Daily GK Update- 14th Dec, 2022

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. National Energy Conservation Day 2022: 14th December: The Ministry of Power has organised an event to celebrate the National Energy Conservation Day in New Delhi on 14th Dec, 2022. Aim: To showcase the achievements of the nation in energy efficiency and conservation. President Droupadi Murmu is the Chief Guest of the event and has felicitated the winners of the National Energy Conservation and National Energy Efficiency Innovation Awards.

During the event, the she has also launched EV Yatra Portal and Mobile application.

Addressing the National Energy Conservation Day celebrations in New Delhi today, the President said that India's per capita emission is less than one-third of the world's average emission, which reflects its strong commitment towards conserving the environment.

 

2. PM to participate in Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has participated in the inaugural function of Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav held in Ahmedabad on 14th December, 2022. It will be a month-long celebration which will take place from 15th December 2022 to 15th January 2023 in Ahmedabad. The festival was hosted by BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Shahibaug.

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha was established in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will participate in the inaugural function of Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav on 14th December, 2022 at 5:30 PM in Ahmedabad. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a guide and guru who touched countless lives across India and the world. He was widely respected and admired as a great spiritual leader. His life was dedicated to the service of spirituality and humanity. As the leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, he inspired countless cultural, social and spiritual initiatives, providing comfort and care to millions.

 

3. Home ministry set up committee to look into demand for ‘Frontier Nagaland’: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has formed a special committee to look into the demands of a separate state for the member tribes of the Eastern Nagaland People's Organization (ENPO).

The committee will be headed by the Advisor of the Ministry of Home Affairs, A K Mishra.

The committee also includes Mr Mandeep Singh Tull (Joint Director of the Intelligence Bureau) and A K Dhyani (Director of the North East Division of MHA).

 

4. UIDAI topped the Grievance Redressal Index for the fourth consecutive month in November: Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has been awarded the first rank among all group A ministries, departments, and autonomous bodies for resolution of public grievances for the fourth month in a row in November. The rankings report is published by the department of administrative reforms and public grievances (DARPG) for November 2022.

This is the fourth month in a row when UIDAI has topped the said rankings. UIDAI’s new Open-Source CRM (customer relationship management) system is enhancing user experience and improving service delivery to the residents.

This system has the capability to support multiple channels like phone call, e-mail, chatbot, web portal, social media, letter, and walk-in through which the grievances can be registered, tracked and resolved effectively. UIDAI is constantly working to facilitate “ease of living” for residents and is further committed to strengthen its Grievance Redressal Mechanism towards an even more efficient service delivery.

 

5. 8th India International Science Festival to be held in Bhopal in January 2023: The eighth edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF) will be held in Bhopal in January 2023.

Objective – To celebrate the country’s achievements in the field of science, technology and innovation. 14 events will be organized during the four-day event beginning January 21 at the Maulana Azad Institute of Technology, Bhopal. ISF is the initiative of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Ministry of Earth Science of Government of India in association with Vijnana Bharati which is a science movement with swadeshi spirit led by eminent scientists of the country. The IISF 2022 is the eighth edition since its inception in 2015. The 1st and 2nd IISF were held in New Delhi, the third in Chennai, 4th in Lucknow, 5th in Kolkata, 6th through virtual mode and 7th one in Goa.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Jeremy Farrar appointed as new chief scientist of World Health Organisation: Jeremy Farrar (74) has been appointed as a new chief scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO) and will join WHO in the second quarter of 2023. He has replaced Soumya Swaminathan, who had served as chief scientist from 2019 to 2022. Role: To ensure that WHO, its member states and our partners benefit from cutting-edge, life-saving science and innovations Presently, he is serving as the Director of the Wellcome Trust. WHO DG: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

The World Health Organization said on Tuesday that Jeremy Farrar will become its new chief scientist as the agency prepares to cope with post-pandemic health challenges. Currently, Director of the Wellcome Trust, Dr Farrar will join WHO in the second quarter of 2023.

 

2. India, Finland sign joint declaration of Intent on migration and mobility: India has signed a joint declaration of Intent with Finland on migration and mobility between the two countries.

It was signed by V. Muraleedharan (Mos, External Affairs) and Tuula Haatainen (Minster of Employment of Finland). Aim: To facilitate the mobility of researchers, and professionals and to combat irregular migration. The declaration underlines the resolve of both countries to work jointly towards developing a common framework of arrangement and cooperation. India and Finland have signed a joint declaration of Intent on migration and mobility to arrive at a mutually beneficial arrangement on migration and mobility between the two countries.

 

3. New Zealand passes world's first law to ban smoking for future generation: New Zealand has passed a new anti-smoking laws, which banned the future generation of NZ from purchasing tobacco. This law has banned the selling tobacco to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009 and punishable by fines up to NZ$150,000 ($95,910). The ban will remain in place for a person’s whole life. It will also reduce the amount of nicotine, that allowed in smoked tobacco products. Retailers licensed to sell tobacco will be cut to 600 by the end of 2023 from 6,000.

"Thousands of people will live longer, healthier lives, and the health system will be NZ$5 billion (US$3.2 billion) better off from not needing to treat the illnesses caused by smoking," Dr. Verralladded.

4. France host conference "Standing with the Ukrainian People": France has hosted an International conference "Standing with the Ukrainian People" in Paris on 13th December 2022. Aim: To coordinate international support for civilian resilience in Ukraine and address the Ukrainian people's urgent humanitarian needs. The conference was organised at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron and co-organised with Ukraine. The conference was virtually attended by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. France to host International conference "Standing with the Ukrainian People" in Paris

 

5. 14 December – International Energy Day: India celebrates National Energy Conservation Day on December 14. Objective – To raise awareness of the value of energy and the need to conserve it by using less of it. The day is dedicated to advocating initiatives to conserve energy resources and raising public awareness of global warming and climate change. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), established under the Union Ministry of Power, has been organizing the National Energy Conservation Day since 1991.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Messi announced retirement after Qatar FIFA 2022: Argentina football player, Lionel Messi has confirmed that he will retire after the FIFA World Cup 2022 final on December 18. He is playing at his fifth World Cup (FIFA 2022) and has surpassed Diego Maradona and Javier Mascherano. With his fifth goal in Qatar FIFA 2022, he has also surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as the top Albiceleste scorer at World Cups, netting 11 times. He led Argentina to the final in the 2014 edition as well.

 

2. Jos Buttler & Sidra Ameen won ICC Player of Month Awards for November 2022: England captain Jos Buttler has been named ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for November 2022 for his brilliant performance in the crunch semi-final match against India and for leading England to their first T20 World Cup title since 2010. Buttler beat Adil Rashid and Shaheen Shah Afridi to win the ICC Player of the Month award.

While Pakistan’s opening batter, Sidra Ameen became the second successive winner of the women’s Player of the Month award from the country, thanks to her brilliant performance in the ODI series win over Ireland.

 

3. Hyderabad Strikers crowned as champions of Tennis Premier League 2022: Hyderabad Strikers crowned as champions of 4th Tennis Premier League (TPL) 2022. The final of the 4th TPL was held in Pune, Maharashtra. The final score of the Hyderabad Strikers was 41-32 and was crowned champions of the event for the 2nd year in a row. Hyderabad’s pair S. Balaji and Nikki Poonacha defeated Mumbai’s R. Ramanathan and J. Nedunnchezhiyan 14-6 to win the title. The TPL Plus, the grassroots league of the Tennis Premier League that allows young tennis athletes a platform to learn from international and Indian stars was won by Mumbai Leon Army.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Canara HSBC Life Insurance launches new savings cum investment plan: Canara HSBC Life Insurance has launched new 'Guaranteed Fortune Plan', a non-linked, non-participating individual savings scheme. It offers life cover and a lump sum amount on outliving the policy term. The product was launched in two variants: (1) Guaranteed Savings Option, and (2) Guaranteed Cash Back Option The first option provides a lump sum on outliving the policy term.

The second option offers customers guaranteed cashback at the end of every fifth policy year.

According to the Canara HSBC Life Insurance, the first option provides a lump sum on outliving the policy term. The second option offers customers guaranteed cashback at the end of every fifth policy year, with an opportunity to defer the amount till maturity or withdraw it earlier.

 

2. Bank of Baroda board to divestment majority stake in Nainital Bank: The board of directors of the Bank of Baroda has approved the divestment of its majority shareholding in Nainital Bank Limited (NBL). Presently, the bank holds 98.57% of the total equity share capital Nainital Bank Limited. The Bank of Baroda had taken over Nainital Bank in 1973 on the directions of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Nainital Bank has about 150 branches across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan.

 

3. WPI inflation declines to 21-month low at 5.85% in November 2022: According to the recent data, the Wholesale price inflation (WPI) for November 2022 has hit a 21-month low and reduced to 5.85% from 8.39% in October 2022. On a yearly basis, WPI inflation went down from 14.87% in November 2021 to 5.85 per cent in November 2022. Reason: To fall in prices of food items, basic metals, textiles, chemicals and chemical products, and paper and paper products compared to the same period last year.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Tennis player, Iga Swiatek named 2022 WTA Player of the Year: Polish tennis player, Iga Swiatek (World No.1) has been selected for the 2022 WTA Player of the Year by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA). While, Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic) and Katerina Siniakova  (Czech Republic) have been named the WTA 2022 Doubles Team of the Year.

Other awardees:

·       Most Improved Player of the Year: Beatriz Haddad Maia (Brazilian)

·       Newcomer of the Year: Zheng Qinwen (Chinese)

·       Comeback Player of the Year: Tatjana Maria (German)

Pegula reached the Mutua Madrid Open finals for the first time in her career and won the Guadalajara Open Akron, in addition to reaching the quarterfinals of three of the four Grand Slams.

 

2. SpiceJet awarded ‘Safety Performer of the Year’ award by Delhi airport: SpiceJet has been awarded the ‘Safety Performer of the Year’ award by GMR Delhi Airport Awards for being the top performer among the self-handling airlines. Its ground handling team at Delhi Airport achieved this performance through constant focus on quality improvements, innovation and hard work. Recently, the airline was audited by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and its operations, safety processes, and systems were found to be strong and at par with the global best practices and safety standards.

 

3. Venkaiah Naidu conferred with SIES Award for public leadership: Former vice president Venkaiah Naidu has been conferred with the 25th Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi National Eminence Award (SIES). Other awardees in various categories included the Governor of Kerala Arif Mohammed Khan, eminent industrialist Ratan Tata, renowned cardiologist and Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr. Marthanda Varma Sankaran Valianathan, Scientific Advisor to the Government of India Ajay Sood and famous Harikatha artiste Vishakha Hari. The awards are given in the fields of public leadership, community leadership, science and technology, and social thinkers who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields.The awards were instituted by the South Indian Education Society in 1998 in memory of the late Seer of Kanchi, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Poland’s only cosmonaut Mirosław Hermaszewski passed away: Poland’s only cosmonaut Gen Mirosław Hermaszewski passed away recently at the age of 81.Hermaszewski circled the Earth in a Soviet spacecraft in 1978. For nine days in June and July 1978, he and Soviet cosmonaut Pyotr Klimuk circled the Earth in the Soyuz 30 spaceship that docked at the Salyut 6 orbital space station. They went around the globe 126 times. He was the 89th human to reach outer space. He was a part of manned space flight for the USSR on June 27, 1978.