Daily GK Update- 28th Sep, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India to invest $30 billion for 4G, 5G Connectivity to Every Village: IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government is investing nearly $30 billion to ensure last-mile network accessibility for 4G and 5G in every village across the country and build a robust digital infrastructure in the rural areas. So far, the government has reached out to over 1.5 lakh gram panchayats. The govt is currently looking at 3-4 legislations cumulatively inclusive of the new telecom bill, the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, and the IT Act of 2000 to create an interactive framework.

 

2. Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel launched ‘Hamar Beti Hamar Maan’ campaign: Chhattisgarh government has decided to launch a campaign on women’s safety titled ‘Hamar Beti Hamar Maan’ (our daughter, our honour). The focus of the campaign is creating awareness on safety measures among school- and college-going girls and prioritising registration and investigation of women-related crimes. The launch of the campaign was announced by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. ‘Hamar Beti Hamar Maan’ Campaign:

a)      Under the campaign, lady police officers and personnel will visit schools and colleges in the state to hold discussions and give guidance on legal rights, good touch-bad touch and preventive measures against sexual harassment and exploitation, cybercrime and social media-related crime, to girl students.

b)      A helpline number will also be issued under the Hamar Beti Hamar Maan campaign. Details on the women’s safety app and its use will also be shared with the school- and college-going girls.

c)       Special women patrolling will be ensured at girls’ schools, colleges and public places. A special ‘Hamar Beti Hamar Maan’ helpline will be launched and a mobile number shared in public domain for women and girls to report their complaints or problem regarding any misbehaviour or crime against them.

Note: Chhattisgarh Capital: Raipur; Chhattisgarh Chief Minister: Bhupesh Baghel; Chhattisgarh Governor: Anusuiya Uikey.

 

3. ESSCI partnered with Samsung India to train Indian youth: The Electronics Sector Skill Council of India (ESSCI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Samsung India to empower the youth with industry-relevant skills. It will be a part of the government’s ‘Skill India’ initiative that aims to empower the youth with industry-relevant skills in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Big Data and Coding & Programming, in a bid to enhance their employability. The MoU was exchanged by Ken Kang, President and CEO of Samsung Southwest Asia, and Abhilasha Gaur, COO, ESSCI.

About the programme:

a)      The programme, ‘Samsung Innovation Campus’ aims to upskill over 3,000 unemployed youth from 18-25 years of age in future technologies, in partnership with the government’s Skill India initiative.

b)      The programme will be executed by ESSCI, which is a National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) entity through its nationwide network of approved training and education partners.

c)       Those opting for the AI course will undergo 270 hours of theory training and complete 80 hours of project work while those doing the IoT or the Big Data course will undergo 160 hours of training and complete 80 hours of project work.

 

4. Veteran swimmer Elvis Ali becomes the oldest Indian to cross North Channel: Veteran Assamese swimmer, Elvis Ali Hazarika has become the first from the North East to cross the North Channel. The North Channel is the strait between north-eastern Northern Ireland and south-western Scotland. Elvis and his team clocked a timing of 14 hours 38 minutes to achieve this feat. With this, Elvis has become the oldest Indian swimmer to cross the North Channel.

According to the Irish Long Distance Swimming Association, the distance of the route recognised as a North Channel swim is 34.5 km (21.4 miles). It is known for fickle weather, rough seas, tough currents and an abundance of jellyfish. As it is, over the past four years especially, the ace Assam swimmer has been pushing his limits, persevering and raising the bar from time to time to create significant records, also making Assam and the country proud.

 

5. Dr. Rajiv Bahl named as Director General of ICMR: Dr Rajiv Bahl has been appointed as the new director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-cum-secretary of the department of health Research for a period of three years. Bahl currently heads the research on maternal, newborn child and adolescent health cum-newborn unit on maternal, Department of Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva.

Note: ICMR Headquarters: New Delhi; ICMR Founder: Government of India; ICMR Founded: 1911.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. New York hosts the 10th IBSA Trilateral Ministerial Commission conference: In New York, the 10th Trilateral Ministerial Commission conference of the India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA) was conducted. Dr. S. Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, presided over the meeting. Additionally present during the conference were Dr. Joe Phaahla, South Africa’s Minister of Health, and Carlos Alberto Franco França, Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Ministers went over every aspect of IBSA collaboration. Key Points:

a)      They held conversations about topics of mutual interest, including as South-South cooperation, UNSC reform, the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, climate change, terrorism prevention, and funding for developmental operations.

b)      Regional topics like the African Union, the Middle East peace process, and the situation in Ukraine were also discussed.

c)       The Ministers agreed that African nations should be represented on the UN Security Council permanently.

d)      Additionally, they supported Brazil’s and India’s campaigns for permanent seats on the Security Council.

e)      Alongside the G20 Summit in November of this year, India will host the 6th IBSA Summit.

 

2. World Rabies Day: 28th September: World Rabies Day is celebrated each year on September 28 as a tribute to Louis Pasteur – the inventor of the first effective rabies vaccine in the world. The day is observed to promote the fight against Rabies, raise awareness of its prevention, and celebrate the achievements the world has made against this deadly disease. According to the World Health Organisation, the theme of World Rabies Day 2022 is ‘Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths.’ The theme is to emphasize the connection between the environment, people, and animals.

World Rabies Day History: The first-ever World Rabies Day campaign took place back in 2007. The campaign began as a partnership between many organizations including the Alliance for Rabies Control, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. This was headlined by the co-sponsorship of the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the Pan American Health Organization.

Note: World Organisation for Animal Health Headquarters: Paris, France; World Organisation for Animal Health Founded: 25 January 1924; World Organisation for Animal Health Founder: Emmanuel Leclainche.

 

3. International Day for Universal Access to Information: 28th September: UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared 28 September as International Day for Universal Access to Information. The 2022 edition of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) will be an opportunity to discuss e-Governance and Artificial Intelligence with a view to assuring the Right to Access Information. The theme of the Global Conference on Universal Access to Information in 2022 is “Artificial Intelligence, e-Governance and Access to Information”.

International Day for Universal Access to Information History: On 17 November 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared 28 September as International Day for Universal Access to Information. Considering that several civil society organizations and government bodies in the world have adopted and currently celebrate this observance, the UN General Assembly also adopted 28 September 2019 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.

Note: UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945; UNESCO Headquarters: Paris, France; UNESCO Members: 193 countries; UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Former Indian captain Dilip Tirkey elected as President of Hockey India: Former India captain Dilip Tirkey, who was the front-runner for the post of Hockey India president, was elected unopposed for the top job. He was elected after Uttar Pradesh Hockey chief Rakesh Katyal and Hockey Jharkhand’s Bhola Nath Singh, who were in the fray for the president’s post, withdrew their nominations. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has approved Tirkey and his team’s appointments. Bhola Nath has been elected unopposed as secretary general.

The other non-contested members of Hockey India are Asima Ali (vice president) of Hockey Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka’s SVS Subramanya Gupta (vice president), Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu’s Sekar J Manoharan (treasurer), Hockey Rajasthan’s Arti Singh (joint secretary) and Hockey Haryana’s Sunil Malik (joint secretary).

Note: International Hockey Federation President: Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra; International Hockey Federation Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; International Hockey Federation CEO: Thierry Weil; International Hockey Federation Founded: 7 January 1924, Paris, France.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Leh achieved 100 percent digitization of banking operations: The highest-located district in India, Leh has achieved 100 per cent digitization of banking operations. Union Territory Level Bankers Committee Ladakh, the Reserve Bank of India has felicitated the bankers of the district. Leh district has completed the digitization of all the operating banks in a short span of a year.

Digital Banking refers to the electronic banking service provided by a bank for its financial, banking and other transactions through electronic devices online. In 2019 RBI put forward a proposal to make at least one district of every state in the country have 100 per cent digitization of banking operations.

Notably: Thrissur district of Kerala became the first fully digital banking district of the country in August 2021. Kerala is also the first state in India to achieve the target of Financial Inclusion of having at least one bank account in a family.

 

2. TerraPay partnered with NPCI to enable cross-border transactions via UP: TerraPay, a Dutch payments infrastructure company has joined forces with India’s NPCI International Payments (NIPL) to facilitate cross-border transactions for Indian consumers and merchants. Indian consumers and merchants who have an active Unified Payments Interface Id (UPI Id) will be able to transfer money abroad. This service will utilize TerraPay’s infrastructure and the UPI network. Key Points:

a)      The UPI-enabled QR code-based service will allow Indian customers with active UPI IDs to make transactions through 350 million bank accounts across the globe.

b)      The firms seek to expand the use of UPI payments and QR for international transactions by merchants.

c)       The customer-initiative UPI payments and QR transactions require two-factor authentication.

d)      The two-factor authentication is capable of minimizing disputes and issues related to grievance redressal.

e)      TerraPay also expects to create interoperability among different financial instruments it drives as well as offer digital payments.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. REC Ltd becomes 12th company to gets ‘Maharatna’ company status: Power sector-focussed non-banking finance company (NBFC) REC Ltd. has been accorded the status of a ‘Maharatna’ Central Public Sector Enterprise, thus providing it with greater operational and financial autonomy. The granting of ‘Maharatna’ status will impart enhanced powers to the company’s board while taking financial decisions. REC Ltd. is the 12th company to be given the Maharatna Status.

REC has played a key role in the success of the flagship schemes of the Government of India such as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and SAUBHAGYA and has contributed towards achieving village and household electrification in the country. REC is currently playing the role of nodal agency for Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS), for revamping the distribution sector to alleviate the financial & operational issues.

Maharatna’s Status: Introduced in 2010, the Maharatna status is given to the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) by the Central Government to make these enterprises global giants. This status is granted to CPSE which recorded more than Rs. 5,000 crores of net profit for three consecutive years, an average annual turnover of Rs.25,000 crore for three years and recording an average net worth of Rs.15,000 crore for three years. It should also have a footing in the international market and be listed on an Indian stock exchange.

 

2. Adani & family top IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List: According to the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2022, Gautam Adani and family have topped with an estimated wealth of Rs. 10,94,400 crore. His daily wealth creation was estimated at Rs. 1,612 crores which showed 116 per cent growth as compared with the 2021 list. Mukesh Ambani and family have been named as the 2nd richest in India with an estimated wealth of Rs. 7,94,700 crore and a growth of 11 per cent compared with the 2021 list. His daily wealth creation velocity is Rs. 210 crores.

Nykaa Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Falguni Nayar became India’s richest self-made woman by surpassing Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw in net worth. She is also the richest female in India, followed by Rekha Jhunjhunwala of Rare Enterprises. Falguni Nayar & family’s wealth rose by Rs 30,000 crore during 2022 and her cumulative wealth increased 345 per cent and stood around Rs 38,700 crore.

Note: IIFL Wealth MD & CEO: Karan Bhagat; IIFL Wealth Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Indian author & poet Meena Kandasamy won German PEN award: Indian author and poet Meena Kandasamy has been announced as this year’s recipient of the Hermann Kesten Prize by the PEN Centre in Germany’s Darmstadt. The Hermann Kesten Prize honours personalities who, in the spirit of the charter of the PEN association, stand up for the rights of persecuted authors and journalists. The PEN Center, Germany, will present the award to the Indian author at a ceremony in Darmstadt on November 15 this year. The winner will receive an amount of €20,000 ($19,996) as prize money. This year, the PEN Center is also honouring the website “Weiter Schreiben” (German for “Keep writing”) with a special award for encouragement, for giving authors in exile and writers from conflict zones a platform to express their thoughts.

 

2. Breakthrough Prize 2023 awarded: The 2023 winners of the Breakthrough Prizes, dubbed the “Oscars of Science,” were announced and will split a total of more than $15 million. 2023 Breakthrough Prize laureates, recognized for their game-changing discoveries in Fundamental Physics, Life Sciences and Mathematics, along with early-career scientists who have made significant contributions to their fields. Full citations for all the 2023 laureates:

2023 Breakthrough Prizes in Life Sciences:

a)      Clifford P. Brangwynne, Princeton University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Marine Biological Laboratory and Anthony A. Hyman, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (For discovering a fundamental mechanism of cellular organization mediated by phase separation of proteins and RNA into membraneless liquid droplets.)

b)      Demis Hassabis, DeepMind and John Jumper, DeepMind (For developing a deep learning AI method that rapidly and accurately predicts the three-dimensional structure of proteins from their amino acid sequence.)

c)       Emmanuel Mignot, Stanford University School of Medicine and Masashi Yanagisawa, University of Tsukuba (For discovering that narcolepsy is caused by the loss of a small population of brain cells that make a wake-promoting substance, paving the way for the development of new treatments for sleep disorders.)

2023 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics: Charles H. Bennett, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center and Gilles Brassard, Université de Montréal and David Deutsch, Oxford University and  Peter W. Shor, MIT (For foundational work in the field of quantum information.)

2023 Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics: Daniel A. Spielman, Yale University (For breakthrough contributions to theoretical computer science and mathematics, including to spectral graph theory, the Kadison-Singer problem, numerical linear algebra, optimization, and coding theory.)

2023 New Horizons in Physics Prize:

a)      David Simmons-Duffin, Caltech (For the development of analytical and numerical techniques to study conformal field theories, including the ones describing the liquid-vapour critical point and the superfluid phase transition.)

b)      Anna Grassellino, Fermilab (For the discovery of major performance enhancements to niobium superconducting radio-frequency cavities, with applications ranging from accelerator physics to quantum devices.)

c)       Hannes Bernien, University of Chicago and Manuel Endres, Caltech and Adam M. Kaufman, JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado and Kang-Kuen Ni, Harvard University and Hannes Pichler, University of Innsbruck and Austrian Academy of Sciences and Jeff Thompson, Princeton University (For the development of optical tweezer arrays to realize control of individual atoms for applications in quantum information science, metrology, and molecular physics.)

2023 New Horizons in Mathematics Prize:

a)      Ana Caraiani, Imperial College London and University of Bonn (For diverse transformative contributions to the Langlands program, and in particular for work with Peter Scholze on the Hodge-Tate period map for Shimura varieties and its applications.

b)      Ronen Eldan, Weizmann Institute of Science and Microsoft Research (For the creation of the stochastic localization method, that has led to significant progress in several open problems in high-dimensional geometry and probability, including Jean Bourgain’s slicing problem and the KLS conjecture.)

c)       James Maynard, Oxford University and Institute for Advanced Study (For multiple contributions to analytic number theory, and in particular to the distribution of prime numbers.)

2023 Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize:

a)      Maggie Miller, Stanford University and Clay Mathematics Institute (PhD Princeton University 2020)(For work on fibered ribbon knots and surfaces in 4-dimensional manifolds.)

b)      Jinyoung Park, Stanford University (PhD Rutgers University 2020) (For contributions to the resolution of several major conjectures on thresholds and selector processes.)

c)       Vera Traub, University of Bonn (PhD University of Bonn 2020) (For advances in approximation results in classical combinatorial optimization problems, including the travelling salesman problem and network design.)