Daily Current Affairs and GK | 17 June 2020

1. India joins Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)

• Recently India has joined the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).
• India has joined the GPAI as a founding member. With this, India will be able to participate actively in the global development of Artificial Intelligence.
• It will also leverage its experience around the use of digital technologies for inclusive growth.
• Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI):
  • GPAI is the first of its kind initiative.
  • The aim is to develop a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities around Artificial Intelligence using the experience and diversity of participating countries.
  • It will be supported by a secretariat, which will be hosted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris.
  • Its founding members are the United States, Britain, the European Union, Australia, Canada, France and others.

(Source- News on AIR)

2. The Grand Anicut Dam on the Cauvery River was formally declared open

• Recently the Grand Anicut Dam on the Cauvery River has been formally declared open by the State Ministers of Tamil Nadu.
• This dam is locally known as Kallanai. The sowing of Kuruvai crops mainly depends on the opening of Kallanai.
• This dam will ensure adequate availability of about three and a half lakh hectares of agricultural land in the delta region.
• Kuruvai are the crops grown in the Cauvery delta of Tamil Nadu state in India.
• Cauvery:
  • Kaveri is an Indian river that flows through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
  • It is the third largest river in South India after Godavari and Krishna.
  • Its source is the Brahmagiri Hills in Karnataka. It drains its water into the Bay of Bengal.
  • Harangi, Hemavati, Shimsha, Arkavati are its major tributaries.

3. Senior journalist and freedom fighter Dinu Randive passed away

• Recently, senior journalist and freedom fighter from Maharashtra Dinu Randive passed away at his residence in Mumbai due to old age. He was 95 years old.
• Dinu Randive took part in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement of the state of Maharashtra.
• He also participated in the Goa liberation movement.
• He was born in 1925 near Mumbai. He started his journalism career in 1956.
• He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement of Mantralaya Vidyamandal Vathar Sangh and Mumbai Press Club RedInk Award for lifetime achievement.

4. Yoga week being organized in Gujarat

• Yoga week is being celebrated in the state of Gujarat.
• On the occasion, various programs are being organized by Gujarat, State Yoga Board through various social media platforms as part of International Yoga Day celebrations.
• This year, International Yoga Day will be celebrated in the state on the theme of Yoga at home, Yoga with family.
• On 21 June 2015, the first International Day of Yoga was celebrated worldwide.
• Yoga:
  • Yoga is a group of physical, mental and spiritual practices or disciplines.
  • It originated in ancient India.
  • Yoga is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophical traditions. Its mentor was Patanjali.
  • In the year 2016, yoga was included in UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.

(Source- News on AIR)

5. Uttar Pradesh, the top state in the country providing employment to workers under MNREGA

• Recently, Uttar Pradesh has become the top state in the country providing employment to workers under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, MNREGA.
• According to recent statistics, Uttar Pradesh has provided employment to more than 57 lakh workers under MNREGA.
• 57,12,975 workers got employment in 57 thousand gram panchayats of the state, which is 18% of the total work generated under MNREGA in the country.
• MNREGA:
  • Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was enacted on 2 February 2006.
  • The act was passed in September 2005.
  • It is an Indian labor law and social security measure aimed at guaranteeing the right to work.
• Uttar Pradesh:
  • It is the most populous state in India.
  • The Chief Minister of the state is Yogi Adityanath and Governor is Anandiben Patel.
  • The capital of the state is Lucknow.
  • The state animal of Uttar Pradesh is Swamp Deer, State Bird is Saras Crane, State Tree is Ashoka and State Flower is Brahma Kamal.
  • Uttar Pradesh has 80 seats in the Lok Sabha and 403 assembly seats.

6. World Investment Report 2020 released

• Recently the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released its World Investment Report, 2020.
• Major Highlights of the Report:
  • India received US $ 51 billion in foreign investment in 2019. India has been the ninth largest recipient country in the world in terms of foreign direct investment.
  • Foreign direct investment in South Asia increased by 10%. This increase in investment was mainly due to India's growth.
  • In the developing Asian region, India ranks among the top five host economies for FDI.
  • Most of the investment was in the information and communications technology and construction industries.
• Foreign direct investment is an investment in a business in a country in the form of a controlled ownership, made by an entity based in another country.

(Source: News on AIR)

7. A tunnel sanitizer based automatic temperature controller device developed

• Recently a tunnel sanitizer based automatic temperature controller device has been developed.
• It is composed by a collaborative team of faculty, scientists, doctors and industrialists.
• In view of the coronavirus outbreak, disinfectant tunnels are emerging as one of India's important strategies to disinfect people and prevent infections.
• An environmentally friendly disinfectant solution emitted from a high-pressure air compressor is sprayed on people entering the tunnel.
• It is effective for disinfecting various bacterial spores, viruses, protozoa and fungi.
• The tunnel is designed to reduce the time of sanitation at places where frequent visits are made, such as religious gatherings, educational institutions and hospitals.
• The disinfection process can be completed in 3 to 4 seconds.
• The tunnel does not require human control and operates with the help of ultrasonic sensors and microcontrollers.
• It is considered safe for human eyes and skin.

8. Online broadcast of traditional art of Talamaddale due to COVID-19

• The traditional art of Talamaddale has also become virtual due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• A live stream was broadcast on social media on 13 June.
• There are many more broadcast stores like this.
• Talamaddale:
  • It is a type of traditional Yakshagana of Karnataka.
  • It is an ancient form of dialogue or debate demonstration in South India in the Karavali and Malnad regions of Karnataka and Kerala.
  • In this, the story and content of the conversation are popular mythological stories.
  • It involves only words without any dance or costumes.

(Source-Deccan Herald)

9. Researchers from Chile and Argentina unearthed the teeth of an old mammal

• Recently researchers from Chile and Argentina have detected the teeth of an old mammal.
• The remains of this 74-million-year old mammal have been discovered in Patagonia in the South American country of Chile.
• The name of this species is Magallanodon baikashkenke. It is an extinct species of the genus Gondwanatheria.
• This small mammal lived with the dinosaurs, crocodiles, turtles and birds during the Cretaceous era.

10. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: 17 June

• The day is celebrated every year on 17 June to create awareness regarding the presence of desertification and drought and also to highlight the international efforts to combat desertification.
• More than 2 billion hectares of productive land is degraded and over 70% of natural ecosystems have been transformed.
• In 2007, the UN General Assembly declared 2010-2020 the United Nations Decade for Deserts and the fight against Desertification.
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• Theme 2020: "Food, Feed, Fibre"