Daily GK Update: 11th August 2020

 Honours & Awards

1. Max Verstappen wins 70th Anniversary Grand Prix

• Red Bull Driver’s Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch) bagged 1^st position in Emirates Formula 1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix 2020 marking his 1st victory of the Formula 1 season
• His victory ended Mercedes dominant Formula 1 season
• 70th Anniversary Grand Prix 2020 was the 5^th race of 2020 Formula 1 season and was held at Silverstone, United Kingdom
• Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) bagged second position followed by Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) in the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix 2020

 National Affairs

2. Delhi International Airport launches online portal ‘AIR SUVIDHA’

• Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has launched web portal titled ‘AIR SUVIDHA’ for international passengers
• It is meant for India-bound international arriving passengers by enabling them to fill the mandatory self-declaration form.
• Passengers can also apply for exemption from mandatory quarantine process
• It will make traveling contactless as the passengers won’t have to fill physical copies of self-declaration and quarantine exemption forms

 National Affairs

3. PM launches financing facility under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund

• PM Narendra Modi has launched Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) 
• This facility will have a worth of Rs 1 lakh crore
• First sanction of Rs 1000 crore to over 2,280 farmer societies under the new facility
• AIF: Medium-long term debt financing facility for investment in post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and credit guarantee, approved by cabinet on July 8

 Defense

4. Defence Minister bans import of 101 defence items

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has announced the list of banned 101 defence items for import, beyond the timeline indicated against them.
• The list was prepared by Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence (MoD)
• The ban will enhance indigenisation of Defence production in India boosting Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• Banned Import Items: Artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, transport aircraft, light combat helicopters (LCHs), radars, etc

 Banking & Finance

5. NPCI launches omni-channel loyalty platform titled ‘nth Rewards’

• National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) has unveiled its own business intelligence and analytics enabled omni-channel loyalty platform titled ‘nth Rewards’ (infinite possibilities Rewards)
• User will earn loyalty points through banks on almost every transaction digitally and reward points can be redeemed for online shopping and other purposes with this
• The platform will have smart dashboard to know the points accumulation of the user.
• MD-CEO of NPCI: Dilip Asbe

 State Affairs

6. Chhattisgarh Govt launches ‘Indira Van Mitan’ scheme

• Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel has launched ‘Indira Van Mitan Yojana’ on World Tribal Day to make forest dwellers (tribal) self-reliant by boosting self-employment opportunities.
• Under this, dedicated youth groups with 10-15 members will be constituted in almost 10,000 in tribal-dominated village areas to manage forest-based economic activities.
• Forest produce processing units will be set up in every development block of scheduled areas at Rs 10 lakh cost for each unit.

 Science & Technology

7. IIT Kanpur develops indigenous seed balls titled ‘BEEG’

• IIT Kanpur in collaboration with Agnys Waste Management Private Limited has developed indigenous seed balls titled ‘BEEG (Bio-compost Enriched Eco-friendly Globule)’
• BEEG seed ball is developed for the safety of people and farmers associated with plantation during Corona times and will provide employment
• They comprises of indigenous variety of seeds, compost and clay that don’t need digging pits for planting saplings
• They will germinate after coming into water’s contact

 Agreement

8. Bihar Pollution Control Board signs agreement with IIT Delhi for GIS

• Bihar State Pollution Control Board has signed an agreement with IIT Delhi to establish Geographical Information System (GIS) based platform to check air quality management
• IIT Delhi will help in the field of comprehensive architecture for scientific analysis of air pollution and will provide knowledge to develop in-house capacity for data analysis.
• MoA will identify sources and transport of particulate matter PM 2.5 in cities identifying effective mitigation measures.

 National & International Appointments

9. Harsh Bhanwala appointed as Exe-Chairman of Capital India Finance Ltd

• Harsh Kumar Bhanwala has been appointed as the Executive Chairman of Capital India Finance Ltd
• His term came into effect with August 6, 2020
• Prior to this, he was the Chairman of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for over six years till May 26, 2020.
• Capital India Finance Limited (CIFL) is an integrated financial services platform that provides customized financial solutions to Indian Corporates for growth and working capital requirements

 Obituaries

10. WWE legendary wrestler James Harris passes away

• American WWE player James Harris (70 years) passes away due to multiple health issues.
• He was popularly known as ‘Kamala’
• He made his debut with World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1984 and was well known for his World Wrestling Federation (WWF) era in mid-1980s and early 1990s.
• He was also nicknamed as ‘The Ugandan Giant’
• In his career, he fought with Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker and Andre the Giant etc
• He was characterised by an African mask, warpaint and a loincloth.

 National Affairs

11. FM inaugurates National Infrastructure Pipeline Online Dashboard

• FM Nirmala Sitharaman has launched Online Dashboard for National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) in New Delhi through video conferencing.
• It will act as a one stop solution for all stakeholders looking for information on infrastructure projects 
• It is being hosted on India Investment Grid(IIG) platform ‘www.indiainvestmentgrid.gov.in’
• The move will ensure easy accessibility to NIP project information and attract investors for PPP projects boosting Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.

 National Affairs

12. Vice President lays foundation stone for RS employees housing complex

• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has laid foundation stone for housing complex of Rajya Sabha employees at R K Puram in New Delhi
• The project under which complex was constructed will have a total worth of Rs. 46 crore and its land was allotted in 2003
• The delay in formation of housing project has resulted in avoidable costs for the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.
• This will curb the huge annual rent given to every individual working with Rajya Sabha reducing the travel time.

 Important Dates

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