Daily GK Update- 4th March, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Craig Fulton appointed as new Chief Coach of Indian men's hockey team: Hockey India has appointed South African Craig Fulton as the new chief coach of the Indian men's hockey team. He will succeed Australian Graham Reid who resigned in January 2023. He has nearly 25 years of coaching experience and earned 195 caps over a span of 10 years for South Africa. He also played Atlanta and Athens Olympic Games. He was named the Belgium Coach of the Year after he guided his club KHC Dragons to the Belgium Hockey League title in the 2020-21 season.

 

2. Minister Anurag Thakur launched Yuva Utsava - India@2047 in Punjab: Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and Broadcasting Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur has launched Yuva Utsava - India@2047 from Ropar in Punjab. He has also launched the Dashboard of Yuva Utsav. Aim: To promote youth power In the first phase, Yuva Utsav is being organized in 150 districts across the country till the 31st of March, 2023. Youth Affairs Ministry is conducting ‘Yuva Utsav India @2047’ under its flagship youth organization Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan.

 

3. Union Home Minister, Amit Shah launched Safe City Projects in Karnataka: Union Home Minister, Amit Shah has launched the first phase of the Safe City project in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The project is an initiative to ensure the safety and security of residents in Bengaluru, especially women. Phase-1 of the project features high-resolution cameras, forensic vans, safety islands, and much more. The city police must maintain maximum reach and speed in addressing emergency situations while using the right technological intervention.

 

4. President Murmu to launch ‘Catch the Rain-2023’ campaign: President Droupadi Murmu will launch the ‘Catch the Rain-2023’ on March 4, 2023 as part of efforts to turn conservation of water into a mass campaign in the run-up to the monsoon season. The theme of this year’s campaign will be ‘Source Sustainability for Drinking Water’. “During Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain-2023. The significant role that water plays in the empowerment of women has been acknowledged with the theme ‘Jal Shakti se Nari Shakti’ The President will also confer 18 Awards under Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen, Jal Jeevan Mission and National Water Mission under various categories and release a compendium of case stories titled ‘Swachh Sujal Shakti Ki Abhivyakti’.

 

5. 4th March: National Security Day: Every year on March 4, India observes National Safety Day. The main goal of the day is to highlight safety measures, ensure that people are aware of them, and follow them in order to avoid workplace accidents. In India, the 4th of March also marks the start of National Safety Week. Theme 2023: ‘Nurture young minds – Develop safety culture’

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India, Mexico sign MoU on research and technology: India has signed an MoU with Mexico on research, technology, and innovation collaborations in New Delhi. Focus: Key technology areas including Aerospace, Electronics, Earth and Ocean Sciences and Water, Minerals, Clean Energy, Biotech, and Healthcare Union Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh has assured Mexican Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard that India with CSIR and sister Organizations will provide tangible results in the three priority areas of Water, Lithium and Vaccines

 

2. World Wildlife Day 2023: 3rd March: World Wildlife Day 2023 is marked annually on March 3 to celebrate the unique wild species and create awareness to help conserve them. Theme 2023: Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation The 68th session of the UNGA has designated March 3 as World Wildlife Day on December 20, 2013. Reason: To raise awareness about the conservation of the world's wild flora and fauna The formal text of CITES was adopted at a meeting of 80 members of the IUCN on March 3, 1973.

 

3. World’s first’ bamboo crash barrier installed on Maharashtra highway: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on 4 March said a 200-meter-long bamboo crash barrier has been installed on a highway connecting Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts in Maharashtra, which he termed as the “world’s first” such exercise. Calling it a “remarkable achievement” for the country and its bamboo sector, he said this crash barrier offers a perfect alternative to steel and addresses environmental concerns.

 

4. IAF transport aircraft Exercise Shinyuu Maitri with Japan’s Air Self Defense Force: The Indian Air Force (IAF) along with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) participated in Exercise Shinyuu Maitri. The Exercise Shinyuu Maitri is being organized on the sidelines of the Indo-Japan Joint Army Exercise, Dharma Guardian, which was conducted from 13 February 2023 to 02 March 2023 at Komatsu, Japan.

 

5. Mumbai jumps to 37th place globally in price growth in luxury housing: Mumbai’s rank has improved to 37th from 92nd in a global list of movement in prices of luxury homes as the city saw an appreciation of 6.4 per cent during 2022 calendar year, according to Knight Frank India.

In Bengaluru, the prices of prime property rose 3 per cent, helping the city improve its rank to 63rd in 2022 from 91st in 2021. “Delhi’s prime property market saw value appreciating by 1.2 per cent which moved up the ranking to 77th from 93rd in 2021 As per the report, the prime residential prices in Dubai accelerated 44.2 per cent in 2022. Aspen ranks 2nd with 27.6 per cent growth in prices, followed by Riyadh (25 per cent), Tokyo (22.8 per cent), Miami (21.6 per cent), Prague (16.3 per cent), Algarve (15.3 per cent), Bahamas (15 per cent), Athens 13 per cent and Porto (12.7 per cent).

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI imposes Rs 3.06 Crore penalty on Amazon Pay (India): Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of three crore six lakh sixty-six thousand rupees on Amazon Pay (India) Private Limited. Reason: For non-compliance with certain directions related to Prepaid Payment Instruments and Know Your Customer. The action was based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the entity with its customers.

 

2. RBI imposes restrictions on Musiri Urban Co-operative Bank: RBI has imposed a Rs 5,000 cap on withdrawals by individual customers from Tamil Nadu-based Musiri Urban Co-operative Bank. Reason: It is a part of several restrictions imposed on the lender due to its deteriorating financial condition. The restrictions on the lender will remain in force for six months from the close of business on March 3, 2023. Without the approval of the RBI, the cooperative bank cannot grant loans, make any investments, or disburse any payments.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Punjab discom gets ‘top performer' award for energy conservation measures: Under the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) program of the Union Ministry for Power, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) was awarded as the top performer among all Discoms across the country for energy conservation measures. The award ceremony was held in New Delhi on March 1. During PAT cycle II, a total number of 80,686 ‘Energy saving certificates’ (ESCerts) were issued to PSPCL. PAT is a flagship scheme under the National Mission on Enhanced efficiency.

 

2. NTPC conferred with the CBIP Award 2022: NTPC Limited has been honored with the CBIP Award 2022 for Outstanding Contribution in Power Generation, attributed to its Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Station (VSTPS). VSTPS is the largest power station in the country for its efficiency and high level of generation. Union Minister of Power, R.K. Singh presented the award. It is conferred to institutions/individuals for their outstanding contributions to the development of water, power, and Renewable Energy Sectors.

 

OBITUARIES

 

1. Former CJI, A M Ahmadi passes away: Former Chief Justice of India, A M Ahmadi passed away at 90 due to a brief illness. He was the 26th Chief Justice of India from October 1994 to March 1997. In 1964, he was appointed a civil and sessions judge in Ahmedabad and become the state’s law secretary. In 1976, he was appointed a judge of the Gujarat High Court and was elevated to the Supreme Court in 1988. In his tenure in the Supreme Court, he was part of seminal verdicts that changed the course of a polity.