Daily GK Update- 21st Mar, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Women employees constitute over 25% in nationalized banks in the country: Women employees constitute over 25% of the total workforce on average in the nationalized banks in the country. The largest Public Sector Bank-- the State Bank of India (SBI), has 26.7% women employees in their total staff strength. While Indian Overseas Bank has a maximum of 36% women staff and the Punjab National Bank has the least 24% women staff strength. This data was provided by the Ministry of Finance in the Lok Sabha.

 

2. Dr Mansukh Mandaviya attended Global Conference on Digital Health attended: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has virtually addressed the Global Conference on Digital Health  – Taking Universal Health Coverage to the Last Citizen. his conference is a co-branded event under India’s G20 Presidency organized by WHO – South-East Asia Region in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The Indian government aims to launch a global initiative on digital health as an institutional framework.

 

3. NGEL, IOCL ink pact for setting up renewable energy projects: NGEL (a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited) has signed a Joint Venture Agreement with IOCL for setting up renewable energy projects to meet Round the Clock power requirement of IOCL Refineries. NGEL has set a target of building a renewable generation portfolio of 60 GW over the next decade to aggressively pursue its green energy business. Chairman, IOCL: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya CMD, NTPC: Gurdeep Singh

 

4. Cotton Corporation of India appoints Lalit Kumar Gupta as CMD: The government has approved the appointment of Lalit Kumar Gupta as CMD of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post for a period of five years. He was recommended for the post of CMD of CCI by the PESB panel. Presently, he is serving as Director (Finance) in the same organization. He joined CCI in August 1994 and has a very long association with Cotton Corporation of about 25 years.

 

5. Water stress to hit India’s food production by 2050: According to the report, published GCEW, revealed that India will face a reduction of over 16% in food supply due to water and heat stress in 2050. However, the report placed China at the top, where food supply would be reduced by 22.4%, followed by South America by 19.4%. The water supply availability in India is between 1100-1197 billion cubic meters (bcm). In contrast, the demand is expected to grow from 550-710 bcm in 2010 to 900-1,400 bcm in 2050.

 

6. Aerator cum Dancing Fountains inaugurated in Srinagar: In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has inaugurated Aerator cum Dancing Fountains in the world-famous Dal Lake in Srinagar. The Aerator cum Dancing Fountains is installed in six clusters along the periphery of the Dal Lake. The project has been completed by J&K Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LC&MA) at an estimated cost of 10 crore rupees, with an aim to attract tourists that will add beauty and grandeur to the Lake.

 

7. GAIL signed MoU with Shell Energy India on ethane sourcing: GAIL (India) has signed MoU with Shell Energy India Private Ltd to explore prospects of importing and handling of ethane and other hydrocarbons. It is primarily used as petrochemical feedstock and is separated from the other components of natural gas in most well-developed gas fields. It will be transported further through 14,830 km of natural gas pipelines to different demand centres. Ethane is expected to be produced in large volumes in North America due to the shale gas revolution, which has generated an abundance of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Ethane is mainly used to produce ethylene, which is then used by the petrochemical industry to produce a range of intermediate products, most of which, are converted into plastics, packaging films, wire coatings, squeeze bottles and synthetic rubber, among others.

 

8. 5th Poshan Pakhwada celebrations begins: The Ministry of Women and Child Development celebrates the fifth Poshan Pakhwada with various activities nationwide. The 15-day celebration started on 20 March and will continue till 3 April 2023. The Pakhwada aims to raise awareness about the importance of nutrition and promote healthy eating habits through “Jan Andolan and Jan Bhagidari”. Theme 2023 – Nutrition for All: Together Towards a Healthy India Poshan Abhiyaan, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 8, 2018, has been instrumental in ensuring people’s participation and bringing the discourse on nutrition to the forefront. Poshan Abhiyan was launched with the aim to improve nutritional outcomes in a holistic manner.

 

9. ISRO to conduct young scientist programme in Bengaluru: ISRO is set to organize its annual special programme for school children called Young Scientist Programme — ‘Yuva Vigyani Karyakram’ (YUVIKA). Objective – To impart basic knowledge on space technology, space science, and space applications to young students in emerging trends in space science and technology. The Indian space agency has chalked out this programme for students to “catch them young” and encourage more students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-based research or careers. Minimum participation will be ensured from each state or UT. Registration for the student programme, which will be from May 15 to 26, will start from March 20 and students eligible for the programme can apply for it through the Isro portal (isro.gov.in/YUVIKA.html). The YUVIKA programme was first announced on January 18, 2019, by the then Isro chief K Sivan and was inaugurated four months later on May 17, 2019.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. World Happiness Report 2023 released: According to the World Happiness Report 2023, published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, India ranked 125 based on the various parameters of happiness. India’s neighboring countries such as Nepal, China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have a higher ranking than India. Finland tops the ranking for the sixth consecutive year with a score of 7.8 followed by Denmark and Iceland. Out of the 137 countries, Afghanistan has ranked last.

 

2. India, Japan sign two agreements: India and Japan signed two documents on the sidelines of the bilateral talks between PM Modi and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida. Agreements: Renewal of Memorandum of Cooperation in the Japanese language Exchange of notes on JICA loan for 300 billion Yen on Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed railway project. PM Kishida formally invited PM Modi to G7 Hiroshima Summit. PM Modi also urged the Japanese PM to declare 2024 as the year of Youth Exchanges between the two countries.

 

3. International Day of Forests 2023: 21st March: The International Day of Forests is celebrated each year on March 21 to raise awareness about the importance of forests and trees for the survival of humanity. 2023 theme: Forests and health This day can be traced back to 1971 when the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) established World Forestry Day. In 2011, the United Nations declared the years 2011 to 2020 as the International Decade of Forests. In 2012, the International Day of Forests was established.

 

4. World Happiness Index 2023: India ranked 125; topped by Finland: India was placed at 125th position out of 137 countries in the World Happiness Report released by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Finland tops the ranking for the sixth year in a row with a score of 7.8 and other Norwegian countries like Denmark, Iceland are ranked second and third. In the list of top 10, other countries are Israel, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and New Zealand. Out of the 137 countries, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has ranked last and is most unhappy according to the report. Other regions at the bottom of the list include Lebanon, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, etc. For more than a year now, Russia and Ukraine are fighting each other but when it comes to happiness, the countries are ranked above India, i.e. 70th Russia and 92nd Ukraine. The countries are ranked on the basis of healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support, low corruption, generosity in a community where people look after each other, and freedom to make key life decisions.

 

5. Africa-India field training exercise AFINDEX-23 to be held in Pune: The 10-day Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX 2023) will be organized in Pune from 21-30 March 2023. The focus of the event will be on joint training and strengthening of existing defence ties among various nations and to evolve an institutionalised framework for better and efficient military-to-military cooperation to address emerging global challenges. The exercise will promote the idea of Africa-India Militaries for Regional Unity (AMRUT).

 

6. 20 March – World Oral Health Day: World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year on March 20. The day is celebrated to give people knowledge about ways to have good oral health. The theme of this year’s World Oral Health Day is “Be Proud of Your Mouth. World Oral Health Day was celebrated first on September 12, 2007, by the World Dental Federation (FDI). It is the birth date of Dr. Charles Godon (founder of FDI).

 

7. 20 March- International Day of Happiness: International Day of Happiness is celebrated as an annual festival on 20 March. Objective – To emphasize the importance of happiness and the overall well-being of individuals. Theme 2023 – Be Mindful, Be Grateful, Be Kind The United Nations started the event in 2013 as one way to mark the occasion is by sharing heartfelt greetings and quotes with loved ones, to inspire them to embrace happiness.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Carlos Alcaraz wins Indian Wells 2023 to reclaim his World No.1 spot: Spanish tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz (19) has won his maiden 2023 Indian Wells title after defeating Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-2 in the final. With this feat, he has also dethroned Novak Djokovic to reclaim World No.1 spot. He also become the youngest world number one ever after his triumph and claimed his third Masters 1000 title. He joined Rafael Nadal as the only player to win at least three as a teenager. Nadal won six before turning 20.

 

2. Asian Kho Kho Championship for Men and Women begins in Assam: The 4th edition of the Asian Kho Kho Championship for Men and Women has begun at Baksa district in Assam on 20 March. The event will conclude on the 23rd of this month. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and officials of the Kho Kho Federation have inaugurated the program. The event is being organized by the Kho Kho Federation of India in association with the Assam Kho Kho Association and Bodoland Territorial Region government. Altogether 9 countries – India, Bangladesh, South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Bhutan, Iran, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia are participating in the competition. Over 700 players and officials will participate in the four-day event.

 

3. Rohan Bopanna becomes oldest tennis player to win ATP Masters: Rohan Bopanna became the oldest ATP Masters 1000 champion after winning the Indian Wells men’s doubles title at the age of 43 years. Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden defeated Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Neil Skupski of Britain 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 in the final in California, United States. Before Bopanna, Canadian Daniel Nestor was the oldest player to win an ATP Masters 1000 title after he clinched the 2015 Cincinnati Masters at the age of 42. Bopanna has so far won 24 ATP titles, including five ATP Masters 1000 titles.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. IMF approves nearly $3 billion bailout for Sri Lanka: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board has approved a $3-billion four-year extended financing arrangement for Sri Lanka. It paves the way for an immediate disbursement of about $333 million to the cash-strapped country. The new Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement program aims to restore Sri Lanka’s macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, mitigate the economic impact on the poor and vulnerable, and safeguard financial sector stability.

 

2. RBI fines RBL Bank for non-compliance with rules on loan recovery agents: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of 22.7 million rupees ($274,915) on private lender RBL Bank Ltd. Reason: For not complying with certain directives on loan recovery agents

The RBI has found deficiencies in regulatory compliance after it examined complaints received against RBL's recovery agents during the financial years 2018-19 to 2021-22. RBL Headquarters: Mumbai; MD & CEO: R. Subramaniakumar

 

3. India state-run banks' gross NPA eases to 5.53%: The gross NPA ratio was declining from 14.6% in March 2018 to 5.53% in December 2022. All PSBs are in profit with aggregate profit being Rs 66,543 crore in 2021-22 and that further increased to Rs 70,167 crore in the first nine months of the current financial year. At the same time, resilience has increased with the provision coverage ratio of PSBs rising from 46% to 89.9% in December 2022. The capital adequacy ratio improved from 11.5% to 14.5% in December 2022.

 

4. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance launched ‘ICICI Pru Gold’: ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has launched ICICI Pru Gold. It is an innovative long-term savings product designed to enable customers to create an additional income stream to meet their diverse income requirements.

Besides receiving guaranteed lifelong income, the life cover component in the product provides financial security to the family. This product is available in three variants i.e. Immediate Income, Immediate Income with Booster, and Deferred Income.

 

5. Recent Facilities Launched in Banks & Insurance Sector: Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Ltd launched Kotak Silver Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) Fund of Fund Suryodaya Small Finance Bank launched Blossom Women’s Savings Account Bank of Maharashtra launched its own private cloud platform ‘MAHABANK NAKSHATRA’ HDFC Bank launched a pilot project for offline digital payments ‘OfflinePay’ The New India Assurance has launched a “Pay As You Drive” (PAYD) policy for vehicles. AU Small Finance Bank has launched the SwipeUp platform.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Nepalese batsman Aasif Sheikh won 2022 CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award: Nepalese batsman Aasif Sheikh was declared the winner of the 2022 Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Award. Reason: For his sporting conduct shown in a Men’s T20I between Nepal and Ireland in Feb 2022. The Award is presented every year by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), UK in conjunction with the BBC. This award was created in 2013 by MCC and the BBC in memory of former MCC President and BBC Test Match Special commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins (CMJ).