Daily GK Update- 2nd June, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM announces ‘Yoga for Humanity’ is the theme of eighth International Day of Yoga:  ‘Yoga for Humanity’ has been chosen as the theme of the eighth International Day of Yoga to be organised in India and across the globe on June 21. The theme has been selected after much deliberation and consultation and it appropriately portrays how yoga served humanity in alleviating suffering during the peak of the pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the theme in his “Maan Ki Baat’ broadcast. The main event of International Day of Yoga this year will be held in Mysuru, Karnataka. Focusing on the theme of ‘yoga for humanity’, special programmes have been designed this year for specially-abled people, the transgender population, women and children. Human values that are an integral part of yoga education in schools are also in focus.

About the 8th edition of International Day of Yoga: The 8th edition of International Day of Yoga (IDY) will see many firsts, one of them is an innovative programme, named “Guardian Ring”, under which participation of people performing yoga will take place along with the movement of the sun from different countries, beginning from the east and marching towards west.

 

2. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Launched AAYU App: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has launched a new health and wellness app AAYU to address and help heal chronic diseases and lifestyle disorders through yoga. Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA) collaborated to develop the App with RESET TECH, an AI-driven integrated health-tech platform that aims to deal with chronic diseases and lifestyle conditions through yoga and meditation. About the App:

a)      The App would provide users with personalised wellness solutions and offer doctor consultations based on an individual’s personal history and monitor its progress enabling them to accelerate healing and recovery.

b)      The app would provide users with customised wellness solutions and doctor consultations based on their specific histories, as well as track their progress, allowing them to heal and recover faster.

c)       The App is accessible in various languages and aims to reach and impact over five million chronic disease patients within the next five years.

d)      The App addresses the root cause of the diseases goes beyond temporary care and helps restore lost health. Also, aims to cure diseases borne out of lifestyle disorders that have plagued people over the past decades.

Note: Karnataka Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot; Karnataka Chief Minister: Basavaraj Bommai; Karnataka Capital: Bengaluru.

 

3. Rajesh Gera appointed DG National Informatics Centre: Senior scientist Rajesh Gera has been appointed as the Director-General, National Informatics Centre (NIC), a Personnel Ministry order issued. He is currently Deputy Director-General in the NIC. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Gera, Scientist ‘G’, to the post of Director-General.

The National Informatics Centre is an Indian government organization under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, was established in 1976 with the objective to provide technology-driven solutions to central and state governments.

Note: National Informatics Centre (NIC) Headquarters: New Delhi; National Informatics Centre (NIC) Founded: 1976.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Border Coordination Conference between the BSF and the BGB gets underway in Bangladesh: The Border Coordination Conference between India and Bangladesh was opened at Sylhet by Inspector General BSF-Regional Commander BGB. According to a Border Guards Bangladesh official press release, the four-day seminar will end on June 2. (BGB). The Indian team arrived in Bangladesh via the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Dawki, Meghalaya, where they were greeted by top BGB personnel. Key Points:

a)      The conference will be attended by a five-member BSF team led by IG BSF Sumit Sharan. Brigadier General Tanvir Gani Chowdhury, Regional Commander, Chittagong, leads the Bangladesh delegation.

b)      The Bangladesh delegation also comprises representatives from the Home Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Land Records and Survey, in addition to BGB personnel.

c)       Illegal entrance, drug and other item smuggling, human trafficking of women and children, development activities within 150 yards of international borders, and attempts to improve mutual trust between the BGB and BSF will all be addressed.

 

2. Forbes Magazine: 7th Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list 2022 Released: Forbes magazine has released the 7th edition of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List 2022, featuring 10 categories each honouring 30 individuals under the age of 30. The list was edited by Rana Wehbe Watson. The honourees on the list represent 22 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific region. India tops the list in terms of the number of entries with 61, followed by Singapore (34), Japan (33), Australia (32), Indonesia (30) and China (28). The average age of the 2022 list is 26.8 and the youngest honouree on the list is 14-year old Japanese Olympics skateboarding gold-medalist Momiji Nishiya.

Categories in the 30 Under 30 Asia list 2022 are The Arts (Art & Style, Food & Drink); Entertainment & Sports; Finance & Venture Capital; Media, Marketing & Advertising; Retail & eCommerce; Enterprise Technology; Industry, Manufacturing & Energy; Healthcare & Science; Social Impact; and Consumer Technology.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. India win first ever medal at the IBSA Judo Grand Prix: In Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan, India earned its first ever medal at the IBSA Judo Grand Prix. It’s worth noting that 18 of the 21 countries that competed won medals. Several countries, including Iraq, Switzerland, and India, earned their first medals in the IBSA Grand Prix as a result of these.

Seven countries earned gold medals on the first day, with eight categories on the programme. Turkey was the only team to win twice. More than a hundred judokas from 21 countries competed for gold, and Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan, Romania, Japan, Brazil, and Kazakhstan all ascended to the top of the podiums on the opening day.

Results of both classes, J1 and J2 categories according to their weight are:

MEN

a)      J1 (60kg): Seyed Abadi (IRI), Abdurrahim Ozalp (TUR), Elielton Oliveira (BRA)

b)      J1 (73kg): Florin Bologa (ROU), Yergai Shamey (KAZ), Harlley Arruda (BRA)

c)       J1 (90kg): Arthur Silva (BRA), Valerio Teodori (ITA), Taha Al-Gburi (IRQ)

d)      J1 (+90kg): Wilians Araújo (BRA), Jason Grandry (FRA), Ion Basoc (MDA)

e)      J2 (60kg): Sherzod Namozov (UZB), Thiego Marques (BRA), Min Jae Lee (KOR)

f)        J2 (73kg): Yujiro Seto (JPN), Olzhas Orazalyuly (KAZ), Nikolai Kornhass (GER)

g)      J2 (90kg): Helios Latchoumanaya (FRA), Seyed Jafari (IRI), Sharif Khalilov (UZB)

h)      J2 (+90kg): Vahid Nouri (IRI), Ibrahim Bolukbasi (TUR), Christopher Skelley (GBR)

 

WOMEN

a)      J1 (48kg): Rosicleidi Silva (BRA), Anna Muller (GER), Khaiitkhon Kyzy (KGS)

b)      J1 (57kg): Merve Uslu (TUR), Vanessa Wagner (GER), Asia Giordano (ITA)

c)       J1 (70kg): Brenda Freitas (BRA), Esmer Taskin (TUR), Matilde Lauria (ITA)

d)      J1 (+70kg): Nazan Gunes (TUR), Erika Zoaga (BRA), Mukesh Rani (IND)

e)      J2 (48kg): Akmaral Nauatbek (KAZ),  Carmen Brussig (SUI), Giulia Pereira (BRA)

f)        J2 (57kg): Zeynep Celik (TUR),  Lúcia Araújo (BRA),  Dayana Fedossova (KAZ)

g)      J2 (70kg): Kazusa Ogawa (JPN)

h)      J2 (+70kg): Rebeca Silva (BRA), Kirsten Taylor (GBR), Prescillia Leze (FRA)

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Public Sector Banks doubled their Net Profit to almost Rs 66,500 crore in FY22: Public sector banks (PSBs) more than quadrupled their net profit in the fiscal year 2021-2022. During the financial year 2021-22, the aggregate profit of 12 state-owned banks was Rs 66,539 crore, up 110 percent from Rs 31,816 crore in the previous year. For the first time in years, all 12 state-owned banks made a profit. Only two PSBs (Central Bank and Punjab & Sind Bank) declared losses in FY21, dragging down the overall net profit. List of Banks that generated highest profit:

a)      SBI had the largest net profit, at Rs 31,675 crore, up 55 percent from the previous year.

b)      Following SBI, Bank of Baroda earned 10% of PSB earnings with a net profit of Rs 7,272 crore, followed by Canara Bank with a net profit of Rs 5,678 crore, accounting for 8% of total net profit.

c)       Aside from the two banks that reversed their fortunes this year, Bank of Baroda posted the biggest revenue increase, followed by UCO Bank.

d)      Bank of Maharashtra had an NPA rate of less than 1%:

e)      Private banks made a net profit of approximately Rs 91,000 crore, up 29% over the previous year’s Rs 70,435 crore. HDFC Bank (Rs 36,961 crore), ICICI Bank (Rs 23,339 crore), Axis Bank (Rs 13,025 crore), Kotak Mahindra Bank (Rs 8,572 crore), IndusInd Bank (Rs 4,611 crore), and Federal Bank (Rs 4,611 crore) were the leading private banks.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. LIC Launches Savings Life Insurance Plan Bima Ratna: The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), India’s largest insurer, has launched “Bima Ratna” – a non-linked, non-participating, individual, savings life insurance plan. The new plan, which is aimed at the domestic market, provides both protection and savings. Key Features of LIC’s Bima Ratna Plan:

a)      Bima Ratna can be purchased through Corporate Agents, Insurance Marketing Firms (IMF), Brokers, CPSC-SPV, and POSP-LI employed by these intermediaries namely Corporate Agents, Insurance Marketing Firms (IMF), and Brokers

b)      The key features of the plan include Death benefits, Survival benefits, Maturity benefits, Guaranteed Additions, Settlement Options, Grace Period and Revival solutions among other things.

c)       The Bima Ratna plan from LIC provides financial assistance to the policyholder’s family in the case of the policyholder’s untimely death during the policy term. It offers for periodic payments for the policyholder’s survival at specified intervals to address various financial demands.

d)      The plan also addresses liquidity requirements through a loan facility.

e)      Premiums can be paid on a yearly, half-yearly, quarterly, or monthly basis (monthly premiums can only be paid through the National Automated Clearing House (NACH)) or by deductions from salary.

Note: LIC Chairperson: M R Kumar; LIC Headquarters: Mumbai; LIC Founded: 1 September 1956.

 

2. US Overtakes China as India’s Largest Trading Partner in FY22: The United States overtook China to become India’s top trading partner in 2021-22, reflecting strong economic ties between the two countries. According to commerce ministry data, in 2021-22, bilateral trade between the US and India stood at US$ 119.42 billion as against US$ 80.51 billion in 2020-21. Exports to the US increased to US$ 76.11 billion in 2021-22 from US$ 51.62 billion in the previous fiscal, while imports rose to US$ 43.31 billion as compared to around US$ 29 billion in 2020-21. During 2021-22, India’s two-way commerce with China aggregated at $115.42 billion as compared to $86.4 billion in 2020-21. Exports to China marginally increased to $21.25 billion last fiscal year from $21.18 billion in 2020-21, while imports jumped to $94.16 billion from about $65.21 billion in 2020-21.

India’s Top Trading Partners 2021-22: In 2021-22, the UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner with USD 72.9 billion. It is followed by Saudi Arabia (USD 42.85 billion) as 4th, Iraq (USD 34.33 billion) as 5th, & Singapore (USD 30 billion) as its 6th largest trading partner.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Sanjit Narwekar conferred with V Shantaram Lifetime achievement award at MIFF 2022: The 17th edition of the Mumbai International Film Festival of India (MIFF 2022) confers Dr V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award on noted author and documentary filmmaker Shri Sanjit Narwekar to commemorate his exquisitely deep, remarkably diverse and inspiring body of work. Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles Piyush Goyal presented the award to Sanjit Narwekar along with a cash prize of Rs 10 lakhs (Rs 1 million), Golden Conch and a citation.

 

2. RJ Umar receives the Immunisation Champion award by UNICEF: Radio Jockey Umar Nisar (RJ Umar) from South Kashmir, has been awarded the ’01 Best Content Award’ and the Immunization Champion award by United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) at the annual Radio4Child 2022 Awards in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The award was presented by multi-Grammy Award-winning music composer, environmentalist, and UNICEF celebrity supporter Ricky Kej, OIC UNICEF, UP Dr Zafrin Chowdhury, chief of communications and advocacy and partnerships, UNICEF India. The award has been conferred to Umar for his work of providing awareness and countering rumours to reach audiences during the pandemic.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Bollywood Singer KK dies after performing at Kolkata concert: Noted Bollywood singer KK (Krishnakumar Kunnath) who mesmerized music lovers for over three decades is no more. The 53-year-old singer died in Kolkata after a live performance. KK was regarded as one of the top singers of Bollywood. KK sang in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Assamese.

KK sang numerous hit songs in various films. Some of KK’s most popular songs that remain his best songs include Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai (Gangster), Tadap Tadap Ke Is Dil Se (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam), Awarapan Banjarapan (Jism), Aankhon Mein Teri Ajab Si (Om Shanti Om) and Khuda Jaane (Bachna Ae Haseeno). His song Yaaron, released in 1999, made him a household name.