Daily GK Update- 24th Aug, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s First Observatory to Monitor Space Activity to Come Up In Uttarakhand: India’s first commercial space situational awareness observatory, to track objects as small as 10 cm in size orbiting the earth, will be set up in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand by Digantara, a space sector start-up. The space situational awareness (SSA) observatory will help India track any activity in space including that of space debris and military satellites hovering over the region. Currently, the United States is a dominant player in monitoring space debris with observatories in multiple locations and commercial companies providing additional inputs from across the world. The Benefits of This Observatory:

a)      It would be able to reduce the potential for collisions between satellites and other spacecraft by making more accurate predictions of their location, speed, and trajectory.

b)      The observatory will also give India indigenous capabilities to monitor space activity over the subcontinent, he said, adding that ahead of the war in Ukraine, several Russian satellites were seen hovering over the region.

c)       India has been monitoring space objects using multi-object tracking radars and the SSA observatory will be a huge boost in the sector. Chinese satellites are seen over one particular region of India for a long time, having indigenous capability to monitor such activities and not being dependent on countries like the United States is a plus for India.

 

2. Country first indigenous monkeypox test kit launched: India has developed the first indigenously developed RT-PCR kit for testing monkeypox disease. The kit is developed by Transasia Bio-Medicals, the kit was unveiled by Principal Scientific Adviser to the Centre Ajay Kumar Sood. The kit would help in early detection and better management of the infection which the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern.

Monkeypox: Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis — a virus transmitted to humans from animals — with symptoms similar to smallpox although clinically less severe. Monkeypox typically manifests itself with fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes and may lead to a range of medical complications. It is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting for two to four weeks.

Note: Transasia Bio-Medicals Headquarters location: Mumbai; Transasia Bio-Medicals Founded: 1979.

 

3. Union MoS for Textiles Darshana Jardosh inaugurates Silk Mark Expo: The Silk Mark Expo was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Textile Darshana Jardosh in New Delhi. The Silk Mark Expo is organized by the Silk Mark Organization of India under the Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles. This is a milestone in the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav said the Union Minister of State for Textile. The Textile Ministry has launched various schemes including the Silk Mark Expo to boost the textile sector in India. Key Points of The Silk Mark Expo:

a)      The original high-quality silk made by the women weavers will attract consumers across the World.

b)      Silk Mark is a quality assurance label launched by the government to determine the quality of the natural and pure silk produced by the weavers.

c)       The Silk Mark highlights the qualifying standards of the product, which will eventually build consumers’ confidence in both domestic and export markets.

d)      The Silk Mark Expo aims to protect the interests of all the silk consumers as well as the stakeholders of the silk value chain.

e)      A total of 39 exhibitors are participating in the Silk Mark Expo.

 

4. UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List: India nominated Garba: India has nominated the Indian dance form Garba to be inscribed on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. Last year, Durga Puja was included in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list and for 2022, India has nominated ‘Garba’. The next UNESCO meeting will be held in November. In July, India was elected by UNESCO to serve on the distinguished intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. A total of 14 elements from India are inscribed on UNESCO’S list of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Humanity. These elements include music, dance, theatre, festivals, rituals, and storytelling.

UNESCO’S list of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Humanity: The UNESCO’S list of Intangible Cultural Heritage was established in 2008 after the convention for the safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage,2003 came into effect. This list is made up of those intangible heritage elements that help to demonstrate the diversity of cultural heritage.

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in India: (1) Buddhist Chanting; (2) Kalbelia; (3) Chhau Dance; (4) Koodiyattam; (5) Kumbh Mela; (6) Mudiyett; (7) Nawruz; (8) Ramlila; (9) Sankirtana; (10) Ramman; (11) Traditional Brass and Copper Craft of Utensil making; (12) Vedic Chanting; (13) Yoga and (14) Durga Puja

 

5. Odia scientist Debasisa Mohanty appointed as Director of NII: Odia scientist, Debasisa Mohanty was appointed as Director of the National Institute of Immunology (NII). He is currently working as a staff scientist at NII. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment, with effect from the date of assumption of charge of the post and up to the age of his superannuation. The post fell vacant after Rajesh Verma, a 1987 batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, was appointed as Secretary to President Droupadi Murmu on August 18.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference to be host by Canada: The 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) will be led by Amos Masondo, the chair of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), along with a distinguished team of MPs. The 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC), will be held in Halifax, Canada, from August 22 to 26, 2022. The 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference provides delegates of Commonwealth parliaments and legislatures with an annual forum to discuss parliamentary system improvements and international political issues. Key Points:

a)      The 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference is an annual platform for representatives of Commonwealth parliaments and legislatures to discuss advancements in the parliamentary system and global political challenges.

b)      The 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, which brings together close to 500 Commonwealth parliamentarians and delegates from 126 national and sub-national legislatures representing 42 Commonwealth countries, is being hosted by the Canada Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

c)       “Inclusive, Accessible, Accountable and Strong Parliaments: the Cornerstone of Democracy and Essential for Development” will be the subject of the 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.

 

2. International Astronomy & Astrophysics Olympiad: India ranks 3rd: Indian team secured the third rank in the medal tally at the 15th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). India held the third position jointly with Singapore with students winning three gold and two silver medals.  In the medals tally, India was placed jointly in the third position along with Singapore, behind Iran’s official team (5 golds) and guest team (4 golds, 1 silver). Indian Medal:

a)      Raghav Goyal from Chandigarh, Md Sahil Akhtar from Kolkata and Mehul Borad from Hyderabad bagged gold in the event. Goyal also won a special prize for providing the best solution to the most challenging theoretical question.

b)      The silver medallists are Malay Kedia from Ghaziabad and Atharva Nilesh Mahajan from Indore.

About the 15th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics:

a)      The 15th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2022 was held in Kutaisi, Georgia, from August 14 to 21, 2022. There were 209 students from 37 main and 6 guest teams participating in this year’s IOAA. In addition, 24 students from 6 countries participated in the online mode.

b)      This year’s competition was originally scheduled to be held in Kyiv, Ukraine; it was shifted to Kutaisi, Georgia in March 2022 due to the war in Ukraine.

 

3. World Gujarati Language Day: 24th August: World Gujarati Language Day 2022 is celebrated every year on 24 August. This day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of the great writer of Gujarat ‘Veer Narmad’. ‘Gujarati Diwas’ is celebrated because the poet Narmad was considered to be the creator of the Gujarati language. He has made Gujarati literature international.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SEBI joins Account Aggregator framework to facilitate access to financial data: Asset management firms (AMCs) and depositories are examples of stock market intermediaries that have been instructed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to join the account aggregator framework put forward by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Additionally, the market regulator, SEBI established regulations that will only apply to participants in the stock market ecosystem who join the aggregator framework. Key Points:

a)      The account aggregator framework is a non-banking financial institution (NBFC) governed by the RBI.

b)      Account aggregator framework makes it easier to obtain or gather financial data about a customer from financial information suppliers (FIP). Account aggregator framework is based on the customer’s express consent.

c)       Financial information would be made available by the FIPs in the securities market through any account aggregators registered with the RBI with the help of account aggregator framework.

d)      Additionally, the account aggregator and FIPs in the securities market will enter into a contractual framework making an account aggregator framework.

e)      FIPs are organisations that have a customer’s financial information. These include depositories, banks, AMCs, and pension funds.

f)        By making requests through an aggregator, financial information users (FIUs) can access them as the “source” of personal or commercial data.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. “All things EV”: HDFC Launches India’s First EV Ecosystem: HDFC has launched India’s first one-stop solution portal for Electric Vehicles Ecosystem, “All things EV”. HDFC EGRO, General Insurance Company, which is a leading private sector general insurance company has claimed that the “All things EV”, fulfills the needs of the existing and potential Electric Vehicles or EV users. The company has also launched a dedicated platform for existing and prospective EV ecosystem users as a part of the initiative which also hosts end-to-end information related to the EV sector. This platform welcomes all Indians who have purchased EVs or are planning to buy EVs in the future or are making an earning out of the growing EV sectors.

“All things EV”:

a)      The “All things EV” will create awareness among the people and increase potential customer awareness. The initiative spreads awareness about using green technology over the conventional technology being used for decades.

b)      The potential EV buyers can get all information about EVs in the “All things EV” available in India. The “All things EV” will also provide the cost ownership and subsidies offered by different State Governments.

c)       If people are looking to set up charging stations, they can also get the available options of charging units, the associated cost, and the profitability metrics.

 

2. HPCL starts its first cow dung based compressed biogas project: HPCL’s uses first of its kind Waste-to-Energy portfolio, uses 100 tonnes of dung per day to make biogas, which may be used as vehicle fuel. In a year, the HPCL Compressed Biogas Project project is expected to be put into operation.

About HPCL Compressed Biogas Project:

a)      The HPCL Compressed Biogas Project project is being developed under the GOBAR-Dhan scheme, which was introduced by the Indian government in April 2018 as a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission’s (Grameen) Biodegradable Waste Management component.

b)      The HPCL Compressed Biogas Project scheme aims to improve cleanliness and produce wealth and energy from organic waste and livestock.

c)       At Shree Godham Mahatirth Pathmeda Lok Punyarth Nyas, Village Pathmeda, Tehsil Sanchore District Jalore in Rajasthan, the project’s groundbreaking ceremony was held. Senior HPCL officials including ED Biofuel & Renewables Shuvendu Gupta were present at the occasion.

Biogas Componenets:

a)      Methane (CH4), a substance found in natural gas, and carbon dioxide make up the majority of biogas (CO2).

b)      Raw (untreated) biogas may contain between 40% and 60% methane, with the majority of the remaining gas being CO2, with a small quantity of water vapour and other gases.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. DRDO and Indian Navy Test Indigenous VL-SRSAM Missile: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy successfully flight-tested the indigenously designed and developed Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. The flight test was carried out from a naval ship against a high-speed unmanned aerial target for demonstration of vertical launch capability.

Successful Test: During the test launch, flight path and vehicle performance parameters were monitored using flight data, captured by various range instruments such as radar, electro-optical tracking system (EOTS) and telemetry systems deployed by ITR in Chandipur.

Aftermath: Complimenting DRDO, Indian Navy and teams associated with it, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the missile will prove to be a force multiplier for the Indian Navy. Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO also congratulated the teams involved in the successful flight test and said that the trial has proved the effectiveness of the weapon system. “It will further strengthen the Indian Navy for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets,” the defence ministry said.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former Olympic football captain Samar ‘Badru’ Banerjee passes away: Former India football team captain, Samar ‘Badru’ Banerjee, who led the country to a historic fourth-place finish in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, has passed away recently. He was 92. He was bestowed with the Mohun Bagan Ratna in 2009. Banerjee has also won the Santosh Trophy twice as a player in 1953 & 1955 and once as a coach in 1962. The West Bengal Government honoured Badru Banerjee with the Lifetime Achievement Award in sports in 2017.

 

2. Former Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi passes away: Former Jharkhand Governor, Syed Sibtey Razi has passed away. He served as the Governor of Jharkhand from the year 2004- 2009. He was associated with Congress. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha thrice. Later he was made the Governor of Jharkhand and Assam. Razi, who was associated with the Congress, was born in Rae Bareli, a Congress stronghold in Uttar Pradesh. Born on 7th March 1939, he took admitted in Shia College after completing his 10th from Husenabad Higher Secondary School in Rae Bareli.