Daily GK Update- 9th April, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Tamil Nadu government launched ‘Kaaval Uthavi’ app for public during emergency: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M K Stalin has launched the ‘Kaaval Uthavi’ app which helps citizens to seek police assistance during any emergency. The app is containing sixty features that are used to send an emergency alert to the police control room. By pressing the emergency red button, the user’s live location will be shared with the control room. The user can also identify the nearest police station/patrol vehicle. The app comprises an emergency help and a dial facility (Dial-112/100/101). The Dial 100 facility has been integrated with the app. It also has a facility for mobile-based complaints and a location sharing facility.

Other features include Police Station Locator, Control Room Directory, Cyber Financial Related Complaint, Other Emergency Helplines, Alert / Notification messages, Vehicle Verification, e-payment of fines for traffic violations, Police Verification Services), Lost Document Report, TN Police Citizen App, 112-India App among others.

Note: Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai; Tamil Nadu Chief Minister: K. Stalin; Tamil Nadu Governor: R. N. Ravi.

 

2. CM of Uttar Pradesh has launched the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ initiative: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath begins the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan‘ in order to secure 100 per cent enrollment in elementary and upper primary schools in Uttar Pradesh. Citing an official announcement, the state government will make an effort to shape the future of primary education and the holistic development of elementary schools.

Key Points:

a)      The ‘School Chalo Abhiyan’ is being implemented in Shravasti, which has the lowest literacy rate in the state.

b)      Bahraich, Balrampur, Badaun, and Rampur are the other districts in Uttar Pradesh with the lowest literacy rate.

c)       Under the initiative, students will receive uniforms, shoes, and socks.

d)      Government schools must achieve all of the goals of ‘Operation Kayakalp,’ which aims to give schools a facelift, according to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who told officials that not only will public representatives be involved with the ‘School Chalo Abhiyan,’ but that MLAs must also adopt a school each.

 

3. Government establishes a Semicon India advisory committee: The government announced the formation of a Semicon India advisory committee, which will include top government officials, established academicians, as well as industry and domain specialists. The Minister of Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, will head the Committee, with Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Minister of State, Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), as Vice-Chairperson. The convenor will be MeitY, the Secretary.

Key Points:

a)      The Union Cabinet recently approved the ‘Semicon India’ programme, which will spend a total of 76,000 crore to strengthen the country’s semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem.

b)      Within Digital India Corporation, a specialised and dedicated “India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)” has been established to drive India’s ecosystem development strategies.

c)       The group would meet at least once every three months to provide crucial insights to help India’s ecosystem expand sustainably, it said, adding that the committee’s term will be one year, after which it will be reformed with the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology’s consent.

d)      The newly created Advisory Committee will lead the objectives in a systematic, efficient, and strategic manner, the government stated in a statement.

 

4. Dharmendra Pradhan releases book titled “Birsa Munda – Janjatiya Nayak”: Union Minister of Education and Skill Development, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan released a book titled “Birsa Munda – Janjatiya Nayak”. The book has been written by Prof. Alok Chakrawal, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. This book is a comprehensive attempt to bring to the fore the struggle of Bhagwan Birsa Munda and the contribution of forest dwellers in the freedom movement.

 

5. 57th CRPF Valour Day: 9th April: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Valour Day (Shaurya Diwas) is observed on 9 April every year, as a tribute to the brave men of the Force. The year 2022 marks the 57th CRPF Valour Day. It was on this day in 1965, a small contingent of CRPF created history by defeating an invading Pakistani army, several times larger, at the Sardar Post located in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. The CRPF men eliminated 34 Pakistani soldiers and captured four alive. In the conflict, CRPF lost six personnel who had attained martyrdom.

The Central Reserve Police Force is India’s largest Central Armed Police Force. It functions under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India. The CRPF’s primary role lies in assisting the State/Union Territories in police operations to maintain law and order and counter-insurgency.

Note: Central Reserve Police Force Headquarters: New Delhi, India; Central Reserve Police Force Formed: 27 July 1939; Central Reserve Police Force Motto: Service and Loyalty; CRPF director general: Kuldiep Singh.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić wins new term: Aleksandar Vučić has been re-elected as the President of Serbia. The pollster organizations CeSID and Ipsos had predicted victory for Vucic. The pro-European and centrist Alliance for Victory coalition was represented by Zdravko Ponos, a retired army general. The pollsters had predicted that Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) would win most of the votes with 43 per cent and they would be followed by the United for Victory of Serbia opposition.

About Aleksandar Vučić: Aleksandar Vučić is serving as Serbia’s president since 2017, and since 2012 he has been serving as the president of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). He has served as the President for two terms, from 2014 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. In 2017, he was first elected as the country’s President and succeeded Tomislav Nikolić. Vučić’s rule has been described by observers as an autocratic, authoritarian, illiberal democratic regime, and he curtailed the freedom of the press.

Note: Serbia Capital: Belgrade; Serbia Currency: Serbian dinar; Serbia President: Aleksandar Vučić.

 

2. Hurun Richest Self-Made Women in the World 2022: According to the list of Hurun Richest Self-Made Women In The World 2022 released by the Hurun Research Institute. According to the list, there are 124 Self-Made Women Billionaires in World and China contributes to two-thirds of the world’s self-made women billionaires with 78 followed by the United States with 25 and the United Kingdom with 5.

Top 3 on the list:

a)      Wu Yajun co-founder of Longfor (China has topped the list)

b)      Fan Hongwei, Chairman/President, Hengli Petrochemical Co Ltd (China)

c)       Wang Laichun of Luxshare Precision Industry (China).

Indian Scenario:

a)      Falguni Nayar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nykaa, is ranked 10th with a wealth of USD 7.6 billion. She is the only Indian among the top 10.

b)      Radha Vembu, co-founder & product manager of Zoho is the second-richest self-made woman billionaire in India with US$ 3.9 bn & ranked 25th in the global list. Radha Vembu is top in India, and second across the world, in the list of Biggest Risers.

c)       Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, executive chairperson and founder of Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics, is 26th on the list, down two places from last year. She has a wealth of US $3.8 bn.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2022 begins in Bhopal: The 12th edition of the prestigious Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2022 kicked-off in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on April 06, 2022. The 12-day tournament will see participation of 28 teams.  The previous edition of the tournament was won by Hockey Punjab after they beat Uttar Pradesh Hockey.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Union Bank launches super-app UnionNXT and digital project SAMBHAV: Union Bank of India has launched its super-app named UnionNXT and digital transformation project SAMBHAV, with an investment outlay of around Rs 1,000 crore for the current financial year 2022-23 (FY23). The public sector lender expects recovery from the spending in two years and aims to have 50 per cent of business originating on the digital platform by 2025.

A banking super-app essentially combines a number of services, such as payments, online shopping, bill payments, recharges, investment, loans, and fund transfer, on a single platform. UBI’s super-apps is similar to the super-apps by other large lenders such as State Bank of India’s Yono, Bank of Baroda’s Bob world and HDFC Bank’s PayZapp and ICICI Bank’s iMobile.

Mumbai-based public sector lender will expand the ambit of super-app for the marketplace, that being able to use app features to make purchases of consumer products and services in the next phase. However, it did not specify a timeline for such an offering for the marketplace.

Note: Union Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai; Union Bank of India CEO: Rajkiran Rai G. (1 Jul 2017–); Union Bank of India Founded: 11 November 1919, Mumbai.

 

2. RBI approves re-appointment of Murli Natarajan as MD-CEO of DCB Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved an extension in the tenure of Murli M Natarajan as the managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) of DCB Bank for a period of two years. His extended term will be applicable from April 29, 2022, to April 28, 2024. Natrajan is serving as MD & CEO of the bank since April 2009.

RBI has capped the tenure of bank chief executives at 15 years and Natrajan will complete 15 years at the helm of the bank in 2024. The re-appointment as above is subject to the approval of shareholders at the ensuing annual general meeting of the bank.

Note: DCB Bank Headquarters: Mumbai; DCB Bank CEO: Murali M. Natrajan (29 Apr 2009–); DCB Bank Founded: 1930.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. ADB Projects India’s economy to grow by 7.5% in FY23: Asian Development Bank projected a 7 per cent collective growth for South Asian economies in 2022 with the subregion’s largest economy India growing by 7.5 per cent in the current fiscal year before picking up to eight per cent the next year. However, uncertainties stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the continuing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and tightening by the United States Federal Reserve pose risks to the outlook. The Manila-based multilateral funding agency, Asian Development Bank (ADB) has projected the GDP growth rate of the Indian economy, in its flagship Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2022, as follows:

2022-23 (FY23): 7.5 per cent

2023-24 (FY24): 8.0 per cent

Note: Asian Development Bank Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines; Asian Development Bank President: Masatsugu Asakawa (from 17 January 2020); Asian Development Bank Membership: 68 countries; Asian Development Bank Founded: 19 December 1966.

 

2. Govt released data: India’s trade deficit rises 88% in FY22: According to government data released, India’s trade imbalance increased by 87.5 percent to $192.41 billion in 2021-22, up from $102.63 billion the previous year. While total exports hit a new high of $417.81 billion last fiscal year, imports also hit a new high of $610.22 billion, resulting in a $192.41 billion trade deficit. Key Points:

a)      As per the ministry of commerce and industry, “India’s merchandise imports in April 2021-March 2022 totaled $610.22 billion, up 71 percent from $394.44 billion in April 2020-March 2021 and 28.55 percent higher than $474.71 billion in April 2019-March 2020.”

b)      In March 2022, the trade deficit was $18.69 billion, compared to $192.41 billion for the entire fiscal year 2021-22.

c)       India’s monthly merchandise exports surpassed $40 billion for the first time in March 2022, reaching $40.38 billion, up 14.53 percent from $35.26 billion the previous month.

d)      It increased by 87.89% from $21.49 billion in March 2020.

e)      The country’s merchandise imports this month totaled $59.07 billion, up 20.79 percent from $48.90 billion the previous month, according to the ministry. It increased by 87.68% from $31.47 billion in March 2020.

f)        Non-petroleum exports totaled $33 billion in March 2022, up 4.28 percent from $31.65 billion in the same month a year before.

g)      Exports of non-petroleum goods increased by 74% from $18.97 billion in March 2020.

h)      Imports of non-petroleum goods totaled $40.66 billion in March 2022, up 5.26 percent from $38.63 billion the previous month. According to the ministry’s figures, it was up 89.79 percent from $21.42 billion in March 2020.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Ramdarash Mishra named for Saraswati Samman 2021: Noted poet and litterateur Prof Ramdarash Mishra will be awarded the prestigious Saraswati Samman, 2021, for his collection of poems ‘Mein to Yahan Hun’, the KK Birla Foundation announced. The recipient is chosen by a selection committee, whose current head is Dr Subhash C Kashyap.

About the Saraswati Samman: Instituted in 1991, Saraswati Samman is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the country. It is given every year to an outstanding literary work written in any Indian language by an Indian citizen and published within the last 10 years. It carries a citation, a plaque, and a cash prize of Rs 15 lakhs. The recipient is chosen by a selection committee, whose current head is Dr Subhash C Kashyap, former secretary-general of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.