Daily GK Update- 23rd Jan, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Vikram Dev Dutt appointed as director general of DGCA: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Vikram Dev Dutt as the next director general in the Directorate of General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) with effect from February 28, 2023. He is a 1993-batch IAS officer of AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territory) cadre. He will be succeeding the incumbent DGCA chief, Arun Kumar. He was appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India Ltd in 2022.

 

2. 23rd January: Parakram Diwas 2023: India observed Parakram Diwas on January 23 to mark the birth of Indian freedom fighter, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. In 2022, the nation celebrates the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji SC Bose. He was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha. He acquired a degree in philosophy and was later selected for the Indian Civil Services.

Netaji joined the Indian National Congress in 1921. He passed away on August 18, 1945, in a plane crash near Tohuku, Japanese Taiwan.

 

3. HCHF and Ladakh Tourism Dept organized annual Ethnic Mamani Festival: the Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF) and Ladakh Tourism Department organized The annual Ethnic Mamani Festival at Historical Styangkung Village and Chiktan Shagaran. This village is being developed as one of the well-maintained heritage villages in Ladakh. During Mamani, people would exchange food with their relatives and neighbours and worship a variety of spirits. These festivals have helped in the revival of more than 35 cuisines of Kargil Ladakh

 

4. J&K government to host its maiden SARAS Fair 2023: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir is going to host its maiden SARAS Fair 2023 from 4 to 14 Feb 23. In this fair, artisans and women self-help groups from across the country will showcase their crafts, handcrafts, handloom, and foods. he fair would be organized at Bagh-e-Bahu, Jammu. The fair is expected to witness the participation of women Self Help Groups from around 15 States and UTs across the country to sell their self-made products.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ECI hosted 2nd International Conference in New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has hosted the 2nd International Conference in New Delhi, India from 23-24 January 2023.

2023 theme: Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, inaugurated Use of Technology and Elections Integrity The two-day international conference. Around 43 Participants from 17 Countries including Angola, Argentina, Australia, Croatia, Indonesia, Mauritius, Nepal, Philippines, and Suriname have joined the conference.

 

2. Tourism Ministry participates in world’s largest Travel Exhibition: The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, is participating in FITUR, the world’s largest international travel exhibition in Madrid, Spain. India’s participation at FITUR is significant to step up the recovery of inbound tourism to pre-pandemic levels The Ministry of Tourism has taken up 253 square metres of space, with over 30 participants exhibiting along with the India Pavilion, to participate in the exhibition. Dinesh K Patnaik, Indian Ambassador to Spain, inaugurated the India Pavilion. The first Global Tourism Investors Summit will be organized in New Delhi from 10-12 April 2023. The Ministry of Tourism in New Delhi will organize the first Global Tourism Investors Summit from 10 to 12 April.

 

3. Jio is India’s strongest brand, ranked 9th globally: Brand Finance Report: Reliance Jio has been ranked as the strongest brand in India and placed 9th among the world’s strongest brands, according to the report ‘Global 500 – 2023’ published by Brand Finance. Jio was placed ninth among the world’s strongest brands ahead of brands like EY, Coca-Cola, Accenture and Porsche, and behind the likes of Google, YouTube, Deloitte, and Instagram. With a Brand Strength Index of 90.2, Jio is the only brand among the world’s strongest 25 brands, according to the Brand Finance listing. The report titled ‘Global 500 – 2023’ is published annually and ranks the world’s most valuable and strongest brands.

 

4. UNESCO to dedicate International Day of Education to Afghan Girls: UNESCO has decided to dedicate the International Day of Education on the 24th of January 2023 to Afghan girls and women. It said that no country in the world should bar women and girls from receiving an education and it is a universal human right that must be respected. The international community has the responsibility to ensure that the rights of Afghan girls and women are restored without delay. According to UNESCO, currently, around 80 percent of school-aged Afghan girls and young women are out of school under Taliban rule, as they denied them access to secondary schools and universities.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. EXIM Data: Trade Deficit narrows by 10 billion USD: According to the revised data, the nation's foreign trade between April 2022 and November 2022 differs from the estimates made by the Ministry of Commerce. The total merchandise exports made by India during these eight months amount to 298 billion USD (earlier it was 276 billion USD). The import bill is now estimated to be $493.5 billion, about $1.7 billion higher than initial numbers. The trade deficit was 10 billion USD lower than the estimates made previously.

 

2. India to become $26 trillion economy by 2047: EY report: According to an EY report, the Indian Economy is very likely to hit the $26 trillion mark by the year 2047, which will also be the 100th year of India’s independence. The report also showed that the country’s per capita income would exceed $15,000, placing it among the top developed economies. It also noted that despite maintaining a stable yet modest growth rate of 6% per annum, India would still be able to become a $26 trillion economy (in nominal terms) by 2047-48, with the per capita income at six times the current levels. According to EY’s report, few factor have contributed in positioning India for higher and sustainable growth. These include the recent accelerated pace of economic reforms in important areas like social inclusion, financial inclusion, improving and transforming fiscal, physical, and digital infrastructure, etc. A decade ago Indian GDP was the eleventh largest globally. And recently India’s economy had overtaken that of the United Kingdom to become the fifth biggest in the world (in terms of size), according to figures from the International Monetary Fund.

 

3. SBI General Insurance partnered with HP Police and Doers NGO: SBI General Insurance has partnered with Doers NGO to assist Himachal Pradesh police in reducing the number of traffic accidents under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. SBI General has donated a well-equipped ambulance which would provide timely medical care to the road accident victims in the Mandi district within the ‘Golden hour’. Objective – To provide timely treatment and facilitate lifesaving medical resources for road accident victims. According to a report by the Ministry of Road Transports and Highways Transport (MoRTH) Research Wing, road accidents in India kills almost 1.5 lakh people annually. India accounts for almost 11 percent of the accident-related deaths in the World. MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance – Kishore Kumar Poludasu

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. ESAF Bank bags Inclusive Finance India Awards 2022: ESAF Small Finance Bank has bagged the prestigious Inclusive Finance India Awards 2022 for its contributions to advancing the goal of financial inclusion and supporting inclusive growth. K. Paul Thomas (MD and CEO, ESAF Bank) received the award from Anantha Nageshwaran (Chief Economic Advisor) at the 19th Inclusive Finance India Summit in New Delhi. This award recognized ESAF’s unique spectrum of Financial Inclusion projects ESAF Dhansree, and ESAF Udyog Jyothi.

 

2. RV Prassad awarded the most distinguished scientist of the year 2022: R Vishnu Prassad has been awarded “the most distinguished scientist of the year 2022” at the Indian Achievers Award at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi. The award recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions in various fields, including culture, science, sports, and innovation. Anurag Thakur has honored R Vishnu Prassad, a scientist with 69 patents with the Indian Achievers Award as the most distinguished scientist of the year.

 

3. Nepalese ophthalmologist Dr. Sanduk Ruit won Bahrain’s ISA Award: Himalayan Cataract Project Co-Founder and noted Nepali ophthalmologist Sanduk Ruit has won the ISA Award 2021-22 for Service to Humanity, a top civilian award of Bahrain. He is fondly called as “God of Sight” to have saved 1,20,000 eyesight who would have otherwise gone blind in absence of treatment. The award carries a cash prize of US$1 million, a certificate of merit, and a gold medallion. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri award, the National Order of Merit of Bhutan, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award. In 2016, he was awarded the ‘Asian Game Changer Award.’

 

4. 21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar renamed after Param Vir Chakra Awardees: Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed the 21 largest unnamed islands of Andaman & Nicobar after Param Vir Chakra awardees on  January 23, 2023, via video conferencing. He has also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji, to be constructed on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep (earlier known as Ross Islands). The event was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief of Defence Staff General, Anil Chauhan.

 

DEFENCE

 

1. India & Egypt Joint Training Exercise Cyclone – I begin in Rajasthan: Indian Army and Egyptian Army have commenced Exercise Cyclone-I, the first-ever joint exercise between their special forces.The 14-day-long joint exercise is in progress at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The first of its kind joint Exercise Cyclone-I, being held in the deserts of Rajasthan, is seeing the Special Forces contingents of India and Egypt engage in various activities to enhance their skills. The activities include Sniping, Combat Free Fall, Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Target Designation, and sharing of information on weapons, equipment, innovations, tactics, techniques & procedures.

The goal of Exercise Cyclone-I is to improve defence cooperation between the two countries.

The Exercise will concentrate on professional skill sharing and Special Forces interoperability in desert terrain while conducting counterterrorism, reconnaissance, raids, and other special operations

 

2. Fifth Kalvari class submarine INS Vagir inducted into Indian Navy: The fifth Kalvari class submarine INS Vagir has been inducted into Indian Navy on January 23, 2023. Mumbai’s Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in collaboration with the France-based Naval Group built it.

Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar, commissioned it. It will boost the capabilities of the Indian Navy as it is capable of undertaking diverse missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, etc.

 

3. Indian Navy conducts “AMPHEX 2023” mega exercise in Andhra Pradesh: The Indian Navy has organized a six-day-long mega biennial tri-services amphibious exercise 'AMPHEX 2023' near Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh from January 17 to 22, 2023. The military exercise was organized between the Indian Navy, Army, and IAF. It included complex activities in all domains that demonstrated and validated the high level of preparedness and excellent coordination It took place amid growing concerns over China’s increasing military forays into the Indian Ocean

 

4. BSF conducts 'Ops Alert' exercise: The Border Security Force (BSF) has started an "Ops Alert'' exercise with an aim to enhance security along the India-Pakistan border in the Kutch district of Gujarat and Barmer in Rajasthan. As per the release, this exercise commenced on January 21 and will continue till January 28 along the International Border from Sir Creek (marshy area). It is being carried out to “thwart any ill-designs of anti-national elements” during the Republic Day celebrations.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Co-founder of Netflix, Reed Hastings steps down as CEO: Netflix Inc co-founder Reed Hastings is stepping down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), handing the reins of the streaming service to longtime partner and co-CEO Ted Sarandos and the company’s chief operating officer, Greg Peters. Netflix has been under pressure after losing customers in the first half of 2022. He had co-founded Netflix as a DVD-by-mail business in 1997, saying the idea came from his frustration at having returned a rental of Apollo 13 to the local Blockbuster, a chain of physical stores in the US from where movies could be rented.