Daily Current Affairs and GK | 25 and 26 December 2020

Topic: Appointments

1. Vineet Agarwal appointed as new President of ASSOCHAM.

• Vineet Agarwal has been appointed as the new President of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
• He is the Managing Director of Transport Corporation of India.
• He replaced Niranjan Hiranandani, who is the MD of Hiranandani Group of Companies.
• Sumant Sinha has taken over as the new Senior VP of ASSOCHAM.
• He is the Chairman and Managing Director of ReNew Power.
• ASSOCHAM:
  • It is a non-governmental trade association of India that was established in 1920.
  • It aims to promote domestic and international trade.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi

Topic: Important Days

2. National Consumer Day: 24 December

• National Consumer Day is celebrated every year on 24 December.
• On 24 December 1986, President gave his assent to the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
• It aims to create awareness regarding consumer rights.
• Theme 2020: “New Features of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019”
• World Consumer Rights Day is observed every year on 15 March.

Topic: Important Days

3. Good Governance Day and Birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee: 25 December

• This year the nation celebrated the 96^th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• On this occasion, a book titled ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Parliament: A Commemorative Volume' was released by PM Modi. 
• The book highlights the life and works of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 
• Every year Good Governance Day is celebrated on 25 December to create awareness regarding the importance of accountability in government. 
• On this occasion, the progress report of e-HRMS (Electronic-Human Resource Management System) was released. 
• Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr Jitendra Singh launched the e-HRMS in 2017 and it had 25 applications of 5 modules of the system.
• The advanced version of e-HRMS will act as a single platform where employees will be able to see all their details like service book, leave, GPF, etc., and can even file for claims, reimbursement, etc. 

Topic: National News

4. E-Sampada, a new web portal and mobile app released on Good Governance Day. 

• Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated a new web portal and mobile app- e- Sampada on the occasion of Good Governance Day. 
• E-Sampada app provides a single platform for all the services like allotment for government residential accommodations, office space allotment and booking of homerooms. 
• Through the portal, users can file complaints, submit documents and appear for the virtual hearing. 
• The app and portal will promote e-governance to increase transparency and accountability in providing various estate services like allotment, retention, regularisation and no dues certificate.

Topic: Personality in News

5. Birth Anniversary of Madan Mohan Malaviya: 25 December

• Madan Mohan Malaviya was born on 25 December 1861. He was a great scholar and freedom fighter.
• He was one of the founding members of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
• He served as the President of Indian National Congress four times i.e. in 1909, 1918 and 1932 (short duration), 1933.
• He founded the Hindu Mahasabha.
• He founded an English newspaper “The Leader” in 1909.
• He also founded the Scout and Guide in India.
• He was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 2014.
• He was given the title of ‘Mahamana’ by Mahatma Gandhi.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

6. Tso Kar wetland complex added to Ramsar sites list.

• Recently, India has added Tso Kar wetland complex to the list of Ramsar sites.
• It has become the 42^nd wetland in India to be designated as Ramsar site and second in the Ladakh after Tsomoriri.
• Chilika Lake was the first wetland in India that was added to the list of Ramsar sites in 1981.
• Tso Kar wetland complex:
  • It is located in Changthang region of Ladakh at an altitude of more than 4,500 meters above sea level.
  • It has two connected lakes- Startsapuk Tso (freshwater lake) and Tso Kar (hypersaline lake).
  • Due to the evaporation of saline water, white salt efflorescence is present on the margins of the lake, therefore the name Tso Kar.
  • The lakes get water primarily from the melting of glaciers.
  • The site is habitat of various threatened species like-
    • Endangered saker falcon (Falco cherrug)
    • Asiatic wild dog or dhole (Cuon alpinus laniger)
    • Vulnerable snow leopard (Panthera uncia)
  • The site is also an important destination for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway.
  • The site also serves as the important breeding ground for black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis).

(Source: News on AIR)

• Ramsar Convention:
  • It is an inter-governmental environmental treaty that was signed in 1971 and came into force in 1975.
  • Under the convention, a wetland site of international importance is designated as Ramsar site.
  • The world’s first Site was the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia, designated in 1974.
• Wetlands: It is a place where the land is covered by water, either salt, fresh or somewhere in between. For example - Marshes and ponds, the edge of a lake or ocean, the delta at the mouth of a river, low-lying areas that frequently flood.

Topic: Sports

7. New world class hockey stadium to be constructed in Rourkela.

• Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, has announced that a new world class hockey stadium will be constructed in Rourkela.
• It will be the largest hockey stadium in India.
• Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 will be held in Odisha in this stadium.
• Many talented hockey players like Dilip Tirkey and Sunita Lakra are from the district of Sundargarh of which Rourkela is a part.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

8. Air Force Sports Control Board (AFSCB) conferred with FICCI India Sports Awards 2020.

• Air Force Sports Control Board (AFSCB) has been announced as the winner of FICCI India Sports Awards 2020 in the category of “Best Company Promoting Sports (Public Sector) 2020”.
• Anil Kumble’s enterprise, Tenvic Sports, won the award in the category of “Best Company Promoting Sports (Private Sector) 2020.”
• In August 2020, AFSCB was awarded the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar for employment of sports persons and sports welfare measures.
• AFSCB is the apex body for planning and conduct of sports activities within Indian Air Force and at Inter-services level.
• FICCI India Sports Awards are presented every year to recognize the contribution of sportspersons and various stakeholders who deliver excellent results during the year.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Sports

9. FIFA has postponed Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups from 2021 to 2023.

• FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) has postponed Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups from 2021 to 2023 due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
• Indonesia will be the host for the Under-20 World Cup and Peru will be the host for the Under-17 World Cup.
• Bureau of the FIFA Council said that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a challenge for the hosting of international sporting events.
• FIFA Council is the main decision making body of FIFA during the intervals of FIFA Congress. FIFA Congress elects its members.  
• FIFA:
  • It is the highest international governing body of association football, fútsal and beach soccer.
  • It was founded in 1904.
  • Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Gianni Infantino is the current President of FIFA.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

10. First batch of Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) in Mumbai inaugurated by Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

• First batch of the Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) in Mumbai has been inaugurated by Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Mahendra Nath Pandey.
• IIS is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and the Tata Indian Institute of Skills.
• On 11 November 2020, MSDE and TATA IIS signed an agreement for setting up of Indian Institute of Skills.
• IIS is located at Chembur, Mumbai. Its first batch will start training with two courses in Factory Automation.
• The courses on Factory Automation are thought of as the foundation for future courses and Smart Manufacturing (Industry 4.0) technology.
• The institute has partnered with FESTO and SMC Corporation, Japan, for training. SMC Corporation is the world’s largest manufacturer of pneumatic components.
• Government has launched Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM) Portal in July 2020. It is a skill directory in India that connects skilled people.
• Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) was formed on November 9, 2014.  Under its Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 2016-2020, the MSDE has provided training to nearly one crore candidates.

(Source: PIB)