Daily GK Update- 7th Mar, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. SS Dubey takes charge as new Controller General Of Accounts: S.S. Dubey, a 1989-batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer, has taken charge as the 28th Controller General of Accounts (CGA) effective from 6th March 2023. Prior to this role, he was an Additional Controller General of Accounts, Public Financial Management System (PFMS). CGA is ‘the Principal Advisor’ on Accounting matters to the Union Government. CGA is also responsible for exchequer control and internal audits for the Central Government.

 

2. 23rd Commonwealth Law Conference begins in Goa: Governor of Goa, P.S. Sreedharan Pillai has inaugurated the 23rd Commonwealth Law Conference in Goa, which is being held from March 5-9, 2023. The event was also attended by Union Minister for Law, Kiren Rijiju, and Goa CM Pramod Sawant. Minister also informed that the government had started eCourts phase III to make Indian Judiciary completely paperless. 500 delegates from 52 countries attended the Conference. It is a platform for open discussions on critical issues.

 

3. Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023: 7th March: The 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas is being organized on 7th March 2023 across India to enhance awareness about the scheme and promote generic medicines. Theme 2023: Jan Aushadhi – Sasti bhi Acchi bhi The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), and States/UTs. A week-long event is being organized in different cities all across the country from March 1-7, 2023. This day was first observed on March 7, 2019.

 

4. Conrad Sangma sworn-in as Meghalaya Chief Minister: National People's Party president, Conrad K Sangma, has taken oath as the chief minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term. Governor Phagu Chauhan has administered the oath of office to Sangma. The sworn-in ceremony was attended by PM Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda and home minister Amit Shah. While Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)'s Neiphiu Rio will take oath as Nagaland chief minister.

 

5. Mauganj became the 53rd District of Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that Mauganj, a tehsil of Rewa district, will be the 53rd district of state. It will be developed by joining four tehsils of Rewa district. Four tehsils: Mauganj, Hanumana, Nai Garhi, and Deotalab. Residents of Mauganj were raising the demand for a separate district for a long time. He has also released 605 crore in the bank accounts of 27,000 beneficiaries of the Sambal Yojana in financial distribution program.

 

6. Himachal govt hikes monetary award for Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar: Presiding over a state-level event for International Women's Day (8th March), Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a nearly five-fold increase in the monetary award under the Himachal Pradesh Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar. The monetary award for the Mahila Vikas Protsahan Puraskar has been hiked to Rs 1 lakh from the current Rs 21,000. The allowance for district-level awards has been raised from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000.

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Red Bull's Max Verstappen wins 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix: Red Bull's driver, Max Verstappen has won the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix 2023, held at Bahrain International Circuit. He defeated Red Bull's Sergio Perez, who placed second in the race. It was the first time he had won in Bahrain and also the first time he had triumphed in a Formula One opener. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin's driver) placed third followed by C. Sainz Jr. (Ferrari's driver).

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. All Pension portals to be integrated into Single Portal: MoS, personnel, public grievances, and pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare will integrate all the pension portals - Pension Disbursing Bank portals, ANUBHAV, CPENGRAMS, CGHS, etc into a single portal. These portals will be integrated into the form of the newly created “Integrated Pensioners’ Portal”. Aim: To ensure the ease of living for the elder citizens RBI’s home price index increases across India despite rate hikes: The All India Home Price Index (HPI), released by the RBI, has recorded a 2.79% growth (year-on-year) to 302 in the third quarter (ended December) of 2022-23 as compared with 293.8, despite the rise in interest rates. On a quarter-on-quarter sequential basis, the index rose from 298, an increase of 1.34%, from September 2022. The Y-o-Y movements in HPI varied widely across the cities, ranging from a growth of 7.1% (Kochi) to a contraction of 9% (Jaipur).

 

2. Share of female borrowers in retail loans rises to 26%: According to the CRIF High Mark, the total retail loan outstanding was Rs 100.28 lakh crore in Dec 2022, up from Rs 81.91 lakh crore a year ago. The share of female borrowers in the retail loans outstanding has gone up to 26% at Rs 26.07 lakh crore as of Dec 2022 from 25% (Rs 20.47 lakh crore) in Dec 2021. Major retail loan products availed by female borrowers in India: Gold loans (42% share), Education loans (35%), Home loans (32%), and Loans against property (29%)

 

3. RBI initiates 75 digital villages programme: The RBI Governor, Shaktikanta Das has launched the Mission ‘Har Payment Digital’ during the Digital Payments Awareness Week 2023, which is being observed from March 6 to 12, 2023. Campaign theme: Digital Payment Apnao, Auron ko bhi Sikhao (Adopt digital payments and Also teach others) RBI has launched a program to adopt 75 villages and convert them into digital payment-enabled villages. Payment system operators (PSOs) will adopt these villages across the country.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Delhi international airport among cleanest in Asia-Pacific: ACI: According to the Airport Council International (ACI), Delhi airport has been ranked among the cleanest airports in Asia-Pacific. ACI is a trade association of global airports. The airport service quality award is based on passenger surveys carried out to rate customer satisfaction on the day of travel. It covers over 30 performance indicators across key elements of a passenger’s airport experience such as ease of finding your way and dining offerings.

 

2. Mirabai Chanu wins BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2022: Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has won the 2022 BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award after a public vote. She becomes the first athlete to win the award twice in a row after winning for the year 2021. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she became the first Indian to win a silver medal in weightlifting.

Other BBC awards for 2022:

·       Para Sportswoman: Bhavina Patel (TT Player)

·       Lifetime Achievement Award: Pritam Siwach (Women Hockey Player)

·       Emerging Player: Nitu Ghanghas (Boxer)