Daily GK Update- 23rd Sep, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Narendra Modi launched world’s first Cheetah Rehabilitation Project: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released wild Cheetahs in Kuno National Park and launched the world’s first Cheetah Rehabilitation Project. Cheetahs which have been brought from Namibia are being introduced in India under Project Cheetah, which is the world’s first inter-continental large wild carnivore translocation project. The release of wild Cheetahs by the Prime Minister is part of his efforts to revitalise and diversify India’s wildlife and its habitat. Out of the eight Cheetahs, there are five females and three males. On the occasion, he also interacted with Cheetah Mitras, Cheetah Rehabilitation Management Group and students at the venue.

Cheetah Rehabilitation Project: The cheetah was declared extinct from India in 1952. The Cheetahs will help restore open forest and grassland ecosystems in India. This effort, in line with the Prime Minister’s commitment to environmental protection and wildlife conservation, will also lead to enhanced livelihood opportunities for the local community through eco-development and ecotourism activities. The historic reintroduction of Cheetahs in India is part of a long series of measures for ensuring sustainability and environment protection in the last eight years which has resulted in significant achievements in the area of environment protection and sustainability.

 

2. CM of Manipur N. Biren Singh introduce web portal ‘CM Da Haisi’: The Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh at Imphal launched a web facility to gather complaints and concerns from the general public. The web portal is called “CM Da Haisi,” which translates to “to inform the CM,” and the public can express their complaints there by visiting www.cmdahaisi.mn.gov.in. The status of the complaints may also be checked by the complainants. Key Points:

a)      The Public Grievances Redressal and Anti-Corruption Cell, located at the CM Secretariat, will use the portal to communicate with the relevant departments.

b)      This will be done in order to address public grievances in a timely manner and to forward complaints that can be taken further to the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department for investigation.

c)       Since March 2022, the Public Grievance Redressal and Anti-Corruption Cell has received 134 complaints in total, of which 85% have been addressed and conveyed to the complainants.

Note: Capital of Manipur: Imphal; Chief Minister of Manipur: Nongthombam Biren Singh; Governor of Manipur: La. Ganesan

 

3. India’s 1st lithium-ion cell factory inaugurated in Andhra Pradesh: The Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar has launched the pre-production run of India’s first lithium-ion cell manufacturing facility at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. This state-of-the-art facility has been set up by Chennai-based Munoth Industries Limited with an outlay of Rs 165 crores. Key Points:

a)      The facility is located in one of the two Electronics Manufacturing Clusters set up in the temple town, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015.

b)      The installed capacity of the plant at present is 270 MWH and can produce 20,000 cells of 10Ah capacity daily. These cells are used in power banks and this capacity is around 60 per cent of India’s present requirement.

c)       Cells for other consumer electronics like mobile phones, hearable and wearable devices will also be produced.

d)      Currently, India imports complete requirements of lithium-ion cells primarily from China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.

 

4. Maharashtra’s Daulatabad Fort to be renamed as ‘Devgiri’ Fort: Maharashtra Tourism Ministry has decided to rename the Daulatabad fort to Devgiri which is located near Aurangabad. It is a national heritage monument, which is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI). The decision of renaming Daulatabad fort to Devgiri came after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray renamed Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar after a long demand from Sena Foot Soldiers.

About Daulatabad Fort: Daulatpur Fort is a historic fortified citadel located in Devagiri Village near Aurangabad, Maharashtra. It was earlier the capital of the Yadava Dynasty for a brief time the capital of the Delhi Sultanate. The fort was renamed Daulatabad by Mohammed Tughlaq in the 14th century who understood its Importance as a base for military operations in southern India and conceived the Idea of making his capital. The fort was later known as Qubbatul Islam and coins were minted with this name.

 

6. A&N becomes India’s first state/UT to achieve 100 percent coverage of precautionary dose: Andaman and Nicobar Islands became the first Indian state/UT to achieve 100 percent coverage of precautionary dose. More than 2,87,216 beneficiaries aged 18 have been vaccinated with a precautionary dose. After 15th July, the rate of vaccination has seen a spike when the government decided to provide free-of-cost precautionary doses on the occasion of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Key Points:

a)      The healthcare workers reached households and organized several camps to intensify the campaign. The camps were organized in the Urban as well as Rural areas which received a good response.

b)      The set target has been achieved before the set time limit of the 30th of September.

c)       The Nicobar district has been fully vaccinated with a precautionary dose. Later the North and Middle Andaman and South Andaman districts were fully vaccinated.

d)      The precautionary doses included Corbevax and Covishield.

 

7. National Cinema Day: 23rd September: The National Cinema Day was previously announced to be held on September 16, however, on request from various stakeholders and in order to maximize participation, it was rescheduled to September 23. The day has been scheduled by the Multiplex Association of India (MAI). Over 4,000 screens at multiplexes from across the country, including PVR, INOX, Cinepolis, Carnival, and Delite, have teamed up to offer a “celebratory admission price” of Rs 75 to mark National Cinema Day.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. China and UAE to join hands on moon rover missions: China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to join hands to help further the latter’s space ambitions. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) of the UAE and the China National Space Agency (CNSA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together on the UAE’s moon missions. The agreement marks the first joint space project between the two countries.

The UAE has been pushing to become an important space player. Its collaboration with China involves the “landing of an MBRSC rover aboard a CNSA lander.” Under the project, the UAE will develop a rover dubbed Rashid-2; China will help it with the landing, data transmission, observation, and control. MBRSC director-general Salem Humaid Al Marri and CNSA deputy director Wu Yanhua signed the MoU.

Note: China Capital: Beijing; China Currency: Yuan; China President: Xi Jinping;

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Capital: Abu Dhabi; United Arab Emirates (UAE) Currency: Dirham; United Arab Emirates (UAE) President: Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; United Arab Emirates (UAE) Prime Minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

 

2. Union Minister to lead delegation to US for Global Clean Energy Action Forum: Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Science and Technology and Minister of state ministry of earth science, Jitendra Singh will lead the Joint Indian Ministerial official delegation of the Ministry of Power, New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of Science and Technology on a five-day visit to USA to participate in the Global Clean Energy Action Forum. Key Points:

a)      In order to attend the Global Clean Energy Action Forum, Indian officials from the Ministries of Power, New and Renewable Energy, and Science and Technology will travel to the United States for a five-day visit.

b)      The Union minister will meet with distinguished academics and members of the Indian diaspora while in the country.

c)       Speaking of this visit, Minister Singh said that he believes it is appropriate for all of us that at least 30 nations would be represented by their individual ministries as well as official delegations, CEOs, at what may be the first meeting of its kind in the global clean energy Action Forum.

d)      He also emphasised Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to India’s pledge at the COP26 meeting to reach the Net Zero goal by 2070.

 

3. International Day of Sign Languages: 23rd September: The International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) is celebrated annually across the world on 23 September. The day is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users.. As the name suggests, this day aims to spread awareness regarding the importance of sign language in the realisation of the human rights of people who are deaf. The theme for the 2022 International Day of Sign languages is “Sign Languages Unite Us!”.

International Day of Sign Languages History: The proposal for the Day came from the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), a federation of 135 national associations of deaf people, representing approximately 70 million deaf people’s human rights worldwide. The resolution A/RES/72/161 was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations, co-sponsored by 97 United Nations Member States and adopted by consensus on 19 December 2017. The choice of 23 September commemorates the date that the WFD was established in 1951.

Note: World Federation of the Deaf President: Joseph J. Murray; World Federation of the Deaf Founded: 23 September 1951, Rome, Italy; World Federation of the Deaf Headquarters location: Helsinki, Finland.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. World Wrestling Championships 2022: Bajrang Punia won bronze medal: Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia won the bronze medal after defeating Daulet Niyazbekov of Kazakhstan in the men’s freestyle 65kg category at the World Wrestling Championships 2022. It was Bajrang’s fourth medal at the world championships. With his silver in 2018 and bronze medals in 2013 and 2019, he was already India’s most successful wrestler at the world championships coming into this edition.

 

2. World Para Athletics Grand Prix: Devendra Jhajharia won silver: Indian javelin thrower, Devendra Jhajharia has clinched a silver medal in the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, in Morocco. Paralympics gold medalist Devendra threw the javelin to a distance of 60.97 meters to capture the silver. Devendra is a three-time Paralympics medalist. While 2020 Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist Nishad Kumar won the gold medal in the men’s T47 high jump, javelin throwers Ajeet Singh and Devendra Jhajharia bagged gold and silver respectively in F46 category.

India has so far won 3 gold medals, two silver, and a bronze in the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Morocco. Other medalists for India include Neeraj Yadav (F55/56 discus- Gold), Anil Kumar (T54 100m- Silver), and Ranjeet Bhati (F57 javelin- Bronze).

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI Removes Central Bank of India from PCA Framework: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) removed Central Bank of India from its Prompt Corrective Action Framework (PCAF) after the lender showed improvement in various financial ratios, including minimum regulatory capital and net non-performing assets (NNPAs). The RBI had imposed the PCA norms on the bank in June 2017 due to its high net NPA and negative return of assets (RoA). After reviewing the performance of the Central Bank of India, RBI decided to remove the restrictions on the bank.

PCA Framework: The PCA norm is a supervisory tool and is imposed when a bank breaches certain regulatory thresholds on capital to risk weighted assets ratio (CRAR), net NPAs and return on assets (RoA). Key Points:

a)      RBI initiated the Scheme of Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) in 2002.

b)      In early 2018, there were 12 banks under PCA framework. Of these, 11 were PSBs.

c)       Due to recapitalization & corrective measures there were only six banks (all PSBs) under the PCA framework as of March 2019.

d)      Objective – Prompt Corrective Action or PCA is a framework under which financial institutions with weak financial metrics are put under watch by the RBI.

e)      Until now, the RBI had imposed PCA only on banks. Now, PCA framework is extended to NBFCs also. The move comes in the wake of large NBFCs such as IL&FS, DHFL, SREI Group and Reliance Capital getting into financial trouble over the last few years.

f)        Applicability – The PCA framework for NBFCs comes into effect from October 1, 2022, based on their financial position on or after March 31, 2022. The framework will apply to all deposit-taking NBFCs, excluding government companies, and all non-deposit taking NBFCs in the middle, upper and top layers.

g)      Implications – This is a welcome move as it will stop bad lenders from going worse rather than brushing the issue aside. Safer NBFCs will translate to a safer overall financial system.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Google Cloud & Nasscom tie-up to skill students for entry-level Cloud jobs: Google Cloud has announced it has launched the first cohort of its computing foundations with Kubernetes course in collaboration with FutureSkills Prime, an IT Ministry and Nasscom digital skilling initiative. The beginner-level course aims to provide participants an opportunity to experience cloud computing, cloud basics, big data and machine learning (ML). Google Cloud certifications will help individuals validate their cloud expertise, elevate their careers, and transform businesses with Cloud technology. About the course:

a)      The course will offer hands-on training (via Google Cloud Skills Boost platform), for diverse career paths including IT infrastructure, data analytics, and Cloud-native application development, among others.

b)      The course will be offered free to students at higher education Institutions and freshers seeking to skill themselves on emerging technologies.

c)       According to Gartner, cloud technology is becoming mainstream, with enterprises investing more on cloud-based offerings leading to higher demand for cloud talent and the need for upskilling. Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration system for automating software deployment, scaling and management.

Note: Google CEO: Sundar Pichai; Google Founded: 4 September 1998, California, United States; Google Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin.

Nasscom Chairperson: Krishnan Ramanujam; Nasscom Headquarters location: New Delhi; Nasscom Founded: 1 March 1988.

 

2. WhatsApp and IDFC FIRST Bank enabled FASTag recharge: IDFC FIRST Bank for the customers, launch its integration with “payments on WhatsApp” would enable quick and secure FASTags recharging. Due to this collaboration, users of IDFC FIRST will be able to recharge their FASTags directly from IDFC FIRST’s WhatsApp chatbot and finish the transaction from within the chat thread. Key Points:

a)      The recharge process will be a smooth one that allows payments in two easy stages. Customers must enter the amount and authenticate the transaction using an OTP after choosing the recharge option in the WhatsApp chat. They will then receive a message confirming the transaction.

b)      Millions of FASTag customers that utilise the Bank, this new feature will enable users to pay for their recharge using “payments on having to sign into any other mobile app or net banking platform.

c)       Users may now send and receive money via Unified Payment Interface (UPI) from their friends as simple as sending a WhatsApp message thanks to the “Payments on WhatsApp” feature.

d)      ‘Payments on WhatsApp’ is built with a rigorous set of security and privacy principles with user safety at its core, including entering a unique UPI-PIN for each payment.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Air Force set to retire Abhinandan’s MiG-21 squadron: The Indian Air Force is set to retire its Srinagar-based MiG-21 squadron ‘Sword Arms’ that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. MiG-21 squadron ‘Sword Arms’ was a part of when he had downed an F-16 combat aircraft of Pakistan a day after the Balakot strike in February 2019. ‘Sword Arms’ is one of its four remaining squadrons of ageing MiG-21 fighter jets.

The No. 51 Squadron is to be retired by the end of September, “as per the plan”. The remaining three squadrons of MiG-21 will be phased out by 2025. IAF is inducting different variants of the indigenous Tejas light combat aircraft to replace the MiG-21s. The air force got its first single-engine MiG-21 in 1963, and it went on to induct 874 variants of the Soviet-origin supersonic fighters to bolster its combat potential.

Why was this decision taken?

a)      Several MiG-21s have crashed in recent years, with the accidents turning the spotlight on India’s longest-serving fighter plane, its safety record and IAF’s plans to replace the ageing jets with newer models in the coming years.

b)      Over 400 MiG-21s have been involved in accidents over the past six decades, killing around 200 pilots. More MiG-21s have crashed than any other fighter jets because they formed the bulk of the combat aircraft in the IAF’s inventory for a long time.

c)       The air force had to keep its MiG-21 fleet flying longer than it would have liked because of delays in the induction of new aircraft, as previously reported.

Note: Indian Air Force Chief: Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari; Indian Air Force Headquarters: New Delhi; Indian Air Force Founded: 8 October 1932, India.

 

2. Indian Navy conducts ENC Yachting Championship at Visakhapatnam: ENC Yachting Championship was conducted by INWTC, INS Circas under the aegis of HQENC at Vishakhapatnam. Prize distribution and closing ceremony were facilitated by the Chief Guest, Cmde Sumantra Hazarika, Director MWC (V). Key Points:

a)      In total 38 races were conducted in Enterprise Dinghly, ILCA 6, ILCA 7 classes, and BicNova Wind Surfer.

b)      A total of 46 yachtsmen and 8 yatchwomen took part in the ENC Yachting Championship. The races were conducted among seven different teams of ENC.

c)       Local Ashore B was declared the overall winner and Fleet B was runner-up for the ENC Yachting Championship.

d)      The main of the championship was to inculcate sportsmanship, camaraderie, and a spirit of adventure among the participants.

 

3. Army chief General Manoj Pandey inaugurates Kargil International Marathon: Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pandey has inaugurated Kargil International Marathon in Ladakh. The events are organized by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, and Ladakh police in collaboration with Sarhad Pune. The events include runs of full length, Half, 10 km, and 5 km. In the International Marathon, over 2000 runners participated.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Comedian Raju Srivastava passes away at the age of 58: Comedian Raju Srivastava has passed away in Delhi at the age of 58. He had suffered a heart attack while exercising on August 10. As per a report Raju was still conscious and with normal body movements.

Early Career: Srivastava appeared in Hindi films such as “Maine Pyar Kiya”, “Baazigar”, “Bombay to Goa” (remake) and “Aamdani Atthani Kharcha Rupaiya”. He was one of the contestants on “Bigg Boss” season three. He was the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Council. Srivastava, who has been in the entertainment industry since the 1980s, shot to fame after participating in the first season of the reality stand-up comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge in 2005.

 

2. Senior RSS pracharak Keshav Rao Dattatreya Dikshit passes away: Senior most pracharak of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, Keshav Rao Dattatreya Dikshit has passed away. He was 98. Born in 1925 at Pulgaon village of Wardha district in Maharashtra, Keshav Rao came to Bengal in 1950 to act as a pracharak. He was respected one and all of the Sangh Pariwar. The mortal remains of Keshav Rao was kept at the state headquarters, Keshav Bhavan. Sukanta Majumder the state president and other senior leaders of the party express their condolences at his death.