Daily GK Update- 28th April, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Jharkhand’s Jamtara became country’s 1st district with library in every village: Jamtara in Jharkhand has become the only district in the country where all gram panchayats have community libraries. This district with a population of about eight lakh has a total of 118-gram panchayats under six blocks and each panchayat has a well-equipped library that is open for students from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Career counselling sessions and motivational classes are also held free of cost here. Sometimes, IAS and IPS officers also visit these libraries to guide students. Everyone is welcome to visit these innovative sites.

Note: Jharkhand Capital: Ranchi; Jharkhand Chief Minister: Hemant Soren; Jharkhand Governor: Ramesh Bais.

 

2. Kerala signed MoU with the Netherlands for “Cosmos Malabaricus” Project: Kerala and the Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the ‘Cosmos Malabaricus’ project. This study will contribute to a better understanding of Kerala’s history in the 18th century. The agreements were inked in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Dutch Ambassador to India Marten van den Berg. The Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), which is part of the Department of Higher Education, the University of Leiden, and the National Archives of the Netherlands, is carrying out this project. This project will take six years to complete. About the Project:

a)      This research will focus on the 18th-century Dutch documents on Malabar, which are often regarded as the most comprehensive source of information on the period in Kerala from 1643 to 1852.

b)      The documents are available in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the Netherlands, and are written in the ancient Dutch language.

c)       Students from Kerala will be able to study Master of Arts programmes at Leiden University as part of this project, while students from the Netherlands will be able to complete an internship at the KCHR.

d)      In addition, each year, Leiden University and KCHR will host a two-week summer school on a topic linked to Kerala’s history.

Aim of the Project: The project’s goal is to make digitised Dutch archival information accessible to a wide range of audiences, including Indian and foreign experts as well as Kerala residents. The materials will aid in the comprehension of Kerala’s social, political, cultural, and economic history.

 

3. India will host the 21st World Congress of Accountants: According to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) president, Debashis Mitra, India is set to host the 21st World Congress of Accountants (WCOA), the Kumbh of accountants, for the first time in 118 years of its existence. About 6000 top accountants from 130 countries will participate in the programme physically. The event will be held from November 18 to 21 after outbidding France.

The event will be held at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The theme for 2022 would be `Building Trust Enabling Sustainability’. The WCOA, a forum for thought leadership and global exchange of views, is held every four years since it started in 1904.

Note: Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Formation: 1 July 1949; Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Headquarters: New Delhi, India; Institute of Chartered Accountants of India President: Debashis Mitra; Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Vice President: Aniket Sunil Talati; Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Secretary: Jai Kumar Batra;

 

4. Haj Committee of India elects AP Abdullahkutty as chairperson: AP Abdullahkutty has been elected as the chairperson of the Haj Committee of India, while for the first time, two women have been chosen as its vice-chairpersons– Munnawari Begum and Mafuja Khatun. Ministry of Minority Affairs is the nodal ministry to conduct the Haj pilgrimage in India. Haj pilgrimage for the Indian pilgrims is conducted either through Haj Committee of India (HCoI), or the Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) approved by the Ministry.

The Government of India has appointed C Muhammed Faizi as a member of the Haj Committee of India (HCoI), a statutory body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, under sub-section (11), of Section 4 of Haj Committee Act 2022, for a period of 3 years up to 31st March 2025 with effect from 21st April 2022.

 

5. A book titled ‘Chinese Spies: From Chairman Mao to Xi Jinping’ authored by Roger Faligot: HarperCollins India has published a new book titled “Chinese Spies: From Chairman Mao to Xi Jinping” authored by French journalist Roger Faligot and translated by writer, editor and translator, Natasha Lehrer. The foreword of the book is written by Vikram Sood, the former head of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), India’s foreign intelligence agency. The book ‘Chinese Spies’ was originally published in French in 2008 and later translated into English from the updated 4th edition by Natasha Lehrer.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. SIPRI’s “Trends in World Military Expenditure report 2021″: India ranked 3rd: According to the Sweden-based think-tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report, titled “Trends in World Military Expenditure Report 2021”, India’s military expenditure is the third highest in the world behind the US and China. Military spending in India is amounting to $76.6 billion in 2021 which grew by 0.9% from 2020. Russia has also increased its military expenditure for the third consecutive year. The report’s data is based upon the updated SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, which provides military spending data by country for the years 1949–2021. The five largest spenders in 2021 were the US, China, India, the UK (United Kingdom) and Russia, together accounting for 62% of expenditure.

 

2. International Girls in ICT Day: 28th April: International Girls in ICT Day is marked annually on the fourth Thursday in April. This year International Girls in ICT Day is observed on 28th April 2022. International Girls in ICT Day aims to inspire a global movement to increase the representation of girls and women in technology. International Girls in ICT Day is a global movement encouraging girls and young women to pursue science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) education, inspiring STEAM careers, including career pathways, career attainment and advancement and engaging the community and promoting collaboration through partnerships. This year’s theme is access and safety.

 

3. World Day for Safety and Health at Work: 28th April: The annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April promotes the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. The World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2022 focuses on enhancing social dialogue towards a culture of safety and health. World Day for Safety and Health at Work represents the awareness and promotion of ways that help prevent occupational diseases and accidents worldwide. This year’s theme is ”Participation And Social Dialogue In Creating A Positive Safety And Health Culture”

World Day for Safety and Health History: The Annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work was first observed in 2003 by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It stresses the importance of the prevention of accidents and diseases at work. The day is considered as a crucial tool for carving out a top-shelf political position for occupational safety and health.

Note: International Labour Organisation Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; International Labour Organisation Director-General; Guy Ryder; International Labour Organisation Founder: Paris Peace Conference; International Labour Organisation Founded: 1919.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Suryoday Small Finance Bank tie-up with Kyndryl for Digital & IT transformation: Suryoday Small Finance Bank has partnered with New York, US-based Kyndryl, an IT infrastructure services provider for a period of 5 years. The bank will partner with Kyndryl to drive its technology transformation program, improve operational efficiency, and increase digital banking adoption among its customers as part of a five-year transformation deal.

Under this partnership:

a)      Kyndryl will drive the bank’s Information technology (IT)/Digital transformation program, improve operational efficiency, and increase digital banking adoption among the bank’s customers.

b)      Overall, Kyndryl will modernize the bank’s technology and network connectivity. The bank will utilize Kyndryl’s advisory and implementation services to deploy and support a new core banking system.’

c)       Kyndryl will provide advisory and implementation services to the bank to deploy and support a new core banking system and integrate with digital channels to deliver an agile banking platform that accelerates retail business growth and enhances the bank’s customer experience.

Note: Suryoday Small Finance Bank Headquarters: Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra; Suryoday Small Finance Bank MD & CEO: Baskar Babu Ramachandran; Suryoday Small Finance Bank Tagline: A Bank of Smiles.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Reliance Industries becomes first Indian company to hit Rs 19 lakh m-cap: Reliance Industries Limited has become the first Indian company to hit the Rs 19 lakh crore market valuation mark in intra-day trade. The market heavyweight stock jumped 1.85 per cent to its record high of Rs 2,827.10 during the day on the BSE. It finally settled flat at Rs 2,777.90, up 0.08 per cent.

In March this year, the company’s market valuation had gone past Rs 18 lakh crore. Last year on October 13, the company’s market valuation went past Rs 17 lakh crore mark. Following the gain in the share price, the company’s market valuation jumped to Rs 19,12,814 crore in morning trade on the BSE. At the close of trade, the market valuation was at Rs 18,79,237.38 crore.

Note: Reliance Industries Ltd CEO: Mukesh Ambani (31 Jul 2002–); Reliance Industries Ltd Founder: Dhirubhai Ambani; Reliance Industries Ltd Founded: 8 May 1973, Maharashtra; Reliance Industries Ltd Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

2. TCS’ Krishnan Ramanujam appointed as Nasscom Chairperson for 2022-23: The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) announced that Krishnan Ramanujam, President, Enterprise Growth Group at Tata Consultancy Services, has been appointed as its Chairperson for 2022-23. Ramanujam succeeds Rekha M. Menon, Chairperson and Senior Managing Director of Accenture in India, in this role. Nasscom also announced the appointment of Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, as its Vice-Chairperson for 2022-23. Maheshwari will succeed Ramanujam in this role.

Note: Nasscom President: Debjani Ghosh; Nasscom Headquarters location: New Delhi; Nasscom Founded: 1 March 1988.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. E-proposal System grabbed prestigious UN Award: The important effort of Meghalaya’s Planning Department, the e-Proposal System, which is part of Meghalaya Enterprise Architecture (MeghEA), has been awarded the prestigious UN Award – World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS) Prizes 2022. Key Points:

a)      MeghEA was launched by CM Conrad K Sangma in 2019 and is being executed by the Planning Department of the Government of Meghalaya.

b)      In the beginning of the year, the government announced that Meghalaya had been chosen as one of the top 360 projects in the world.

c)       The UN chooses the best five in each of the 18 categories as Champion Projects. Along with programmes from Australia, China, Argentina, and Tanzania, Meghalaya has been named a UN Champion Project in the area of “The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development.”

d)      One of the top five projects will be named Winning Project.

e)      Meghalaya e-Proposal System is also expected to receive the winning award, which will be presented on May 31st in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to the government, the e-Proposal system now automates all of Meghalaya’s departments and directorates’ sanctions and administrative approvals, and delivers government services with desired outcomes to all citizens and other stakeholders across the state in an integrated and seamless manner. In government departments, it eliminates 75% of physical files.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Padma Shri Structural biologist M. Vijayan passes away: Eminent structural biologist M. Vijayan, DAE Homi Bhabha Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), passed away in Bengaluru. Vijayan, who was instrumental in the development of macromolecular crystallography in India, was 80. A recipient of the Padma Shri and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, Prof. Vijayan was the president of the Indian National Science Academy from 2007 to 2010.

 

2. Former Indian women’s hockey team captain Elvera Britto passes away: Former Indian women’s hockey team captain, Elvera Britto has passed away at 81 due to old-age-related problems. He led Karnataka’s domestic team to win seven national titles. She ruled the domestic circuit from 1960 to 1967. She also represented India against Japan, Sri Lanka, and Australia. She is the second women hockey player to be conferred with the Arjuna Award (1965) after Anne Lumsden.

 

3. Former CM of Meghalaya J D Rymbai passes away: The former Chief Minister of Meghalaya, James Dringwell Rymbai, died at the age of 88. The Meghalaya Government had declared three days of state mourning, as a mark of respect for his sad and sudden demise. He had entered into electoral politics in 1982 and contested elections to the legislative assembly from the Jirang constituency successfully. On June 15, 2006, the veteran politician was elected Chief Minister of Meghalaya and served until March 2007.