Friday 19 March 2021
GK Update of 14th, fifteenth and sixteenth March 2021 overlaying the next information headlines: India’s Forex Reserves, UPI-Help, ICRIER, Grammy Awards 2021, ISRO, National Vaccination Day, World Consumer Rights Day.
National News
1. Supreme Court seeks govt.’s response on plea towards Places of Worship Act
- The Supreme Court has requested the federal government to reply to a plea difficult the Places of Worship Act enacted in 1991.
- A discover is issued by a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde to the Union Ministries of Home, Law and Culture on a plea filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay towards numerous provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991.
- The petition stated Sections of the Act that handled the bar on authorized claims have been towards the ideas of secularism.
- The spiritual character of a spot of worship shall proceed to be the identical because it was on 15 August 1947.
- No individual shall convert any type of place of worship of any spiritual denomination into certainly one of a special denomination or part.
2. Govt declares new scheme for vacationer automobile operators
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has introduced a brand new scheme for vacationer automobile operators, underneath which any vacationer automobile operator could apply for an “All India tourist authorization and permit” by means of on-line mode.
- The new algorithm will likely be often known as “All India Tourist Vehicles Authorization and Permit Rules, 2021”. This will come into impact from April 01, 2021.
- The new guidelines for permits are geared toward selling tourism throughout the states in our nation, whereas concurrently, serving to to develop the income of state Governments.
- The permits will likely be issued, after related paperwork are submitted and charges deposited, inside 30 days of submission of such functions.
- The authorization/allow will likely be granted, for a interval of three months or its multiples thereof, not exceeding three years at a time.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- Minister of Road Transport and Highways: Nitin Gadkari.
Banking News
3. India’s Forex Reserves Surpass Russia’s to grow to be World’s 4th Biggest
- India’s foreign-exchange reserves surpassed Russia’s to grow to be the world’s fourth-largest reserve.
- The overseas forex holdings of India stood at $580.3 billion as of March 5, as per the info by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- The reserve of Russia was $580.1 billion. Overall, China has the biggest reserves, adopted by Japan and Switzerland, as on the International Monetary Fund desk.
- Reserves for each international locations have largely flattened out this 12 months after months of speedy enhance. India pulled forward as Russian holdings declined at a quicker charge in latest weeks. India’s reserves, sufficient to cowl roughly 18 months of imports, have been bolstered by a uncommon current-account surplus, rising inflows into the native inventory market and overseas direct funding.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- RBI twenty fifth Governor: Shaktikant Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.
Business News
4. NPCI launches UPI-Help on BHIM app for Grievance Redressal
- The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the umbrella entity for digital funds in India, has launched a brand new utility named “UPI-Help” on BHIM UPI, which is able to act as a grievance redressal mechanism for the customers of the BHIM utility.
- Initially, UPI-Help has been made stay on the BHIM app for the purchasers of State Bank of India, AXIS Bank, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank. Users of different banks taking part in UPI may also be added to UPI-Help quickly.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- National Payments Corporation of India MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe.
- National Payments Corporation of India Headquarters: Mumbai.
- National Payments Corporation of India Founded: 2008.
Appointments News
5. World Bank economist Deepak Mishra appointed as director of ICRIER
- Deepak Mishra, Practice Manager within the World Bank’s Macroeconomics, Trade, and Investment Global Practice, has been appointed because the subsequent director and chief government of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).
- He will take the cost of Rajat Kathuria who has been the director and chief government of ICRIER since 1st September 2012.
- Mishra has held numerous positions on the World Bank, together with co-director of the World Development Report 2016 (Digital Dividends), nation economist for Ethiopia, Pakistan, Sudan, and Vietnam.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- ICRIER Established: August 1981.
- ICRIER Headquaters: New Delhi.
Awards News
6. Grammy Awards 2021 Announced: Check the checklist of Winners
- The 63rd version of the annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held in Los Angeles on March 14, 2021. The 2021 Grammy awards acknowledged the most effective recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility 12 months, between September 1, 2019, to August 31, 2020.
- The award is offered by The Recording Academy to acknowledge achievements within the American music trade. Beyonce obtained essentially the most nominations with 9, in addition to essentially the most awards with 4.
Here is the checklist of winners of Grammy Awards 2021:
| Sl. No. | Category | Winner |
| 1. | Album Of The Year | “Folklore” by Taylor Swift |
| 2. | Record Of The Year | “Everything I Wanted” by Billie Eilish |
| 3. | Best New Artist | Megan Thee Stallion |
| 4. | Best Rap Album | “King’s Disease” by Nas |
| 5. | Best R&B Album Winner | “Bigger Love” by John Legend |
| 6. | Best Rap Song | “Savage” by Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Brittany |
| 7. | Best Country Album | “Wildcard” — Miranda Lambert |
| 8. | Song Of The Year | “I Can’t Breathe” by Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas |
| 9. | Best Rock Album | “The New Abnormal” by The Strokes |
| 10. | Best Rock Song | “Stay High” by Brittany Howard, songwriter (Brittany Howard) |
| 11. | Best Dance/Electronic Album | Bubba by Kaytranada |
| 12. | Producer of the Year, Classical | David Frost |
| 13. | Best Music Video | Brown Skin Girl by Beyoncé, Blue Ivy & WizKid |
| 14. | Best Country Song | Crowded Table by Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby & Lori McKenna |
| 15. | Best Folk Album | All the Good Times |
| 16. | Best Comedy Album | Black Mitzvah by Tiffany Haddish |
7. Gowsalya Shankar honoured with International Woman of Courage 2021
- The U.S. Consulate honoured Tamil Nadu-based anti-caste activist and human rights defender Gowsalya Shankar with a nomination for the International Woman of Courage (IWOC) Award.
- The IWOC Award Certificate of Nomination was handed over to her by U.S. Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin at an occasion ‘Courageous Women Inspire a Better World’ held within the metropolis.
- Ms Gowsalya was U.S. Mission India’s nominee for the 2021 U.S. Secretary of State’s IWOC Award, which honours girls who’ve demonstrated distinctive braveness, energy, and management in performing to enhance the lives of others.
Science and Technology News
8. Odisha Farmer’s Solar Car Gets Thumbs-Up Online
- Sushil Aggarwal from Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district had constructed a four-wheeler powered by an 850 Watts motor and 100 Ah/54 Volts of battery.
- After absolutely charged the automobile can journey as much as 300 km. He instructed that he had constructed this automobile inside a workshop at his house through the COVID-19 lockdown.
- All the work on his automobile together with motor winding, electrical becoming and chassis work have been completed in my workshop with the assistance of two different mechanics and a good friend who suggested me on electrical works.
- They are powered by electrical energy by means of the usage of photo voltaic vitality. Sun’s vitality is straight transformed into electrical vitality by the Photovoltaic (PV) cells.
9. First undertaking Genome Mapping in Indian Ocean will likely be launched
- In the Indian Ocean, the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) will launch the first-of-its-kind undertaking of Genome Mapping.
- Indian Ocean covers about 20% of the Earths’s water floor and so is the third largest water bocy on this planet.
- Its goal is to bather samples of genome mapping of microorganisms within the Indian Ocean.
- It can also be needed to grasp the biochemistry and the response of the Ocean to local weather change, nutrient stress and growing air pollution.
- The value of the undertaking and length is Rs 25 crore and can take round three years to finish.
10. ISRO launches sounding rocket RH-560 to review attitudinal variations
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched the sounding rocket (RH-560) to review attitudinal variations within the impartial winds and plasma dynamics, at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota Range (SHAR).
- ISRO has developed a sequence of sounding rockets referred to as Rohini sequence, essential amongst them being RH-200, RH-300 and RH-560, quantity within the identify indicating the diameter of the rocket in mm, in line with the Bengaluru-headquartered house company.
- Sounding rockets are one or two-stage stable propellant rockets used for probing the higher atmospheric areas and for house analysis. They additionally function simply reasonably priced platforms to check or show prototypes of latest parts or subsystems meant to be used in launch automobiles and satellites.
Important takeaways for all aggressive exams:
- ISRO Chairman: K.Sivan.
- ISRO Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- ISRO established: 15 August 1969.
Sports News
11. Mumbai City FC beat ATK Mohun Bagan to win their maiden ISL title
- Mumbai City FC has defeated ATK Mohun Bagan 2-1 within the ISL 2020-21 closing to raise yet one more trophy this 12 months. Mumbai had earlier secured the ISL Shield together with a spot within the AFC Champions League group stage by ending first within the standings within the common season.
Related Awards
- Golden Ball Award (Best Player of ISL 2020-21): ATK Mohun Bagan ahead Roy Krishna.
- Emerging Indian Player of the Year: NorthEast United midfielder Lalengmawia.
- Golden Boot Award (Top goal-scorer): FC Goa striker Igor Angulo for 14 objectives.
- Golden Glove Award (Best Goalkeeper): ATK Mohun Bagan custodian Arindam Bhattacharya for ten clear sheets.
12. Bhavani Devi turns into first ever Indian fencer to qualify for Olympics
- Bhavani Devi grew to become the first-ever Indian fencer to qualify for the Olympics. The sabre fencer secured an Olympic spot because of occasions within the ongoing Fencing World Cup. Hosts Hungary misplaced within the quarterfinals of the workforce occasion, permitting Korea to progress to the semis.
- Therefore, Bhavani Devi qualifies by means of the Adjusted Official Ranking (AOR) Method. Currently, she is ranked forty fifth on this planet. In 2017 She gained India’s 1st worldwide gold medal in fencing.
Important Days
13. World Consumer Rights Day 2021
- World Consumer Rights Day is widely known on March 15 yearly to lift international consciousness about client rights and wishes,and shield shoppers throughout the globe towards market abuses.
- The theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2021 is “Tackling Plastic Pollution.”.
- The day highlights the ability of shoppers and their rights for a good, secure and sustainable market for everybody.
14. National Vaccination Day: March 16
- The National Vaccination Day, (additionally referred to as the National Immunization Day), is widely known yearly on March 16 in India, to convey the significance of vaccination to your entire nation.
- The prime function behind the celebration of National Vaccination Day is to make all individuals conscious of arming towards polio and eradicating it fully from the world. In 2021, the National Vaccination Day is essential because the nation has began its largest Covid-19 immunization programme.
- The day was first noticed within the 12 months 1995. It was in 1995 that India began the Pulse Polio Programme and the primary dose of Oral Polio Vaccine was given.
- According to the World Health Organization, immunization is a course of by means of which a person’s immune system turns into fortified towards overseas hurt inflicting agent.
Obituaries News
15. Former Boxing Champion ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler Passes Away
- The former undisputed middleweight boxing legend “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler has handed away.
- Hagler, the American legend, dominated because the undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993.
16. Renowned Padma Bhushan successful painter Laxman Pai passes away
- Renowned Indian artist and painter Laxman Pai has handed away. The Goa-based painter was a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour.
- The former principal of the Goa College of Art had a number of laurels underneath his identify together with Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Nehru Award, and Lalit Kala Akademi Award.
17. Noted Kathakali Dancer Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair passes away
- Veteran Kathakali artist Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair has handed away in Kozhikode, Kerala. He was 105-year previous. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2017 for his contributions to the dance type of Kathakali.
- Besides this, Chemencheri was additionally the recipient of a number of different awards just like the Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Award in 1979, the Kerala Kalamandalam award in 2001, Kalaratnam award in 2009, Mayilpeeli award and Sangeet Natak Academi Tagore award.