Daily GK Update- 9th Oct, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Election Commission launched Matadata Junction awareness program: The Chief Election Commissioner Shri Rajiv Kumar launched a yearlong Voter Awareness Program ‘Matdata Junction’ during an event organized at Akashvani Rang Bhavan. The launch event was also facilitated by Election Commissioner Shri Anup Chandra Pandey. The Matdata Junction is a 52-episode radio series produced by the election commission of India, in collaboration with All India Radio. Key Points:

a)      Matdata Junction is produced in collaboration with All India Radio.

b)      The Matdata Junction aims to connect with the voters across the country with the help of radio.

c)       The programs will be a combination of information and entertainment which will help to address the lack of concern of urban people and inform the audience.

d)      The information will be related to the election process in the conduct of free, fair, transparent, inducement-free, accessible, and inclusive elections.

e)      Shri Pankaj Tripathi would be the National Icon for the Election Commission of India.

f)        The 52 episodes will cover various aspects of the election and related processes from voters’ perspectives.

g)      The programs will be for 15 minutes and will be broadcast every Friday during the 7-9 PM slot on All India Radio.

 

2. Actor Pankaj Tripathi declared ‘National Icon’ by Election Commission of India: Election Commission of India (ECI) in creating awareness amongst voters, Actor Pankaj Tripathi has been declared as the ‘National Icon’ of ECI. The actor was chosen for the honour by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar for keeping in view his commitment to the cause and wide appeal across the country.

One of Pankaj’s most acclaimed roles involved the electoral process in the 2017 film Newton, for which he won the National Award. He played the role of a CRPF officer, who was tasked with conducting elections in a conflict-ridden zone in the jungles of Chhattisgarh.

Note: Election Commission of India Formed: 25 January 1950; Election Commission of India Headquarters: New Delhi; Chief Election Commissioner of India: Rajiv Kumar.

 

3. Amit Shah Announces ST Status for Paharis in Jammu And Kashmir: Union Home Minister Amit Shah announces that Pahari Community in Jammu and Kashmir will get a Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and political reservations before Assembly elections. The abolition of Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019 paved the way for providing reservations to deprived sections of Jammu and Kashmir. Key Points:

a)      The ST quota in J&K carries 7% spots in government jobs and educational institutions.

b)      The Gujjars and Bakerwals community were getting ST benefits since 1991.

c)       The Paharis were given a 4 percent quota in the OBC category from January 2020.

d)      The Centre formed the Justice Sharma Commission in March 2020, however it seemed to upset the Gujjars and Bakerwals.

e)      There were also protests performed by the Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu and Kashmir regarding the implementation of Status to Paharis.

f)        40 percent of the population in the border districts are Gujjar and Bakerwal, and Paharia lives in a few numbers.

g)      PM Narendra Modi has promised to invest Rs 56,000 crore for the overall development.

 

4. Government approves ₹26,000 crore for installation of 25,000 mobile towers in 500 days: The government has approved Rs 26,000 crore for the installation of 25,000 mobile towers in 500 days. According to the Telecom Ministry, the financial support for the project will be provided by the Universal Services Obligation Fund and it will be implemented by Bharat Broadband Network. Key Points:

a)      The project was announced by Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnav at a three-day long ‘Digital India Conference of State IT Ministers’.

b)      In the three-day long Digital India Conference of State IT Ministers, IT ministers from 12 states and UTs were present.

c)       The 12 states include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Manipur, Uttrakhand, Telangana, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Puducherry.

d)      Along with IT ministers of several states Minister of State of Electronics and Information Technology and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and MoS Communication Devusinh Chauhan were also present

 

5. UNESCO publishes a list of 50 exclusive Indian heritage textile crafts: UNESCO has released a list of 50 exclusive and iconic heritage textile crafts of the country. According to UNESCO, one of the major challenges to the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South Asia is lack of proper inventory and documentation. The publication, which aims to bridge this gap, brings together years of research on the 50 selected textiles.

Safeguarding Traditional Indian Textiles lists the histories and legends behind the textiles describes the complicated and secret processes behind their making, mentions the causes for their dwindling popularity, and provides strategies for their preservation.

Some of the Important Textiles Crafts Listed:

a)      Toda embroidery and Sungudi from Tamil Nadu

b)      Himroo weaves from Hyderabad

c)       Bandha tie and dye weaving from Sambalpur in Odisha

d)      Kunbi weaves from Goa

e)      Mashru weaves and Patola from Gujarat

f)        Himroo from Maharashtra

g)      Garad-Korial from West Bengal

h)      Ilkal and Lambadi or Banjara embroidery from Karnataka

i)        Sikalnayakanpet Kalamkari from Tamil Nadu

j)        Khes from Haryana

k)      Chamba rumals from Himachal Pradesh

l)        Thigma or wool tie and dye from Ladakh

m)    Awadh Jamdani from Varanasi

 

6. Sanjeev Kishore named as Director General of Indian Ordinance Factory: A 1985 batch officer of the Indian Ordnance Factory Service (IOFS), Sanjeev Kishore has taken over as the Director General of the Indian Ordinance Factory with effect from 01-10-2022 upon the superannuation of M K Grag. Before taking over the charge of DGO (C &S), Kishore was the Additional Director of General Ordnance at the Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination & Services), Kolkata.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Majestic Hindu temple opens in Dubai: A majestic new Hindu Temple has been inaugurated in Jebel Ali Village, Dubai. The temple combines both Indian and Arabic architectural designs and gives a powerful message of tolerance, peace, and harmony. The temple is located in a neighborhood that is generally known as the ‘Worship Village’ of UAE. Key Points:

a)      The temple was inaugurated by the Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and Ambassador Sunjay Sudhir.

b)      The ‘Worship Village’ of UAE now has nine religious’ shrines, including seven churches, the Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Gurudwara, and the new Hindu House of Worship.

c)       The inaugural ceremony was facilitated by the CEO of the Social Regulatory and Licensing agency for the Community Development Authority (CDA) Dr. Omar Al Muthanna, trustee of the Hindu Temple Dubai Raju Shroff, and Director General of the Community Development Authority Ahmed Abdul Karim Julfar.

d)      In the opening ceremony, more than 200 dignitaries were present including diplomatic missions, religious leaders of several faiths, business owners, and Indian community members.

e)      The temple is 70,000 square feet which were announced in 2020.

f)        The temple has detailed hand carvings, ornate pillars, brass spires, and striking lattice screens that blend Indian and Arabic architecture.

 

2. World Post Day: 9th October: World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern. This day celebrates the role of the post in people’s and businesses’ everyday lives. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services. The theme for World Post Day 2022 is ‘Post for Planet’.

Note: Universal Postal Union Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland; Universal Postal Union Founded: 9 October 1874; Universal Postal Union Director-General: Masahiko Meteko.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Saudi Arabia win bid to host 2029 Asian Winter Games at desert megacity: Saudi Arabia has won the bid to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games at a planned Mountain Resort in the Gulf Arab State. The Asian Games will be held at a $500 billion futuristic megacity in the desert that will feature a year-round winter sports complex. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said that the deserts and mountains of Saudi Arabia will be turned into a playground for winter sports.

Key Points:

a)      The bid by Saudi Arabia was approved without any opposition.

b)      The Megacity known as NEOM will be the first West Asian City to host the event.

c)       The Asian winter games will take place in Trojena, an area of NEOM.

d)      During winter temperature drop below zero and generally is 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the region in Trojena.

e)      Trojena will include year-round skiing, a man-made freshwater lake, chalets, mansions, and ultra-luxury hotels, which are said to be completed in 2026.

f)        The Asian Winter Games include skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, and figure skating.

g)      In total there are 47 events in the Asian Winter Games and out of that 28 are on snow, and 10 are on ice.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Historic MoU signed to launch India’s Rupay debit card in Oman: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Central Financial institution Of Oman signed a historic MoU to launch the Rupay debit card in Oman, paving the best way for a brand new period of monetary connectivity. Key Points:

a)      Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan witnessed the signing of the MoU and met Tahir Al Amri, Govt President, Central Financial institution of Oman.

b)      UPI acceptance has also gone live with the UAE’s Mashreq Bank, which deploys QR code in UAE. 

c)       In the P2M space, Indian travellers and tourists in the UAE can now make payments through BHIM UPI across 10,000 shops and merchant stores via NEOPAY, the payment subsidiary of Mashreq Bank.

d)      In November, NIPL also tied up with the UAE’s largest merchant acquirer–Network International–to help Indian travellers visiting the UAE by allowing them to make payments seamlessly through UPI-based mobile applications in retail merchant partners, such as jewellers, supermarkets, and duty-free shops.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. India’s Economic growth to Decline to 5.7% in 2022: UNCTAD report: India’s economic growth is expected to decline to 5.7 per cent this year from 8.2 per cent in 2021, citing higher financing cost and weaker public expenditures, according to the forecast by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Trade and Development Report 2022.

The country’s GDP will further decelerate to 4.7 per cent growth in 2023, the top UN agency projected. India experienced an expansion of 8.2 per cent in 2021, the strongest among G20 countries. As supply chain disruptions eased, rising domestic demand turned the current account surplus into a deficit, and growth decelerated, the report stated.

 

2. WTO Forecast a Slowdown Of Global Trade Growth: World merchandise trade volume growth is likely to slow to 1 per cent in 2023, down from the previous forecast of 3 per cent made in April this year, per fresh estimates released by the WTO . This is due to multiple shocks including the Ukraine war, high energy prices, inflation, and monetary tightening, it said.

Key Points:

a)      While global trade in goods in 2022 is now predicted to grow at 3.5 per cent–better than the 3 per cent estimated in April–it is expected to lose momentum in the second half of 2023. Slowdown in exports is expected in 2023 as import demand is likely to soften in major economies with growth slowing down for different reasons.

b)      “In Europe, high energy prices stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war will squeeze household spending and raise manufacturing costs. In the United States, monetary policy tightening will hit interest-sensitive spending in areas such as housing, motor vehicles and fixed investment,” the WTO report said.

c)       China’s continued struggle with COVID-19 outbreaks and production disruptions paired with weak external demand has also been identified as a major factor for trade growth slowing down. 

d)      Growing import bills for fuels, food and fertilizers could lead to food insecurity and debt distress in developing countries, the report warned.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. PR Sreejesh, Savita Punia voted FIH Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: PR Sreejesh and Savita Punia have been voted FIH Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for the second year in a row. Savita Punia, the captain of the Indian women’s hockey team, and veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh both received the FIH goalkeeper of the year title in the men’s and women’s categories on the strength of their performances beneath the bar. Savita is just the third athlete to win Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) for three years in a row since the award’s debut in 2014.

The International Hockey Federation announced that young Indian forward Mumtaz Khan, and France’s Timothée Clément have been named the FIH Rising Stars of the Year 2021-22 in the women’s and men’s categories respectively.

Note: International Hockey Federation President: Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra; International Hockey Federation Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland; International Hockey Federation Founded: 7 January 1924, Paris, France; International Hockey Federation CEO: Thierry Weil (Apr 2018–); International Hockey Federation Founder: Paul Léautey; International Hockey Federation Motto: FairPlay Friendship Forever.

 

2. IITM scientist Roxy Mathew Koll awarded Devendra Lal Memorial Medal 2022: Roxy Mathew Koll, a scientist at the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), received the American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) 2022 Devendra Lal Memorial Medal. Koll was selected for his outstanding research in Earth and space sciences. He will also be conferred as a Fellow of the AGU. AGU is a non-profit organisation that annually recognises a select number of individuals as part of its honours and recognition programme in Earth and space sciences.

Koll has made breakthrough contributions to science, monitoring, forecasts, and climate change projections for South Asia and the larger Indo-Pacific region. His research provides insights into the mechanisms and impacts of climate change on monsoon floods and droughts, cyclones, heat waves, and the marine ecosystem.

 

3. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel Wins UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Award: Former German chancellor Angela Merkel won the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) prestigious Nansen award for her “leadership, courage and compassion” in ensuring the protection of hundreds of thousands of desperate people at the height of the Syria crisis. Dr. Angela Merkel is the 2022 Nansen Award global laureate for her political courage, compassion and decisive action as Federal Chancellor of Germany to protect people forced to flee. The UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award selection committee also honoured four regional winners for 2022:

a)      The Nansen Award 2022 regional winner for Africa was given to The Mbera Fire Brigade, an all-volunteer firefighting group in Mauritania led by Ahmedou Ag Albohary.

b)      The award for the Americas went to Vicenta González, a women’s rights advocate and activist whose cacao cooperative in Costa Rica empowers local and asylum-seeking women.

c)       Meikswe Myanmar, a humanitarian organization that assists communities in need, including internally displaced people was announced as the regional winner for Asia and the Pacific and the regional winner for the Middle East and North Africa was given to Dr.

d)      Nagham Hasan, a gynaecologist from Iraq who helps fellow Yazidi women who were forced into slavery by ISIS to recover from their trauma.

About UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award: It is the annual award established in 1954, named after the Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat and humanitarian Fridtjof Nansen. Fridtjof Nansen was the first High Commissioner for Refugees. He was awarded the 1922 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to repatriate prisoners of war and to protect millions of refugees of the Romanov, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires.