Daily Current Affairs, 13th March 2020

1) CSIR-National Physical Laboratory develops Bi-Luminescent Security Ink

•A “Bi-Luminescent Security Ink” has been discovered by the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory. The new ink developed by CSIR-National Physical Laboratory glows in two colours: green and red when illuminated by two different excitation sources at 365 nano meters (nm) and 254 nm.

About the “Bi-Luminescent Security Ink”:

•The “Bi-Luminescent Security Ink” which is developed by CSIR-National Physical Laboratory has been found comparable to the standards which are presently followed. This new formulation can be used to determine the legitimacy of identity cards, passports, tamper evident labels, Government documents etc.

2) “Technology Innovation Hub” to be established at IIT Mandi

•The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi will establish a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). The Technology Innovation Hub will be established with the help of Rs 7.25 crore sanctioned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to IIT Mandi.

•Through Technology Innovation Hub, human-computer interaction (HCI) research programmes will take place in IIT Mandi with focus on design and development of computer technology (interfaces). It will also include the study of interaction between humans (users) and computers. The TIH will also focus on human resource & skill development, entrepreneurship and collaboration with other leading institutions.

•The TIH will also led to the development of tools, hands-on experiments with specialised tool kits, education material, connecting with existing innovation ecosystems and initiatives of the Government of India. The TIH will also facilitate schools, colleges and advanced technical training institutes with an innovation platform to focus in the targeted areas.

3) Amitabh Bachchan becomes brand ambassador of IDFC FIRST Bank

•IDFC FIRST Bank has signed Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador. With this, Amitabh Bachchan has become the first ever brand ambassador of the bank.

•IDFC FIRST Bank provides its customers a range of services including savings account and current accounts, NRI accounts, salary accounts to home and personal loans, small business loans, among others.

4) Digital Solutions Exchange “GOKADDAL” launched in India

•The World’s first Digital Solutions Exchange in the cloud “GOKADDAL” has been launched in India. GOKADDAL is a cloud-based solutions exchange platform which focuses on four A’s i.e. Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Analytics and Augmentative Technologies. GOKADDAL brings its customers to the right solutions with right tools and right providers and hence helps them to realize their digital transformation vision. The cloud delivery platform is expected to revolutionize the way digital solutions are sourced, delivered and managed.

•The Dubai based emerging technology company “GOKADDAL Technologies” is a part of Merkado group.

5) Surjit Singh Deswal gets additional charge of BSF DG

•Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Haryana cadre Surjit Singh Deswal took over the additional charge of Director General (DG) of Border Security Force (BSF). Deswal, a 1984-batch IPS officer, is currently the Director-General of Indo-Tibet Border Police. He has succeeded Director-General Vivek Johri, who has been appointed Director-General of Madhya Pradesh Police.

6) World Golf Hall of Fame to induct Tiger Woods in Class of 2021

•American golfer Tiger Woods will be elected in the World Golf Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021. Woods was among 10 finalists named in March as candidates for 2021. His 93 worldwide victories include a record-tying 82 US PGA Tour titles. He won his 15th major title at the Masters last April.

•Woods is a three-time winner of the career Grand Slam and in 2000-01 completed the “Tiger Slam” when he became the first golfer since Bobby Jones to hold all four major championship titles at the same time. The 2021 class was chosen by Hall’s selection committee, a 20-member panel.