Daily Current Affairs - 02 Dec 2020

Daily Current Affairs Capsule

2nd December 2020

International

World Computer Literacy Day: 02 December

The World Computer Literacy Day is observed annually on 2nd December to create awareness and drive digital literacy

1. The international event of this day was created by Indian company NIIT to mark its 20th anniversary in 2001.
2. The main objective of celebrating this day is to encourage women and children, and those people who have been left out of this technological advancement for a long time now.
3. The event aims to inspire them to learn more and make their work/tasks easier, by the use of computers.

Lahore tops the world's most polluted cities list, New Delhi 2nd

According to air pollution data released by the US Air Quality Index, Pakistan's cultural capital Lahore has once again topped the list of world's most polluted cities.

1. According to the index, Lahore reported a particulate matter (PM) rating of 423.
2. New Delhi came in second with a PM of 229, while Nepal’s capital Kathmandu ranked the third-worst city with a PM of 178.
3. The cause of smog remains years-long pollution caused mostly by the transport sector and industries, and not just crop burning.

Cyclonic Storm ‘Burevi’ over southwest Bay of Bengal

The Deep Depression over the southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm.

1. As per the naming convention, it is named as ‘Burevi’ (बुरेवि), and the name has been contributed by the Maldives.
2. It is expected to emerge into the Gulf of Mannar and its adjoining Comorin area.
3. In TamilNadu, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai districts are expected to get heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely very heavy rainfall at isolated places from 2nd to 3rd December.

National

Dharmendra Pradhan launches India's first indigenously developed 100 Octane premium petrol

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan launched India's first indigenously developed 100 Octane premium petrol.

1. The high octane premium grade petrol being marketed under the brand XP-100 will be made available in 10 cities across the country including the national capital in the first phase.
2. The second phase will see the addition of 5 more cities like Kolkata and Chennai.
3. With the rolling out of XP-100 developed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited with indigenous technical know-how, India joins a select league of nations having such super grade fuel.
4. Octane ratings are measures of fuel stability that increases engine efficiency.

BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile in Anti-Ship mode successfully test fired

BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile in Anti-Ship mode was successfully test fired on against a decommissioned Ship.

1. The test firing was carried out by Indian Navy. The missile performed highly complex manoeuvres and hit Bull’s eye of the target.
2. BrahMos is the supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by DRDO and NPOM of Russia as a Brahmos Aerospace joint venture, which became Brahmos Aerospace Private Limited.
3. It has been deployed in all the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces.
4. The first launch of Brahmos took place in 2001 and till date numerous launches have taken place from various ships, Mobile Autonomous Launchers and Su-30 MKI aircraft, making it a versatile weapon.

ADB, India sign 132.8 million loan to strengthen Meghalaya’s power distribution Sector

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India signed a $132.8 million loan to strengthen and modernize the distribution network and improve the quality of power supplied to households, industries, and businesses in India’s northeastern state of Meghalaya.

1. The project will construct 23 substations; renovate and modernize 45 substations, including the provision of control room equipment and protection systems; install and upgrade 2,214 kilometers of distribution lines and associated facilities covering three out of the six circles in the state.
2. The loan is proposed to be supplemented by a $2 million grant from ADB’s Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction that will finance renewable energy mini-grids for improving power quality and supporting income generation activities, especially for women and other socially disadvantaged groups in three villages and three schools.

Maharashtra’s first ‘child-friendly police station’ inaugurated in Pune

In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Maharashtra, Pune City Police started the ‘Balsnehi (child-friendly) police station’ on the premises of the Lashkar police station in Pune.

1. The police station has been set up in accordance with guidelines laid down by the National Commissioner for Protection of Child Rights.
2. The aim of the initiative was to provide an environment that will enable children to report cases without fear.
3. This initiative will help in eliminating the prejudice against police among the public.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat Inaugurates Suryadhar Lake

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat inaugurated the Suryadhar lake at Doiwala near Dehradun.

1. It will address the drinking water and irrigational needs of nearly 20 villages around it and is also set to become a major tourist and water sports destination in coming times.
2. Located at the trijunction of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun, and endowed with great scenic beauty, the lake is all set to emerge as a major water sports destination for tourists.
3. Built at a cost of Rs 50.25 crore, the Suryadhar lake is 550 metres long, 28 metres wide and 10 metres deep with a capacity of 77,000 cubic metres.

Appointments

Sandeep Kataria becomes first Indian to be appointed as global CEO of Bata

Footwear major Bata Shoe Organization announced the appointment of Sandeep Kataria as the company's Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

1. With this, Kataria becomes the first Indian to be elevated to the global role of the of Bata.
2. He takes over from Alexis Nasard, who is stepping down after almost five years in the role.
3. Kataria was previously the CEO of Bata India.
4. With 24 years of experience at Unilever, Yum Brands and Vodafone in India and Europe before joining Bata India as CEO in 2017, he has been directly involved in leading businesses and powerhouse brands that command impressive consumer following and extensive global reach.

AR Rahman roped in as BAFTA Breakthrough India ambassador

Oscar and Grammy-winning Indian composer AR Rahman has been roped in as ambassador of the BAFTA Breakthrough initiative in India.

1. In 2020, BAFTA will identify and support up to five exceptional talents working in film, games or television in India.
2. The BAFTA Breakthrough initiative is part of the Academy’s year-long programme to support new talent, coming up in the film, games and television industries in the UK, China, India and the US and gives them access to unique career development and mentoring opportunities.