Daily GK Update- 25th Nov, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India to Take Over Chairmanship of the Global Partnership on AI from France: India will take over the chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence for 2022-23 at a meeting of the body in Tokyo, the Ministry of Electronics and IT said. This development comes on the heels of assuming the Presidency of the G20, a league of the world’s largest economies.

In the election to the Council Chair, India had received more than a two-thirds majority of first-preference votes while Canada and the United States of America ranked in the next two best places in the tally – so they were elected to the two additional government seats on the Steering Committee, the ministry said in a statement.

Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI): GPAI is an international initiative to support responsible and human-centric development and the use of Artificial Intelligence. GPAI is a congregation of 25 member countries, including the US, UK, European Union, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, and Singapore. India joined the GPAI in 2020 as a founding member.

 

2. Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur launched ’53 hours Challenge’: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Singh Thakur has inaugurated ’53 Hours Challenge’ for ‘75 Creative Minds Tomorrow’. This is the second edition of 75 Creative Minds of Tomorrow and we have already made a community of 150 strong individuals connected through their shared love for cinema, creativity and culture. The competition will challenge the winners of ’75 Creative Minds for Tomorrow’ to produce a short film on their idea of India@100, all in 53 hours. This is powered by National Film Development Corporation (NDFC). ‘53-Hour Challenge’ inaugurated today by Union Minister Anurag Thakur, is being organized on the side-lines of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The competition will challenge the 75 ‘Creative Minds’ to produce a short film on their idea of India@100, all in 53 hours. This segment of IFFI 53 is powered by National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) in collaboration with Shorts TV.

Note: National Film Development Corporation Founded: 1975, Mumbai; National Film Development Corporation Headquarters: Mumbai.

 

3. Giriraj Singh Inaugurated SARAS AAJEEVIKA MELA 2022 at New Delhi: Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj inaugurated the “SARAS AAJEEVIKA MELA, 2022” at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Shri Singh informed that the Ministry of Rural Development has received over 60,000 applications from 3 states for start-up ventures in niche products and crafts areas. Key Points:

a)      Shri Singh informed that it was Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who launched StartUp India from the ramparts of Red Fort in 2015, and now we have more than 80,000 start-ups from 400 odd start-ups in 2014.

b)      India ranks 3rd in the world in terms of the start-up ecosystem and there are over 100 unicorns active in the country.

c)       Women of SHG Members will have their start-ups as the proposals are under active consideration by the ministry.

d)      The Rural Development Minister informed that NRLM has been undertaking several efforts in supporting businesses run by rural SHG women that are engaged in producing food products, handicrafts, handloom, etc.

e)      As part of the efforts to connect producers to markets, NRLM and SRLMs have taken steps to promote curated products from SHGs and SHG member entrepreneurs through multiple channels such as Saras Gallery, State-specific retail outlets, e-Commerce platforms like GeM, Flipkart, and Amazon.

 

4. Gautaam Borah’s new book ‘Nalanada – Until we meet again’ launched by Ruskin Bond: Gautaam Borah, a senior management professional and the author of the widely acclaimed book ‘Monetising Innovation’, launches his new book ‘Nalanada – Until we meet again’. The book was launched by legendary writer Ruskin Bond.

Essence of the book: ‘Nalanda- until we meet again’ is a gripping story of romance, vengeance, and an age-old mystery. It’s a story of Neil and Aanchal. Neil meets Aanchal at the iconic University of Oxford and they fall in love. Back in India, Aanchal joins an NGO and Neil a telecom company. Neil is propelled into a ruthless journey when he becomes a victim of corporate politics. Aanchal’s politician father charters a different path for her and she disappears. A stunning revelation from a mysterious sage puts Neil at the crossroads of a century-old mystery Neil needs to take up a journey to Nalanda to complete a larger task to bring Aanchal back in his life.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. New Zealand Supreme Court Rules Voting Age of 18 is Discriminatory in the Country: New Zealand’s voting age has been ruled discriminatory by the country’s highest court. The case was brought by advocacy group make it 16 in 2020, in a bid to lower the voting age from 18 to 16. The Supreme Court found the current voting age of 18 was inconsistent with the country’s Bill of Rights, which gives people a right to be free from age discrimination when they turn 16. The group argues there is no reason to stop 16-year-olds voting when they can drive, work full-time and pay tax. Political parties in New Zealand have mixed views on the subject. The Green Party wants immediate action to lower the voting age to 16, but the largest opposition party, the National party, does not support the shift. The centre-right National party opposes the move, while the Labour party is yet to state whether it would support a change in voting age or not.

 

2. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan Re-elected as President: Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has secured a second term in a snap election, winning 81.3 percent of the vote. The Central Asian nation’s Central Election Commission made the announcement citing preliminary data. Tokayev had been widely expected to extend his rule over the oil-rich nation by seven more years with a strong mandate to continue his increasingly independent foreign policy, as the former Soviet republic navigates the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Tokayev faced no real opposition candidates in a nation where critics are sidelined and all five of his competitors were virtually unknown. Tokayev’s Performance:

a)      Tokayev won his first election in 2019 with the backing of his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev, but the two fell out this year amid violent unrest in the nation of 20 million. Present vote consolidated his power as an independent leader.

b)      In less than a year, Tokayev suppressed the worst anti-government demonstrations in his country’s history, neutralised his all-powerful predecessor, and stood up to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

 

3. Prof. Venu Gopal Achanta Elected as a Member of International Committee for Weight and Measures: Prof. Venu Gopal Achanta, Director, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi, has been elected as a member of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM). The 27th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) meeting was held on 15-18 November, 2022 at Paris, France. Prof. Achanta is among the 18 members elected from different countries and he is the 7th Indian to be elected to the CIPM. The first Indian to be elected as a member of CIPM was Dr. K.S. Krishnan, the founder Director of CSIR-NPL. The last Indian to be elected was Prof. E. S. R. Gopal, the then Director, and CSIR-NPL (1991-1997). About the International Committee for Weights and Measures:

a)      At present, 64 countries are members of CGPM and it meets every 4 years at the International Bureau of Weight and Measure (BIPM), France.

b)      The CIPM is a supreme international committee which functions under the authority of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM).

c)       CGPM was set up under the Meter Convention signed on 20th May 1875 in Paris. It is responsible for development and implementation of International Systems of Unites, universally abbreviated as SI.

 

4. International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: 25th November: The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on November 25, every year. It is a day to pay tribute to the Mirabal sisters, the Dominican Republic activists who were murdered at the order of Rafael Trujilllo in 1960. The United Nations aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women. The 2022 theme of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is ‘UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls.’ According to the United Nations’ official website, this campaign will be an initiative of 16 days of activism starting from November 25 and concluding on International Human Rights Day on December 10.

International Day for The Elimination Of Violence Against Women History: Since 1981, November 25 has been commemorated as a day to raise voices against gender-based violence. This date honours the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered on the order of former President Rafael Trujillo in 1960. The General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women through resolution 48/104 on 20 December 1993.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. BCCI Dissolves 4-Member National Selection Committee Headed by Chetan Sharma: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has dissolved the four-member National Selection Committee headed by Chetan Sharma after India team’s uninspired performance in T20 World Cup. Apart from chief selector Chetan Sharma, other members of the selection committee were Sunil Joshi, Harvinder Singh and Debashish Mohanty. Key Points:

a)      The BCCI invited fresh applications for the position of National Selectors for the senior men’s team and deadline to submit the applications is 28th November. A release by cricket’s apex governing body in the country mentioned the criteria for those who wish to apply for the positions.

b)      A release by cricket’s apex governing body in the country mentioned the criteria for those who wish to apply for the positions. “Should have played a minimum of 7 Test matches or 30 First Class matches, or 10 ODI and 20 First Class matches,” read the official BCCI statement.

c)       “Should have retired from the game at least 5 years ago and no person who has been a member of any Cricket Committee (as defined in the rules and regulations of BCCI) for a total of 5 years shall be eligible to be a member of the Men’s Selection Committee,” the release added.

 

2. Sebastian Vettel retired from Formula One racing: German racing driver Sebastian Vettel has retired from Formula One racing. Vettel won four Formula One World Championships between 2010 and 2013 while competing for Red Bull and previously spent six seasons with Ferrari. In the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sebastian Vettel finished in 10th place, the last one of his career. Vettel received a guard of honour from his fellow competitors before the race.

Career of Sebastian Vettel:

a)      Vettel started his Formula One career as a test driver for BMW Sauber in 2006, making a one-off racing appearance in 2007.

b)      As part of the Red Bull Junior Team, Vettel appeared for Toro Rosso later that year and was kept as a full-time driver for 2008.

c)       Vettel was promoted to Red Bull in 2009. With Red Bull, Vettel won four consecutive titles from 2010 to 2013, the first of which made him the sport’s youngest World Champion.

d)      In 2013, he set the record for the most consecutive race wins with nine.

e)      Vettel signed for Ferrari for 2015 replacing Fernando Alonso and became Mercedes’ and Lewis Hamilton’s closest challenger in two title fights in 2017 and 2018, although he finished both years as runner-up.

f)        He parted ways with Ferrari at the end of the 2020 season to race with Aston Martin for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, before announcing his plans to retire from Formula One at the end of the 2022 season.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Axis Bank Launches Knowledge Summit ‘Evolve’ for MSMEs: Axis Bank has launched the seventh edition of ‘Evolve’ for MSMEs with the theme of ‘Indian SMEs: Shifting Gears for Next Level Growth’. ‘Digitalisation to Building Indian SMEs’ and ‘Export Opportunities for SMEs in the New World Order’ were some of the other key themes at the launch.

The 7th edition of Evolve will delve into how technology and digitalization can help achieve exponential growth from exports, which is a major area of focus for increasing profitability and market presence for MSMEs, the bank said. “Through Evolve, Axis Bank aims to provide a platform for MSMEs to interact and learn from industry thought leaders who have transformed their businesses over the years,” it added.

About The MSMEs Potential: The bank said the MSME sector has immense potential to bolster its export share and despite the industry challenges, positive trends such as government support, digital tools, improved access to finance and technology, trade facilitation and global markets have empowered MSMEs to leverage tailwinds and propel growth to the next level.

About The Previous Edition: The topic for previous edition was “Gearing up for a US$5 Trillion Economy”. The edition highlighted key focus areas in envisioning SME’s role in India’s vision of achieving a $5 trillion economy. This platform provided a great opportunity to interact and learn with the thought leaders of the industry who have witnessed successful growth journeys over the years.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. CRISIL Revises India’s GDP Forecast for FY23 Down From 7.3% to 7%: CRISIL has revised its forecast for India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 7 per cent for the current fiscal (2022-23) from 7.3 per cent estimated previously. The credit rating agency said this is primarily because the slowdown in global growth has started to impact India’s exports and industrial activity. Crisil downgraded the India growth forecast by 30 bps to 7 per cent while ICRA pegged the economic expansion at 6.5 per cent for the second quarter of FY2022-23. This is mainly due to the ripple effect of slowdown in global growth and mixed crop output.

About The GDP Components: GDP growth over the pre-Covid levels is expected to double to around 8 per cent in Q2 relative to 3.8 per cent seen in the previous quarter. The agency estimates the sectoral growth in Q2 to be driven by the services sector (9.4 per cent), with a subdued trend foreseen for the industry (2 per cent), and agriculture, forestry and fishing (2.5 per cent).

About Other Emerging Economies: China (4.5 per cent growth estimated for 2023-25), Indonesia (5.2 per cent), Turkey (3 per cent) and Brazil (1.6 per cent).

Note: CRISIL (Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited) Established: 1987; Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra; MD & CEO: Amish Mehta.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. South Western Command conducts Integrated Fire Power Exercise in Rajasthan: South Western Command of the Indian Army conducted Integrated Fire Power Exercise, “SHATRUNASH’’ at MFFR in Thar desert of Rajasthan. The exercise witnessed use of multi farious firing platforms in an integrated manner involving both ground & aerial manoeuvres. Various actions included ion of troops, offensive ground actions involving comprehensive coordination incorporating contemporary technologies in a multi domain environment. Real time communication and sharing of common operating picture amongst various participants to overcome emerging threats were practised & skills were honed.

 

2. 13th bilateral naval exercise Naseem Al Bahr-2022: The 13th edition of bilateral exercise between the Indian and the Royal Oman navies, Naseem Al Bahr-2022, commenced off the coast of Oman on 20 November 2022. The exercise is being conducted in two phases: the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase. The Indian Navy’s guided missile frigate Trikand and Offshore Patrol Vessel Sumitra, with their integral helicopters, and the maritime patrol aircraft, Dornier, are participating in the exercise.

The exercise facilitates operational-level interaction between the two navies to foster mutual cooperation and enhance good order at sea. The exercise also aims to strengthen the ancient maritime and cultural linkages between India and Oman. Friendly sports fixtures were conducted amongst participants from the two navies on the sidelines of the conference. The exercise aims to intensify maritime exchanges between the two countries and enhance maritime security in the region.

Note: Oman Capital: Muscat; Oman Currency: Omani rial.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Rasna founder Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta passes away: The founding chairman of the popular drink Rasna, Areez Pirojshaw Khambatta has passed away. The 85-year-old industrialist, who was suffering from a prolonged illness. Decades back, his father Phiroja Khambatta started a modest business which Areez took to being the largest concentrate manufacturer in the world, with a presence in over 60 countries. He created affordable soft drink packs of Rasna in the 1970s as an alternative to soft drink products sold at high costs. It is sold at 1.8 million retail outlets in the country.

Khambatta was the former chairman of the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthostis (WAPIZ). He also served as the past president of the Ahmedabad Parsi Panchayat and the vice president of the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India.

About the Rasna: Rasna, which is now the world’s largest gentle drink focus producer, still enjoys a high recall and the brand’s “I love you Rasna” campaign of the 80s and 90s still resonates in the minds of people. A pack of Rasna of Rs 5 can be converted into 32 glasses of soft drinks, costing a mere 15 paise per glass. Rasna has nine manufacturing plants and a strong distribution network with 26 depots across India, 200 super stockists, 5,000 stockists, 900 salesforce covering 1.6 million outlets.

 

2. Zorba, the first dog of anti-poaching dogs squad K9, passes away: India’s first dog to be deployed for tracking down poachers, Zorba has passed away of old age in Guwahati. The 12-year-old male Belgian Malinois was a member of ‘K9’, the nation’s first dog squad to fight wildlife crime. Zorba was the first dog of the squad and he was credited with helping law enforcement authorities nab over 60 poachers. He was given teary farewell by wildlife activists and was buried.

Zorba retired from service in 2019 and was honoured for his services with a traditional Assamese ‘gamosa’ and a citation on Independence Day this year. He served mostly in the Kaziranga National Park from 2012 till his retirement, and assisted authorities to nab people involved in rhino poaching. He was also deployed in other national parks on several occasions.

About the K9 squad: The K9 squad, comprising six Belgian Malinois dogs and their handlers, has been actively assisting forest and police officials in Kaziranga and Manas National Parks as well as other rhino-inhabited areas in Assam. Zorba’s contribution during his lifetime will always be remembered and we will always regard him as a conservation hero. The dog’s handler, Anil Kumar Das, said he has rich memories with Zorba, who will always remain an inspiration for him.