Daily GK Update- 31st Oct, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NIA to establish offices in every state by 2024: Amit Shah: Amit Shah, the Union Minister of Housing and Cooperation, spoke at the start of a two-day “Chintan Shivir” in Surajkund, Haryana. The Chintan Shivir is being attended by Chief Ministers of the States, Home Ministers of States, Lieutenant Governors, and Administrators of Union Territories. Key Points:

a)      In his speech, Shri Amit Shah stated that this Chintan Shivir, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is being held to give the nation a unified platform to fight threats like cybercrime, the proliferation of drugs, and cross-border terrorism jointly.

b)      Because crimes are evolving and growing more international in scope nowadays, all States will need to come up with a coordinated approach to combat them.

c)       The areas impacted by left-wing extremism, including Jammu and Kashmir and the North East, which were once hotspots of violence and disturbance, are now hotspots of development, according to the Union Home Minister.

d)      Over the past eight years, the security situation in the North East has greatly improved. Since 2014, for example, there has been a 74% decrease in insurgency incidents, a 60% decrease in security force casualties, and a 90% decrease in civilian casualties.

e)      Additionally, by signing deals with the NLFT, Bodo, Bru, and Karbi Anglong, under which more than 9,000 militants have surrendered, efforts have been made to achieve a sustainable peace in the area.

 

2. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launches Safal common credit portal for farmers: Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik has launched a common credit portal SAFAL’ (Simplified Application for Agricultural Loans) for the welfare of farmers. SAFAL is an abridged application for agricultural loans that will enable farmers and agri-entrepreneurs to access over 300 term loan products from more than 40 partner banks. It has also been integrated with Krushak Odisha and will have access to 70-plus model project reports. The application can revolutionise credit provisions for farmers and agri-entrepreneurs. About the SAFAL:

a)      The application is a one-stop solution for farmers and agri-entrepreneurs to avail formal sector credit from public and private sector banks, Regional Rural Banks, State Cooperative Banks, and Small Finance Banks.

b)      The portal will ease the loan application process benefiting both the farmers and banks significantly, the chief minister said. It will also reduce information asymmetry by sending farmers real-time notifications at every stage of their loan application.

c)       SAFAL will also provide the government with complete visibility of demand and disbursal of formal credit across states and ensure schemes are designed in a data-backed manner. He hoped that SAFAL would be a facilitator of credit to spur the agriculture and allied sectors in Odisha and increase the economic prowess of farmers in the long run.

Note: Odisha Capital: Bhubaneswar; Odisha Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik; Odisha Governor: Ganeshi Lal.

 

3. Gujarat achieves 100 percent household tap connections under Jal Jeevan Mission: Gujarat has been declared as a 100 percent ‘Har Ghar Jal’ state. In Gujarat, households in rural areas have access to safe drinking water through taps under the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ mission. About 91,73,378 houses in the state have water connections according to the government record. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the state and people of Gujarat who has shown their enthusiasm for the Jal Shakti mission. Key Points:

a)      The ‘Har Ghar Jal’ was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. The ‘Har Ghar Jal’ aims to make available 55 liters of water per person every day to each rural household through household tap connections by 2024.

b)      Under the mission, 91.73 lakh households have been provided with water tap connections in Gujarat.

c)       The 100 percent coverage of rural households is possible by laying 63,287 kilometers of distribution pipelines, 3,498 underground pumps, setting up 2,396 high ranks, 339 wells, 3,985 tube wells, 324 mini schemes, and 302 solar-powered drinking water distribution systems.

d)      Gujarat has achieved 100 percent water tap connections two years ahead of the 2024 deadline.

 

4. Dehradun to host 3-day “Akash for Life” Space Conference in November: The “Akash for Life” a 3-day space conference will showcase the blending of traditional and modern knowledge through an extended integration of all schools of thought. The decision was taken by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, and Dr. Jitendra Singh. The event is scheduled to be held at Dehradun from 5th November to 7th November 2022. Dr. Jitendra Singh informed us that 35 eminent speakers will share their thoughts on various dimensions of Akash Tattva during Dehradun Conclave. The conclave aims to expose the youth of India to the wisdom of ancient sciences along with modern scientific advancements.

 

5. Blue Beaches: Two more Indian Beaches enter the coveted list: Two more Indian beaches have made it to the list of Blue Beaches. Minicoy, Thundi Beach and Kadmat Beach, in Lakshadweep are the proud entrants in the coveted list of Blue Beaches, an eco-label given to the cleanest beaches in the world. Now the tally of total blue flag-endorsed beaches in India stands at 12. Both beaches have designated staff for beach cleanliness, maintenance, safety and security of swimmers. Further, they comply with all the 33 criteria mandated by the Foundation for Environment Education (FEE). Thundi and Kadmat beaches

a)      Thundi Beach is one of the most scenic beaches in the Lakshadweep archipelago with hues of white sand mixed with turquoise & blue shade water by the lagoon, a paradise for swimmers and tourists.

b)      While the Kadmat Beach is popular with cruise tourists who visit the island for water sports. It is a paradise for nature lovers with its pearl white sand, blue lagoon waters, its moderate climate and friendly locals.

Note: Foundation for Environment Education President: Lesley Jones; Foundation for Environment Education Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark; Foundation for Environment Education Founded: 1981.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. United States Appoints Elizabeth Jones to Serve As Chargé d’Affaires At US Embassy in New Delhi: The Biden administration has now named a senior US diplomat, who had worked on NATO’s role in Europe vis-a-vis Russia as the US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, as the next Charge d’Affaires ad interim in New Delhi — until a full-time Ambassador is sent to India.

About Elizabeth Jones: Elizabeth Jones, 74, is the sixth interim US envoy in the last 21 months (since January 2021) asked to step in for the job, which is considered a placeholder until a full-time Ambassador is confirmed by the US Congress. During the Obama administration, Jones had served as Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. In October 2021, she was appointed as Coordinator for Afghan relocation efforts.

The Ongoing Situation: Currently, Patricia A Lacina is the Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in New Delhi. She assumed charge on September 9, 2021. After US envoy Kenneth Juster, a political appointee of the Donald Trump administration, departed following the inauguration of the Biden administration on January 20, 2021, there have been a battery of interim envoys at the embassy in New Delhi — Donald Heflin, Edgard Kagan, Daniel Bennett Smith, Atul Keshap and Patricia Lacina.

 

2. International Internet Day: 29th October: International Internet Day is celebrated on October 29 every year across the world to celebrate the usage of the internet for the first time. The​ day marks the sending of the first electronic message which was transferred from one computer to another in 1969.

International Internet Day History: The first internet connection was made on October 29th, 1969. It was a momentous event in the history of telecommunications and technology when a student programmer named Charlie Kline sent the first electronic message “Lo”. To commemorate the event, International Internet Day was celebrated for the first time on October 29th, 2005. International Internet Day is promoted by the Association of Internet Users.

 

3. World Cities Day: 31st October: World Cities Day brings Urban October to an end on 31st October each year and was first celebrated in 2014. As with World Habitat Day, a global observance is held in a different city each year and the day focuses on a specific theme. A different city hosts the event each year. This year’s global observance is planned in Shanghai, China under the theme “Act Local to Go Global.”

World Cities Day History: On December 27, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) established World Cities Day through a resolution. The first celebration took place on October 31, 2014. The second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements in 1976 influenced the UNGA’s decision to establish World Cities Day. The UN-Habitat programme, established the following year, promotes the development of sustainable cities in line with SDG 11 goals. It conducts the annual Urban October programme for this purpose which begins on the first Monday of the month and ends on October 31, with World Cities Day.

 

4. World Thrift Day 31st October: World Thrift Day is celebrated every year on October 31, across the world. World Thrift Day also often called World Savings Day. However, India does this a day earlier, marking it on October 30 every year. The day is significant as it is an occasion to generate awareness about the concept of saving money in a bank instead of keeping it locked away at home. This year, the theme of World Thrift Day is “Saving prepares you for the future”, closely linked with last year’s theme that focused on the importance of savings.

World Thrift Day History: The history of World Thrift Day stretches back to the first International Thrift Congress, held in 1924 in Milan, Italy. Here, an Italian professor, Filippo Ravizza, declared October 31 as World Savings Day. The objective was to motivate people to save money and instill their confidence in banks, whose authority was largely forfeited after World War-I. However, the day only gained prominence following World War-II. It has been celebrated on October 31 every year since then.

In 1984 in India, the date of World Thrift Day came to coincide with the date that Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated. Thus, it was moved and continues to be marked on October 30 now.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. BCCI Decides to End Discrimination; Offer Equal Pay to Men & Women Cricketers: In a historic decision, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a “pay equity policy”, saying that its centrally-contracted men and women players would get the same match fees. BCCI secretary Jay Shah took to Twitter to announce the significant development.

Key Points:

a)      This means the women players will now get Rs 15 lakh per Test match, Rs 6 lakh for a One-Day International (ODI), and Rs 3 lakh for a T20 International. Till now, they were paid Rs 1 lakh for a white-ball match, and Rs 4 lakh for a Test.

b)      The annual retainership for women cricketers remains the same — Rs 50 lakh for Grade A, Rs 30 lakh for Grade B and Rs 10 lakh for Grade C. The men, who play more games, are paid Rs 1-7 crore, depending on their grade.

c)       With this, India has become the second country in international cricket to implement equal pay. Earlier this year, New Zealand Cricket had announced equal match fees for its women players.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. BSE Launched Electronic Gold Receipts: BSE, or the Bombay Stock Exchange, launched Electronic Gold Receipt (EGR) on its platform. It introduced two new products of 995 and 999 purity during the Muhurat trading on Diwali. How The Trading Will Happen:

a)      Trading will be in multiples of 1 gram and deliveries in multiples of 10 gram and 100 gram.

b)      The EGR market will remain open from 9:00 am to 9.30 pm. It will have T+1 settlement.

c)       EGR allows efficient price discovery and standardization of gold, transparency in gold transactions, promotion of India Good Delivery Standard and settlement guarantee to the Investors.

BSE: BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) is India’s leading exchange group. BSE provides an efficient and transparent market for trading in equity, debt instruments, equity derivatives, currency derivatives, commodity derivatives, interest rate derivatives, mutual funds and stock lending and borrowing.

 

2. Elon Musk Fires Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, “Escorted Out” an Executive: Elon Musk finally completed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter Inc., after six months of public and legal battle over the purchase. Placing the world’s richest man in charge of the faltering social network. One of Musk’s first actions was to replace the leadership. Key Points:

a)      Redundancies include Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, director of legal, policy, and trust Vijaya Gadde, chief financial officer Ned Segal, who joined Twitter in 2017, and general counsel Sean Edgett, who has served as Twitter’s general counsel since 2012. According to two of the people who requested anonymity because the details are private, Edgett was led out of the building.

b)      Twitter will now be a private corporation and shareholders will receive $54.20 per share.

c)       The conclusion brings to an end a complicated process that started in January with the Elon Musk quietly building up a sizable investment in the business, his mounting displeasure with the way it’s handled, and an eventual merger agreement that he later spent months trying to undo.

d)      On October 4, Musk decided to move forward with the terms he had first suggested, and a Delaware Chancery Court judge granted the two parties until October 28 to complete the transaction.

 

Defence

 

1. SIMBEX 2022 maritime exercise between Singapore and India: From October 26 to October 30, 2022, Visakhapatnam played home to the 29th Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX). The two phases of SIMBEX-2022 are the Harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam and the Sea Phase in the Bay of Bengal. On October 25, 2022, RSS Stalwart (a Formidable Class Frigate) and RSS Vigilance (a Victory Class Corvette), two ships from the Republic of Singapore Navy, arrived at Visakhapatnam to take part in the exercise. During the Harbour Phase, there were numerous professional and recreational exchanges between the two fleets, including cross-deck visits, SMEEs, and planning sessions. About SIMBEX 2022:

a)      Exercise Lion King was the original name for the SIMBEX series of exercises, which debuted in 1994.

b)      Over the past two decades, the exercise’s complexity and scope have significantly increased to incorporate cutting-edge naval training that encompass a variety of maritime missions.

c)       The drill is a prime example of India and Singapore’s intense maritime cooperation. It also emphasises the two countries’ dedication and support for boosting marine security in the Indian Ocean region.

 

2. Garuda VII air exercise, jointly conducted by France and India: At Air Force Station Jodhpur, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force (FASF) are taking part in the bilateral exercise “Garuda VII” from October 26 to November 12, 2022. FASF is taking part in this exercise with a troop of 220 people, one A-330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, and four Rafale fighter aircraft. Key Points:

a)      The IAF is taking part with fighter aircraft including the Su-30 MKI, Rafale, LCA Tejas, and Jaguar as well as helicopters like the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Mi-17.

b)      Combat enabling assets including AWACS, AEW & C, and flight refuelling aircraft will also be part of the IAF contingent.

c)       This collaborative exercise will give both nations a platform to improve operational capacity and interoperability while also exchanging best practises.

d)      The bilateral exercise is currently in its seventh edition. At the Air Force Stations at Gwalior, Kalaikunda, and Jodhpur, respectively, the first, third, and fifth editions were held in India in 2003, 2006, and 2014, respectively.

e)      In France, the second, fourth, and sixth editions took place in 2005, 2010, and 2019.

f)        The IAF and FASF’s participation in this exercise will foster professional engagement, experience sharing, and the improvement of operational knowledge in addition to fostering bilateral ties between the two nations.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Veteran Assamese actor Nipon Goswami passes away: Veteran Assamese actor, Nipon Goswami passed away recently. He was born in Assam’s Tezpur town. He was an alumnus of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India. He debuted in the Assamese cinema as a child artist in 1957. The octogenarian worked in a number of Assamese films and was a very popular face. Besides the silver screen, Goswami was also active in mobile theatres, advertisement commercials, and TV soaps.

Daily GK Update- 30th Oct, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Jakson Green to invest Rs 22,400 cr in green hydrogen project in Rajasthan: Jakson Green to invest Rs 22,400 crore to set up green hydrogen and green ammonia project in Rajasthan. The Jakson Green company signed MoU with the Government of Rajasthan to this effect. Jakson Green will set up a 3,65,000 tons per annum Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia plant along with an integrated hybrid renewable power complex in phase wise manner. Key Points:

a)      The project initiated by Jakson Green and Rajasthan Government is expected to generate over 32,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities across various phases of the scale-up.

b)      The MoU was signed by Vish Iyer, Global Chief Commercial Officer, Jakson Green, and Bhaskar S Sawant, Principal Secretary of Energy to the Government of Rajasthan.

c)       The government of Rajasthan would facilitate Jakson Green in obtaining necessary registrations, approvals, and clearance, and provide incentives.

d)      Jakson Green has announced its global ambition to be a leading developer and integrator of green hydrogen and green ammonia assets across select geographies Jakson Green to invest Rs 22,400 crore to set up a green hydrogen and green ammonia project in Rajasthan.

 

2. GoI appoints Sangeeta Verma as acting chairperson of CCI: The government of India appointed Sangeeta Verma as the acting chairperson of the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The appointment follows full-time Chairperson Ashok Kumar Gupta demitting office. Verma is currently a member at the regulator. Her appointment will be effective for a “period of three months or till the appointment of regular Chairperson or till any further orders, whichever is the earliest,” according to an official order. Ashok Kumar Gupta had taken over as the CCI chairperson in November 2018.

Competition Commission of India (CCI): The Competition Commission of India (CCI) was established under the Competition Act, of 2002 for the administration, implementation and enforcement of the Act.  It was constituted in March 2009.

Members of the CCI: It consists of 7 members; one Chairperson and six other members. The members are appointed by the government for five years and are re-eligible for appointments. However, the members have to retire after attaining the age of sixty-five years.

 

3. Ladakh MP launched “Main Bhi Subhash” campaign: Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal launched the ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign from Leh. The ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign is a series of events which is organized by the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose INA Trust in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture. The ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign is going to be organized on the occasion of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji on 23rd January next year. The ‘Main Bhi Subhash’ campaign begins in Mumbai and Kolkata.

 

4. National Statistical Office (NSO) Released the Employment Outlook of India: The National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, released a press note on Employment Outlook of the country covering the period September, 2017 to June, 2022. This data is based on the administrative records available with selected government agencies to assess the progress in certain dimensions, the release stated.

Key Points:

a)      Since April, 2018 this ministry has been bringing out the employment related statistics in the formal sector covering the period September 2017 onwards, using information on the number of subscribers who have subscribed under three major schemes, namely the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme and the National Pension Scheme (NPS).

b)      The information is based on the number of subscribers, and the tables reflect a dynamic status for six sets of periods – (a) September 2017 – March 2018, (b) April 2018 – March 2019, (c) April 2019 – March 2020, (d) April 2020 – March 2021, (e) April 2021 – March 2022, and (f) monthly data from April 2022 onwards.

c)       The data includes information gender-wise, on the number of new members who have started subscribing to EPF, the number of members that have ceased their subscription and the number of members who restarted contribution, having ceased subscription in the past.

d)      A total of 36,53,544 new subscribers joined and contributed in the NPS the central government, state governments, and corporate schemes during September, 2017 to June, 2022.

e)      India’s formal sector employment jumped by 0.4 million in the October-December quarter of 2021 with the total number of workers employed across nine sectors at 31.4 million compared to 31 million in July-September quarter and 30.8 million in the April-June quarter of 2021, the labour ministry said.

 

5. IIT-Madras and NASA researchers study microbes on space station: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT) and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory researchers studied the interactions between microbes in the International Space Station (ISS). The study aims to help devise strategies for the disinfection of space stations to minimize any potential impact of microbes on the health of astronauts. Key Points:

a)      Studying the microbes inhabiting the space station will help to understand the risks associated with short-term and long-term space travel on the health of astronauts.

b)      The study was motivated by earlier observations of the dominance of Klebsiella pneumonia on the surface of the ISS.

c)       The pathogen has been known to cause pneumonia and other nosocomial infections.

d)      The researchers analyzed the microbial sample data taken across three space flights at seven locations at the ISS.

e)      The study found that Klebsiella pneumonia is a major microbe that resides on the ISS.

 

6. Nation celebrates 113th Birth anniversary of Homi Jehangir Bhabha: 113th Birth anniversary of Indian nuclear physicist Homi Jehangir Bhabha who is also known as the father of the Indian nuclear program. He was born on 30 October 1909 in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India (now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India). His invaluable contributions to the field of science continue to inspire generations of young minds in the country. Homi J Bhabha was born into a prominent wealthy Parsi family. Some facts related to this great personality:

a)      Homi J Bhabha was the founding director and professor of physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).

b)      Homi J Bhabha was also the founding director of the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET). It is now named the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in his honour.

c)       TIFR and AEET were the cornerstones of Indian development of nuclear weapons and both were supervised by Bhabha as director.

d)      In 1942, Bhabha was awarded the Adams Prize and Padma Bhushan in 1954.

e)      In 1951 and 1953–1956, Bhabha was also nominated for the Nobel Prize for Physics.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Shefali Juneja named as chairperson of UN’s Air Transport Committee: India’s representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Shefali Juneja has been elected as the chairperson of the United Nations’ specialized aviation agency’s Air Transport Committee (ATC). Juneja, a 1992 batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax cadre), served as a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) before joining the ICAO. India secured this position in ICAO after 28 years when Juneja was unanimously elected to the post on Monday. She is the first woman to represent India in the ICAO. ATC is a standing committee of the ICAO created by the Chicago Convention in 1944.

Note: International Civil Aviation Organization Headquarters: Montreal, Canada; International Civil Aviation Organization Council President: Salvatore Sciacchitano; International Civil Aviation Organization Founded: 7 December 1944.

 

2. OAG report: Delhi’s IGI airport is now world’s 10th busiest airport: According to Official Airline Guide (OAG) report, the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the 10th busiest airport in the world in terms of seat capacity and frequency of domestic and international flights as of October 2022. According to OAG, there were 34,13,855 seats at the Delhi airport, popularly known as the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). In its research, aviation analytics company OAG said the Delhi airport improved from its 14th position in October 2019, before the pandemic struck. Key points in the reports:

a)      The busiest airport in the world as of October 2022 is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport having serviced 47,47,367 seats.

b)      Dubai International is second with 41,27,704 seats, followed by Tokyo International Airport with 38,77,164 seats and Dallas Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport with 37,53,858 seats.

c)       In fifth place is the Denver airport with 37,09,394 seats, followed by London Heathrow Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport at the 7th spot and Los Angeles International Airport at the 9th position, the OAG report said.

 

3. FIPRESCI declared ‘Pather Panchali’ as best Indian movie: Legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s feature “Pather Panchali” has been declared the best Indian film of all time by the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). The 1955 film has received the number one slot in the top ten films in the history of Indian cinema list, which was declared after a poll conducted by the India chapter of FIPRESCI. Based on Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s 1929 Bengali novel of the same name, “Pather Panchali” was Ray’s directorial debut. It starred Subir Banerjee, Kanu Banerjee, Karuna Banerjee, Uma Dasgupta, Pinaki Sengupta and Chunibala Devi. As per a press release issued by FIPRESCI-India, the poll was conducted in secret and involved 30 members. FIPRESCI: Other films nominated in the list:

This list also features Ritwik Ghatak’s 1960 drama “Meghe Dhaka Tara” (Bengali),

Mrinal Sen’s 1969 drama “Bhuvan Shome” (Hindi),

Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s 1981 drama “Elippathayam” (Malayalam),

Girish Kasaravalli’s 1977 film “Ghatashraddha” (Kannada),

MS Sathyu’s 1973 movie “Garm Hava” (Hindi),

Ray’s 1964 film “Charulata” (Bengali),

Shyam Benegal’s 1974 film “Ankur” (Hindi),

Guru Dutt’s 1954 film “Pyaasa” (Hindi) and

1975 blockbuster “Sholay” (Hindi), directed by Ramesh Sippy.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Indian Bank rolls out a bouquet of Digital products as part of “Project WAVE”: PSU lender Indian Bank has launched several digital initiatives under “Project WAVE” in a bid to enhance the customer experience through integrated services on its digital platform. Six digital initiatives were launched by the SL Jain, MD and CEO, Indian Bank, along with Sharad Mathur, MD & CEO, of Universal Sompo General Insurance Co. About the agreements:

a)      Indian Bank along with Universal Sompo General Insurance will provide online vehicle and health insurance through its mobile banking app IndOASIS.

b)      This digital collaboration would enable the bank’s customers to access and buy general insurance products digitally, anytime, anywhere, thus augmenting the insurance inclusion in India, it said in a statement.

c)       Under the co-lending arrangement, Indian Bank has partnered with Rupeek Capital Pvt. Ltd, to offer jewel loans at customer doorsteps. The entire gold loan journey will be through digital platform and not require any physical visit to the bank branch by the customer.

d)      This facility which is presently available in select pockets will be soon expanded to other locations as well.

e)      The public sector lender has extended pre-approved personal loans to self-employed customers of the bank as well. Since April, it is being offered to salaried customers and pensioners.

f)        Indian Bank has now extended e-overdraft facility against term deposits opened at branches by individual customers. Earlier it was offered for e-deposits only.

Note: Indian Bank CEO: Shri Shanti Lal Jain; Indian Bank Founded: 15 August 1907; Indian Bank Headquarters: Chennai.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Apple Announces New Clean Energy Investments: APPLE said it would make fresh investments to set up solar and wind projects in Europe and called on its suppliers to decarbonise operations related to the production of iPhones and other products. The company in 2020 had pledged to remove carbon emissions from its entire business, including products and its sprawling supply chain – which spans from Vietnam to Brazil – by 2030.

The iPhone maker will now require its supply partners to report on progress on carbon neutrality goals, specifically Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reductions, related to the production of Apple products and will audit their progress annually. “We’re determined to be a ripple in the pond that creates a bigger change,” chief executive officer Tim Cook said. Apple has been carbon neutral for its global corporate operations since 2020.

A Humongous Supply-Chain: More than 200 suppliers, representing 70 per cent of Apple’s direct manufacturing spending and including Corning, Nitto Denko, SK Hynix, STMicroelectronics, TSMC and Yuto, have committed to using clean power such as wind or solar for all Apple production, Apple said. Apple had previously asked suppliers to commit to 100 per cent renewable energy for Apple’s production.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Smt Droupadi Murmu presents Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard: The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard (PBG) at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi. The President appreciated PBG for their excellent military traditions, professionalism and discipline in all their tasks. She said that the nation is proud of them. She expressed confidence that they will strive with dedication, discipline and valour, to maintain the highest traditions of Rashtrapati Bhavan and be an ideal role model for other Regiments of the Indian Army. History of President’s Bodyguard:

a)      The President’s Bodyguard is the oldest regiment in the Indian Army, having been raised as the Governor-General’s Bodyguard (later the Viceroy’s Bodyguard) in 1773. As the President of India’s own Guard, it has the unique distinction of being the only military unit of the Indian Army that is privileged to carry the President’s Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner.

b)      This distinction was conferred on the President’s Bodyguard in 1923 by the then Viceroy, Lord Reading, on the occasion of the Bodyguard completing 150 years of service. Each succeeding Viceroy, thereafter, presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the Bodyguard.

c)       On January 27, 1950, the regiment was renamed the President’s Bodyguard. Every President has continued the practice of honouring the regiment. Rather than a coat of arms, as was the practice in the colonial era, the monogram of the President appears on the Banner. Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, presented his Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard on May 14, 1957.

d)      The President’s Bodyguard, as it is known today, was raised in Banaras (Varanasi) by the then Governor-General, Warren Hastings. It had an initial strength of 50 cavalry troopers, later augmented by another 50 horsemen. Today, the President’s Bodyguard is a select body of hand-picked men with special physical attributes. They are chosen after a rigorous and physically gruelling process.

 

2. Indian Navy & Drone Federation tie-up to promote indigenous drone technology: The Technology Development and Acceleration Cell of the Naval Innovation Indigenisation Organization (NIIO) under the Indian Navy and Drone Federation of India (DFI) have come together to collaborate towards promoting indigenous development, manufacturing, and testing of drones, counter-drone, and associated technologies for the Indian Navy.

As a part of this collaboration, TDAC and DFI will increase the Navy-Industry-Academia synergy, and source technology development challenges toward component indigenization. A special maritime drone testing site shall also be earmarked for the Indian drone industry to facilitate faster development and testing of drones, especially in maritime environments, thus enabling development for a host of applications. Under the agreement:

a)      Additionally, programmes on sensitization and skill development shall also be undertaken as a part of this collaboration.

b)      TDAC has been working towards accelerating the development of indigenous technologies to be utilized by the Indian Navy.

c)       Drone Federation of India will help us in developing a deeper industry connection as well as create a stronger roadmap for induction of drone platforms in the Indian Navy in a time-bound manner.

d)      The maritime testing site being developed under this initiative will accelerate the development of versatile and reliable drone platforms for advanced maritime use cases like maritime patrol, drone landings on moving ships, ship-to-ship deliveries, ship-to-shore deliveries, etc.

Daily GK Update- 29th Oct, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Suffered Income Loss of 5.4% of GDP Due to Heatwave In 2021: Report: India suffered an income loss of 5.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the highest among the G20 nations in 2021, according to the new report of Climate Transparency. The report highlighted that India witnessed a record heatwave that greatly affected workers, labour migrants, low-income households, and the homeless, and reduced the yields of wheat crops.

Despite the fact that India is responsible for 3% of global emissions, the report mentioned that around 142 million people in India may be exposed (10% of the population) to summer heatwaves at 1.5 Degrees Celsius. The higher temperature resulted in the reduction of working hours, which further led to substantial income losses in services, manufacturing, agriculture, and construction.

The World Scenario: Talking about global emissions, the USA ranked first, as America contributes 25% of it, followed by the European Union with 22%. “G20 members account for around 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population, and are responsible for around three-quarters of global emissions,” the report reads.

About The Report & What It Said: The ‘Climate Transparency Report 2022’ was developed with experts from 16 partner organisations from the majority of the G20 (Group of 20) countries. According to the Climate Transparency Report 2022, the G20 members are still not taking the necessary level of accountability of action.

The report noted that several countries including India have submitted stronger Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets over time, but their overall level of ambition and action is still insufficient to meet 1.5 Degrees Celsius, according to the Climate Action Tracker.

 

2. Trees Beyond Forests initiative launched in Assam: Trees Beyond Forests initiative: The “trees outside forests in India (TOFI)” programme was introduced by the Assam government and the US Agency for International Development (USAID)with the goal of bringing together farmers, businesses, and private institutions to increase the amount of trees in the State’s non-traditional forests. Key Points:

a)      The Trees outside forests in India, new programme aims to increase carbon sequestration, aid local populations, and boost agriculture’s climate resilience, supporting global climate change mitigation and adaptation goals.

b)      Assam has given increasing the tree cover outside of forest regions great priority, as evidenced by the State Action Plan on Climate Change and the recent creation of the Assam Agroforestry Development Board (AADB).

c)       The goal is to add 2.8 million hectares of tree cover outside of traditional forests, helping India reach its nationally set contribution target of adding 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in additional “carbon sinks” by 2030.

 

3. Ministry of Education to organize ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ programme: ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ will be organized by the Ministry of Education next month. The ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ is a month-long program that will be held from the 16th of the next month. The ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ aims to rediscover the centuries-old bond of knowledge and ancient civilizational linkage between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu. Key Points:

a)      The Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the media and informed more than 2400 Tamil people in 12 groups. He addressed a huge and diverse section of society including academics, philosophy, agriculture, entrepreneurship, arts, etc.

b)      These 12 groups will visit Kashi for eight days to get familiarised with the ancient knowledge shared by these two ancient cities.

c)       These groups of people will come from Rameshwaram, Chennai, and Coimbatore by train.

d)      During this time, seminars, lectures, and discussions will be held during the program.

e)      On this occasion, Mr. Pradhan also launched a website for the registration process for this month-long event.

f)        The program will be organized under the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

4. Akshay Shah & Stephen Alter compiled and edited a new book “The Corbett Papers”: Akshay Shah and Stephen Alter have compiled and edited a new book “The Corbett Papers: Biographical, Legal, & Contextual Material on the Life & Career of Jim Corbett of Kumaon” about Jim Corbett. It is published by Black Kite Publishing. Jim Corbett, the famous naturalist­hunter, has written a series of bestsellers about his experiences with wildlife in the jungles of North India. The Corbett Papers” also includes the unpublished reminiscences of Corbett by his sister Maggie and rare extracts from a forgotten work.

 

5. Shaurya Diwas celebrated in Srinagar: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh celebrated Shaurya Diwas at Old Air Field, Srinagar. The Shaurya Diwas marks the 75th year of induction of the Indian Army to save the state of Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistan’s invasion in 1947. The Shaurya Diwas is celebrated as a part of celebrations for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and the 75th year of Air landed operations of the Indian Army at Budgam Airport. Key Points:

a)      The Shaurya Diwas celebration event was felicitated by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Amry Chief General Manoj Pande, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, Air Marshal S Prabhakaran.

b)      Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, Lieutenant General ADS Aujla, General Officer Commanding, 15-Corps along with several other civil and military dignitaries were part of the event.

c)       The replication of the historic event was organized at Old Air Field.

d)      The event aims to pay obeisance to the brave soldiers and people of Jammu and Kashmir who laid down their lives.

e)      The event also honored the Next to Kin of war heroes, who participated in the 1947-1948 Indo-Pak war.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UNHRC: Ashwini K.P. becomes 1st Indian to be appointed Independent Expert on racism: The United Nations Human Rights Council appointed the first Asian and first Indian as an independent expert on racism and related intolerance. Dr Ashwini’s appointment has been officially made at the UNHRC’s session which concluded in Geneva on October 7.. Dr Ashwini will take over the UNHCR special rapporteur in Geneva on November 1 for a period of six years. She is the first Asian as well as the first Indian to be appointed for the post.

Notably: Ashwini’s name was part of a three-member shortlist recommended by the Consultative Group for the selection of the mandate holders to the President of the Council. Besides Ashwini, the shortlist included Joshua Castellino, also from India, and Botswana’s Unity Dow. Key Points:

a)      The UNHRC president then nominated her to the Council, which officially appointed her just before the conclusion of its 51st session. Ashwini’s three-year term will begin on November 1.

b)      Ashwini will be the sixth SR to hold this mandate. All her predecessors have been from Africa.

c)       The SR fulfils the mandate through communications with states and issuing urgent appeals over alleged violations of international human rights laws, fact-finding country visits and reporting to the UNHRC and General Assembly.

d)      Ashwini, who has worked as an assistant professor of political science at Bengaluru’s St Joseph’s College, is co-founder of a non-governmental organisation, Zariya: Women’s Alliance for Dignity and Equality.

Note: United Nations Human Rights Council Founded: 15 March 2006; United Nations Human Rights Council Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; United Nations Human Rights Council President: Federico Villegas.

 

2. World Psoriasis Day: 29th October: World Psoriasis Day is observed every year on October 29th to make the general public aware of the important facts related to psoriasis and this disease and its treatment. In the year 2022, World Psoriasis Day is being observed with the theme of “Unloading Psoriatic Disease”.

Psoriasis: Psoriasis is a serious abnormal skin condition in which red and white scaly patches start developing on the patient’s skin. These spots usually appear on the elbows, knees, scalp or lower back. These spots can sometimes be itchy or painful. At the same time, as the problem progresses, they may also feel burning sensations or swelling.

An Overactive Immune System is generally believed to be responsible for psoriasis. This problem affects men and women equally but its severity can vary from person to person. This skin disease is a long-lasting one, in which sometimes it may happen that the patient does not show any kind of symptoms, but after some time severe symptoms and effects can be seen in the victim.

World Psoriasis Day History: The first World Psoriasis Day was observed in 2004. In the year 2014, The World Health Organization’s member nations declared October 29th to be the official day to highlight Psoriasis after realising the value of raising awareness of this particular condition.

Note: President of International Federation of Psoriasis Associations: Hoseah Waweru; International Federation of Psoriasis Associations Founded: 1971; International Federation of Psoriasis Associations Headquarters: Sweden.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. IAF: Western Air Command won Air Force Lawn Tennis Championship: Western Air Command, Indian Air Force (IAF) won the Air Force Lawn Tennis Championship 2022-23 held at Head Quarter MC, Vayu Sena Nagar, Nagpur. The final match of the team Championship was played between Western Air Command and Training Command in which Western Air Command emerged as the winner. The final of the open singles was played between Corporal Pradeep of Training Command and Sergeant Manolin of Western Air Command and Corporal Pradeep emerged as the winner.

About the Air Force Lawn Tennis Championship:

a)      The Championship was inaugurated by Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, HQ MC on 17 October 2022. A total of eight teams comprising of 48 players from the seven Commands of Indian Air Force, participated in the Championship.

b)      The Championship was held in two events namely, Team Championship and Open Singles. The matches not only showcased the talents and great potential of the players but generated a lot of enthusiasm amongst the air warriors to pick up Lawn Tennis as a sport.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Netherlands Beats China, Becomes India’s 3rd-Largest Export Market: The Netherlands has emerged as India’s third-largest export destination, ahead of China and Bangladesh. It has moved up two spots in the list of India’s top ten export destinations since FY22, thanks to a 106% surge in dispatches until August this fiscal from a year before to $7.5 billion.

What comes as a greater surprise is that Brazil, which occupied the 21st spot in FY22, is now India’s 8th biggest export market. Similarly, Indonesia has moved up seven notches to grab the 7th position. However, amid a demand slowdown, only two European nations—the Netherlands and the UK–are among India’s top ten markets, against 4 in FY22. Germany and Belgium, which featured in the list last fiscal, are out of it now.

Meanwhile, the US and the UAE continue to be the largest and second-largest export destinations, respectively, for India. The exports to the US climbed 18.3% until August to $35.2 billion, while those to the UAE shot up 27.3% to $13.8 billion.

 

2. Coca-Cola’s Sprite becomes billion-dollar brand in Indian market: Coca-Cola, global soft drinks company announced that its lemon and lime-flavored soft drink ‘Sprite’ has become a billion-dollar brand in the Indian market. The company has recorded a “strong” volume growth in its India business in the third quarter of 2022. Trademark Coke delivered strong growth through effective execution and occasion-based marketing. Coke has done 2.5 billion transactions in India at affordable price points through the expansion of returnable glass bottles and single-serve PET packages. Key Points:

a)      Coca-Cola continued to strengthen as it gained a share in sparkling offerings in the first half of 2022.

b)      Sprite has grown to become a billion-dollar brand in the market, driven by the success of locally adapted, occasion-based global marketing campaigns and screen time.

c)       Coca-Cola has earlier announced that its Indian soft drink brand Thumps up has become a billion-dollar brand in 2021.

d)      India is the fifth largest market for Coca-Cola globally.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. NISA bags Union HM’s trophy for best police training institution: National Industrial Security Academy (NISA), at Hakimpet, Hyderabad has bagged the Union Home Minister’s Trophy for the “Best Police Training Institution for Training of Gazetted Officers for the year 2020-21”. This extraordinary feat for this Academy was achieved during the serving period of the current Commissioner of Police (CP) Hyderabad, CV Anand, who was the previous Director of the Academy during the year under contention.

Ministry of Home Affairs conducts a national-level screening of various central police training institutes and accordingly BPR&D conducts a survey for the best Police Training Institution for the year. All central and state government police training academies of the country are in consideration in various categories.

About the National Industrial Security Academy: The National Industrial Security Academy of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is a premier national-level central training institute imparting training in Industrial Security Management, Disaster Management, and Aviation Security to officers of the CISF, sister organizations of CAPFs, state police organizations, foreign police organizations, civil servants and officers of public sector undertaking.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. ‘World’s dirtiest man’ Amou Haji dies in Iran at 94: Amou Haji, an Iranian man dubbed the “dirtiest man in the world”, died at the age of 94 in the village of Dejgah, in the southern province of Fars. He was so-called because he had not washed for almost 70 years and he believed that staying dirty kept him alive for so long. Owing to his unique record, a short documentary titled ‘The Strange Life of Amou Haji’ was made in 2013, describing his life. A report published in Tehran Times also claimed that Haji would eat roadkill, smoke a pipe filled with animal excrement, and believed that cleanliness would make him ill. Haji used to live in an open brick hut and he had faced some “emotional setbacks in his youth” that made him stern about not taking a bath with water or soap.

Dirtiest man In India: In 2009 the Hindustan Times reported that Kailash “Kalau” Singh, from a village outside the holy city of Varanasi, had not washed for more than 30 years in an attempt to help end “all the problems confronting the nation”.