is serving as Director (Finance) at ONGC.
- Kumar succeeds incumbent CMD, Shashi Shanker, who superannuated on March 31, 2021.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Headquarters: Vasant Kunj, Delhi.
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation CEO: Shashi Shanker (1 Oct 2017–).
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Founder: Government of India.
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Founded: 14 August 1956.
4. Mukhmeet S. Bhatia takes over as Director-General of ESIC
- Senior IAS officer, Mukhmeet S. Bhatia took over the cost of Director General of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) on April 04, 2021. He is a 1990 IAS Officer of the Jharkhand cadre.
- Earlier, he has labored because the Additional Secretary within the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance. ESIC is a Statutory and an Autonomous Body underneath the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Employees’ State Insurance Corporation Founded: 24 February 1952.
- Employees’ State Insurance Corporation Headquarters: New Delhi.
Defence News
5. Indian Army to take part in Military Exercise SHANTIR OGROSHENA 2021
- A multinational Military Exercise named ‘SHANTIR OGROSHENA’ 2021 (Front Runner of the Peace) is scheduled to be held in Bangladesh from April 04 to 12, 2021.
- The theme of the train is “Robust Peace Keeping Operations”. The train is being held to commemorate the start centenary of Bangladesh ‘Father of the Nation’ Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mark superb 50 years of liberation of the nation.
- The Indian Army can be collaborating on this multinational train, together with a contingent of the Royal Bhutan Army, Sri Lankan Army and Bangladesh Army.
- The Indian contingent will comprise 30 personnel together with Officers, JCOs and Jawans of a Battalion from The DOGRA Regiment.
- USA, UK, Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Singapore may also attend the train as Military observers.
6. 4th batch of three Rafale fighter jets land in India
- The fourth batch of three Rafale fighter jets landed in India after flying continuous from Istres Air Base France, in an additional enhance to the strike functionality of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Rafale fighter jets had been offered mid-air refuelling by air pressure tankers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- The three Rafale fighter plane which took off from France for India had been scheduled to land on the Jamnagar airbase. The planes geared up with the Hammer missiles have enhanced their functionality to hold out air-to-ground strikes just like the one in Balakot.
Economy News
7. UNESCAP: India’s Economic Growth Of 7% in 2021-22
- The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) mentioned within the newest replace that, India’s is estimated to document financial development of 7% in 2021-22, over a contraction of 7.7% witnessed within the earlier fiscal on account of the pandemic’s influence on regular enterprise exercise.
- It additionally famous that sustaining low borrowing prices whereas protecting non-performing loans in verify could be a problem.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- UNESCAP Founded: 28 March 1947.
- UNESCAP Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand.
Ranks and Reports News
8. India ranks one hundred and fortieth in WEF’s gender hole index 2021
- India has slipped 28 locations to rank 140 amongst 156 nations within the Global Gender Gap Report 2021, by World Economic Forum. In 2020, India ranked 112th amongst 153 nations.
- Iceland has topped the index as probably the most gender-equal nation on this planet for the twelfth time. Afghanistan is the worst-performing nation within the report.
- Iceland, Finland, Norway, New Zealand, Rwanda, Sweden, Ireland and Switzerland.
- The Global Gender Gap Report 2021 is the fifteenth version of the annual publication by WEF.
- The Global Gender Gap Index was first launched by the World Economic Forum in 2006 to match nations’ gender gaps throughout 4 dimensions: financial alternatives, training, well being and political management.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- World Economic Forum Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland.
- World Economic Forum Founder: Klaus Schwab.
- World Economic Forum Founded: January 1971.
Science and Technology News
9. Facebook and Google to construct new cables underneath the ocean referred to as ‘Echo’ and ‘Bifrost’
- Facebook and Google are planning to construct new subsea cables from the US to Singapore and Indonesia.
- Facebook has partnered with main regional and world companions to construct two new subsea cables Echo and Bifrost that can present very important new connections between the Asia-Pacific area and North America.
- While Google is simply investing in Echo. These cables will improve general transpacific capability by 70 per cent.
- These initiatives are nonetheless topic to regulatory approvals, when accomplished, these cables are anticipated to ship much-needed Internet capability, redundancy, and reliability. The bulletins come at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has elevated the necessity for dependable Internet entry.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Google CEO: Sundar Pichai.
- Google Founded: 4 September 1998, California, United States.
- Google Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin.
- Chief Executive Officer of Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg.
- Facebook Headquarters: California, US.
10. Paytm Money opens new R&D centre in Pune
- Online funding platform Paytm Money has arrange a brand new R&D facility in Pune, Maharashtra, which can drive product innovation, particularly within the space of fairness, mutual funds, and digital gold.
- The firm added that it plans to rent over 250 engineers and information scientists to construct new wealth services and products.
- Paytm Money goals to realize over 10 million customers and 75 million yearly transactions in FY21, with the vast majority of customers coming from small cities and cities.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Paytm HQ: Noida, Uttar Pradesh;
- Paytm Founder & CEO: Vijay Shekhar Sharma.
- Paytm Money CEO: Varun Sridhar.
Awards News
11. Legendary Actor Rajinikanth to be honoured with 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Award
- The legendary actor Rajinikanth has been chosen to be honoured with the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Awards, the very best movie honour in India.
- The iconic actor Rajinikanth will obtain the Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 for his stupendous contribution to Indian cinema. Rajinikanth will obtain the Dadasaheb Phalke Award on May 3, 2021.
- Rajinikanth is the twelfth South Indian to get this award. Legends like Dr Rajkumar, Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, K Balachander have been awarded earlier than. The legendary actor has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan up to now.
Important Days
12. World Autism Awareness Day: 02 April
- The World Autism Awareness Day is noticed internationally on 2 April yearly, to lift consciousness about folks with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) all through the world.
- The 2021 World Autism Awareness Day observance will handle these points by means of a digital occasion that can embody moderated panel discussions with people on the autism spectrum who’ve themselves skilled the challenges and seen these new alternatives within the employment market.
- The very first World Autism Day was noticed within the yr 2008 on April 2. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 18 December 2007. World Autism Day is certainly one of solely seven official health-specific UN Days.
13. International Children’s Book Day: 02 April
- International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is organised yearly on 2nd April since 1967, by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), a global non-profit group, to encourage a love of studying and to name consideration to youngsters’s books.
- Theme 2021: “The Music of Words.” Each yr a unique National Section of IBBY has the chance to be the worldwide sponsor of ICBD and resolve upon a theme. The IBBY United States is the sponsor for International Children’s Book Day 2021.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- International Board on Books for Young People Founder: Jella Lepman.
- International Board on Books for Young People Founded: 1953, Zürich, Switzerland.
- International Board on Books for Young People Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland.