Daily GK Update- 8th Mar, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Rs 11,400 Crore Pune Metro Rail Project: The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has inaugurated Pune Metro Rail Project on March 06, 2022, and also interacted with differently-abled, visually impaired students present inside the metro coach, during his 10-minute ride in the Pune Metro. Pune Metro Rail Project has been built at a total cost of INR 11,420 Crore. It has a total length of 33.2 km and 30 stations.

Pune Metro is the first metro project in the country to have Aluminum body coaches, indigenously manufactured under the Make in India policy of GoI. PM Modi also unveiled the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the premises of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple developmental projects in Pune.

 

2. Minister of Electronics & IT inaugurates Tech Conclave 2022: National Informatics Centre (NIC) has partnered with governments on digital initiatives. We’ve constructed state-of-the-art PAN-India ICT infrastructure, digital platforms, and solutions for the government’s exclusive usage over the years. We’ve helped the federal and state governments automate their procedures and deliver public services electronically.

KEY POINTS:

a)      It is critical to stay current with the latest technologies because the IT industry is always upgrading and improving. It is also critical that government personnel become aware of and adapt to new and evolving technologies.

b)      NIC has been hosting a Tech Conclave on Emerging Technologies, which are particularly useful in e-Government. “Next Gen Technologies for Digital Government” is the theme of this year’s Tech Conclave.

c)       Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Railways and Communications, will inaugurate the 3rd edition of the NIC Tech Conclave 2022, a two-day event held by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), on March 3rd and 4th, 2022 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

d)      Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship; and Electronics and Information Technology, will be the guest of honour at the event. The Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, as well as other dignitaries from the Centre and state governments, will attend the ceremony.

 

3. Telangana topped the Country in terms of Per Capita Net State 2022: Telangana became the top-performing state in India with a population over one crore in terms of the growth rate of Per Capita Net State Domestic Product at Current Prices by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). It succeeded other states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

According to the MoSPI:

a)      The Gross State Domestic Price (GSDP) of Telangana increased from Rs 359434 crores in 2011-12 to Rs 1,154,860 crores in 2021-22. It recorded GSDP growth by 31.12 per cent from 2011-12. It is one of the highest growth rates for any state in the country.

b)      In terms of the percentage growth in GSDP, Telangana has shown the most rapid increase in its growth rate by around 17% from 2020 to the present.

c)       Major projects include Rythu Bandhu scheme for farmers, the world’s largest lift irrigation Kaleshwaram project to provide water to the fields, and the Arogya Laxmi scheme for pregnant and lactating women.

Note: Telangana Capital: Hyderabad; Telangana Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan; Telangana Chief Minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao.

 

4. The Queen of Indian Pop: The Authorised Biography of Usha Uthup: The biography of pop icon Usha Uthup titled “The Queen of Indian Pop: The Authorised Biography of Usha Uthup” was released. The book was originally written in Hindi titled “Ullas Ki Naav” by author Vikas Kumar Jha. “The Queen of Indian Pop: The Authorised Biography of Usha Uthup” is the English translation of the book, translated by the writer’s daughter Srishti Jha. The book is published by Penguin Random House India (PRHI).

 

5. A book titled ‘The Blue Book’ authored by Journalist Amitava Kumar: Indian writer and journalist, Amitava Kumar has come out with a new book titled ‘The Blue Book: A Writer’s Journal’. The book has been published by HarperCollins India. The Blue Book is the outcome of the diary-keeping by the author during the time of lockdown due to pandemics. The author has used watercolour drawings as well as words to depict the experience, both individual and collective, of the pandemic.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Study in India meet 2022 inaugurated in Dhaka: The two-day-long Study in India (SII) 2022 meeting was inaugurated in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The event organised by the High Commission of India was inaugurated by the Education Minister of Bangladesh Dr Dipu Moni and the High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami. Education Minister of Bangladesh said the educational exchange between the two countries will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries. She said that students of today have the responsibility to find solutions for the common issues like poverty that are faced by the countries of South Asia.

Key points:

a)      A large number of students from various educational institutions took part in the event. They explored the opportunity for studying abroad provided by some of the best colleges and universities in India.

b)      A total of 19 educational institutions from India are taking part in the Education Fair in Dhaka. The Study in India meet will be organised in Chittagong on March 7 for the benefit of Bangladeshi students.

About the Study In India programme:

a)      The Study In India programme is a flagship project launched by the Ministry of Education in 2018. The programme is designed to encourage the global student community to pursue higher education in India.

b)      It helps facilitate the student fraternity from all across the globe to come and experience the best of academic learning from the top institutions in India. Since its inception, Study In India has drawn in students from more than 150 countries spanning across SAARC, Africa, South-East Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

 

2. India & International Telecommunication Union Sign Host Country Agreement: The Government of India has signed the Host Country Agreement (HCA) with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the establishment of an Area Office & Innovation Centre of ITU in New Delhi. The Host Country Agreement provides the legal and financial framework for the establishment and operations of the Area Office. The Area Office and Innovation Centre of ITU at New Delhi will serve South Asian countries comprising of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India. The agreement was signed between Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Communications and H.E. Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General of ITU, in a virtual ceremony during the World Telecommunications Standardisation Assembly-20 (WTSA-20) being held in Geneva, Switzerland.

About the ITU: ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs). ITU currently has a membership of 193 countries. It allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strives to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide.

Note: International Telecommunication Union Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; International Telecommunication Union Founded: 17 May 1865; International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General: Houlin Zhao.

 

3. International Women’s Day: 8th March: International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated globally on March 8 every year. The day recognises the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The event celebrates women’s achievements and raises awareness about women’s equality and lobbies for accelerated gender parity. The theme of 2022 International Women’s Day is “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”.

History of International Women’s Day: International Women’s Day was observed for the first time in 1911. The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in the International Women’s Year, 1975. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace.

Note: Secretary-General of United Nations: Antonio Guterres; United Nations founded: 24 October 1945; Headquarters of United Nations: New York, United States.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Mithali Raj becomes first woman cricketer to appear at six Cricket World Cups: Indian women cricket captain, Mithali Raj has become the first woman to appear in six World Cups. She is the only third cricketer overall to play six world cup after Sachin Tendulkar and Javed Miandad. She has played in the ICC women’s cricket world cup events in 2000, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017 and now in 2022. The ICC women’s cricket world cup 2022 is being held in New Zealand.

In the women’s game, the Indian batter surpassed former New Zealand cricketers, Debbie Hockley and Charlotte Edwards of England. Fast bowler Jhulan Goswami, Raj’s India teammate for the longest time, stands second on the list with five World Cup appearances.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI named ex-Ujjivan Small Finance Bank CEO Nitin Chugh as DMD: State Bank of India (SBI) has appointed former Ujjivan Small Finance Bank CEO, Nitin Chugh as Deputy Managing Director (DMD) to drive digital banking operations. He has been appointed for an initial term of three years. Prior to this appointment, Chugh was CEO and managing director of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank. He joined there from HDFC Bank where he served as the Group Head of Digital Banking.

According to public notice by SBI, the position would be responsible for envisioning, developing and executing of bank’s digital banking strategy and business plan for imparting digital knowledge/skills in a constructive, empowering and collaborative way.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Hero MotoCorp named New EV Brand ‘Vida’ 2022: Hero MotoCorp has unveiled a new brand “Vida”, (Vida means life) for its emerging mobility solutions and upcoming electric vehicles. Vida brand has been unveiled by Dr Pawan Munjal, Chairman and CEO of Hero MotoCorp, on March 3, 2022, in Dubai. He also announced a $100 million Global Sustainability Fund that will help the company to nurture more than 10,000 entrepreneurs on ESG solutions.

The first electric vehicle under the Vida brand will be officially unveiled on July 1, 2022, to coincide with the birth anniversary of Dr Brijmohan Lall, Chairman Emeritus of Hero MotoCorp.

Note: Hero MotoCorp Headquarters: New Delhi; Hero MotoCorp Founder: Brijmohan Lall Munjal; Hero MotoCorp Founded: 19 January 1984, Dharuhera.

 

2. Vidya Balan named as Brand Ambassador of Bharti AXA Life Insurance: Bharti AXA Life Insurance has appointed National Award-winning actress VidyaBalan as its Brand Ambassador. She as the brand ambassador will help in promoting the #DoTheSmartThing champion of Bharti AXA Life Insurance. Bharti AXA Life Insurance is a joint venture of Bharti, India’s leading business group and AXA, one of the world’s leading organizations in financial protection and wealth management.

Note: MD & CEO of Bharti AXA Life Insurance: Parag Raja; Bharti AXA Life Insurance Founded: 2007; Bharti AXA Life Insurance Parent organization: Bharti Enterprises.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India’s first indigenous Flying Trainer HANSA-NG completes sea level trials: India’s first indigenously developed Flying Trainer, ‘HANSA-NG’, successfully completed the sea-level trials at Puducherry. HANSA-NG was flown from Bengaluru to Puducherry on February 19, covering a distance of 140 nautical miles in 1.5 hours at a cruising speed of 155 km/hr. The objectives of sea level trials is to evaluate handling qualities, climb / cruise performance, balked landing, structural performance including positive & negative G, power plant and other systems performance.

Key points:

a)      The aircraft has been designed and developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

b)      HANSA-NG is one of the most advanced flying trainers, designed to meet the Indian flying club needs and it is an ideal aircraft for Commercial Pilot Licensing (CPL) due to its low cost and low fuel consumption.

c)       A trainer aircraft is designed specifically to facilitate flight training of pilots and aircrews.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Australian cricketer Rod Marsh passes away: Former Australia cricketer (wicketkeeper), Rodney William Marsh has passed away in Adelaide Australia. He was the 1st Australian wicketkeeper to score a century in test cricket and finished his career with 3 centuries. He held a test record of 355 dismissals by a wicketkeeper, including 95 off the bowling of pace bowler Dennis Lillee. He has played 96 test matches for Australia from 1970 to 1984 and 92 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for Australia and later retired from top-flight cricket in February 1984.