Daily GK Update- 29th Apr, 2023

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Agriculture Minister launches ‘Millets Experience Centre’ at Dilli Haat : Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has launched the first of its kind ‘Millets Experience Centre (MEC)’ at Dilli Haat in New Delhi. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) has established the Millets Experience Centre in collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry. It aims to raise awareness of Millets and encourage its adoption among the general public. India has an important role to play in the celebration of the International Year of Millets 2023. India is poised to become a ‘Global Hub’ for Millets and setting up of MEC is a major step in that direction. The United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023).

 

2. Recent Inauguration by Narendra Singh Tomar :  Narendra Singh Tomar launched the first of its kind ‘Millets Experience Centre (MEC)’ at Dilli Haat in New Delhi. Narendra Singh Tomar introduced a new platform called ‘DigiClaim’ on the national crop insurance portal. Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated a 5-day cultural program”AgriUnifest” in Bengaluru. Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the National Workshop on Bamboo Sector Development in New Delhi. Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated National Horticulture Fair in Bengaluru

 

3. PM Modi inaugurates NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute in Silvassa : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute in Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Notably, the foundation stone of NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute was also laid by the Prime Minister himself in January 2019. Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated 96 projects worth more than Rs 4,850 crores to the nation at Sayli ground, Silvassa. People lit mobile flashlights to welcome PM Modi in Silvassa. Thereafter, Prime Minister inaugurated Devka Seafront in Daman. The 5.45 km Seafront built at a cost of around Rs 165 crore is one of its kind coastal promenade in the country. The Seafront has been transformed into a world-class tourist destination. It includes smart lighting, parking facilities, gardens, food stalls, recreational areas and provision for luxury tent cities in future.

 

4. Amitav Ghosh’s non-fiction book ‘Smoke and Ashes’ to be released in July 2023 : Amitav Ghosh’s new non-fiction book, “Smoke and Ashes: A Writer’s Journey Through Opium’s Hidden Histories”, will be published by HarperCollins Fourth Estate on July 2023.

The book is a combination of memoir, travelogue, and cultural and economic history, which explores the often-overlooked effects of opium on society and history.

Based on Ghosh’s extensive research conducted while writing his trilogy of novels between 2005 and 2015, “Smoke and Ashes” takes a personal look at the author’s engagement with the hidden history of opium.

 

INTERNATIONALUPDATES:

1. Dubai’s airline Emirates unveils world’s first robotic check-in assistant : Dubai-based airline Emirates has unveiled the world’s first robotic check-in assistant named ‘Sara’. The system is part of a new City Check-in and Travel Store that is set to launch in Dubai’s financial district. Sara will match customers’ faces with scanned passports, check passengers in, and guide them to the luggage drop area. The facility allows customers to drop their luggage as early as 24 hours and up to 4 hours before their flight, arriving at the airport at their leisure. Passengers can check in via self-check-in kiosks, at dedicated desks with Emirates agents, or with the help of Sara.

About United Arab Emirates (UAE)

 

Ø  Capital – Abu Dhabi

Ø  Currency – Dirham

Ø  President – Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

 

2. 29 April – World Dance Day :  International Dance Day is celebrated every year on April 29. Objective – To promote the art of dance and raise awareness of its importance in the world The International Dance Day was established by the International Dance Council (CID) in 1982 to celebrate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet. Dance has been known to alleviate stress, enhance cardiovascular health, increase flexibility, and promote general well-being. The event serves to increase public awareness of dance’s importance, encouraging people to participate in this art form while emphasizing its cultural significance and evolution in various regions of the world.

 

3. 29 April – World Veterinary Day : World Veterinary Day is observed every year on the last Saturday of April. Objective – To raise awareness about the importance of veterinarians and their contributions to animal health, welfare, and public health. Theme 2023 – Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness in the Veterinary Profession It is celebrated around the world through various activities such as seminars, workshops, public lectures, and social media campaigns.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. State Bank of India Raises $750 Million Via Bonds : State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s biggest lender, has raised USD 750 million through bonds to fund offshore business growth. SBI has concluded the issue of USD 750 million senior unsecured fixed rate notes having a maturity of 5 years and coupon of 4.875 percent payable semiannually under Regulation-S.

About State Bank of India (SBI) 

Founded – 1 July 1955

Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

Chairman – Dinesh Kumar Khara

 

2. Siddhartha Mohanty appointed as Chairman of LIC : The government has appointed Siddhartha Mohanty as chairman of Life Insurance Corporation of India till June 2024. Chairman Siddhartha Mohanty will be the managing director and chief executive officer of the insurance behemoth from June 2024 till June 2025. Siddhartha Mohanty had been serving as interim chairman of the corporation replacing M R Kumar.

 

3. Debadatta Chand appointed as new chief of BoB : The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Debadatta Chand and Rajneesh Karnatak as MD & CEO of Bank of Baroda (BoB) and Bank of India (BoI), respectively, for three years. Chand’s appointment as chief of BoB is with effect from the date of assumption of office on or after July 1, 2023, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Sanjiv Chadha, MD & CEO, BoB, will retire on June 30, 2023. He has been at the helm of the Bank since January 2020.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti awarded TAL Presents Lifetime Achievement Award :  Breast surgeon Raghu Ram Pillarisetti was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Telugu Association of London.

Raghu Ram is the founder and director of AKIMS-Ushalakshmi Center for Breast Disease, located in Hyderabad. During the celebration of Ugadi 2023, organized by the Telugu Association of London (TAL), Dr Raghu Ram Pillarisetti was awarded the lifetime achievement award. TAL is the biggest Telugu Charity Organisation in the UK and represents the Telugu-speaking community of around 10,000 people in and around London.

Recent Awards

 

Ramon Magsaysay Award 1959 – Dalai Lama

Immigrant Achievement Award 2023 – Indian American Neeli Bendapudi

Goldman Environment Prize 2023 – Alessandra Korap

 

2. 68th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2023 : The 68th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2023 was held at the Jio Convention Centre, BKC. The award show was hosted by Salman Khan, Maniesh Paul, and Ayushmann Khurrana.

Filmfare Awards 2023 Winners List –

Best Film — Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Film (Critics’) — Badhaai Do

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male) — Rajkummar Rao for Badhaai Do

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Female) — Alia Bhatt for Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Actor (Critics’) — Sanjay Mishra for Vadh

Best Actress (Critics’) — Tabu for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Bhumi Pednekar for Badhaai Do

Best Director — Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male) — Anil Kapoor for JugJugg Jeeyo

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) — Sheeba Chaddha for Badhaai Do

Best Debut (Male) — Ankush Gedam for Jhund

Best Debut (Female) — Andrea Kevichüsa for Anek

Best Debut Director — Jaspal Singh Sandhu and Rajeev Barnwal for Vadh

Best Story — Akshat Ghildial and Suman Adhikary for Badhaai Do

Lifetime Achievement Award — Prem Chopra

Best Music Album — Pritam for Brahmastra — Part One — Shiva

Best Dialogue — Utkarshini Vashishtha and Prakash Kapadia for Gangubai Kathiawadi

Best Screenplay — Suman Adhikary, Akshat Ghildial and Harshavardhan Kulkarni for Badhaai Do

Best Lyrics — Amitabh Bhattacharya for Kesariya from Brahmastra — Part One — Shiva

 

OBITUARY

1. Renowned scientist Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan passed away :  Renowned scientist and director of the Central Building Research Institute Dr N Gopalakrishnan passed away at the age of 68. He worked for 25 years from 1982 as a Senior Scientist in CSIR, Government of India. N Gopalakrishnan was the founder of the Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage. His lectures on Indian philosophies and spirituality attracted audiences from within and outside the country. He was often criticized for propagating “pseudoscience”