Daily GK Update- 20th Feb, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India’s lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 achieves new milestone: India’s lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3 has successfully underwent Electro-Magnetic Interference/ Electro-Magnetic Compatibility (EMI-EMC). EMI-EMC test: It is conducted for satellite missions to ensure the functionality of the satellite subsystems in the space environment.It also ensures compatibility with the expected electromagnetic levels.The test was conducted by the ISRO at U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru. The performance of the systems was satisfactory.

 

2. North India's first nuclear power plant to be set up in Gorakhpur, Haryana: Union MoS, Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh announced that North India's first nuclear power plant would be set up in Gorakhpur in Fatehabad district, Haryana. The plant will be built on 560 hectares of land. Aim: To generate 2800 MW The first phase will be completed by  2025 and the second by 2028. As the second phase completes, the plant will be fully operational to generate 2800 MW. The project will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 20,594 crores.

 

3. MEA launches 'mPassport Police App': The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has launched the 'mPassport Police App' to streamline and expedite the police verification process for passport issuance. Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the App during the 76th Raising Day Parade of Delhi Police. The mPassport Police App will cut the verification time period to 5 days. He also dedicated 350 mobile Tablets to personnel of the Delhi Police Special Branch, on the occasion of the force's Raising Day.

 

4. Govt approves Rs 30.40 cr ‘Sensor-based Smart Agriculture’ project: Jammu and Kashmir's government has approved Rs 30.40 crore for the Sensor-based Smart Agriculture project. It aims to integrate agriculture with technology driven by Artificial Insemination and IoT to automate practices, enhance resource use efficiency, and improve profitability. The project would enable the use of Hi-tech poly houses to cultivate cash crops around the year. In J&K, over 70% of the economy is based on agriculture.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India-Uzbekistan biennial military Ex-DUSTLIK 2023 begins in Uttarakhand: The 4th edition of the biennial training Ex DUSTLIK 2023, between the Indian Army and Uzbekistan Army is being conducted in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand from 20th February to 5th March 2023 Aim: To enhance the military capability to undertake multi-domain operations in a Sub Conventional scenario The 14th Battalion, the GARHWAL RIFLES, part of Western Command represented the Indian contingent The troops of the North Western Military District represented the Uzbekistan Army

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI issues final guidelines on interest rate risk in banking book: The RBI issued the final guidelines on Interest Rate Risk (IRR) in the Banking Book. Banks use this to measure, monitor, and disclose their exposure to IRRBB, which may impact the capital base and future earnings of lenders. IRRBB: The current or prospective risk to banks' capital and earnings arising from adverse movements in interest rates that affect their banking book positions. Excessive IRRBB: Risk to banks' current capital base and/or future earnings

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Austin Butler wins the Best Actor award at the 76th BAFTA Awards: Austin Butler won the 76th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) Awards 2023 in the Best Leading Actor category for Elvis. Cate Blanchett won the Best Leading Actress Award for her performance in TÁR. A German anti-war drama, ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ won a maximum of seven awards including Best Film and Director. This movie is a screen adaptation of the 1928 novel by Erich Maria Remarque. ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ and ‘Elvis’ both movies won four BAFTA awards.

 

1. Poet V Madhusoodanan Nair receives Jnanappana award 2023: A noted writer, V Madhusoodanan Nair has been selected for Jnanappana Puraskaram 2023 for his contribution to the field of literature. The award consists of a Rs 50,001 cash prize, a 10-gram gold locket with an image of Sree Guruvayoorappan, a citation, and a memento. Guruvayur Devaswom in memory of ‘Poonthanam Namboothiri’, the ardent devotee of Guruvayoorappan, who wrote Jnanappana, instituted this award. The award will be presented on February 24, 2023.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Actor Nandamuri Taraka Ratna passes away: Noted Actor and Politician, Nandamuri Taraka Ratna passed away at the age of 39 due to cardiac arrest in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He was the grandson of the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and founder of the TDP, N.T. Rama Rao. He made his debut with Okato Number Kurraadu (2002) followed by Yuva Rathna (2003), Taarak (2003), and Bhadradri Ramudu. He was also awarded the Nandi Award 2009 for Best Villain in Amaravathi.

1. Legendary manga artist Leiji Matsumoto passes away: Legendary manga artist, Leiji Matsumoto passed away at age 85 due to acute heart failure in Tokyo, Japan. His manga works Galaxy Express 999 and Space Pirate Captain Herlock were adapted into television anime series in the 1970s and became huge hits in and outside Japan. Many of his manga was in the "battlefield comics" genre with more than 150 stories depicting the tragedy of war. Mangas are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan.