Daily GK Update- 3rd Nov, 2022

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurates north India’s first data centre at Greater Noida: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has inaugurated North India’s first hyper-scale data centre Yotta Yotta D1 built at the cost of Rs 5,000 crore and spread over an area of 3,00,000 square feet at the upcoming Data Centre Park in Greater Noida. Memorandums of Understanding worth Rs 39,000 crore were also signed between the Yogi Government and Hiranandani Group to be spent on projects in the next five years on the occasion. The data centre will increase the data storage capacity of the country, which until now stood at two percent only despite the fact that 1.5 billion mobile phones and 650 million internet users in the world are from India using 20 per cent of data. Yet for storage of data, we had to look for centres abroad.

Note: Uttar Pradesh Governor: Anandiben Patel; Uttar Pradesh Capital: Lucknow (Executive Branch); Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath.

 

2. Maharashtra government to set up Cyber Intelligence Unit: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis informed that a dedicated cyber intelligence unit will be set up in Maharashtra to curb cyber and financial crimes. The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It was a two-day contemplation camp of Home Ministers and Director Generals of Police of various states across the country organized at Surajkund in Haryana. Key Points:

a)      The meeting was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and he discussed many issues of national security.

b)      Devendra Fadnavis informed that the Cyber Intelligence Unit will be a dedicated single platform, through which a global model will be created to curb cybercrime.

c)       Through this platform Government and Private banks, financial institutions, Social media institutions, regulatory bodies, cyber police, and technicians will be united.

d)      The platform will serve as a dynamic response system and make more use of modern technology.

e)      According to Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra has completed proceedings at the highest speed in the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS).

f)        The state government has also marked great progress through Automated Multimedia Biometric Identification System (AMBIS).

 

3. Union Education Minister Inaugurates India’s Second National Model Vedic School in Puri: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated India’s second Rashtriya Adarsh Veda Vidyalaya (RAVV) in Puri. The Rashtriya Adarsh Veda Vidyalaya has been launched to spread knowledge of the Vedas among people. Rastriya Adarsh Veda Vidyalaya which is also called the National Model Vedic School. Maharishi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratisthan is the first such school in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Key Points:

a)      The curriculum of the Rashtriya Adarsh Veda Vidyalaya includes all four Vedas, Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharva.

b)      In the Rashtriya Adarsh Veda Vidyalaya, students will also get the opportunity to opt for science, english, mathematics, social science, computer science, and agriculture.

c)       Admissions will be based on merit in the ‘Veda Bhusan’ fourth (class 9), ‘Veda Bhusan’ fifth (class 10), ‘Veda Vibhushan’ first (Class 11), and ‘Veda Vibhushan’ second (class 12).

d)      The courses will begin in the 2022-23 academic year.

e)      Four more such schools will come up at Badrinath in Uttrakhand, Sringeri in Karnataka, Dwarka in Gujarat, and Guwahati in Assam.

 

4. UNESCO: Mawmluh Cave in Meghalaya first Indian Geoheritage Site: The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), one of the largest scientific organisations of UNESCO, has recognised the Mawmluh Cave, located in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, as one of the first 100 IUGS geological heritage sites. The full list will be presented at the IUGS’s 60th-anniversary event, which will take place in Zumaia, Spain. The announcement of the 100 geological heritage sites is expected to kick start an endeavour to designate geological sites from around the world that are iconic, and recognised by all geoscience communities for their impact in understanding the Earth and its history.

Mawmluh Cave: With a length of 7.2kms, Mawmluh Cave is the fourth longest cave in the Indian subcontinent. The cave is a long maze with many openings and is decorated with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, drapes and moon milk. Set at an altitude of 4503 m, the cave is known for its stalagmite formations. Another prime feature of the cave is the pool inside the cave that is formed from five different rivers that pass through the cave.

Note: International Union of Geological Sciences Founded: 1961; International Union of Geological Sciences Motto: Earth Science for the Global Community; International Union of Geological Sciences Parent organization: International Science Council (ISC); International Union of Geological Sciences Headquarters: Founded in Paris, France, secretariat in Beijing, China

International Science Council Headquarters: Paris, France; International Science Council Founded: 4 July 2018; International Science Council President: Peter Gluckman.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Lula da Silva defeats Bolsonaro to return as Brazil’s President for third time: Brazil’s electoral authority said that Luiz Incio Lula da Silva of the leftist Worker’s Party defeated incumbent Jair Bolsonaro to become the country’s next president. With 98.8 per cent of the votes tallied in the runoff vote, da Silva had 50.8 per cent and Bolsonaro 49.2 per cent, and the election authority said da Silva’s victory was a mathematical certainty. Da Silva’s inauguration is scheduled to take place on January 1, 2023.

Da Silva the country’s former president from 2003-2010 has promised to restore the country’s more prosperous past, yet faces headwinds in a polarised society. His victory marks the first time since Brazil’s 1985 return to democracy that the sitting president has failed to win reelection. His inauguration is scheduled to take place on January 1.

Note: Brazil Capital: Brasilia; Brazil Currency: Brazilian real.

 

2. IFS Rajesh Ranjan named as next Indian envoy to Ivory Coast: Indian Foreign Service officer, Dr Rajesh Ranjan has been appointed as the next Indian Ambassador to the West African nation of Cote d’Ivoire or Ivory Coast. Dr Rajesh Ranjan is currently posted as the High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Botswana. Dr Ranjan holds a PhD degree in Economics (Public Finance) from Allahabad University. Dr Rajesh Ranjan was Director in the Americas Division at the Ministry of External Affairs (15 July 2016-23 March 2018) and he handled issues related to India’s relations with US and Canada.

Note: Ivory Coast Capital: Yamoussoukro; Prime Minister of Ivory Coast: Patrick Achi; Ivory Coast Currency: West African CFA franc; Ivory Coast President: Alassane Ouattara.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. French Open 2022 Badminton: Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag won men’s doubles title: India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinched the French Open Super 2022 badminton tournament men’s doubles title after defeating Chinese Taipei’s Lu Ching Yao and Yang Po Han in straight games 21-13, 21-19 in the final, in Paris. With this, Satwik and Chirag’s also won their first-ever super 750 and second BWF World Tour title this year.

This was their fourth BWF World Tour title, but the previous three were lower-tier tournaments. Their first, the Hyderabad Open 2018, was a Super 100 tournament while the Thailand Open 2019 and India Open 2022 were both Super 500 events. The win also makes Chirag and Satwiksairaj the first Indian doubles pair to clinch a BWF Super 750 crown. The duo had also made it to the 2019 French Open final but lost the title decider to Indonesian aces Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo.

 

2. Dharmendra Pradhan signs MoU with FIFA and AIFF for Football4Schools: Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurial Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan signed an MoU with FIFA and the All-India Football Federation for the ‘Football4Schools’ initiative in India. FIFA President, Mr. Gianni Infantino, and President, of All India Football Federation, Shri Kalyan Chaubey signed MoU on behalf of the respective organizations. Key Points:

a)      Shri Dharmendra Pradhan informed that sports have been given a place of pride in NEP 2020 and the Football4Schools program espouses the spirit of NEP2020.

b)      Sports has been given a place of pride in NEP 2020.

c)       Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized mainstreaming of sports with education.

d)      Football4Schools program is a step towards translating Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision.

e)      He also expressed his gratitude and happiness towards FIFA, the All India Football Federation, and the Ministry of Education.

f)        Football is an immensely popular sport in India and the Football4Schools program uses it as a positive tool to inspire children and ensure their holistic development.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI launches Its First Pilot Project, ‘Digital Rupee’: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) commenced pilot launche of the digital rupee from November 1. It has identified nine banks for participation in the pilot launch. They are the State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, IDFC First Bank, and HSBC.

Digital Rupee: A Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) or Digital Rupee is a digital form of currency notes issued by a central bank. Digital currency or rupee is an electronic form of money, that can be used in contactless transactions. CBDCs Types:

a)      Retail (CBDC-R): Retail CBDC would be potentially available for use by all,

b)      Wholesale (CBDC-W) is designed for restricted access to select financial institutions.

Key Points:

a)      The central bank said the digital rupee will provide an additional option to the currently available forms of money. It is substantially not different from banknotes, but being digital it is likely to be easier, faster and cheaper.

b)      It also has all the transactional benefits of other forms of digital money, the RBI said.

c)       The central bank said its digital currency is aimed to complement, rather than replace, current forms of money and is envisaged to provide an additional payment avenue to users, not to replace the existing payment systems.

d)      Supported by state-of-the-art payment systems that are affordable, accessible, convenient, efficient, safe, and secure, the digital rupee will further bolster India’s digital economy, make the monetary and payment systems more efficient and contribute to furthering financial inclusion, the RBI said.

Benefits of Digital Rupee: Apart from reducing the transaction cost, having a digitised currency will make it easier for governments to access all transactions happening within the authorized networks.  Another benefit of digital currency is that they do not get torn, burnt or physically damaged. Neither can they be physically lost.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

 

1. Retail jewellery major Malabar becomes 1st Indian jeweller to import 25 kg gold from UAE: Retail jewellery major Malabar Gold and Diamonds has become the first jeweller in India to import 25 kg gold under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the UAE. The gold has been imported through ICICI Bank with one per cent duty rebate under the agreement. The group has effectively utilised the duty benefits of the agreement both in import and export for the first time in India. The Company has also been among the first few jewellers to receive permission to export jewellery to the UAE with tax concessions under this agreement in May 2022. Key Points:

a)      The tariff concessions offered in the India-UAE CEPA will enhance the domestic jewellery production capacity, generate various employment opportunities and make India a global hub for jewellery sourcing and OEM manufacturing.

b)      In May 2022, Malabar Gold and Diamonds became one of the first beneficiaries of India-UAE CEPA when it received permission to export jewellery from India to the UAE with tax concessions. Under the agreement, the UAE government has waived the five percent import duty into the UAE.

c)       The CEPA between India and the UAE came into effect on May 1, 2022 after Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri signed the agreement in Delhi in February 2022.

d)      Malabar Gold and Diamonds currently has over 290 showrooms and 14 Manufacturing units across 10 countries.

 

2. Jay Y Lee named as Executive Chairman of Samsung Electronic: Samsung Electronics Co. officially appointed Lee Jae-yong as its executive chairman, formalizing the all-encompassing leadership role he has long played at South Korea’s largest business. The 54-year-old, Lee has been vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, the crown jewel of South Korea’s biggest business conglomerate, since 2012. He takes over a position previously held by his father, Lee Kun-hee, who died two years ago after being incapacitated by a 2014 heart attack.

About the Samsung Electronics Co:

a)      Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a South Korean multinational electronics corporation headquartered in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, South Korea. It is the pinnacle of the Samsung chaebol, accounting for 70% of the group’s revenue in 2012.

b)      Samsung Electronics has played a key role in the group’s corporate governance due to circular ownership. Samsung Electronics has assembly plants and sales networks in 74 countries and employs around 290,000 people. It is majority-owned by foreign investors.

c)       As of 2019, Samsung Electronics is the world’s second-largest technology company by revenue, and its market capitalization stood at US$520.65 billion, the 12th largest in the world. Samsung is a major manufacturer of electronic components such as lithium-ion batteries, semiconductors, image sensors, camera modules, and displays for clients such as Apple, Sony, HTC, and Nokia.

Note: Samsung Founded: 13 January 1969; Samsung Founder: Lee Byung-chul; Samsung Headquarters: Suwon-si, South Korea.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. West Bengal’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme bags the SKOCH Award: The West Bengal government’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme has bagged the SKOCH award in the women and child development category. Under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme:

a)      The West Bengal government had launched the scheme in August 2021 to provide financial support to a woman head of a family in the age group of 25-60 years.

b)      Under the scheme, Rs 500 is given every month to women in the general caste category and around Rs 1,000 per month to women in the SC and ST categories. The state government spends around Rs 11,000 crore every year to fund the scheme, sources in the government said.

c)       Among the districts of Bengal who are under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, North 24 Parganas has the highest number of beneficiaries, followed by South 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur and Hooghly.

d)      Every month the state government pays around 1090 crores for this welfare scheme. The state government is giving a window between November 1-30th for those who have still not applied for the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. They can do so through the Duare Sarkar camps to start from November 1.

Note: West Bengal Governor:  La. Ganesan; Chief Minister of West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee.

 

2. K Sivan, among 67 to receive Rajyotsava awards by Karnataka awards: Former ISRO Chairman K Sivan, actors Dattanna, Avinash and Sihi Kahi Chandru are among 67 personalities who will be awarded Rajyotsava Award this year, by the Karnataka government. The award, carrying a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a gold medal and a citation, will be distributed on November 1, the state formation day.

This is the first time that the Karnataka government formed an expert committee to identify achievers from various fields for the awards given on November 1. Previously, the selection was made from a list of applicants. There has been criticism from some sections that awards are given to those with affiliations to the BJP and right-wing groups.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. ‘Steel Man of India’ Jamshed Irani passes away at 86: Jamshed J Irani, also known as the “Steel Man of India”, passed away aged 86 at Tata Main Hospital in Jamshedpur.  He was born on June 2, 1936, in Nagpur to Jiji Irani and Khorshed Irani. The career of Jamshed J Irani:

a)      Jamshed J Irani completed his BSc from Science College, Nagpur in 1956 and his MSc in Geology from Nagpur University in 1958.

b)      Irani then went to the University of Sheffield in the UK as a JN Tata scholar, where he secured a Master’s in Metallurgy in 1960, and a PhD in Metallurgy in 1963.

c)       He started his professional career with the British Iron and Steel Research Association in Sheffield in 1963. But he always wished to contribute to India’s industrial progress.

d)      Irani returned to India to join Tata Steel or Tata Iron and Steel Company, as it was then known, in 1968 and joined the firm as assistant to the director in charge of research and development.

e)      In 1978, Irani went on to become the general superintendent of the company. In 1979, he was promoted to the rank of general manager, and eventually, in 1985, he became the president of Tata Steel.

f)        He became joint managing director of Tata Steel in 1988, and managing director in 1992, before retiring in 2011.

g)      He joined the Board of Tata Steel in 1981 and was also a non-executive director from 2001 for a decade. Besides Tata Steel and Tata Sons, Irani also served as a director of several Tata Group companies, including Tata Motors and Tata Teleservices.

h)      He was the chairman of the board of governors at the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. He, along with his sister Diana Hormusjee, instituted “Jiji Irani Challenge Cup”, a cricket tournament organised by the Zoroastrian Club of Secunderabad in memory of their father.

i)        After being appointed an International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1996, he was conferred an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997. Later in 2007, he received the Padma Bhushan government of India. After 43 years of service, he retired from Tata Steel in 2011.